Weekly Church Posts

Simple Food Served With Love

2009-03-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

I recently traveled to Guatemala with a group that was checking up on a water purification system we installed at a school two years ago and rewiring the computer lab at that same school so that all of the computers (donated by another group) would work at the same time. This post is a little different from others in that it is not reviewing a past sermon or class, but rather reviews our experiences in Guatemala regarding something deeply spiritual: food.
We arrived at Las Flores School in Salcaja early in the afternoon and began work. A couple of hours later we were served a lunch of Guatemalan tamales and freshly prepared papaya juice. The tamales were made by wrapping a paste of rice flour in banana leaves with a piece of chicken, red sauce called “ricardo,” an olive and a few raisins. They were, as are all the best tamales, cooked in lard and carefully unwrapped by someone who cares.
Two of our group had the additional task of checking in on a water system located in the village of La Cumbre. After lunch we drove the 45 minutes up the hill to the church in La Cumbre and made our inventory of the system to get ready for the next day. They fed us. A plate of radish slaw, cucumber slices, pickled beets, a piece of fried chicken from the popular Pollo Campero restaurant, and the best, freshest, warmest and most fragrant tortillas of the trip. I can still smell and feel the wonderful sensation I had when I pressed one flat to my nose and mouth. Heaven will be like this.
The next day, back at Las Flores School, lunch came around about 2, after we took a couple of the older girls on an errand for Carolina into the town of Salcaja. They picked up the chicken fresh from the butcher and took it back to be cooked into Caldo de Pollo (chicken noodle soup). We were served a perfectly seasoned blend of chicken broth, shell macaroni, onions, big chunks of carrot and potato, and a piece of chicken with bones and all. This time the meal was served with freshly prepared sandia (watermelon) juice and fresh tortillas almost as good as those from La Cumbre.
The next morning we were taken to the restaurant owned by our host in Quetzaltenango ( called Xela) where we were staying. The meal of eggs, ham, refried beans and tortillas was typical of what Guatemalans have every day for breakfast, but our host included some special treats. Cambray is a sweet masa tamale with raisins and cinnamon and sugar. A Chuchito is a savory tamale made with masa and filled with the ricardo sauce mentioned above. The name of the restaurant in Xela is Luminar. Rosa’s cooking is worth the trouble to find.
Later that day we celebrated with the teachers and children of Las Flores School and, you guessed it, they fed us. This time the meal was Enchiladas, which means meat and vegetables served on crispy tortillas with jalapeno and other peppers ready to be added when needed. The juice served was made from bananas, but we were honored with an additional drink. Caldo de Frutas (fruit soup) begins when someone in Salcaja, which is famous for this concoction, distills liquor (illegally) and pours it over fruit (apples, cherries, pears) that has been sliced (not peeled) and put in a jar. The jar is sealed and buried in the ground for six months. When it resurfaces the liquor is poured off and served and the fruit is eaten, carefully. There was more liquor in the fruit than was poured off to drink. This is quite a treat and is completely local to Salcaja.
That night was our last in Xela and we were treated to a fabulous Guatemalan Churasco (bar b que) at the home of our host. On the menu was chicken, beef, chorizo and longoniza (sausages), onions, jalapenos, and the special sweet bean filled bananas called Platanos. All of this was served with love and the fun of quite a lot of Gallo Cervaza (beer) made and distributed in Guatemala, but available in most import stores in the U.S. Yours truly added some California wine brought from home.
The rest of our meals were taken in restaurants and two of them do deserve mention. In Antigua La Cuevita de los Urguiza allows you to point at the main dish stew that you want, add two side dishes, order your drink and sit in the courtyard to eat. We eat there every time we are in Antigua, which is one of the great tourist destinations in Guatemala. Our last meal in the country was taken in Guatemala City at the Nessun Dorma, Ristorante e Bar. This is one of the more elegant meals I have ever been served. The charming matre de turned out to be the owner and the head chef. He checked on us several times during the meal and shook our hands as we left. The food, by the way, was fabulous. I had the lobster ravioli, my daughter the spinach ravioli with gorgonzola sauce, others in our party had beef tenderloins with gorgonzola sauce, seared tuna steak, and salmon. I recommend both of these places if you are ever in Guatemala.
I am home now, but can still close my eyes and smell those fresh tortillas and feel the love with which they were served.

Urgency

2009-02-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

Do you feel any urgency about anything? Ever? I mean urgency of something not related to bodily functions like hunger. As I pop out of bed in the morning, renewed with greater energy since the addition of the CPAP machine in my life, I stroll out to get the Fresno Bee and then move to make my coffee, read the paper, check my emails and check to see if the Dodgers have signed Manny Ramirez yet. This last matter is something that I am feeling much more urgency about than Dodger management has exhibited.

