Code of Conduct

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 (RSV)

In mid-August, a friend sent me a book entitled, “The Joshua Code” by O.S. Hawkins. It is one of 40 books Dr. Hawkins has written during his more than 50 years as a Baptist pastor.   

The scripture quoted above, Joshua 1:8, outlined the behavior God expected Joshua to follow (his code of conduct) when he took over leadership after Moses’ death.  Joshua not only had to accomplish the tasks God set forth for him, but he had to follow his code of conduct while doing it.  

Prior to reading “The Joshua Code,” I hadn’t realized how personal and precise God’s messages and expectations of the people of scripture were. Amazingly, Joshua followed God’s code of conduct his whole life. Even near his death, Joshua gave what we now call his farewell address. In it, he said: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 RSV). 

Joshua 24:15 is one of my favorite verses. I memorized it after seeing it engraved on a plaque which hung in my mother-in-law’s kitchen way back in the 1960’s.  

Perhaps one of your favorite people in the Bible was given a specific code of conduct. It might make for interesting research. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You and humbly seek Your guidance. We need You when life gets hard and we get confused not knowing what to do. We know You gave us a code of conduct. It’s called the Ten Commandments, but we fall short of your expectations, and we need help following Your will. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen

Judy Welch

A Time for Thanks

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Psalms 107:8-9. 

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty, and fills the hungry with good things. I Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving is a special holiday for me…both happy, and sad! Throughout my childhood, my mom and dad invited anybody who was alone and had no place to go, to come over for Thanksgiving. We had old friends, new friends, and during the war, Mom even invited some soldiers from Offutt Air Force Base to join us.  My mom was a wonderful cook.  One unusual specialty she made was cranberry ice, and her pies and candied sweet potatoes were great, too.

On Thanksgiving 1967, we headed up to Omaha. I had a large amount of food for the dinner, and we were looking ahead to a great day. As we went up onto the front porch, I saw four track marks, as if something had been wheeled off the porch.  As we entered the house, my uncle Clyde was standing in the dining room.  He looked just like my dad, but he was my uncle. It was frightening.

It turns out that my dad had already died and had been taken away. My mother had to deal with all of this, without my help, which was upsetting. But we picked ourselves up, fixed a nice turkey dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and then went to the mortuary to plan my dad’s service.

We had the service that weekend. It was sad coming back to Lincoln, knowing he was gone, but it was comforting to know he hadn’t had to suffer a long time, and hopefully we would see him again.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for the life of a good man, Gerald Drew. He was a true Christian gentleman, and we were so thankful he had a long life. Thank you for the influence he had on his grandsons. They will always remember his humor, and the fun they had together. Amen

Gerry Draney (reprinted from 2017) 

Saying Grace

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with Thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7

My daughter's in-laws include me in their family celebrations, and this year we had not one but two Thanksgiving feasts.  It was delightful to share food with others, since most of my meals are spent with my cats by my side.  My daughter's father-in-law always has a prayer at the ready, and I enjoyed two different graces from him this year.  It made our time together even more special. 

When I was little, my family did not say grace except at holiday meals.  I never understood grace, or many other prayers for that matter.  We were taught to be grateful for our food, and for our mother's valiant efforts to make it something a child might actually want to eat.  I figured we should be blessing her, as well as congratulating ourselves for taking the three required bites of each item. But I was careful to wait for grace to be said when I was visiting other people for meals, since I realized it had meaning for them.  

It is so easy to clink glasses with someone before drinking, especially when celebrating something.  It should feel just that easy to thank the source of all our nourishment in body and spirit.  I like to think of different ways of expressing gratitude now.  I recently watched a cooking show where the chef demonstrated how to turn humble vegetables and grains into special dishes by cooking them thoughtfully.  It made so much sense, because we often take for granted the foods most easily available to us regardless of season or finances. I like to think of being creative and resourceful with simple ingredients. Sometimes I will come home late from work, and all I really want is a hot potato to nibble on. It completely satisfies a need. 

I am a vegetarian, and after I stopped eating meat a few years ago I realized  I had always wanted to be a vegetarian.  It is fun to explore new foods, but limiting the diet is also gratifying.  My friend who is trying to cut out sugar has discovered she feels better and has more energy. I am trying to make some substitutions in that area, but I am not ready to give up all sugar. 

We spent a fair amount of time in the car when my kids were growing up.  Quite often we would end up having Car Picnics because we didn't have time to go home for meals. 

I like to think that those meals brought a little of home to our car, and the conversation was more free because we weren't facing each other. 

Wherever and whatever I eat, I now understand the reason for stopping to give thanks for everything that brings food to my body.  It is a way of beginning again. Our food is a gift, and the work that provides it is a gift. I love that there are many ways to be mindful of that gratefulness.  

We can ask that our food fuel us to do God's work; we can remember someone missing from us who used to pour that cup of tea for us; we can bless an old family recipe that reminds us of the people who used to share it with us; we can ask for others to enjoy the same privilege of being fed; we can ask for the food to nourish and heal us and others who aren't well; we can ask that the meal bring us together as family; and we can ask that the transforming power of Communion be present in our meal.  

