Musings 2000

"Rev. Earl's Musings" is a regular feature prepared for friends and members of St. John's United Methodist Church in Lutherville, Maryland, by its pastor, Rev. Earl E. Mason. The current issue can be found on the "Message" page of St. John's web site as well as in the printed church newsletter, "The St. John's Story." This page of recent "Musings" offers the opportunity to pause and reflect on the issues raised.

To return to St. John's United Methodist Church home page, just click on any Cross and Flame symbol on this page. To e-mail Rev. Earl, simply click on the link that is part of his signature following each message.

January 2002 Musings

Dear Members and Friends,

We have heard so often that the world has changed so much since September 11, and it has. Our nation is at war against those whose only purpose for existence seems to be to hurt others. The Lord has always called on us as his followers to protect and defend the poor and the innocent. We hear this in the voices of the prophets and the example of Christ. We need to keep in our prayers all those who are so engaged, some in places of which we are conscious and some in places we of which often never hear.

It is also true that our nation is in a recession deepened by the events of September 11. Many more people will be turning to the church and community agencies for help. It falls on each of us who really can help more to make up for those who no longer can. We are responsible to the Lord to do the best we are able.

With all that is going on, the church is still here, doing as it always has, caring for the sick visiting the homebound, counseling, teaching, caring for the people of God, reaching out to make disciples in the name of Christ and worshiping our Lord as we grow in Him together.

We are not perfect in our actions, yet need to be perfect in our love as we care for a hurting world. With God as our help, and yours, we will be there for each other.

Yours in Christ our Lord,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

February 2002 Musings

Dear Members and Friends,

Jesus told this parable. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."

" But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said. ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14)

As soon as we identify in our hearts with the tax collector and decide we are not like the Pharisee, we are at that moment most like the Pharisee.

True repentance is hard. It is true that the Lord will forgive completely if we repent and ask. He will make us cleaner than fresh fallen snow by the blood of Christ on the cross. However, the more we do a certain sin, or fail to do what is right, (you know yours) the harder true repentance is. It is easy to say to ourselves, "I am not like those other sinners." Even more insidious are those who say "God made me this way." I don't know if they are blaming God or simply saying that their sin is natural and therefore God doesn't really mind. Some may have some real biological evidence. We know for example some few men have double Y chromosomes making them more prone to violence. They may need our faith more and indeed be more severely tested than others. We are all tempted in different ways. If we are not tempted to a particular sin, how can we feel ourselves any better for abstaining. The real test of faith is deciding to follow Jesus' way when we are sorely tempted to another way. It is harder for some people to remain faithful to the Lord. The Lord said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) If you obey my commands you will remain in my love . . ." (John 15:10) and "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) The Lord is calling us to that walk of faith that leads to life, peace and joy, now and forever.

We have in the church a period of reflection and repentance. February 13 (Ash Wednesday) is the beginning of the season of Lent. The 40 days of preparation not for Easter but for Good Friday, when we remember Christ died for our sins. When we think of the nails going into Christ's hands and feet, we may well remember that when we sin we are nailing Christ to the cross all over again.

There is hope. "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." (John 8:34-36) May we rejoice in all of what the Lord is doing and can do in our lives.

Yours in Jesus' love,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

March 2002 Musings

Dear Members and Friends,

Sometimes persons ask me questions about such subjects as Adam and Eve, Noah or Jonah. I will admit I find such questions theologically and intellectually intriguing yet I can't get into the passion some feel. Questions about such ancient Biblical characters have little to do with my faith and nothing to do with how I am to live my life.

In the Christian faith, Jesus Christ is the center of all history. All things prior to the coming of Jesus can be seen as leading up to his coming. It was in his life and teachings that we see the guidance for our lives. In his death is the healing of our broken world and our own broken-ness. In Christ's death, he overcame the sins of the world and our sins too. We no longer need to feel separated from God because we are not perfect enough to merit his love. It was God's love for us that sent Christ into the world and God's love that sent Christ to the cross. He died for all of us and we all need the forgiveness that comes from God.

