What happens when a man bows before a Manger and kneels before a Cross

Found in a 1955 edition of Best Sermons (a once annual book series), Michael Duduit came across this story which concluded the sermon “Manger and Mankind” by Methodist Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam:

 “Yesterday a beautiful poinsettia plant was delivered to our home. No gift could be more meaningful to a Californian. It was sent by a young and highly gifted Methodist preacher. Three years ago, I had appointed him to a splendid church. He was very happy.

“Then came news that his little son was seriously ill. It was cancer, and there was no hope. Death did not come swiftly. The little boy is still alive, perhaps to suffer a few weeks more. The minister and his lovely wife have carried on. He preaches to increasing congregations. He ministers to his people in the thousand ways that characterize a good minister of Jesus Christ.

“Every night, he sits for hours holding his son in his arms. The pain seems less when the father holds him close. The father sleeps on a mattress on the floor beside the boy, so he can take his son in his arms again whenever the boy cries out.

“He does not talk about his sorrow. He prays. He serves. He sends poinsettias at Christmas. That is what happens when a man bows before a Manger and kneels before a Cross.”

I have a confession to make…

Today is my normal Fast day. A 24 hour period that I have dedicated to spend with my feet under the Lord’s table and getting full. My confession is that I ate lunch today BUT I have some good excuses.

Number 1, if you know me very well, you know that I am not legalistic about very many things and especially about the Spiritual Disciplines. Number 2, I honestly believe that I was led by our Lord to break the Fast and fellowship around the table with some of my clergy friends.

Let me explain. I am at the point in The United Methodist Church of Provisional Elder. That means that I am a provisional Elder and have a 2 year process to participate in. In this process the Conference along with Conference Mentors observe my ministry and help to guide when I have questions or concerns. One of my mentors is an Elder that I meet with once a month on a one to one basis and the other is a group meeting with other clergy in Holston that are in the same point in this Ordination process.

In the group meeting we are studying the book “This Holy Mystery”, it is about Holy Communion and a United Methodist Understanding on this Sacrament. By the way, it is a great study.

Today my friend, Kristie Banes had the responsibility of leading the group and did a fine job. In her closing, communion was observed and Kristie had us sing the responses in the Liturgy. I had never done this before and to be honest I was skeptical.

Let me just say that it touched me (The Holy Spirit) touched me in a way that moved me. It was a moving experience, maybe not for everyone, I can’t speak for the others, but for me it was awesome!

I had plans to move on after communion and return to the office without going to share a meal with the others as we try to do each time but today I was again moved by the Holy Spirit to break my Fast and go to lunch with the group. To share in the fellowship and relationship building that comes with a relationship with Jesus.

In the book “The Sacred Meal” by Nora Gallagher, written by a lay person from a perspective different from all theological, Nora writes, “It’s traditional to think that the shape of Communion of Eucharist (taking bread and wine, saying thanks, breaking the bread, and then sharing bread and wine) comes from Jesus’ words and actions at the Last Supper. But Paul Bradshaw, an authority on the Eucharist, says its more accurate to says its roots are in the various meals that Jesus shared with his followers  and others throughout His life. Bradshaw also notes that each early Christian community seems to have had its own form of communal meal practice; a standard form emerged much later. Some gatherings of early Christians practiced a meal in which the cup ritual seems to have preceded rather than followed the bread ritual, Bradshaw wrote. Others linked themselves to the Last Supper”.

The early Christians practiced some form of an early Communal ritual, and in each house, it was probably different. As well as the cup and wine ritual,these early communities almost always had a meal together. In other words the ritual was linked to actual food, a real meal, a gathering of friends over dinner. Only later were meal and Eucharist (or Communion) separated”.

” In the fourth century, the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the religion of the state – and everything changed. Celebrated now in large public buildings the Eucharist took on the style of an imperial court ceremony and…features drawn from the pagan religions around” …”Everything changed”

Here is my point, I believe that when Jesus shared the bread and the cup with His disciples, they had also shared a meal together, a real meal with food, drink and fellowship. I believe that all of this is a part of the Celebration that Jesus had with His disciples.

I experienced that today with my clergy friends. It was one of the most simple but meaningful Communion Fellowships that I have ever been a part of. I felt a real connection to my brothers and sisters today, and most of all a real connection to Jesus the Christ. I am blessed.

