Living In A Selfie Culture
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This week’s lectionary texts have a great deal to say about the misplaced priorities of contemporary culture. The writer of Ecclesiastes takes on the foolishness of human vanity; Jesus tells a parable addressing the short-sightedness of those who place too much importance on the hoarding of wealth and the acquisition of possessions; and Paul implores the Colossians to turn away from destructive earthly passions like fornication, greed, idolatry, and anger, and to embrace instead a new life in Christ. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Dean Feldmeyer suggests that our modern, self-absorbed society has exalted vanity as a virtue -- and notes there’s no more fitting example of that than our fascination with the “selfie.” Vanity is embodied not only by celebrities competing to see who can amass the greatest number of followers on social media, or our fascination with them that reinforces vanity as something to be aspired to -- in our own lives we also give outsized attention to physical beauty and other selfish conceits. But as Dean points out, none of the earthly things we chase have any lasting meaning -- instead, as the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us, meaning is a gift from God... one which he freely gives if we only allow him to do so.
Team member Mary Austin shares some additional thoughts on the parable Jesus tells in our gospel text. It’s not wealth per se that Jesus is chastising -- it’s the hoarding of possessions that requires the man to build more barns. And that, Mary notes, certainly resonates with our materialistic society. Perhaps we ought to “tidy up” our lives, divesting ourselves of possessions that we don’t really need and that often cloak a spiritual illness at our core. Doing so, Mary suggests, might help us to follow Paul’s advice on turning away from the things and behaviors of the world that keep us from new life in Christ... and keep our barns full of ourselves rather than God.
Living in a Selfie Culture
by Dean Feldmeyer
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26
Back in 1968, when Andy Warhol wrote that “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” we thought he was just another wacky celebrity spouting nonsense and trying to make it seem profound. Now we know that his was a prophetic voice.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, cellphone cameras, selfies, “reality” TV, and a host of other post-modern phenomena and thingamajigs have made 15 minutes of fame common, and have turned vanity from a vice into a virtue.
With 77.9 million Instagram followers and 46.9 million Twitter followers, Kim Kardashian -- who claims to have started the “selfie” trend -- is certainly the poster child for our current vanity culture. Last May she released a book containing 352 pages of pictures that she has taken of herself. The title is Selfish.
Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.
How do we, as people of faith, relate to and live in such a culture? Do we throw up our hands in despair as the Teacher seems to do in Ecclesiastes, or are there other, more constructive alternatives?
In the Culture
The term “selfie” was apparently born in Australia on September 13, 2002, in a chatroom post by a drunken Australian: “Um, drunk at a mate’s 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie.”
It took only 11 short years for “selfie” to grow to full adulthood and be crowned the Oxford Dictionary word of the year in 2013.
Still, it languished in relative obscurity for another year, the name of a quirky little pastime practiced by computer geeks and self-important celebrities.
Then in 2014, everything changed when comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres turned the selfie into a worldwide craze. You will recall, no doubt, that was the year she took the now-famous “Oscar Selfie” with a dozen superstars at the 2014 Academy Awards presentation show.
Madeline Buxton, writing for the Refinery29 web magazine, says that it was that selfie that “broke the internet,” “launched thousands of copycat selfies and memes,” and “remains one of the most retweeted tweets of all time.”
The selfie, “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website,” has become ubiquitous. We are now looking at pictures of even the most intimate moments in people’s lives, not because we want to but because they are being thrust under our noses on Facebook, et al.
There is a National Selfie Day, which is celebrated every year on June 21. Why on June 21? Because that’s the day in 2015 when there were more mentions of selfies on the internet than any other day that year.
If you want to take good selfies, there are YouTube videos that will show you how and articles in Allure and on CNN that will help you “go from Instagram to insta-glam.” They also help you avoid “photo-bombers,” those annoying people who love to sneak into the background and make a face just as you are pushing the button.
Enter the phrase “selfie fails” into an internet search engine, and you will be led to a virtual avalanche of selfies celebrities have taken of themselves that should not have been made public... but were anyway.
Here’s Tom Hanks looking like he just got out of bed on a movie set.
And here’s Nicolas Cage and another passenger on an airplane -- her looking giddy, him looking airsick.
Here’s Justin Bieber in close-up, allegedly sitting on the commode.
And here’s one of my favorites, Eminem looking angry and morose as he does in every picture that has ever been taken of him. Why bother, Em?
Oh yes, and actor Chris Pratt in his underpants showing off his abs. There’s Conan O’Brian and Ricky Gervais in a bubble bath together looking surprised and horrified -- okay, that one was done for laughs.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan did not shoot for laughs and got into something of a dust-up a couple of weeks ago when he posted a selfie of himself standing in front a large group of young Republican congressional interns -- all of whom, Democrats were quick to point out, were Caucasian. Republicans argued back that there was in fact one person of color right in the center of the picture, launching a nationwide “Where’s Waldo” kind of search of the photo.
On the serious side, the quick and easy nature of selfies has given birth to “sexting” -- where people take sexually explicit photographs of themselves to send to someone who can, if they choose, post them on the internet or share them with friends. In a survey sponsored by The National Campaign and Cosmo Girl magazine, it was discovered that 20 percent of teens overall have electronically sent or posted online nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves. That breaks down to 22 percent of teen girls, and 18 percent of teen boys. As they become young adults, the numbers go even higher -- 33 percent of young adults overall (36 percent of young adult women and 31 percent of young adult men) have sent electronically or posted nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves.
What kids don’t seem to understand is the lifelong consequences pictures like these could bring down upon them.
Whether we like it or not, the “selfie” has become part of our culture. Most of the time, when used appropriately, it is just a bit of harmless fun -- but it can also reflect a kind of narcissism, an obsession with self, that is unhealthy and maybe even dangerous.
In the Scriptures
The lectionary brings us to this text for only a brief stay in Ecclesiastes. We drop in here, and next week we are back into the prophets with a selection from Isaiah. When we see the name Ecclesiastes, we usually jump to the conclusion that this will be the famous “To everything a season...” passage. But this year, this is the sole passage that we shall hear from “The Teacher.”
So let’s step out of our comfort zone and see what he has to say.
“Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Thus begins the book of Ecclesiastes, the most melancholy tome of not just the Hebrew Scriptures but the entire Bible.
The Hebrew word hebel, which the NRSV translates as “vanity,” can also mean “meaningless” or “absurd.” And the unknown teacher who is called Qoheleth wastes no time in getting to his dark and heavy point that every striving and accomplishment of human beings is, ultimately, meaningless.
And now he will test this dubious “hypothesis” by taking his readers with him on a quest for meaning. He will study and observe, watch and learn, to see if anything, any pursuit, any accomplishment, any achievement, any endeavor that a human being can undertake can have any eternal meaning.
Our journey will take us through pleasure and wisdom and knowledge and creativity and love and virtually every human experience -- and we will find, he warns, that they are all temporary and devoid of anything like real meaning.
In the Sermon
The selfie may be our modern version of the book of Ecclesiastes.
What else could show us so clearly the absurdity, the worthlessness, the meaninglessness of fame and fortune? Kim Kardashian is famous for being famous.
Richard Hatch, the first winner of Survivor, went to prison for attempting to evade income taxes -- and then went back for violating his parole. Since then he has tried to scratch out a living as a “reality” TV show contestant on shows like The Celebrity Apprentice, Survivor All-Stars, and The Biggest Loser. Is there a more striking example of the absurdity of fame?
Dancing with the Stars fills its celebrity lineup with stars, many of whom have become so obscure that we put air quotes around the word “stars” whenever we say it.