God's always there calling us back into a deeper relationship even at the cost of the cross. Even his resurrection was for our sakes not his so that we would know his promises are true and he could really prepare a place for us. The events we celebrate on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter are events that remind us of how far God will go to call us back, back to the renewing power of Jesus Christ in our lives. In his resurrection we have our hope for a newness of life, renewed daily by the power of the Holy Spirit unto life eternal.

Yours in Christ our Lord,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

April 2002 Musings

Dear Members and Friends,

It is easy to lose perspective in the ministry, and forget where people are coming from. That is why I have in the past worked with outside groups to maintain perspective. I know only pastors really care about the difference between transubstantiation and consubstantiation, and whatever happened to Melchizedek?

I also know I may be wondering about something only preachers care about when I ask the question: "What is the holiest day of the year?" Christmas is fourth or fifth depending on whether our list is before or after Ash Wednesday when we prepare our hearts with prayer and fasting during the period of self reflection in Lent. Most would say Holy Thursday is third when we remember Jesus' last supper, and his institution of Holy Communion, to "Do this in remembrance of me." Remembering this bread is the body of Christ. The juice is his blood. When we take them in, they physically become part of every part of our body as Christ is to be an integral part of everything we are. That leaves the question of which is the holiest day, and which is the second holiest day of the year? Is the holiest day Easter or Good Friday?

Easter is important. When Jesus came back from the dead, the broken and scattered disciples were united with new power and conviction.

They saw Jesus die horribly. It was slow. It was real. Only from the depths of Good Friday could they appreciate the full joy of his resurrection. It is a time to celebrate the victory we have in Jesus Christ. We know as words could not convey that Jesus really has prepared a place for us. "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever shall believe in Him shall have eternal life." (John 3:16) It is very easy to look past Good Friday, straight to Easter. To go about Good Friday as just another day is to seize the victory without paying the price.

Good Friday is there. It is not pretty and shiny like the crosses we wear or carry in our pockets. It is rough and bloodstained. We cannot understand the cross and it's place in our lives unless we take seriously that the Romans or the Jews did not kill Jesus. It is for us that He died. As Paul said when we sin, it is like nailing Jesus to the cross again and again.

Jesus was born Emmanuel (God with us). He became the savior of the world when he died on the cross. He became our savior when he paid the price for our hatred, immorality, lies, pride, and our ______________. Without the cross there is no savior, there is no Resurrection Day.

I hope this is not just something preachers think about. Have a Holy Thursday, a Holy Friday, and a Holy Sunday, and you will be triply blessed, each in their own way.

Your Brother in Christ,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

May 2002 Musings

Dear Members and Friends,

Picture this. You are living alone. One day while in your living room, a vision of an angel appeared and a peace came upon you that took away all your fears. The angel said, "I bring you good news. The Lord wants to come visit you tomorrow and talk with you. He is not here to condemn you, or judge you, or take you with him. He just wants to sit and talk with you."

You ask, "What about?"

The angel replies, "I don't know. All I know is he sometimes does this with people. Sometimes he comes back happy and sometimes he comes back sad."

Then the angel was gone. You would have thought it a dream except, where the angel had stood, the rug was actually clean, and it really pointed out how dirty the rest of the rug and house had become. As your friends kept their houses similar to yours, you never noticed how bad your house looked. Maybe you could keep the Lord to just the living room, dining room, and the kitchen. Even so you have a lot of cleaning to do and you start right to work. As you go outside to shake out the duster, an old woman walks up and says, "I help clean houses. I won't do it all for you, but I will help, and I know a thing or two about cleaning." As you look at her, you notice her clothes were filthy, as if she took most of the dirt she cleaned out with her. You are desperate, and she doesn't seem to smell, so you ask for her help knowing you can always make her leave if it doesn't work out. It turns out she really is good. By the end of the day, the living room, dining room, and kitchen look as clean as the spot where the angel had stood.

As you relax at a meal she has helped prepare, she offers to help clean the rest of the house. You say, "No thanks," wondering what all this is going to cost. She says, "I don't charge anything. I just like helping people clean their homes." You give her a couple of dollars (it makes you feel better) and she leaves.

