Living (or visiting) in the Bucey household brings you into contact with all things elephant. There are elephant paintings, elephant tapestries, elephant figurines, elephant dishes, elephant clothing, elephant everything! I think you get the picture. My wife, Barb, loves elephants and anything having to do with elephants. The license plate on her car bears these letters – ELEFNT. Enough said.
Elephants are often a topic of conversation in our home and many times have been object lessons to our kids, i.e., elephants mate for life and elephants cry. And because of her fascination with the largest land-roaming mammal, I have come to see in them many lessons for my thoughts and my writings at this time of year. Here goes….
A group of clergymen were getting a tour of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus Winter Headquarters in Sarasota, Florida. To get the real feel of the circus, the ministers were allowed to enter the big top through the performers entrance at the beginning of the three-ring event.
One of the men noticed a curious thing – just outside the tent there were several elephants standing in close proximity to one another with ropes tied around their ankles which were merely extending out across the grass, but tied to nothing. The oversight was pointed out to the handler, to which he replied, “Oh, don’t worry. We never tie them up. We just tie a rope around their leg and drop it, and they think they’re tied up.”
How many of us imagine ourselves tied up to something from which we cannot get away, when in truth, our ropes are in our heads and hearts and not on our hands and feet. I could stop here, but I’ll make a couple of Advent comments which better describe our tethering.
How often is our gift-giving celebration lessened by the question, “Well, what did they get us (or me) last year?” as we attempt to get just the right gift for a seldom-seen relative? Or, how often do we break the bank or the credit card bill in an attempt to show our love when what most people really
want is to be loved. PERIOD. How many times do we get frustrated at the mall at canned
Christmas music which started just after Halloween? And how many times have we sat
back on Christmas morning watching the toddler playing with the box and/or the
wrapping paper wondering if it was worth all the fuss?
Why are we so struck by the elephant’s inability to break free from the tethering rope? I think it is because we enjoy the feeling that we’re secure. We really enjoy all the gift-giving because it gives us a sense that we have mimicked God’s gift-giving at Christmas. We feel safely tethered to the thought that we are required to do the “Christmas Thing” rather than getting into intimate conversations about Emanuel -- God with us.
At least the elephant is fooled into thinking he/she is confined. We actually do this to ourselves. We tie the rope and then drop it. It is safer that way. Let’s not be fooled this year. This Advent and Christmas Season we have an opportunity to un-tether ourselves and get at the real meaning of Christmas -- that God decided to come and live among us, not to give gifts, but to love us. It is really that simple. Un-tether yourself.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A Contribution, or Total Commitment?
One of my favorite stewardship starter stories goes something like this. A chicken and a pig are walking down the road together early one morning when the chicken spots a roadside diner with a great big neon sign out front. In flashing green and red lettering, the sign reads, “Ham and Eggs Breakfast, $1.99”. The chicken gets all excited and says, “Oh Pig, doesn't that sound so good? We have to stop in, Pig. We have to. I could really go for a breakfast like that.” The pig joylessly responds, “Of course you could, Chicken. For you, a ham and eggs breakfast is easy. For you, a breakfast of ham and eggs, especially the eggs, represents merely a contribution. But for me, a breakfast of ham and eggs, especially the ham, represents total commitment.”
I freely admit that I've never understood the set-up to that joke. Why are a Pig and Chicken walking down the road together, much less talking to each other? And what in the world would possess them to go into a diner and order Ham and Eggs? But reservations aside, I do like that punch line. “For you it represents just a contribution, but for me it represents total commitment.”
At Pilgrim Church, we are looking for total commitment.
Because that is what discipleship and stewardship are all about, right? When we say that we follow Christ, we don't just mean a little bit. You can't just be a part-time follower of Jesus. We cannot so compartmentalize our identity as to say, “In this part of my life I'll be a Christian; but I have to stop doing that over in this other part of my life” or say “Well, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and every other weekend I'll follow Christ” or even worse, “Okay, I'll be a Christian from 10AM to 11AM on Sunday mornings, but that is it.” It doesn’t work that way.
