Kentucky Derby Day

Today is the "high holy day" for all Kentuckians. It is the Kentucky Derby. Even when I have traveled in the Middle East and the locals discover I live in Kentucky, they respond, "Oh, Kentucky Derby, very good...Government is very bad, but Kentucky Derby very good." Of course, that is pretty much the general response of most folks in the Middle East. "Oh, America have Ronald McDonald...McDonald's Sundae very good...Government is very bad, McDonalds very good."
Anyway, so a former active member asked me a few weeks ago if I had a prayer for horse races. I honestly thought he was kidding. After all, he attends a Baptist Church in Lexington. Why would he a) read an already written prayer and b) surely he's not gambling. I politely chuckled and said, "Well no, no horse racing prayers." Several days later he attended a funeral I was officiating and asked me again if I knew of any prayers for horse racing. I remarked that maybe I could talk to one of my Roman Catholic or Episcopalian colleagues about it, they might have a prayer for horse racing. The next day an email arrived, "Do you have a prayer yet?" So, in honor of this Kentucky Tradition, here is a prayer for all of you who might be attending The Kentucky Derby.

Father of all creation, you have made all that is.
The majesty of your creation with stars dotting the sky,
the sun and the moon,
the grandeur of mountains and the vastness of seas
attest to your might.
Your Church teaches that in all of creation,
humans are made in your image.
We are humbled,
yet marvel at the beauty of another creature
that bears the grace of your hand.
Merciful God, may you be ever be praised
for creating the Thoroughbred Racehorse.
Its power and agility are combined in a competitive dance
we call The Kentucky Derby.
Father, I pray, first, for the safety of all horses and riders.
I ask that the spirit of competition linger in the air,
reminding us of its power to inspire to greatness.
And finally Father, in faithfulness to utilize my winnings
for the glory of your Kingdom, to alleviate the sufferings of the poor
and to contribute to the support of your holy Church,
I humbly implore you to remove all impediments
that might prevent (horse's name) to win, place or show.
If I have offended your holiness with such a request,
forgive me and account my zeal to a desire to enjoy the festive
gathering that has made this great Commonwealth
the focus of the world. Know, most merciful God,
that I will always bend my knee as my lips and my heart forever confess
that Jesus is Lord, for it is in his name I pray. Amen.

Well, with that, I kinda feel like General Patton's Chaplain. Good luck everyone because I know Church attendance will be low tomorrow. My folks will say, "Well Rev. Ike, Churchhill Downs does have the word 'Church' in it."

Reading the Bible in Lent

It was the late 400’s. The Church had been free of persecution for about 150 years. Although the books of the Bible had been a part of various congregations for four centuries, the official books making up the Canon of Scripture was now universally agreed upon by the vast majority of Christendom. As Christianity became all but universally accepted, its influence was unrivaled by any other faith tradition. Something strange begins to happen when those who had been persecuted now found that they held power. This power was not just the power of persuasion, but a power enforced by the Empire. As the old Roman Empire was transforming into the great Byzantine Empire, some in the Church were becoming aware of how easy it is to use Christ message of grace and righteousness as a springboard to law and enforced holiness. One such Christian leader was a man named Mark. Born in Athens in the late fifth century, he moved to the deserts of Egypt, where he memorized the entire Bible and worked to spread the Gospel among the poor. Mark is quoted as saying, “He who is humble in his thoughts and engaged in spiritual work, when he reads the Holy Scriptures, will apply everything to himself and not his neighbor.” Scripture should have a personal application. In our weekly Bible studies, one of the questions we ask is “What does the mean for the original readers?” That question should be followed with, “and what does it mean for me?” Where are you when you read of Adam’s fall, or the murder of Abel by Cain, or Peter, James and John witnessing the Transfiguration of Christ? I am often asked, “Where is God?” But just as in Genesis 3, it is typically God who is forced to ask, “Adam (a Hebrew word that simply means “man”), where are you."
Lent is a perfect time to develop a spiritual discipline. In addition to Sunday worship attendance and various Bible study opportunities offered at your Church, consider a discipline of daily Bible Reading. Remember that you are reading the one Bible in three perspectives. It is first, Church's sacred history. Second, each passage and story in Scripture is God's activity in human history in a specific moment in time. Finally, and for the early Church Fathers, perhaps the most important: Scripture is God's personal word to you as one of his disciples.

