The Blessings of God

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me”, he said and he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loves. Then he gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:15-21

My husband and I have been involved in a variety of youth programs in our relationship. One of our favorite stories is the year that the band boosters group was running short of funds and we decided to serve concessions leftovers from the State Band Competition to all the band students, families and leaders at the end of marching season banquet. We had 125 students, between 150-210 parents, some siblings and 8 band directors/leaders. Planning to feed 300+ people is always pretty exciting, planning to feed them all with leftovers was pretty risky. We had a couple boxes of uncooked hamburgers and hot dogs, a variety of leftover individual bags of chips and plenty of bottled water. We e-mailed all the band parents and asked them to bring cookies - homemade, store bought, whatever they had on hand. 

The night of the banquet three of the band dads grilled and delivered all the meat and leftover buns and we served people for over an hour. A few of us were getting nervous, there was a huge line of people and we had told the directors and booster leadership that they would have to eat last because we weren’t sure we would have enough. We had grandparents that we hadn’t estimated in our count and every table in the school cafeteria was full. When we opened the last pan of meat we started to joke about the loaves and the fishes and the possibility that we would need to have someone run to get emergency carryout pizzas. But we made it through…the band director was the last through the line and we were even able to give him some extra cookies. While we were afraid that there wouldn’t be enough we used up all the leftovers (money that would not be made back otherwise) and we heard from so many parents and kids about how much fun it was to eat “band competition food”. 

Since that time when I get worried about not having enough of something (desserts for a party, Christmas gifts, etc) I think back on how we were all full of joy with leftovers and the benefits of having just enough. 

Prayer: Bountiful God, thank you for providing for my family. It is comforting to have enough. Please be with those who are struggling to make ends meet, help us all to share our excess so that everyone can have enough. Amen

Christi Moock

Old & New Commandments

I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. John 13:34

You can see by this photo of the Ten Commandments that hung on the wall as I grew up, that they are different from the New Commandment given by Jesus. As we were studying Ezekiel, we realized there was a different tone in the New Testament. The words were negative when God gave the commandments to the Israelites. Thou Shalt Not, Thou Shalt Not and Thou Shalt Not were repeated several times. We were told NOT to do things. Jesus said positively, “Love One Another.”

If we truly love one another, we won’t kill, commit adultery, steal from others or tell wrong things about our neighbors. If we truly love them, we won’t even want what they have, but will be happy they have it.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Belhar Confession

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you, And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Our January GiFT introduced us to the Belhar Confession. As stated in our January 6th weekly Lamp: “Our journey through the beliefs of our Church takes us from the oldest creeds to our newest statement of faith – and also into a very different part of the world! The Confession of Belhar is the most recent addition to our Book of Confession. It was written in 1986 in South Africa in the context of Apartheid, a system of laws that separated people by race.”

An explanation of the Belhar Confession background was given on the back of our January 13, 2019 worship bulletin.  “The 2016 General Assembly made history by voting June 22 to add the Belhar Confession – a moving call for reconciliation and a condemnation of racial injustice written in the crucible of the struggle over apartheid – to the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.’s Book of Confessions.”

The Belhar Confession: Why it is significant to us today.

The Belhar Confession affirms what scripture teaches – that all humankind is created in the image of God. Each has the dignity and worth as a child of God.

Belhar affirms that all humankind can live together in unity – in right relationship with God.

Belhar affirms that God’s activity is through the church, which is founded on the person and cornerstone of Jesus Christ.

The Belhar acknowledges that though the hope of the “age to come” is our future promise, we still live in a world of sin and alienation.  However, we live as well in a hope that reconciliation, compassion and justice will prevail. Personally, this is to allow the incarnate Christ to dwell within each person in mission.

The Belhar is clear that Jesus Christ is Head and Lord of the Church.

It is easy for us to point fingers at examples of racism and injustice in our world. It is harder for us to look at ourselves and see the ways we are prejudiced against persons who look or act differently from us.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to examine ourselves and learn new ways of working against racism and injustice. Amen.

Lois Poppe

Where Others Have Gone Before Us

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

One of our dogs needed the services of a 24-hour pet clinic recently, and while in the waiting area, my daughter and I noticed a slippery floor, evidence of someone and their pet there previously.

Once we arrived at a Target store to the ambulance departing, and wondered what had happened. There was evidence of whatever had caused the 911 call in the greeting card aisle, and, again, we felt concern for whomever had needed medical assistance that day.

When we think of others, their tragedies, their “messes” in waiting rooms and elsewhere, we can take time to think of how we are connected. The oft-repeated phrase “there but for the grace of God go I” can mean that we’re grateful that this time, misfortune has escaped us; and it can help us understand that next time, the crisis may be ours.

When we see this evidence of humanity with no visible human attached, it's sometimes harder to feel a connection. However, I think we can use this as an opportunity to feel our connections more clearly...the "not knowing" may spark imagination, requiring effort. If we think about it, not having a specific face attached make cause us to feel their vulnerability as our own. Taking the time to feel connected with those who have gone before us may help us empathize with those in our own midst, their pain and “messes” that are either left behind, or happening right now. Pray for one another, care for one another, know that we are all children of God.

