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Time Change

10 Mar
Time Change

3.10.23

It’s Friday morning, and I just glanced at my calendar. And to my horror, daylight savings time is marked for this Sunday, March 12, 2023. Oh no, the one day I dread all year long is fast approaching. It’s one of my least favorite days of the year, as it always messes with my sleep schedule for days, weeks, and maybe months until they change the time back in the fall. But just like time changes, there are many things in life that we can’t control, seasons, weather, inflation, the state of the world, and people’s behavior. All we can do is prepare ourselves and respond in the best possible way we know how.

The Lenten season is a reminder of this, as it challenges us to overcome the desires of the flesh (like more sleep) and prepare ourselves for Easter. It’s not meant to be a season of suffering or denying ourselves of something for no reason, but rather Lent is an opportunity to become new persons ready to rise with Christ.

St. Oscar Romero once said, “People do not mortify themselves during Lent out of a sick desire to suffer. God did not make us for suffering. If we fast or do penances or pray, it is for a very positive goal: by overcoming self, one achieves the Easter resurrection. We do not just celebrate a risen Christ, distinct from us, but during Lent, we prepare ourselves to rise with him to new life and to become the new persons is what the country needs right now. Let us not just shout slogans about new structures; new structures will be worthless without new persons to administer the new structures the country needs and live them out in their lives.”
St. Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, The Violence of Love (2004). Assassinated March 24, 1980, El Salvador

His words struck a chord with me. Lent was not meant to be a time of aimless suffering but intentional self-reflection and growth. It reminds us that we can always strive to become better versions of ourselves, even in the face of things we can’t control.

So, as I prepare for the time change, I am reminded that I may not have control over everything in life, but I do have control over how I respond. As I mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepare to adjust my clocks forward an hour, I keep in mind that change is hard many times. We don’t quickly adapt and accept them because we’re too comfortable with everything where they are. But if we’re to embrace a new season, and rise with Christ, then we must prepare ourselves for a future that lies ahead, in which God is calling us not just to wake up but to rise and embrace the new life that awaits us.

Peace and grace!

 
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Posted by on March 10, 2023 in Church, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Forgiveness

09 Mar
Forgiveness

Day 14: Thursday, March 9, 2023

Forgiveness

Scripture: Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Devotion: During the season of Lent, we reflect on our relationship with God and examine our hearts. Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me?” Forgiveness can be a difficult act, especially when someone has hurt us deeply. However, Jesus teaches us that forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a way of life.

In our individualistic culture, we may be tempted to only attend church when it meets our personal needs and to leave if we are offended or hurt. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard of love and forgiveness. As we gather with other believers, we have a responsibility to forgive and uphold one another.

Forgiveness is a gift of God and a powerful sign of our spiritual maturity and life together as Christians. When we forgive, we gain strength and freedom to refocus our emotional energies and grow closer to God. It is important to remember that forgiveness does not mean we need to be a recipient of abuse or mistreatment. Instead, it means we choose to release our hurt and anger to God to work healing power in our lives.

So, as we journey through this Lenten season, let us ask ourselves: Whom do we need to forgive? Are we willing to extend the same forgiveness that God has shown us? Let us reflect on the heart of God, and allow God to work in us the power of grace.

Prayer: Merciful God, Help us to become more like you. Amen.

AW

 
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Posted by on March 9, 2023 in Church, Culture, Family, Life, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Rules

07 Mar
Rules

Day 12: Tuesday, March 7, 2023

                                    Rules

Scripture: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject mebut showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:2-17 NRSV)

Devotional: Growing up, the Ten Commandments were the rule in our house. In fact, my parents added a lot more to the ten found in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus. I learned early on that following the rules from the Bible was critical as a Christian. Later, I learned that being a Christian is not just about rules but also about accepting the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. We rely on God’s power to guide us and accept God’s grace by keeping the commandments, not out of obligation but out of love. The Ten Commandments are a gift from God that guides us in our life together as God’s people. They are timeless ethical and moral principles and part of God’s covenant with us. The Ten Commandments give us a guideline for our responsibility toward God and one another.