Sic transit gloria mundi. (Thus passes the glory of the world.)
Other types of achievement are often equally transient, are they not?
Skyscrapers and monuments are little more than sand castles when they are set amidst the tidal ebb and flow of time. Even the greatest builders of our age can witness this truth when they behold the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still exists today.
And those great creations that are not taken from us by time are as often taken by human hate and destructiveness. Cathedrals and statuaries in England were gutted and destroyed by the Puritans. The Khmer Rouge destroyed centuries-old statues and temples in Cambodia. And ISIS is, even now, pulling down and pummeling into gravel some of the oldest and most beautiful sculptures of the ancient world.
How can we not look upon the destruction wrought by the hands of time and people and not hear echoed the words of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias,” wherein a traveler comes upon the ruined remains of a statue in the desert?
“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert...
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
So, how shall we approach this dark and depressing observation that the Teacher so glibly offers up? How are we to find in it a word of hope, a promise of something more than “vanity”?
Let me suggest that we go three verses further than the lectionary recommends. Instead of stopping at 2:23, let us finish chapter 2 and end with vv. 24-26:
There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Here the Teacher suggests and we affirm that meaning does not emanate from the works of our hands or even our minds. Achievements, possessions, joys, pleasures do not have intrinsic meaning beyond their own existence until we place it upon them -- and the meaning which we place upon them is given to us as a gift from God.
Meaning comes from God, and it is God’s good pleasure to provide it for us if we will but back away and allow God the space and time to do so. Wisdom, knowledge, joy, pleasure -- these are gifts from God given freely to those whom it pleases God to give them.
Our mission in this life, the Teacher teaches, is to please God.
It is our goal, our purpose.
And then, sometimes, the things we do, the things we build, the things we create and love and enjoy will begin to have meaning -- more than we could create ourselves, and more than we would have ever thought possible.
SECOND THOUGHTS
by Mary Austin
Luke 12:13-21; Colossians 3:1-11
There is some sentiment at my house that we have enough dishes.
It has even been announced by the resident teenager that we have more dishes than the family of six down the street. But the Fiestaware people add new colors every year, so who’s to say what’s really enough?
Well, maybe Jesus...
In response to a younger brother’s question about when he can have his inheritance, Jesus declines to say who should get what, and then tells a parable about a man who has too much... way too much. So much too much that he needs more storage.
The rich man could use some advice from Marie Kondo, the current organizing guru who is helping the world throw things away, one item at a time. Kondo believes that “tidying up,” as she calls her ambitious uncluttering program, is life-changing. Kondo’s method begins with what she calls a “once-in-a-lifetime tidying marathon,” which (as described by the New York Times) means “piling five categories of material possessions -- clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items, including photos, in that order -- one at a time, surveying how much of each you have, seeing that it’s way too much, and then holding each item to see if it sparks joy in your body. The ones that spark joy get to stay. The ones that don’t get a heartfelt and generous goodbye, via actual verbal communication, and are then sent on their way to their next life.” Kondo believes that every possession you own should bring you a feeling of joy when you use, wear, or hold it.
People attending a recent seminar found that the advice was true for more than sweaters, decorative pillows, and tools. As one woman said, “I found the opposite of happiness is not sadness... it’s chaos.” Another woman said she applied Kondo’s method to a bad boyfriend: “Having tidied everything in her home and finding she still distinctly lacked happiness, she held her boyfriend in her hands, realized he no longer sparked joy, and got rid of him.” Kondo believes that stuff is a function of the soul. Too much stuff, and not enough joy, reflects a problem of the spirit.
Jesus diagnoses the rich man who has many barns, and much to store, as having a spiritual problem. “Be on guard against all kinds of greed,” Jesus says, reminding the younger brother and everyone listening that life is about much more than possessions. The rich man in the parable comes to the place where he has more than he needs, and he has a decision to make. We don’t see him tithing out of his abundance, or sharing with his neighbors, or even increasing the wages of his workers. His piles of stuff isolate him. He’s separated from God, showing no evidence of gratitude. He’s separated from his neighbors, some of whom are surely hungry. The only thing he can think to do is store more stuff, and become even more isolated.
Like the rich man, some of us unthinkingly pile up more than we need, but others of us are choosing to live with less, or do so out of necessity. It turns out that our young friends don’t aspire to own things in the same way previous generations have. Writer Josh Allan Dykstra observes: “Humanity is experiencing an evolution in consciousness. We are starting to think differently about what it means to ‘own’ something. This is why a similar ambivalence towards ownership is emerging in all sorts of areas, from car-buying to music listening to entertainment consumption. Though technology facilitates this evolution and new generations champion it, the big push behind it all is that our thinking is changing.” Dykstra notes that among middle-class Americans, it’s no longer rare to not own a home or a car. Ownership is not a scarce commodity. Now we long for things that are scarce -- connection and meaning.
Getting rid of old electronics, ripped sweaters, too-small coats, and outdated books will make us feel lighter, but throwing things out doesn’t address the reason we over-acquire in the first place. Like the rich man building more barns, our stuff is only a symptom of our spiritual illness. This is where Marie Kondo understands our plight better than the organizers who recommend more bins, baskets, and shelves to create order. In her method, with each item we have to stop and acknowledge that it brings us joy, or think about what we’ve learned from it. We come face to face with our own need for distraction, or the fantasy life that we don’t really live, or the illusions we store along with the item. We grow lighter by looking at the greedy impulses that have overstuffed our drawers and shelves. In doing that, we come closer to getting rid of the things that really weigh us down.
If we want to shed things, the letter to the Colossians has a suggestion for us. “But now you must get rid of all such things -- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth,” the writer advises. Those things can be thrown away daily -- there’s no need to find a place for them in our lives. Then we can clothe ourselves with “the new self.” Then we can reach more deeply for God, and connect more lovingly with our neighbors. Then, as The Message translates the Luke passage, we will have our barns full of God, and not full of self.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Ron Love:
Hosea 11:1-11
The Japanese kamikaze pilots of World War II are often admired for their self-sacrificing dedication. They were willing to kill themselves by flying their aircraft into enemy ships in order to win the war. Though their motive was misguided, many still have admired their sense of duty. Duty? Patriotism? Very few of the pilots were volunteers, as most were drafted. Once inside the cockpit of their plane the hatch was welded shut, making it impossible to escape. The plane was given only enough fuel to make it to the target, but not enough fuel to return home. The pilots had only one choice -- to crash into a ship or crash into the ocean.
Application: When judging the followers of Baal, how much choice did the subjects of the kingdom have? Our focus must always be on the authority of the cruel, misguided rulers.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
Betsy Bloomingdale was one of the most recognized and sought-after socialites from the 1960s through the 1980s -- anyone who was anybody sought her acquaintance. She was known to be Nancy Reagan’s most personal friend. Bloomingdale, one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, spent lavishly on parties and on herself. She would make two trips to Paris each year to buy the most expensive clothes being promoted. It was nothing for her to spend $200,000 on a single dress. Then in 1996, at a fashion show in Paris, she had an epiphany. She walked away from the runway without making a single purchase. Betsy then went across the street and purchased a ready-to-wear outfit. And ever since then, she only bought clothes that were off-the-rack. She realized that for the price of one Paris fashion, she could purchase a dozen regular outfits.
Application: Paul instructs us to look for the things of heaven, not of earth.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
There are reports that when the Islamic State tortures prisoners with electric shocks, they often place a metal hood over the prisoners’ heads. This greatly amplifies their screams, allowing them to be heard throughout the prison. The unbearable shrieks thus cause fear and trembling among those who would next occupy the seat of torture, assuring they will more quickly confess to the false crimes charged against them. The unyielding screams also create an atmosphere of fear throughout the prison, making it easier to have the captives submit to every demand made of them.
