Children | The Journey

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Come, Holy Spirit

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in dry places like a river.” – Psalm 105:41 (KJV)

Like many other countries in the throes of financial crises, Britain is struggling to revive a faltering economy. A recent survey by Abbey Banking reveals that 64% of British citizens are running out of money before payday each month. And, with corporate tax collections well below estimates and government spending well above estimates, Britain seems poised for yet another painful round of social spending cuts, exacerbating the financial worries of many.

But into this dismal national story, there gushed a flood of joy. Prince William and Lady Catherine gave birth to an 8 pound, 6 ounce baby boy on Monday, July 22, and with the announcement of that birth, the spirit of a beleaguered nation was refreshed. People all across England, as well as the 53 member states of the Commonwealth, celebrated with flowers, cards and champagne, as they joined together on one accord to wish the royal family well and to confirm the vitality of their national solidarity.

God never fails to send rivers of hope through deserts of desolation.

Through the dry places of a Catholic Church, riveted by allegations of child abuse, a river of renewed compassion for “the least of these” still flows, with the coronation of a new Pope.

Through the arid sectors of The United Methodist Church, seeking to expand its work in a world of depleting denominational resources, a river of high hope still flows – both for the restructuring of the denomination and for the re-commitment to its mission of Radical Hospitality and risk-taking Mission and Service in the world.

Through every death valley, a river of new life, new hope and new possibility still flows.

Our destinies are not so much determined by our anguish in the desert as they are by the renewal we experience down by the riverside. So, as the old spiritual says: “Let All Come to the Waters.”

Tonight as a prayer I want to ask you to spend .99 on Itunes to purchase a beautiful and powerful prayer – a song by Bryan Duncan entitled “Come, Holy Spirit.” You will fall in love with it and it will touch your spirit. Amen. (Let me know what you think).

Grace and Peace

Steve

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An Open Trunk

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

This week Noah is in an Animation Camp out at the Natural Science Center here in Greensboro. I picked him up around noon and asked how his day had been going? He told me that he and his partner are making this movie (Lego movie) which they have entitled: “The Zombie Apocalypse.” This may not be out in your local movie theaters this summer, but it is certainly intriguing to hear him talk about it.

As we are talking about the happenings of his day, we headed for Jay’s Deli for lunch. They sat us at a table for two by the window. We continued our conversation about the looming apocalypse, and how he was going to have little Lego figures flying through the air.

I happened to look out the window, and I noticed this car with the trunk wide open and no one anywhere near that car. I thought to myself: “I cannot believe how dumb some people are… to leave their trunk wide open right here in the middle of the parking lot.” I called this to Noah’s attention, and then it hit me – it was MY car – the trunk not just cracked a little – no, it is open all the way… like a flag on a bicycle! Apparently, I cannot only pocket dial someone on my cell phone, I can also sit on my keys and open my trunk. Isn’t life wonderful?

It is so easy to look at the mistakes we see around the world – even up close and personal and wonder how could those people be so dumb. And then we find out it is our error… it is our sin, it is our mistake. We are really no different from anyone else. What makes us think that other people, who do the same things we do, are dumb and yet we do not apply the same standards to ourselves.

I believe the Bible tells us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Not one of us is smarter than a fifth grader. Not one of us is perfect. Not one of us deserves to be called dumb. When it comes to kingdom living, all of us fall short of what God expects from us. But all of us do some mighty dumb things.

Next time you see an open trunk think about me, but more than that, realize that if it were not for the grace of God all of our trunks would be open.

Dear Lord, I don’t know why I do such dumb things, but I sure am thankful that you are there to forgive me, redeem me and restore me, in and through Jesus. Amen

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Sing To The Lord

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“Your solemn processions are seen, O God…the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines.” from Psalm 68:24-3

Yesterday we were at St. Pius X Catholic Church for our granddaughter’s ending performance to this week’s camp on “Little Miss SPX Pageant.” All week long they practiced walking, talent and answering the “world peace” question. Yesterday was the two hour pageant. Abby won the prize for the “Most Courteous.” I thought that was a great award. She did a wonderful job and smiled her beautiful smile all the way through.

As we were waiting to go into the old gym, we were talking with some parents in the hallway. In jest, I asked one father if he were singing today? His very quick response was “Oh, you don’t want to hear that.”