As we journey in the season of Lent, may we examine our lives to see if we are living out God’s gift of the Ten Commandments. If not, what can we do differently to live more closely to this gift from God?

Prayer: Holy God, you have given us a gift of how to live rightly with you and others. Please help us to be faithful followers in both word and deed. Amen

AW

 
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Posted by on March 7, 2023 in Church, Culture, Family, Life, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Do The Difficult

04 Mar
Do The Difficult

3.4.23

Do The Difficult

Scripture: “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:27-45 NRSV)

Devotion: You are wondering why I included so much of the biblical texts. Why did I not just reference it? The truth is, you would probably not take the time to look up the passage. Or, for some of you, you may skip through the pasted Scripture text, thinking you already know what it says. Whom are we kidding? We all do that. But studying and meditating requires that we re-read and re-read God’s words many times over. Our understanding of Scripture may differ today from a year ago. It is not that Scripture has changed; it is we who have hopefully changed as we grow in faith and knowledge of God.

This passage is significant. Jesus said to love our enemies and to do good things for those who dislike or hate us.
Essentially Jesus challenges us to be different, that is, to love like God. God is merciful and kind even to the wicked and ungrateful.
Anyone can love their friends. But how do you treat someone well who has hurt you? How do you give without expectation of return? That’s love as God loves.

Similarly, Jesus said not to judge others but to first examine ourselves and deal with our faults while not being critical of others.
We feel good about denigrating others. We talk about people behind their backs. We speak harsh words and expect the person to take it. The Bible instructs us to correct one another when necessary but in a spirit of gentleness. Criticism is not a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus cautions us about the attitudes of our hearts. It’s one thing to say, “That person stole money and needs to be appropriately punished.” It’s another to say, “That person stole money and ought to be strung up by his thumbs and horsewhipped.” Unfortunately, people who hurt us and arouse our moral outrage are difficult to love.

Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit” and “the good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good… for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks”. If we want a good gauge for our spiritual health, we need to listen to what we say, not only to other people but also in private about others. Our words reflect our relationship with God as well as with others.
During the season of Lent, may we all take the time to meditate on the word of God and study Scripture, have self-examination, sincerely repent, and be in prayer.

Prayer: Oh God, sometimes it is difficult to love those who have hurt us. May you help us to be merciful and gracious as you are.
Help us to forgive and love our enemies. Amen.

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2023 in Church, Culture, Family, Life, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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Elevator Speech on the 5 O’Clock Evening News

03 Mar
Elevator Speech on the 5 O’Clock Evening News

3.3.23

Dear Church,

Have you ever been caught off guard with unexpected questions about your faith and the church’s mission and ministries? Imagine being in an elevator and someone asking you why you’re a Christian, why you attend Western Hills United Methodist Church, and what your church is doing to help families in the neighborhood and address the recent crimes in the area. Do you have a prepared response? Do you have an “elevator speech”?

This happened to me recently, on Monday, but instead of an elevator, it was an impromptu interview with WFAA Channel 8. The news anchor, Scoop Jefferson, wanted to discuss the recent criminal activities in our neighborhood, including a child who was hurt over the weekend. Despite not having time to prepare, glance in the mirror, or process what was happening that I would appear on the 5:00 O’Clock evening news, I had an answer for each of the questions, although spontaneous and unpolished. (Click here for the story.) Our church’s mission field includes Las Vegas Trail (LVT), and we are committed to making a positive impact, and sharing the love of Jesus, despite the challenges. And while WFAA had a story to share, we also have a story to tell, one of Jesus and the God we serve.

It’s worth remembering that Jesus didn’t serve in a “safe neighborhood,” and those he thought would support him abandoned him. The people who shouted “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday were likely the same ones who shouted “crucify him” on Good Friday. 

As we journey through Lent, let’s prepare ourselves through prayer, self-reflection, study, and meditation. Let us not only attend worship and Sunday School but also put our faith into action. 

