The Forgotten and Overlooked Tithe

            One of the criticisms I hear occasionally from folks who are “church drop outs” or “church cop outs” is this:   “The only thing that the church wants from me is my money”.   From my experience, churches do talk about money.   Many churches, including the church where I serve as pastor, does give a weekly report on the offering received.   Likewise, many churches regularly give a report to the congregation or an organized church body on the income versus expenses.   Of course, there are the “television preachers” who ask for your  gifts. 

            When it comes to the offerings we give to the church and the Lord, the biblical guideline of our monies to the Lord is ten percent of what we have been given.     Isn’t it great that God desires us to give a percentage of what we have to him instead of a certain monetary amount?  All of us have been blessed with some money.  Some are blessed with little, and some are blessed with much.

            It occurs to me that myself and my fellow pastors have talked much about folks giving 10 percent of their monies to God, but there is another 10 percent that has gone forgotten and overlooked.   Too many of us “preacher types” fail to mention the importance of giving God  10 percent of our time and talents.      We serve a God who desires us to love him “with our heart, mind, soul, and strength”  (see Deuteronomy 6:4).      

            Each of us has the same amount of time:  24 hours a day, 7 days in a week.     While each of us has a choice about how we “spend” time, none of us can buy time or sell time.   Are you honoring God by giving Him 10 percent of your time?     Are you spending time regularly in   (as John Wesley put it) in “works of piety” like prayer, Bible study, worship, and the like?   Are you spending time regularly in “works of mercy” (as Wesley put it) helping those in need in our world and community?   

            Are you spending time regularly sharing your talents to help others?    Two business people I know give 8 hours of their time each week (a single day) to help others in their profession.       Business people sign up to spend a hour with these successful business people at no charge.   These business people do it freely and willingly because God has laid it on their heart to help others.  

            Today, this pastor asks you to prayerfully consider not just whether you put a tithe or 10 percent into the collection plate, but whether you give a tithe or 10 percent of your time and talents to the world around you.     I can guarantee you that you don’t have to tell me what you do or what you are doing, but I can guarantee you that someday each of us is going to answer about that to God.  Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall  

Prayer:   O God, we thank you for your goodness to us all the time in a multitude of ways.   Help us to honor you by giving to you and others in every way;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Giving Thanks for What Does Not Happen

There are a lot of folks who talk about the miseries of getting older, but let me tell you there are some joys in getting older too.   One of the fun parts of getting older is grandchildren.  The early days of July provided the opportunity for Ann and I to be together with our children, 3 son in laws, and 6 grandchildren for several days.  Our children are scattered across the country living in different states.   Unfortunately, that  means that all of us are together only on rare occasions.   Last week, Ann and I had  the joy of being together with  them.  

I enjoy being a grandparent.  I have such good memories of my own grandparents and time with them that I looked forward to the privilege for this stage in life.   It is good to tell them stories of my past… take them fishing… play games… and simply snuggle as they sit in my lap.  I come away from those rare times when I am with all my grandchildren exhausted yet invigorated. 

One of the greatest joys of this time together last  week was a privilege I had as a grandpa and as a pastor to baptize my youngest grandchild , Ezra Worth.    Above you will find a picture of Ezra in the arms of his Mom, Heather, along with his Dad, Amiri, and his two sisters, Madelyn and Eloise.  This picture was taken on the day of Ezra's baptism.   I was thrilled  the day that his Mom, Heather, called me to tell the news she was pregnant.    She was living with the rest of  her family in the United Arab Emirates at the time.   A few weeks later, she called to tell me news that concerned me:  doctors were concerned about the health of the unborn child.   I remember beginning a season of deep prayer for the child that grew inside Heather and for all our family not  knowing what the future would hold.   Heather and her family were so concerned about this that they soon made their way back to the USA wanting the best medical care for their child.   The good news is that all of it was a false alarm!   Ezra is a happy, healthy child. 

There is a passage of scripture that speaks to me when I think about the concern we had about the birth and health of Ezra Worth.   I Thessalonians 5:18 declares,   “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”     The apostle Paul wrote those words having known the reality of beatings and imprisonment for his faith as well as dealing with a mysterious “thorn in the flesh”.     Sometimes, I give thanks not for what is, but for what isn’t.  In this week, I give thanks that Ezra does not have a major health issue.  I give thanks for the privilege to be with children, son in laws, and grandchildren.    I give thanks that Ezra was born a healthy little boy that I had the chance to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.   Can I show you some pictures of my grandchildren?     Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

  

Prayer:   O God, thank you for all the gifts that overflow in our lives daily and are never ceasing.  I especially give you thanks for the gift of family.   Bless them and help me be an  instrument of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Thanks to the Young

It is the week of the 4^th of July.   As a child growing up in Burlington, this was a week when many of the textile mills would close for the whole week  and people would head to their favorite vacation destination.    Though the textile mills have virtually disappeared from many towns like Burlington, this is a week when many will  be  heading away from home.  

