September 17, 2025
Keeping Quiet!
“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
Proverbs 17:28
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
Abraham Lincoln or Mark Twain (who really knows?)
I am not sure if Abrahma Lincoln or Mark Twain should be credited for the above verse about revealing one’s foolishness. Various sources give credit to one or the other. Perhaps it was neither of them, but it still fits today. It seems that it was equally appropriate back in the time of King Soloman as well. Since humans first began to communicate verbally, fools have been easily identifiable by the words they utter. This saying is applicable to the written word as well. We can also find fools in all their glory on social media too!
Being a person who speaks and writes a lot (perhaps too much some might say) I run the risk of appearing foolish almost every day. Especially in times such as now, when it seems as if there are so many hot button issues in the world. Perhaps people are more sensitive, being more easily offended. Maybe it is because of the divisiveness, and the anxiety that it brings, that many people are feeling this way.
Perhaps this devotional is verging on the personal, but it is important to understand that there are certain times when it is better not to speak. Not so that we remove the opportunity to appear foolish, but to instead maintain a position of moderate observance. In pastoral ministry one of the considerations we must have is the diversity of our congregations. While we should agree of the basic foundational aspects of our faith, the smaller details can sometimes become a stone in our proverbial shoe. While we strive to find ways to a united, vital, and faith-filled congregation may we always remember our ultimate goal is to glorify God and to serve humanity. If, at times we appear to be fools, let us be fools that are filled with faith and good intentions!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 16, 2025
Deeds Done in Humility!
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:13
The Epistle James is believed to have been written by James the brother of Jesus. Like much of the ancient writings such as Scripture, there is some debate about who authored this letter. However, no matter who penned these words, there are some nuggets of truth found within. These gems are not only good advice to Christians, but they are also applicable to just being a good human being.
This morning’s verse is one of those that that really appeal to me. James (?) is advising the leaders in the early church to demonstrate their wisdom by acting appropriately. But it is more than just correct behavior, their actions should be done with humility. The humility aspect of this message is the frosting on the cake for me.
Living a good life, acting appropriately, serving others, all while glorifying the Lord are strong tenets to adhere to. However, there is more, we should do these things quietly, humbly, not seeking recognition. Even as I say this, I am forced to acknowledge that it is always nice to get recognition for our efforts. But that should not be the main motivation behind our behavior. If we help someone in need, if we sit at the sickbed of a friend, or serve a meal to a hungry person, we should do so because we are living out the Lord’s commands. If we are only doing it so that we might gain recognition in the eyes of others, we are missing the point.
There are lots of people in the world who do deeds so that they might be recognized. So that they might hold up their accomplishments for public acclaim. Jesus recognized those people in the Gospel of Matthew. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.” (Matthew 6:2) May we continue to do the good work of serving all, even as we demonstrate our wisdom and humility by glorifying the Lord ahead of ourselves!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 15, 2025
A Common Theme!
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
1 John 4:16
I found this morning’s devotional verse on Bible Gateway this morning. It seemed appropriate for reflection after the thoughts that were shared at last night’s evening beach service. We had a time at that service for people to share their thoughts about issues that they wished to dispose of. Concerns, fears, really anything that they wished they could shed to make their lives and the lives of those around them a bit better. The central theme seemed to be concerns about the prevalence of hate that can be viewed in society at this time.
When I cracked open my laptop this morning the above words from 1 John were there in my email. The message here is about love, God’s love for us, all of us, and how we can abide with God through living in love. After considering these words I started to think how this reminded me of the greatest commandments as espoused by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus answered an inquiry of which commandment was the greatest by telling the inquisitor that loving the Lord with your entire being was the most important command of the Lord. Then he said that loving our neighbor as we wish to be loved is equally as important. We love the Lord, the Lord loves us, we must love each other. Seems simple enough, does it not?
Where this idea gets complicated is when the interaction between us humans lose sight of God or when God’s words get twisted in our hands. When we read the word, “love” we start to get uncomfortable. What exactly is meant by that word? Should we say tolerate instead? What about not causing harm to each other, is that a better description of how we are called to act?
