Those People In the Airport

I wrote last week that one of the things that I do regularly at this stage in my life is read.   A second thing that I enjoy doing at this stage in my life is travelling.   I recall that my Grandpa Perry died at age 65 without ever even seeing the Atlantic Ocean.   I cannot say the same.  I have had the privilege to travel to many states and a few foreign countries.   One of the things that you are doing if you travel by plane is spend time in airports.   Though airports are pretty much the same, what stands out for me in airports is the people you see.    Sometimes when I am in an airport, I will put down the book or newspaper I am reading and simply observe the people that I see as they move from terminal to plane, plane to terminal.  

I have found myself at times rushing to judgments about people thinking to myself I would not do what I see them doing or I would not dress the way they are dressed.   I have observed people treating what perhaps were family members or airline employees in ways that were not positive or kind.   Lately, when I find myself rushing to judgment about people I see in the airport, I attempt to choose a different response to them.   That response is that I have begun praying for them.     While I know not their name or their needs, I have simply lifted them up to our God who knows all of us better than we know ourselves.   

I wonder what the world would be like and what we would be like if each of us would pause before we respond to others or pass judgment on them and simply utter a prayer for the persons we encounter or observe in the airport, the neighborhood, the restaurant, or in our workplace?    Though Jesus certainly never travelled via an airplane,  I think he got at this issue when he said in the sermon on the mount:  "Judge not, lest you be judged."      Have a joy-filled week. -   Pastor Randy Wall  

Eating Thanksgiving with the Enemy

One of the things that I do regularly at this stage in my life is read.   While I have read the Bible regularly for years, I take more time to read other books in these days including biographies, history, and the like. Not only do I read books, but I also listen to books in my car as I come and go around the community.   A few weeks ago, I came across an audiobook at our local library titled Mayflower by Nathaniel Phillbrick.  It tells about the pilgrims who journeyed to the shores of this country we now call the United States of America.   I suspect that even persons with the limited knowledge of American history know that there is a connection between the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving celebration.  

In listening to this book about the pilgrims, I learned some things.  Let me focus on only two learnings.   First, it probably is a myth that the pilgrims first set foot on the shores of this land called the United States by setting foot on Plymouth rock.   According to the book, they set foot on these shores first on Cape Cod near what is modern day Provincetown, Massachusetts.  A second learning from this book for me is that while the Native Americans (or Indians) and the pilgrims set down for a festival of Thanksgiving, their relationship was not always filled with such harmony.   According to the book, the Native Americans were suspicious of the pilgrims and the pilgrims were fearful of the Native Americans.   It was only over the course of time under the leadership of some of their leaders that they transitioned from enemies to friends and neighbors. 

As we approach this Thanksgiving, there are many divisions among us on the political, religious, and social level (not including between friends and within families).     Perhaps we can learn something from our ancestors that will help us transition from enemies of each other to being friends.  While I know not all the details about how the pilgrims and Native Americans moved from enemies to friends and neighbors, I want that to happen in this day and I hope you do also.   Have a joy-filled week. -   Pastor Randy Wall  

Prayer:    All praise and thanksgiving be to you, O God.   You have given us not only yourself in your Son, Christ Jesus, but you also have given us one another.   May the power of your love overcome the barriers and walls between us; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

They Are Human

The month of October in recent years has been known as Pastor Appreciation Month. While I am not sure why October was chosen for this observance, I celebrate that pastors are getting some appreciation.   Though October is gone, I want to take time today to focus on Christian pastors and religious leaders of all faiths in general.    Though there are many things I know little about in this ever-changing world, I think that I can speak about pastors since I have been a pastor now for over 40 years.   At the same time, I also speak as one who has a little distance from the pastoral role since I am semi-retired. 

The thing I want to center on today is a truth about pastors:   they are human.   Though they are set apart to serve an immortal God, they are quite mortal.   Though they live in the world, they have been called to serve One whose “kingdom is not of this world”.  The truth that pastors are human means several things.   

First, the humanity of pastors means they are not perfect.  While they serve a Savior who is without blemish, all pastors have blemishes.   They are saved by grace through faith as are all folks.  While I believe most pastors earnestly want to be outstanding in pastoral care, preaching, administration, community involvement, and leading worship, most pastors are outstanding in some responsibilities and not outstanding in others.   

