There Goes God!
Joe Albright

There Goes God!

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In a church where I used to serve, we had a thriving preschool. One day a little girl was walking down the hall with her mother. She pointed at me and said, “Look Mommy, there goes God!”

From time to time we get confused, don’t we? Not just preschoolers but all of us. We allow people or things or ideas to take the place of the God of all creation. If we are not careful, we misplace our hope.

The scriptures are full of warnings against idolatry. People of faith have long recognized that it is God alone who can save us. Money, power, political agendas, military strength, and even theology are temporal and limited. Our ultimate hope has to be bigger or our lives become small and skewed.

Today, let us remember the One on whom we can depend, on whom we can hope, the One before whom we humble ourselves and give all.

Let us pray: It is easy to let the wrong things take priority in our lives, O God. Sometimes we allow ideas or things to dominate our thinking and our doing, and we lose perspective. We get out of harmony with you and with others around us. Help us today to recenter, as we return now our hearts to you. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Letter of Thanks
Roger Kunkel

Letter of Thanks

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Today I want to suggest an exciting idea – I want you to try giving yourself away.

I once knew a man who suffered a nervous breakdown, during which he sat for months in gloom and mental darkness. One day I suggested he try to turn off his dark, depressing thoughts by practicing thanksgiving. I said, “Start thinking of people who greatly helped you in your life.”

So, he wrote an elderly school teacher, a Miss Elaine Smith, who had been a positive influence on his life. A reply came, written in the shaky handwriting of an aged lady. “Dear Willy,” she wrote, “When I read your letter I was blinded by tears, for I remember you as a boy, and as I think of you now I see you as a little fellow in my class. You have warmed my old heart. I taught school for fifty years. Yours is the first letter of thanks I ever received from a student, and I shall cherish it until I die.”

Friend of Dial Hope, writing a letter of thanks – a project like that – may involve taking a little time – but it’s an opportunity to give a little of yourself, and really that’s the best you can give. Strangely, when you give yourself, you find yourself.

Let us pray: God of hope, we come to you when our hope is vanquished, and our faith is small. We come to you when the promise of the “good life” has been found lacking when clothes and cuisine, cars, and cappuccinos become insufficient nourishment for the hunger of the human spirit. We come to you because we have nowhere else to go. O God, save us from ourselves; from self-indulgence, and self-idolization. Heal us from the sickness of the body but even more from the sickness of the soul. May we get caught up in the current of your compassion, the flood of your forgiveness and so lose ourselves in the wide ocean of your love. In the name of the risen Christ. Amen.

Finding Purpose
Joe Albright

Finding Purpose

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In his book, Deep-Rooted in Christ, Joshua Kang wrote, “The abundant life comes when we live a life of mission; a life that serves others has meaning and purpose.” Kang encourages us to reflect on our lives and evaluate them based not on their length, or by how face-paced they are, but by their content.

Even secular philosophers like Will Durant remind us that to give life meaning, one must have a purpose larger than oneself.

There is something about reaching out to others that gives meaning and significance to our own life. There is something about caring for others that brings healing to our own soul. That’s part of how God created us. In the words of Genesis, we have been blessed to be a blessing to others!

Our prayer today comes out of the Presbyterian Common Book of Worship. Let us pray: Everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being: You have made us for yourself so that our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Give us purity of heart and strength of purpose that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, no weakness keeps us from doing it; that in your light we may see light clearly, and in your service find perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Whole
Joe Albright

Whole

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Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. So many people benefit from your giving!

Francis de Sales was one of the most revered saints of French history. Back in his day, there was a bishop who intended to write a biography of de Sales so he planned an extended visit. Wanting to know what this man was really like, the bishop went so far as to drill a hole in the wall so he could spy on his conduct. What he learned from his spying was absolutely nothing! He discovered that de Sales was the same in private as in public. He was a man of integrity.

