Friday, November 30, 2012

Perspective On the Unexpected


The day has nearly gotten away and I am sitting down to do what normally is done several hours before...my pastor's notes. Many things have kept me occupied today in ways that I am not normally occupied on Friday. The unforeseen, unscheduled events of life change the routines of everyday expectation. Some days I handle these changes better than others...sometimes these changes bring challenges that rearrange thought and action, Sometimes you just have to give in and go with the flow, caught up in the current as it takes you to places you had not planned to go.

I have always appreciated the apostle Paul's perspective on the unexpected. He wrote to the Philippian Christians, " I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." I don't believe that meant that he never got angry, worried, or frustrated with the unexpected, but he learned through the years and through many different experiences to trust God no matter what. There are days when you just can't get it all done...days when the heaviness of life seems overwhelming...days when you have to remember those now famous words from the final scene of Margaret Mitchell's epic work, as Scarlett O'Hara proclaims, "After all, tomorrow is another day!"

So, we shall see what tomorrow brings. I am confident that there will be surprises there as well, but just as confident that God will be present in it all.

Well, by the time some of you read this, today will have become tomorrow. Make the most of the moments given you, and with each surprise or each affirmation of that which was expected, trust God...after all, tomorrow is another day and the living God has promised to be with you, no matter what.

Jim Abernathy     

Friday, November 23, 2012

Integrity


One of the great conundrums of our day is this: When is Black Friday not Black Friday?  The riddle, of course, is generated by the day, for this year, Black Friday actually began on Thursday.  For years now, stores have started Black Friday sales at midnight on Friday, allowing their customers to at least have the semblance of decorum and appreciation for the Thanksgiving Day observances.  This year, however, many stores opened by 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night, and I'm sure there were probably folks lined up outside their doors, waiting to get in.  Some determined shoppers have been camping out at least a week in front of some electronics stores, wanting to be first in line to get the "buy of a lifetime". 
 
So, when is something not really what it is, and what effect does that have on our sense of integrity?  One might argue that integrity has nothing to do with the Black Friday (Thursday) shopping experience.  It seems that gift giving in that context has become more of a competitive event than an altruistic offering.  I understand the pressures of the retail industry and the clamor to better, or at least keep pace with last year's sales.  But in a broader context, one could certainly argue that things aren't always what they seem to be, and perhaps, we have simply accepted that as the norm for the world we live in.  Honesty, integrity, dependability...are these virtues that still resonate with an ever rushing, ever distracted society?
 
Jesus, very simply stated a principle of integrity in Matthew's gospel as he said, "Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No." (Matthew 5:37, Amplified)  In essence, as the old colloquialism says, "let your word be your bond."  Our world would be better served if that timeless encouragement was fully embraced. 
 
Now, this little epistle isn't meant as condemnation on the ever-changing landscape of American consumerism, simply because retailers rearrange the clock and calendar.  I do wonder, however, at times about the disconnect between what is promised and what is delivered.  Simply stated, "yes" being "yes" and "no" being "no" sounds too good to be true, but our lives would be enhanced greatly by living this great truth.
 
Make the most of this Black Friday...regardless of what the advertising world may tell you, it contains the same twenty-four hours as does every Friday.  Color the day as you choose with the beautiful blue of the sky, the last reds, yellows, and browns of the remaining leaves, and the warm tones of family and friends that make these days truly wonderful.
 
Jim Abernathy

Friday, November 16, 2012

Kingdom Builders

Cindy and I sat in the design center of Henry Fisher builders in Ft Thomas, Kentucky nearly twenty years ago. We had signed a contract to build a house and found ourselves at that moment of decision confronted with a myriad of choices on everything from doorknobs to kitchen cabinets to the color and style of brick for the exterior. So many possibilities...so many decisions!

Where does one begin in such a process? Fortunately, the consultant reminded us that it was best to build...one brick, one cabinet, one doorknob at a time. This measured approach gave proper perspective for each decision. The whole process went much more smoothly than I anticipated and ultimately, the finished product was something we were very pleased with.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be Kingdom builders. This transformational calling challenges us to use our talents wisely, offering the gifts of ourselves and our resources generously so that the Creator God will be praised and lives will be touched and changed. Called to such a task, we join together with others to maximize our efforts and work together as good stewards of God's blessing. When we work together, we do build the Kingdom, one gift...one person at a time.

