How much is enough?

As I write this, I’m preparing my sermon for this coming Sunday. The gospel passage is the “feeding of the 5,000” from the 6th chapter of John. As is often, the story makes me wonder “How much is enough?” in my own life and living.

If there is not enough of something, people could have trouble. Not enough money means you might have creditors hounding you. Not enough food might mean lots of complaints. I have in my office a baby food jar with a few grains of rice and a few dried beans – the average daily food in some Third World countries. And in one scenario presented by Henry Kindall and David Pimentel in a journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, there is, "...little hope of providing adequate food for the majority of humanity by 2025-2050." It is almost frightening to think that there might not be enough to go around when the children in our nurseries are raising their families. Not to mention, the scarcity of drinkable water that some ecologists are now forecasting as 76% of our population moves to coastal areas.

On the other hand there are people that enjoy much more than enough to get along. Lottery winners have enormous amounts of money to spend, but winning can create considerable problems as well as financial security. Lottery winners find it psychologically hard to accept that their winning is a completely random event. They tend to see it as their "achievement," the result of them being special. Lottery winners also often see long-standing friendships disintegrate when friends feel that the winners should share their money more readily. And winners, when they do help their friends, tend to impose demands and conditions that friends resent. Even as old friendships collapse, winners often fall for foolish schemes and swindles.

I guess you could call that way more than enough. This is especially true in light of the fact that an individual, according to the 2012 federal guidelines on poverty, has an annual income of $11, 139 or less before taxes. There are countries in the third world where it would literally take decades for a family to make the equivalent of our poverty level income.

According to the old saying, enough is enough. When you have enough of anything, it means you have an adequate supply. If it is money, it means you have sufficient funds to pay the bills. If it is food, it means you have an ample amount for the number of people who are going to eat. One look at me and anyone can see that I for one certainly have an adequate supply of food!

How are we doing as stewards of God’s gifts? Where do our resources go? How well do we share God’s gifts with others?

How much is enough?

Peace and love,
Pastor Garry

A Note Written on Father's Day 2012

In this post, I would like to suggest several ideas that were shared by Dr. David Lose, our keynote speaker at our last South Carolina Synod Assembly. Dr. Lose reported that since 1970 there have been massive cultural changes in our nation that have impacted Christianity in all denominations, and church membership and attendance continues to be in decline. A recent Pew Report indicated that atheism is now the fastest growing “religious affiliation” in the nation, and an even more recent report indicated that belief in God has decreased for the first time in decades, In short, if your adult children are no longer attending church, it is not your fault. You are not personally responsible for your adult children’s absence from church.

Second, no matter what combination of specific things happened to cause your adult children to fall away, keep in mind the power of God’s love. Continue to pray for your children to grow in faith and return to the Church. Do not give in to indifference – indifference is the opposite of faith. Do not lose hope, either -- discouragement is one of Satan’s greatest weapons. If discouragement comes, trust in God, and remember that God loves your children even more than you do. God doesn’t need you or me to convert a heart. We're his instruments among many others, and he alone the saving (1 Cor. 3:5-7).
Third, bear your testimony to the truth in a spirit of love. Surely the fact of your unfailing love will communicate itself to them in God’s time, and their hearts may begin to open to the working of God’s Holy Spirit and his Truth. As you turn to him for guidance, and trust him for direction he will give you the grace necessary to persevere.
Finally, continue to grow in your own understanding of the Christian faith so you can witness to your adult children more effectively. Review the Small Catechism. It's the best single reference book Lutheran parents have for communicating our faith and correcting errors. Pray for opportunities to share the faith with your children. God will open the doors!
Below are a few verses you may find useful when you find yourself in need of immediate spiritual help….
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6
“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent of praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me---put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”. Philippians 4:9
May the God who is our Father bless you on this Father’s Day and on all the days to come!

Pastor Garry White

Prayer for a Journey
by Thomas Merton

One of my favorite prayers is Thomas Merton's Prayer for a Journey. The “journey” Thomas Merton refers to is, of course, the journey of life itself.
Merton's prayer is inspired and full of faith.

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me,
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will
Does not mean I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you
Does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always,
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me.
And you will not leave me to face my struggles alone.

Peace and love,
Pastor Garry White

Some recommended web sites for prayer and meditation

Over a period of time, I've discovered through various sources a number of web sites I have found to be helpful in my own journey in prayer and meditation. The sites listed below includes a variety of approaches to prayer and medication. I offer them in the prayerful hope that one or more will be helpful for others.

www.missionstclare.org
www.kyrie.com
www.sacredspace.ie
www.centeringprayer.com
www.mertonfoundation.org
www.laybenedictines.org
www.thesoulgym.org
www.worthabbey.net/bbc
www.findingsanctuary.org
www.anamchara.com

God's Peace!
Pastor Garry White

Christianity is Simple

Someone once said that "Christianity is simple, but it's not easy." On days when I find my ministry to be especially challenging, the following has often been of comfort to me (sorry, I don't know the author for this, either):

"The will of God will never take you
where the grace of God cannot keep you,
where the arms of God cannot support you,
where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you
where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you,
where the army of God cannot protect you,
where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you
where the love of God cannot enfold you,
where the merc of God cannot sustain you,
where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never tak you
where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
where the Word of God cannot feed you,
where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

May the peace of Christ be yours!
Pastor Garry

Formation of the North American Lutheran Church

Triggered by the move away from a strict Biblical view (of sexuality and perhaps other things), a new Lutheran denomination has now been formed out of the matrix of disenchantment with the ELCA. The North American Lutheran Church has been welcomed in some quarters by genuine celebration, and received in others with a more cynical, "Great. Another Protestant sect to add to the 35,000 already in existence."

At this point, the NALC is very small, but the future may see it grow, depending on the ELCA's future course. The new denomination may have some features which will help it grow, such as support for congregational ministries being high on its stated list of priorities. As always, time will tell.

Our Presiding Bishop Mark Hansen has called for tolerance and unity, but the Reformation itself is a reminder that calls for unity do not always trump faithfulness to scripture. In the meantime, be at peace. This as everything else, is in God's capable hands. Trust in God's capacity to set things right when and where He chooses!

Blessings,
Pastor Garry

Dr. Michael Root Converts to Roman Catholicism

See Rev. Tony Metze's blog at the right for the details ("The Bible is God's Word -- Lutheran Style'). Dr. Root is a fine theologian of deep discernment and great integrity. He has served the Lutheran Church for 40 years, and will continue his service and witness in the Roman Church. May God enfold him in His grace.

Blessings,
Pastor Garry