As I have been reflecting on the early Church and upon the history of the Church since that first century I couldn't help but notice that these early Christians felt that it was urgent that they share the Gospel of Jesus. You read about this urgency in the sermons preached by the Apostles and in the letters written by Paul. On the day of Pentecost Peter yelled to the people gathered, "Repent and believe!! Save yourselves from this corrupt generation!!" Christian historian Micael Greene in his book, Evangelism in the Early Church, suggests three factors that motivated these first Christians to an urgent sharing of the Good News.

The first of these three is the fact that these were people who had experienced Jesus Christ personally and deeply and whose lives were changed permanently because of this encounter. The Apostle Paul claims that same life changing encounter with Jesus even though he never met him in the flesh. In First John 1 we read that John is inviting his readers into life itself, and that life is defined by fellowship with the Father and his Son, Jesus. "the further that this fellowship extends, the great the joy it brings to those of us who are already in it." (J.B. Phillips version)

The second reason for urgency was the commitment of the early Christians to right living. Much of Jesus' teaching and Paul's writing concerned the important matter of how to live. There were moral rules put in place, but over them all was Jesus' teaching (Sermon on the Mount in Matthew) that we are called to behavior that is motivated by an inner spiritual reality, which is love. That makes the imperative to live responsibly harder, not easier. Christian conduct is not just a list of rules, it flows from the relationship we have with God in Jesus. Augustine said, "Love God and do as you please." That is harder than it sounds to us 21st century cynics. Desire ONLY to please God. This was important to the early Church and it is important now!

The third reason for urgency is that the early Christians were very clear on the concept that if someone was not "in Christ" then that one would go to hell. This has always been the most difficult stance of the Church for Christians and non-Christians to accept. Maybe we can debate the issue in another blog post, but for now I simply point out that this stance has been a motivating factor in moving Christians to tell the story of Jesus throughout the history of the Church. There have been recent opinion polls that show that most Americans (70% or so) do not belief in the exclusiveness of Christian belief as a requirement for salvation. Most of us believe that people can follow other religions and still wind up in heaven. This sort of explains the lack of urgency we have in sharing the Gospel these days. And in addition, when we tell people they are going to hell if they don't believe in Jesus, it does not work very well. They are not normally frightened enough to even pretend to believe. Most just yawn and walk away.

Is it possible to recapture the urgency of the early Church in our own lives? Can we find motivation that moves us to be eager to share the Good News of Jesus today? We may or may not believe in hell, but might there be something we view as important enough to want to share with others? What would motivate us to tell others and hope that they will join us in fellowship with Jesus? Could we relate the intensity of our own experience with Jesus? Might we feel strongly about how we should live with the presence of the Spirit guiding us? Let me know what you think.

Sandy

God Calls

2009-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

This Sunday was the day when our church ordained and installed officers. It was a blessed occasion. In my sermon I talked about the idea that God has always called persons to serve God's people. I believe that no matter how we come to the position, if we take this call seriously, God works through us to do His work.

I began with Moses and Aaron, toured through David and the prophets, and ended up in the New Testament as I reviewed ways that God had called persons that we read about in the Bible. Moses received a dramatic call with a burning bush and a big voice. Others, like Aaron, seemed to be just along for the ride, and yet the call of Aaron was also evident as he helped his brother lead the people of God. David was chosen in a quiet way, through Samuel, on a visit to the home of David's father. David took courage from the certainty that he had received God's call to be king and won his battle with Goliath, and then his battle with Saul, and became the King of Israel.

Prophets were called and priests were equally called. Prophets received dramatic calls from God, priests were priests because their fathers were. There was a call on both. Jesus called his disciples, who became the Apostles of the church. Acts 6 tells of the rather ordinary choosing of 7 men to be Deacons, and Acts 9 tells of the dramatic choosing of Paul who became an Apostle. As the church moved beyond New Testament times leaders continued to be chosen in mundane and dramatic ways. God calls leaders for His chuch. God's call is upon all of us who serve His people and His creation. God is working through us. Never forget that wonder.

This weekend Jeanne and I saw the movie "Milk." This is the story of Harvey Milk who was the first gay person, in 1977 to be elected to public office in California by being elected to the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. History buffs will remember that he was assassinated along with Mayor Moscone by former Supervisor Dan White. Even though we know that this killing takes place at the end, it is the journey to it that has such power. Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk is spectacular. This movie presents an interesting slice of history that took place in California in a way that helps us to understand it from what may be for many viewers a new viewpoint. The movie is not for children at all, but is worth seeing as a witness to how life has developed here in California over the past 40 years.

