1-29-10: How Would You Be Named Today?

“What would your family, friends, teachers, and peers name you today based on your behavior?” This question, posed by today’s chapel speaker, Mary Keller, is based on the Native American (Native Peoples) concept of naming a person. In Native Peoples’ traditions, a person has multiple names: a secret name given by the mother at birth and known only by the mother and the Creator; and common names that change throughout life based on that person’s temperament, behavior, talents, or actions. Sometimes these names are not always flattering.

Imagine the impact in the world if people were referred to by their actions – “He Who Steals” or “She Who Lies.” Or in a more positive light, “He Who is a Peacemaker” or “She Who Embodies Goodness.”

In a Native Peoples story, a grandfather tells his grandson that there are two wolves within him that are in constant conflict; one who is angry and hateful, and one that is full of joy and goodness. The grandson asks, “Which one of the wolves wins?” Replies the grandfather: “The one that I feed.”

This story illustrates the potential each person has to fuel hate and anger or to create beauty and peace. Today think about your actions and how they reflect upon you. How would you feel to be named by what you have done today?

1-11-10: "Think about your God moments"

Most high school students don't spend much time thinking about what it's like to retire and grow old. In this morning's chapel, two Dock Woods residents, both in their 80s, gave students a window into the experience—and assured them there's nothing to be afraid of.

“Living doesn’t stop when we age. Life is just different,” said Joyce Shultz, who has lived at Dock Woods with her husband Harlan for nearly four years now. “We take more time to do things, but we have more time. Our faith is often stronger because we have had so many blessings and answers to our prayers. We no longer feel like we have to impress anyone—and we realize that we never did. And we realize that life has more joy when you are helping and serving others.”

The Shultz's give evidence to the idea that life begins—or at least begins again—at retirement. Harlan spent three years in the Navy and then enjoyed a 35-year career at Standard Pressed Steel. When he retired at at age 62, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by getting his pilot's license, and spent over a year building his own plane.

"My life has been full," he told students. "You have a lot to look forward to. Don't dread it."

Joyce was a teacher in the North Penn School District for 24 years. When she retired at age 60 she began a second career as a psychotherapist, and also took up writing. She now is the author or co-author of three books, including Models in Our Midst, an autobiography which also tells stories about the people who influenced her life, and It Takes a Church: God Moments of a Church Family, a collection of stories from people ages 13-90 at her church, Sanctuary United Methodist in North Wales. They are the kind of books she encourages everyone to write.

"Each evening we share our God moments from the day, and I keep them in a gratitude journal," Joyce said. "That’s our challenge—to think each day about the God moments in our lives and what we are grateful for.”

1-4-10: "In Him There is No Darkness at All"

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over. The packages have been opened, the parties thrown, and the last of the pork and sauerkraut has been eaten. It seems as though were have been abruptly hurdled into a period of quiet and dark. But in today’s chapel we were reminded that this short church season of Epiphany is a burst of light in that darkness. It is a reminder that the light will return as we move through the cold, dark months of January, February, and March, and into the Easter season.

Even in our times of darkness, whether a physically earthly darkness or a period of emotional turmoil, we are never alone. To demonstrate this point, Mr. Bush shared a portion of a sermon entitled Thoughts on Day and Night, given by Sr. Pastor Michael B. Brown of Central UMC, Asheville, NC, in the early 1990s (Bergland):

"We deal with anger, rejection, grief, fear, economic stress, isolation, guilt, divorce, abusive relationships, chemical dependency, depression…and the list goes on. And most of all we fear that there is no way out – that we are abandoned to our pain – that night has fallen, and dawn will never come, and we are desperately alone. To those fears our morning lesson says: 'Darkness covers the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept…Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’; and there was light' (vv. 2-3). In other words, in our loneliness, we are not alone. The Spirit of God is present and moving. In our darkness, there is the promise of light. In our struggles, there is the unfailing love and nearness of one who is greater that whatever the world can throw our way.

