“I Cannot Say the Lord’s Prayer” was written by an unknown believer. It speaks to the selfishness and greed of our times. Read it prayerfully.

I cannot say…Our—if my religion has no room for other people and their needs. I cannot say…Father—if I do not demonstrate this relationship in my daily life. I cannot say…Who art in Heaven—if all my interests and pursuits are earthly things. I cannot say…Hallowed be Thy Name—if I who am called by His name, am not holy. 

I cannot say…Thy kingdom come—if I am unwilling to give up my sovereignty and accept the reign of God. I cannot say…Thy will be done—if I am unwilling or resentful of having Him in my life. I cannot say…on earth as it is in Heaven—unless I am truly ready to give myself to His service here and now.

I cannot say…Give us this day our daily bread—without expending honest effort for it or by ignoring the needs of my fellowmen. I cannot say…Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors—if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say…Lead us not into temptation—if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted. I cannot say…Deliver us from evil—if I am not prepared to fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.

I cannot say…Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory—if I do not give disciplined obedience, if I fear what neighbors and friends may say or do, if I seek my own glory first. I cannot say…Amen—unless I can honestly say also, cost what it may, this is my prayer!

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Live truthfully. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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There is no such thing as too many books for those of us who love to read and explore. My personal library of books on shelves and in closets is well over 2,000. A wonderful lady named Mickey Allio catalogued my books for 15 years or so. She made an old-fashioned library card catalog of each book by title, author and subject. Mickey, along with Mary Harlan, Alice Emminger, Irene Gant, Raedelle Plummer and Pansy Beaman, created our church’s versatile library. They loved knowing that I worked my way through college and seminary working in those schools’ libraries.

My personal library is partially for research. Good research involves learning the various viewpoints from a variety of authors with diverse backgrounds. If I am not willing to be taught to expand my thinking, I will only stagnate in my own limited understandings.  I weed my garden of books once or twice a year. I place those books in a box to give away or sell. I cannot bear to see a book destroyed. I oppose the banning of books and the arts. There should be restrictions for age appropriateness, of course. A church library has concerns about appropriate content that differentiates it from public or personal libraries. Librarians are skilled in making wise choices.

I take heart to know that I’m not alone with my enjoyment of books. One of my mentors said that any book was worth the price if it provided a good sermon illustration. I still use that excuse to read more books. Some people tell me they have not read a book in a couple of years or more—too busy, too tired, too much TV, and the ever-present phone in hand. Wander through a library, visit a bookstore or let me give you a book. What do you need to discover today?

 Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Open your world. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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Anna Jarvis (1864-1948) is the recognized founder of Mother’s Day. At the close of a Sunday School lesson in 1876, Anna’s mother is quoted as saying, I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it. Thirty years later, after her mother’s death, Anna led her Methodist church to have a memorial service commending the role of mothers, handing out 500 white carnations on May 10, 1908. By the 1920’s she became disgusted with the way Mother’s Day had been commercialized and loudly voiced her regret at being its founder: A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment!  Anna Jarvis never married and had no children of her own.

Mother’s Day is a day for reflection on the role our mothers have played in our lives, yet, for many it is a day filled with conflicted emotions and regret. The first Mother’s Day after a mother has died is often incredibly painful, as well as all the Mother’s Days following the loss of a child. As a pastor, I feel the heart cry of the couples who wanted children, but it did not/could not happen. I hear the pain of the “unwanted.” I listen to incredibly difficult stories of mother-child animosities and abusive addictions. I see the broken hearts of the grandmothers who have their grandchildren torn from them by divorce or court order. Yet, God has given us a rich gift in our complicated and sometimes messy families. Through it all, you and I have become who we are because God’s love has embraced us, nurtured us, and redeemed us. 

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Encourage a mother. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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Our sister congregation, Monte Los Olivos, announced that they were withdrawing from our Master Property Agreement to pursue the purchase of their own property. The primary reason stated is that our facility is too large and expensive to maintain. The experience this winter of the furnace breaking down, with an initial estimated replacement cost of $65,000, caused them to reevaluate their future with us. We have since authorized repairs that are costing around $20,000. There is also the reality that the sanctuary air conditioning system is very old and outdated. For instance, the freon that it uses has been phased out, and there is a small freon leak in the main unit. The cost to add this old-style freon is several thousand dollars each summer. Monte Los Olivos has placed a bid for a nearby church, which was accepted. Their closing date is set for May 20.  

I quickly informed the congregation over the weekend and the church met for a deep discussion following the worship hour. The meeting explored a full range of facts and ideas on the next steps our congregation should explore. By the end of the hour, the church, acting with grace and unity, committed to all changes that are needed to advance the mission of our church in reaching our community. This commitment includes keeping our facilities (including that leaky air conditioner) fully repaired and up to date; utilizing funds from the White City Foundation strategically as necessary; and prayerfully seeking God’s direction in ministry partnerships. The spirit in the room on Sunday was awesome. It was as sweet a time of discussion and discernment as I have ever seen in the life of our congregation. The people were as one.

While there are all the emotions associated with grief and sudden change, we know that God is with us, guides us, and answers our prayers. Thank you for praying with us, ministering alongside us, and sharing in the unfolding future before us.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Prepare to be amazed. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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What goes through your mind when you read about the fake news story in the Bible? This might be a good time to turn in your Bible to Matthew 28:11-15 and read it for yourself. I will wait before I go further with this reflection. You do need to read it first.

What are the hallmarks of fake news? According to this passage, the point is to devise a story to cover-up something. It is to set-forth an alternate account of what really took place as a distraction. Powerful and influential people are involved. It includes witness tampering and bribery. It indicates an inconvenient truth is the first casualty of pride. 

In our day, fake news is also used as a smear against a known truth.  It is designed to provide alternate talking points as a smokescreen to change the subject. It can become the ultimate he said, she said, adeadlock of ideas. The goal is to provide a plausible denial of reality. 

Why is this story even in the Bible at all? Because the fake news story was still being talked about when the gospel of Matthew was being written, some thirty or so years after Jesus. It was written as a warning to us all. It shows us the way to counter the fake story: seek out verifiable facts, eyewitness accounts, and those directly impacted by the results of the account. Fake news is a lie, a coverup, and a distraction. It is an effective form of gossip. It is a kind of dishonesty many of us have resorted to.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. Seek truth. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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