Matthew 21:12-13 - House of Prayer

"Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Matt 21:12-13 NIV)

The story about Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple has always made me just a little anxious. Small congregations (maybe large ones, too) often have fund-raisers to support their budgets. We sell stuff in order to pay the bills. Sometimes, these fund-raisers come in the form of meals or maybe art and craft fairs or even a rummage sale. I worry that maybe we're not trusting God to provide for us through the generosity of His children's offerings to Him and His work through the congregation. I am of the mind that anything that comes in to support God's work through the church should be a free-will offering to the glory of God and not an exchange for services. After all, when Jesus paid our debt on the cross, he did that freely and willingly. I guess, in today's economy, purchasing a product or service could be considered a way of supporting a congregation and mission. At least the world would see it that way. I'm not so sure God sees it that way. Even the U.S. Government does not consider that a charitable contribution. 

We do have traditional fund-raisers at Zion. I call them traditional because they have existed since long before I was born. Events like the Hunter's Supper, Women's Bazaar, or Ice Cream Social can be great times of fellowship and evangelism. I am always praying that everyone involved keeps the focus on welcoming our neighbors; rather than, primarily exchanging goods for money. For the last two summers, I have helped the youth organize a rummage sale at Zion for youth retreats. We do not put a price on anything, which makes the organizing a whole lot easier. We ask for donations of whatever one feels the items are worth to them and that they can afford. The results are very good, indeed. We also have fund-raisers, usually concerts, where proceeds go directly to other charitable organizations, such as St. Vincent De Paul, or Toys for Tots, or to support mission congregations in Russia. Members of the whole community provide the music as well as a light lunch for all of our guests following the concerts, again with no charge. These latter fund-raisers have no entrance fees; free-will offerings are suggested for the concert, but not imposed. The congregation usually over-flows into the narthex and the library with these events. These are wonderful opportunities to welcome and fellowship with our neighbors as we support those in need.

But, I am always on guard to keep the focus of "fund-raisers" on welcoming people to God's house, rather than selling. This is, after-all, a house of prayer. May God help us to continue trusting in Him alone for all our needs. May God help us to continue welcoming people into His house of prayer, in all that we might do for His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. All are welcome at Zion!

Jeremiah 7 - Den Of Thieves

"Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord." (Jer 7:11 NKJV)

Jeremiah 7:11 is the scripture Jesus is referring to when he says: “...It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”  (Matthew 21:13, see also Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46) Jesus is at the temple overturning the tables of the money changers and those who are selling small birds so that the people can make appropriate offerings when he refers to Jeremiah. 

I have struggled with this selling "stuff" in the church for as long as I can remember. The sales of anything within the church really makes me uncomfortable. I always recommend that there be no price set for fundraising meals or for rummage sales or anything that has to do with selling things in the church. Sometimes my recommendations are heeded. Sometimes they are not. Usually, when they are and we simply take a free-will offering the fund-raiser is much more successful. Even this makes me uncomfortable as the church should not have to do fund-raisers to support the work of the ministry. The ministry should be supported freely with free-will offerings. However, I will concede that due to the hardness of heart and lack of stewardship education sometimes fund-raising is necessary and I will also concede that there is (possibly) a distinction between fundraising for the church and individuals making profit by exchanging money in the courts of the LORD's house. Catch that? There is a difference between raising funds to support the ministry of the whole church (that is the proclamation of the Gospel) and individual selling "stuff" for personal gain.

Both Jeremiah and Jesus are reminding us that we are to act justly - to care for our neighbors. As Jeremiah puts it: "... do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt." (Jer 7:6) Feeding God's less fortunate children and caring for them does sometimes take a special effort or event. In October, again this year, we will hold a concert for Toys for Tots at Zion. It is a time to gather together to bring our gifts so that all the children of this county will have gifts on Christmas morning. The musicians all donate their time and there is no charge for this concert. A free-will offering of a gift for a child is suggested and if brought, is placed on the altar.