This a grace from jesuitresource.org: May this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, new thoughts to weary minds. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. And once refreshed, may we give new pleasure to you, who gives us all. Amen.

Mollie Manner (repinted from 2018)

Thankfulness

When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:14-19   

Few parental tasks are as challenging as that of teaching your children to say, "Thank you." In spite of your best intentions, you will soon discover that ingratitude and thanklessness come naturally. It is the rare child indeed who regularly and spontaneously says, "Thank you," after enjoying an act of kindness. 

Parents, take heart. The problem is at least as old as the book of Luke. In the scripture above Jesus heals ten lepers. But upon finding themselves cleansed only one returns to offer thanks and worship. Where were the other nine?  

And what about us as adults? When was the last time you told your spouse, your children, your minister, or your God “thank you" for a blessing that has recently come into your life?  Make today an unscheduled "thanksgiving day" for you. 

Each day should be one of thanks. 

Prayer: Lord, we are thankful and let us always remember to express to others and especially to you. Amen

Marilyn Jones Albin (reprinted from 2016)  

Thanksgiving - Then and Now

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:  Be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100: 4, 5

In the United States, in December of 1941, through a joint resolution adopted by the US Senate and House of Representatives and signed by President Roosevelt, the fourth Thursday of November was officially designated as the date for Thanksgiving Day. It started in our land as essentially a harvest festival and a day of thanksgiving. The early Christian settlers brought with them their Christian heritage of giving thanks for God’s blessings.

The book of Psalms contains the rich and varied responses of many souls in Israel to the divine calling. It is essentially a collection of prayers and praises. A Christian cannot escape the admonition to nurture a thankful heart. It is a part of our national history and Christian heritage.

In a personal devotion relating to Thanksgiving it should bring our focus not to what we failed to receive, but what we did “harvest.” Only you can count your blessings. Our culture is crowded with reminders of what we “need.”  Advertisements seek to create a “desire to own.” We are not immune to these enticements. The old hymn verse “Count your many blessings, name them one by one” may seem ancient, but is it?

Don’t expect someone else to prepare your Thanksgiving list. If we are to follow the custom of a harvest festival, we must be thankful for food that sustains us. Our land produces much grain as well as meat, poultry, and many vegetables and fruits. Many are the threats to this food supply – drought, flood, hurricanes, diseases of livestock and poultry, etc. Probably no place on earth can match our supermarket offerings. Yet even in Lincoln, it seems the food pantries are always in need.

Sometime during this Thanksgiving season, sit down and read “America the Beautiful.” Consider carefully each verse. Did you experience any of the things mentioned during the last year?

Prayer: Our Father, teach us to be thankful servants.  Guide our eyes and thoughts to the beautiful about us. Help us to recall the acts of kindness that came our way and to be thankful in our spirit.  Amen.

Harold Edwards (reprinted from the Eastridge Daily Devotion book, published in 2008)

Sabbath Can't Wait

(This was originally shared in 2019 during our sermon series. Even though today may not be the Sabbath, these worthwhile activities bear consideration.)

What can wait? On this day, identify one thing in your life that feels urgent but can actually wait in order for you to rest. Commit to one of the activities below, or spend time doing something else that centers and recharges you.

- Go for a walk outside.
- Sit quietly and meditate.
- Plant something indoors or outside.
- Try cooking or baking with a new recipe.
- Spend time with a friend or loved one.
- Dance or play music.
- Explore a new area of your town or city.
- Take a nap.
- Draw or create something.
- Write a poem or a song.
- Play a board game with friends or family.
- Read a book.

(reprinted with permission, What Can't Wait by A Sanctified Art.org)

A Spiritual Cornucopia

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. John 15: 4-5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peach, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

…and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if all these things be in you, and abound, thy make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

During the Thanksgiving season the cornucopia filled with fruit and grain is used as a decoration to symbolize the abundance of the harvest. The colorful fruit and bundles of grain spilling out of the horn of plenty” make us mindful of the blessings that we received and remind us to be ever thankful for them.

Consider the scripture selections for today it the context of a spiritual cornucopia. John 15:4, 5 starts us at the pointed end of the cornucopia. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches and teaches that when we abide in him and he abides in us much fruit will be brought forth. He also instructs us that we can do nothing without him. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians qualities that constitute the fruit of the Spirit are named. This “fruit” fills the body of the cornucopia. If we want the fruit to grow, we must abide in Jesus and strive to live lives that imitate him. With the selection from 2 Peter 1:5-8 we have reached the large circular opening of the cornucopia and the contents are flowing from it. Peter instructs us to put our faith in action and to develop the character qualities which will help us to live fruitful life of love and serve to God and man. Are we abiding in Christ so the fruit of the Spirit will grow? Are we helping the cornucopia to overflow abundantly by placing our faith in action?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ.  Empower and enable us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit and to share these qualities by our actions so others may also live the abundant life. Amen

Gail Keown (reprinted from 2008)