Sarah's Sister Has Died

 

Late one afternoon, I received a call at the parsonage that Sarah’s sister had died.   It was a big deal for Sarah because her sister was also her room-mate at the rest home that both of them called home.   It was a big deal for me because it was my first death call as a pastor.   As a new pastor and as a 20 year old young adult, death was not something I was very familiar with.  Oh, yes.  I had attended the funeral of one grandparent and I had known the death of a couple of peers during  high school.   Yet, I was awkward around death  just as I was at the fact that many people in that rural community called me “preacher”.

I knew enough to make my way to see Sarah at the nursing home  as her pastor.   Nursing home staff showed me to where Sarah was in the nursing home.   (She was not in her room as the staff and funeral home folks were doing what they had to do.)   Of course, I offered my sympathy to Sarah on the death of her sister.   Clumsily, I made small talk with her.  After a few minutes, I asked what would be meaningful to her and she asked me if I would  read Psalm 23.   I can still remember when I  got to part in the Psalm that says “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me….” I looked over at Sarah and I saw tears streaming down her face.   After I read Psalm 23, I  offered to have a prayer with Sarah and she gladly consented.     I do not remember the substance  of my prayers, and any words that I prayed.   What I remember most is that I was there with Sarah in her hour of need seeking my best to be a pastor.   

My first death call as a pastor happened almost 50 years ago.    That kind of call as a pastor has been repeated many times since then.   What I learned that day is that the best thing that you can give someone in their hour of need as a disciple of Christ Jesus  is not some “magic words” but your presence.  As Gibran said many years ago:   “You may forget those people you laugh with, but you will never forget those you cry with.”      Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --  O God,   thank you for the truth that you are with us in our good times and our bad times.  As a follower of Christ Jesus,  give me the courage and wisdom to be your  ambassador  to those  I encounter who are in need of  your love;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

 

What's Wrong with Uncle Charlie?

 

Next month will mark the 50^th anniversary of my service  as a pastor.    In some ways, it does not seem like it has been 50 years;  however, when I look at how the world and I have changed it almost seems like it has been much longer.

One of the people that was a member of the first congregation that I served as a pastor was a man that was affectionately called “Uncle Charlie.”   During the week,  I would often see him wearing his bib overalls in his comings and goings through the community and to the church.   On Sundays, he would wear his seersucker suit, white shirt, and bow tie to church.  What I remember most about Uncle Charlie is not the old Chevrolet he drove or the fact that he still liked to grind his coffee beans in his coffee grinder every morning  before he made his coffee.   What stood out for me about Uncle Charlie is what else he wore to church.   On the lapel of his suit he wore a long line of perfect attendance pins for Sunday School.   I do not remember the specifics, but I know it was certain that Uncle Charlie had over 10 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School.     He wore them as a badge of honor just as does any member of our nation’s military wears their pins and ribbons.

I wonder what was wrong with Uncle Charlie that he was always in Sunday School and worship every Sunday?    Did he not  get sick, or simply want to stay home in his pajamas  and watch worship on a local television station   (there was not cable television in those days)?   Did Charlie never go away for the weekend to the beach or the mountains or some other vacation destination?    

What was wrong with Uncle Charlie that he was always in worship and Sunday School every Sunday for years and years?    Perhaps it was not  so much that something was wrong with Uncle Charlie as that something was right with Uncle Charlie, and what was right is that his actions and attendance said that gathering regularly at church was an important part of his life and a needed part of  the  life for a follower of Christ Jesus.    

How about you?     Is worship and gathering for Bible study with fellow Christians to learn about the Bible   (e.g. Sunday School) an important part of your life?    It is not enough to say so;    it is most important to let your actions and example show the same.    Sunday is coming again in a matter of days.   Perhaps I will see you there.  Have a joy-filled day.-  Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --  O God,  I thank for the Church of Jesus Christ, and for Christ Jesus, the foundation of the church.   Help me, God, to show the importance of worship not just in my words but regularly in my actions.  Amen.  

Keep On Whistlin'

 

Back in the early 1970’s,  I went to Duke University for a youth rally in Page Auditorium and heard a man speak named Tex Evans.  In 1969, he founded a program called the Appalachian Service Project which is a program where youth come to rural Appalachia to do home repairs on persons in rural Appalachia.  Even though it was over 50 years ago, I still remember that the title of Evans talk was “get your hands dirty” and that he talked about how it was not enough to tell others about Christ Jesus, but that we also needed to be people that showed our faith in how we reached out to others especially for the “least of these” by getting our hands dirty.   Tex Evans inspired me that day to be in mission and I have lived that out in so many ways.   