Secondly, the humanity of pastors means they cannot do everything.   The Psalmist declared that “he who keeps Israel neither slumbers or sleeps”.    While that is true about God, it is not true about pastors.    The Eveready bunny might keep going and going, but pastors need to take time to rest just like you.   I have served part-time as a pastor and full-time as a pastor, and I don’t believe that I ended any week having done all that I hoped to do.    If a pastor fails to meet your expectations or the expectations of your church leadership, perhaps the reason is not because of their skill or work ethic but because pastoral responsibilities you do not even know about got in the way. 

Thirdly and finally, the humanity of pastors means they do not know everything.   While God knows all, the pastors called by Him do not.    They do not know of your deepest hurts and hungers, of your hopes and dreams as a church, of your sickness and heartaches unless you share them.    A pastor does not know the unwritten traditions of a church or community unless you tell them.    ; Talk to your pastor, and talk to God in prayer for your pastor asking God to direct their paths.     If all persons in the pew would spend  as much time praying for their pastor as they did talking about their pastor I believe not only would pastors be more equipped, but communities of faith would be more vital.   Have a joy-filled week. -   Pastor Randy Wall  

Prayer:  O God, I thank you for those called by you to be leaders of communities of faith.  Bless all pastors to be faithful to you.  Show me, Lord, how I can be an asset for your kingdom and your Church; through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

It's Used, but Are You?

My wife, Ann, and I went to our local Goodwill Store a few weeks ago.   I was the one that suggested we stop by.     When we left the store, we had purchased a tie, men’s sport coat, ladies jacket, and a men’s shirt for a grand total of a little less than $13.  (Our savings were more than they usually would have been because it was “Senior Day”.)   

There are all kinds of places where one can buy used items these days.   The Goodwill Store, Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, and yard sales are just a few examples.  While on the one hand we might congratulate our self on getting a bargain on a used item at one of those places, on the other hand there is a shadow that is cast over things that are used.    Even though my friend Ralph Davis used to say that “everybody drives a used car”, we think a new car is better.  We take pride in the possibility of buying a recently built, new home instead of a home that had former occupants.   

While used and second hand are sometimes considered second class, isn’t being used the aim for all of us in our life?   The devout Christian surely wants to be used by God.  The faithful employee wanted to be used in their job to be an asset to a company and its customers.   While purchasing something used might be considered second class, I don’t know about you, but I think being used should be our goal in this life by the God who created us.   Have a joy-filled week. -  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, use me in this day and in this life.   Use, me, Lord, for your work and for others; through Christ our Lord.   Amen.  

Persons The Light Shines Through

Today is  November 1.  It is the beginning of the 11^th month of the year.   The turning of the calendar to November means that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the end of the year is not very far away.   November 1 is also a special day on the church calendar as it is known as All Saints Day.    

Saint is a word that brings to mind for many people a life lived without blemish and filled with the performance of miracles.   The Roman Catholic Church has a process for designating a person as a saint. The performance of  miracles and living a blameless life are two criteria that are a part of the process.   It is interesting to me that you will not find the word “saint” at all in modern translations of the Bble like the New International Version or The Message.   The word “saint” that we find in the King James Version is often translated to mean “holy ones”.     I am grateful to God for the saints that we read about in church history like St. Augustine and St. Peter, but I am also grateful for the saints who I have encountered in my own journey.

The story is told of a pastor who had the tradition of having a “childrens time” at Sunday worship.   One Sunday, he asked the children:  “What is a saint.?”   One child thought for a moment  and observed the stained glass windows showing images of people in the sanctuary, and exclaimed:   “Pastor, a saint is a person that the light shines through.”

I give thanks to God for those saints I have encountered in my life who have allowed the light of Christ to shine through them.   My life is better because of them.  Perhaps this All Saints Day is a good time for you to think of those saints who have touched your own life.   Thank them if you are able, and give thanks to God for them.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, I thank you for the saints who have crossed my path and have shown me the goodness of you.   Help me to follow their example and live more like you;   through Christ our Lord.  Amen.