Three Essential Gifts

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

I am reminded of the words heard during a class while attending seminary. Rev. Susan Leonard Ray was a guest speaker in the Methodist Polity class I was taking. Her topic that day dealt with the nature of the local church. Three points made during this class have always stayed with me. Every church has its purpose, time, and place on the map. These can be words to live by as we plan our ministries for the church.

Purpose: Why does this church exist? The church is called to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit people in prison, and welcome strangers. In other words, the church is to be the body of Christ reaching out to the world in missions. At Church of the Palms we acknowledge we are part of the universal church engaged in missions. This suggests the church pursues love of neighbor and strives to employ its spiritual gifts, so that the church is a place where a person may experience the reign of God. The church is where the body grows in love, and experiences the beginnings of eternal life. In the body of the church people engage in a fellowship that helps deepen a person’s faith as the church supports and prays for each other. The church is a place where people celebrate the love of God revealed in Christ. The church resides in the hearts of all believers. The church provides a glimpse of eternal life.

Time: Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. Not everything lasts forever. As sad of a thought this may be or as much as we would like to think our church will be where it is forever is simply not a reasonable notion. Going back home to Alabama I am reminded that change is active. New developments, new roads, or shopping centers exist wherefields use to be. What was the country side is no more. Noticed is how populations come and sometimes go, even culture and language are in a state of flux. An effective church is in tune with its surroundings and speaking a language the community in which it exists can understand. We should take advantage of every moment not letting any opportunities pass us by if possible. We should live life to the fullest.

Place on the map: Why this place? What was going through the minds of those who decided this was the sort of church that should be planted? If the church is to be the first place the Kingdom of God is experienced then The Kingdom of God is present in the church today through its activities, and at the same time it awaits the second coming of Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. The church in the world today is to be the first place where the reign of God can be identified and witnessed. The reign of God is more than a personal vision of God’s future, as the church is to be a place which transforms the world until God’s love, justice, and mercy prevail throughout the whole world. It is also a future event where the world will experience a complete healing and redemption.

So much to be done and so little time.

Bless His Heart

I’m not sure if y’all have seen the latest news to come out of the State of Alabama. The newly elected Governor, Robert Bentley, was speaking in a church when he made the comment “Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother.” All I can say is “Bless his heart”. The pastor of the church where Bentley was speaking said “He was trying to relay something that is fundamental to our faith, that people who believe in Jesus are related. He didn't mean that he's not part of the brotherhood of humanity.” “Bless his heart”.
More often than not our whole year builds in the highly anticipated holidays creating excitement with warm attitudes then all of a sudden the anti-climax to the holiday season known as the month of January slaps us in the face. With not much on our agendas we settle back into the same old routines of prior to the holidays. Unfortunately this sometimes includes our faith. Instead of talking about the “Love come down at Christmas” an emphasis seems to be placed on that which separates us from others. When the message changes the people on the outside of the church are once again saying “See, it is the same old church. One we don’t want to be a part of”. In defense of the Alabama governor I am sure he really wasn’t trying to exclude anyone. Let this serve as a reminder that we are to be intentional about our faith and the good news by choosing words consistent with our beliefs.
Why is this so important? A friend of mine who served an old mill village church explained how church worked during the ‘40’s, ‘50’s, and early ‘60’s. Church and faith were not a choice but a condition of employment. Church attendance records were maintained on mill employees. Church pews were full yet such attendance was taken for granted. The spiritual life of church members was never developed. I remember as a child attending church with my mom and wondering why the man standing up preaching was so angry. All he did was holler at everyone attending the service (Bless his heart). However, the good news tells us a different story. In the story of the Prodigal Child clearly one child makes the right decision and one the wrong decision. Or is that the case? Yet, the father sees the “child on the outside” wanting to come back home. As the wayward child is embraced the other son gets mad. His attitude, including his words, is not consistent with the inheritance to be received.
Although I cannot speak for others I know that I have been both children in the story. During the slow time found in January I have found myself examining my life. It has not been pretty. My inconsistency is somewhat frightening “Bless my heart”. Rather than dwell on the past I realize a need to let that go by placing my trust in God. Instead of getting in the way of God maybe I should move over so God can work. I pray this is something we all should try to do. If we can, God’s love will be made known through our church and we will not hear people saying “Bless their heart”. I am truly blessed to be associated with the Church of the Palms and all who attend.

Love Revealed Unexpectedly

On the third Monday of every year our nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Across our land people in many cities, including my home town (Selma, Al.), will gather in remembrance of a man whose ideological stance was grounded in Biblical principal. People will tell their stories of how one man made things possible that might not have happened. How has your life been affected?



After graduating from college I took a job which required me to relocate from Alabama to Sumter, S.C. Not exactly the place a single person in his early 20’s desired at that time. I was a stranger in a new town who knew no one. I was all alone. One night while traveling down a dark country road the water pump on my car went out. The pre-cell phone era was a dark time but that didn’t really matter. Remembering some houses back up the road I drove my car to one and asked if they would be kind enough to call me a tow truck. What happened next took me by surprise. A young man walked with me back to my car and cared enough to stay until the tow truck came. Most notable about this young man were his physical features. One arm with his hand curled inwards took away the attention from legs of different sizes until he walked. I was an athlete in good shape who took much for granted. We engaged in some wonderful conversation that night. The tow truck came and I haven’t seen him since.


