Pray More..Worry Less (WRONG)

 We have a piece of wall art hanging in our living room that says:

PRAY MORE...WORRY LESS
It does seem link good sound biblical advice doesn't it? That is until you really listen to what Jesus had to say about worrying. 
Here is part of yesterday's Read Together Plan from Matthew 6:

5 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This section is from the larger part that we refer to as the sermon on the mount (because Matthew says Jesus went up on a mount (hill) to teach), and comprises 3 continues chapters, Matthew 5-7.
Notice that Jesus didn't say we should "worry less". He simply (and I know it's not simple at times!) said "do not worry". 

It's a command. It's an impertive. Jesus isn't saying that it's OK to worry a little, or to worry about really important things. He said don't do it at all.
And why are we commanded not to worry?
Well, first because it doesn't do any good. Worrying doesn't change anything any more than you can will your hair to change color--although worrying probably does create more grey hairs before their time!
And, Jesus reminds us, "each day has enough trouble of its own". So, we don't need to add our worries about tomorrow into tomorrow, tomorrow will have enough to deal with!
But the most important reason not to worry? God will take care of you. 
He will provide what you need when you need it. And He knows, better than we know ourselves, what we really need. 
So, do not worry.
And what's the alternative?
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"

If you are prone to worry, or if there is something going on in your life right now that might lead you worry, then seek the Lord in this matter.
And pray. 

PRAY MORE...Worry Less  AND DO NOT WORRY.

Grace & Peace, 
Pastor Michael

Today I stood outside in the snow

I used to use my journals for....well, for journaling. As a space to write and refect on my thoughts, my prayers, what I was feeling and what I was hearing God say to me. 

At some point I bgan using my journal as a space to record what I had done throughout the day. After all, Wesley's first rule for the Methodist preachers was, "Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary."

I had had days where at the end of them I would look back and think, what did I accomplish today? So, having a journal space to record my doings seemed like a good thing. And as I looked back on my last month of entrys, I can justifiably say that I was very busy, and at least somewhat productive. I attended meetings, both in my church and in the Conference. I led devotions, met with community leaders, prepared worships services, made 29 contacts in the last 6 weeks, in person and over the phone. And, I think I wrote and preached some pretty good sermons, too. 

And so in the midst of my productive busyness Jesus spoke to me in my morning Scripture reading and said, "but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33)

And so when I write down my activities for today in my journal, it will simply read:

Jan 16, 2022- I stood outside in the snow. 

That's what I did today, I tilted my head back. I closed my eyes. I felt the snow falling onto my face, cold and wet. I opened my eyes and saw the flakes flurrying down, tiny clean drops from the clouds, a gift from heaven. Usually snow is an incovenience to me, it prevents getting things done. Today it even prevented in person worship at Gate City UMC. But it didn't stop my worship today. That worship happpened outside while was standing in the snow. And I heard God today. 
"Seek me first, Michael. Fill yourself with My Presence, so that you can do the things I need you to do. Your worth is in your being, not in your doing. So, seek Me first."

I am sure that I will still keep a record of what I am doing, what I am working on, who I meet with. But the reason for this will not be to see a sense of accomplishment, or validation. But rather to be reflect on how, and if, through these activities/meetings/visits, I was seeking God first, and what did I hear Him say to me today. 

There are other ways that I know I can seek God first other than standing in my front yard while it's snowing with my eyes closed and head tilted back. But at least for today, that's what I needed. 

Another Brick in the Wall

(This blog previously ran in as a  daily devo email from the Holston Conference)

July 18, 2021

Michael Vaughn
Clergy
Gate City United Methodist Church
Appalachian District

Another Brick in the Wall
Ephesians 2:11-22 (NIV)

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Devotion

The 2nd chapter of Ephesians begins with a focus on our relationship with God. Paul makes some beautiful statements. He says we are “made alive in Christ Jesus,” and notes that “it is by grace you are saved through faith.” One of my all-time favorite sayings is, “for we are God’s handiwork (masterpiece).” Then, in the verses that follow, Paul focuses on the relationships we have with one another. He stresses that we are (supposed to be) all one in Christ. The previous customs of the Jews and Gentiles, Paul says, do not matter because now it’s all about Jesus, and what Jesus has done.  