You are invited to join a few of us who will be taking our faith into the streets of Lancaster immediately after worship this Sunday. If you would like to contribute something, please bring it Sunday. It can be clothes, toiletries, or food items that our friends on the streets can use.

Thank you for your faithfulness.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Sela

 
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Posted by on March 3, 2023 in Church, Culture, Economics, Family, Life, Media, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

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October 29th – Awaken to Blessings!

29 Oct

October 29th – Awaken to Blessings!

There’s something about 7 a.m. and my dog, Philo. He never sleeps past 7 and I can always count on him to get me up with or without my approval. The exception is on Sunday mornings when I’m the first one to wake up at 6 a.m. to prepare for the day. Sunday is both a blessing and a paradox, for not only is it the climax of the week but also the end of the week, for me at least and perhaps other pastors.

It’s Tuesday morning and my week starts over. As I am sipping on my cups of coffee I reminisce over the significant of the date. Ahh, yes, it’s October 29th, the day that my dad died 12 years ago. I still remember it as if it was yesterday. I was in the garage with my sister-in-laws preparing Tongan mats and ngatus for dad’s funeral when my oldest brother came to get me. That morning, my brothers and I witness the end of my dad’s life and the date forever carved in memory.

I still remember what my brother said that morning, to remember that our parents sacrificed everything and left Tonga in order that we might have a better opportunity in life, particularly education.

Sometimes I look at some of our Tongan youth and young adults and wonder why is it that they don’t understand, value, and appreciate education? Don’t they know that their parents and/or grandparents also have similar stories to that of my parents? Haven’t their parents explained and instill this value in them? Don’t they know that thousands of children around the world fight for a spot to attend school, and even then parents pay a great sum, and, yet, many are still left without the opportunity? Don’t they know that Tonga have one of the highest rate of literacy in the world per capita at 99%? Tongans living in Tonga can read and write in Tongan, and many times they can also read and write in English. What does that say about us Tongans living abroad? Many do not even speak, read, or write in the Tongan language and are thoughtless to culture and tradition. Don’t they know that language is a key element to survival of a culture and tradition? Yikes! Makes my stomach turn!

In a society where it prizes individual accomplishments, we often forget that we come from a culture that thrives on family and community, that there’s no distinction between first and second cousins from our own brothers and sisters. Nuclear family indeed is defined differently in the Poly-nesian CommUnity.

I wonder, are we taking advantage of the endless resources available to us in our adopted countries? Why can’t they see what I see and take advantage of the opportunity? Yuk! 😦

But isn’t that true of life, we take things for granted when we have them. And we wish for things when we don’t. We don’t try as hard when we know there will always be something else. We complain way too much and appreciate way too little. We consume more than enough and waste a disgraceful and outrageous sum.

Ahh, life, we are infinitely blessed yet we do not know it. May we be awaken to that reality. May you be awaken to your blessings!

 
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Posted by on October 29, 2013 in Culture, Family, Life

 

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A Blessing from Below

07 Jul

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Annetta United Methodist Church, Annetta, Texas

Bethel United Methodist Church, Weatherford, Texas

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14

 Sermon_ A Blessing from Below

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2013 in Church, Family, Life, Media, Podcasts

 

Commissioned!

12 Jun

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The Central Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church opened with a beautiful Worship Service on Sunday, June 9, and concluded today, Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at Arborlawn UMC in Fort Worth, Texas. It was business as usual it seemed for most people, but for me 2 things made it special, my commissioning and meeting up with school friends and colleagues.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013, was a very joyous, meaningful, heartfelt, and spiritual moving day. It was the most amazing evening for me, thus far, as I got commissioned as Provisional Elder of the Conference. I didn’t feel so much a sense of accomplishment as I did feel God led and that I am where I am because that’s where God wants me to be. Yes, a sense of my calling being affirmed was what I felt.

Bishop Mike Lowry preached a very relevant and brilliant sermon. The entire service was beautiful and I truly appreciated the Bishop’s message. His sense of humor and thought-provoking style was splendid. The best captured phrase that seemed to have made its round in Twitter was “If you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans.” How true on so many levels.