Though I graduated from school many years ago,  I still have a desire to learn.   In recent months, I have become more interested in American history.   I have read books on American leaders like Truman and Eisenhower, and on times in American history like the American revolution.    As I have read about that period of time called the American revolution, there are two learnings that stick out for me.  

First, I discovered that the people that were the leaders in the early days of what we call now the United State of American were young men and women.  Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, the chief writer of the Declaration of Independence, was only 33 years old when he wrote it!     Many of the other leaders in the early days of this country were in their 30’s and 40’s.    It was a reminder to me of how important are the young people in our world today.    Long ago, the apostle Paul told his young friend in Christ, Timothy:  “Let no one despise your youth”.  Though I and many of my peers might think the ideas and thoughts of the young are not worth considering,  we need to listen to them.   Perhaps they are the incubator for a revolution that is sorely needed in our world and country!

Secondly,  I discovered as I read and listened to the story of the beginnings of this country that the founders of this country literally put their lives and future on the line in their yearnings for freedom and democracy.      They were citizens of colonies of England, and their words and actions were sometimes quite treasonous.    Yet, they felt so passionately about it that they were willing to put their lives on the line.   Some of the ideas that I see on social media and on the news these days sometimes seem extreme.    Perhaps we need to respect persons enough to listen to their opinions as they might hold truths we need to consider.  Have a joy-filled week and God bless.  – Pastor Randy Wall 

Prayer:   O God, I give you thanks in these days for those men and women who yearned for freedom and who founded this country.   Thank you for them and for all who carry the light of freedom in these days;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Thanks, Whoever You Are!

Though it is late June, the memories of  recent high school and college graduations still linger. Congratulations to all the graduates, and to their families.   I got to thinking the other day about when I graduated from high school and prepared to go to college.  Though my Mom got her high school diploma through the GED program and never went to college, she instilled in me the importance of education.   Consequently, I can remember at age 11 going to the local bank and opening a savings account to save money for college.    In August 1971, I was excited as the time for my time to go to college came close and I prepared to attend Methodist College (now Methodist University) in Fayetteville.   A few weeks before I was to head to college, the bill came in the mail for the cost of the first semester.   It was much more than our family had anticipated.  Since I was the first in   my family to head to college, I believe that all of us was not sure that a semester was half a school year instead of the full school year.   Consequently, the amount of monies our family was to have to pay was double what we had anticipated.  I can remember sitting down at the dinner table on the day that bill came in the mail and my Mom crying as she realized that we were $500 short of the money needed for me to go to college. 

I was working that summer at Burlington Industries in Burlington.  I can remember during my lunch break the next day finding a quiet place at work and praying about our financial dilemma.  Despite my anxiety, I believed that if  God wanted me to go to college and become a pastor that a way would be provided for me to go.     I noticed a day or so after that a flyer on one of the bulletin boards at Burlington Industries about a loan program that they had to assist college students.    I inquired about it even though the date had passed for applications.   I spoke to my supervisor about my situation, and was overjoyed when Burlington Industries agreed to loan me $500 to go to college that Fall!  Through the graciousness of folks at Burlington Industries bending the rules after the deadline, God did provide.  

I could not tell you the names of the people at Burlington Industries that made the decisions and broke the rules so I could begin my college career.   What I do know is that my life has been filled with a legion of  un-named, unknown  persons who blessed me through their graciousness and generosity.      In John 6, we hear of a time when an un-named boy shares bread and fish that Jesus uses to feed thousands of people.   While many of us marvel at the miracle of what Jesus does with a few loaves and fish,  let us not forget the anonymous boy who generously shared what he had.     I give thanks for the many anonymous people at Burlington Industries long ago and through the years who  blessed me through their generosity.   I suspect you can say the same.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, my life is littered with so many people who have blessed me through their kindnesses.    I cannot thank them all, but I thank you now for them.  As I  have been blessed, grant that I might bless others;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

45 years and Counting!

Randy Wall-  1974

I will make a trip this week west to a place called Lake Junaluska as I attend the Western NC Annual Conference Session.    For those who are not of religious or United Methodist persuasion, Lake Junaluska is located about 30 miles west of Asheville near Waynesville.  United Methodists have a retreat center there by the Lake with the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains in the background.    Annual Conference is a unique combination of family reunion, business meeting, and camp meeting all rolled into one.  

