Christmas Night Remembered

CHRISTMAS NIGHT REMEMBERED

“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  (Luke 2:19)

Mother, why do you keep this straw and these old grave blankets?  Because they are very special to me, they remind me of when you were born twelve years ago son.  Would you tell me the story once more, I love to hear it and your eyes sparkle when you speak of that night.  Alright, my son, but then you must go to sleep for tomorrow we must go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice and worship with the others and it’s a long journey.

This straw came from a cattle shed outside of the village of Bethlehem where we stayed that night.  We had to go and register there because Joseph was a descendant of King David.  Judea was a hard trip for a woman with child.  When we arrived the entire town was filled with people so the only place we could sleep was in the stable with the animals.  I could tell how it hurt your father to have to put us in such a place.  While we were there that night you were born.  Joseph took a cattle trough and packed it with hay for you a bed.  That’s why I keep the straw, to remind me of that night.

But what about these old rags, Mother?  Those were your baby blanket, they were all we had to use.  But you looked so sweet in the blankets lying in the manger, and as you lay there all was quiet, even the animals were hushed.  The stars shined so bright, Jesus, its as if they shined for a King.  Then later that night, several men came to the stable and told of a vision they had where an angel appeared to them telling them to come find us.  At first your father was skeptical about their story but they were singing Shaloam and were more interested in you than Joseph or myself.  They were smelly and dirty, they seemed so happy though.  One of the older men said that their prayers had been answered, a Sotera (Savior) had come.  It all was very strange, very strange, my son.

Now, you must go to sleep, tomorrow is a very long day and we must leave early.  Goodnight, Jesus, my son.  Good night, Mother, I love you.  Mother... Yes, Could I talk to the priest and scribes at the Temple while we are there?  I have so many questions to ask.  Perhaps, but that is unusual for one so young, besides you’re a carpenter’s son, that’s your business, not the Law.

The lamp is out in the tiny room in the carpenter’s home in Nazareth.  But the light is growing in a dark world and Mary stares out the window at a distant star, pondering, wondering; Father, what do you have planned for my son?  He is such a good boy, he loves your teachings so much.

Mary places the straw back into the rags from Bethlehem, folds them up and puts them on the shelf.  She looks once more at her sleeping son, the peaceful face and touches the hand, then brushes away the locks of hair from his brow.  Sleep well, Emmanuel.

Larry D. Sparks

Pastor,

Blackburn Chapel Baptist Church

Preacher's Kids

Dear Cristy, Angel, D’Ann, April, Shelly,

What do Orville and Wilbur Wright have in common with Martin Luther King Jr. and with the writer of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe and you?  All of these share a common link.  You are all preacher’s kids or as you have been nick-named, “P.K.’s”!

There are other famous P.K.’s.  Sir Laurence Olivier and Agnes Moorhead both were famous in theater.  Albert Swietzer and Paul Tillick were great thinkers and were notable in religion and philosophy.  Walter Mondale became a famous politician and Waymon Tisdale became a professional basketball player.  All were preachers kids and grew up in the shadow of the church.

Most preacher’s kids grow up and lead a quiet unassuming life.  Many will look back on their years in church and thank God for the protection of the churches invisible walls.  A few resent the claustrophobic atmosphere of the church life.  It’s not easy being the pastor’s children.  The standards seem to be higher, the parents stricter, the limitations of social involvements greater, and the ever watching eyes of members more intense.   “I could never get away with anything.”, one P.K. admitted.  “But the church was always there as a second family to give me fellowship and support.”  “Our life and the church life were so intertwined that I scarcely knew when I was at home.”, another reported.  “We knew the church would block certain things like movies, dances, and parties with alcohol.”  Most say in reflection, these were good protections that may have skirted them away from future sufferings.

Now, older, wiser and with children of their own, many pastor’s children concede the good out weighed the bad.  I am a pastor and I look at my children today with great affection and pride.  I know they refer to me in the same way.  We still maintain family closeness and much of our conversations revolve around church life.  Evidence shows that many of our life-long friendships have been tied to the good people we met in church.

As it all sets in the scales divided between the pros and cons of P.K. - hood, the scales tip continually toward the good experiences of being in the pastor’s home.  It is the focus on God at home and church that must be sought out in any home but much more the pastor’s home.  There certainly are pressures from without but there are blessings within.  No, we aren’t stereo-typing P.K.’s.  You are individuals but you can’t escape your roots or your present affiliation.  Thank God for P.K.’s, they indeed are a special group of people.

October 9, 1997

The Other Side of the Coin

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

There is always controversy when moral and monetary issues surface.  Shawnee is no exception.  The Shawnee Area Ministers Association which is made up of a variety of denominations has met and discussed the issue of gaming in the city limits.  Reports were heard of the effects such places have had elsewhere and the impact potentially on the city of Shawnee.  Understanding the traditional arguments of economy, how other cities are benefitting, fear of religious control, verses, “it’s my own business what I do!” and it will probably happen anyway; still the coin should be viewed from both sides.  Hence, the unpopular, unpleasant and sometimes critical work of clergy to speak out on such concerns.

There is perhaps no greater desire than to hear cash registers ringing with more money for education, roads, prisons and public projects.  But will it happen?  Has it been proven elsewhere?  New Mexico reports that for every dollar earned on gaming, ten dollars is spent on police, poverty assistance, addiction recovery and other social concerns tied to gambling.  In fact, a local news station (channel 9) ran a probe of such things and found that 5% of the state of New Mexico was now addicted to some form of gambling.

