Those that Make a Difference
Joe Albright

Those that Make a Difference

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Many years ago now, a friend sent me a little quiz, and I’d like to share it with you. Try to keep track of how many you get correct:

  1. Name the three wealthiest people in the world.
  2. Name the last three Heisman trophy winners.
  3. Name the last three winners of the Most Valuable Players for the National Football League.
  4. Name five people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
  5. Name the last five Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

How did you do? These are no second-rate achievers. They are the very best in their fields. Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

  1. List three teachers who aided your journey through school.
  2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
  3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
  4. Think of three people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
  5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

That was easier, wasn’t it? The lesson is that the people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

Today, let us give thanks for those who have cared for us along the way. And, may we strive to be one of those people for others in our lives.

Let us pray: Gracious God, we especially thank you today for friends, family, teachers, pastors, and mentors who have made a difference in our lives. We thank you for their guidance, love, and care. As we have received, so may we give; we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessed, and then Blessing
Joe Albright

Blessed, and then Blessing

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The eminent philosopher John Dewey one day found his son in the bathroom, mopping furiously. The floor was flooded and he was trying to contain the water, keeping the damage to a minimum. The professor began thinking, trying to understand the deeper ramifications of the situation. After a few moments, the son said, “Dad, this is not the time to philosophize. It is time to mop!”

The same is true at times in the Christian life. No doubt, there is a time to study, to reflect, and think deeply. But there is a time to mop, to put our faith into practice: when we see others in need… when a friend or co-worker is going through a difficult time… when our resources could make a difference….

In his first letter, John wrote, “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”

Friend of Dial Hope, my prayer for you today is for a balance. May you always find ways to be fed spiritually. But then, refueled and refreshed, may you put your faith to work.

Let us pray: Loving God, my prayer today is especially for those who need to be fed – literally and/or spiritually. I lift up to you those who are lonely, broken, hurting, or hungry. Use our gifts, our lives, and our prayers to bring your healing, wholeness, and peace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We Need Each Other
Joe Albright

We Need Each Other

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Today I would like to say a special word of thanks to those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. Your gifts make this ministry possible!

I once heard about a woman who made it a point to stop by her local post office for stamps because the postal employees were exceptionally friendly. One year, right before Christmas, the lines were particularly long. Someone kindly pointed out to her there was no need to wait in line because a stamp machine was located in the lobby. “I know,” replied the woman, ‘but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.”

I’m reminded that in our tech-savvy world, many people are starved for community. God made us in such a way that we need other people. We need to hear real voices, experience human touch.

As I read the gospels, I am continually amazed at how often Jesus touches the people he seeks to heal.

Today, no matter how “connected” you are online, may make an effort to connect with those you actually see around you. Make eye contact with the store clerk. Hold the hand of an elderly friend, smile at the stranger, hug a friend. And, as you do, may you notice God’s loving, healing presence in your midst.

Let us pray: God of Love, in Jesus Christ you walked among us – flesh and blood. You ate with sinners, you touched the lonely and the sick, you laughed and cried and suffered. Thank you for your incarnate love. Teach us to love others as you have loved us. Amen.

God in the Interruptions
Joe Albright

God in the Interruptions

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While writing about her busy life, Barbara Jurgensen, expressed her growing conviction that all of her daily tasks were keeping her from living the kind of Christian life she really wanted to live. And so one night, she asked God to help her live a really Christian life starting the next day.

Well that next morning, before she even got out of bed, her next-door neighbor phoned, saying she had a terrible toothache. The dentist could see her right away, but her little boy was in bed sick. Barbara got up, got dressed, and walked next door. She proceed to make the child his breakfast and tends to his basic needs while mom was away. That filled the morning.

After lunch, a friend who was struggling with depression and who had been going through a very difficult time stopped by asking for help with a project. She had a couple of dresses she wanted to shorten. The two women worked together for most of the afternoon.

Near supper time her husband came in announcing that he’d invited two new acquaintances to dine with them, a married couple. The man was having trouble finding work because of a prison record. “I hope it’s okay with you that I invited them,” her husband said. Barbara agreed.

By bedtime, Barbara wondered at her busy day… so full of activity, how would there ever be time for God? Of course, as she lay there reflecting, it dawned on her that God had been there, in all of those interruptions. Each one had been an opportunity to exercise her faith.

