Priestly Callings
Joe Albright

Priestly Callings

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Over the past two days, I’ve shared the verse from Revelation 1:6 where John tells us that Jesus has made us to be a kingdom of priests, serving his God and Father.

But again, what does it look like to have a priestly calling?

I often think about the children at our church. I know what these children are going to be up against in just a few years. I know from experience with my own daughters, that it is not going to be an easy road. 

Things have changed so much in the last 20 years. It used to be when we were kids that if you experienced any kind of bullying or peer pressure at school, there could be potentially some kind of reprieve when you got home. Some kind of sanctuary. But that’s no longer the case. There’s no reprieve at home because the iPhone is right there. The tablet is right there. The laptop is right there. So the temptations, and the bullies and the peer pressure are right there.  It’s a whole different world.

And I think about folks who lead Children’s Church or teach Sunday School, reading stories and doing crafts, sharing just a little bit about the story of Jesus and his love for them. And I am deeply grateful.  They are helping to lay the foundation of faith for these young children – letting them know that they are loved unconditionally; that they have a bigger community that they belong to, planting even just little seeds of faith. God knows they’re going to need it. 

Again, these are priestly callings. 

John says Jesus has made you to be a kingdom of priests…

I wonder again how that priestly calling might look in your own life.

Let us pray:  We thank you, O God, for your calling on our lives. We pray that you would grant us healing, mercy, and grace upon grace. And even as we are being healed and renewed, use us as an instrument of your love in a world desperately in need; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Priests, Serving God
Joe Albright

Priests, Serving God

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Yesterday I shared the verse from Revelation 1:6 where John tells us that Jesus has made us to be a kingdom of priests, serving his God and Father.

But what does it look like to have a priestly calling?

Many years ago our family took in two foster children, two sisters – four and six years old. And at some point early in their stay with us, I was cleaning out their room and changing the sheets. As I stuck my hand under the mattress, I felt something. I found a whole stash of french fries and half a sandwich. Then on the other side, I found some chicken. What I later learned is that it is not uncommon for people who have been close to starvation to hoard food.

I don’t know about you but I’ve never experienced anything like that. In that sense, I’ve never really truly been hungry. It just raises my awareness that there are people in our community even right here in our backyard who don’t get enough to eat, who live part of their lives wondering about their next meal. 

I think about the folks in my church who are out there walking the neighborhoods every year for Crop Walk to raise money and awareness, helping provide concrete food assistance for people in need. I think about others who work in food pantries and soup kitchens, feeding the hungry on a daily basis.

These are priestly callings. 

John says Jesus has made you to be a kingdom of priests.

I wonder how that priestly calling might look in your own life.

Let us pray:  We thank you, O God, for your calling on our lives. We pray that you would grant us healing, mercy, and grace upon grace. And even as we are being healed and renewed, use us as an instrument of your love in a world desperately in need; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Kingdom of Priests
Joe Albright

A Kingdom of Priests

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In the book of Revelation 1:4-6, John writes:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come…To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I think about these churches in Asia to whom John was writing and the persecution they were facing. And I imagine this beautiful opening of a letter, this majestic language of grace and peace… and God’s sovereignty would give them a sense of hope in a world that I’m sure felt like it was crushing in.

The One who holds all time in his hands, the One who is still at work to heal, to redeem, to restore all of creation, out of great love has poured out his life for them. 

And for us.  

And he has called us. He has made us a kingdom of priests. 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a priest? 

I would guess you probably haven’t! And yet here it is. 1 Peter says the same thing: You are a royal priesthood…

What does that even mean?  What does a priest do?

In ancient Israel, the priestly role was a role privilege. The priests were set apart and they were called to intercede and be a mediator, bridging heaven and earth with their prayers: listening to the pain of the world, and lifting up the needs of the world to God. 

They also were called to tend to the sick and hurting and to mediate peace between people who were at odds with each other – or at odds with God. And they were given a place of privilege serving in the temple, the ancient sanctuary. 

John says Jesus has made us a kingdom of priests. 

Today, I invite you to embrace your priestly calling.