"In the beautiful North Carolina mountains there is a host of stories about Native Americans indigenous to our region. I have always loved the one about the ritual of initiation for Cherokee boys who were crossing into manhood. Around age ten or eleven, the youngster would be taken by his father deep into the Pisgah forest. Dad would give his son a bow and one arrow. As darkness descended, the father would leave his son alone in the forest to prove his bravery by facing the frightening sounds of the night. Most of the young boys did not sleep much. Every hoot of an owl sounded like a threatening voice. Every cracking twig conjured up images of a bear or bobcat on the prowl. Every rush of wind sounded like whispers of the enemy in the forest. However, when daylight began to break, the young brave would spot another Cherokee off in the distance beside a tree. It would be his father, who had been there all night long, sitting silently nearby, watching, making certain that his child never actually had to face the darkness alone.

"So it is with us. However dark and desperate things may feel, God is near – always watching, always caring, always protecting us from facing the darkness alone – and always promising that in due time God will separate the darkness from the light, and the dawn of joy and peace will break upon our weary souls again. It will happen for you, however you may doubt it. God has not abandoned you to the nighttime. It will happen. The voice will sound: 'Let there be light!' And in time your shadows will disappear.”

Remind yourself as you are going about your daily routine that no matter how tough things get, you are never alone.

Bergland, John K., ed. Abington Preacher’s Annual 1994. Nashville: Abington Press, 1993.

www.cumbavac.org/Earth_Day.htm

12-9-09: "With Many Hands, the Load is Light"

“Which 4th period class can raise the most money for Friends of Fort Liberte by December 18?” was the challenge given to Dock students by Ms. Johnston in today’s chapel.

“Friends of Fort Liberte” (FFL) projects are not funded by large donations from individuals, but from small amounts contributed by many people. The fundraiser at Dock is one such example. This manner of fundraising is perfectly described by the Haitian proverb, “with many hands the load is light,” said chapel presenter Annette Crislip. Annette is the co-founder of FFL and a friend of Ms. Johnston’s.

The creation of FFL began in 1973 when West Virginia architect J. D. King (Annette’s late husband) met Pastor Andre Jean of Haiti. Over the next few years, a Haitian child sponsorship program was begun, leading to the formation of the non-profit organization in 1993. Today FFL has constructed churches, a primary school, a secondary school, a clinic, and an orphanage in Haiti in addition to continuing the child sponsorship program. This trans-denominational organization’s mission is to “help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, relieve hunger and homelessness, encourage education and help individuals achieve their full potential.”

The funds raised by Dock students, faculty, and staff will be used to build an addition onto the orphanage, which is deteriorating. Students in the 4th period class that raises the most money will receive a free lunch.

For more information on FFL, please see the December issue of Newsline (page 9) and the Friends of Fort Liberte website.

The Uniqueness of Jesus

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
- John 3:16-17

God chose to come to Earth in the form of an apparently ordinary human being. But Jesus was not just an ordinary human being; He was amazingly unique, too. It was through His miracles that He showed this uniqueness to others, and finally through His death and Resurrection.

In our own time we are surrounded by many seemingly ordinary people who display their amazing and unique gifts to the world. One such person is amateur singer Susan Boyle, who appeared last spring on “Britain’s Got Talent” and became an overnight internet sensation. People feel they can relate to Susan Boyle because she appears so ordinary; she is an average person with an incredible gift. She made something amazing and unique happen on stage.

Watch the YouTube video of her audition on the show. Listen to the skepticism of Simon Cowell and the other judges as they interview Susan before she sings. Then watch their skepticism melt away to amazement when they hear her unique voice.

In this world, people focus on uniqueness. When you apply for a job, no one asks, “What makes you average?” People want to know about your unique gifts and talents. They want to know, “Why should I hire you instead of the 12 other candidates for this job? What is it that makes you special?”

We cannot perform miracles like Jesus, and perhaps not even sing as well as Susan Boyle, but each of us is unique. No matter how ordinary each of us may appear, we all have a God-given and wonderful uniqueness to share with the world.

