"In the Neighborhood"

Mark 12:13-17, 28-34

Based on the book The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon

I am just finishing a good book recommended by Biff Warren (see above).  This book is about how we can transform the world by just getting to know our actual neighbors. That we should stop focusing so much on our metaphorical neighbors around the world (although they, too, are important to us) and spend a lot of time and energy cultivating the relationships in our own backyards.

I have talked to some of you about this and fortunately many of you do know your actual neighbors, but I'm not sure that we collectively do. Does NUMC know who our neighbors are?  And if we don't, what can we do to change that?

We will spend the next month exploring some of the concepts of  becoming good neighbors found in this book.  Finding ways to live into Jesus' greatest commandment.  It might truly help us to actual live into our motto "Embrace the community; transform the world."  Maybe a better word or phrase than embrace might be "Know" or "Become Friends with"

What if we said, "Know the community; transform the world," or "Become friends with the community; transform the world?"

Dave Runyon in this book suggests that if everyone who believes in Jesus actually did love their neighbor as themselves, then it really would change the world.  He says if everyone simply got to know their neighbors, it would change everything.

In Mark 12, legal experts are carefully scrutinizing Jesus' words and actions, hoping to trip him up somewhere. They ask him if people should pay taxes because isn't that pledging allegiance to Caesar. Jesus says, "give Caesar what is Caesar's and give God what is God's."  They then ask him what commandment is most important and he says "love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself," saying there is no greater commandment than this.

So Jesus tells those who are scrutinizing him most that the laws and rules of order in life are there for a reason, but that they are trivial in the end, because what truly matters is that we love one another.

When I've been frustrated lately with the concerns of the world, I have been saying to myself, "Love first."  How might our neighborhood look different if we said "Love first." or "A friend loves at all times" as we as a church body seek to engage our actual neighbors.

It is challenging and exciting to think about church outside the walls.  What do you think?

Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or click on the link below to comment.

"I'll Save You a Seat"

 Hebrews 13:1-2 and Luke14:1, 7-14

This scripture in Luke is well known.  It is the one where Jesus says you should not choose the seat at the head of the table at a banquet.  That you should sit elsewhere. If others intend for you to sit there, they will make it known, but don't be haughty and expect it.  It is the one where he says  "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." 

It also suggests that we not invite the 'Joneses' to our banquet and ignore the rest of the world It suggests we invite the poor, the forgotten, the sick, the downtrodden. And give those folks the highest seat at the table.

In other words, don't be haughty or think you deserve the highest honor.  Be a person who does good unto others as a part of who you are.  Don't only give to those whom you know and take care of your own, either, but give graciously and sacrificially to those you don't know.  And when someone is in trouble, or needy, or lacking in some way, help them out, even if they are strangers.

This STORY about a woman who almost died, basically DID die, during childbirth at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver a few years ago.  She had a relentless medical team that saved her life and received an enormous amount of blood through transfusions, over 270 units in all.  And she and her daughter survived.  And she had a chance to tell her story and thank some of the people who voluntarily give blood all the time.. either a lot or just a few times or maybe even once.  At an event sponsored by Bonfils Blood Center to give tribute to voluntary blood donation, Cassidy Smith became a living miracle, a testimony to the power of blood donation.

When we give the gift of life through blood donation, we offer people we don't even know and will probably never know a chance at life.  It is a simple, yet profound, way we can allow someone else in need a seat at the head of the banquet table. It is a way we can serve their needs and not hold on to all we have ourselves. It is a way to be selfless.

There are many other ways to be selfless givers, of course.  What are some you can think of? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment by clicking the comments link below.

A Struggle of Olympic Proportions

Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6

Story LINK

This week let's take a look at the Olympic athletes that, although they didn't win or place in their individual events, really are the truly champions of this Olympic games. The Refugee Olympic team is made up of athletes who were forced to flee their countries due to war and violence. There are ten of them, from Syria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Their stories are all different, they range in age from teenager to mid-30s and they are the best of what the world has to offer.