Jesus reminds us that being a Christian, being a follower of Christ, being one of his disciples isn't as easy as a donation. He reminds us that it takes total commitment. Maybe that is why the word Steward comes from the word styward, the one who cares for the pigs (as in the pig sty). Hey, nobody said it was going to be glamorous. Our task is simply to care for what God has entrusted to us. And, oh, yes. We are to return it when he asks for it. Don’t you hear him calling?
I freely admit that I've never understood the set-up to that joke. Why are a Pig and Chicken walking down the road together, much less talking to each other? And what in the world would possess them to go into a diner and order Ham and Eggs? But reservations aside, I do like that punch line. “For you it represents just a contribution, but for me it represents total commitment.”
At Pilgrim Church, we are looking for total commitment.
Because that is what discipleship and stewardship are all about, right? When we say that we follow Christ, we don't just mean a little bit. You can't just be a part-time follower of Jesus. We cannot so compartmentalize our identity as to say, “In this part of my life I'll be a Christian; but I have to stop doing that over in this other part of my life” or say “Well, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and every other weekend I'll follow Christ” or even worse, “Okay, I'll be a Christian from 10AM to 11AM on Sunday mornings, but that is it.” It doesn’t work that way.
Jesus reminds us that being a Christian, being a follower of Christ, being one of his disciples isn't as easy as a donation. He reminds us that it takes total commitment. Maybe that is why the word Steward comes from the word styward, the one who cares for the pigs (as in the pig sty). Hey, nobody said it was going to be glamorous. Our task is simply to care for what God has entrusted to us. And, oh, yes. We are to return it when he asks for it. Don’t you hear him calling?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Halloween - Pagan or Holy?
Everyone knows that Christmas is the holiday which brings in the most money to business. Do you know which is second? Easter? - No. Valentine’s Day? - No. It is Halloween. Halloween is the second most popular and the second most profitable of the holidays. So where did it come from? “Hallow” in old English means “holy” or “sacred”. “Hallow’s Eve” or Halloween means “evening of holy persons” and refers to the evening before All Saints’ Day. As early as 609 B.C., All Saints Day was practiced in the church as a means of honoring all martyrs.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory II moved the festival of All Saints to November 1st where it remains to this day on both Anglican and Roman Catholic calendars. The move in part offered a substitute for the popular pagan celebration of the Celtic New Year. The Celts believed that at the New Year, the dead came back to mingle among the living. As the ghosts thronged about the houses of the living, they were greeted with tables loaded with food. After feasting, masked and costumed villagers, representing the souls of the dead, paraded to the outskirts of the town leading the ghosts away.
You can see the origins of Halloween in this festival -- children dressing up in costumes going house to house to gather treats in an effort to thwart the work of ghosts. Thus Halloween is in part a religious holiday to prepare us for the Festival of All Saints. Some Christians prohibit their children from practicing this age-old rite. They say it is pagan. I think not. It is grounded in religious practice and can be used as a “teachable moment” when we know the facts. So get out your favorite mask and old bed sheet. Go to the neighborhood Halloween party. It’s your religious duty. Get ready for All Saints’ Day.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory II moved the festival of All Saints to November 1st where it remains to this day on both Anglican and Roman Catholic calendars. The move in part offered a substitute for the popular pagan celebration of the Celtic New Year. The Celts believed that at the New Year, the dead came back to mingle among the living. As the ghosts thronged about the houses of the living, they were greeted with tables loaded with food. After feasting, masked and costumed villagers, representing the souls of the dead, paraded to the outskirts of the town leading the ghosts away.
You can see the origins of Halloween in this festival -- children dressing up in costumes going house to house to gather treats in an effort to thwart the work of ghosts. Thus Halloween is in part a religious holiday to prepare us for the Festival of All Saints. Some Christians prohibit their children from practicing this age-old rite. They say it is pagan. I think not. It is grounded in religious practice and can be used as a “teachable moment” when we know the facts. So get out your favorite mask and old bed sheet. Go to the neighborhood Halloween party. It’s your religious duty. Get ready for All Saints’ Day.
