Word On the Street

June 1, 2012

May has been a terrible month for “The Market”.  After some signs earlier this year that the economy was beginning to rebound, most of the strengthening receded in the last 30 days.  Many of us “depend” on “The Market” for our livelihood, plans for our children, plans for our retirement or living out our retirement.  What we were told was wise investing over a long period of time has turned into a roller coaster of unpredictability.

Bill Enright is the Director of The Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at the University of Indiana.  He is one of the smartest people I know when it comes to research and trends regarding faith and money.  This month in his Insight column he wrote about God and  Money.   Here is what he wrote:

Recently I stumbled across an essay written in 1999 by Harvey Cox, retired Professor of Divinity at Harvard, on "The Market as God."  Cox reminded me that "at the apex of any theological system is its doctrine of God."  So we use words like Allah, God, Yahweh to denote divinity; Adam Smith, I would argue, used the term "Invisible Hand" to reflect his understanding of God. Today The Wall Street Journal and the business section of our newspapers all seem to suggest that a new grand narrative now governs human history, The Market.

In the monotheistic faiths God is sometimes characterized as omnipotent - all powerful and capable of defining what is real. As omniscient - all knowing, reflecting a kind of photographic wisdom that is all-inclusive and comprehensive. As omnipresent - or existing everywhere and shaping or influencing everything. Until recently, Cox reminds us, the Market was never God as it existed amidst the restraint of other institutions and centers of value...or gods.

What sets the market god apart from the God of traditional religious faiths? Traditional religions stress the finite character of human beings and the limits that characterize any earthly enterprise. So, as you think about your financial situation both individually and as a faith-based institution don't base your economic decisions solely on the market. Take time to bend your knees and bow your heads to the God behind and beyond the market as a potential source of wisdom, hope and generosity.

What is the source of your wisdom and strength this week?

With you on Grace Avenue,
Billy Echols-Richter

Pastor

Word on the Street

May 18, 2012

The PGA Golf tour comes to DFW the next two weeks with the Byron Nelson Championship in Las Colinas this week and The Colonial Invitational in Ft. Worth next week. I like golf and I am amazed at the dedication and skill of some of these professional golfers. Like anyone who is dedicated to something, however there is a moment when dedication becomes obligation.

Harvey W. V. Pennick was famous golf instructor who lived for many years in the Austin TX area. He was coaching a woman who went on to win the Texas Amateur Women's Championship. He coached her right up to the minute of her tee time, and at that moment, the woman said to Pennick, "Well, I have to go out and play now". And he replied, "What do you mean, you have to go out and play? You get to go out and play".

Sometimes we forget that the things we are most dedicated to are also our greatest blessings. God gives us so many opportunities, many of which we have asked and prayed for, and yet when things get busy or hectic we turn our blessings into "Have to's".

Look at the following phrases. Which best describes you right now?

"I have to go to work" or "I get to go to work".

"I have to take the children to school" or "I get to take the children to school".

"I have to go to church" or "I get to go to church".

The list could be as long as you want to make it, but it is essential to analyze in regards to our faith. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Spring Fever and our propensity for letting apathy creep in to our prosperity. God gives us so many blessings, but we must be careful to not take those things for granted.

Is your life full of obligations or blessings?

Word on the Street

May 11, 2012

I spent this week at Perkins School of Theology at SMU at the Mentor Pastor Training Seminar. This fall Jenna Morrison will officially become an intern at our church as part of her seminary curriculum and I have the privilege of serving as her Mentor Pastor. This means Jenna will continue her work as one of our Co Youth Ministers, but since her classroom work is significantly reduced, she will be learning about many of the other aspects of ministry at Grace Avenue. In other words, our church will become her classroom for the 2012-2013 school year.

During my training this week I was reminded of how fortunate I have been to have great mentors all along my journey in ministry. Perkins calls this work "field education" and I have been blessed with professors and mentors that helped me connect my academic learning with the practical side of doing day-to-day ministry. In every walk of life we need "field education" to make what we do practical, fruitful and productive. It is especially important in the Christian walk to have "field education"; that is to take what we learn from the Bible and put it into everyday living.

One of my favorite mentors both in the classroom and in the field was a gentle giant named Virgil Howard. Dr. Howard taught New Testament studies at Perkins when I started seminary. Later he became one of my preaching professors. In many respects whether you like/dislike my preaching, you can credit/blame Dr. Howard. Eventually he became the director of the intern program at Perkins, mentoring many students in their "field education" as they finished seminary.

This week things came full circle for me as we gathered for closing worship at the seminar. In 2005 Dr. Howard passed away. It is always painful to lose a mentor and someone whom you respect and love at a very deep level. As the service began, however, I looked down at the bulletin and noticed that we would be using a prayer that Dr. Howard had written while he was the Director of the Intern Ministry. It is actually an interpretation of the Lord's Prayer. Dr. Howard would have been quick to remind us that you don't rewrite the Lord's Prayer. The best you can do is interpret it in light of your own experiences; "field education". This is what he wrote and what we prayed in that worship experience:

God, you are Father and Mother to each of us,
But nearer than our own breath:
Make yourself the center of our world and our lives.
Reign over us and among us;
Let your creative and life-giving will and dream for us
happen right now and right here in our world.
Make every bite of bread a taste of your loving presence.
Don't make us relive our failures day after day,
and help us not to make others relive their own failures.
And do not abandon us to our own violence,
but show us the way out of the cycle of violence
that threatens to destroy us.
Because your Reign and your Power and your Glory are, finally, all that matter.
AMEN.

Word on the Street

May 4, 2012

I truly appreciate all the congratulations sent my way regarding my 25th anniversary in ordained ministry. I have been so very blessed across the years by the people I've met and the churches I've served. It is especially gratifying to know that I have spent more than half those 25 years here at Grace Avenue.

As I have reflected on my ministry I realized that my life and work has been a "fill in the blank". It has not been "true/false" or "multiple choice", but instead it has been an experience which has been made complete by the hundreds and hundreds of people that have taught me, encouraged me, challenged me and allowed me to serve and be in ministry with them. I cannot begin to describe how wonderfully humbling this all is.

In many respects I feel like the man who was paralyzed and brought to Jesus in Mark 2. When they could not get him through the entrance to the house they cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down. Jesus was amazed by the faith of the paralyzed man's friends and in that moment healing occurred. In much the same way I am a product of people who continually bring me back to Jesus.

Please know how much I appreciate your constant prayers, efforts and love. Because of you my ministry is complete, and full; and yet there is so much more for us to share. Last Sunday night I was signing off from our Bible in 90 Days online session. As I did the thought occurred to me that 25 years ago I could not even imagine an experience such as an online Bible Study.

I wonder what the next 25 years will bring. I look forward to the amazing opportunities God will provide in the future. Thank you again for affording me the privilege of being your pastor.