Application: Paul knew he was speaking to authorities who ruled over others by using the power of fear.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
Pokémon Go has become an instant success story, as people chase mythological virtual-reality figures. We now have promoted a society where people walk around as zombies, looking down only at their cellphones. In San Francisco, a Facebook challenge was put forth for Pokémon players to show up at Dolores Park and begin a Pokémon Go quest. To the amazement of even the biggest skeptic, 9,000 people showed up -- leaving room only for shoulder-to-shoulder walking as they began their search.
Application: If only Pokémon Go could get 9,000 people to search the heavens.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
Television programs are not filmed in the order the scenes appear on screen, but are instead filmed in the most efficient way of using cast members and sets. Therefore, before the filming of each scene the actors are informed on how the scene contributes to the overall program. In the filming of the series House of Cards, prior to filming all of the actors sit around a table and actually walk and talk through the entire episode in the sequence that it will appear in the final production. The purpose for this is so each actor can have a feel for how he or she is contributing to the entire storyline. So even if an actor has only a brief one-minute appearance on an hour-long episode, he or she realizes how important that one little moment is to the entire story.
Application: Paul would like each of us to know how important we are to the entire Christian story.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
When I was a Virginia state trooper, cars would often go through my radar gun at a speed in excess of 90 mph. At that speed the car was only a blur -- I could not even see the driver, and it was literally impossible to see the license plate. Yet I would always hear the same objections -- you pulled me over because I am a minority, or you pulled me over because I am an out-of-state driver. Neither could be true, because I was fortunate just to determine the make and model of the automobile. (Note: You can personalize this story by introducing it by saying “A friend told me...”)
Application: Paul instructs us that the passion of earthly things -- in this case speeding drivers -- keeps us from realizing the truth of heavenly things.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
During my time as a state trooper, there were some roads that I and the other troopers in my barracks could not enforce the speed limit on. The traffic judge believed that the state had marked the speed limit for the road as too low; therefore he allowed cars to exceed the posted speed. In his courtroom the judge did in fact have the power of a “god,” and we had no choice but to obey his dictate. (Note: You can personalize this story by introducing it by saying “A friend told me...”)
Application: Paul instructs us to always to obey our higher heavenly power.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Senator Bill Armstrong of Colorado was known as a both a scholar and humanitarian. But what really made him stand out to his constituents was his strong Christian devotional life. Armstrong was the first president of Campus Crusade for Christ. Active during the Reagan administration, he was responsible for an endless list of legislative proposals to help the needy. Realizing that the work of a Christian is never completed, at the time of his death Armstrong’s to-do list contained 146 items.
Application: Jesus tells us that we have no time to build barns just to have fun and be merry.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Garry Marshall was a well-respected movie and television producer. Though he is also known for such films as Pretty Woman and Beaches, his real enjoyment was television. Marshall was the creative force who brought us such popular series as Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, and Laverne & Shirley. But Marshall was able to put his work into perspective, for he lived by this simple mantra: “Life is more important than show business.”
Application: Jesus understood what was important in life.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Wendell Anderson considered that he controlled his own destiny. Anderson only knew success, perhaps best exemplified by his Olympic silver medal in hockey. As governor of Minnesota, when Walter Mondale left the Senate to run for president, Anderson appointed himself as Mondale’s replacement -- believing that this would assure his political future, since (unlike Minnesota’s governor), there were no term limits for a U.S senator. The voters turned against him for this ploy, however, and Anderson was not reelected to the Senate, nor was he ever again elected again for any political office.
Application: Jesus instructs us not to misuse our wealth and power.
***************
From team member Chris Keating:
Hosea 11:1-11
A Parent’s Grief
As Hosea learns, being a parent can be an experience of torturous grief. Likewise, Yahweh grieves the painful estrangement of the northern kingdom. Parents who have suffered such anguish can easily identify with that experience -- well described in a recent story about a mother reunited with her long-missing son.
Twenty-one years ago, Maria Mancia’s infant son disappeared. Mancia returned home from work to find her apartment ransacked, and her son Steven and boyfriend Valentin Hernandez missing. It soon became clear that the boy’s father had abducted their son, leaving her with only a grainy photograph. Even though the case grew cold, investigators kept following leads. Not long ago they received a tip that Steven was living in Mexico and attending law school. The mother and son were reunited in June.
Steven had been told his mother had abandoned him. “It was a shock,” Hernandez told the San Bernardino Sun. “I didn’t know if she was alive or not, and to get a call that says they found my mother and that she had been looking for me, it was like a cold bucket of water. But it’s good. It’s good.”
*****
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
What Brings Satisfaction?
According to the preacher of Ecclesiastes, fame and fortune are fleeting -- evaporating like morning dew or steam on a bathroom mirror. Even leaving a legacy for descendants is risky, the preacher notes, for “who knows whether they will be wise or foolish?” What brings lasting satisfaction?
For musicians like Mick Jagger, maybe a sensational song provides some sense of fulfillment -- a song, perhaps, like that aptly titled hit “Satisfaction.”
Yet Jagger’s recollections are somewhat similar to Ecclesiastes. Jagger noted that the song and the band’s success were hardly inevitable. In the early days of the Rolling Stones, Jagger and Keith Richards were under stress to produce material while endlessly touring. It was a push to both perform and create, jotting notes and recalling riffs any chance they could. Rich Cohen’s book The Sun & the Moon & the Rolling Stones captures Jagger’s musings about the importance of “Satisfaction”:
You can get very blasé about a song like “Satisfaction.” It’s been around forever, was written and recorded so long ago, has been played on so many radios so many millions of times, it vanishes. You don’t think about it, maybe get tired of talking about it. But it was not inevitable. It did not have to happen. If it had not been written and recorded when it was, who knows? It prevented us from being just another good band with a nice run. That big early hit is essential. You might have a lot of success without it, sell a lot of records, but you won’t get over. “Satisfaction” did that for us. You absolutely need that one song.
*****
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Discovering Ultimate Importance
Millennials coming of age in post-recession America could resonate with Ecclesiastes’ dim view of possessions and material goods. Marketing experts note that the shopping habits of younger generations have changed since the last recession, many of whom have adopted a more minimalist view of life. One blogger notes:
The minimalist trend isn’t rising, it’s here, it’s everywhere around us. We’re living in a society that ultimately wants less. We’re condensing our wants to meet our needs -- and in a world in which we are absolutely inundated and bombarded with information, we value simple and effective over flash and glamour.... I was in the store the other day buying some shampoo and something obvious was staring back at me -- gone are the days of the bright pink bottles with crazy typography that scream “look at me.” Now we’re seeing rows upon rows of simple, clean, white bottles with easy-to-read fonts and clear “messages” about what that product will do for me. Calls to action are clearer, messages are much less fuzzy, and everyone, even Vidal Sassoon, is buying into the minimalist approach.
Overconsumption may still rule, but it is clear that a trend toward minimalism -- of knowing that all is vanity -- may well be growing.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
The Gospel of Money
What Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump lacks in understanding scripture -- he famously noted that “an eye for an eye” is one of his favorite Bible passages -- he makes up in his application of the gospel of prosperity.