Monday, August 29, 2011
No Excuse Sunday
As we gear up for Fall, 2011, I want to note a few changes in our worship service.
No Excuse Sunday:
Dedicated to missing church members! To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are going to have a special “No Excuse Sunday.”
• Cots will be placed in the lobby for those who say, “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.”
• There will be a special section with lounge chairs for those who feel that our pews are too hard.
• Eye drops will be available for those with tired eyes from watching TV
• We will have hard hats for those who say, “The roof would cave in if I ever came to church.”
• Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold, and fans for those who say it is too hot.
• Score cards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.
• Relatives and friends will be supplied for those who can’t go to church
• We will distribute “Stamp Out Stewardship” buttons for those that feel the church is always asking for money.
• One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to seek God in nature.
• Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who plan to be sick on Sunday.
• The sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the church without them.
Please cut and paste the following link into your browser:
http://media2.e-zekiel.tv/Assets/Media/7C99B386-2750-4BAB-9AFA-0FE289D60CC3.mp4
No Excuse Sunday:
Dedicated to missing church members! To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are going to have a special “No Excuse Sunday.”
• Cots will be placed in the lobby for those who say, “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.”
• There will be a special section with lounge chairs for those who feel that our pews are too hard.
• Eye drops will be available for those with tired eyes from watching TV
• We will have hard hats for those who say, “The roof would cave in if I ever came to church.”
• Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold, and fans for those who say it is too hot.
• Score cards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.
• Relatives and friends will be supplied for those who can’t go to church
• We will distribute “Stamp Out Stewardship” buttons for those that feel the church is always asking for money.
• One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to seek God in nature.
• Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who plan to be sick on Sunday.
• The sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the church without them.
Please cut and paste the following link into your browser:
http://media2.e-zekiel.tv/Assets/Media/7C99B386-2750-4BAB-9AFA-0FE289D60CC3.mp4
Obituary - Someone Else
Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work.
Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyon'e list. "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results, "Someone Else can work with that group." It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?
When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.
Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyon'e list. "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results, "Someone Else can work with that group." It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.
Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?
When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A New Lesson from The Ugly Duckling
Once upon a time in a faraway barnyard, a mother duck sat dutifully on her eggs. As she awaited their hatching, she noticed that one of the eggs was much different from the others. It was indeed larger and of a much different color. But she loved the egg nonetheless. Other barnyard animals called the large egg a turkey egg. They said, “That’s a turkey egg. I’d know one anywhere.” When the appointed time for the hatching came, the old duck watched as each egg cracked and eventually produced an offspring. All seemed well. That was until the last, larger egg opened wide.
What a surprise was in store. That offspring was indeed larger and, frankly, not nearly as cute and loveable as the smaller ducklings. The larger “ugly” duckling was awkward and slower. It did not swim like the others and it did not quack like the others. The mother duck loved the ugly duckling as if it were just like the others. But all was not well.
Soon the other barnyard animals began to tease the ugly duckling and called it awful names. Eventually, the mother duck found that the larger “duckling” was really a swan. She watched as it gracefully swam on the pond and brought beauty to the barnyard. All was well once again.
Of course this is Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of “The Ugly Duckling.” The story teaches that things are not always as they appear at first.
This tale reminds me of Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts. Christians had gathered from far and wide to hear Peter preach. A sound came from Heaven and there appeared tongues as of fire, and they began to speak in other tongues. Immediately some began to observe, “They must be drunk to be speaking like that.” It was as if they said, “That’s a turkey egg. I’d know one anywhere.” They acted on insufficient information.
Peter had to rise above the crowd and explain to the assembled masses that the men were indeed not drunk. Rather, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. He went on to explain that it was indeed the Holy Spirit that had come to rest upon them that day, and that each one had understood in his own language.