I was so ecstatic and grateful that all of my family, which included 7 brothers, their wives and children, were present to witness and to share the special evening. One of my brothers could not make it but was represented by his son. And, I was very happy that my oldest brother was present and stood with me as I got commissioned.

I am grateful to the friends who also came to show support. And to the family and friends who were not present, I appreciated your thoughts and prayers.

I give thanks to God for my family and all the wonderful people I have met throughout the years. Your love, friendships, encouragements, and prayers have helped me come this far, and I thank you.

But now that Conference is over and I have been appointed to 2 churches, I need to attend to my responsibilities of leading God’s people which includes writing a sermon for this Sunday and every Sunday thereafter. Whoa!! Am I really not ready as the Bishop conveyed last night in his message? Whether I think I am ready or not, I do firmly believe in my response to one of his examination question, “With God’s help, I will.”

On top of that, I have 3 weeks to find a place to move to, as I close on my home the 1st week of July. Yikes! Time to get busy! But, confidently and faithfully, I do believe that with God’s help, I will! Amen!

 
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Posted by on June 12, 2013 in Church, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality

 

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Planters

23 Mar

A Lenten Devotional for Day 34: Saturday, March 23, 2013

Planters

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6-10 (NRSV) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Devotion: Today, I met with my district mentor, Rev. Judy Hunt, at White’s Chapel UMC in Southlake. As part of the UMC ordination candidacy process, I am assigned a mentor and I’m required to meet with this mentor for a minimum of 4 times a year. The process is very rigorous, selective, and lengthy and not everyone reaches the end of the tunnel. Nevertheless, the process and system are in place for a purpose.

My meeting with my mentor, in part, is to check-in with how I’m doing in ministry and life. On this particular meeting, I was excited to share with Judy my current involvement with various ministries at Martin, including our Evangelism Spring theme of Come Grow With Us in Faith & that We’re all Seeds in God’s hands.

Judy saw that I had picked up one of their devotional book and said that I should check out today’s devotional because it talked about seeds. Later in the evening as I was reading the devotional, I immediately connect it to my life. The authors talked about how “a life of faith is a life of seed-planting.” And most of the time, the planter is not around to see the seeds bear fruits. I couldn’t agree more. I thought of how it was never my intention or goal to go into seminary and ministry. But one thing led to another and I ended up in seminary, still with no plans of going into ministry, but with the aspiration to learn about the history of Christianity and my faith origin. It was in seminary that I began to realize that I didn’t end up in the classroom by serendipity and that I wasn’t just there to get an education or to fulfill my inquisitive mind. Rather, God was calling me into ministry, a seed that was planted years ago, and had taken roots in my family tree. You see many of my family members are in ministry, in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, either working as pastors of a church, an educator for the church, have retired, or had a life working for the church. My grandparents were ministers and my great-grandparents and great great-grandparents were placed into exile when Christianity first arrived in Tonga because they chose to follow the new religion, because they chose to follow Christ.

The seeds that my parents and family instilled in my life growing up years ago are bearing fruits. While I wish that they were alive today, I’m grateful for their seed planting. Likewise, we’re doing the same in others’ lives, planting seeds. Maybe we’ll be around to see it bear fruit or maybe we won’t. But God pushes us forward to plant anyways and not be so eager to see the results. May we be reminded that planting seeds requires time to grow. This Lenten season, may you continue to grow in your faith, and may you continue to plant seeds in someone else’s as we remember our Lord who calls us to be planters.

Prayer: Creator God, Thank you for the seeds that you have planted in people’s lives. Thank you for making it grow. Amen

*Originally published as part of a devotional booklet that I compiled and edited for Martin United Methodist Church.

– See more at: http://www.martinmethodist.org/connect/devotions-for-the-season-of-lent/#sthash.Jm50Cxzq.dpuf

 
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Posted by on March 23, 2013 in Church, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 
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