In an attempt to understand who Jesus was, some people of his time called him “rabbi.” Rabbis were Jewish teachers. Their students were called disciples or “learners.” Those who followed Jesus were also called disciples, but there was a difference.
First, Jesus taught his disciples differently. Whereas other rabbis relied heavily on the teachings of rabbis in times past, Jesus relied largely on his own authority. For ex., the Sermon on the Mount ends with, “When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teachings, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” Mt. 7: 28, 29.
Second, Jesus’ relationship to his disciples was different. That of other rabbis to their disciples was temporary. After a learning period, other disciples “graduated” and were called “rabbi” themselves. Not so with Jesus. He said, “But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students… Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah (Jesus).” Mt. 23:8, 10.
Third, Jesus shared with his disciples differently than other rabbis. They shared their wisdom. Jesus shared both his wisdom and his power. “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15: 4,5
Jesus could speak with authority because a true understanding of God’s nature had been granted him. Our opportunity is to learn from him about God which is a never-ending process. We never graduate, never arrive at a point when we don’t need Jesus’ support, correction, and guidance. And Jesus strengthens us to serve him and enjoy the benefits of being his followers in the circumstances of our lives.
This relationship with God through Jesus is what we desire for all others. Something to think about on this Evangelism Sunday. -DJ
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Pastor’s Column Sept. 18, 2011
We continue to wait on presbytery to call together the committee that will determine an Assimilation Plan whereby FPC Festus is assimilated by Grace. But as we wait, we have decided on the following:
Saturday, Oct. 1. FPC has been invited to join with us in the Fall Festival.
Sunday, Oct. 2. FPC will join us at Grace to celebrate World Communion
Sunday.
Sunday, Oct. 23. Rev. Bill Charlton of FPC will fill in for me inasmuch as I’ll be
giving a presentation, “The Imagination of Fred Harvey” at the University of
NM Continuing Ed. and to the Friends of the Roswell Library.
Thursday, Nov. 24. Volunteers from Grace will join with FPC in cooking and
serving a Thanksgiving dinner to those in need - this at FPC.
FPC’s last Sunday of worship. Grace will not have worship here that day. We will go to FPC and celebrate with them 130 years of service. At this point, we have no idea when this will be.
I urge everyone to be most welcoming of all from FPC, remembering that this is a sad time for them, and that they have much yet to offer in Christ’s service.
- DJ
Saturday, Oct. 1. FPC has been invited to join with us in the Fall Festival.
Sunday, Oct. 2. FPC will join us at Grace to celebrate World Communion
Sunday.
Sunday, Oct. 23. Rev. Bill Charlton of FPC will fill in for me inasmuch as I’ll be
giving a presentation, “The Imagination of Fred Harvey” at the University of
NM Continuing Ed. and to the Friends of the Roswell Library.
Thursday, Nov. 24. Volunteers from Grace will join with FPC in cooking and
serving a Thanksgiving dinner to those in need - this at FPC.
FPC’s last Sunday of worship. Grace will not have worship here that day. We will go to FPC and celebrate with them 130 years of service. At this point, we have no idea when this will be.
I urge everyone to be most welcoming of all from FPC, remembering that this is a sad time for them, and that they have much yet to offer in Christ’s service.
- DJ
Monday, September 12, 2011
Pastor’s Column Sept. 11. 2011
One of the things we Christians say is that “We’re in the world, but not of the world.” Or at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Temptation is everywhere. It’s pretty hard not to be “of the world” anymore.
Take, for example, advertising. So that we will buy “stuff”, we are bombarded day in and day out with cutesy slogans and enticing pictures. And have you noticed how much advertising has to do with food?
Obesity is a killer, but how many corporations selling food, especially fast-food, care? Over the past ten or fifteen years I have lost 40 pounds. I know how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off. People need some help and support in attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight. Do they get it? Rarely.
Processed food corporations advertise on Saturday morning TV in an attempt to “hook” children on their products. They use kid-friendly personalities such as Shrek to endorse grease and sugar. They talk about their products in term of a “nag factor,” i.e., how much will a kid nag his/her parents to get this snack food. The higher the nag factor, the better the product.
The Center for Disease Control recently published the fact that obesity rates have doubled for adults and tripled for children over the last 20 years. One reason is that portion sizes have ballooned. Twenty years ago bagels were (on average) 3-inch diameter, 140 calories. Today they’re more like 6-inch, 350 calories. Fast-food cheeseburgers were 333 calories, today 590 calories. Soda in 12 oz. cans was sold in vending machines. Today you can rarely find anything other than 20 oz. bottles of soda, an increase in calories of 66%. French fries of 2.4 oz. gives you 210 calories; 6.9 oz., 610 calories.