He remains an enigmatic and divisive candidate for many, but U.S. News contributor Kenneth T. Walsh says the essence of understanding Trump can be boiled down to a single sentence: “He worships money.” It’s the core of his business principles, and the essence of his political philosophy. “You have to be wealthy in order to be great,” Trump told a rally in North Dakota. Walsh writes that Trump applies this philosophy to individuals and nations alike:
To Trump, life’s winners are those who collect the most money. His critics say this philosophy is little more than a celebration of greed. But Trump persists, sometimes in very personal terms. He has repeatedly belittled 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, actually a millionaire, for not being rich enough. “Poor Mitt,” Trump said... “I mean I have a store that’s worth more money than he is.” Apparently believing that lack of super-wealth entitles him to belittle people, Trump went on to mock Romney for being “stupid,” for having “choked like a dog” in the 2012 campaign, and for walking “like a penguin.”
But Trump may be ignoring a few “great” people whose wealth toward God might have been larger than their bank balances. Here are some: Jesus; several of the apostles; a few saints like Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), St. Francis of Assisi (born wealthy but adopted a lifestyle of simplicity), Dorothy Day, and Mother Teresa; presidents such as Woodrow Wilson, Abraham Lincoln, and Harry Truman. That’s not to mention Martin Luther King Jr. or artists such as Rembrandt, who died flat broke in 1668.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Gaining Riches Toward God
In 1959, a white man from Texas decided he wanted to experience life as a black man living in a segregated society. So John Howard Griffin darkened his skin and then traveled throughout the Deep South. Griffin’s experiences eventually became the source material for his book Black Like Me. Throughout his travels, he walked miles to find a restroom and was routinely ignored by white people he approached. In many ways, it was an experience of trading the wealth of his privilege as a white man and becoming invisible to the majority class. It taught him the meaning of empathy -- perhaps the greatest sign of being “rich toward God.” Griffin wrote: “If only we could put ourselves in the shoes of others to see how we would react, then we might become aware of the injustices of discrimination and the tragic inhumanity of every kind of prejudice.”
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: O give thanks to God, who is good.
People: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Let the redeemed of God speak of God’s goodness.
People: Let them thank God for steadfast love.
Leader: For God satisfies the thirsty.
People: God fills the hungry with good things.
OR
Leader: God calls us from the glitter of the world to the wealth of the Spirit.
People: We hear God’s call, but there is so much that distracts us.
Leader: God is patient and steadfast, calling us time and time again.
People: We know God has wondrous things for us, and we come to receive from God’s bounty.
Leader: God’s love reaches out to all creation.
People: Rejoicing in God’s love, we will share it with all.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
“Now Thank We All Our God”
found in:
UMH: 102
H82: 396, 397
PH: 555
NNBH: 330
NCH: 419
CH: 715
LBW: 533, 534
ELA: 839, 840
W&P: 14
AMEC: 573
STLT: 32
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
found in:
UMH: 139
H82: 390
AAHH: 117
NNBH: 2
NCH: 22
CH: 25
ELA: 858, 859
AMEC: 3
STLT: 278
Renew: 57
“Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness”
found in:
UMH: 612
H82: 339
PH: 506
NCH: 334
LBW: 224
AMEC: 262
“Cuando El Pobre” (“When the Poor Ones”)
UMH: 434
PH: 407
CH: 662
ELA: 725
W&P: 624
“What Does the Lord Require”
found in:
UMH: 441
H82: 605
PH: 405
CH: 659
W&P: 686
“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee”
found in:
UMH: 430
H82: 659, 660
PH: 357
NNBH: 445
NCH: 503
CH: 602
LBW: 492
ELA: 818
W&P: 589
AMEC: 299
“Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service”
found in:
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELA: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286
“Here I Am, Lord”
found in:
UMH: 593
PH: 525
AAHH: 567
CH: 452
ELA: 574
W&P: 559
Renew: 149
“The Steadfast Love of the Lord”
found in:
CCB: 28
Renew: 23
“Live in Charity”
found in:
CCB: 71
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELA: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who is steadfast in love: Grant us the grace to trust in your tender care, that we might leave behind that which is passing and cling to the eternal joys you offer us; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, for your steadfast love. Send your Spirit upon us, that we might trust your tender care for our lives. Help us to let go of that which is passing and to hold firmly to your eternal gifts. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our failure to discern between what is worth our pursuing.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have blessed us with such an abundance of things, both spiritual and temporal, yet we focus so much on just the things we can touch and hold. We are more interested in the blessings we can count than in those spiritual gifts that are beyond measure. We never seem satisfied with what we have but always want more, even when we don’t need it. Cleanse us of our greed and vanity. Help us to remember that while we are deeply loved creatures, we are creatures and not the Creator. Fill us with the joy of being in your presence and in sharing your love with others. Amen.
Leader: God’s love is indeed steadfast, and God desires us to know that. Receive God’s love and forgiveness, and in joy share that with all you meet.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord’s Prayer)
We praise you, O God, for you are the one whose love is never failing. Your grace and blessings are poured out on all creation.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have blessed us with such an abundance of things, both spiritual and temporal, yet we focus so much on just the things we can touch and hold. We are more interested in the blessings we can count than in those spiritual gifts that are beyond measure. We never seem satisfied with what we have but always want more, even when we don’t need it. Cleanse us of our greed and vanity. Help us to remember that while we are deeply loved creatures, we are creatures and not the Creator. Fill us with the joy of being in your presence and in sharing your love with others.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you have shown us how much you love us. You have cared for us and blessed us, even when we have ignored you or resisted your grace. You have sent us those who were willing to forgo their own needs to take care of us.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need, and for all who desperately need to know they are loved and cared for. We pray for ourselves and all who are lured by temporal trinkets away from finding spiritual treasures.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father . . . Amen.
(or if the Lord’s Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Children’s Sermon Starter
Talk to the children about what is lasting and important. Would you rather have one apple or an apple tree that produces lots of apples? Would you like to have one bubble to play with or a long-lasting ball to bounce? We have those choices all the time. We can choose to insist on our own way and make people angry with us, or we can share and have friends that want to be with us. When God created us, God chose to love us always. We can learn to know God’s love and share it with others.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
What Lasts? What’s Important?
by Beth Herrinton-Hodge
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
You will need:
* a shoebox or other box with a lid (inside the lid of the box, attach a large construction-paper heart with “God’s Love” written on it)
* tangible items that do not last, such as: a piece of fruit; a picture of an ice cream cone; a leaf or flower; a candy bar or piece of candy; a cellphone or hand-held video game
(Hold the box in your lap.) I’ve got some things in this box that many of us enjoy. The things are gifts -- gifts from God. Who would like to take a chance, reach into this box, and pull out an item? (Select a child to take one item from the box. Open the lid slightly to let the child reach in, but don’t let others see what else is in the box. Then invite the child to hold up the item and identify what it is.)
What is good about this item? Why do we say this is a gift from God? (Allow the children to give a variety of answers. Affirm them for saying what is good about the gift.)
How long will this gift last? Will it last forever, or for only a short time? (Allow the children to answer.)
God gives us many good gifts, but they don’t always last forever. (Repeat the process, allowing several children to draw from the box and to identify the good gifts from God.)
(After you have shared and discussed several of the items in the box, continue by saying) We’ve seen several good gifts here. But one thing I noticed... none of these gifts will last forever. We enjoy them. We’re happy when God gives them to us. But are these the most important things to us? (Allow the children to answer.)
I’ve got one more gift left in my box. It’s a gift that God gives to us -- and God promises that it will last forever. (Hold up the lid of the box, showing the construction paper heart. Invite the children to read the words written on the heart -- if they are able to read. If not, read it aloud yourself.)
God’s Love is a very good gift! We read in the Bible that God promises to love us always and forever. God’s love for us never ends. For me, this is the most important gift in the whole box! I think it’s the most important gift in the whole world! God’s love lasts. It doesn’t die; it doesn’t spoil or get moldy; it doesn’t break; it doesn’t melt or get eaten.