The kind of life God calls us to is not a cloistered life, but a life lived in the real world. It is often busy and messy and interruptions abound. But God is in the midst of all of that. And, there are opportunities at every moment to put our faith into action, to serve, and to love.

Our prayer today was written by my friend Roger Kunkel, founder of the Dial Hope Foundation. Let us pray: God of love, touch our lives with your Spirit and transform them, making them joyous and loving. Inform our minds with your guidance, that we are led each step of the way to your plan for us. Shape us and form us, until we are truly and wholly yours. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

God Carried Me…
Joe Albright

God Carried Me…

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Yesterday, I related how several years ago now, I invited folks to take a few moments to reflect on a moment when God had carried them through the wilderness of life. I asked if they were willing to write their stories down in brief form and to share them with me and others. Here are just some of a few I received:

Dear God you carried me through a challenging time in my life dealing with cancer…

Dear God, you carried me through the years of being an immigrant with an uncertain future and sometimes being on the brink of not having enough money…

Dear God, it wasn’t until I laid on the floor and gave my whole self to you. When I stood up and thanked you, I was a new person. Alcohol no longer was ruining my life. That was 25 years ago…

Dear God you carried me through the death of my mother at a too early age. You watched over me when I lost sight of you, thank you for always being in my life, even when I wasn’t listening to you…

Dear God, you were with me even though losing a job. You rescued me from constant worry and blessed me when I was connected with this church.

Dear God, I went through a devastating divorce after 28 years of marriage. The Holy Spirit came to be my constant companion.

Dear God,…You have carried me through sickness and pain many times. You carried me through the loss of a grown child and gave me hope…

I could go on and on. You could too. This is quite possibly why all throughout the psalms – even while crying out in need, the palmist looks back over his life, remembers, and gives praise.

Today, as you look back over the span of your life, may you remember how God has met you, how God has carried you, and how God has saved you. If you didn’t do so yesterday, take a few moments today to reflect and write down your story. As you remember, may hope arise within you. And, may you give thanks and praise.

Let us pray: God ages past, God of tomorrow, God of this very moment, into your hands, we commend our lives. We thank you for meeting us in the darkest moments of life. Meet us again here and now. May your presence, strength, and grace fill us and sustain us. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Remembering
Joe Albright

Remembering

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Many scholars believe that the writer of Psalm 71 was older, looking back over the course of a long life when he or she wrote this song. We get clues:

For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth

So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
Upon you, I have leaned from my birth…

As the poet looks back over the span of life, she remembers… She remembers how God had carried her, rescued her, delivered her in the past. In fact, we see this all throughout the psalms – a remembering, a recalling, a retelling. And in that remembering, there is hope.

Several years ago now, as a part of one of our worship services, I invited our congregation to take a few moments to reflect on those moments when God carried each of them through a wilderness. I asked if they were willing to write out the stories and share them. And they did. I received story after story about how God carried them through cancer, through addiction, and through incredible loss.

I wonder if you were to think back over the span of your life… I wonder if you were to complete the statement, “God, you were with me even when…” What stories might you have to tell? What witness might you raise? What hope might arise?

Today, take just a few moments to reflect. Write it out into prayer. And as you do, may you give thanks and praise.

Let us pray: Gracious God, thank you for those times when you have carried us through the wilderness of life. Time and again, you have rescued, you have saved. Therefore, as we face the future, we remember, and we have hope; through Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

When We Are Knocked Down
Roger Kunkel

When We Are Knocked Down

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

Years ago, on one of the Monday night football telecasts, the sportscasters were discussing the great running backs of professional football history. When they came to the late Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears, they pointed out that he was the all-time leading ground gainer in the National Football League. Then Frank Gifford said, “What a runner! Do you realize that all together, Walter Payton gained more than nine miles rushing in his career? Just imagine that, more than nine miles!” To which to other sportscaster, Dan Dierdorff responded, “And to think that every 4.6 yards of the way, someone was knocking him down!”

Well, it happens not just in football. It’s true also in life. We do get knocked down a lot. The truth is that every now and then life will break our hearts! And the question is, how do we respond to that? How do we handle the defeats, the problems, the knock-downs, the pain, and endangering ourselves too much? We should follow the model of these men, who carried their friend to the feet of Jesus without accepting any alternatives.