The temple is a place of worship. It is a place of prayer and of communing with God and with other children of God. It is not for personal gain of any sort. Personally, I am thinking that if we spent more time worshipping God and communing with Him through prayer, the church on earth wouldn't have to be quite so worried about fund-raising. If we would just listen to Him as He speaks to us through the scriptures; as He speaks to us through prophets like Jeremiah; as He speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Just a reminder, don't read this blog without reading the scripture that goes with it. These blogs are only my first impressions as I read the scripture daily. There is way more to understand in everyone of these chapters than I can begin to address in a blog.

 

Psalm 98 - Make A Joyful Noise

This past week I was introduced to the music of a young man that really impressed me.  He grew up here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.), in Ishpeming.  He is a pop singer and quite good! His name is Adam Whittington. It made me think of all the young people that I know who make "joyful noises." 

The congregation of Zion Lutheran, Skanee, where I serve, loves music. We have two annual music fests every year, both fund-raisers for other non-profit organizations: St. Vincent DePaul and Toys for Tots. In the tiny community of Aura, MI where I live we also have an annual Fiddler's Jamboree with people flocking from all over the mid-west to join in the music, either playing or just enjoying.  We have a lot of musically gifted people right here in the local community.  I especially enjoy hearing the young people.  There have been some extraordinarily gifted young people who have contributed gifts of music to these various Music Festivals - making joyful noises, singing to the LORD, proclaiming His love for us through their music.

Some of them, like Jessica Dakota, have grown up and have moved out of the area. She was/is a number one fiddler, as well as pianist and flutist. Although, a member of another congregation, she was always willing to play at our special activities and at the Jamboree.  After she left for college, I lost track of her, but I still listen to her Native Flute CD. 

Courtney Clishe has been singing praises to God for as long as I've known her, probably about 14 years and she is still a teen! What an awesome voice she has!  She also plays piano and guitar.  She volunteers at both of our music fests every year to help support the local charities.  More than once, have I visited a Nursing Home and she was there singing to the residents. 

Lately, we've had a young lady, Kinsey LaFernier, singing special music for Worship with her mother, Missy LaFernier, as well as solos as a member of our youth choir at our Music Festivals. She's also been singing at the Aura Fiddler's Jamboree for a few years.  She too, is awesome! 

We have some tremendous musical gifts given to our young (and older) people here in this area. They work hard at their craft. I mention just a few.  They use the gifts that God has given them to "sing to the LORD a new song." (Psalm 98:1 NIV).  God indeed has done marvelous things through them!

As I read Psalm 98 this morning, I thank God for all the young people who are willing to share the gift of music that God has given them, making joyful noises, proclaiming all the deeds that He has done, proclaiming His Holy Name.

^"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King." (98:4-6)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 52 - Good To Be Around Goodness

We went toy shopping last night for Toys for Tots.  I usually avoid shopping as I find it rather frustrating to be around so many people. When you get crowds in department stores, one usually gets to witness a lot of rudeness and disrespect. Last night; however, was different.  It was a very good time.  There were only a few toy aisles that a whole bunch of us were trying to shop in, yet it was a very pleasant experience as everyone helped each. The employees at Shopko were wonderful to work with.  They kept smiling even when the computerized cash register jammed up!  We were all there for the same purpose - a good purpose - to serve the children of this county.  It was wonderful to be among people who love good rather than evil, truth rather than falsehood.  It is just good to be around goodness.  So, why is it that so many would rather boast of evil; who would practice deceit?

I am somewhat of a hermit, living out here in the wilderness.  There are times when I really have to force myself to leave not just my home, but even the community.  I love this place.  It is, for the most part, quiet and peaceful.  Last night, when we pulled into the yard, there was a deer lieing down by the back porch. She raised her sleepy head when she saw us.  It is good to be around goodness.  This place is a retreat for me from having to deal "head on" with all the evil in the world.  Of course, I have to leave it often.  But, when I am here I can rest as I am reminded of the goodness that God intended for us.