 

One thing that Jesus did is destroy “the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” Paul likely envisioned the Temple in Jerusalem as he wrote these words, where physical walls separated the various courts (such as the court of the Gentiles from others). Those walls blocked access to going any further. Those walls separated people due to their differences. Jesus destroyed those dividing walls which separated his beloved children. Jesus tore the curtain in the Temple in two so that we all could “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). And yet, if Christ has destroyed what divides us, how then are there still dividing walls, both physical and relational, among us as God’s people?  

 

Paul’s words, written while he might have been thinking about the Temple, make me think about Pink Floyd as I read them. In 1979 this band released an album entitled “The Wall.” One of the song lyrics comes to mind as I read this passage in Ephesians: “all in all you’re just another brick in the wall.” Perhaps the reason for the existence of separation among God’s people today is…well, us. Christ removed the barrier. Maybe we have been building it back up ever since. Paul is clear that the reason Jesus removed this barrier was to “create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace…to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”  

 

“Thus making peace.” What a beautiful statement! What a beautiful idea! What a beautiful hope! What a beautiful dream! It is also a beautiful reality! Jesus has done it. He has created peace and reconciliation between humanity and God, and amongst all humanity. Did you catch how Jesus makes peace in verse 14? “For he himself is our peace.” It’s not that Jesus is simply offering us peace, although that offer is made to us. It’s not only that Jesus provides an opportunity for peace, although that opportunity has been created for us. It’s that Jesus IS our peace.  

 

The image Paul gives us of this newly formed and reconciled people of peace is a house, and Jesus is the foundational cornerstone. It is not just any house, but is a “holy temple in the Lord,” where we “become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”  

 

Our differences do not have to be dividing walls. We will not agree on everything. We cannot compromise on everything. But, we can remove some bricks from the walls, and remember that even in our disagreements and differences we are still one in Christ. Perhaps only then can we truly to say to our sisters and brothers, “Peace be with you,” then hear those beautiful words in response and know their reality, “and also with you.” 

 

Prayer

Gracious and Loving God, You are my peace. Help me live in Your peace today and truly know this peace that surpasses all understanding. Let Your peace flow from me into all my relationships, so that I see every person I encounter today as Your masterpiece whom You love with an all-encompassing desire. May Your peace guard my heart, mind, and mouth in Christ Jesus, my Lord. Amen.  

 

Author

Strength in the Lord

I hope that you all had a safe and blessed 4th of July weekend! And I want to thank you all again for the warm welcome that my family received Sunday morning for our first day in worship with you. We love your warmth, your kindness, and your passion for Jesus! We look forward to what God has in store for us all together in the months and years to come!

    Since moving into the parsonage, one of my morning blessings is to have my devotional time of Scripture reading and prayer in the sun room that faces Manville Road before it gets too hot to use from the heat of the day. These mornings are a peaceful time for me to be still before the Lord, to lay my requests and concerns and hopes before him, to lift up others in prayer to God’s throne of grace, and to listen. 

    This morning as I was reading a portion of 2 Samuel I noticed that the GCUMC sign had been changed. The side facing the parsonage read:

LIFE DOESN’T GET EASIER

YOU JUST GET STRONGER

    I think that there is some deep truth in that statement for some people. And yet for others life seems to beat them down to a point of dismay and utter hopelessness. So what’s the difference?

    Let me take you to the passage from 2 Samuel that I am reading this morning. At this point in the story the first king of Israel, Saul, has been killed in battle. There is a political and military struggle for who will succeed Saul to be the new king, even though God had chosen David, a young shepherd boy, to be the king in Saul’s place. After many struggles, and even more battles, 2 Samuel chapter 5 recounts David being recognized by the people as the king (sometimes it takes us longer to recognize and admit what God has already put in place!), and the capture of the city of Zion, later to be renamed “the city of David”, aka Jerusalem. 

    And then there is this verse, “And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God of heavens armies was with him” (5:10).

    The strength that David had came from the Lord being with him. And if you know much of David’s story then you know that his life sure didn’t get any easier, and I know that ours will not either. 