Tex Evans started  his ministry in the mountains and tells a story about one day when some of his fellow parishioners asked to go up the road  in a holler above the general store to see a couple that lived there.    Even though Evans was told that the family were Baptist, he did not mind.   When Tex got to their  home, he found the man working outside in the yard and saw a woman sitting on the porch.    As Evans talked to the man in the yard, he noticed that he would do something that seemed a little out of the ordinary.     Every now and then, the man would stop talking and whistle.    Tex thought it seemed a little odd and finally he got up the courage  to ask why he  would stop talking and go to whistling.     The man replied to Tex Evans saying this:   “You see my wife sitting there on the porch?    What you can’t tell from here is that she is blind.   She cannot see.    I stop my talking and let out a whistle every now and then to remind her that though she cannot see me I am near by.”

There are a lot of people that are blind in this world.   Some are blind to be able to see a sunrise or sunset, the faces of family and friends.  Others are spiritually blind to the truth that Christ lives.   They cannot  see him like they can see the material things they possess or maybe even possess them.    If we believe in Christ and are His followers, it is our joyous task to keep whistling.   Let the spiritually blind know the wonderful truth that Christ lives and is near.    Have a joy-filled week.    He is risen.-   Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --  O God,  I  praise you for the good news that Christ Jesus is raised from the dead and that as one of His followers I am one of the Easter people.   Thank you for the joyous task to share the resurrection story with others.    Praise you,  God and Father.   Amen.

 

Striking Out

 

In my last blog, I spoke about major league baseball.       As I write this, major league baseball is in midst of Spring training.   Pre-season baseball games are being held in Florida and Arizona which means that the regular season of major league baseball is not far away.  Not long ago, I reviewed the statistics on what major league baseball player holds the record for most strikeouts in their career.    According to Wilkipedia,  Reggie Jackson holds the distinction of striking out the most times as he  sought to hit the ball.    Why, Reggie Jackson struck out a grand total of 2,597 times.   That is a lot of times striking out in the batters box.    As I reviewed the list of hitters who had the most strikeouts, I noticed something significant:  most, if not all, the baseball players who had lots of strikeouts as batters are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

Baseball players are not the only ones that mess up.   So does every person.   None of us are perfect and sometimes we fail, make mistakes, or sin.  We miss the mark!  The apostle Paul speaks about that and the hope that we have when we strike out in Romans 3:22-24:

²² God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus^[a] the Messiah^[b]— for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people,^[c] 23 since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God’s glory. ²⁴ By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah^[d] Jesus,

In baseball and life, each of us sometimes falter, fail, mess up, or strike out.   But thanks be to God, we are justified and redeemed through Christ Jesus.     During this season of Lent, that is what the cross and Good Friday is all  about.  While Reggie Jackson and so many others went from striking out  to reaching the Baseball Hall of Fame, followers of  Christ have the resurrection hope of Easter and eternal life.   Thanks be to God.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

 

PRAYER --  O God,  I am a sinner.   So many times, I have failed to be the person you have called me to be.    Thank you for the bountiful, amazing grace that is found in the cross of Christ Jesus for  all who humble themselves before you and confess their sins;  through Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

Keeping Your Eyes on the Ball

 

The month of February is the shortest month of the year.   Though it only lasts 28 days most years, it  holds several important events.    For the sports fan,  February is the time when the Super Bowl takes place.    Ash Wednesday is on February 14 this year as Christians begin the journey of Lent.   For the romanctically inclined,  February 14 is also  Valentines Day when persons have license to show their  love for people that are important in life.    There is something else that happens in February that perhaps does get as much attention as these other February events and it is this:   the beginning of Spring training for Major League Baseball.    While I certainly would not say that I am a good baseball player, I always look forward to the beginning of Spring training  knowing  that means that baseball season is not far away.   One of the things that every baseball  player  knows is fundamental in playing  baseball is this:  keep your eye on the ball.    If you take your eye off the ball, you are apt to miss getting a hit or catching a ball.

 There has been a lot going on in the life of Church in recent years.   For several years,   Church leaders have had to  balance health issues and  church life and practice due to COVID.   Should we have worship in person or not?    Should we have other church events in person or only virtually?     Church leaders have had to educate themselves on health issues along with being experts in theology and Biblical studies.    For those of the United Methodist persuasion, recent years have brought  division that has led to questions  of whether each of us and our church will remain a United Methodist Church or disaffiliate.   In the midst of this time,  perhaps we in  church leadership  have  sometimes taken our eye off the ball and been distracted from our main focus which is this:   serving God and our neighbor for the transformation of the world.    

