One summer when I was in seminary, I served as a chaplain to the homeless working in a ministry housed in the basement of an old Episcopal Church in downtown Atlanta. I remember being struck by this huge mural painted by one of the homeless guests at the shelter. It was a painting of life on the street. Seven characters were hanging out, outside in a party-type atmosphere. There was an intellectual wearing glasses, but his tie was crooked, shirt un-tucked, and a bottle of booze in his hand. Others were dirty, with tattered clothes. In the painting, you could see their sickness and despair. Broken bottles littered the ground and the sky was black and ominous with flashes of lightning. In the foreground was a sign that read, “Warning! Our Creator has issued a severe storm alert for non-recovering addicts. Effects will be disease, famine, and death! Take shelter now in the name of Jesus!”

I found myself staring at this painting for a long time – maybe because it represented so vividly life as I saw it on the streets daily. And the question that kept coming to my mind was, where is Jesus in the midst of all this hunger and heartache and human suffering?

As I thought about it, part of the answer became clear. Jesus was there, suffering within the folks we sought to serve. But he was also there in the open hearts of the shelter volunteers. Jesus was there in the care and expertise of the drug counselors. Jesus was there in hands of those who served food and in the love and money sent to keep the shelter running. And, Jesus was there, reaching out in love to both those who served and to those who were being served.

Let us pray: Open our eyes to see the need in the world around us. Open our hearts to break at the things that break your heart. And then, Lord, give us the courage to reach out in your name and make a difference. We pray in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen.

Back in 2005, there was a touching story on the cover of the San Francisco Chronicle about the rescue of a Humpback whale. This whale had somehow gotten tangled up in a mess of crab traps and lines. It wrapped around her mouth, body, and tail – keeping her so weighed down she struggled to stay near the surface.

Spotted by a fisherman, a rescue team was called onto the scene. They worked for hours risking their own lives, eventually even diving in the water with her to cut the lines. Once the Whale was set free, the divers described a joyous scene. The whale swam in circles coming back toward each one of them as if to say thank you. The man who cut the rope from her mouth said that her eye was following him the entire time and that he will never be the same.

It is beautiful to think about a whale capable of expressing gratitude. It’s moving. It’s a testament to God’s magnificent creation to witness the intelligence and curiosity of this enormous mammal. And it is nothing less than amazing to ponder this moment of communion between the two species.

All of this puts life into perspective for me. It reminds me that we are simply a part of something much bigger, a vast and interconnected world, held together by the grace and love of God.

Let us pray: God of Love, we thank you again for your beautiful and inspiring creation; for moments of transcendence, awe, and wonder. Thank you for our own place within your creative design, and for the ability to share life with others. Expand our hearts and open our spirits that we would be ever tuned to your presence. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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

There is a strange sentence in one of the Psalms: “I will keep a muzzle on my mouth” (Psalm 39:1). These are the words of a man sorely tempted to spread gloom and despair and discouragement. Yet he held himself in check, knowing there was enough pessimism around, that he should rally the courage of those who felt down and out. That’s good advice. The world is longing for words of assurance and encouragement. When will we ever learn? People don’t want to be put down; they are crying out to be lifted up. The choice is ours; we can encourage, or we can discourage. Isn’t it sad that many people think they are divinely ordained to point out all the bad things, show us all the problems, underscore all the negative? Isn’t it tragic that some choose to be gloom spreaders rather than uplifters? It is so much more fun to lift people up than to tear them down. Each one of us has the power to make others feel better or worse. And, making others feel better, generally makes us feel better.

One of the great personalities of the early church was Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” He was an encourager. He put flesh on the verse, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other” (1Thessalonians 5:11). Simply put, we need to be people who listen, who care, who affirm, who help and support one another. The choice is ours. We can encourage or discourage.

Let us pray: God of love, forgive us for marching to the beat of drummers other than you. May we resolve today to get our lives back with your plan and purposes. Transform our gloom, despair, discouragement, and negative/mean spirit into positive encouragement and affirmation. Remind us to gossip the Gospel of good news and joy and hope because of Jesus Christ. Now may God surprise you with grace in at least three or four places where you never thought to look for it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Poet Wendell Berry wrote a poem entitled, “On the Theory of the Big Bang.” It reads like this:

What Banged?
Before banging, how did it get there?
When it got there, where was it?

I like the poem because it’s thought-provoking and it reminds me how little we really know. Now, I don’t believe that science and faith are mutually exclusive. They are not. They are just asking different questions. Science is asking, “How did it happen?” while theology asks, “Who created” and “why?”

Science without faith is sterile and often devoid of meaning. Faith without science is often missing richness and depth. But a faith that can look at the discoveries of science and marvel at the intricate details of God’s handiwork, is a faith that is healthy and alive.

When I consider an expanding universe, a universe that contains hundreds of billions of stars, supernovas, spiraling galaxies, and space so vast that it takes light billions of years to cross, I’m amazed. Then, when I consider all that is within that and all that could be beyond that, I’m struck with awe. The words of a Psalm written thousands of years ago come to mind. This is from Psalm 8…

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor… O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Let us pray: Ever Creating God, When we consider our place in this vast universe, it is humbling. When we begin to imagine the details of DNA, or the nuclear reactions needed to birth a star, or the delicacies of a blooming flower, it gives us perspective and pause.

Thank you for your magnificent creation – and for creating us along with all that is. Above all, we thank you for the love and compassion you have for us – love enough to give us a role as caretakers – and love enough to send your Son – in whose name we pray. Amen.

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkle, founder of Dial Hope.

Friend of Dial Hope, are you savoring life right now, every moment, or are you postponing and putting things off? There is an old story about Saint Francis of Assisi who one day was hoeing his garden. He was asked, if you knew the world was going to end tomorrow, what would you do? He answered, “I would go on hoeing my garden.” What a great attitude! No matter what the future may hold for us we’ll lose tomorrow unless we live today. At the end of his life, Darwin said, if I had my life to live over again I’d listen to more music and read more poetry… for when you lose these tastes, you lose happiness.

Unfortunately, we have narrowed life down to a few superficial entertainment options. We look at television and we tire of it. We often want something new.

Following a heart attack, Charles Harrison wrote, “The first time I’ve ventured out of the house after my attack was on an early spring day. Unless you have been close to death, you never know how inspiring a spring day can really be. The poets have never done justice to the subject. The most gratifying thing about having survived is a renewed sense of wonder that follows. Life henceforth will never be something taken for granted or spent with boredom.”

Friend of Dial hope, save a life now; make it count. With God’s help make today a masterpiece. Remember what Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13.)

Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for your amazing grace. Help us today to live life fully and to reflect the light of Christ. We pray with joy in the name of Christ. Amen.