The next morning you are dressed in you best and waiting for the Lord in your clean living room when you hear a knock at the door. It's the cleaning woman. You want to hurry her off and you wonder if she wants more money, when you take a second look at her. Before your eyes, stands the Lord in all his glory, yet still somehow looking like the cleaning woman. The Lord says, "Together we cleaned the parts of your house that you like to show people. But there is a lot of your house we still need to clean. May I help you?"

(See John 21:1-14)

May 19 is Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit into the lives of the disciples. We normally think of the empowering of the disciples to go out and spread God's word (Acts 2). Yet that was second. First, there was the receiving of the Holy Spirit (God with us). While they had walked with the Lord and talked with the Lord, this was the first time they experienced the in dwelling presence of the Lord in their life.
As we think of the Lord coming into our lives, is there some housecleaning we need to do? Remember, like the cleaning woman, he is there to help you. It is up to you to trust him and let him in.

Your Brother in Christ,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

September 2002 Musings

Dear Members and Friends:

The flags of 74 countries will be displayed at St. John's as the congregation joins in a special Service of Remembrance for the victims of the September 11 tragedies last year.

The service, being held Sunday, September 8 at 10:30 a.m., will commemorate thousands from around the world who died, offer prayers for their families and celebrate the ministries of those who have responded to the needs of the September 11 victims and all who are in crisis from any cause. Even in the face of horrific tragedies we do not understand, our faith gives us assurance and strength to minister to those who are affected.

During the Service of Remembrance, the flags of the 74 nations whose citizens died in the September 11 attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania will be displayed on the communion rail. At the end of the service, worshipers will be asked to take one of the flags and pray for the victims from that nation during the coming week, which includes the anniversary of the attacks.

The service will especially honor the police and firefighters in New York and the Washington area who responded heroically to the attacks. Worshipers who are members of local police and fire departments will be recognized for the extraordinary contributions and sacrifices they and their colleagues across the nation make every day for public safety.

People of all faiths and nationalities died during this tragedy At St. John's, and across the United Methodist worldwide connection, these services provide an opportunity for United Methodists to live out our promise that. `Our hearts, our minds and our doors are always open.' We are reaching out to share the comfort and love of God.

Rev. Earl E. Mason

October 2002

Dear Members and Friends,

Well, it's October 11. The stock market since September 11 of this year has had its ups and downs but definitely more ups than downs for the past couple of weeks. The drought has not really eased up very much but in November, we can expect a tropical storm to come up the coast and fill all the reservoirs.

OK, it's not really October 11, its 6:00 a.m. September 11 and I don't really know even what the day will bring, let alone what is going to happen with the stock market and the drought.

I once bought a book of psychic predictions. The names of the contributors were a who's who of psychics and astrologers. I only paid 25 cents for it in a used book store, because the year their predictions were to take place had already passed. Of all the predictions in the book, and there were hundreds of them, only two came true. One psychic had predicted the stock market would go up, and one predicted it would go down, and one of them of them was right. Second, one psychic predicted inflation would go up, and one predicted it would come down, and one of them was right.

All this is to say only God knows what tomorrow will bring. As we plan in our personal lives, and as a church, I have learned three things that are helpful to me. First, we need to be flexible. Events can change our world very quickly and we need to be prepared to do things in new ways. With this, we can have absolute trust the Lord who made the heavens and earth, really can handle our problems if we hand them over to Him. He will guide us in new and wonderful ways.

Second, I will do better if I am prepared both physically and spiritually. Physically, I need to get my rest, take my medicine and see the doctor at the beginning of a problem, not when it becomes unmanageable. Failure to do this is to court disaster and stick one's head in the sand. I lose friends because they don't take care of themselves, or are afraid of what the doctor will say, and ignore problems while they can still be treated.

Spiritually, I do better if I pray and read the Bible daily and attend worship once or twice a week. Bible study is really helpful too. I know the time will come when I will not be able to attend worship every week. When that time comes I know God will help me through it, as God will be faithful to me, as I try to be faithful to Him.