They have endured struggle and loss and heartache that most of us can never dream of. They have saved lives besides their own, they have had to start all over not only in another city, but in another country, sometimes having to learn a new language. To find the strength and fortitude to become Olympians is truly remarkable.

And the Olympic committee that decided that this 'refugee' team was a goal worth having. In the midst of all the other Olympic preparations that the International Olympic Committee has to undertake, they took the effort to collaborate with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to form the team through tryouts and offering them Olympic-level coaching.

Jeremiah 1 says "you shall go to all to whom I send you," after a reluctant Jeremiah doubts his ability to be the prophet he is expected to be. He is also told, "See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

The Psalmist says in Psalm 71
In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.

This is a reminder that no matter what circumstances life throws our way, we always have a refuge in God. That God will be with us in the trials and tribulations of life. 

These refugees remind us that our inner strength which comes from God can propel us to heights that we never imagined possible. And it does not have to end with a gold medal on a podium for us to receive our highest reward.

Simone Biles, gold medalist all-around winner for Team USA women's gymnastics said in an interview that she was lucky because she had parents who could afford to provide lessons for her and give her what she needed to succeed.  She has an understanding that so much of the world, so many like her, do not have the opportunities she does. And, in the case of the refugees, perhaps some of them did have those resources, but it was taken away from them in the cruelty of war and destruction of their homelands.

What is God appointing us to in this place?  What refuge from what storms does God offer to you?

Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment by clicking the link below.

Ripped from the Headlines: In Sickness and In Health

Psalm 80: 1-2, 8-19

I was going to do my "Ripped from the Headlines" message this week on the Hebrews 11 verse that says "let us run with perseverance the race that is set  before us," and focus on the Refugee Olympics team that has been fielded for the Summer Games from inspiring athletes who have escaped terror in their homelands and still are managing to present as world class athletes. And hopefully that story has a place in this series somewhere, but I was so struck this morning by this story in the New York Times about a heart transplant recipient that walked his donor's daughter down the aisle for her wedding.

Oh my gosh. The range of emotions that must have been on display in that ceremony. The living heart of a man who died is still beating and present at his daughter's wedding, one of the most heart-tugging day's of a father's life.  It's just such a great story.

Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 
the stock that your right hand planted. 
 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

God has placed his hand upon those who have regard for the vine of life.  God has granted life.  The family made the decision to donate organs. A man who was near death was saved.  I firmly believe that God can only act in the world through our actions. God depends upon God's children to enact healing and wholeness and peace and love.  

What stories of healing can you share? Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment by clicking the link below. 

"Buying Into Faith"

For this month, the series "Ripped from the Headlines" will showcase a news story that is current and hopeful.  Though so much that is negative makes the top of the headlines, I will strive to focus on positive stories, as possible. It may be that the positive story comes out of a lonely, desperate, possibly dreadful initial story. But what seed of hope can we find in the headlines that shows us the peaceable kingdom at work?

This is the news story I will base things on this week.

Scripture is Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

This story is heartwarming, but starts in a sad and fearful place. These young boys were afraid that they were going to get taken up into gang life, without being able to stop it, which must have been scary. Must still be scary.

But they reached out to this woman, an employee of the local housing authority, in the story and fortunately, she did the best right thing first. She hired them to work for the LaGrange Housing Authority immediately, no questions asked. She hired them to protect them.

We read so much in the news about racial strife and white privilege and perceived indifference to each other on both sides.  But this story shows us the way it should be done.  She sees an immediate problem and helps to solve it, but it should be noted that the problem needed to be pointed out to her. Fortunately she paid attention.

The writer of Hebrews in this eloquent passage, (one of my favorites), tells us faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. It also speaks of looking forward to a homeland, a promised land, and desiring a better country.

This is what is happening in this story. And in other stories that don't get nearly enough press time.  People are reaching out across differences to create a new relationship and a new community together.  One request, one answer, one life at a time.

What positive stories about reaching out across differences do you know?  Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment by clicking the link below.