Losers Who Said "Yes"

“What does it take to be a part of the genealogy of Christ?” As chapel presenters Nate Stuckey and Kenda Creasy Dean read through the genealogy, they decided that there are two things needed to make someone part of the genealogy of Christ: one, the person had to be a “loser,” and two, they had to say yes to God.

If God comes to the world through losers, then He can use losers like us to do His work. There are many “losers” in the genealogy of Christ: Jacob, for example, who deceived both his brother and father, or even Mary, a fourteen-year-old girl at the bottom of the social ladder.

There are lots of reasons to say “no” to God, but a simple “yes” can change everything. There were many reasons for those in Jesus’ genealogy to say “no,” but instead they chose to say yes and accomplished amazing things: Moses said “yes,” even though he did not speak well, and led the Israelites out of Egypt; Sarah said “yes” to God and had a son, Isaac, though she was much too old to have children; Mary said “yes” and it changed the world.

To connect Mary’s story to our own time, clips were shown of FOX’s new show Glee. These clips dealt with another young woman, Quinn, a high school cheerleader and glee club member who has gotten pregnant. In the final clip, the glee club members perform Bill Withers’ Lean on Me, a reminder that they will support Quinn during this difficult time. It is also a reminder that God will support us.

Advent is a time of waiting. We wait for miracles. We wait for someone to hold us and tell us everything is going to be all right. But maybe we are not the only ones waiting. Perhaps God is waiting, too – waiting for us to say “yes.” God sends us love letters, letters of affirmation and invitation. He affirms that all is well and invites us with hope and His plan for our future.

Working for God and with God is not about the self. While working with God, the miracle comes to the forefront, and the self is pushed into the background. Thus, the “loser” becomes transformed. The sign for loser is created by folding down all your fingers and then extending the thumb and index finger to make an “L.” But if you then extend your pinkie finger also, you make the American Sign Language sign for love. This is a simple yet powerful reminder that God has the ability to transform “losers” by the power of His love, if only we will say “yes” to His call.

As a sweet reminder, Hershey kisses were given out at the end of chapel to remind us to say “yes,” even when we feel unqualified.

Flying Krimpets and the Amazing Catch

On Monday, November 2, something strange and wonderful happened in chapel.

It rained Butterscotch Krimpets.

No only that--Peppermint Lifesavers and Hershey's Chocolate also fell from the sky. Can there be a better way to start a Monday?

Probably not, but these goodies also helped Dock students grasp an important spiritual lesson--that God expects instant obedience.

Stretch Dean, youth pastor at Immanuel Church of the Nazarene in Lansdale, began his memorable chapel presentation by saying he had always been told how important it was to start the day with a good breakfast, yet he never seemed to be able to get up early enough to make one for himself. Instead, he relied on his version of an "instant breakfast"--Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets. And down from the balcony came a shower of Krimpets, and lucky Dock students like Katelyn Kratz (see photo, above) caught themselves a mid-morning snack.

Stretch went on to say that many people spend lots of time, energy and money seeking instant happiness. This time, fistfuls of Hershey Bars cascaded from the balcony--making many students instantly happy.

There are other times when we want (or need) instant fresh breath, Stretch said, and his personal favorite in those times is Pep-O-Mint Lifesavers. Moments later (you guessed it), dozens of Dock students had instantly fresh breath.

Instant breakfasts are great, Stretch said, and instant happiness is awesome. Instant fresh breath--well, it's an absolute necessity sometimes. In the same way, he said, instant obedience to God's will is a requirement for living a Christ-like life.

Stretch pointed to the example in Luke 5 when Jesus first called Simon (Peter), James and John to be his disciples. Jesus instructed Simon to cast his net, and Peter complained that he and his partners had fished all night long and hadn't caught a thing. They were probably tired and frustrated and hungry. But Peter said, "Because you say so, I will let down the nets." Before they knew it, they had caught so many fish that the nets began to break and they could barely haul in all the fish with two boats.

Instant breakfasts are great--especially when they consist of Butterscotch Krimpets. Instant happiness is good, too. But these are temporary delights. The blessings we experience when we are instantly obedient to the will of God are better by far.