Do not reject His good will.  Do not reject His Holy Name.  But, give thanks and praise in the presence of His people and hope in His good name. 

It is good to be among God's faithful people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

"For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good."  (Psalm 52:9 NIV)

Psalm 16 - Apart From Him We Can Do Nothing

With David I say to the LORD: “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”  (vs 2 NIV) God has truly been good to me.  I will not say there have not been rough times.  There were some real tough ones.  There still are.  But, no matter what happens, I know that the LORD is at my right hand.  He is at my side, protecting me, guiding me.  He has filled me with joy in His presence.  He has blessed me with eternal pleasures. 

There is nothing more pleasant, more joyful, than walking, living, in the presence of God!  In the immortal words of Mikey:  "Try it, you'll like it!" 

We have had an extraordinarily pleasant week-end, blessed by the LORD.  Our youth helped lead Worship yesterday morning.  It is always so awesome to see their joy as they participate in serving the LORD.  Zoey received the Sacrament of Baptism, as the children and the whole family of God welcomed her into the Body of Christ.  We ran out of bulletins!  That's a good thing!  And, in the afternoon at our annual benefit concert for Toys for Tots we ran out of space, as usual.  We overflowed into the narthex and the library.  The concert is ecumenical - people of every denomination and congregation gather together to glorify the LORD with their musical gifts and people of every denomination and congregation in the area gather to hear it.  The concert was a huge success!  It produced over $4,000.00 in monetary offerings and toys for children of the area.  Thanks be to God!

God has blessed this people with many gifts.  We have some outstanding gifts of music.  But, the greatest gift He has given us is love - love for one another and love for the one who first loved us. 

We give thanks to God for all His gifts - for apart from Him we can do no good thing.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Job 22 - Search Our Own Heart

Eliphaz makes some very good points here.  But, we don't know Job.  Even if we were there, we wouldn't truly know Job. Like Eliphaz, it's not our place to figure out why Job is enduring such hardship, but to help him in his time of need.  It not our place to judge Job.  We can't know Job, what is in his heart.  But, we can know ourselves.  Do we demand interest from our relatives, adding hardship to hardship?  Do we leave the hungry without food and the thirsty without water?  How are we treating the widow and orphan these days?  How are we helping?  How are we hindering?

At Zion, our annual Toys 4 Tots Concert will be held on the last Sunday of October.  We have so much fun at it - bringing toys and raising funds so that all of the children of Baraga County (one of the counties with highest unemployment in the country) will receive gifts this Christmas.  This will be our 10th Concert for the children.  In all that time, I have never seen or heard of any strife coming out of the concert or in the organizing of it.  It is, for those who participate (the music is great!) and attend, a joy to be able to reach out and give to the children. 

As we search our own hearts, and maybe our pasts.  When was it that you were most happy?  In giving?  In reaching out to others?  Or in serving yourself? It is not in our job descriptions to judge our neighbors.  We can only search our own hearts and following in the footsteps of Jesus reach out to our neighbors in need.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."  (Matt 35:36 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Generosity

Deuteronomy 15

"Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."  (15:11 NRSV)

On my way home from town yesterday, I stopped to see my husband (and his friends), who were busy packing up toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in the county.  It is run by the local Marine Corps League.  As soon as I walked through the door, I was given a bagful of toys to deliver on my way home. He's learning to be a really good steward of time and talents that God drops on his doorstep!  The warehouse (donated space by the village) was almost empty.  A few days ago, it was full.  It was full, because people throughout the county have contributed both dollars and toys so that every child in the county would have presents under their tree on Christmas morning.  It is a good feeling to know that there is so much generosity in this community toward our children.  This county has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.  In October it was reported at 15.1%, much improved as it had been at 22.1 % in January.  On one hand, there is much need.  On the other hand, those who have, give generously.  It is a good community, a good place to live. 

May God bless this community, with a spirit of generosity, not only in the Christmas season, but throughout the whole year.