Third, God's time is not my time. When I am sick, I want to be well yesterday! Instead, God teaches me patience. When I am weak, I want to be strong. Instead, God teaches me to lean on him. When I want to know what the future holds, I am reminded, God holds my future in His hands.

May the peace of knowing, growing, and trusting in God be yours.

Your friend in Christ,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

November 2002

Dear Members and Friends,

It could be said that for a pastor to have a solid Bible-based message, they need to have one foot in the Old Testament and the other foot in the New Testament. When the pastor is not basing their message from either the Old Testament or the New Testament, they don't have a leg to stand on.

While dancing, alcohol, and gambling all existed at the time of Jesus, I have not heard any arguments that Jesus, the apostles or the prophets ever condemned these practices. Many years ago there was a commercial saying "Show me the beef." Well show me the Bible. The scripture is to be the foundation of our faith. Therefore, as Christians, we don't have a firm foundation for our arguments. They will not stand.

The Bible is against drunkenness, lewd dancing or not caring for one's family because of addiction to gambling.

Paul would remind us that not everything that is legal (scriptural) is wise. Slot machines at race tracks comes under that category to me. New Jersey has had the longest experience on the East Coast with gambling at casinos in Atlantic City. Despite commercials put on by the gambling industry, don't you think New Jersey would have let it expand to other cities if the experiment in Atlantic City really helped them. When gambling comes in other businesses like bowling, restaurants and other small businesses suffer. These are businesses that hire a lot more laborers than the gambling industry. New Jersey is even trying to restrict it in Atlantic City. Maybe we can learn from their mistakes. Probably not. The lure of quick riches appeals to people and governments. Most of the profits don't go to the local economy at all. Many of those who would make millions off of Maryland slot machines, don't even live in this country. Gambling produces nothing! At least the state lottery is done by the state, for the state and it's people.

So when it comes to decision making, the first question is; Is it scriptural allowed? Second: Is it smart?

Some things like gambling and drinking may pass the scriptural test, and still not be a good idea. It should be mentioned that both alcohol and gambling are prohibited in our United Methodist churches by the Church Discipline, as something we do not wish to encourage.

Yours in Christ's Service,

Rev. Earl E. Mason

DECEMBER 2002

Dear Members and Friends,

As we enter this Advent season (the four Sundays before Christmas), our minds turn to the thought of gifts for our friends and relatives which are a token remembrance of God's gifts to us. We give these gifts to people we care for. Our Father in heaven gave and continues to give us gifts for the same reason, He cares for us.

Let us take a moment to reflect on some of these gifts God gives us. He cared for us even before He made us in the preparation He used in His creation of the world. All the great advances of science, are here because He made them possible. Electricity, for example, was made by God before it could be discovered by us. In a similar way, oil was created by God with infinite patience through the birth and death cycle of his creation.

Another great gift of love was His self disclosure through the prophets and by the Holy Spirit. In this way, we know who we are and who our Father is. He did not create us to abandon us, but to be in relationship with Him.

It was the greatest gift of love when He took the form of a child and by the presence of his son was born in a manger. But God took more than just the form of a child. He was born as we were born. He grew as we grow. He lived, hoped, worked, dreamed, suffered and died. Yet, He did more. He came back to let us know that His promise is true. That He died as a sacrifice for our sins and through Him we could be reconciled back to the Father and receive eternal life with Him.

How do we respond to so great a gift of love? Do we raise our children in a faith to which we were raised? Do we take our place in the church to hear God's word proclaimed by song and word? Do we receive the blessings of worship and working together with others in the work of the Lord? When you see a rainbow or a flower, do you say, "This is a gift from God?" The Lord has so much more He wants to give each of us if we make the time and open our hearts to the love He wants to give. Do you hear Him calling you into an ever deeper, closer, loving, caring relationship?

So our gifts at Christmas are but a token of His gifts for us, and the love we share is but a token of the love the Lord wants to give to you.

From the parsonage family to you, may you have a joyous Advent as we receive the gift of God's coming in our hearts.

Yours in Christ's Service,

The Masons

Click here to read "Musings" first published during the year 2000

Click here to read "Musings" first published in 2001

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