Month: September 2023

Thoughts from here and there…What’s for Dinner?

I don’t know why they did it. Maybe they didn’t want to bother. Perhaps it was too much work. Possibly they were only exercising their independence, after all, who wants to be told what to eat. Its worth thinking about.

“The dinner I’m going to starts at 6, John so I’ve prepared everything for you here. There’s a nice casserole in the fridge just put it in the microwave and then into the oven at 350º ‘till it bubbles…Put frozen peas into a covered Pyrex dish and microwave on high for three minutes, stir and heat again. I bought buns, there’s a fresh garden salad , for dessert there is…”

Elizabeth interrupts, “We’ll be fine, mom—honest.”

Mom waves goodbye. John, Elizabeth and April are seen leaving through the front door. They go to a local burger restaurant where they are eating burgers, fries, and a soft drink. Behind them on the wall is a menu board with headings which read: “Burgorama,” “Dogorama,” and “Spudorama.”

This is an episode of “For Better or Worse,” featuring the Patterson’s as drawn and written by Lynn Johnston.

As I read the pictures and the dialogue, I wondered why? In this age of health-consciousness, why? Why the fat and sodium? Why the calories? Why not stay at home and eat the delicious and nutritious meal that Elly had prepared? It is typical, is it not? It gives us something to think about. Just think of the table that God has spread.

In Matthew 22:1-10, it is written that: “Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.'”

I know this is a future banquet, but the invitation and it’s acceptance take place in the present. If Jesus has prepared a great banquet, why should we go to McDonald’s? It doesn’t make sense to do this, unless we are more like the first invited guests to Jesus’ banquet than we might realize.

We have here in stark contrast the bread of heaven. In contrast the food of this world may be characterized as, “Deceitful,” (Proverbs 23:2-3); “Ashes,” (Isaiah 44:20); “Unsatisfying,” (Isaiah 55:2); “Like corn husks,” (Luke 15:16); and “Perishable,” (John 6:27).

People consciousness of their nutrition needs would certainly seek that which satisfies and nurtures; they would wouldn’t they? What Lynn Johnston reveals is that is not always the case.

Worship is a banquet spread with the encouragement of the word which feeds the hungry soul with good things.

Psalms 23:5, says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

You cannot get this kind of food at Burger King.

Thoughts from here and there…What is your net worth?

Some time ago, I was privileged to participate in the funeral service for Charlie Stack at St. James Catholic church. Before I offered my few remarks, I listened to the homely of Father Drutowski. One observation that he made really caught my attention. He asked us to consider our net worth.

What is your net worth? It all depends on how you define net worth. I suppose that you could add up all your physical assets; bank accounts, stocks and bonds, value of property held and reduce the gross by your liabilities to get your net worth. In the eyes of the people of the world life is measured by our net worth, but what is it in the eyes of God.

Quite dramatically, Jesus reminds us of the dangers of valuing possessions over character. In Matthew 6, he says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:19-21 NRSV).

A few simple questions help us to better understand what Jesus is talking about. What is treasure? In one case it is material assets. On the other hand, it is the results of a life of faith and love. Truly, treasure is what the person, above all else, desires for him or her self.

How do you store up for yourself treasure in heaven? How often it is that we really don’t know. The answer is simple. We need to be exposed to information that helps us to realize the meaning. I know of only one source. God is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. To answer the question one must become acquainted with the author of the source of the information. You cannot take it for granted that you can personally know within yourself.

We may have much net worth here on earth. That does not cut it with God. It makes no difference if we are wealthy or poor, or somewhere in between, what counts with God is the net worth that will be accepted and which provides us with a valid claim for participation in the kingdom.

What’s important in all this is my level of knowledge and wisdom. Worship attendance is designed to help each of us learn. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 3:8-10, NIV)

Notice the means by which the unsearchable riches of Christ are to be communicated; it is preaching. Ponder God’s intent how the manifold wisdom of God should be made known; it is through the church.