God can do amazing things. We know this, and we trust in it. And until there is no hope left, we should continue to commend those whom we love into God’s care. We should continue to await a miracle. God loves you, and God loves those whom you love.

Prayer: Holy God, today I pray for my friends. I am worried about them, and I ask that you be with them. I ask that you bring healing to the damaging situation in their lives. I pray for you to help them, and I ask that you help me to stay with them, and care for them. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Expect God’s Empowerment
Joe Albright

Expect God’s Empowerment

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Even though there was an enormous reward for her capture, Harriet Tubman, after escaping slavery herself, returned to the slave-holding states over nineteen times. She led hundreds of African-Americans out of slavery into the north where they could live with freedom. When she was asked about the source of her fearless strength, she would always say: “It wasn’t me, it was the Lord. I always told him, ‘I trust you. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I expect you to lead me.’ And He always did.”

Tubman’s story is inspiring. Her courage and heroism were exceptional. And, her story points to a deeper truth. Countless Christians over the centuries have found strength and courage that they didn’t know they had when they relied on God.

Whatever burdens you may be carrying today, whatever challenges you may be facing, whatever calling the Lord may have put on your heart, may you expect God to equip you, lead you, and empower you.

Let us pray: Loving and gracious God, time and time again, people of faith have had to lean on you and have found you faithful. May you meet us this day. Lead us. Guide us, and grant us the strength and courage to face each hour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Sacred and Everyday
Joe Albright

The Sacred and Everyday

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Yesterday I lifted up part of a prayer attributed to Saint Patrick. Lately, I have been drawn to ancient Christian Celtic spirituality. Maybe in part because of its emphasis on Christ’s presence infused within and around all of creation, including within and around you and me. I also appreciate the way in which it holds together the eternal and temporal, the sacred and the everyday… There is no real divide. Prayer in this tradition is not necessarily associated with going to church. Praying and living were not set apart. Instead, prayer and work, prayer and life, go hand in hand. There are ritual prayers to be said or sung, all throughout the course of one’s day.

Just for example, each morning, when they would wash their face, with three splashes of water they would say:

The palmful of the God of Life.
The palmful of the Christ of Love,
The palmful of the Spirit of Peace,
Triune.
Of Grace.

Try that one tomorrow morning!

To have prayer scattered throughout the day is a powerful reminder that all of life belongs to God and there is no place outside the bounds of his loving presence.

Today, I leave you with one more prayer from the outer Hebrides Islands in Scotland.

Let us pray:

God with me lying down,
God with me rising up,
God with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without Him,
Nor one ray without Him.

Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
Every day and night,
Every day and night.

God with me protecting,
The Lord with me directing,
The Spirit with me strengthening,
Forever and evermore,
Ever and evermore, Amen.

Saint Patrick
Joe Albright

Saint Patrick

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It is recorded that Saint Patrick was kidnapped by slave traders when he was just 16 years old. He was taken from Britain to Ireland where he worked as a slave for six years before escaping. Years later, in an amazing act of courage and faith, Patrick heeded God’s call to return to Ireland as a missionary, sharing the Gospel of Christ’s love even with those who earlier had imprisoned him.

Today, I leave you with a portion of a prayer that is attributed to him entitled the “Lorica” or “The Deers Cry.” The early Christian Celtic spirituality, in which Patrick was immersed is earthy. It affirmed Christ’s presence infused in all of creation, and it draws on this presence for protection. I invite you to read this slowly, reflect on these words, soak them in, and make them your own.

Let us pray:

For my shield this day:
A mighty power; The Holy Trinity!
Affirming three-ness, confessing oneness,
In the making of all through love…

This day I call to me; God’s strength to direct me, God’s power to sustain me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s vision to light me, God’s ear to my hearing, God’s word to my speaking, God’s hand to uphold me, God’s pathway before me, God’s shield to protect me…

Christ beside me, Christ before me;
Christ behind me, Christ within me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ to right of me, Christ to the left of me;
Christ in my lying, my sitting, my rising;
Christ in heart of all who know me,
Christ on the tongue of all who meet me,
Christ in the eye of all who see me,
Christ in the ear of all who hear me.

May your salvation, Lord, be with us always. Amen.