A Gift of Song

Several years ago McKnight Road sponsored a Zoe Conference here in St. Louis. It was a huge undertaking by our congregation and was not without some controversy. Yet, looking back, it was and has been a continuing blessing to our congregation. If you are interested in learning more about Zoe click here.

If you love acapella music, click for their song "You Never Let Go".

To Live is Christ- To Die is Gain

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

Tonight in our Wednesday evening Bible Class Sean Martin asked the class a question? "If you knew you were going to die, what is the last thing you would want to do before you die?" Almost all the responses were along the line of saying goodbye to loved ones and family members. When death is at the door, it is amazing how important relationships become as opposed to concern for material possessions. I did think of the above verse, where the apostle Paul, close to his time to depart, told the church at Philipi that death was his gain. For the Christian, death is not a barrier; but, a gate to heaven and not something we need to fear. In fact, if we had perfect love, it would cast out all fear. I cannot say that I want to die; but, I do understand what Paul is communicating to the church at large. I had this weird thought go through my head that perhaps the last thing I would do is post a blog? If one believes with all their heart that Jesus is the Messiah and one would want the whole world to know it; then, I can't think of a better forum to share one's faith with, not only one's immediate family, but the entire world. And yet, these electronic bits in cyberspace are limited by their ability to spread the gospel. Ultimately, it is the personal one-on-one interactions that we share with others that allows us to communicate our faith. In any event, if I fail to wake up tomorrow and this would be my final post, I cannot think of a better verse to sum it all up. The message of the creation is that one has to die to live. Maranatha!

Burying the Dead

Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

Matt. 8:21-22

When Jesus returned from his time in the wilderness and crossed the Jordan river, there was but one central message to his proclamation. Mark puts it this way:

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:14:15

The centrality of that message for Jesus was a pathway to Jerusalem and to the cross. Jesus knew he only had three years to plant the seeds of his kingdom. The importance of that message is seen in the passage of Matthew above. Between attending to important matters in this world, like burying one's father, the message of the kingdom is of more importance. What Jesus sought were disciples. He was not interested in engaging in endless disputes over matters of the law. Today, the church should be seeking the same thing ---disciples. Today in America I sense that there is a hunger by some who wish to live in the kingdom and do spiritual battle against the powers and principalities of this dark world. Those who seek the kingdom are not worried about "doing church" in just the right way. The kingdom offers a relationship with a loving God who cares about those who are hurting; but, the path is narrow and it requires great courage and commitment. Christianity is not just something in which we believe; but, it is embodied in a group of believers who live and share a common faith in community. We are broken people who are forgiven and healed by grace. And, in that being made new creatures through the power of the cross, we are given life, meaning and purpose.

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."

- Proverbs 22:7

My grandfather, Lloyd Thompson, grew up during the depression. I remember him telling me at a very early age, that one should not buy something unless he could pay for it. Back then, that applied to everything. Cars....houses....everything! Fast forward to today, and the stigma of being a debtor has disappeared. After all, everybody is doing it! The traditional American Dream, especially for those who grew up in families that survived the depression of the 1930s, was to have a home "free and clear" of any mortgages. The security of a debt-free home was the goal of every family in the 20th-century United States, however that is changing. Being in debt has become a way of life for many Americans. Recent economic data shows that consumer debt, particularly credit card debt, is on the rise. The stigma once associated with debt is gone, and it has become the norm to borrow money even for every day items like gasoline and groceries.

My grandfather never graduated from high school. In those days, one went to work as soon as you were old enough to hold a job. Yet, he became a very wise man. He served as an elder and a role model for me. I watched how he and grandmother lived frugally; but, were generous to many. He helped me buy my first car, a 1969 Volkswagen beetle for $2,250. I was never so proud as the day I payed him back in full for that first loan.

When I look around today, I observe that the United States has become a nation of debtors. In recent years the level of household debt in America has surpassed the level of household income, so for the first time in our collective history we owe more money than we make. Consumer debt in America has risen to a record high of more than 2.5 trillion dollars. Today the average US household has more than $9,000 in credit card debt and spends more than $1,300 a year in interest payments. Meanwhile, the national debt (the amount of money owed by the US government) has surpassed 9 trillion dollars – and is increasing at a rate of about $1.40 billion per day. Debt is so ingrained into our culture today that most Americans can't even envision a car without a payment, a house without a mortgage, a student without a loan, and credit without a card. We've been sold debt with such repetition and with such fervor that most folks can't conceive of what it would be like to have no payments.

While many Americans have become accustomed to making monthly payments, the truth is that debt is contrary to God's plan for our lives. The scripture clearly says the borrower is slave to the lender - God would have us free of that kind of bondage.

In recent years the value of the US dollar has dropped significantly, inflation has increased, consumer debt has reached an all-time high, and the US housing market has become dangerously unstable. Anyone who thinks that the next few years are going to be smooth sailing is living in a dream world. For the first time in the history of our country, the next generation may find themselves at a lesser standard of living than their parents. While that, in and of itself, may not be an important spiritual concern, what does the Bible tell us about being a steward of our material goods? How does one prepare for times of economic uncertainty? These are some of the topics that the Elders have been addressing on Sunday mornings during our Bible Class hour in our town hall meetings on the 4th level this past month at the McKnight Road Church of Christ. The Bible has much to say about how we use our talents and our worldly possessions. The principles we discuss are, in my opinion, the secrets to how to live life at a high level of joy and gratitude. Being a slave to anyone, except our Lord and Savior, is a bad thing. Come and join us at 9:00 a.m. and feel free to join in the discussion next Sunday.