The other gifts -- they’re good. But they don’t last forever. God’s love is the greatest. It never ends.
Pray with the children: We thank you, O God, for your gifts -- for all the good things that you give to us, and to the people in your world. Most importantly, we thank you for loving us. We know that your love never ends. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, July 31, 2016, issue.
Copyright 2016 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
Team member Mary Austin shares some additional thoughts on the parable Jesus tells in our gospel text. It’s not wealth per se that Jesus is chastising -- it’s the hoarding of possessions that requires the man to build more barns. And that, Mary notes, certainly resonates with our materialistic society. Perhaps we ought to “tidy up” our lives, divesting ourselves of possessions that we don’t really need and that often cloak a spiritual illness at our core. Doing so, Mary suggests, might help us to follow Paul’s advice on turning away from the things and behaviors of the world that keep us from new life in Christ... and keep our barns full of ourselves rather than God.
Living in a Selfie Culture
by Dean Feldmeyer
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26
Back in 1968, when Andy Warhol wrote that “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” we thought he was just another wacky celebrity spouting nonsense and trying to make it seem profound. Now we know that his was a prophetic voice.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, cellphone cameras, selfies, “reality” TV, and a host of other post-modern phenomena and thingamajigs have made 15 minutes of fame common, and have turned vanity from a vice into a virtue.
With 77.9 million Instagram followers and 46.9 million Twitter followers, Kim Kardashian -- who claims to have started the “selfie” trend -- is certainly the poster child for our current vanity culture. Last May she released a book containing 352 pages of pictures that she has taken of herself. The title is Selfish.
Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.
How do we, as people of faith, relate to and live in such a culture? Do we throw up our hands in despair as the Teacher seems to do in Ecclesiastes, or are there other, more constructive alternatives?
In the Culture
The term “selfie” was apparently born in Australia on September 13, 2002, in a chatroom post by a drunken Australian: “Um, drunk at a mate’s 21st, I tripped ofer [sic] and landed lip first (with front teeth coming a very close second) on a set of steps. I had a hole about 1cm long right through my bottom lip. And sorry about the focus, it was a selfie.”
It took only 11 short years for “selfie” to grow to full adulthood and be crowned the Oxford Dictionary word of the year in 2013.
Still, it languished in relative obscurity for another year, the name of a quirky little pastime practiced by computer geeks and self-important celebrities.
Then in 2014, everything changed when comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres turned the selfie into a worldwide craze. You will recall, no doubt, that was the year she took the now-famous “Oscar Selfie” with a dozen superstars at the 2014 Academy Awards presentation show.
Madeline Buxton, writing for the Refinery29 web magazine, says that it was that selfie that “broke the internet,” “launched thousands of copycat selfies and memes,” and “remains one of the most retweeted tweets of all time.”
The selfie, “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website,” has become ubiquitous. We are now looking at pictures of even the most intimate moments in people’s lives, not because we want to but because they are being thrust under our noses on Facebook, et al.
There is a National Selfie Day, which is celebrated every year on June 21. Why on June 21? Because that’s the day in 2015 when there were more mentions of selfies on the internet than any other day that year.
If you want to take good selfies, there are YouTube videos that will show you how and articles in Allure and on CNN that will help you “go from Instagram to insta-glam.” They also help you avoid “photo-bombers,” those annoying people who love to sneak into the background and make a face just as you are pushing the button.
Enter the phrase “selfie fails” into an internet search engine, and you will be led to a virtual avalanche of selfies celebrities have taken of themselves that should not have been made public... but were anyway.
Here’s Tom Hanks looking like he just got out of bed on a movie set.
And here’s Nicolas Cage and another passenger on an airplane -- her looking giddy, him looking airsick.
Here’s Justin Bieber in close-up, allegedly sitting on the commode.
And here’s one of my favorites, Eminem looking angry and morose as he does in every picture that has ever been taken of him. Why bother, Em?
Oh yes, and actor Chris Pratt in his underpants showing off his abs. There’s Conan O’Brian and Ricky Gervais in a bubble bath together looking surprised and horrified -- okay, that one was done for laughs.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan did not shoot for laughs and got into something of a dust-up a couple of weeks ago when he posted a selfie of himself standing in front a large group of young Republican congressional interns -- all of whom, Democrats were quick to point out, were Caucasian. Republicans argued back that there was in fact one person of color right in the center of the picture, launching a nationwide “Where’s Waldo” kind of search of the photo.
On the serious side, the quick and easy nature of selfies has given birth to “sexting” -- where people take sexually explicit photographs of themselves to send to someone who can, if they choose, post them on the internet or share them with friends. In a survey sponsored by The National Campaign and Cosmo Girl magazine, it was discovered that 20 percent of teens overall have electronically sent or posted online nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves. That breaks down to 22 percent of teen girls, and 18 percent of teen boys. As they become young adults, the numbers go even higher -- 33 percent of young adults overall (36 percent of young adult women and 31 percent of young adult men) have sent electronically or posted nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves.
What kids don’t seem to understand is the lifelong consequences pictures like these could bring down upon them.
Whether we like it or not, the “selfie” has become part of our culture. Most of the time, when used appropriately, it is just a bit of harmless fun -- but it can also reflect a kind of narcissism, an obsession with self, that is unhealthy and maybe even dangerous.
In the Scriptures
The lectionary brings us to this text for only a brief stay in Ecclesiastes. We drop in here, and next week we are back into the prophets with a selection from Isaiah. When we see the name Ecclesiastes, we usually jump to the conclusion that this will be the famous “To everything a season...” passage. But this year, this is the sole passage that we shall hear from “The Teacher.”
So let’s step out of our comfort zone and see what he has to say.
“Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Thus begins the book of Ecclesiastes, the most melancholy tome of not just the Hebrew Scriptures but the entire Bible.
The Hebrew word hebel, which the NRSV translates as “vanity,” can also mean “meaningless” or “absurd.” And the unknown teacher who is called Qoheleth wastes no time in getting to his dark and heavy point that every striving and accomplishment of human beings is, ultimately, meaningless.
And now he will test this dubious “hypothesis” by taking his readers with him on a quest for meaning. He will study and observe, watch and learn, to see if anything, any pursuit, any accomplishment, any achievement, any endeavor that a human being can undertake can have any eternal meaning.
Our journey will take us through pleasure and wisdom and knowledge and creativity and love and virtually every human experience -- and we will find, he warns, that they are all temporary and devoid of anything like real meaning.
In the Sermon
The selfie may be our modern version of the book of Ecclesiastes.
What else could show us so clearly the absurdity, the worthlessness, the meaninglessness of fame and fortune? Kim Kardashian is famous for being famous.
Richard Hatch, the first winner of Survivor, went to prison for attempting to evade income taxes -- and then went back for violating his parole. Since then he has tried to scratch out a living as a “reality” TV show contestant on shows like The Celebrity Apprentice, Survivor All-Stars, and The Biggest Loser. Is there a more striking example of the absurdity of fame?
Dancing with the Stars fills its celebrity lineup with stars, many of whom have become so obscure that we put air quotes around the word “stars” whenever we say it.
Sic transit gloria mundi. (Thus passes the glory of the world.)
Other types of achievement are often equally transient, are they not?
Skyscrapers and monuments are little more than sand castles when they are set amidst the tidal ebb and flow of time. Even the greatest builders of our age can witness this truth when they behold the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still exists today.
And those great creations that are not taken from us by time are as often taken by human hate and destructiveness. Cathedrals and statuaries in England were gutted and destroyed by the Puritans. The Khmer Rouge destroyed centuries-old statues and temples in Cambodia. And ISIS is, even now, pulling down and pummeling into gravel some of the oldest and most beautiful sculptures of the ancient world.
