Preaching and Living the Jonah Story

A couple days ago I preached the Jonah story. I told the whole story during my sermon which is not really that unusual for me cause I love to summarize (perhaps even “dramatize”) Biblical stories and none other lends itself to such things better than Jonah.

Here are some details that might have not caught your attention: Notice that we are only given one little episode of Jonah’s life. Notice that we know so very little about the actual person. Notice that it does not end on a bright and cheery note. Notice that it should not be considered a story for children due to it’s graphic nature-violence, adult situations (Jonah considers committing suicide), and perhaps language (since Jonah did have some interesting interactions with sailors). Notice also that Jonah was perhaps one of the most successful evangelists (given the extensive nature of the repentance that happened in Nineveh….everyone, even the rulers of the people turned) in the Bible, but ended up angry and alone. Although most of these details make the book tragic and sad, they also make us laugh because they reflect so much of what we know about human beings….even ourselves if we are brave enough to admit it!

Jonah put a message out to the Ninevites. It says that Jonah should give them the message that he receives from God (3:2). The reader is never privy to the content of the message. We only hear what the Ninevites hear (3:4) “forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” It seems to be an abbreviated message. It seems to just be a threat….it only implies that they should turn to God and be spared. The people of Nineveh believe God. They literally throw themselves at God’s mercy.

The huge irony that has left me baffled and a detailed that I failed to even mention as I preached it is found in this. Jonah prays it right in 2:8 (New Living Translation): “Those who worship false idols, turn their backs on all God’s mercies” or (NIV) “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

His words seem to be right, but his heart is a long ways from right. His lips wrote a check that his legs couldn't cash. He was serving God on his terms not on God’s terms. (See Matthew 15:8 also Isaiah 29 saying: “these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”)

And our friend Jonah is sulking under a withered plant. Could it be that Jonah had forfeited grace and mercy. What was his worthless idol? What are ours?

Celebrating Accidents

A very popular Italian district of Saint Louis called "the Hill" is the home of a famous eatery called "Cunettos." I learned (Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels is the source) that Cunetto's famous fried ravioli was actually discovered by accident. Easy to picture, the ravioli is set a little to close to the grease pit and oooops with the knock of an elbow, you got fried ravioli!!! Sounds like a real tasty mistake to me. I wonder how the manger on duty acted toward the clumsy cook?!

Another thought about accidental food discoveries: have you ever had broccoli and guacamole? Don't laugh! It totally rocks. I discovered by accident when I thought I would drop the last couple pieces of broccoli into a taco salad that I was putting together. Now, there is no better match up. I even told Will that we should open a deli called BROC-GUAC cause it is so good it could go with anything. (if someone steals this idea, they MUST give me credit, if not money, for it)

A week ago today, all the schools and government offices around here (and perhaps everywhere else, but I have no evidence to prove or disprove this) were closed. The holiday was Columbus Day. He is one among many great people we now celebrate who had absolutely no intention of doing the things that they did. His "discovery" of the Americas was commonly thought of as failure in his day. Yet, in the long run, this little accidnet turns into something big and history is made. Other "greats" that happened to be at the right place at the right time and considered themselves more "accidental" leaders than intentional leaders are Harry S. Truman and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Great testimonies to the randomness of life....you head out to do something and you accidentally discover your niche.

When I fall into something...make mistakes...accidentally discover my niche, am I gracious enough to see the humor and laugh at myself? Am I so aggravated that things did not go according to my plan that I fail to see the humor in it? Am I too prideful to admit that sometimes these accidents are God's way of throwing me curve balls and helping me enjoy the crazy game of life with which he graced me?

What do you say that we create a holiday....maybe even set aside a day every week that we intentionally regard mistakes as things to be celebrated!

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

Last evening, Will and two other friends of ours enjoyed a special night out on the city. It was such a massive treat to eat a scruptious meal, have good conversation with lots of laughter, and experience the pure delight of music.