I once heard Christian scholar Martin Marty talk about why he liked a friend so much. He said, “Her inside matches her outside.” Again, that’s integrity. It makes me smile to think about it, and I have to believe it’s worth striving for.

May we all learn to live more in harmony with what we believe – in public and in private. And, in doing so, may we experience deeper peace.

Let us pray: Loving God, you know our hearts. You know we want to live lives that are more integrated, more whole, more in tune with you. Give us eyes to see where we come up short, but give us grace so we don’t get stuck in despair. And then, give us the will and the help we need to refine, readjust and renew our lives; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love Your Enemies
Joe Albright

Love Your Enemies

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I have heard that former Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Fame third baseman Wade Boggs hated Yankee Stadium. Not because of the Yankees; but because of one particular Yankee’s fan.

This man had a box seat close to the field, and whenever the Red Sox were in town, he would shout obscenities and insults at Boggs. It’s hard to imagine one fan getting under the skin of a seasoned player, but this guy sure had a way of doing it!

One day as Boggs was warming up, the fan launched into his usual tirade. When he’d had enough, Boggs walked directly over to the man, who was sitting in the stands…and said, ‘Hey fella, are you the guy who’s always yelling at me? The man replied, ‘Yeah, it’s me. What are you going to do about it?’ Wade took a new baseball out of his pocket, autographed it, tossed it to the man, and went back to the field to his pre-game routine. Consequently, the man never yelled at Boggs again; in fact, he became one of Wade’s biggest fans at Yankee Stadium.

I love that story. It reminds me that when we respond to hatred with love, that love changes things. It may or may not actually change them, but it certainly changes us.

Let us pray: God of new beginnings, we pray today for those who might call themselves our enemies. We lift them up to your love and care. Open our hearts to them. We do ask you to rescue us from any abusive situations, but if it is safe, open our eyes to see ways in which we might show them love and kindness. As we share in your will, may we experience again your renewing grace. Amen.

The Power of Prayer
Joe Albright

The Power of Prayer

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Today I want to share a quote on prayer from renowned Russian author, Feodor Dostoevsky. He wrote, “Be not forgetful of prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it; which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education.”

Have you heard the expression, “Prayer changes things?” Many people certainly find that to be true – though not always exactly like we’d expect. Part of Dostoevsky’s point is that more often than not, prayer changes us – aligning our hearts with God’s heart.

Let us pray: Remind us again, O God, of the power of prayer. Remind us that there is wisdom and courage and guidance that we receive only by sitting in your presence. Grant us the ability to make space and time to hear your voice, and to be shaped into your image.

We pray especially today for those who need you near. We pray for men and women in the military, for law enforcement officers and all who risk their lives to serve others. We trust that you are at work even now to bring peace in its fullest sense. We give you our lives to that end; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hold on to Hope!
Joe Albright

Hold on to Hope!

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Sometime back I heard a woman speak about a trying time in her life – years when everything seemed to fall apart. During that time she lost a husband and a job. Through all of this, she hung on to a promise in the book of Joel, where after a terrible drought and plague God says, “I will repay you for the years the locust have eaten.”

You see, this woman felt that the locust had taken a toll on her life. But, her testimony affirmed that in her experience God was faithful. Not that she got back exactly what she lost, but that God had carried her through it. She was finally coming to a place where she could begin to see blessings and feel joy once again. She felt stronger and wiser than ever.

I don’t know what the locust have eaten in your life, or what toll they may have had on your health, your family, your heart. But, I do know this: you can hold onto hope. You can trust God. You can know that on the other side of heartache and pain, there is a new life. God is faithful.

Let us pray: God of Hope, through the ups and downs of life, through the joys and heartaches, we trust you are with us, and we trust that you are good. I pray today especially for those who are in the midst of life’s struggles and who can’t see a way out. We hold on to hope for them, and we ask you to give them the ability to see light in the distance, to know that the dawn will break. Bring the right people into their lives to help carry the burdens, and may they know you are near. We ask in the name of the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. Amen.