How can we not look upon the destruction wrought by the hands of time and people and not hear echoed the words of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ozymandias,” wherein a traveler comes upon the ruined remains of a statue in the desert?
“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert...
And on the pedestal these words appear:
‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
So, how shall we approach this dark and depressing observation that the Teacher so glibly offers up? How are we to find in it a word of hope, a promise of something more than “vanity”?
Let me suggest that we go three verses further than the lectionary recommends. Instead of stopping at 2:23, let us finish chapter 2 and end with vv. 24-26:
There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God; for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Here the Teacher suggests and we affirm that meaning does not emanate from the works of our hands or even our minds. Achievements, possessions, joys, pleasures do not have intrinsic meaning beyond their own existence until we place it upon them -- and the meaning which we place upon them is given to us as a gift from God.
Meaning comes from God, and it is God’s good pleasure to provide it for us if we will but back away and allow God the space and time to do so. Wisdom, knowledge, joy, pleasure -- these are gifts from God given freely to those whom it pleases God to give them.
Our mission in this life, the Teacher teaches, is to please God.
It is our goal, our purpose.
And then, sometimes, the things we do, the things we build, the things we create and love and enjoy will begin to have meaning -- more than we could create ourselves, and more than we would have ever thought possible.
SECOND THOUGHTS
by Mary Austin
Luke 12:13-21; Colossians 3:1-11
There is some sentiment at my house that we have enough dishes.
It has even been announced by the resident teenager that we have more dishes than the family of six down the street. But the Fiestaware people add new colors every year, so who’s to say what’s really enough?
Well, maybe Jesus...
In response to a younger brother’s question about when he can have his inheritance, Jesus declines to say who should get what, and then tells a parable about a man who has too much... way too much. So much too much that he needs more storage.
The rich man could use some advice from Marie Kondo, the current organizing guru who is helping the world throw things away, one item at a time. Kondo believes that “tidying up,” as she calls her ambitious uncluttering program, is life-changing. Kondo’s method begins with what she calls a “once-in-a-lifetime tidying marathon,” which (as described by the New York Times) means “piling five categories of material possessions -- clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items, including photos, in that order -- one at a time, surveying how much of each you have, seeing that it’s way too much, and then holding each item to see if it sparks joy in your body. The ones that spark joy get to stay. The ones that don’t get a heartfelt and generous goodbye, via actual verbal communication, and are then sent on their way to their next life.” Kondo believes that every possession you own should bring you a feeling of joy when you use, wear, or hold it.
People attending a recent seminar found that the advice was true for more than sweaters, decorative pillows, and tools. As one woman said, “I found the opposite of happiness is not sadness... it’s chaos.” Another woman said she applied Kondo’s method to a bad boyfriend: “Having tidied everything in her home and finding she still distinctly lacked happiness, she held her boyfriend in her hands, realized he no longer sparked joy, and got rid of him.” Kondo believes that stuff is a function of the soul. Too much stuff, and not enough joy, reflects a problem of the spirit.
Jesus diagnoses the rich man who has many barns, and much to store, as having a spiritual problem. “Be on guard against all kinds of greed,” Jesus says, reminding the younger brother and everyone listening that life is about much more than possessions. The rich man in the parable comes to the place where he has more than he needs, and he has a decision to make. We don’t see him tithing out of his abundance, or sharing with his neighbors, or even increasing the wages of his workers. His piles of stuff isolate him. He’s separated from God, showing no evidence of gratitude. He’s separated from his neighbors, some of whom are surely hungry. The only thing he can think to do is store more stuff, and become even more isolated.
Like the rich man, some of us unthinkingly pile up more than we need, but others of us are choosing to live with less, or do so out of necessity. It turns out that our young friends don’t aspire to own things in the same way previous generations have. Writer Josh Allan Dykstra observes: “Humanity is experiencing an evolution in consciousness. We are starting to think differently about what it means to ‘own’ something. This is why a similar ambivalence towards ownership is emerging in all sorts of areas, from car-buying to music listening to entertainment consumption. Though technology facilitates this evolution and new generations champion it, the big push behind it all is that our thinking is changing.” Dykstra notes that among middle-class Americans, it’s no longer rare to not own a home or a car. Ownership is not a scarce commodity. Now we long for things that are scarce -- connection and meaning.
Getting rid of old electronics, ripped sweaters, too-small coats, and outdated books will make us feel lighter, but throwing things out doesn’t address the reason we over-acquire in the first place. Like the rich man building more barns, our stuff is only a symptom of our spiritual illness. This is where Marie Kondo understands our plight better than the organizers who recommend more bins, baskets, and shelves to create order. In her method, with each item we have to stop and acknowledge that it brings us joy, or think about what we’ve learned from it. We come face to face with our own need for distraction, or the fantasy life that we don’t really live, or the illusions we store along with the item. We grow lighter by looking at the greedy impulses that have overstuffed our drawers and shelves. In doing that, we come closer to getting rid of the things that really weigh us down.
If we want to shed things, the letter to the Colossians has a suggestion for us. “But now you must get rid of all such things -- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth,” the writer advises. Those things can be thrown away daily -- there’s no need to find a place for them in our lives. Then we can clothe ourselves with “the new self.” Then we can reach more deeply for God, and connect more lovingly with our neighbors. Then, as The Message translates the Luke passage, we will have our barns full of God, and not full of self.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Ron Love:
Hosea 11:1-11
The Japanese kamikaze pilots of World War II are often admired for their self-sacrificing dedication. They were willing to kill themselves by flying their aircraft into enemy ships in order to win the war. Though their motive was misguided, many still have admired their sense of duty. Duty? Patriotism? Very few of the pilots were volunteers, as most were drafted. Once inside the cockpit of their plane the hatch was welded shut, making it impossible to escape. The plane was given only enough fuel to make it to the target, but not enough fuel to return home. The pilots had only one choice -- to crash into a ship or crash into the ocean.
Application: When judging the followers of Baal, how much choice did the subjects of the kingdom have? Our focus must always be on the authority of the cruel, misguided rulers.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
Betsy Bloomingdale was one of the most recognized and sought-after socialites from the 1960s through the 1980s -- anyone who was anybody sought her acquaintance. She was known to be Nancy Reagan’s most personal friend. Bloomingdale, one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, spent lavishly on parties and on herself. She would make two trips to Paris each year to buy the most expensive clothes being promoted. It was nothing for her to spend $200,000 on a single dress. Then in 1996, at a fashion show in Paris, she had an epiphany. She walked away from the runway without making a single purchase. Betsy then went across the street and purchased a ready-to-wear outfit. And ever since then, she only bought clothes that were off-the-rack. She realized that for the price of one Paris fashion, she could purchase a dozen regular outfits.
Application: Paul instructs us to look for the things of heaven, not of earth.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
There are reports that when the Islamic State tortures prisoners with electric shocks, they often place a metal hood over the prisoners’ heads. This greatly amplifies their screams, allowing them to be heard throughout the prison. The unbearable shrieks thus cause fear and trembling among those who would next occupy the seat of torture, assuring they will more quickly confess to the false crimes charged against them. The unyielding screams also create an atmosphere of fear throughout the prison, making it easier to have the captives submit to every demand made of them.
Application: Paul knew he was speaking to authorities who ruled over others by using the power of fear.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
Pokémon Go has become an instant success story, as people chase mythological virtual-reality figures. We now have promoted a society where people walk around as zombies, looking down only at their cellphones. In San Francisco, a Facebook challenge was put forth for Pokémon players to show up at Dolores Park and begin a Pokémon Go quest. To the amazement of even the biggest skeptic, 9,000 people showed up -- leaving room only for shoulder-to-shoulder walking as they began their search.