Did I happen to mention that he was also African-American? This young man did not care about my skin color or athletic ability. He looked beyond his own limitations by caring for my immediate needs. Isn’t this the message that Dr. King was trying to get across? Physical appearances, ethnic origins, or even gender are not signs of higher importance. Such features identify us as individuals not our net worth. In Jesus the Christ we are all one. Only we get in the way of God’s intended purpose for creation. In other words we are all God’s children. I learned a lot that night. God’s love reaches all people through all people.

Apathy or Revolution: Your Choice

Does March 7, 1965 ring a bell to anyone? This day became known as “Bloody Sunday” when civil rights marchers left Brown Chapel A.M.E Church in Selma (my hometown) walking east towards Montgomery only to be greeted by local and state law enforcement who attacked them with billy clubs and tear gas. I really can’t imagine what must have been running through God’s mind when the events of this day occurred. This isn’t God’s intended purpose for creation, is it?


Looking back through history such an event mentioned above is not an isolated occurrence. In our country alone Native Americans, Irish immigrants, and women are some other groups who have also faced an oppressive system. World history gives a similar picture of select groups facing an evil force opposed to all that God stands for. Hitler used the term “useless eaters” in reference to Jews, those with a Slavic heritage, and even handicapped people just to mention a few. It seems one group dislikes another and attempts to justify its superiority over another. Even Jesus could not get things right as he associated with all the “wrong” people. Yet, for me, one conversation that I continue to remember is when a manager for Bilo (I worked at the same store) explained to me how American Christians were now God’s chosen people since the Jews lost that status because they do not believe Jesus to be the Messiah. I understand what N.T. Wright meant by the term ‘human evil” as it takes various forms to support a claim by one group that they are absolutely right.

However, what shames me the most is not what took place in my hometown or my country even what my race or gender has done to others. My shame lies in the apathy towards other groups since I have not been directly affected. Genesis 1:28-29 informs us of God’s intention not only for humankind but for all of His creation. Our stewardship in caring for creation was supposed to be a reflection of the image of God that we were created in. Apathy tends to lay the ground work for exploitation of others or things much less the wasting of resources that could be used to care for others. Isn’t ignoring the evil in this world which does not affect us the same as turning our backs on God’s calling in our lives?

This Sunday we will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day in our church. While he was an instrumental factor in the civil rights movement back in the Sixties we cannot forget today what was started back then. Race relations still are not where they should be, equality between the genders does not exist, slavery is alive and well in our world today, and the Christian Church continues justifying its superior stance. As celebrations take place all over our nation Sunday and Monday honoring Dr. King let’s not loose sight of the bigger picture. Dr. King’s message in his speech “I Have a Dream” was about inclusiveness. The scope of his message included everyone although race relations were the focus of the civil rights movement and continues to be so today. After all, isn’t this the message of the Gospel? Did not Jesus come as a revolutionary opposing an exclusive system? God’s love for creation is for all not just some nor does God turn His back on creation? Let us take upon our shoulders what Dr. King started by reaching out to make a difference in our community. Let us become like Jesus and be revolutionaries for the Kingdom of God fighting that which is in opposition to God’s purpose for creation. Together, hand in hand, we will no longer turn our backs upon creation but will make a difference.

Why is church important?

Why is church important? Really, think about it for a moment. Life would be simpler if we did not have to get up early on Sunday mornings. At times I have rolled over to shut off my alarm clock on a Sunday morning with the thought “I wonder if anyone will miss me if I don’t show up?”

Ephesians 4:11-16

11The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Michael Slaughter, in a sermon, made the point “Followers of Jesus are not called to go to church, rather to be the church, sharing Christ’s life, extending Christ’s love, reflecting Christ’s light to a world that longs to see authentic faith”. In my opinion this one sentence could have been the entire sermon. However, that would be short selling the Good News we are called to share. Church is so much more than a place where we gather on Sunday mornings. During the exile of the Jewish people beginning in 722 B.C. and ending in approximately 536 B.C. saw a fascinating development. Prior to the exile the only place of worship was the Temple in Jerusalem. After the exile came a need for the people to stay connected to each other much less God. The development of a center (Synagogue) allowed for people to come together Scripture reading, prayer, study, and worship. Included in the function of the Synagogue was a center for the education of children. In essence, the church was taken to the people.
One issue which keeps coming to the front when we stop attending church is the privatization of our faith life. Rather than being exposed to other thoughts and ideas our views become limited. Eventually a skewed view of God is created including the message we present. A recent article posted at BostonHerald.com featured a group of individuals spreading the word of God. Yet, the message is about the end of the world (May 21, 2011). The common characteristic uniting these individual Christians is they are not associated with any particular church. Instead they apparently hold to a similar view of Scripture thus driving them to seek out others who believe the way they do.
If we are to live as followers of Jesus called to be the church we need a starting point. Study, prayer, fellowship, and worship is a foundation to be laid by the church. Through our participation and attendance such structures are possible. While the church has many functions it starts as a center for development found in the synagogues built during the Jewish exile. From here our missions and outreach are strengthened which enables us to present a more well rounded view of God. I look forward to seeing each and everyone of you in church.