    In fact, many times we find in this life that the closer we strive to stay to our Christian faith, the more the devil throws at us. So life doesn’t get easier. But our strength comes the Lord if we remain in Christ so that He remains in us. Our strength comes from the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. Our strength comes as we stay connected to Jesus (the vine) and stay connected to one another (the body of Christ). Our strength comes as we grow in our faith through daily spiritual disciplines, acts of service, and living in love. 

    This week I want to encourage you that whatever is happening in your life, your strength comes from the One who is in you. And you will have all the strength that you need to overcome. Thanks be to God!

    Have a wonderful week Church family and may God continue to strengthen you as you grow in grace and love, in Jesus name. Amen.

I am ______________

For my personal devotional Scripture reading, I have began to read through the New Testament again. My goal this time is to read through these 27 books in 90 days, about 3 chapters a day. Today I started into the gospel of Luke. 

In the first chapter of Luke's gospel the angel Gabriel appears to two people to make incredible birth announcements. 

First, Gabriel comes to Zechariah. 

Zechariah was a priest, and was on duty at the temple in Jerusalem. I say "on duty" because the priests worked in rotational shifts to carry out thier work at the Temple, and at this particular time it was Zechariah's group who were serving. And Zechariah himself was chosen this particular day to burn the incense in the temple as the people were gathered outside in prayer. 

While Zechariah was in the temple, Gabriel showed up. 

The second bith announcement was to Mary. 

Mary was pledged, or engaged, to be married to a man named Joseph. Mary was likely a young teenage Jewish girl. 

What makes both of these angelic visits so fascinating (other than the obvious fact that an angel shows up!!) is who Zechariah and Mary were. Zechariah is old, and his wife Elizabeth is old. And even though they had prayed for many years for a child, that had not happened. 

And Mary is a virgin. She is not doing anything that could possibly result in her having a baby.

And yet, of course, Elizabeth gives birth to a son, John. And Mary gives birth to the Son, Jesus. 

What I found interesting today as I read this first chapter of Luke again, was the response of Zechariah and Mary to what Gabriel had to say to them. 

Back in the temple when Gabriel made his announcement to Zechariah, here is what Zechariah said, "I am old" (Luke 1:18b)

(by William Blake, Metropolitan Museum of Art)

And here is what Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant" (Luke 1:38)

(By Fra Angelico, Museum of San Marco, Florence)

And those two responses, I think, are a good picture of how we can choose to respond to what God is speaking to us today as well. 

Zechariah chose to focus on his limitation. 

"I am old"

I wonder what physical limitations we would put in that statement? Perhaps it is the same one, "I am old". I have thought about that as I am nearing 50. More gray in my beard and more aches in my bones. And realistically, more years behind me than in front of me. I will be commissioned as a Provisional Elder in the UMC this year, so that means at least 3 more years before I fully ordained. 

As I see some of the younger seminary students in the same place as I am, sometimes it makes me feel old.

Or would you say "I am not smart enough", or "I am not educated enough" "I am not talented enough", or "I am not able to do that", or "I am not as good as her", or "I am....just not enough"?

So, let me take you back into the temple for a moment. 

Zechariah is literally standing face to face with Gabriel, an angel sent from God! He is full of ALL the emotions and has ALL the feels right now. 

And after hearing Gabriel tell him that his prayers will be answered, that he and his wife will have that child that they have been praying about for years, his response is to focus on what he perceives as a limitation. 

"I am old".

And then Gabriel just cuts him right off and says, "I am Gabriel" (Luke 1:19a)

I love that! Read that again.

"I AM old"

"I AM Gabriel"

There is no limitation to God's promises. So how do we understand and live into a promise from God that seems, well, too miraculous for us to comprehend?

Let me take you back to that encounter between Mary and Gabriel.

Mary's does ask a legitimate question when she first hears that she will give birth to a Son, who "will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendents forever; his kingdom will have no end" (Luke 1:32-33), and her question is "how will this be since I am a virgin?" (1:34)

Legitimate questions are OK. In fact, questions are good. I believe that the Lord welcomes our questions, and our questions can often help us grow in our faith. Mary's question was answered in the best way that she (and we) could possibly have it answered to understand this upcoming incarnation. 