Congregationalists have always placed a great deal of emphasis on the Word, the preaching of the Word. It is central to our worship. And most often, though not always, the Word is preached in church. This is why it is important to participate in worship.

It would be very sad indeed to get to the gates of heaven and find out that your heavenly treasure is insufficient. You can enlarge your net worth through your participation in the programs and activities of the church and in living out the learned faith in the family and community.

Thoughts from here and there…Helping (I removed the names to protect the people mentioned in this blog.)

On June 20, 1996, I officiated at a non-member wedding in the sanctuary of Caldwell United Methodist Church, Caldwell, WI. After the wedding the gentleman who is a member of the church, and who opened and closed the building, approached me with a question and an inquiry. A church member complained about non-member families use of the church facilities. The comment was, “They neither will join the church nor attend services. Under these conditions, why should we provide people the services of the church?” Why indeed? But then, stop and ponder what the church is for.

My answer to the custodian of the day was, “The church is here to be taken advantage of.” We are to demonstrate love and do good works whether they are appreciated or not, even whether there is not a positive response or not. We are here to provide loving service to those in need within the hope that what is done might strike a responsive cord in their lives and turn them towards God in ways that we may not anticipate.

It is and has always been that way, even from the beginning when Jesus taught and performed the miracles of healing for mind and body. Jesus went about the countryside of Galilee and Decapolis, and other places healing people and teaching them the basics of the kingdom of God. Did Jesus ever say that these good people had to become church members? No! Of course, there was not yet a church, but Jesus did have a group of followers. He did not even tell people to become part of the group.

Jesus did not tell people that in order to be blessed by his power and wisdom that they had to change their lives and live according to his plan for them. All that he asked is that they considered what it meant to be a loving human being under the tutelage of a gracious God who loved them and wanted to save them.

Obviously Jesus also pointed out what might happen if individuals were unrelated to the kingdom of God. The results could be pretty severe. This might act as an incentive for life changes, but often it did not.

Jesus met and helped people where they were and so ought we do the same today. When you do the rewards may not be apparent, and yet they may be. I received this letter in the mail on July 30.

Dear Reverend Shultz,

My family wishes to honor the memory of ??? by this donation to you and your church.

His last days were greatly eased by your presence at the hospital, talking and praying with him.

My mother, ???, took great comfort in your ministry and spiritual help in dealing with her sadness. The beauty of ‘small town’ life is evident in the fact that you are a friend as well as pastor to anyone needing help.

We very much appreciated your wonderful, very personal eulogy. It helped all of us say Goodby to our dear friend and honorary “???.”

May God bless you for your kindness.

Sincerely,

??? & Family

I am delighted that the family was blessed by our ministry. For you see it is not only I who minister, but in our Congregational tradition I am only one amongst equals. We are all in ministry together for the people of our church, our community, and our world. God will bless this ministry in ways that we no not of because we reach out and seek to be helpful to everyone in every way we can.

“It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen used this thought to close his television program.

What we have discovered is that it is very easy to “curse the darkness.” Cursing is not swearing. Cursing is a form of criticism. It is a means of expressing a deep dissatisfaction with the way “it” is. “It” being anything that we want it to mean.

Each of us have a candle to light. That is, each Christian has a candle to light. Jesus speaks of the Christian and light:

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven, (Matthew 5:14-16 NRSV)

To light a lamp or a candle is to become involved, in a positive way, in seeking to address perceived wrongs, and to use one’s influence to bring about constructive change. Lighting a candle means to use one’s talents, abilities, and skills to create what needs to be achieved, rather than waiting for someone else to do it for you. It means remaining where you are, rather than seeking what it is that you feel you need in other directions where needs may not be ultimately met.

By getting involved in creating what is needed we do good deeds. As Portia in Shakespear’s play, The Merchant of Venice, says: “That little light we see burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world”

Adlai Stevenson said of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, “She would rather light candles than curse the darkness and her glow has warmed the world.”

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’…You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

Enough said. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, and shine everywhere.