The genesis of any rejection of hate begins in a foundation of tolerance, if not outright love. Asking people to love their neighbors is expecting a lot when we consider human history. Perhaps if we strive to begin with a goal of being open minded, seeking points of connection rather than searching for reason to reject each other, we can begin to reject hate and begin healing. If we can find ways to do this on an individual level, maybe that healing will influence our larger society. May our God guide us to a place of hope and healing as a community, a country, and a world!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 11, 2025
Good or Evil?
“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are like senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, they do not know how to do good.”
Jeremiah 4:22
The above verse from Jeremiah, which is part of our first reading for Sunday, is not the most uplifting of verses. The Lord, speaking through Jeremiah, compares the people of Judah and Jerusalem to fools and senseless children. They are quite good at doing evil but cannot seem to figure out how to act appropriately. Then the Lord speaks of cleaning the slate and starting over because of the sins of his people. Like I said, not very positive, is it?
Often when we read and discuss the words in the Old Testament, people express their displeasure with hearing threats of punishment from the Lord. Indeed, it seems that much of the OT is about the Lord’s fractious relationship with humanity. It begins with Adam and Eve and continues through the stories about Sodom and Gomorrah, Jonah, and on and on. The Lord offers the people instruction, after a time they fail, the Lord punishes them, and the pattern repeats.
So, where does the glitch in the system exist? Is it with the Lord, is it with the people, or is it some combination of the two? Many of you have read or heard my opinion that despite our advances in technology, medicine, and the like, we as humans have not evolved too much. We may walk a bit more upright than our predecessors but the things that drive us have not changed too much.
On a day when many of us pause to reflect on the tragic events that occurred twenty-four years ago, we must admit that we can look around and still find the fingerprints of evil in the world. While we should be more united as a country and a world, we are not. Just yesterday there was what seems to be a politically motivated killing in our county (not the first one of that ilk either) as well as another of the endless string of school shootings. The belief that taking someone’s life is going to solve our problems, as individuals or as a nation, is a sign that evil still exists in one form or another.
While we grieve over this situation, we also need to realize that there is so much work to be done. Not just societally or politically, but spiritually as well. May we pray for a turning of the hearts and minds of those who are discontented. May we seek to be the voices of reconciliation and the hands of compassion. And may we strive to set an example of what a truly united world might look like through our words and actions!
Peace,
Pastor Chuck
September 10, 2025
We Must Walk the Walk!
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads to poverty.”
Proverbs 14:23
I am not a big fan of old sayings, although I seem to quote them often. Anyway, there is a saying, “If you are going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk.” In other words, your actions must back up your words. This saying can be applied to our faith as well. Pope Francis spoke of this when he stated that, “Prayer without action is just noise.” For our prayers to be effective, we have act as well as pray. That is how we, as Christians, can walk the walk, if you will.
What does this mean in a practical sense, you may ask. It simply means that all of us need to participate, in some way, in the work of the church in the world. This may mean serving lunch at the Salvation Army, dropping a few dollars in the plate for the Deacon’s Discretionary Fund, or purchasing a Church World Service blanket. All of these and so many other activities are part of the way our congregation turns prayer into action.
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus related a story about two different groups. Members of one group went out of their way to serve people in need. The other folks went about their business with no concern about others who were less fortunate than them. Jesus tells his listeners that the members of the first group will be blessed. Those who chose not to act will punished for their failure to be a good neighbor. (Matt. 25:31-46)
While the verse from Proverbs quoted above seems to be more about finances and success, it also applies to our faith life. If we expend energy supporting others we can benefit too. First, we are fulfilling our mission in the eyes of the Lord. But we also get to enjoy the satisfaction from doing important work in the world. However, if we merely nod our heads and go about our business without effort designed to foster the greater good, we run the risk of becoming faithfully destitute. May we always find ways to talk the talk, walk the walk, and live out our faith to the best of our abilities.
Peace,
Pastor Chuck