In addition to the scripture above, words from Paul and others emphasize this connection:

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11  

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:1-7 

 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works Hebrews 10:24

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:26

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to notice others in my midst. Help me to put aside my own concerns and reach out in prayer, empathy, or action to recognize our connectedness as human beings that you have created. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

One Minute Testimony - RHCP

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22

He redeemed us so that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, and that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14  

Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help. Hebrews 4:16

Steve Janovec has worked with many people and organizations in the City of Lincoln. He called me one day to meet with him and learn how to tell my testimony in one minute. What did he mean?

After talking with him I came up with RHCP. This has become handy for me as I talk with people on planes and other short acquaintances. It also helps others understand why I want to serve our Lord Jesus.

R eceived, H aughty, C risis, P rayer – that’s it!

I received Christ as a teen on a mountaintop MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) experience. I became haughty when we were successful and became able to buy about anything we wanted. Then everything fell apart in my life and I found myself in a crisis. I had nowhere to turn but to my God. I prayed and prayed. God answered by giving me more blessings than I could ever imagine. God is so good. He taught me He was with me through everything and gave me a warm heart allowing me to forgive and go forward.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for taking me in as one of your children. You sent Jesus to redeem me, forgive me and teach me how to forgive. You gave me the Holy Spirit and the desire to come to you in time of trouble. You were there for me and gave me mercy and grace. Thank you. Please be with members of Eastridge Presbyterian Church who need you now. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Knowing When to Walk Away

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Don’t be quick tempered, for anger is the friend of fools. Proverbs 17:14

I was thinking this week about interpersonal relationships and the people that I am drawn to and those I prefer to reject. Even though as Christians we want to be good, kind and nice to everyone there are just people that we won’t like and it can be very hard to get past.   

We all have someone in our lives who is flighty. Maybe they don’t pay attention to detail, or they never have a plan, or they are very immature and live in a fantasy world. I’m a planner… about everything. I know where I’ll go for vacation in 2019, I know what we are eating for dinner every day next week and I know where I want to be 1 year from now, 5 years from now, and 10 years from now. I always have a plan B – but I like to clearly identify my path, who I am walking with and what I am walking toward. 

The flighty person in my life has ideas but never plans. She might want to write a book, but she won’t take the time to plan what it is she wants to write about or when she wants to start, or a goal to do a certain amount every day. She might want to start her own business, but she won’t research the costs, or the legal rules, just the fun and interesting things. Because she doesn’t ever take the time to plan, she often fails… and then blames the universe instead of learning from the mistake or taking personal accountability. Because I’m a planner this behavior is exhausting for me and I often feel frustrated when I’m exposed to this person. These things that I don’t like and don’t respect draw me away from them. 

In our day to day lives that would be fine. We meet someone, find out that we can’t overcome our differences and we go our separate ways… but it doesn’t always work that way. What if the person we don’t like is our boss? A sibling?  An in-law? What if we feel forced to tolerate and interact with that person because of their relationship in our lives? 

I historically have used avoidance. I’ve tried anger management. I’ve tried to remember that patience is better than pride but it isn’t always easy and it doesn’t make me feel like a good person, it still makes me feel frustrated and that’s part of being human. Even when I desire strongest to do the right thing, I must remember that there are benefits to all of these approaches and there isn’t always one right approach. And sadly, there are times when I will have to eliminate a relationship in my life because it is just too frustrating, or too disruptive. As we are moving away from those relationships we may need to mourn them, or talk about them, or feel compelled to stand our ground because we know that walking away is the only way we can maintain our emotional and personal wellness, even when it doesn’t feel like the kind, Christian thing to do.   

Prayer: Creator God, help us to be patient with all the different personalities in our lives. Help us to control our emotions and our tongues, there are things that we cannot take back. Help me as I deal with the frustrations of being a human and of managing relationships and dissolving those that are not healthy in my life.  

Christi Moock

Prayer of Confession

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

When anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. Leviticus 5:5

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:5

As a teacher, I’ve seen that there are different ways different schools go about their apologies. At my current position, this is our structure for apologies:

I’m sorry for ________. Next time I will ________. Do you accept my apology?

This is a really amazing way to teach apologizing- even if their body language doesn’t mean it. We are asking students to literally NAME what they did wrong. They have to recognize their actions had an impact on someone. Then they have to continue by sharing what they will do next time so they don’t hurt the person again in a similar situation. It has proven quite effective in classroom management; when you have to name what you did wrong in an apology and say what you’ll do next time- the apology has weight. It has meaning. And you are much less likely to want to do that again.

Maybe you see where I’m going with this… Every Sunday we say the Confession together. And we all know we sin, we’re taught that from a young age in the church. So we have no problems saying the prayer of confession. And it has all the parts- I’ve done these things and shouldn’t have (I’m sorry for…), asking for leadership and guidance (Next time I will…), and a request to be forgiven (do you accept my apology).

And then there is a moment of silence. I’ve heard people complain about the “moment of silence” being too long. It’s why when my dad pastored a small church the accompanist played music during the moment of “silence.”

That moment of silence, we are told, is for our own personal confessions. Yes, we already listed our sins earlier. The Confession prayer is usually very general- It applies to everyone, no matter what you did. But we didn’t truly NAME what we have done to hurt others (or ourselves). That silence is for us to reflect on our own actions. To actually tell God what we did against our significant other, parent, child, friend, neighbor… The moment of silence is to be filled with our own conversations with God. I challenge myself to name specific moments I knew I sinned over the past week during that time. Would you join me in that challenge?

Kylie Meter