Faith and Finances or God and Mammon

Dr. Leon Kass, described in 2002 by U.S. News and World Report as the President’s Philosopher, has written several articles exploring the philosophy of the Old Testament, particularly the book of Genesis. He has recently issued a word to our recession-gripped culture. He writes that it is no accident that humanity’s ancient foe first appears in the Bible as a snake – an image that follows through the canon of Scripture to the Revelation. Kass writes: “For the serpent is a mobile digestive tract that swallows its prey whole; in this sense the serpent stands as pure appetite.”

Scripture warns humanity to beware of the appetite, where one can consume oneself to death. Even the image of the serpent has been stylized as a circle as it consumes itself, further emphasizing its sin of gluttony for power and mammon. The serpent reminds us that we humans are prone to greed and faith in wealth rather than reliance on God. It is ironic that even on our money we remind ourselves that it is “In God We Trust,” while at the same time winking to one another with a gleam in our eyes, believing that comforts and security are assured through our money, not our faith.

This time of recession and economic turmoil has hurt a certain population in our nation and around the world. Although the steel workers of America may not have lost much in their stock portfolio, they have lost their only means of survival, their jobs. As one homeless wanderer who frequents First Christian Church for a bit of food remarked to me, “I haven’t really noticed a difference. I’m still hungry during the day and cold at night.” The truth is that ultimately, the health of our economy will impact everyone. It is a clear sign of how the action of one really does affect the life of others. We will survive. Our nation will bounce back. Thousands may be irreparably damaged, but Americans are resilient.

Pain, tragedy and bad times can be servants of us all. It is in those moments we rediscover our core values of dignity, respect, hard work and family. It is in times of uncertainty when we realize that our control of the universe is an illusion and we are humbled to bend the knee before the King of kings. It is in these times that we have the chance to reflect on how we have been seduced by the serpent that consumes itself. Wall Street and Main Street call you and me “consumers.” Even the very word reminds me of our ancient foe. Thank God for Church Street that reminds us that we are really servants of the One who owns the Golden Streets. Our true security is not in power, might or mammon. Our true wealth is God’s love through Jesus Christ and it was you and me that God deemed so valuable that he gave his only Son.

History of Sunday School

Over the past century, Sunday School has remained a constant in the life of the Church. Initially, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believed that it was a parent’s privilege and responsibility to train children in the faith. Our initial distrust of Sunday School was rooted in its history.

Sunday School, as we know it today, began in England when many “high-church” Anglicans noted that children were running the streets on Sunday morning. As the Industrial Revolution had reached full swing in larger towns in England, families had given up farming for work in the new factories that doted the urban landscape. Just as children had worked the farms, they were required to work in factories that proved to be extremely dangerous. Factories shut down on Sunday morning so that workers could attend worship. The Church of England was embroiled in its own debate over clergy who favored a more formal and disciplined expression of the faith versus evangelical clergy who had claimed power and influence in the English Church. As these evangelical clergy, who ironically had gained their influence through their ministry to the poor, attained positions of power within the Church, the evangelical bishops began assigning these “high-church” clergy to poorer congregations as punishment.

In an effort to give the factory children an education, these “high-church” clergy started Sunday Schools, where in addition to Bible, children were taught reading and math. Meanwhile, the Methodist-Episcopal clergy of the United States quickly adopted Sunday School as a way to teach the faith while they were away circuit riding. The movement grew, adopting their own structure, banners and flags. The Christian Flag of today started out as the Methodist Sunday School Flag. These Sunday Schools were instrumental in teaching basic Christian doctrine throughout the frontier. Soon, the Sunday School movement had become a mainstay in all denominations.

Today, Sunday School is an opportunity for children and adults alike to spend devoted time in Bible Study and in learning the basic tenets of the Christian faith. They are small groups where individuals can develop friendships and are a perfect venue to engage one another in matters of everyday life. As one of your pastors, I encourage you and your whole family to attend Sunday School.