News report from WFAA-8, Dallas-Fort Worth
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Focused Fast
I found myself working a little more focused on this third day of the SNAP Challenge. It was an interesting phenomenon: I was literally on the edge of my seat with some really fascinating meetings pushing through the stomach grumbles. My eyes were glazing over and I covered up the audible verbosity of my stomach. It was not that was bored with the content, no way; it was the separation between meals with fewer calories at mealtime. All of this helped me focus on the content at hand.
Jesus invited his disciples to fast, but not to make a show of their fasting. He invited the disciples to stay focused on the job at hand of working in the world, not to wrinkle up our faces and wander around making sure everyone knows were are "suffering." Jesus says to stay focused on the fast and its purposes.
Stay focused on the SNAP Challenge, so that all may see that the work of faithful discipleship is seen and heard!
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to continue your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
Guiding Scripture, as you continue the SNAP Challenge:
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18, NRSV).
Jesus invited his disciples to fast, but not to make a show of their fasting. He invited the disciples to stay focused on the job at hand of working in the world, not to wrinkle up our faces and wander around making sure everyone knows were are "suffering." Jesus says to stay focused on the fast and its purposes.
Stay focused on the SNAP Challenge, so that all may see that the work of faithful discipleship is seen and heard!
_______
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to continue your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
_____________
Guiding Scripture, as you continue the SNAP Challenge:
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18, NRSV).
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Loaves and fish
The second day of the SNAP Challenge was a little easier to manage. I knew what to expect and I had a purpose: every time I sensed hunger (out of boredom or other wise) I pushed myself to remember a family who may pick up a week's worth of groceries from Crossroads Community Services. The families Crossroads serves are persons living and working on the poverty line. The groceries are supplemental to a family's weekly budgeted food items. People can do so much with so little....
It was supplemental groceries that fed a hillside of people following an itinerant preacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus had withdrawn to a deserted place and the people followed. Concerned about what the people may eat, the disciples engaged Jesus; he turned to the crowd for what they had: five loaves and two fish. Jesus made it work! There was enough for all to partake and enough to sustain them in their work together.
As we continue this journey together, may you realize that even in scarcity, there is abundance. The SNAP Challenge is about reorienting ourselves to the Abundance.
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to continue your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
Guiding Scripture, as you continue the SNAP Challenge:
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. " (Matthew 14:13-21, NRSV).
It was supplemental groceries that fed a hillside of people following an itinerant preacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus had withdrawn to a deserted place and the people followed. Concerned about what the people may eat, the disciples engaged Jesus; he turned to the crowd for what they had: five loaves and two fish. Jesus made it work! There was enough for all to partake and enough to sustain them in their work together.
As we continue this journey together, may you realize that even in scarcity, there is abundance. The SNAP Challenge is about reorienting ourselves to the Abundance.
_______
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to continue your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
_____________
Guiding Scripture, as you continue the SNAP Challenge:
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. " (Matthew 14:13-21, NRSV).
Monday, September 16, 2013
The gentle glow of the refrigerator is calling me
At the end of the first day of the SNAP Challenge,
I have been thinking about how mindlessly I have been around food. I eat when I want to and what I want to. I caught myself in a pattern that I have been carrying since adolescence: wandering into the kitchen, opening the fridge, standing there and staring at the multiplicity of choices. Today, when I was preparing my breakfast, there was only one choice: cereal. It's what we have this week.
I poured my cereal in the bowl and used about one-third less of the milk that I usually (mindlessly) use. Thinking, "will I have enough milk for the remainder of the week?", stopped me in my tracks. Really . . . will I have enough?! Isn't this the nature of our dis-ease in the United States? That we do have enough to feed every American, but every American does not have enough. The gentle glow of the refrigerator is now calling me in a different way: to imagine the abundance that could be shared if I but let the light, or Light, be my guide.
May the Light guide you as well.
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to continue your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
Guiding Scripture, as you prepare for the SNAP Challenge:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:25-34, NRSV).
I poured my cereal in the bowl and used about one-third less of the milk that I usually (mindlessly) use. Thinking, "will I have enough milk for the remainder of the week?", stopped me in my tracks. Really . . . will I have enough?! Isn't this the nature of our dis-ease in the United States? That we do have enough to feed every American, but every American does not have enough. The gentle glow of the refrigerator is now calling me in a different way: to imagine the abundance that could be shared if I but let the light, or Light, be my guide.
May the Light guide you as well.
_______
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to continue your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
_____________
Guiding Scripture, as you prepare for the SNAP Challenge:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:25-34, NRSV).
Sunday, September 15, 2013
"For I was hungry and you gave me food..."
As I prepare for the SNAP Challenge, the Gospel has become my guide. Jesus confronted the hungry and the haughty alike. Jesus knew that social transformation and spiritual transformation ought to engage all persons along the socio-economic strata. He also challenged the norms of the day to encourage others to faith; the kind of faith that was based in love, communion and hope. For Jesus to truly challenge the norms of the day, he had to be conversant in them. Asking questions in the Temple, absorbing the story, and reflecting deeply, were ways Jesus became aware.
We too must be aware. Although the SNAP Challenge is only 5 days, we are challenging our own understanding of how others really live day-to-day, week-to-week. By embracing these next several days of scarcisty, together, we are coming closer to who our neighbor is and how our neighbor lives. This blog will have some personal interaction by me, Andy Stoker, and my hope is that it can add to your understanding of the 'story' so that in your SNAP Challenge you may reflect deeply on what it means to live on the 'hunger line'.
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to begin your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
Guiding Scripture, as you prepare for the SNAP Challenge:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’" (Matthew 25:31-40, NRSV).
We too must be aware. Although the SNAP Challenge is only 5 days, we are challenging our own understanding of how others really live day-to-day, week-to-week. By embracing these next several days of scarcisty, together, we are coming closer to who our neighbor is and how our neighbor lives. This blog will have some personal interaction by me, Andy Stoker, and my hope is that it can add to your understanding of the 'story' so that in your SNAP Challenge you may reflect deeply on what it means to live on the 'hunger line'.
Please read the Guiding Scripture below to begin your SNAP Challenge.
You are invited to add your comments below or on these media:
First United Methodist Church, Dallas, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/FUMCDal
Crossroad Community Services, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ccsdallas
_____________
Guiding Scripture, as you prepare for the SNAP Challenge:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’" (Matthew 25:31-40, NRSV).
Friday, September 13, 2013
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