John Who?
Generally speaking I am a lectionary preacher. Where I serve now that fits this congregation. Although I do know some who would see value in something other than that. As I read the texts for Epiphany 4 which include Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15 & Matthew 5:1-12, I decided to pull and dust off my ole Works of "Johnny" Wesley. You know who that is right? I cannot remember when a Methodist at heart said the name without adding the phrase, "the founder of Methodist." What is that saying? That is for another blog post I believe.
But I pulled the book volumes 5 & 6 off the shelf and turned to his treatment of the Beatitudes. First I looked up the definition of Beatitudes.Certainly you will find many dictionary that tell you that the meaning is the statements made by Jesus. Other definitions mention the idea of utmost blessedness or happiness. Harper's Bible Dictionary says, "Many scholars believe that Luke’s Beatitudes, with their more direct reference to socioeconomic circumstances (e.g., ‘Blessed are you poor’), are more nearly original than are Matthew’s, which appear to represent a later, ‘spiritualizing’ tendency on the part of the church (e.g., ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’); others, however, disagree. Since the four Beatitudes of Luke reappear, with some modification, in Matthew, this interpretation concentrates on the latter."
Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (100). San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Wesley writes: "Our Lord, First, lays down the sum of all true religion in eight particulars, which he explains, and guards against the false glosses of men, to the end of the fifth chapter."
"Blessed are the poor in spirit...."
Wesley writes, "
Poverty of spirit then, as it implies the first step we take in running the race which is set before us, is a just sense of our inward and outward sins, and of our guilt and helplessness." In others words our first step is recognizing we cannot do this alone and without God in Christ."
"Blessed are those who mourn..." 
Wesley: "
The mourners of whom our Lord here speaks, are those that mourn on quite another account: They that mourn after God; after Him in whom they did "rejoice with joy unspeakable," when he gave them to "taste the good," the pardoning, "word, and the powers of the world to come. 
But although this mourning is at an end, is lost in holy joy, by the return of the Comforter, yet is there another, and a blessed mourning it is, which abide sin the children of God. They still mourn for the sins and miseries of mankind: They "weep with them that weep." They weep for them that weep not for themselves, for the sinners against their own souls. They mourn for the weakness and unfaithfulness of those that are, in some measure, saved from their sins." 
So as we mourn after God we also mourn for those children of God and situations beyond us. In other words we move outside of our mourning to mourn for others. We move to see Christ in others as Christ is in us. Our spirit with Christ's.
My insight as I prepare to read more of Wesley's insights is that the first four are how we are to be with God and the others how we are to be with each other. I saw something once that interpreted it this way: BE-Attitudes
I am still reading but wanted to share a couple of Wesley's insights from his sermon. Amazing what we find when we go back to the basics of our denomination and faith. I pray as you worship this week and hear these beatitudes once more you will not only be blessed but be a blessing to others. Back to Mr. Wesley's sermons and cup of coffee.....
Peace
PS here is a great site for his works, journal and sermon. AND pic to the right is a church of the Church of the Beatitudes in Israel. 
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Standing on the Promises
Every week in our worship bulletin, there is something called, "For your Meditation." If find these things from various sources. Sometimes devotionals I have others from online postings or thoughts, hymn lyrics. Today as I was putting the bulletin together, I found the following. It comes out of a devotional book called His Promies:Devotions for Every Day of the Year. It covers writings by many theologians regarding promises of God/Jesus. It was put out by Integrity Publishers. I have had it for awhile but only recently pulled it off my shelf. Hope it speaks to you as it did to me today.



“All the promises God makes in nature, in Scripture, in history, and in the longings of personal experience find their yes in Him. The New Testament speaks of ‘the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’ Jesus is the upward call of God-calling us from the lower to the higher, the incomplete to the complete, the imperfect to the perfect. Everything in Jesus is upward. Everything outside Jesus is downward. An African after he was converted renamed himself ‘After.’ Everything to him was ‘After’- after death, after sin, after sorrow, after frustration, after alienation. Now everything had promise in it-had a future. In sin there is no future-it is the way of decay and death. Jesus is the Yes to all the promises of God made everywhere. There are thirty-three thousand promises in the Scriptures, and Jesus is the Yes to every one of them. He writes ‘Yes’ in His own blood on every promise. If you come in His name, you can have them cashed in experience.”
E. Stanley Jones, in His Promises Daily Devotional  
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Is There a Pill For That?
I hardly ever post twice in one day but this came to mind...a little less serious but maybe not so much. Was doing my usual shopping at our local Wal-Mart and needed vitamins. I have been taking them most of my life. Usually I reach for the name brand but lately have been buying more generic. What made this shopping trip was my birthday in December. By now you may start raising and eyebrow and saying, "Huh?" That was when I turned 49. I reached the shelf to grab the usual high energy vitamins. You know the ones with the extra boost and stuff to help your mental acuity. For those I know who are thinking it, and you know who you are... Watch it! LOL.

Anyway I put them back and reached for the "Mature" vitamins. You know the ones where the label says for those "50 or over"? They over call them something other than "mature" like "silver." I chuckled a little to myself and and said, "Why not get an early start?" I dropped the "Mature" vitamins in my cart.

As I finished my shopping I got starting thinking about the word "mature." An Online Dictionary defines the mature as:
1.a. Having reached full natural growth or development: a mature cell.b. Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe: a mature cheese. 
2. Of, relating to, or characteristic of full development, either mental or physical: mature for her age. 
3.a. Suitable or intended for adults: mature subject matter. b. Composed of adults: a mature audience. 
4. Worked out fully by the mind; considered: a mature plan of action. 
5. Having reached the limit of its time; due: a mature bond. 
6. No longer subject to great expansion or development. Used of an industry, a market, or a product.
7. Geology Having reached maximum development of form. Used of streams and landforms.

Well my wondering and wandering brain began to wish there was a pill we could take to be mature Christians. Sadly it is a maturation process. It is a matter of living the life as Christ as taught and living a disciplined life at that. Reading the Bible, Worship together, Holy Conferencing, Partaking in Holy Communion and setting apart time in Prayer. There is no other way to be able to be who God calls us to be. Form some this is a huge "pill" to swallow. There is no easy fix. There is no easy path. Only if we can enter the narrow gate; a gate which leads us to a path of righteousness, forgiveness, mercy and grace. And don't worry, if you get lost, if you take the wrong path. There is always a road which can lead you back to renew your journey. Christ will lead you. But one day you may be on the path and someone needs to find the way back. Then it will be your turn to shine the light on that path and lead them home.

So I may have to start taking mature vitamins for my physical health. However, I need to do the hard work of living and doing the work to be a mature Christian who is not in a cycle of erosion. Which reminds me of a sign a saw

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Do You Pray For Your Pastor?
Over my short time in ministry, I have been seen a treated many different ways. Recently the thought of being seen as pastor vs employee has come to the forefront. 
Miriam Webster Dictionary defines a pastor as: "a spiritual overseer; especially : a clergyperson serving a local church or parish." They define employee as:"one employed by another usually for wages or salary and in a position below the executive level." As you think about your pastor or priest, do you see him/her as one or the other or both. For IRS standards, the pastor is an employee of the church. But for denominations, pastors are often called, sent or appointed to serve a local congregation. 
So the question becomes for me, how do people see pastors? Some see them exclusively as that spiritual leader, guide, shepherd (an older image but still in some minds). Others say we pay them so they need to meet our expectations or we find someone else. So there are clearly defined job descriptions. In the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline there are roughly forty items pastors of the church are responsible for. I don't know anyone who can accomplish them all. 
For example, say your congregation wants your pastor in the office Monday through Friday 9-5. The church also wants the pastor to visit, start a youth program and lead Bible study as well as sing in the choir. When does your pastor get to do all this? That is on top of preparing, worship, a well thought out sermon, and at some point and Sabbath day and time in prayer with God. Wow a lot of expectations and responsibility. How can any of those things get done and done well?
I have had some time to think that there can be no either/or but both/and. The pastor is that and an employee. As there needs to be a covenant between pastor and people about expectations. Not just expectations of the pastor but expectations of the people that pastor is serving. The pastor and people need to prioritize what is the mission of the church and work the joint expectations around that mission. 
When people put their pastor exclusively in that definition, they are often placed on a pedestal. When there is a break in trust, people have a hard time being close to a pastor again. In the same way treating a pastor exclusively as an employee can take the relationship out of the picture and it is solely about get checkboxes completed. "Exceeds Expectations;" "Meets Expectations;" "Needs Improvement." 
In churches I have been called to that understand the duality of being pastor/employee, there has been an openness to be in relationship with one another as well as hold each other accountable to the expectations the people and pastor have for each other. Even in those churches which are on the poles of pastor or employee, there is still a chance for meaningful mission, ministry and relationships but it takes more work and effort.
So as you think about how you see your pastor, consider first and foremost they are human just like you. They hurt they have pain, joy and sorrow. They have their highs and lows. They did not choose this. God chose them for the gifts they can offer the people of God to bring the Kin-dom and share the Message found in Christ Jesus. I encourage you all to start there and begin to look at covenanting with each other and your pastor to speak expectations and goals. There is no greater death for our spirits, the spirit of the church and your pastor as when hope is dashed not once but twice in unmet and unspoken expectations and conflict. 



Have you prayed for your pastor today? Try these ways to pray for your pastor.



How To Pray for Your Pastor

You want to pray, but you’re not sure how to pray for your pastor. I’ve listed below 10 prayer requests that can help you start praying for them.



  • Insight into scripture and an understanding of how it applies to people today.
  • Protection from the work of Satan.
  • Help your pastor keep a soft heart in the face of abrasive and abusive people.
  • Your pastor's personal spiritual growth.
  • A successful ministry – however God defines success in your pastor's life.
  • Boldness to speak the truth, and grace to speak it with humility.
  • That your pastor would persevere through whatever trial they are facing.
  • Your pastor's children – that they will grow up with a positive impression of church ministry.
  • That your pastor ould remain pure, and that his love for his wife would increase daily.
  • That you would know how to encourage your pastor today.

Pray for Your P-A-S-T-O-R

Here's another way to pray for your pastor - especially if you have trouble remembering what to pray about. Use the letters of the word, P-A-S-T-O-R to remind you of specific prayer requests. For example:P - Purity. Pray that your pastor will remain pure in the face of constant pressure in an immoral culture.
A - Adversity. Pray for your pastor that they will be able to confront adversity with faith and endurance.
S - Strength. Most pastors work long hours and at least six days a week. Pray that they will have the strength to continue their ministry.
T - Teaching. Pray for your pastor that their teaching and preaching will be effective, powerful, and clear.
O - Organization. Your pastor has more to do than any one person can handle. Pray for your pastor that they will be able to prioritize correctly.
R - Rest. Your pastor needs rest. Pray that your pastor will sleep well each night and that they will take enough time away from ministry so that they do not get worn out.
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