This Sunday we will gather to worship the living God whose grace and mercy empowers our stewardship. During the service, we will commit ourselves anew to faithful financial giving, that the work and ministry of Westwood Baptist Church might not only continue, but also thrive. There are many things to do, many opportunities to maximize, many choices to make. Like sitting in a design center and considering the possibilities of building a home, we find ourselves anticipating the start of a new calendar year with many possibilities for Kingdom building. You received a letter a week or so ago that contained a commitment card with an envelope. You were asked to pray and consider what God would have you do through your financial giving to help build the Kingdom during the coming year. I hope you have prayerfully considered the possibilities and chosen well how you will participate in the unified budget for 2013. I also hope that you will fill out that card, place it in the envelope provided, and bring it with you to worship Sunday morning. Together you and I can, and I believe will, make a difference for the Kingdom of God...one gift at a time.

Let us remember the words of the Psalmist who wrote, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." Ours is a shared calling, built on the love of Almighty God, expressed in the faithful living and giving of God's people. Let us work and worship together, truly offering ourselves for the building of God's Kingdom, one gift at a time.

I look forward to joining you as we gather this Sunday to honor the living Lord in worship and commitment.

Jim Abernathy

Friday, November 9, 2012

Moving Gingerly Along the Fiscal Cliff

The euphoria or hand-wringing (depending on your perspective) in the immediate aftermath of the national elections this past week, has given way to a new topic of discussion that is almost as consuming as the non-stop political television ads which dominated the air waves over the last few months. The government's inability to find consensus in dealing with our nation's financial challenges has placed our economy in a very difficult position. Depending on who you listen to, the failure of our nation's leadership to effectively provide a solution to this crisis, threatens to send us into deep recession, resulting in higher taxes for families and further growth in unemployment. The cynic among us wonders about a nation that worries about paying its bills when an estimated 6 billion dollars was just spent on the presidential election, but that is another topic for another day.

There has been more conciliatory language coming from the president and leaders of congress in the last few days, but there is a long way to go to avoid what some believe could have catastrophic consequences for our nation.

I got to thinking about this image of a fiscal cliff, envisioning a traveler inching his way along the edge of that precipice...sweaty palms, jittery nerves, trying not to look over the edge, yet...unable to look away. That describes our lives at times when facing the great challenges that come our way. We find ourselves in tight spots where each step is a calculated choice and each breath, a measured reminder of our tenuous circumstance.

Churches walk along these narrow pathways as well...sometimes because of faithfulness to the Lord that puts the church at odds with others; sometimes because of the financial demands of ministry and structures; sometimes because our faithfulness in giving falls short of our dreams for ministry. Westwood walks along this pathway this year as we begin our stewardship emphasis. No, we are not teetering on the edge of a financial cliff where calamity awaits, but giving is down this year as compared with recent years, placing us further behind our budget goal for 2012. Bills are being paid, and our deficits of spending versus income are close to where they normally are this time of year. Westwood traditionally increases giving during the months of November and December as the calendar year comes to a close and we believe that will continue again this year. But trends in churches across this nation are edging downward in attendance and giving, presenting the church with growing challenges for the future.

Our stewardship theme for this year is "Building the Kingdom...One Gift at a Time" Here, we see the significance of working together for the cause of Christ...building, not our kingdom, but the Lord's. Here we are also called to recognize that every gift is important...that every gift empowers the building of God's kingdom. Charlie Shuman wrote, in the letter you received this week, of the blessings of God that "boggle the mind." Truly we see the hand of God at work in our lives, the world around us, and in our church. We express that gratitude in many ways, including our financial giving. There is so much to do, so much to accomplish, so much of ourselves and our resources to give for the cause of Christ.

Over these next few weeks and then as we move into 2013, may we be faithful to give generously, empowering our church to be used of God for Kingdom-building in Springfield, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

If you are inching your way along some cliff today, remember, you are not alone. The living God is right there, with you...always.

