Have Mercy Upon Us; Ash Wed 2022

He Came For The Lost

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

Jesus was confronted about going to that tax collector Zacchaeus' house for dinner. How could he associate with such a sinner! 

The reality is that Jesus came to save all sinners; all who were lost in sin. Tax collectors and prostitutes,  were not outside of God's plan for salvation. No one is outside of God's plan for salvation. Everyone is welcome to be in a relationship with Jesus. 

How often do we look past or through those who we deem to be greater sinners than ourselves? Do we stop to talk to them or do we pretend that they are not there and keep on going? Are the only people that we count as worthy those who think like us; act like us; live like us? Are we there for the disenfranchised of the world as Jesus was and is there for the disenfranchised?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Pork Is Unclean

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

                                                                                   (John 21:15-17 KJV)

Most of us are fully aware that many in our government have no clue about the hardships a vast number of people in this country suffer with. There appears to be a major disconnect between our government officials and the people they serve. A few at least appear to think that if a household makes less than 150,000 a year you are dirt poor. Way too many have no clue that people actually struggle and survive with way less and many consider themselves most comfortable with 40 or 50,000 a year. I know lots of people who are living on much less than that. Many are happy that they have a roof over their heads and food for their families. 

I have wondered and prayed about the homeless every day since we started self-quarantining and in some states mandatory quarantining. How do the homeless self-quarantine? How do they eat when there is no one on the streets to donate to their daily needs? And, if they are able to scrape enough money up to eat how do they purchase it? Can you walk through a drive thru window to get a muffin and coffee? 

According to the Department of Homeland Security, as of January 2020, there were estimated to be somewhere around three and one half million people who were homeless; that is actually living on the street or in shelters. That estimate does not include people who live with others because they cannot afford housing on their own. 

The CDC reported over 48,000 suicides in 2018. We have a serious mental health crisis in this country. Resources are very limited. Those in crisis who are seeking help could wait months for any real psychiatric help, if they ever get it. As a pastor, I have buried too many suicide victims who might still be alive had help been more available. Most of them were young and had no clue where to turn. I have attempted to get help for more than a few who had serious mental health problems.

One particular person who I attempted to get help for had PTSD. He was a former law enforcement officer who had served in a pretty rough area of the country. He was involved in at least one "suicide by cop." No, I could not find him any help for his PTSD. 

I attempted to find another young man assistance for his mental health illnesses. He had been previously diagnosed with such a slew of Acronymns that beyond the Schitzophrenia, Bi-Polar, ADHD, and OCD, I could not recall all the others that he had been diagnosed with. His medication had run out and so had his Medicaid as he was not able to manage these things on his own. He found himself without a home of his own and living with friends and family. I attempted to help him straighten it out and get him assistance to no avail. Here was a man with serious mental health problems and the state mental health people would not talk to me. They would only talk to  this very confused young man in crisis. I listened as they asked him if he was suicidal at the moment. No, he said, not at the moment. He received no assistance. He did not qualify to see a counselor in person. The phone interviewer disqualified him. A few months later he was dead.

According to the CDC, this flu seasons (October thru Mar 19) there has been an estimated 23,000 deaths from influenza in the United States; of which 149 of them were pediatric deaths. Medical science has not been able to figure out any way to prevent this. 

As to COVID 19... It appears that we will overcome it for this season. But, the threat is still there and now that it is loose on the world, it will probably always be there until our scientists figure out a permanent fix. Will they figure it out or will it be figured out only as well as the influenza virus has been figured out?

My question and frustration this morning is: Where should our government be allocating our tax dollars? To help those in need? I realize that millions for arts and humanities is but a drop in the bucket for millionaire and billionaire public officials; but, I cannot fathom why all those drops in the bucket are not being directed towards helping those in dire need. Directing our tax dollars towards the humanities rather assisting those in dire need reveals the lack of humanity in our elected officials. 

Pork is an unclean meat. Many people, including myself, have a real hard time digesting it. Some simply cannot and/or do not eat it. Maybe it should be gotten rid of it from bills and resolutions put forth by Congress and the Senate, as well.

Peter turned his back on Jesus when he was standing trial. Now, Jesus tells Peter and tells us if we love him we are to feed his sheep!" 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.  Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. (Mark 12:41-43 NIV)

Appearances can be deceiving. One of the easiest pets I've ever cared for is Izzy, a bearded dragon. You do not have to worry about leaving them alone in the house. They do not make a mess. They do not whine or cry or bark or make any noise that will disturb the neighbors. They also enjoy being held. Izzy is waiting for me most mornings when I get up; his beard usually black as he anxiously waits for me to give him some attention. But, bearded dragons are not for everyone. Some people simply do not like them because of how they look and because they crawl on their bellies like snakes. And... anything snake or serpent-like really doesn't have too good of a reputation.

We often jump to unfair judgments based on appearances. It is not just lizards we jump to conclusions about; but, people, as well, by their outward appearances. But, when Jesus came, he turned all that around. It was the widow who put but two copper pennies into the offering that Jesus said had given more than the rest. (Mark 12:41-43) Tax collectors and other various sinners were chosen by Jesus as his dinner companions. (Matthew 9:10-12) He healed gentiles and even lepers; physically touching, at times, those who were thought by others too unclean to be touched. (Mark 7:24-30; Luke 7:21-23) And... who were the first to be called by Jesus? Fishermen! (Luke 5:1-11) He called mere fishermen, or at least they were mere in the eyes of many of the day. Have you any clue what a man or woman who makes their living fishing looks and smells like after a long day or night out on the boat? Jesus does not call anyone because they look good on the outside or even because they act so good. He calls whom he will call to follow him.

Appearances can be deceiving. There are those who smile on the outside and are happy, happy, happy whenever you are around. But, on the inside are like empty tombs. There are others whose appearance on the outside might look to be most ferocious; but, within them dwells the love of God.

Appearances can be deceiving. Do not judge one another by appearances. Take the time to look more deeply into the person or the matter.

God's Peace - Pr. J