 Baseball players and Christ followers alike, keep your eyes on the ball.   Maintain your focus.  As someone said many years ago, “let us keep the main thing the main thing.”     May God help all of us in His Church to keep our focus on our mission to serve  God and neighbor for the transformation of the world.   Have a joy-filled week-   Pastor Randy Wall 

 PRAYER --  O God,  thank you  for your love for us and your calling to be your followers.  Through the power of your Spirit, help us to keep our focus on loving you and serving others; in Christ’s name I pray.  Amen. 

 

2024: New Year, New Me

 

2024.   I am still not used to saying that.   2024 is a milestone year.    Some of you will remember that 50 years ago (in 1974) Richard Nixon resigned from office as President of the United States.   This year is a milestone year for  me as it is the 50^th anniversary of some things in my life.   Back in 1974   (50 years ago), I graduated from college with a B.A. in religion and also became the pastor of a local church for the first time.

            Life is different now than 50 years ago.  Let me give you a few examples:

1.        In 1974,  the house I lived in had only a telephone that I  spoke on that was attached to a wire that ran to the house and that line was shared by other people in nearby homes (a party line).    Today, I speak to people on a phone I carry in my pocket.

2.        In 1974,  on line was where we hung the clothes after they washed in the washing machine.    Today, online is where you send email, check your bank balance, or order a pizza or  clothing as  you are on the internet.

3.        In 1974,   you could participate in worship only one way and that is by attending in person.   Today, you can attend worship by going on youtube, Facebook live, or some other platform. 

          I find myself in these days thinking of that passage of scripture that says:  “Behold, I make all things new.”   Thanks be to God for giving us a new year and a new day.    While I am grateful for a new year and to be celebrating 50 years as a pastor this year,  I find myself wanting more than to look back to the past.   I want to look to the future, and as I look to the future I  yearn to be different and to be new.   I am reminded of a quote I came across several years ago that says:   “Be the change you want to see.”    I  realize that the place I need to start in seeing the world is different is through being different.    Here are a few things I will pursue in 2024 in my quest to be new and different:

I want to spend  more time looking for the good and potential in others and less time in seeing their faults and weaknesses

I want to tell at least one person a day that “I love them”

If I post anything on social media, I will try everyday to post something that is positive and encouraging

I want to stop more and see the beauty in the world God has created and I want to listen more to God in my prayers

2024.   New year, new me.   What say you?   Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall 

PRAYER --  O God,  thank you the gift of this new year and new day. Create a clean heart in me, O God;   through Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

7 Things I Want for Christmas

  

A few years ago, my wife and I had a chance to see in concert Amy Grant and Vince Gill at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord.   It was a great show, particularly so for those that love the music of that husband and wife duo.    One of the songs that Amy Grant sang that evening was a hit she had a few years ago titled “My Grown Up Christmas List.”

I am at an age where my tangible wants in life are minimal.   I have been blessed with so much.  I recall when I was young asking my grandmother what she wanted for Christmas, and it was hard to get any hints from her.   And here I am, a senior citizen doing much the same thing to my wife, children, and other relatives.    Yet, that song by Amy Grant rings true for me because it is a list of things that you can not buy in a store.   With apologies to my friends in the retail business, the best things in my life cannot bought in a store.    As another Christmas approaches for this husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and follower of Jesus I share my own Christmas list as follows:

To have all my children, grandchildren, and son in laws together in one place with Ann and I at least once in 2024

That God will  guide each of my grandchildren in their path and that may  see Christ Jesus through the person that I am

That God will give me the strength and wisdom to lead the Church in these challenging days as I come in 2024 to  the 50^th anniversary of becoming  a pastor in the local church

That God will give my wife Ann and I the health to have many more years together because I cannot bear the thought of living without her

That the Church of Jesus Christ will spend more time sharing the love of Christ Jesus and less time putting other people and churches down

That the leaders of our state, nation, and world will strive to help others more than they strive to be re-elected

That each person might know and feel the truth that they are made in the image of God who has wonderfully made them

Those are the 7 things on my Christmas list this year.    Sorry, Ann, children, and grandchildren as I  do not think they are much help in your Christmas shopping for me.   However, I do know this:  they are all possible when we allow the greatest gift ever, Jesus Christ, dwell in each and everyone of us.   Merry Christmas everyone!  -   Pastor Randy Wall

PRAYER --  O God,  thank you  for the greatest gift, your son and our Savior Christ Jesus.  Help me to allow Him to live and dwell in me;  through Christ our Lord.  Amen.