It’s hard to be “in the world but not of the world” when you are surrounded by temptation. In the Bible such a situation is a call for holiness, holy meaning devoted to God and not the world. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, that you are not your own. For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 19,20 -DJ
Take, for example, advertising. So that we will buy “stuff”, we are bombarded day in and day out with cutesy slogans and enticing pictures. And have you noticed how much advertising has to do with food?
Obesity is a killer, but how many corporations selling food, especially fast-food, care? Over the past ten or fifteen years I have lost 40 pounds. I know how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off. People need some help and support in attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight. Do they get it? Rarely.
Processed food corporations advertise on Saturday morning TV in an attempt to “hook” children on their products. They use kid-friendly personalities such as Shrek to endorse grease and sugar. They talk about their products in term of a “nag factor,” i.e., how much will a kid nag his/her parents to get this snack food. The higher the nag factor, the better the product.
The Center for Disease Control recently published the fact that obesity rates have doubled for adults and tripled for children over the last 20 years. One reason is that portion sizes have ballooned. Twenty years ago bagels were (on average) 3-inch diameter, 140 calories. Today they’re more like 6-inch, 350 calories. Fast-food cheeseburgers were 333 calories, today 590 calories. Soda in 12 oz. cans was sold in vending machines. Today you can rarely find anything other than 20 oz. bottles of soda, an increase in calories of 66%. French fries of 2.4 oz. gives you 210 calories; 6.9 oz., 610 calories.
It’s hard to be “in the world but not of the world” when you are surrounded by temptation. In the Bible such a situation is a call for holiness, holy meaning devoted to God and not the world. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, that you are not your own. For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 19,20 -DJ
Monday, September 5, 2011
Pastor's Column Sept. 5, 2011
Cheri and I attended the recent Gathering in Minneapolis of Presbyterian churches concerned about the change in standards of ordination for pastors, elders, and deacons. Several at Grace have been likewise concerned, and so we went in order that we could see for ourselves and report to you first-hand.
We were pleasantly surprised by the tone of the meeting. The leaders were not interested in being angry or in name-calling. They were most forthcoming about their plans, and they had options for all congregations to consider. Here are three.
The first option is, “Most congregations will want to stay with the denomination, and that’s fine. You still have the right to determine whom you ordain as elders and deacons, as well as whom you call as a pastor. So long as your presbytery doesn’t hinder your ministry, why leave?” This is what I’ve been saying all along. There are individuals at Grace who might choose to leave the congregation and denomination, and we’ll miss them, but I know no one who would want Grace to leave.
A second option, which will be taken by a number of churches if it is approved by the General Assembly next summer, is this: a congregation will become a member of two denominations. One will be the PCUSA, as is the case now, but the other will be a New Reformed Denomination yet to be formed. Actually, it is on the drawing board. This way a congregation can say that its beliefs conform to the New Denomination (Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith), while it still supports and engages in certain mission work with the PCUSA.
A third option, but only for those churches who are on the outs with the PCUSA, is to leave the denomination now, which likely would involve going to secular court with the presbytery as to whom owns the building. This process-of-last-resort can be drawn out and costly. Most PCUSA congregations that have left thus far have joined a denomination called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. -DJ
We were pleasantly surprised by the tone of the meeting. The leaders were not interested in being angry or in name-calling. They were most forthcoming about their plans, and they had options for all congregations to consider. Here are three.
The first option is, “Most congregations will want to stay with the denomination, and that’s fine. You still have the right to determine whom you ordain as elders and deacons, as well as whom you call as a pastor. So long as your presbytery doesn’t hinder your ministry, why leave?” This is what I’ve been saying all along. There are individuals at Grace who might choose to leave the congregation and denomination, and we’ll miss them, but I know no one who would want Grace to leave.
A second option, which will be taken by a number of churches if it is approved by the General Assembly next summer, is this: a congregation will become a member of two denominations. One will be the PCUSA, as is the case now, but the other will be a New Reformed Denomination yet to be formed. Actually, it is on the drawing board. This way a congregation can say that its beliefs conform to the New Denomination (Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith), while it still supports and engages in certain mission work with the PCUSA.
A third option, but only for those churches who are on the outs with the PCUSA, is to leave the denomination now, which likely would involve going to secular court with the presbytery as to whom owns the building. This process-of-last-resort can be drawn out and costly. Most PCUSA congregations that have left thus far have joined a denomination called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. -DJ
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