I see this all the time. First impressions rule the day. I hear people say with the barnyard animals, “That’s a turkey egg.” I hear them say, “They’re drunk.” I even hear it said, “They aren’t like us. They don’t belong here.” Let’s learn from the barnyard animals and those gathered at Pentecost. First impressions can be destructive. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom to discern what is His will for us. It will serve us well.
What a surprise was in store. That offspring was indeed larger and, frankly, not nearly as cute and loveable as the smaller ducklings. The larger “ugly” duckling was awkward and slower. It did not swim like the others and it did not quack like the others. The mother duck loved the ugly duckling as if it were just like the others. But all was not well.
Soon the other barnyard animals began to tease the ugly duckling and called it awful names. Eventually, the mother duck found that the larger “duckling” was really a swan. She watched as it gracefully swam on the pond and brought beauty to the barnyard. All was well once again.
Of course this is Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of “The Ugly Duckling.” The story teaches that things are not always as they appear at first.
This tale reminds me of Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts. Christians had gathered from far and wide to hear Peter preach. A sound came from Heaven and there appeared tongues as of fire, and they began to speak in other tongues. Immediately some began to observe, “They must be drunk to be speaking like that.” It was as if they said, “That’s a turkey egg. I’d know one anywhere.” They acted on insufficient information.
Peter had to rise above the crowd and explain to the assembled masses that the men were indeed not drunk. Rather, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. He went on to explain that it was indeed the Holy Spirit that had come to rest upon them that day, and that each one had understood in his own language.
I see this all the time. First impressions rule the day. I hear people say with the barnyard animals, “That’s a turkey egg.” I hear them say, “They’re drunk.” I even hear it said, “They aren’t like us. They don’t belong here.” Let’s learn from the barnyard animals and those gathered at Pentecost. First impressions can be destructive. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom to discern what is His will for us. It will serve us well.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
FANAFI
FANAFI - it’s an acronym for businesses. Many businesses start out with an honorable and seemingly do-able business plan. But, downturns in the economy, personal missteps, and a whole host of other variables can wreak havoc on the once viable enterprise. When this happens, many entrepreneurs turn to the acronym above - FANAFI - “find a need and fill it.”
Many a struggling business has been saved with the FANAFI credo. There is nothing particularly innovative about FANAFI; the advice is sound and instructive for anyone who wants to be successful in meeting people’s needs and growing an entrepreneurial venture. FANAFI is about as simple as it gets. You find a need (a niche) that no one else is meeting, meet it effectively, and your venture will grow. FANAFI works for business. Maybe, just maybe, it will work for Pilgrim Church.
In the days after Easter, we can begin to see parallels in the first chapter of the book of Acts. As Jesus prepared to depart from his disciples, he gave them instructions on how to FANAFI as his representatives. Using two principles from Steve Gottry’s book, Common Sense Business: Starting, Operating, and Growing Your Small Business in Any Economy, we can begin to see some of Jesus’ and Gottry’s strategy.
Begin with a dream. Gottry says all successful businesses begin with a dream - a dream envisioned by a leader and shared. Jesus indeed had a vision - one that he called the Kingdom of God. His vision was a people restored and brought to new life through the power of God’s saving love. Jesus had instructed them about the kingdom, and even though Jesus saw it as a long process, the disciples, no doubt, looked for short-term solutions. This was a struggle for his early followers.
Implement the plan. Here’s the hard part. Christianity indeed started out as an entrepreneurial venture. But, somewhere along the way, on the way to the corporate model, the basic FANAFI principle went out the stained glass window. A church which prided itself on going into the trenches and into the back corners to seek out those who needed assistance most, turned into highly evolved empires (sometimes called denominations) instead of seekers, witnesses, and martyrs.
You get my (and Steve Gottry’s) point. Businesses which lose sight of their goals often fail. Churches which lose sight of their founding principles often face extinction too. So, what can we do?
