What Rocks Your World?
Posted by Ray Norris on 01 March, 2010
Category General
It seems as if the earthquake in Haiti was only yesterday. The images of the massive destruction are still fresh in our minds. The relief effort continues and certainly will for many months and perhaps years. The death toll in that poverty ridden nation continues to boggle our minds. It is beyond our ability to comprehend. We have United States military forces on the ground in Haiti and they are likely to be a presence there for a considerable amount of time. And now, early this past Saturday morning the nation of Chile has experienced an 8.8 magnitude quake. It was one of the largest earthquakes in history. It was so strong that it actually rocked the earth on it's axis and caused us to forever lose a fraction of a second. Jesus says in Matthew 24:7 "There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." To paraphrase, and loosely at that, your world will be rocked.
What is it that has rocked your world? Times are not easy for a great many people today. Jobless numbers nationwide continue to be very high. People are struggling to pay their bills, feed their families and just get by. Their world is being rocked on it's axis. Pastor John recently shared some statistics on poverty and hunger in Lincoln. The numbers were staggering. In Lincoln, 12.7 percent of residents live in poverty, according to the Community Services Initiative, which was developed by a collaboration of human services agencies.
That means 33,926 people live at or below the federal poverty line, which in 2007 was $10,210 for a one-person home, $20,650 for a household of four. Fifty-three percent of those rely on food stamps. And remember, Lincoln is far better off than many areas of the country. Yet, knowing that we have it better than other cities of comparable size is of little consolation to those who are among these nearly 13 out of every 100. Their world has been rocked and there seems no end to the after shocks. For the most part, these are honest, hard working adults who have simply been caught in an economic situation that is beyond their control. I personally know a number of folks who are working as many as three jobs just to keep their heads above water and food on their table. Their world has been rocked and it doesn't seem like there will every be anything close to normal again.
Then, as I was writing this blog I received a call from a good friend in another community. One of my friends children, who now lives out of state, was granted a divorce not so long ago. I don't know all of the details and If I did I wouldn't share them, but I know that a divorce can rock your world. This young woman had been a member of a protestant church who, as a result of the divorce, is removing her from the roles. That after shock, by itself is devastating. I am not going to give you a theological dissertation here, but suffice it to say that I don't understand when the Body of Christ removes a soul from membership because of a perceived sin. I subscribe to the old saying that "the church is not a sanctuary for saints, but a hospital for sinners." Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "....then neither do I condemn you." Jesus came to save us sinners from our sins. In other words, to save us from ourselves.
One of the ministries that I am involved with is "Good Grief." About every 8 to 10 weeks I organize a six week class for persons experiencing grief. As we share our experiences and our pain, I become very aware of the powerful way in which grief rocks your world. It can paralyze us. It can throw us into depression. It can bring about physical illness and generally shake us on our axis.
There are as many personal earthquakes as there are people on planet earth. Jobs, marriages, illness, addictions, grief are just a few of the quakes we can experience. I don't know what your personal earthquake is, but my hunch is that you have had your share of them. In Chile, we are told that the after shocks could go on for up to a year. Our personal earthquakes and after shocks can go on for much longer. So, what are we to do? It seems almost over simplified to say, "Trust in Jesus," but actually that's it. Scripture tells us that he "was a Man of sorrows well acquainted with grief." Jesus knew what it felt like to be hungry and thirsty. He felt the pain of being rejected and, yes, even being kicked out of a church. He understands what it is to be homeless, misunderstood and made fun of. He knows your pain because he has experienced it. So, to sing, "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand," is accurate. But remember, the church is the Body of Christ in the world today. The church is the heart of Christ beating in love, the hands of Christ reaching out to help you up. The church is not perfect and St. Mark's is not perfect, but as John Wesley said, "We are going on to perfection." If your world has been rocked then let the church reach out to you. We want to help you stop your world from shaking. The Bible says that Jesus came to serve and that is what the church is about too. Let us take your hand. Let us pray for you. Let us help you in those times of crisis. Your earthquakes can be strong, but let us walk with you through those times.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ray
What is it that has rocked your world? Times are not easy for a great many people today. Jobless numbers nationwide continue to be very high. People are struggling to pay their bills, feed their families and just get by. Their world is being rocked on it's axis. Pastor John recently shared some statistics on poverty and hunger in Lincoln. The numbers were staggering. In Lincoln, 12.7 percent of residents live in poverty, according to the Community Services Initiative, which was developed by a collaboration of human services agencies.
That means 33,926 people live at or below the federal poverty line, which in 2007 was $10,210 for a one-person home, $20,650 for a household of four. Fifty-three percent of those rely on food stamps. And remember, Lincoln is far better off than many areas of the country. Yet, knowing that we have it better than other cities of comparable size is of little consolation to those who are among these nearly 13 out of every 100. Their world has been rocked and there seems no end to the after shocks. For the most part, these are honest, hard working adults who have simply been caught in an economic situation that is beyond their control. I personally know a number of folks who are working as many as three jobs just to keep their heads above water and food on their table. Their world has been rocked and it doesn't seem like there will every be anything close to normal again.
Then, as I was writing this blog I received a call from a good friend in another community. One of my friends children, who now lives out of state, was granted a divorce not so long ago. I don't know all of the details and If I did I wouldn't share them, but I know that a divorce can rock your world. This young woman had been a member of a protestant church who, as a result of the divorce, is removing her from the roles. That after shock, by itself is devastating. I am not going to give you a theological dissertation here, but suffice it to say that I don't understand when the Body of Christ removes a soul from membership because of a perceived sin. I subscribe to the old saying that "the church is not a sanctuary for saints, but a hospital for sinners." Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "....then neither do I condemn you." Jesus came to save us sinners from our sins. In other words, to save us from ourselves.
One of the ministries that I am involved with is "Good Grief." About every 8 to 10 weeks I organize a six week class for persons experiencing grief. As we share our experiences and our pain, I become very aware of the powerful way in which grief rocks your world. It can paralyze us. It can throw us into depression. It can bring about physical illness and generally shake us on our axis.
There are as many personal earthquakes as there are people on planet earth. Jobs, marriages, illness, addictions, grief are just a few of the quakes we can experience. I don't know what your personal earthquake is, but my hunch is that you have had your share of them. In Chile, we are told that the after shocks could go on for up to a year. Our personal earthquakes and after shocks can go on for much longer. So, what are we to do? It seems almost over simplified to say, "Trust in Jesus," but actually that's it. Scripture tells us that he "was a Man of sorrows well acquainted with grief." Jesus knew what it felt like to be hungry and thirsty. He felt the pain of being rejected and, yes, even being kicked out of a church. He understands what it is to be homeless, misunderstood and made fun of. He knows your pain because he has experienced it. So, to sing, "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand," is accurate. But remember, the church is the Body of Christ in the world today. The church is the heart of Christ beating in love, the hands of Christ reaching out to help you up. The church is not perfect and St. Mark's is not perfect, but as John Wesley said, "We are going on to perfection." If your world has been rocked then let the church reach out to you. We want to help you stop your world from shaking. The Bible says that Jesus came to serve and that is what the church is about too. Let us take your hand. Let us pray for you. Let us help you in those times of crisis. Your earthquakes can be strong, but let us walk with you through those times.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ray