Jim Abernathy

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Election Day

In the fall of 1984, I was pastor of the Milton Baptist Church in rural north-central Kentucky.  On election day, Cindy and I went to the Milton Fire House to cast our votes. In such a small community the voting process seemed fairly straightforward.  As we walked in, we greeted and were greeted with the familiarity of a small town where everyone knows everyone.  As we went through the formality of presenting identification and verifying addresses, we were surprised to learn that our household was divided more so than we realized.  In that particular election, Cindy and I were supporting different candidates...a division of loyalties that had made for interesting discussion, but little more than that.  The surprise for us that day came when the poll officials couldn't find one of us in her official voter registration list.  After a few moments of spirited conversation about the obvious miscarriage of justice in allowing only one of us to vote, it was discovered that indeed, we were both registered, but in different precincts.  You see, even though it was a small community, there was an East Milton and West Milton precinct.  Somehow, though registered at the same address, we appeared in different precincts.  We all laughed about the obvious mistake, then we cast our opposite votes and went on our way.

Of course, our differences were purely political and our separate precinct assignments simply a mistake, but the issues that often divide us as a nation and within our particular communities in an election year are not so easily overcome. This election cycle seems to have been particularly divisive on many levels. I do not remember a recent election where the rhetoric and hyperbole have been as overblown as this year. Extremists on both sides have made near-apocalyptic predictions about the future if their candidate does not win. Rational, otherwise thinking people have gotten caught up in this debate and the stakes seem higher by the minute. I understand the passion of politics and the ideologies that drive such passions. It does matter who wins any election, which is why participating in the process is not just a privilege to be acknowledged, but an opportunity not to be missed. That said, I would remind us that whoever wins will need the prayers of persons of faith. I believe we honor the Lord when we participate fully in the electoral process and act responsibly as citizens of this nation. But one person, and most likely one political party, will not lead us to better days solely on their own. It will take people from all perspectives, learning to work together not for personal or partisan gain, but for the good of the nation. We are capable of such responsible citizenship and I believe we should expect that kind of leadership from our elected officials. The privilege of the voting process is too precious and been purchased by the faithful dedication and sacrifice of too many people to settle for anything less.

Regardless of your precinct assignment or party affiliation, celebrate the freedom you experience as a citizen of this great nation and give thanks for the privilege of participating in this electoral process. The living God will still be at work, regardless of who wins this election...that is the best news of all!

Jim Abernathy


Friday, November 2, 2012

Empty

The wise writer of Proverbs reminds us that "empty talk will make you poor." (Proverbs 14:23, CEV) He writes in the context of faithful effort, doing one's best in direct contrast to simply offering empty words. That is good advice for one who seeks to be responsible in whatever he or she does.

I suppose those words might also speak to Christian stewardship, particularly pertaining to how a community of faith is challenged to grow in committed giving. It could be said of Westwood today, "empty envelopes will make you poor." Of course, one might understand this in the context of offering envelopes not used, gifts not given. However, today, there is a different context which some of you have already been made aware of. Due to an unintentional error in the office, empty envelopes were mailed yesterday and began showing up in your mailboxes today. I suppose we should be encouraged that the U. S. Post Office delivers the mail so quickly and efficiently, considering these envelopes were just mailed yesterday afternoon. But that is little consolation for the work some of our folks have done in preparing to send a stewardship letter in that envelope next week. I assure you, Charlie Shuman has written a wonderful letter of encouragement and appreciation for the ministry of Westwood, calling for all of us to share in stewardship that honors the Lord and empowers the work of His church. But, unless the letter makes it into the envelope, there's little that can be done to communicate that message.

I am a bit surprised that these unsealed, empty envelopes were processed and mailed by the Post Office, but that probably speaks more to the automated way the mail is handled today than anything else...perhaps a reminder that the human touch is still important in an increasingly automated, cloud-filled world.

So, watch for another envelope next week that I promise will be filled with something very important, and in the meantime, perhaps we all are being reminded of that great lesson of life and faith, that what is on the inside is often more important than what is on the outside.

I close with the wonderful words of the Psalmist who writes, "You are my hiding place. You protect me from my troubles and fill me with songs of salvation." (Psalm 32:7, NCV) May the ever-present Creator of all, fill you this night with songs of salvation that overcome whatever emptiness comes your way.

Jim Abernathy