I have been surfing now for more than 30 years, and have never lost the thrill of catching a wave. Every time I paddle out, I feel a renewed sense of joy and peace. I also love the healthy lifestyle.  I love hanging out with friends on the beach. I love watching surfing and talking about surfing and traveling to find waves.

In recent years, I’ve noticed an inspiring new trend. Many surfers have started organizations designed to benefit people in need. Life Rolls On, Waves of Change, Surf Aide International, Surfers for Autism are just a few.

This really is no surprise to me. Surfers are natural seekers. We are always seeking that next great wave, adventure, travel location, perfect beach, etc. And, what many of us have come to realize is that as awesome as surfing is, there is no greater thrill, no greater joy than reaching out and giving back to others in need.

In this giving season, I do pray that you would find some way in your life to reach out to people in need. Give. Get involved if you can. Make a contribution.  And as you do, may you experience a joy unlike any other!

Let us pray: You have blessed us so richly, Loving God. Help us to find ways to give back and bless others. And as we do, may your joy overflow within us. Amen.

Zig Ziglar tells about a successful jewel thief back in the Roaring Twenties by the name of Arthur Berry. Berry liked to hobnob with the rich and famous of Boston’s elite, and in fact, he wouldn’t steal from just anybody – only the very upper class. One night the police caught Berry and shot him three times. He fell through a glass window, but somehow he managed to live.

When he eventually got out of prison two decades later, Berry settled down in a quiet New England town. There he became a respected citizen, even leading a local veteran’s organization. When it finally leaked out to the press that this notorious jewel thief was living there, one young reporter asked him, “Mr.Berry, you stole from a lot of wealthy people in your life as a jewel thief. Let me ask you a question. From whom did you steal the most?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Arthur Berry replied, “The man from whom I stole the most was me! You see, I could have been a successful businessman, had I utilized my God-given talents and developed them legitimately…”

Arthur Berry was a thief who stole from himself. He did not use the God-given talents and opportunities at his disposal, and it haunted him forever.

This story reminds me that each of us has been given gifts and talents by God- to be used for the good of the world around us. And while I hope most of us would never be as extreme as Arthur Berry, when we make excuses or bury our talents, we too are simply stealing from ourselves.

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for gifting us – with abilities, talents, creativity, and intelligence. Help us to develop and use all of these gifts to our fullest potential. And, may we use them in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen.

There is a story about a wealthy oil baron who once commissioned Picasso to paint a portrait of his wife. When the work was completed, the baron was shocked to see the image that had been created. “Why that looks nothing like my wife! You should have painted her the way she really is!” Picasso took a deep breath and said, “I’m not sure what that would be.” Without hesitation, the oil baron pulled out his wallet and removed a photograph of his wife saying, “There, you see, this is a picture of how she really is!” Picasso, bending over, looked at it, and replied, “She is rather small and flat, isn’t she?”

The point is that we don’t all share the same perspective. Sometimes we get stuck in seeing the world in only one way and we forget that others don’t always see things the way we do. How we vote, how we worship, how we engage our community all depends upon our perspective on the world. Just because others don’t see things exactly as we do, doesn’t necessarily make them wrong.

Jesus reminded us that the second greatest commandment is to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” When he was asked who is a neighbor, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. This is a story about two men who were about as different as could be.  It didn’t matter that they didn’t share the same worldview, the same theology, politics, or culture, they were still neighbors. They were still called to love one another, as are we.

Let us pray: God of Hope, sometimes it is hard to love people who are different from us. Sometimes their perspective on life rubs us the wrong way. But, we remember today that when we love our neighbors, our lives deepen and we show our love for you.  Grant us your grace, your mercy, and your peace. Help us share these gifts with the world. Amen.

Not long ago, I was listening to a pastor of a mega-church talk about how when he was first starting his church, he thought to himself, if I can just get this church to 300 members, then, I’ll feel like I’ve made it. When the church reached three hundred, he thought to himself, “Well, when it gets to 1000, I’ll be good – I’ll be at peace.” The church reached 1000, and he thought – well, I’m not there yet. If it grows to 5,000, then I’m in the top tier.  But even 10,000 members, he was deeply unhappy. There was no peace. He went on to say, “There was no peace – because that’s not where peace is found. True peace is found in Christ alone. I knew this up here in my head- but not in here in my heart.”

This story just makes me aware that there are so many voices out there that say loudly: You are not enough. You are an imposter, or you are a burden. Go and prove you are worth something… Many voices tell us the love and healing and peace we are looking for are found out there somewhere.

And this is what leads every prodigal astray…I think about the people I know who have suffered greatly from addiction – trying hard to fill that void – to find that peace with alcohol or pain medication or overwork or money or…you name it…  or even more subtle things – like success.

However, what that pastor said is true. Long ago Saint Augustine put it this way, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.”

Let us pray: Gracious God, we remember the words you spoke over the waters of Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved child. With you, I am well pleased.” We remember that these words are intended for us as well. Help us to accept your love. As our hearts rest in you, may we experience your peace anew. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s message was written by Rev. Dr. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

A schoolteacher once asked a group of children to write down on a card the one thing in the world they were most thankful for.

Most of the children wrote down the usual predictable things, but one boy in the class said that he was most thankful for his glasses. “Johnny,” she said, “l see that your glasses are the thing for which you are most thankful. Is there any special reason?” Johnny answered, “Yes, ma’am. My glasses keep the boys from hitting me and the girls from kissing me.” Now, Johnny had learned early that life can be tough – that we need all the help we can get.

One of the most delightful plays to hit Broadway years ago was the popular musical, “Annie”, which, of course, is based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strip. At the beginning of the play, the little orphan girls sing, “It’s a Hard-Knock Life!” We all can relate to that, can’t we? We all have felt the painful hard knocks of life.

The little orphan girl wanted so much to be loved and to be saved from her desperate situation, trapped in an orphanage. Even though there seems no way, she has hope, hope wrapped in the dream that someday her parents will come back to reclaim her. And finally, she is rescued by the love and strength of Daddy Warbucks.

In this troubled world, we all have something of Annie in us. We want some word of “good news”. Well, that is precisely where the Christian faith comes in – and that is what the Christian faith is all about. Remember how Jesus said it: “In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) These three powerful phrases sum up the gospel. Claim it and believe it.

Let us pray: O Lord, our Shepherd, who leads us by still waters and into green pastures, we thank you for the times in our lives when life is strong and good. Teach us to remember, though, that you are with us at all times, even when the waters are not still and the pastures are not green and when the way is fraught with danger or difficulty. Your loving-kindness surpasses all our imagination, and your faithfulness is to all generations. Now let the joy of your presence break upon us like a gentle, cloudless sunrise with birds singing, that our spirits may soar to you in simple wonder. Through Christ our Redeemer. Amen.