Let us pray:  We thank you, O God, for your calling on our lives. We pray that you would grant us healing, mercy, and grace upon grace. And even as we are being healed and renewed, use us as an instrument of your love in a world desperately in need; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

It’s a Hard Knock Life!
Roger Kunkel

It’s a Hard Knock Life!

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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. 

Listening to Others
Joe Albright

Listening to Others

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My friend Daisy once reminded me of a story of a little church up in the mountains located so far out in a hollow that for many years there was no electricity. Finally, electricity came to their area. At one of the church board meetings someone stood and said, “I make a motion that our church buy a chandelier.”

Now every church must have at least one “I’m against it” person. (This is to keep the others from making decisions too hastily!) The “I’m against it” elder stood up and said, “After thinking long and hard about this situation, I’ve come up with three reasons why we should forget about buying a chandelier. Ain’t nobody here can spell it. Ain’t nobody in this church knows how to play it. And besides, we need lights.”

The story is funny. But the truth is, often we do need to hear the alternative point of view – even when it comes across poorly. It’s not that we have to agree with it, we don’t. But often in life, we grow most deeply when we come to understand both sides of an issue. More importantly, as Christians, we are called to love even those people with whom we disagree. And, it is hard to love people when we haven’t even listened to them. 

We live in a time when our country and even our churches are polarized on any number of issues. I pray today that you would listen to and love even those with whom you disagree.

Let us pray: Loving God, help us always to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Give us hearts to love in spite of our differences. As we do, meet us in that place and may we notice your healing in our own relationships. Grant us the ability to be instruments of your healing and of your peace. Amen.

A Simple Practice
Joe Albright

A Simple Practice

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In his book, Peace Is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “If a child smiles, if an adult smiles, that is very important. If in our daily lives, we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it… You know a smile can relax hundreds of muscles in your face… (Even) a tiny bud of a smile on our lips nourishes awareness and calms us miraculously. It returns us to the peace we thought we had lost.”

Hanh encourages us to remember to smile when we first wake up in the morning – even to hang a reminder – such as a picture, a painting, or some inspiring words near our beds. What a great way to start the day. 

In the Bible, in the book of Proverbs, we read, “A cheerful heart has a continual feast.” 

Another Proverb reminds us, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.”

Let us pray:  Loving God, even in those dark moments, even when we are hurting or near despair, give us eyes to see the good and beauty all around us. Fill us again with your joy and grant us your peace.  We ask in the name of the One who came that we might have life, and have it to its fullest. Amen.

Who’s in Charge Here?
Joe Albright

Who’s in Charge Here?

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I recently heard a story that a pastor once told about a church he served in Tennessee where an eccentric and flamboyant elder impressed him with her intense commitment to the faith. She was not really pious in the least, but nonetheless, she was clear and articulate when it came to expressing her faith. 

One evening while he was at a dinner party in her home, he told about how her teenage daughter, probably frustrated with all of the discussion of religion, asked, “Mother, you talk about religion all the time. Why are you so religious anyway?” Her question brought a loud hush to the dining table. Her mother paused dramatically, pushed her chair back from the table, stood, and responded, “Every morning before you are awake, I rise and walk into the living room. I lift my arms and ask, ‘Who’s in charge here?’ The answer always comes back: ‘Not you!’ That’s why I am religious. 

It is true that the life of faith begins with the realization that we are not in charge. It is only from there, that we can begin to surrender ourselves to the One who is in charge. 

Psalm 62:2 offers this plea:

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Let us pray: Gracious God, there are indeed moments in life when we are reminded that we are not in control and that ultimately we are not in charge. We have to trust that our lives and our loved ones rest securely in your hands. Meet us at the place of our need today. Fill us with your mercy and your healing grace – we humbly ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stewards of God’s Mysteries
Joe Albright

Stewards of God’s Mysteries

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The Apostle Paul once wrote:  “Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

What does it mean to be a Steward of God’s mysteries?

I was thinking recently about those who handed down the faith to me, and several different people came to mind. I thought about my parents of course, who brought me to church – even drug me to church for many years. I have this really early memory of my dad reading me Bible stories and talking about them and my mother teaching Sunday school.

