Randy Wray's Blog

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Be nice, be happy and help with the dishes!)

Throw the flag – it’s most definitely a penalty – at the minimum unsportsmanlike conduct.

The preaching calendar worked out as such that I will be speaking about fasting on the Sunday after thanksgiving.

It could have been worse – it could have been the Sunday before thanksgiving.

Now people can look back in regret instead of looking ahead with guilt (glass is half full!).

Here’s the text:

Matthew 6:16-17 (NCV) “When you give up eating, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.  So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face.  Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

What are your thoughts / observations?

Relaxed.

No rush.

Seeing all the changes in a familiar city.

Catching up with loved ones.

Comfort food.

Even more comfortable conversation (including the airing of grievances as the festivus tradition demands).

Funny stories – really funny stories.

An energetic pug (and the boy insists that I mention a cat named Conan).

And speaking of the boy . . . smiles and laughter.

All in all, quite the good day.

Here’s my outline (message notes) from Sunday.  Like the teaching on giving, this teaching focuses on prayer as a good thing we pursue for the benefit of a spiritually disciplined life.

Jesus Teaches About Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15

FAMILIAR GROUND

• What Jesus said about GIVING, he also says about PRAYER.

Matthew 6:1 (NCV) “Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

• The underlying assumption is that CHRIST FOLLOWERS are generous, praying people.

WHEN YOU PRAY

• Don’t pray as an ACTOR.

Matthew 6:5 (NCV) “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward.

• Do pray for an AUDIENCE of One.

Matthew 6:6 (NCV) When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

• Don’t pray as an ORATOR.

Matthew 6:7 (NCV) “And when you pray, don’t be like those people who don’t know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words.  Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

• Do pray as a PARTICIPANT.

Matthew 6:9-13 (NCV) So when you pray, you should pray like this:  ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy.  May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us the food we need for each day.  Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.  And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us from the Evil One.’

WHY YOU SHOULD PRAY THE LORD’S PRAYER

• A necessary request to be involved as an active participant in the REDEMPTIVE work of God.
• A necessary discipline to curb your will and conform your way of THINKING to the mind of God.
• A necessary reminder that God is the source of true GENEROSITY.

We pray the Lord’s prayer to shift the focus from what we want God to do for us (he already knows what we need) to what God needs to accomplish through us.

ONE MORE (VERY IMPORTANT) THING

• It doesn’t do you any good to ask for FORGIVENESS if you, yourself, are unwilling to FORGIVE.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NCV) Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins.  But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.

It seems that I spent too much time with Greg a week or so ago and some of the Greg DNA is still in my body.

Why is that you ask?

I accepted my first sub assignment today.

Got dressed (even put a tie on that I won’t ever wear again), grabbed my super-sub pack and headed out the door.

I was armed and ready for a day of professional babysitting.

I arrived at BC High School and informed the office person that I was there to sub for Mrs. W (English Class).

The office person looked at me, smiled and said “we don’t have a Mrs. W, I think you’re at the wrong school.”

I’m surprised she didn’t refer to me as Mr. England (though I might write that name on the board from now on).

And yes it was true (after we called the sub coordinator) I was supposed to be at T High School not BC HIgh School.

How’s that for a great first impression?

It’s official.  I’m now certified (tell us something we didn’t know!) to substitute teach in three area school districts.

I knew from the experience of others that there is a demand for substitute teachers.  I did not know how great was the demand.

The nice lady from one district called to congratulate me and explained to me how the automated sub finder system works. She concluded her explanation with “would you like to sub today?”

Every single district explained the necessity and value of assembling a “super-sub” bag filled with lesson plans, sponge activities, time-fillers and on and on . . .

Last night, the kids helped me put the final touches on the first prototype of my super-sub bag.  I know I’ll be modifying it as soon as I actually set foot into a classroom but for now it’s stocked and ready.

We looked through hundreds of “would you rather” scenarios and came up with a few of the top (and appropriate) scenarios to use for strategic classroom use.

So, would you rather . . .

Be able to communicate fluently with all animals – OR – automatically understand all foreign languages?

The fellas in the praise band decided to practice on a regular basis and play once a month.

As these things go it should get easier to play together the more we play together.

Our next attempt at musicality will be December 21st with a tour through the Christmas numbers.

We’re looking for off-beat (but not that off-beat) versions of popular Christmas songs AND some suggestions for Christmas songs that may not be as popular (and still suitable).

Any ideas?

Feel free to make up some titles but put an asterisk or something by your actual suggestions!

Here is my outline (and the basis for the message notes) from yesterday’s message.

It’s important to remember that this teaching on Jesus (and the thrust of my message) was not aimed at the weekly offering.

The teaching of Jesus and the thrust of my message was focused on Christ followers living lives of generosity (the way we respond to needs we see in our community).

Jesus Teaches About Giving
a message from Matthew 6:1-4

THAT ALL WILL SEE HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

• God is the GIVER of every good and perfect gift.
• God determines to bless others through the GENEROSITY of his people.

Matthew 6:1-4 (NCV) “Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  “When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.  So when you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know what you are doing.  Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

FALSE GENEROSITY

• Giving as a MERIT BADGE.
• Giving as a MEASURING STICK.
• Giving as a MANIPULATION TOOL.

THE TRANSITION FROM DISINGENUOUS GIVING TO GENEROUS GIVING IS FOUND IN THE EXAMPLE OF A WIDOW:

Mark 12:41-44 (NCV) Jesus sat near the Temple money box and watched the people put in their money. Many rich people gave large sums of money.  Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which were only worth a few cents.  Calling his followers to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people.  They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had; she gave all she had to live on.”

TRUE GENEROSITY

• Giving as a SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.
• Giving as a FAITH EXPRESSION.
• Giving as a TEACHING TOOL.

THE PRACTICE OF GENEROUS GIVING IS THE AMBITION OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS:

Galatians 6:9-10 (NCV) We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up.  When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.

MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY

The underlying assumption behind the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:1-4 is that you will be generous.

This assumption is based in the truth of being a follower of Jesus Christ who desires to pursue a greater righteousness and a greater love for all.

This assumption is also based in the truth of being children of a generous God.

• Giving leads me away from the temptation to HOARD.
• Giving leads me away from the impulse to WASTE.
• Giving leads me away from a heart of GREED to a heart of GENEROSITY.

The Bible teaches us not only to be willing to make the most of every opportunity but to be ready.

How prepared are you to make the most of every opportunity?

I caught the red eye to D.C. this past Sunday night to attend the burial of my friend John.

You may remember that John died a couple of months ago while running on a trail with his wife.

John was buried in Arlington National Cemetery and the delay between his death and his burial was due to a waiting list for the cemetery due to the war.

His widow has graciously given me permission to write about John and tell you about him and his military career.

I’m going to take my time writing that post as I want, more than anything, to properly honor his memory.

Tonight our Praise Band rehearses as we resume our Saturday Night Celebrations tomorrow night.

When the band played in Arlington, John always helped me set up the equipment and take the equipment down.  He was a great roadie!

We had so many great conversations in the midst of the work.

Seriously, I would have done it every week just to spend the time with him.

I’ll spend a couple of hours today setting up the equipment.

I plan on taking my time, enjoy every second of it, and I’ll miss my friend.

Part of me would like to figure out how to move those numbers around.

And just as I finished typing that sentence a bird hit my office window.

The bird is looking at me as if to say “are you crazy?”

Hey, I’m not the one that flew into the window!