Application: If only Pokémon Go could get 9,000 people to search the heavens.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
Television programs are not filmed in the order the scenes appear on screen, but are instead filmed in the most efficient way of using cast members and sets. Therefore, before the filming of each scene the actors are informed on how the scene contributes to the overall program. In the filming of the series House of Cards, prior to filming all of the actors sit around a table and actually walk and talk through the entire episode in the sequence that it will appear in the final production. The purpose for this is so each actor can have a feel for how he or she is contributing to the entire storyline. So even if an actor has only a brief one-minute appearance on an hour-long episode, he or she realizes how important that one little moment is to the entire story.
Application: Paul would like each of us to know how important we are to the entire Christian story.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
When I was a Virginia state trooper, cars would often go through my radar gun at a speed in excess of 90 mph. At that speed the car was only a blur -- I could not even see the driver, and it was literally impossible to see the license plate. Yet I would always hear the same objections -- you pulled me over because I am a minority, or you pulled me over because I am an out-of-state driver. Neither could be true, because I was fortunate just to determine the make and model of the automobile. (Note: You can personalize this story by introducing it by saying “A friend told me...”)
Application: Paul instructs us that the passion of earthly things -- in this case speeding drivers -- keeps us from realizing the truth of heavenly things.
*****
Colossians 3:1-11
During my time as a state trooper, there were some roads that I and the other troopers in my barracks could not enforce the speed limit on. The traffic judge believed that the state had marked the speed limit for the road as too low; therefore he allowed cars to exceed the posted speed. In his courtroom the judge did in fact have the power of a “god,” and we had no choice but to obey his dictate. (Note: You can personalize this story by introducing it by saying “A friend told me...”)
Application: Paul instructs us to always to obey our higher heavenly power.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Senator Bill Armstrong of Colorado was known as a both a scholar and humanitarian. But what really made him stand out to his constituents was his strong Christian devotional life. Armstrong was the first president of Campus Crusade for Christ. Active during the Reagan administration, he was responsible for an endless list of legislative proposals to help the needy. Realizing that the work of a Christian is never completed, at the time of his death Armstrong’s to-do list contained 146 items.
Application: Jesus tells us that we have no time to build barns just to have fun and be merry.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Garry Marshall was a well-respected movie and television producer. Though he is also known for such films as Pretty Woman and Beaches, his real enjoyment was television. Marshall was the creative force who brought us such popular series as Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, and Laverne & Shirley. But Marshall was able to put his work into perspective, for he lived by this simple mantra: “Life is more important than show business.”
Application: Jesus understood what was important in life.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Wendell Anderson considered that he controlled his own destiny. Anderson only knew success, perhaps best exemplified by his Olympic silver medal in hockey. As governor of Minnesota, when Walter Mondale left the Senate to run for president, Anderson appointed himself as Mondale’s replacement -- believing that this would assure his political future, since (unlike Minnesota’s governor), there were no term limits for a U.S senator. The voters turned against him for this ploy, however, and Anderson was not reelected to the Senate, nor was he ever again elected again for any political office.
Application: Jesus instructs us not to misuse our wealth and power.
***************
From team member Chris Keating:
Hosea 11:1-11
A Parent’s Grief
As Hosea learns, being a parent can be an experience of torturous grief. Likewise, Yahweh grieves the painful estrangement of the northern kingdom. Parents who have suffered such anguish can easily identify with that experience -- well described in a recent story about a mother reunited with her long-missing son.
Twenty-one years ago, Maria Mancia’s infant son disappeared. Mancia returned home from work to find her apartment ransacked, and her son Steven and boyfriend Valentin Hernandez missing. It soon became clear that the boy’s father had abducted their son, leaving her with only a grainy photograph. Even though the case grew cold, investigators kept following leads. Not long ago they received a tip that Steven was living in Mexico and attending law school. The mother and son were reunited in June.
Steven had been told his mother had abandoned him. “It was a shock,” Hernandez told the San Bernardino Sun. “I didn’t know if she was alive or not, and to get a call that says they found my mother and that she had been looking for me, it was like a cold bucket of water. But it’s good. It’s good.”
*****
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
What Brings Satisfaction?
According to the preacher of Ecclesiastes, fame and fortune are fleeting -- evaporating like morning dew or steam on a bathroom mirror. Even leaving a legacy for descendants is risky, the preacher notes, for “who knows whether they will be wise or foolish?” What brings lasting satisfaction?
For musicians like Mick Jagger, maybe a sensational song provides some sense of fulfillment -- a song, perhaps, like that aptly titled hit “Satisfaction.”
Yet Jagger’s recollections are somewhat similar to Ecclesiastes. Jagger noted that the song and the band’s success were hardly inevitable. In the early days of the Rolling Stones, Jagger and Keith Richards were under stress to produce material while endlessly touring. It was a push to both perform and create, jotting notes and recalling riffs any chance they could. Rich Cohen’s book The Sun & the Moon & the Rolling Stones captures Jagger’s musings about the importance of “Satisfaction”:
You can get very blasé about a song like “Satisfaction.” It’s been around forever, was written and recorded so long ago, has been played on so many radios so many millions of times, it vanishes. You don’t think about it, maybe get tired of talking about it. But it was not inevitable. It did not have to happen. If it had not been written and recorded when it was, who knows? It prevented us from being just another good band with a nice run. That big early hit is essential. You might have a lot of success without it, sell a lot of records, but you won’t get over. “Satisfaction” did that for us. You absolutely need that one song.
*****
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Discovering Ultimate Importance
Millennials coming of age in post-recession America could resonate with Ecclesiastes’ dim view of possessions and material goods. Marketing experts note that the shopping habits of younger generations have changed since the last recession, many of whom have adopted a more minimalist view of life. One blogger notes:
The minimalist trend isn’t rising, it’s here, it’s everywhere around us. We’re living in a society that ultimately wants less. We’re condensing our wants to meet our needs -- and in a world in which we are absolutely inundated and bombarded with information, we value simple and effective over flash and glamour.... I was in the store the other day buying some shampoo and something obvious was staring back at me -- gone are the days of the bright pink bottles with crazy typography that scream “look at me.” Now we’re seeing rows upon rows of simple, clean, white bottles with easy-to-read fonts and clear “messages” about what that product will do for me. Calls to action are clearer, messages are much less fuzzy, and everyone, even Vidal Sassoon, is buying into the minimalist approach.
Overconsumption may still rule, but it is clear that a trend toward minimalism -- of knowing that all is vanity -- may well be growing.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
The Gospel of Money
What Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump lacks in understanding scripture -- he famously noted that “an eye for an eye” is one of his favorite Bible passages -- he makes up in his application of the gospel of prosperity.
He remains an enigmatic and divisive candidate for many, but U.S. News contributor Kenneth T. Walsh says the essence of understanding Trump can be boiled down to a single sentence: “He worships money.” It’s the core of his business principles, and the essence of his political philosophy. “You have to be wealthy in order to be great,” Trump told a rally in North Dakota. Walsh writes that Trump applies this philosophy to individuals and nations alike:
To Trump, life’s winners are those who collect the most money. His critics say this philosophy is little more than a celebration of greed. But Trump persists, sometimes in very personal terms. He has repeatedly belittled 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, actually a millionaire, for not being rich enough. “Poor Mitt,” Trump said... “I mean I have a store that’s worth more money than he is.” Apparently believing that lack of super-wealth entitles him to belittle people, Trump went on to mock Romney for being “stupid,” for having “choked like a dog” in the 2012 campaign, and for walking “like a penguin.”
