I am my biggest problem, just as I suspect you are your biggest challenge. Sure, there are all sorts of challenges that come along in life, but the one consistent challenge I face is “me.” I put myself at the center of my universe and expect everyone else to revolve around me…including God. My prayers betray my conceit. I pray for God’s help to do things MY way, not God’s. I have the plan that’s best for me, and everything is good as long as no one gets in the way of my plans. Even when “helping” you, I have a plan and I want to help you MY way. Ego…ego…ego.
I find myself coming back to Jesus saying, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him…
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. (John 13:1-5, 12-17)
So clear and yet so not what I want to do. If I had a dollar for every evangelism program that’s promised new disciples finding faith and becoming a part of the church, I’d be able to enjoy another wonderful vacation in Europe. Then one day, I suddenly realized we’d rather do anything than do church Jesus’ way, even create yet another program. Church Jesus’ way means serving one another and leading from our knees. That’s why we create elaborate programs rather than humble ourselves. We want church our way, with our music, our worship style, with more videos or no videos at all, dramas or no dramas…the “I wants” go on and on. We exist for the sake of service to one another and service to our neighbors. Yet we want it on our terms, our way. I have come to understand church as the community of faith where we get to put into practice Jesus’ way of living so that we’re becoming more and more like Jesus in the way we think and live. This is the community of faith where I am humbled and challenged to serve rather than be served. This is the place that offers grace and tough love. When we do this, people recognize Jesus among us.
I’ve come to fear, in what I hope and pray is a healthy fear, that when I appear before Jesus on judgment day, I’m not going to be cross-examined on my theological and doctrinal purity. I’m going to be asked by my lord and savior, “What part of ‘loving one another as I have loved you’ didn’t you understand?” My hunch is the question won’t be asked so much in anger, as sheer frustration and bewilderment. And He won’t be asking about someone else, He’ll be asking me.
For those of you who are a part of The Table, I’d love to have your thinking on this servant stuff and what it means for you to “throw in the towel” of ego and take up your towel to serve. Thank you in advance.
Now for the other stuff on my desk…
WHAT COLOR WILL DAWNE'S HAIR BE THIS YEAR? IT'S TIME TO BUY A MILE!! The Youth Group is raising $$ for 34 airline tickets to and from Philadelphia, PA. Their goal is $8,000. (the actual cost of the trip is closer to $18,000) Please help support our youth and chaperones in our mission trip this summer. If they meet their goal, then the youth get to choose what Dawne's next hair color will be. You can have a say in this as well - the youth are taking ideas from those that donate! So far, Dawne’s hair isn’t going to be changing, which means we’re falling far short of our goal.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR LENT 2011
PALM SUNDAY – APRIL 17 – 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM
MAUNDY THURSDAY – APRIL 21—Dinner served at 6:00 PM. Service begins at 7:00 PM.
As Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, we will celebrate communion with our church family. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for a free dinner that will be followed by a very special serving of communion. And just as the disciples went out from that place, we will move to the Sanctuary as the service continues.
COMMUNITY GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE—APRIL 22
Service begins at 12:15 PM—Held at the Sonoma Mission downtown and sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Ministerial Association.
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE – APRIL 24 – 6:00 AM
With the rising of the sun . . . . join the Sr. High Youth Group as they lead us in a service celebrating the Risen Son!
EASTER RESURRECTION CELEBRATION – APRIL 24 – 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM
Join us for our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. We will have special music from our choir, bells, band, brass choir and Rich’s Easter message.
With that…you really do know what I know…
Sunday's talk (sermon? I'm not sure what it is called) was well timed in my life. I have been struggling with my students and thinking of myself as higher up than they. Though I am an authority figure and a teacher, I'm also a student and a servant for the boys I teach. Perfect timing. I feel refreshed and ready for a new week. God has a way of changing perspectives. Thanks!
Posted by: Eric Dean | April 18, 2011 at 12:54 PM