Take the First Step
Joe Albright

Take the First Step

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I remember hearing about two different visitors to a particular church on the same Sunday. Both had a similar experience. No one spoke to either one of them, and both left with the feeling that it was an unfriendly congregation. The first visitor decided that he would go back one more time, but resolved that if no one talked to him next time, he’d never go again. The other man decided that he too would go back, and if no one spoke to him, he’d make an effort to find someone to talk to.

On that next Sunday, the two men returned to the church as visitors. And, it just so happened that they sat next to each other. Since once again no one was speaking to either of them, the man who had resolved to find someone to talk to, turned and spoke to the man who had sworn he would not return unless someone engaged him. Wouldn’t you know it. The two men hit it off immediately and they became fast friends. They both ended up joining the church and over the years took on leadership roles. And both worked hard to make sure everyone felt welcome – especially visitors.

This story just reminds me that we never know what effect even our smallest actions might have on others. Our lives, whether we realize it or not, have a ripple effect. Although we don’t always see the results, our kindness, generosity, and compassion, all have a way of impacting this world for the better.

Let us pray: Loving God, may we be more like the man who resolved to take the first step. May we see all around us, opportunities for making this world a little better place. Give us a quick smile, a kind word, a generous heart, and open arms. And then, help us to trust that our efforts are in your hands. May your peace rest on us, and work through us. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

God’s Creative Activity
Roger Kunkel

God’s Creative Activity

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One of my favorite baseball stories is about three umpires who were discussing how they did their jobs, especially when they were working behind the plate, calling balls and strikes. The first umpire said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But I calls ’em as I sees ’em.” The second one said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But I calls ’em as they are.” The third one said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But they ain’t nothin’ until I calls ’em.”

A sermon is in that story because it’s a parable about life. Each of those umpires tells us something about our relationship to the truth. (Read Matthew 16:13-16, 21-25; John 8:32). The third umpire is my favorite. Here is a man who creates truth by his word. When we create truth or meaning or relationships, we are sharing in God’s creative activity. Made in God’s image and likeness, we are all artists and creators. The Bible uses the metaphor or speech to describe God’s creation: “God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) The parable of the umpires teaches us to never be afraid to call life as we see it, to express our love for God and for our fellow human beings.

Let us pray: How great thou art, O God, without whose spirit nothing grows, without
whose love, we wither and fall away. We thank you for Jesus of Nazareth who leads us
in this way…

where to be great, one has to be humble,
where to be exalted, one has to serve,
and where to find life, one has to lose it.

Teach us that great truths are great simplicities. Awaken us today that we hear the
singing of trees and watch morning and night changing guard. Through the grace of
Jesus. Amen.

Not a Dress Rehearsal
Joe Albright

Not a Dress Rehearsal

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I remember sometime back riding in the car with my friend Hunter and we passed by a large cemetery. Hunter asked me, “So, how many dead do you suppose are in this place.” “I don’t know,” I replied. He said, “How about all of them!”

We laughed hard, but underneath the lightness, his joke was a reminder to me that life is not a dress rehearsal. We get only one shot at life, and this is it.

Later, as I stepped out of the car into the crisp January morning, I looked up at the bright blue sky and I lifted up a prayer of thanksgiving. I gave thanks for the blessing of life, for friendship, for health, and for the ability to laugh in the face of the abyss. “Today,” I said to myself, remembering my friend Roger Kunkel’s words, “Today is an unrepeatable miracle! Let’s make it a masterpiece!”

Let us pray: Gracious God, we thank you for the gift of life. Even with all of its blessings and challenges, there is such great beauty. Help us appreciate our time here on earth, especially the people who surround us. Remind us to forgive and to love as fully as we are able.

We pray today for those who regularly risk their lives for the sake of others, for those serving in the military, for law enforcement officers, firefighters, peacekeepers, and aid workers. May we all live with open eyes and open arms that we might receive your blessings and in turn, bless others. Amen.