But Trump may be ignoring a few “great” people whose wealth toward God might have been larger than their bank balances. Here are some: Jesus; several of the apostles; a few saints like Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), St. Francis of Assisi (born wealthy but adopted a lifestyle of simplicity), Dorothy Day, and Mother Teresa; presidents such as Woodrow Wilson, Abraham Lincoln, and Harry Truman. That’s not to mention Martin Luther King Jr. or artists such as Rembrandt, who died flat broke in 1668.
*****
Luke 12:13-21
Gaining Riches Toward God
In 1959, a white man from Texas decided he wanted to experience life as a black man living in a segregated society. So John Howard Griffin darkened his skin and then traveled throughout the Deep South. Griffin’s experiences eventually became the source material for his book Black Like Me. Throughout his travels, he walked miles to find a restroom and was routinely ignored by white people he approached. In many ways, it was an experience of trading the wealth of his privilege as a white man and becoming invisible to the majority class. It taught him the meaning of empathy -- perhaps the greatest sign of being “rich toward God.” Griffin wrote: “If only we could put ourselves in the shoes of others to see how we would react, then we might become aware of the injustices of discrimination and the tragic inhumanity of every kind of prejudice.”
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: O give thanks to God, who is good.
People: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Let the redeemed of God speak of God’s goodness.
People: Let them thank God for steadfast love.
Leader: For God satisfies the thirsty.
People: God fills the hungry with good things.
OR
Leader: God calls us from the glitter of the world to the wealth of the Spirit.
People: We hear God’s call, but there is so much that distracts us.
Leader: God is patient and steadfast, calling us time and time again.
People: We know God has wondrous things for us, and we come to receive from God’s bounty.
Leader: God’s love reaches out to all creation.
People: Rejoicing in God’s love, we will share it with all.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
“Now Thank We All Our God”
found in:
UMH: 102
H82: 396, 397
PH: 555
NNBH: 330
NCH: 419
CH: 715
LBW: 533, 534
ELA: 839, 840
W&P: 14
AMEC: 573
STLT: 32
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
found in:
UMH: 139
H82: 390
AAHH: 117
NNBH: 2
NCH: 22
CH: 25
ELA: 858, 859
AMEC: 3
STLT: 278
Renew: 57
“Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness”
found in:
UMH: 612
H82: 339
PH: 506
NCH: 334
LBW: 224
AMEC: 262
“Cuando El Pobre” (“When the Poor Ones”)
UMH: 434
PH: 407
CH: 662
ELA: 725
W&P: 624
“What Does the Lord Require”
found in:
UMH: 441
H82: 605
PH: 405
CH: 659
W&P: 686
“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee”
found in:
UMH: 430
H82: 659, 660
PH: 357
NNBH: 445
NCH: 503
CH: 602
LBW: 492
ELA: 818
W&P: 589
AMEC: 299
“Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service”
found in:
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELA: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286
“Here I Am, Lord”
found in:
UMH: 593
PH: 525
AAHH: 567
CH: 452
ELA: 574
W&P: 559
Renew: 149
“The Steadfast Love of the Lord”
found in:
CCB: 28
Renew: 23
“Live in Charity”
found in:
CCB: 71
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELA: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who is steadfast in love: Grant us the grace to trust in your tender care, that we might leave behind that which is passing and cling to the eternal joys you offer us; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, for your steadfast love. Send your Spirit upon us, that we might trust your tender care for our lives. Help us to let go of that which is passing and to hold firmly to your eternal gifts. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our failure to discern between what is worth our pursuing.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have blessed us with such an abundance of things, both spiritual and temporal, yet we focus so much on just the things we can touch and hold. We are more interested in the blessings we can count than in those spiritual gifts that are beyond measure. We never seem satisfied with what we have but always want more, even when we don’t need it. Cleanse us of our greed and vanity. Help us to remember that while we are deeply loved creatures, we are creatures and not the Creator. Fill us with the joy of being in your presence and in sharing your love with others. Amen.
Leader: God’s love is indeed steadfast, and God desires us to know that. Receive God’s love and forgiveness, and in joy share that with all you meet.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord’s Prayer)
We praise you, O God, for you are the one whose love is never failing. Your grace and blessings are poured out on all creation.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have blessed us with such an abundance of things, both spiritual and temporal, yet we focus so much on just the things we can touch and hold. We are more interested in the blessings we can count than in those spiritual gifts that are beyond measure. We never seem satisfied with what we have but always want more, even when we don’t need it. Cleanse us of our greed and vanity. Help us to remember that while we are deeply loved creatures, we are creatures and not the Creator. Fill us with the joy of being in your presence and in sharing your love with others.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which you have shown us how much you love us. You have cared for us and blessed us, even when we have ignored you or resisted your grace. You have sent us those who were willing to forgo their own needs to take care of us.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need, and for all who desperately need to know they are loved and cared for. We pray for ourselves and all who are lured by temporal trinkets away from finding spiritual treasures.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father . . . Amen.
(or if the Lord’s Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Children’s Sermon Starter
Talk to the children about what is lasting and important. Would you rather have one apple or an apple tree that produces lots of apples? Would you like to have one bubble to play with or a long-lasting ball to bounce? We have those choices all the time. We can choose to insist on our own way and make people angry with us, or we can share and have friends that want to be with us. When God created us, God chose to love us always. We can learn to know God’s love and share it with others.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
What Lasts? What’s Important?
by Beth Herrinton-Hodge
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
You will need:
* a shoebox or other box with a lid (inside the lid of the box, attach a large construction-paper heart with “God’s Love” written on it)
* tangible items that do not last, such as: a piece of fruit; a picture of an ice cream cone; a leaf or flower; a candy bar or piece of candy; a cellphone or hand-held video game
(Hold the box in your lap.) I’ve got some things in this box that many of us enjoy. The things are gifts -- gifts from God. Who would like to take a chance, reach into this box, and pull out an item? (Select a child to take one item from the box. Open the lid slightly to let the child reach in, but don’t let others see what else is in the box. Then invite the child to hold up the item and identify what it is.)
What is good about this item? Why do we say this is a gift from God? (Allow the children to give a variety of answers. Affirm them for saying what is good about the gift.)
How long will this gift last? Will it last forever, or for only a short time? (Allow the children to answer.)
God gives us many good gifts, but they don’t always last forever. (Repeat the process, allowing several children to draw from the box and to identify the good gifts from God.)
(After you have shared and discussed several of the items in the box, continue by saying) We’ve seen several good gifts here. But one thing I noticed... none of these gifts will last forever. We enjoy them. We’re happy when God gives them to us. But are these the most important things to us? (Allow the children to answer.)
I’ve got one more gift left in my box. It’s a gift that God gives to us -- and God promises that it will last forever. (Hold up the lid of the box, showing the construction paper heart. Invite the children to read the words written on the heart -- if they are able to read. If not, read it aloud yourself.)
God’s Love is a very good gift! We read in the Bible that God promises to love us always and forever. God’s love for us never ends. For me, this is the most important gift in the whole box! I think it’s the most important gift in the whole world! God’s love lasts. It doesn’t die; it doesn’t spoil or get moldy; it doesn’t break; it doesn’t melt or get eaten.
The other gifts -- they’re good. But they don’t last forever. God’s love is the greatest. It never ends.
Pray with the children: We thank you, O God, for your gifts -- for all the good things that you give to us, and to the people in your world. Most importantly, we thank you for loving us. We know that your love never ends. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, July 31, 2016, issue.
Copyright 2016 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