This month marks an anniversary for me as I celebrate my 45^th anniversary as a local church pastor.     To give you an idea how long ago I started this journey, when I became a pastor Richard M. Nixon was President… gas was less than one dollar a gallon… and online was the place you placed your clothes to dry after you had washed them in the washing machine.   I was a young man and single when  I first became a pastor.   Now, I am married, semi-retired, and have four grown children and six grandchildren.   It is and has been quite a journey through joys and sorrows that were my own and that I had a chance to witness as I have served people and congregations across the Tar Heel state.     The greatest joy of all is to meet so many wonderful people whose faith and stories that have inspired me.   So often, I have been ministered unto instead of ministering.  

There will be times of reflection for me as I attend the Annual Conference Session this week.   As I see men and women began their journey in ministry, I will reflect and renew my vows to preach, teach, and share the good news of Christ in word and deed.   As I hear the names of those pastors who are retiring and pastors and their wives who have died in the past year,  I will give thanks for how many of them touched my life and mentored me.   As the Bishop reads the names of those appointed as pastor,  I will give thanks for the awesome privilege I have to serve as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ  with the good folk at Ann Street United Methodist Church in Concord.     Thanks be to God!   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

  

Prayer:   O God, thank you for the fact that you have called all of us to share the good news of Jesus Christ.   Thanks to those who serve through Word, Sacrament, and order as pastors.  Use them as your instruments;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

Happy Mother's Day, Dad!

Rory Feek is a singer/songwriter who lives in the Nashville area.   If you are a country music fan, you may have seen him perform or heard one of his songs on the radio.   He is also an author.  I recently listened to the reading of his book Once Upon a Farm.  Rory shares in the book that there was a time in his life when he was a single parent.    As Mother’s Day approached, one of his daughters made him a Mother’s Day card where they said “Happy Mother’s Day, Dad”.   

I can relate to that story as there was a season of my life when I was a single parent to two daughters in the house.    It was a challenging time in many ways.    For example,  I recall taking my daughter, Ginger, to a department store because it had come that time in her life when she needed to be wearing a bra.   I felt about as out of place helping my daughter buy a bra as perhaps a cat would feel at a dog show. 

I share a bit of the story of Rory Feek and my own story to not solicit sympathy for either myself or Rory Feek, but to offer a salute to the many persons who find themselves as mothers or fathers for a season of their life  who did not ask for the job of parenting at all or who are parenting all by themselves.  I think, today, of the Grandparents raising grandchildren… the single parent who lost a spouse through sickness, tragedy, or  divorce… the spouse left behind while their husband or wife is deployed with our nation’s military.     

One of the unsung heroes to me in the gospels is Joseph, the husband to Mary and the step-father of Jesus.   While we hear about Mary nearby when Jesus was crucified, we hear nothing about Joseph.    Biblical scholars believe that Joseph was much older than Mary and that he died between the time Jesus was 12 years old and the time that Jesus began his ministry.    I wonder if perhaps the reason why Jesus waited till his early 30’s to begin his ministry was partly so he could help take care of his mother since Joseph had died. 

 Fathers Day is approaching soon and Mother’s Day is a recent memory.   I know  people approach Father’s Day and Mother’s Day with differing feelings.   Some have fond memories of their parents and good relationships with their children.  Others feel differently.  If you are a parent raising children not your own or you are a parent raising children right now all by yourself, I salute you and give thanks for you.   Perhaps Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, would understand your circumstance.  Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall   

Prayer:   O God, who we call Father:   we give you thanks for your love that never lets us go.   We pray for those in these days who face the challenging job of parenting.   Give them the strength of your Spirit to be fathers and mothers you would have them to be;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

I Wish I Was More Like My Car

Ann and I bought a new car last month.   It is a 2019 Hyundai Tucson.   One of the features the car has is that it helps you stay in your lane of the road.   When the car drifts toward the center line or toward the shoulder, this feature will literally help keep the car in your lane by gently helping the steering wheel go the correct way.   When you drift out of your lane, this feature  will prompt a beeping sound.  

This feature is not one that we chose when we bought the car.   It simply was a part of the package.   To be perfectly honest, I don’t need it when I am driving with Ann by my side because she does a pretty good job of making sure I stay on the road… in my lane… and at a safe speed. 

I wish I was more like my car.   I  wish this feature on our car that keeps you in the right lane without veering left or right was more innate inside me.   Sometimes, I drift off the path that God wants me to travel.    Sometimes, I get distracted and go on another path instead of the path God desires me to follow.     There are times that I can say as Psalm 119:176 puts it:  “I have strayed like a lost sheep.”       

How good it is to know that when I stray like a lost sheep that there is  a “Good Shepherd” who knows my name and seeks me out.       How glad I am that this “Good Shepherd” loves me not because I always stay on the “straight and narrow”, but because I am his child.   Guess what?   That same “Good Shepherd” loves you too.    Give me a call or send me a message and I will take you for a ride in my new car.   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, whose son Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd:   forgive us for the many times we stray from the life you have given us.   Thank you for your love that seeks us out like a shepherd seeking a wandering sheep;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.