Harvey Milk worked to achieve freedom for people who were systematically abused by the legal system in San Francisco and California. He worked to defeat Proposition 6 in 1978 which would have caused the firing of any teacher in California who was gay or who supported the rights of gays. Though he was not one who claimed a call from God, Harvey Milk's work produced greater freedom. Producing freedom is, I believe, work in which God is leading. Milk would not have known it, but I believe that he was doing God's work as he advocated for the people he represented. Is it possible that God uses (calls?) persons who do not even know that they are doing God's work.

Rejoice!

2009-01-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

It is Sunday evening after a great time of worship in the morning, taking Communion to one of our shut ins, a good nap, and a good dinner of soup and biscuits. It is time to try to update this blog with some sermon notes for those of you who like that sort of thing.

It was the first Sunday worship of 2009 and I wanted to offer some encouragement for this new year. I chose a favorite text, Philippians 4:4-9. This is that which begins "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!" These words are final exhortations from the Apostle Paul to the people of a church that he knew well. Paul wrote this letter from jail in Rome. The people of the Philippian church had loved him enough to send him money and a friend. Paul knew and treasured the people of Philippi. He encouraged them by beginning, "Rejoice."

I pointed out that I like the Philippians passage better than a similar one in I Thessalonians 5:16 which simply says, "Rejoice always;" I find it much easier to rejoice in the Lord than to rejoice always. There are plenty of times when I find it hard to rejoice, but when I think of Jesus, I can rejoice in him.

The Apostle wrote, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." That is good encouragement. He could have said so many things, but to these people whom he knew so well and whose gentleness he had personally appreciated, he said, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." I pass that on to you, gentle people. Bless you.

Then Paul told them, "Don't be anxious about anything but in everything present your requests to God." Nothing bleeds self confidence from a person like anxiety. Nothing restores that confidence like prayer. Present requests to God and trust that God is working. Be confident and do what God calls you to do. If you do then the "peace of God that transcends understanding" will be yours.

If we skip to the end of the passage we find the phrase, "the God of peace." So, we have the written phrases, "the peace of God," and "the God of peace." Between these phrases we have Paul's exhortation "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." These are not short answer definitions that Paul is looking for from us, but deep thought and meditation upon those qualities listed. When we think about this things, then the God of peace will be with us.

I hope that you will turn to this passage this week. Think about the encouragement Paul gave to people he loved. Read Acts chapter 16 to learn about the beginning of his contact with the Philippian people, and particularly with Lydia. She was the first to respond to the Gospel in Philippi and the Church there began in her home.

Blessings,
Sandy

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

A brief post to encourage readers and fellow bloggers to see the movie, "Slumdog Millionaire." This is the story of Jamal who becomes a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in India. Through a review of the questions he had been asked we learn about Jamal's life from his childhood until the moment when he faces the biggest, final question worth 20 million rupees. The telling of the story of his life is wonderful! Everything in his life prepared him for this contest. His poverty, his love, brother, his failure and success, and his fears all contribute to being able to answer questions on the show.

There are many layers to think about in this movie, but mostly it is a love story with a happy ending. You'll love it!

Blessings,
Sandy

It's 2009!!

2009-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Don't faint, but it is me, your friendly neighborhood pastor and blogger, signing on for a new entry in 2009. A special greeting for "Grandma Sandy" who may be the only one to actually log on to see this. I know that I have said it before, but I am going to try to post more regularly this year.

I am thinking of a short series of sermons in January and February on characteristics of the early Church. What I want to do with this take material from Acts that describes that earliest manifestation of the Church and then follow those characteristics through the history of the church to the present day.

For instance, on January 11 we will be ordaining and installing leaders, Elders and Deacons, during worship. The text for consideration that day for the sermon will be from Acts 6 recounting when Deacons were first chosen in the early Church. This method for choosing leaders in Acts is basically what we try to use today in the Presbyterian Church. They look for and choose people of stature and holiness who will be able to serve well as leaders. However, it is not the only way of chosing leaders that is exhibited in Acts. In chapter 9 we have the dramatic moment when God chose the Apostle Paul to be a leader in the Church. Wow. God sometimes chooses leaders without consulting us. As we follow this thread of leadership down through the history of the church we discover that there have been many ways leaders have been chosen. Sometimes the King or Queen chose them. Sometimes the leadership that God chose was invisible to the world until much later.

I hope this is an interesting set of sermons. I hope I can pull it off. Ideas that I have for the list of characteristics to develop are: Attention to the Apostle's teaching; Community and hospitality; Openness to new groups of people, namely Gentiles; Culture clash, how the Church has been different/separate from the world; How the Church has been Persecuted; How the Church has grown (or not).

Enough for now. See you Sunday?

Blessings,
Sandy
This is a work in progress. I would love your ideas.

Weekly?

2008-10-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

My effort to keep up this blog as "weekly" church posts has obviously failed. It has been over two weeks since my last post. Much continues to happen. Next week I will get back to my stated intention of putting some material from sermons here so that you can refer to notes and make comments. For now, something else.