This picutre is of the foyer at Powell Theatre. It is breathtaking. Look at the ornate celing with gold etching. The theatre used to be St. Louis Theatre and was constructed in 1925. It has always served a facility for live entertainment and for a time also served as a movie theatre. The last movie to be shown here was the Sound of Music. The Symphony Society purchased it through a generous $500,000 gift. The renovation of the building cost $2 million dollars. It is thought by some to be one of the world's finest concert halls.

The program included pieces by Rossini, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Elgar. The Conductor, Nicholas McGegan radiated love for the music. His energy was electric and would have been entertaining even if the music was not.

What a wonderful evening in the city!

Sign You May Be Going too Fast

This is too good to not share. I got it in an e-mail.

A Hymn by Anne Steele

Here is a hymn written by Anne Steele written upon hearing the news of her fiance's death. "From its mving words, it is evident that she was able to bring her lament before God and receive solace from him." from Prayer and Worship, by Renovare, page 87.

When I survey life's varied scene
Amid the darkest hours
Sweet rays of comfort shine between
And thorns are mixed with flowers...

In grief and pains Thy sacred Word
(Dear solace of my soul!)
Celestial comforts can afford
And all their power control

When present sufferings pain my heart
Or future terrors rise
And light and hope almost depart
From these dejected eyes

Thy powerful Word supports my hope
Sweet cordial of the mind
And bears my faiting spirit up
And bids me wait resigned

And oh whatever of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign hand denies
Accepted at Thy throne of grace
Let this petition rise

"Give me a calm and thankful heart
From every murmur free
The blessings of Thy grace impart
And let me live to Thee

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine
My path of life attend
Thy presence through my journey shine
And bless its happy end.

"Get Over it"

It has been a year since our initial onslaught of crime: the various burglaries and the destruction of our CRV by gun fire. It may be that it was coming upon the one year mark or a full moon or something, but here recently and very poignantly one day this week I felt the fear and anger and grief all come rushing back. Above is the picture of our demolished CRV, although the picture is not that clear, if you look closely you can see the windshield is totally shattered. Periodically when we were traveling the country I would see a CRV of similar color and year and feel grieved, but since living in Vandalia where there are only 2 CRVs and none that resemble my beloved "Lt. Dan" I rarely feel that. There are times when all of us hear certain words or see something or smell something that makes us recall something that once so dear.

Though I frequently become impatient with myself, chastising myself saying things like "get over it!" and tell myself that things are great here and life couldn't be better, etc..... I sometimes get a whiff of something in the air and cry like it was just yesterday. I grieve the loss of close friends and my beloved Heartlanders, my friends of the Great Plains Conference, the familiarity of Kansas City with all the arts, entertainment, restaurants, and sports, etc. There are so many dear things that I have lost that I will never get over. I will do my best to put them in perspective and trust that the Gentle Shepherd Jesus will lead me, comfort me and challenge me.

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"In Stitches"

Please respond to this poll:

Would you remove your own stitches? Would you remove stitches for a loved one, child, spouse, friend?

Old State Capital

Our city's history goes back to the state's inception. Vandalia, Illinois is the oldest existing Capitol city which served the State of Illinois for 20 years, from 1819-1839. ( more Vandalia history can be found on the city web site http://www.vandaliaillinois.com/)

A couple of weeks ago, Alice, my mom and I went and toured the old state building. It is free to do so and we were all impressed at how authentic it looked. I was not actually alive during the 1830's but, the candles, basin and pitcher, and feather pens remind me that electricity, indoor plumbing, and instant communication have not always been with us.

The original capital building that was on this site was very small. This structure was build in 1836 and was red brick. The pilars and white paint are recent face lifts.

For you out of town folks, you are invited to come and check all of this out on your own and I would even accompany you to see all this fascinating history. We love having company and do not have any reservations for our guest accomodations for the holidays. Believe me, it is right around the corner!