I also think about my grandfather, who was a pastor. But I mostly remember him in his retirement. And what I remember about him was not his pastor-like ways, but his tremendous love of life. I also remember when I was in college and did not go to church. In fact, I was skeptical of Christianity at that time, and I remember asking him questions about the faith. He always answered very gently and thoughtfully. I never felt any judgment from him. He never made me feel guilty or bad for not going to church or about where I was. Unfortunately, he did not live to see my faith come back alive. But he made an impact. He made an impact whether he knew it or not.

I also think of a friend named Billy who taught high school with me. Billy was someone I looked up to because I could see his heart for the students, his generosity, and his faith in Christ. He too had an impact on my faith.

I wonder who handed down the mantel of faith to you. Did someone invite you to church? Did someone come alongside you at just the right moment? Did someone offer to pray for you – or bring you to worship?  I’m sure you all have some beautiful stories. 

And then I wonder who you are handing your faith on to, and how…

One thing I know is that in my life, my faith in Christ has carried me through some difficult times. And I trust and believe with all my heart that it makes a difference in the lives of others. It’s why I do what I do. It is why we do what we do through our churches and various ministries.

In this world so desperately in need, may you and I continue to find ways to be stewards of God’s mysteries. May we find ways to share this faith, this hope, this light that we ourselves have received.

Let us pray: We thank you O God for those who have shown us your love in their words and in their deeds. As your love and grace fall on us, may we too share these gifts. May your healing grace rest on each of us this day. Amen.

Prepare
Joe Albright

Prepare

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Every year at this time, churches around the world typically read passages of scripture that lift up the person of John the Baptizer. John was a close relative of Jesus, and he was a prophet.  John knew his calling: It was very simple – very clear: Prepare the way of the Lord.  Prepare people for Jesus’ coming. Prepare hearts and minds… 

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. This marks the beginning of the four-week Christian season leading up to Christmas. Many churches light a candle on each of the four Sundays before December 25th.  In some congregations, the Sundays will have themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  This is a time of preparing our hearts to receive Christ anew and to reflect on his coming into the world.

Some families also have a tradition of lighting a candle at dinner one night each week. It gives them a chance to talk about the season, who we are celebrating, and why. The tradition itself adds meaning and life to the family.

I wonder if you have any special traditions for this season in your family or with your friends. If not, what a great year to begin something new!

Let us pray: Loving God, thank you for breaking into this world through Jesus. Thank you for showing us your love firsthand; for meeting us where we are and for walking with us even now. Help us this year to find ways to prepare for your coming. Remind us again of the truth and depth of the Christmas spirit. Grant us your grace that we may prepare our hearts once again. Amen. 

When the New Day Has Come
Joe Albright

When the New Day Has Come

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It’s written in the book of James, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”

That’s not easy, is it? We live in a very polarized world. It’s easy to demonize people who don’t agree with us theologically or politically. And it is sometimes hard to love people who look different, or who speak a different language, or who don’t measure up to our standards.

There is a story that circulated among the ancient rabbis of the Hasidic tradition about a Rabbi who was asked the question, “How can one tell when the new day has come?” The Rabbi reversed the question and asked his student, “You tell me how you can know.”

The student guessed, “Is it when the rooster crows to signal a new dawn?” “No,” the Rabbi answered. “Is it then perhaps when one can discern the silhouette of a tree against the sky?” No, he was told. “The surest way to know when the night is over and when a new day has come is when you can look into the face of a stranger, the one who is so different from you, and recognize him as your brother. See her as your sister. Until that day comes, it will always be night.”

Jesus once said, “You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be called children of your Father in heaven…. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Are not tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”

At a time when our nation is so polarized, so divided on so many fronts, what would it mean for those of us who follow Christ, let go of any favoritism, to build bridges and sow seeds of love?

Let us pray: We are humbled when we realize our place in this vast universe. We are humbled and awed by the sheer magnitude of your love and grace. It’s just amazing to think about this family that you’ve called – a family that stretches around the world – no two people alike. And yet – everyone is created in your image. Thank you, Lord, for including us. Give us the courage to love others – even those very different from us, not just in words, but in actions. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.