We continue to pray for Dave Hawk, and for the police that they will find who is really responsible for Debbie's disappearance. Dave's spirits are pretty good. He loves having people visit and appreciates the care packages and mail people of the church are sending. I want to say again how proud I am of the people of our church. You have cared for Dave and his family in wonderful ways.

I am still quite unfamiliar with the task of being pastor to someone who is in jail, and pastor to people in a church who are trying to care for someone they love who is in jail. I find myself alternately sad, angry, frustrated by the system, hopeful that something might be resolved, and feeling totally powerless to do the one thing that Dave needs the most. I can't get him out of jail. I am convinced of his innocence and angry about the injustice being done to him. I fear that this injustice will continue and that he could be in jail for some time to come.

While I can see that God is teaching us all, incuding Dave, of His love and faithfulness, I find myself upset at God for not securing justice for him. It is more than my being impatient, I am hurt, frustrated, fearful, and angry that God is not taking better care of us. Ok, now that I have that off my chest, there is more.

Life happens, and as hard as life can be I still think that it is better than the alternative. God has gifted us with life that teaches, enriches, and challenges. Because of this situation I have come to appreciate Dave even more than before. I have developed a good relationship with Chelsa and Savanah, who are now active in the church on their terms. They help and participate as the outstanding young ladies they are. I have been privileged to watch many of you step up to show concern and offer real comfort and help to Dave and his girls. I continue to trust God, despite all the feelings that I expressed above. A wierd sort of side benefit of Dave being out of commission is that I am learning how to take care of our website. No, really, don't laugh.

I find myself wondering what you are experiencing in connection with our ministry with Dave and his family. I am sure that you have feelings and thoughts that are worth expressing. I invite you to do so in comments on this blog.

One comment I received on my blog is that the posts are too long. I had better quit now.

Blessings,
Sandy

Who Is Jesus bar Joseph?

2008-09-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

It's Hebrew, OK? The "bar" in the name is Hebrew refering to "son of." The reason I titled my sermon this is to point out that this is the way Jesus would have been known to many in the first century of our Common Era. This sermon was an introduction to my series for the Fall about discovering the "historical" Jesus.

Are the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith different? Probably so, for most of us, but they should not be. It is important for Christians to believe in Jesus as he was, not as who we want him to be. Many have written about Jesus and made up their own image of what he was like. He has been portrayed as a hippie revolutionary, an Egyptian freemason, an apocalyptic madman, prophet of doom, and as a rich man with several wives and homes. The list goes on and on. The only corrective we Christians have for these fantasies is what the Bible says concerning Jesus seen within the context of first century Judaism, which was the context of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. There are many images of Jesus floating around out there. We need to make the effort to discover what he was really like.

I have often asked the question, "What is God like?" The answer is, "God is like Jesus." That is the only answer for Christians. Orthodox Christianity tells us that Jesus is God "incarnate." Incarnate means "in the flesh." God came here, as a human being, to show us what he is like and to do for us what he wanted to do. What is God like? God is like Jesus. The study to understand what Jesus was like and how he was understood in the first century is vital to our understanding of our faith.

There have been some who have pursued the "historical Jesus" with methods that begin with the decision to discount anything the Bible says because it is a "faith" book, not a history book. We will not do that, but we will ask some of the questions these groups of scholars ask and hopefully answer the skeptics to your satisfaction.

If you would like to read two books that I am using as sources you may do so. Both are easily available in most book stores or online. These books are:

The Challenge of Jesus by N.T. Wright. Wright is the official theologian for Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey. Dr. Bailey was my New Testament professor at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon. His work on placing the New Testament into a Middle Eastern context has gained aclaim from scholars and laypersons alike.

My texts for this last Sunday were: Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:25-32, and Acts 2:22-24. As you read them notice how they all reflect the importance of the very real and historical figure of Jesus. The Old Testament prophet, the Gospel writer Luke, and Peter in the first Christian sermon ever preached all pointed to one who was historically present, who lived and died in a particular place and time.

Welcome to this journey. I hope that your enjoy it.

Pastor Sandy

Getting Started

2008-09-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog for weekly church posts. I hope that you can all get signed in so that you can comment on things I put here. I am learning all the things that I can do, and might put up poll question from time to time, to give you a way to register your opinion on some issue that affects the church.

My biggest challenge with this blog is to remember to keep posting, perhaps several times a week. My next post will be the basic outline/summary of last Sunday's sermon. After that I might give you a preview for next Sunday, or I might not.

I welcome your comments, encouraging or otherwise. From time to time I hope I can recommend books and websites for your enjoyment and inspiration. If you want to do the same you can leave such things in your comments. All my posts are signed "Dodger Fan," which tells you something about me. My Sabbatical Reports are still available at presbysandy.blogspot.com. Welcome! Let's get started.