We have only received 25 responses regarding giving for 2021. The total committed is less that one-half of the pledges received last year, when we received 55 responses to planned giving. We need to hear from more members so that Robbie can do her planning for the year. December was a low month for giving and we must get back to where we were last year.
Please email Robbie at rwilliams612@sbcglobal.net, call the church at 817-336-7184 and leave a voicemail, or mail a note to the church marked Attention: Robbie.
Thank you!
Ted Moffett
Stewardship Chair
Tom’s Turn - Loyalty and Justice
Psalm 101 begins like this: “I will sing of loyalty and of justice to you, O God….I will study the way that is blameless.” Loyalty and justice – not a pairing we always think of. Maybe loyalty and love, or justice and peace, but loyalty and justice, that’s interesting.
When you think about it, though, they belong together. For loyalty to God – who is the focus of the psalm and of our commitments, after all – loyalty to God doesn’t happen without justice for our neighbor. They are profoundly connected. Hear that again: loyalty to God doesn’t happen without justice for our neighbor.
Are you saying then, Preacher, that all these folks waving the flag of Jesus in the public square all the while they have only hurtful things to say about folks who cry out for justice – are you saying they may need to re-examine their relationship with God?
Yes. I’m saying exactly that. I’m also saying those who quietly accept injustices, content just to work on their “spiritual life” – those folks are often complicit in the injustice. That’s not Plumbley talking. That’s Bible. It’s the psalmist. It’s Isaiah. It’s Amos. It’s Micah. It’s Jeremiah. It’s Jesus! The author of those short epistles of John says, “He who says, ‘I love the Lord,’ and hates his brother or sister is a liar.” (1Jn. 4.20) Unfortunately for all of us who love to do just that, this thought dominates throughout scripture.
We see God in our neighbor. We see Jesus in the hungry, in the thirsty, in the naked, the sick, the stranger. Biblical religion does not separate the two. We think of loyalty when we think of our nation, or our family, or our life partner. But loyalty to GOD is the ultimate loyalty of our lives. And that is inextricably tied to justice for our neighbor.
So we don’t have to agree with them about how we get to justice. We don’t have to like them all the time. But then, we don’t like our nation, or our family, or our partner all the time. But we do need to listen to them and do our best (the old Boy Scout slogan) to work for their well-being.
Start with the easy things.
Pray for them. You can’t pray for someone and plan to hurt them, disenfranchise them, or keep them down.
Reach out to them. And when you do, speak gospel words, words that remember they are also ones for whom Christ died.
Wear a mask to protect them. We still have some really stubborn folks who’ll wear the cross but not a mask.
All of that is singing loyalty and justice. If all of us just do those simple things, then the cause of God in Christ and the beauty in the world would both be greatly enhanced. Then, after the easy things, you’ll likely hear God tugging at your ear for more. Loyalty is a long way from being satisfied. For justice is a long way from being realized.
Start where you are. Study the way that is blameless. Bring holiness into your corner of the universe.
I’ll see you online next Sunday morning and each weekday at 3:00 p.m. Please remember to share any of our worship, devotionals, Bible studies, and so forth on your social media pages. Share the Good News with your smile – and your mask! To prepare for worship Sunday read Mk. 1.14-20.
Peace,
Tom
Note from Tom…..Concerning Our Daily Devotionals
Throughout Pandemic Time I have had daily devotionals at 3pm each weekday. They were an effort simply to stay in touch. Some tuned in live. Some checked in later as schedules allowed. Lots of old friends, colleagues, and folks we don’t know also tuned in now and then.
The last devotional was just before Christmas. I announced we’d take a couple of weeks of vacation and then start them up again. Well, dear COVID-19 got in the way. The vacation was not, and the hiatus has continued. I’m daily trying to do more and more, as newsletter articles and last Sunday’s sermon indicate. But each effort is really draining, and I find myself literally shaking and needing to head back to the recliner or the bed. This stuff’s just crazy, and it’s making me a little ashamed (yes, I know I shouldn’t be, but…) that I have to miss so much of what has been important to me and to my ministry during this pandemic – especially the daily devotionals. But they are particularly challenging – trying to write and broadcast something meaningful, helpful, thoughtful and of God (after all, that is who is supposed to be the focus of our enterprise here!) Every day is simply too draining emotionally and physically right now.
So, I’ll let you know when they’ll start again.