A pastor friend of mine tells that when she was young, whenever she sang in church choirs, her father always felt obliged to tell her, “You know I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” Then he would say, “When I was a little boy, I was invited out of the church choir. First they invited me in, and then they invited me out.” He would laugh, but he told me this story often enough for me to know it mattered to him. He would say that it freed him up to spend more time playing “kick the can,” but it had to have hurt at the time.

I think his church choir director confused worship with a concert. In her quest for perfection, she left in her wake a little boy who grew up to be a man afraid to open his mouth and sing.

In the psalms, we often hear about music. Sometimes the processions are solemn, sometimes they are joyful, but clearly, our music matters to God.

When the children’s choirs of four to six year olds sing at any of our churches, let me tell you, it is not a solemn procession. Amped up on donuts and the thrill of the moment, they wiggle and squirm on the steps in the chancel area of the church. They sing their little hearts out, many of them in tune. There seems to always be one little boy who sings real loud and very off key. They bring delight to everyone in worship, including God. They may not all be musical geniuses but they are learning that their voices matter to the one who created them.

Dear God, remind me that I do not have to be a concert musician to have my voice be beautiful to you. Thank you for allowing it to be pleasing to you, even when I make up my own notes. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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Worship Anywhere – Everywhere

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

“Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened.” – Acts 16:25

A friend tells about some years ago he was with a group from his church on a mission trip in Nicaragua. He said: “We were welcomed for dinner at the home of a member of the church we were visiting. After dinner our hosts got up and sang hymns – without hymnals or accompaniment – beautifully.”

He continues: “I was really enjoying this gift until it suddenly occurred to me what was coming next. They would, of course, invite us to stand and sing too. And what would that be, “Jesus Loves Me?” “Kum Ba Yah?” We weren’t very well prepared for such sharing because we had few hymns written on our hearts. We would look around and wonder if any of our group were choir members who could take over.”

Here, in today’s passage, Paul and Silas were singing and praying – worshipping – in, of all places, jail.

Sometimes I wonder if we’re too dependent on the idea that worship only takes place in a church building. That we have to have organs or pianos to worship. Or that we have to have hymnals to sing praise to God. Or (worst of all) that you can’t worship without a “bulletin.” (OMG!)

Suppose you had to do “take-out” worship? That you worshipped the living God wherever you were – in a jail cell, around a campfire, in a home, a hospital, or on the city street? Would you be ready? What hymns do you know by heart? What Scriptures are written upon your heart? Are you ready to pray? And, in the words of Peter, to “give an account of the hope that is in you?”

In truth, worship doesn’t happen because of a church building, instruments or bulletins (!). It happens because we trust God, because we want to seek God and need to praise God. It happens because our church has equipped us with the words and ways of worship to take with us wherever we go.

Do you have worship you can take anywhere?

Write your word across our hearts, O loving God, so that when our hearts break, your word will fall into our hearts and heal us, in and through Jesus. Amen.

Grace and Peace

Steve

Filed under: Children, Church, Devotions, Faith, Families, Fathers, Friends, Worship | Tagged: Worship | 3 Comments »

The Royal Baby

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Dr. Steve Martin

Steve & Shirley

As I begin this devotion today, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, has arrived at the hospital, St. Mary’s, and is in labor. Soon there will be the event many people have been waiting for, the birth of the royal baby… the one who will be third in line to the throne of England. At this point we know not whether this baby will be Prince Noah or Princess Abby. But we do know that everyone is excited about this very special event.

You know what gets me is that this child has done nothing. It is just being born into a family, and that family happens to be royal. And that royalty makes this child special.

George W. Bush and I agreed with some things and disagreed with others. But, being the good Methodist he is, he cared about the children with his program called “No Child Left Behind.” Even though it didn’t work and was never funded, the concept was right on target. Every child should be special. No child should be left out or left behind.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the news reporters lined up outside the hospital when your child was born? When every child was born? Saying to every child “You Are Special! You Are Royalty! You Are A Child of The King!” And what if we treated each child as a child that would one day inherite the throne? Can you imagine how the world could be changed if we would treat each child as a prince and princess, and do all that we could to make sure that they were given all the advantages of being raised as a child of the King.

Guess what? Each child already is a child of the King of kings, and therefore each one should be treated as royalty.

Grace and Peace

Steve