Ronnie

My Friend Daddy

Here comes the judge…

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1)

There is so much more here than meets the eye, come to SNL this week, Dec 13th @ 630

My Friend Daddy

This Day In The Life Of Your Pastor – December 7th, 2009

1. I’m going to start writing my 1st book in the morning, no really about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry
2. Reading ” Jog for Your Life” by Hayden Gilmore about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

3. Jogging is not for everyone but many people have recovered their health through running about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

4. Running is a remedy for loneliness, obesity, discouragement, & tiredness about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

5. In running you find a new lifestyle of greater strength in every area of your life about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

6. been txt with my oldest son Michael for the past hour, really cool about 11 hours ago from web

7. Fasting & Praying for those with addictions and they want to get better about 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

8. Mike doesn’t trust me with his phone about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

9. meeting just adjourned, headed home for dinner with the family. Fast starts after dinner tonight, praying for revival in Carroll County about 16 hours ago from web

10. Church Calendar 2010 is slam packed about 19 hours ago from TwitterBerry

11. Have a meeting of Church leadership starting at 3pm, home hopefully after that about 19 hours ago from web

12. do something RADICAL 4 Christmas http://bit.ly/4zelIG about 20 hours ago from web

13. A Carton of Beer https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/a-carton-of-beer/ about 20 hours ago from web

14. Holston-Rasmus-Swanson-God @Work http://bit.ly/6TqSnm about 20 hours ago from web

15. God 4give me as I 4give https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/god-forgive-me-as-i-forgive-those-who-sin-against-me/ about 20 hours ago from web

16. I have the names of 24 more children of Prisoner’s who we need Christmas gifts 4. If U can help, please send me a note. about 20 hours ago from web

17. Wow, I have a mentor meeting N Abingdon N the morning that I clean forgot about, thank U Daniel. What is wrong with this blackberry Calendar about 20 hours ago from web

18. Clif Bar for lunch, working through… about 21 hours ago from web

19. Ann Landers said, “Know Yourself. Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. about 22 hours ago from web

20. If you feel that you have no faults, that makes another one. about 22 hours ago from web

21. Why is it that my dirt is never as dirty as your dirt, from my perspective, & your dirt is never as dirty as my dirt, from your perspective? about 22 hours ago from web

22. your high school – a mission field about 22 hours ago from web

23. working on membership matters about 23 hours ago from web

24. Celebration: We have 11 people joining 1st UMC Hillsville this next Sunday, God is at work! about 23 hours ago from web

25. working on SNL sermon: Here comes the judge December 13th, be there about 24 hours ago from web

26. “Who of us would dare to stand before God and say “My God-judge me as I have judged my fellow men?” Oswald Chambers about 24 hours ago from web

27. “a habitual fault-finder is a poor advertisement for the Christian faith” – William McDonald about 24 hours ago from web

28. James 1:14 says sin cannot B blamed on external factors; it is always the result of a person being led astray by his or her own desires about 24 hours ago from web

29. much of our attention, thought-life, is concerned about the “other” person, 2 the extent that we ignore or miss what God wants 2 do in us about 21 hours ago from web

30. We all need to be discerning in life without being judgmental but sometimes, it’s hard to separate the two. about 21 hours ago from web

31. December 7, 2009 The Myrtle Beach Marathon is 81% full (505 spots remaining) about 21 hours ago from web

32. My office is a wreck. Help! about 21 hours ago from TwitterBerry

33. Running Rule of Thumb: 1 glazed doughnut = 2 miles about 23 hours ago from TwitterBerry

34. Running Rule of Thumb: if you have to ask yourself, does that driver see me? The answer is no. about 23 hours ago from TwitterBerry

35. I have a long to-do list today. Praying it all gets done. In the office soon about 23 hours ago from TwitterBerry

36. Samuel had a great nights sleep. We have been able to get the meds in him the past two days, praise the Lord about 23 hours ago from TwitterBerry

37. “I love judges, & I love courts. They R my ideals, that typify on earth what we shall meet hereafter N heaven under a just God.” Wm Taft about 23 hours ago from web

38. “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Mother Teresa of Calcutta about 23 hours ago from web

39. “Judges rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should be totally indifferent to pressures of the times.” Warren E. Burger about 23 hours ago from web

40. “A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.” Robert Frost about 23 hours ago from web

41. “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” Wayne Dyer about 23 hours ago from web

42. Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially. – Socrates about 23 hours ago from web

43. Let the judges answer to the question of law, and the jurors to the matter of fact. – Law Maxim about 23 hours ago from web

44. here comes the judge https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/here-comes-the-judge/ about 24 hours ago from web

45. Dont worry be happy – the sermon https://imagebearer.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/dont-worry-be-happy-the-sermon/ about 24 hours ago from web

46. Myrtle Beach Marathon is 66 DAYS | 23 HRS | 32 MINS | 11 SECONDS away about 24 hours ago from web

47. Check this video out — Envoyer un Tweet via Twitter lors de son Mariage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHqUc4PIAb8 about 24 hours ago from web