The Case for Service

We know its a good thing to do good things.

Common sense says that most people who need help like to be helped. As a culture, we love a good charity story: Mother Teresa holding hands with lepers, Angelina Jolie adopting a village of orphans. As a public body, we authorized our government to send 8,153,000,000.00 in aid overseas in the last available fiscal year. Privately, we gave $4,012 per tax-filing-person.

Medically speaking, those who volunteer their time are less likely to suffer from mental health issues. They have lower mortality rates, and report a higher rate of life satisfaction (http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0506_hbr.pdf). In other words: the more people help others, the more they enjoy their own lives. You could even say mankind is physiologically wired to help each other out.

And this should surprise none of us. (It seems that every couple of weeks another study proves true something written in Proverbs a few thousand years ago) It's not exactly a revelation that giving of ourselves is a major part of the Christian faith. When the crippled beggar asks Peter for some money in Acts, what does Peter do? Toss him change? I'd feel pretty good about giving the guy a ten-spot. "Super-spiritual people give paper money," I'd say to myself. Nope, Peter heals the guy. Then he sends him off to use his new-found legs.

A half-dozen or so spots remain for the May 16th Feed My Starving Children service trip. I want those spots filled by the Youth Group. Not so you can lower your mortality rates, or your average instances of mental illness. I want to see you there because its a good thing to do good things.

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday

The toughest part of the Easter season is not giving up sweets for Lent. It's no going to church in the middle of the week, or putting up with member of your extended family who pinch your cheeks and comment on how tall you're getting. It's not even wearing that pastel-colored polo shirt, although, we feel your pain on that one.

Nope, the toughest part is somehow coming to grips with just exactly how much you need this day. The tough part of this season is cutting through the pastel Polo's and the candy eggs and even the church services themselves, and finding yourself with a clear picture of what exactly is taking place here.

Part of the problem -- scratch that: most of the problem -- is that you and I have a really tough time accepting just how badly we need this, because we don't like the truth of just how bad we've been. The truth of how far down the well we've fallen is hard, so we make believe we only need a little boost to get out. We never ask for that mile or so of rope we really need.

As this week ends, succumb to the truth that maybe, just maybe, Christ is already aware of your situation. He knows you need the rope, he's tossed it to you, he's even climbed down to help you climb. Your "falling" days can be old news; Easter is about the ascent.

Palm Sunday, At Hand. (pun intended)

A couple of things.

First, the calendar has some updated event info; of most immediate interest is the Laser Tag after church on this coming Sunday. Some of you might think laser tag has nothing to do with the triumphal entry of our Lord on Passover week. You would be right, is more of a coincidence. Detail are available by clicking the event as found on the calendar above.

Second, we will not have a meeting, since that would be like: Church, game, Church (with games). However, you young 'uns are not getting off easy. The video above is a weirdly animated and darkly themed take on a sort story by Russian author Franz Kafka. (Learn that name; smart people will like to talk about him later in life.) What I want you all, y'all, to do is to watch this weird little cartoon and tell me what you think it means. Kafka, a Christian of astounding creativity, was always concerned with Mankind's plight and their relationship with God. There's your starting point. DON'T come to Church Sunday morning with nothing to say on the matter, or I'll have to look at you in a disappointed way. I'm serious, I'll do it.

All right. Enjoy the remainder of your week, and I'll see you soon!