Pastor's Corner

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart

Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

There is an old story about a far-off land which was ruled by a tyrant. The tyrant had an ironclad grip over all parts of his kingdom, except for one frustrating area. He was unable to destroy the people's belief in God.

So he summoned his counselors and put the question to them:" Where can I hide God so that this people will end up forgetting him?" One counselor suggested that God be hidden on the dark side of the moon.

This proposal was debated for some time, but voted down because it was believed that one day scientists would discover a means of space travel and God would end being found again. Another advisor to the tyrant came up with idea of burying God beneath the depths of the ocean floor. This was voted down for basically the same reason - it was felt that scientific advancement would lead to the discovery of God even beneath the depths of the ocean floor.

Finally the oldest and wisest of the counselors had an insight. "I know", he said, "why don't we hide God where no one will ever think of finding him?" He explained, "If we hide God in the ordinary events of people's everyday lives they'll never find him." And so it was done - and they say that people are still looking for God - even today. Indeed the very atmosphere at this time of year seems to encourage us to pause, put on the brakes and identify just how blessed we are, just how much we are subjects of God's grace. And that's good - because it leads us into the transforming wonder of thanksgiving.

I believe my friends that thanksgiving is an important part of our faith, and by this I do not mean the time of year we called thanksgiving or “turkey day”- though that is blessed, but the act of thanksgiving.

Indeed I believe that gratitude, the root of thanksgiving - is a necessary attitude, an attitude that is needed by us if we are to experience the fullness of the salvation that God has planned for us.

Look at this camp -- the people gathered here -- everything about it and everything in it, from the cross at the front to the doors at the back, is here by the grace of God - indeed we are here by the grace of God.

In the 26th chapter of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel are told what they should say when they bring their offerings to the temple. They are to say: "The Lord brought us into this place, and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first fruit of the ground, which you, O God, have given me." The Lord has brought us into this place, and the Lord has given us the fruit of the earth in this place, he has given us our daily bread, he has brought us safe to this point in time.

This is the message of all scripture - that everything around us, and everything that we are and everything that we have is a gift of God. Everything here represents a series of gifts from God to us, at least in my mind.
Gifts of God - gifts that have come to us through the labour and the dedication • of the people beside you, behind, and in front of you,
• of the people who went before us,
• and of the people who went before them,
• people - who despite the flaws they undoubtedly had, served God as best as they could.

Are we aware - from week to week, let alone from day to day, just how much has been done for us? How much we have received through no merit of our own?

And have we thanked God enough or appreciated God enough? Without the attitude of gratitude our salvation is incomplete and the health of our families and of our churches, and of our nation and our world is in serious trouble. A few years ago Dr. Nick Stinnett of the University of Nebraska conducted a group of studies called the "Family Strengths Research Project" Dr. Stinnett and his researchers identified six qualities that make for strong families. The first quality and one of the most important to be found in strong families was the quality of appreciation. Families that are strong are strong in part, Dr. Stinnett concludes, because family members express to each other their appreciation for what the other members do and for who they are.

In a similar study another researcher looked into the effect of praise in the workplace. The information from that research tells us that if we want to do something good, that if we want to have a healthy family, a strong workplace, or any other effective group that we need to be sure that appreciation, praise, and thanksgiving are heard at least four times as often as is criticism. One of the most beautiful people I ever met was a 92 year old lady who was a paraplegic. Ellen was confined to a hospital's extended care ward – a hospital outside of Vancouver - and there she lived all her days between her bed and her wheel chair.

She had diabetes and several other problems - and over the years she had first one foot, then the other, then a leg, and then another, amputated. She had considerable pain, most days she was very uncomfortable - and there were hardly any family visits as - she had simply outlived most of them. What this lady did during her days was quite remarkable, wonderful and amazing - when she was able - she wheeled her chair up and down the corridors of the place and popped in and visited all the other folk in the place. She learned their birthdays and sent them cards, she checked when they seemed depressed and listened to them talk of it and gave their hand a squeeze and prayed with them if they were willing.

She went to the recreation room and took part in the games - often helping other residents. She was a light in a dark place - full of joy and peace despite her own troubles and woes. I always prayed with her on my visits - I would pray for her and she would pray for those around her and Ellen would always give thanks to God at the end of each prayer for his goodness and his love - for how he worked his will - and helped her each day - even in the days of pain.

This woman's beauty
- her ability to help others
- her faith and love and compassion was rooted in her thanksgiving
- thanksgiving that was made even when it might seem crazy to other people to make it, even me.

Just look around you - find that which is good and thank God for it - find that which is caring and thank God and the person who is doing it - look around - look inside - look outside - and think on that which is noble and true and beautiful and express your praise for it - express it no matter what the bad or the ugly may be up to.

God is hidden in the ordinary routine events of our life – our practice of thanks-giving will bring him to our sight and in so doing bring to others and ourselves a better world. Thanks be to God, for he is good. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
Amen.

Your friend and pastor,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
(This message was given at Camp Lutherlynn, Ont. In October 20, 2007)

The Legend of the Starfish

Vacationing honeymooners were walking along a beach when they saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy was walking slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean.

The couple, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up him and said, "We have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart, and we know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Surely such an industrious and kind-hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?"

The boy looked up at the couple, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one."

(Source Unknown)

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Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
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St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal