While running to the pharmacy and also picking up repaired glasses, I began to think about others: those who live in impoverished areas right here in our own community, those in areas of almost unprecedented flooding and devastating storms, and those in war-torn countries. What made me think of them was the fact that I was taking a leisurely ride to shops near me while others live amid houses most of us would not enter-or couldn’t enter because of destruction.

Some have told me in the past that it made them feel guilty to have many things while others have so little. Others have told me that they feel incredibly grateful and blessed to have what we have.

There is a third group that causes me as much trouble as the inequity of distribution of blessings. This is the group that neither feels empathy for those without, nor grateful for what you and I call blessings. In fact, this third group causes me even more concern than those who have little or nothing. It’s because they have the erroneous assumption that either they are entitled, or have gotten where they are by themselves.

In 1624, John Donne wrote a prose piece entitled, “Devotions on Emmergent Occassions.” The phrase, “no man is an island,” is a line from that work and has inspired a movie, a book, and several songs. One of my favorite versions is a recording by The Lettermen, a group I saw in person a couple of times when I was a youth. And, when I was in a men’s chorus in high school, we sang it. I suggest you Google it; but, please try to find either The Lettermen’s version, or that of the Victoria Chorale. Either is very moving.

Indeed, none of us is completely self-sufficient. Each of us owes something to someone, maybe unknown. In addition, through the last several millennia, it has been made more than apparent that any nation that thinks it can be totally self-sufficient is doomed to all. Each week, we have an opportunity to remember in worship where all of our blessings originate.
Put God at the top of the list and join us in worship each Sunday.

Michael O’Bannon, Pastor

John 12:12-14.

On April 2nd Palm Sunday my sermon is titled Watching the Parade Go by. The scripture is John 12:12-14.

It will be a traditional Palm Sunday sermon.

Blessings,

Pastor Michael

Colossians 3:5-8

This coming Sunday, I will be preaching a sermon entitled, Spiritual Chemotherapy! It is based on Colossians 3:5-8. The sermon is on the 2nd of the “Other Ten Commandments” in Colossians.

The theme is God’s Grace pursues us. (John Wesley would call this, “Prevenient Grace.”)

I look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Michael

Colossians 3:1-4

This coming Sunday’s sermon entitled, Look Up!, is about seeking the things above, and setting that as your goal.

Blessings,

Pastor Michael

Luke 11:1-4

The theme of this Sunday’s sermon is communication with God, especially listening to God.

Blessings,

Pastor Michael

Ephesians 2:1-7

This Sunday’s message will be delivered by Gary Smith.

Blessings,

Pastor Michael

Since childhood, I’ve always tried to fill most of the minutes of the day. At graduation from high school, I was given the annual award for the senior with the most school-related activities. Even to this day, I have the constant impulse to fill my days with something; and it’s common to feel just a little guilty if I have an empty time slot.

My wife, Anne, has been reminding me that’s it’s ok to take a break from time to time. While I often still have some misgivings about having a little free time, at 75 years of age I am finally learning to take a little break and “smell the roses.”

What has this to do with faith? While I’ve filled some of those less active times with prayer, I have found that freeing myself up from the constant pressure of “doing” has led to times of greater meditation on the richness of God’s many blessings in my life. And, it has given me a better opportunity to concentrate on my prayer life. A favorite chair is not only good for watching a television show, reading a book, or taking a nap. It has enriched my personal prayer time. I now realize that becoming too busy to pray deeply has put a dent in my personal discipleship and kept me from being truly invested in someone’s life—if only from time to time.

It’s o.k. to take a little time off. It will not only benefit you; it will also add strength and depth to the things you do to show God’s Love to those who need your sincere efforts to answer Christ’s command that we love others as Christ love us.

Michael O’Bannon, Pastor