What the early Church had was a message of hope, a plan for loving everyone, and a compelling way of life - a FANAFI. Around Pilgrim Church, we are seeing FANAFI. From the hospitality shown to visitors to the proposed acquisition of a Youth Minister, it’s beginning to happen. We are looking at the needs of others, not our own. We are looking for unfulfilled needs. Our intention is to fill them. Maybe it’s tutoring. Maybe it’s job skills training. We do not know yet.
Whatever it is, we are looking for it. Whether it is Jesus and his followers in the first century, or a band of believers in Green Twp., we now have a plan. It is FANAFI. Get on board.
Many a struggling business has been saved with the FANAFI credo. There is nothing particularly innovative about FANAFI; the advice is sound and instructive for anyone who wants to be successful in meeting people’s needs and growing an entrepreneurial venture. FANAFI is about as simple as it gets. You find a need (a niche) that no one else is meeting, meet it effectively, and your venture will grow. FANAFI works for business. Maybe, just maybe, it will work for Pilgrim Church.
In the days after Easter, we can begin to see parallels in the first chapter of the book of Acts. As Jesus prepared to depart from his disciples, he gave them instructions on how to FANAFI as his representatives. Using two principles from Steve Gottry’s book, Common Sense Business: Starting, Operating, and Growing Your Small Business in Any Economy, we can begin to see some of Jesus’ and Gottry’s strategy.
Begin with a dream. Gottry says all successful businesses begin with a dream - a dream envisioned by a leader and shared. Jesus indeed had a vision - one that he called the Kingdom of God. His vision was a people restored and brought to new life through the power of God’s saving love. Jesus had instructed them about the kingdom, and even though Jesus saw it as a long process, the disciples, no doubt, looked for short-term solutions. This was a struggle for his early followers.
Implement the plan. Here’s the hard part. Christianity indeed started out as an entrepreneurial venture. But, somewhere along the way, on the way to the corporate model, the basic FANAFI principle went out the stained glass window. A church which prided itself on going into the trenches and into the back corners to seek out those who needed assistance most, turned into highly evolved empires (sometimes called denominations) instead of seekers, witnesses, and martyrs.
You get my (and Steve Gottry’s) point. Businesses which lose sight of their goals often fail. Churches which lose sight of their founding principles often face extinction too. So, what can we do?
What the early Church had was a message of hope, a plan for loving everyone, and a compelling way of life - a FANAFI. Around Pilgrim Church, we are seeing FANAFI. From the hospitality shown to visitors to the proposed acquisition of a Youth Minister, it’s beginning to happen. We are looking at the needs of others, not our own. We are looking for unfulfilled needs. Our intention is to fill them. Maybe it’s tutoring. Maybe it’s job skills training. We do not know yet.
Whatever it is, we are looking for it. Whether it is Jesus and his followers in the first century, or a band of believers in Green Twp., we now have a plan. It is FANAFI. Get on board.
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Poor Man and the Rabbi
Ahh, Springtime. It’s a time for lighter clothing, lighter meals, lighter workloads (for some) and even a lighter Pastor’s message. Here goes . . .
A poor man came to his Rabbi and complained that he was living in one room with his wife and four children and the congestion was impossible to bear any longer.
“Do you have a goat?” asked the Rabbi.
“Yes”
“Take it into the room.”
“What”
“Do as I say.”
A week later he hurried to the Rabbi, sputtering, “I did what you asked. I took the goat in, and things are even worse than before! Rabbi, what shall I do?”
“Do you have any chickens?” asked the Rabbi.
“Yes, three.”
“Bring them into your house.”
“Rabbi!”
“Do as I say.”
So the poor man brought the three chickens into the house and a week later he returned to the Rabbi, wringing his hands.
“Do you have an ox?” asked the Rabbi.
“Yes, one.”
“Bring it into your house.”
“Rabbi!”
“Just do as I say.”
“It’s terrible! I can’t stand it anymore!”
“Put out the goat.” said the Rabbi.
The poor man did as he was instructed and came back. “It’s a little better, Rabbi, but the three chickens and an ox in a room with six people!”