But then Mary's reponse was "I am the Lord's servant". 

I see that in stark contrast to Zechariah's, "I am old". 

And I think they are both there for a reason, for us. Zechariah was the priest. He was the one literally working in God's "house". He had years of knowledge and experience. He was well trained and well versed in his faith. 

And then there was Mary, a young, probably lower middle class, teenager. 

How would fill in this blank today; "I AM ______________________________"

Is your answer a reflection of your percived limitation, or is your answer a reflection of the power and might of our Most High God? And what is that the Lord is saying to you that you have dismissed because of your feelings of limitation? What promise is God asking you to step into today? 

Let Mary's response be your prayer. Simple and yet incredibly profound. A declaration of not what limists us, but rather of what sets us free. Not a statement of who we are of ourselves, but whose we are in Christ Jesus. 

Prayer: "Lord, I am your servant. Amen"

The burning question in Methodism today

 Today I was asked THE burning question in Methodism. And no, it had nothing to do with my faith in Jesus. 

Today I co-officiated a memorial service in Greeneville, TN. The woman that we gathered to celcbrate the life of had passed away earlier this year and today was the occassion to lay to rest her cremains beside her husband. 

When I arrived I parked behind a gentleman who got out of his car with a guitar and Bible in hand, and even though I had never met him, I was pretty sure this was the pastor that I was working with because I had been told that he would be singing, in addition to sharing a message. And he did a wonderful job! His wife and three small children sang on 2 songs with him, and it was an honor to work with him today. 

I appreciate working ecumenically with other colleagues! We have so much more in common than what we disagree on. After all, we all see Jesus as the main thing of all things, and if Jesus is the main thing then I believe our disagreements on other things really isn't that big of a deal. 

At least not in an eternal perspective.

But interestingly enough, as soon as my pastor colleague found out I was United Methodist he asked me THE question,"So are you going to align with the United Methodist or the Global Methodist when your church splits?"

And my heart sank. 

It always does when I hear talk of our "ineveitable" denominational split. I was not born a United Methodist. I chose this because I felt like the UMC chose me. I was welcomed and loved at a smaller membership in Chuckey, TN, Stone Dam UMC. I was encouraged there to participate fully in the life of the church (and yes, I was asked to serve on some committees, too). My first Sunday visiting that church I was invited to walk forward to share in Holy Comunion. There was no talk about my church membership, my beliefs, what I had done or where I had been the night before, they just invited me to come receive the sacramental grace offered at the Lord's Table. 

Because after all, everyone is welcome and everyone has a place at the table. 

I don't fault  my colleague for asking the question. It's all over Christian News networks. And some churches are talking about it alot, and have been for years. I haven't been talking about a split in my beloved Church, because I don't want that to happen. 

I have another dear friend who is serving a 3-point charge in our denomination who thinks I am a little naive in my desires. Many Methodists see a denominational split as inevitable and needed. I would prefer us to remain "United". 

But I suppose that many people in the United Methodist Church have already made up thier minds on the question that was asked to me today. 

And I suppose if I must answer a question on this apprently ineveitable split (though my prayer is still that God will work a new way to keep us all together because we are all needed to be the "church" and we are all deeply loved by our Creator God), then I suppose that my answer is that I am a United Methodist Pastor for as long as the United Methodist Church exists. And that is for many more and deeper reasons than the current issues that are causing potential schism. 

 I have friends on both sides of this, and I feel sort of in the middle. Not because I am not sure of what I believe, but because I prefer to stay close to my friends who are on polor opposite ends. 

I am sure that I willl be asked THE burning question in Methodism again sometime. And I look forward to reading about the amazing things that are happening in Methodist churches all over the world again soon as well. And maybe a split will need to happen to get us to that point. But I am still praying not. 

So I leave you with another burning question. And it has nothing to do with "United" or "Global". 

Do you love Jesus? 

When the Levee Breaks

 Today those persons in our Holston Conference preparing to be recognized as Associate Members, those being commissioned as Provisional Elders (this is me 😁), and those being ordained as Elders in Full-Connection (prayers this is me in 3 more years), met today in Alcoa for "A Day With the Bishop". It was a time of learning, recognition, celebration, and getting to know others in our "class" as we embarq on the next phase in our ministerial journey. 