Webster’s defines gambling or “gamble” as to take a risk, bet something of value on an outcome or event, a game of chance etc.  To take a risk to obtain a desired result; or any risky, uncertain venture.”  Notice how many times the word risk is used.  It’s not like a stock market investment at all.  But I realize most are offended by the moral and Biblical position as we ministers have become travel agents for guilt trips.  Yet, it is our duty to speak out on such issues, since churches are a part of Shawnee and our parishners are in the same community.  I’m fully aware that there are strong and differing opinions on such matters with emotions running high.  Pens stand ready to respond to the spiritual and civic consensus of our collective position.

We may never return to the old days of Downtown Shawnee but it can be beautiful, better and family friendly in the future.  Do we want to risk all of that future?  Some cities have rebounded with great results that strike pride in the community.  What, then is Shawnee’s identity to the state, America, the world, as our sister city in Japan looks on?  Is it possible to gamble on residents of Shawnee for safety and future character for perhaps a short-lived financial gain?  We do have a voice - don’t we?

The Apostle James wrote, “anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins...”  (James 4:17).  Historically the clergy has been the unpopular voice of reason and call to return to God.  Please clergy, concerned citizens, politicians and city leaders, turn the coin over, hear the other side.  It spends just as well.  Our young people wear a bracelet entitled, “WWJD”, which stands for “What Would Jesus Do?”, certainly worth thinking about in times like these.  Our collective voice is NO GAMING in the city limits of Shawnee.

Pastor Larry D. Sparks

New Beginning Church, Shawnee

5/11/04

A Dangerous Liquid

A DANGEROUS LIQUID

            One of America’s greatest preachers was licensed to preach the gospel on December 30, 1823 in New York.  Charles Finney had been a drunken lawyer before his conversion to Christ.  He said the Lord turned alcohol into food in the Finney house.  Then almost thirty years later Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife Lucy were married on December 30, 1852.  He became President of the United States and took his conservative views on alcohol to the White House.  As devout Methodist they began every morning with prayer and organized Sunday Evening Worship services at the Capitol.  Lucy was the first First Lady, with a college degree.  She had a gift of hospitality and an open commitment to Jesus Christ.  One thing she didn’t bring was alcohol.  In fact, she banned alcohol from all Executive Mansion events.  Washington was shocked and nicknamed her “Lemonade Lucy”.

            We preach against drugs, smoking and gambling today.  Actually, we don’t much, the government does it for us but we don’t say much about alcohol consumption anymore.  I remember Oklahoma as a dry state and how my father visited the bootleggers (a term that came from hiding illegal whiskey in ones boot entering an establishment), it was hidden and somewhat immoral.  So today we have legalized nearly every ancient vise and we are gagging on the fruit of the forbidden trees.  Our prisons, jails and court systems are full.  For years I did city and county jail ministry and became quite familiar with the initials DUI which led to an arrest and other initials like AA.

            Please understand, I am neither judging nor condemning, yet I do know God offers free and powerful help.  “Do not be drunk with wine which leads to debauchery (excessive drinking and departure from virtue) but be filled with the Spirit.”  Eph. 5:18.  You see, the next few days lead to the most dangerous time of the year, New Years Eve parties.  The Highway Patrol tell us most fatal accidents have involved alcohol.  A car becomes a deadly weapon putting the innocent at risk.  I work the local Emergency Room and have seen the results.  Don’t drink and drive.

            So, once again I’m meddling by stepping away from the Israelites and into contemporary society.  Please be wise, be safe, be sober and if you’re looking for a good time…Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and life more abundantly.”  John 10:10

Chaplain Larry Sparks

12/26/07

Don't Blame Me!

Don’t Blame Me!

We live in a society where no one is at fault any longer for their sins and failures.  So seldom does a person step forward and say “I’m to blame.”  We blame the parents, grandparents, the government, the teachers, the schools, al Queda, El Nino, the judicial system but no single individual is ever at fault.  Attorneys are adept at using this tactic to free the guilty in court rooms all over the country when someone is charged with a crime.
In San Francisco a few years ago a city manager shot two councilmen to death for a disagreement.  When brought to trial his defense said he had suffered a reaction to some Hostess Twinkies which made him nuts.  When Reginald Denny, the truck driver in Los Angeles, was beaten by the mob for just being in the wrong place, he nearly died.  His tormentors were given lesser sentences because it wasn’t their fault it was mob brutality!  No one is to blame for their own crimes.  It’s always somebody else’s fault.
In the Bible in Genesis when Adam and Even sinned after the devil in the form of a serpent beguiled them to disobey, God confronted them.  Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the snake but they all got punished.  I’m convinced God doesn’t always pay off on Friday nights but He always pays off.  The most difficult three words in vocabulary are, “I was wrong” or “It’s my fault.”  In court that is called a confession.  In the Bible it’s “homolegeo” or to say the same thing that God says.
How can we ever hope to solve problems or fix things if it’s always someone else’s fault.  It the coffees too cold we complain but if it burns our tongue, we sue the restaurant.  It’s MacDonald’s fault we have weight problems or the makers of Oreo cookies.  My own pilgrimage in life has taught me we have clay feet, we fail, make mistakes, errors and sin.  Yet pride makes it hard to admit because we just don’t accept criticism or confrontation very well.
This is not a sermon, I hope it does not come off that way, but instead an evaluation of human need to be honest with ourselves and others.  Fear causes us to be deceptive and hide things but perfect love cast out fear.  I have found that we are more likely to find grace, forgiveness and help when we are contrite in honest confession, then condemnation.  If this article offends or is misunderstood  . . .  it’s my fault.  I was wrong.  Can you imagine what work, politics, and relationships would be like if we were able to be honest about our failures.  Nobody is perfect, we all fail and there’s enough grace for everyone.  There’s enough blame to go around, be sure you don’t give yours to someone else.

Chaplain Larry Sparks
1/8/04