“Throw out the chickens.” said the Rabbi.
The poor man did as he was instructed and came back. “It’s a little better still, Rabbi, but an ox in the house . . .”
“Throw out the ox.” said the Rabbi.
The poor man did as he was told and returned and stood before the Rabbi, overjoyed, “Rabbi, there’s no one as wise as you! My house is now a paradise!”
Springtime might be a great time to get a better perspective on our own situations. Let’s learn from the one who is called Rabboni.*
Don’t get your house too cluttered in the meantime.
*Mary Magdalene’s response to Jesus at the tomb - John 20:16
A poor man came to his Rabbi and complained that he was living in one room with his wife and four children and the congestion was impossible to bear any longer.
“Do you have a goat?” asked the Rabbi.
“Yes”
“Take it into the room.”
“What”
“Do as I say.”
A week later he hurried to the Rabbi, sputtering, “I did what you asked. I took the goat in, and things are even worse than before! Rabbi, what shall I do?”
“Do you have any chickens?” asked the Rabbi.
“Yes, three.”
“Bring them into your house.”
“Rabbi!”
“Do as I say.”
So the poor man brought the three chickens into the house and a week later he returned to the Rabbi, wringing his hands.
“Do you have an ox?” asked the Rabbi.
“Yes, one.”
“Bring it into your house.”
“Rabbi!”
“Just do as I say.”
“It’s terrible! I can’t stand it anymore!”
“Put out the goat.” said the Rabbi.
The poor man did as he was instructed and came back. “It’s a little better, Rabbi, but the three chickens and an ox in a room with six people!”
“Throw out the chickens.” said the Rabbi.
The poor man did as he was instructed and came back. “It’s a little better still, Rabbi, but an ox in the house . . .”
“Throw out the ox.” said the Rabbi.
The poor man did as he was told and returned and stood before the Rabbi, overjoyed, “Rabbi, there’s no one as wise as you! My house is now a paradise!”
Springtime might be a great time to get a better perspective on our own situations. Let’s learn from the one who is called Rabboni.*
Don’t get your house too cluttered in the meantime.
*Mary Magdalene’s response to Jesus at the tomb - John 20:16
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Keep Your Fork
A woman diagnosed with cancer had been given three months to live. Her doctor told her to start making preparations to die, so she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what Scriptures she would like read and what she wanted to be wearing. The woman also told her pastor that she wanted to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order, and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. “There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly. “What’s that?” came the pastor’s reply. “This is very important,” the woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. “That shocks you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked. “Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the pastor.
The woman explained. “In all my years of attending church socials and functions where food was involved, my favorite part was when whoever was clearing away the dishes of the main course would lean over and say, ‘You can keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming. When they told me to keep my fork, I knew that something great was about to be given to me. It wasn’t Jell-o or pudding. It was cake or pie. Something with substance. So I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them: ‘Something better is coming, so keep your fork, too.’” The pastor’s eyes were filled with tears as he hugged the woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of things than he did. She knew that something better was coming.
At the funeral, people were walking by the woman’s casket, and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, “What is with the fork?” And over and over, he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork, and he told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you that there is something better coming.
The seasons of Lent and Easter are a special time for Christians to celebrate the ultimate reason for our hope: Christ is risen, and invites us to rise with him to new life. That’s no invitation to leave the table; it’s an invitation to keep our forks.
¨ Easter is an invitation to try again with God’s help to break the addiction we had given up all hope of ever breaking. There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
¨ Easter is a chance to work at renewing the marriage we had given up all hope of ever saving. There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
¨ Easter is an opportunity to reach out to our neighbors who, in our busyness, we neglect. There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
¨ Easter is an invitation to look at our lack of love and seek God for compassion. There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
¨ Easter is a chance for all no-hopers to regain their vision of what can be! There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
¨ Easter is an opportunity to renew our faith. There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
¨ Easter is a chance to “renew our strength and mount up with wings as eagles; to run and not faint.” There’s something better coming; “Keep your forks.”
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