And since I had a 2-hour drive both ways, I got to listen to a couple of my favorite podcasts, and of course listen to some of my favorite music. And today was a Led Zeppelin feelin' kinda day. So I listened to a buch a Zep on the way down. 

One song stuck out to me today, "When the Levee Breaks". I've listened to it thousands of times in my life, it's really a great tune. One of the bluesy tunes off of Zeppelin IV where Robert Plant kills it on the harmonica. The chorus says, 

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break

When the levee breaks, I'll have no place to stay

The image during the song is that it's been raining a lot, and the levee has the pressure from all the storms, and if the levee breaks it will flood the village and the singer will have no place to live. The flooding would cause destruction and devestation and wipe out what is valuable. 

Today as I was listening to this on my way to Alcoa, I was thinking about the levees, or dams, in our lives. Not literal Boone Lake Dams, but the spiritual ones. Although that Boone Lake Dam might make a good sermon illustration too, the leaks down below the service at the bottom that aren't realized until it's almost too late--firm foundations are important in life and in dams. 

But I think that we store up things, dam up things, keep things held in place by levees, and this can do us harm over time. 

Maybe the dam needs to open, maybe the damn levee needs to break. 

Think for a minute about the things that we store up behind our levees; things like anxiety, stress, depression, low self esteem, poor self image, fear, uncertainy for the future, and regrets from the past, anger, bitterness. The list could go on and on. 

I think that sometimes we store these things behind the levee. After all, we know they shouldn't be there in our good Christian lives, so if it shouldn't be there let's just pretend it's not there, right? And the result is more and more crap being stored up behind that levee, until one day...it breaks. 

I think that is a good thing. 

Surrender is at the heart of our faith. It's not about having an industrial strength re-inforced levee to hold it all in. Maybe it's time to let it out,

My wife is a much better letter-outer than I am, but I am learning from her, and learning from Jesus more and more each day. 

The only way to be filled with the rich goodness of this life is to let go of some of the things that don't need to be there, that don't need to be in us. And sometimes that might seem easier said than done. But often times it's because we have a white-knuckle grip on these things, saying we want to let go but holding on. And when we do let go sometimes it is more of a sssllloooowwww slipping from our clinched fingers rather than a wide open full release. 

One daily practice that I believe can help with this is engaging in what is known as release prayers.

If you're holding onto some of those things I listed above, or you have your own specialized and personalized list of levee-kept issues. How about we try this together? 

1. Get comfortable. Not curled up with my favorite blanket ready for a nap comfy. But rather just find some stillness. Turn off the distractions (yes, that would be the TV....and yes, you need to lay your phone down). 

2. How do you feel? Where are you holding tension in your body? Why is it there? Think more about how you feel spiritually and emotionally rather than physically, although that physical condition might be causing how you are feeling emotionally. You can get sick and tired of feeling physically sick and tired which will make you emotionally and spiritually sick and tired. 

3. Name you feeling. 

4. Visualize God with you. Not the theoretical head knowledge that you've gotten from decades at church that God is with you. I mean really personalize to visualize God with you. Feel His presence. Talk to Him. Acknoweldge that how you feel and God with you are both very present realities. 

5. Now, release how you are feeling to the Lord. Picture Jesus taking your anxiety, and removing it. See the Holy Spirit covering your fear with His comforting presence. Even if your feelings are all positive today, visualize releasing the joy in your heart and peace in your mind as a thanksgiving offering to God. 

Release. 

6. Pray. Verbalize it to acknowledge God taking what you have given Him, you are releasing what is not your responsibility to carry in the first place. Besides, we weren't created to be strong enough to carry it all anyway, or to keep it leveed up. And now, give thanks, breathe, and move on. 

I don't want to over simplify this, and I am aware that some things we are holding onto are harder to release  than by just following the simple steps above. And I agree. 

That's why the levee needs to break! 

May the Lord break your levee today to allow a fresh release of what you ahve been holding in, and a fresh release of His Holy Spirit to be poured out upon and fill you in a might new way. 

If you want to check out the song referenced in today's blog, here ya go: When the Levee Breaks