Through the Brokenness
Joe Albright

Through the Brokenness

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I remember when I first started at Hodges Presbyterian Church – my first time serving as a lead pastor. I was just getting my feet wet; just learning the ropes of the church. Maybe my second week there, our children’s ministry director said, there is a member of our congregation – relatively young – in his 50s who was recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. You really need to go see him.

And I went to see him, but I was really nervous. I mean what do you say in a situation like that? But when I got there, much to my surprise, he was actually in good spirits. He laughed easily. His wife even joked, “I don’t know what’s gotten into him these last few months.” He said, “I don’t know how long I have, so I don’t want to take a single moment for granted.”

I didn’t say this, but I’ve known plenty of people who wouldn’t take it so well. I’ve certainly known plenty of people who have instead grown bitter and cynical… When we held hands to pray before I left, I could feel his inner strength. He was confident that death would not have the last word… And through that visit, he actually was the one ministering to me!

As I mentioned yesterday, over the years I’ve heard stories from people about how just when life seemed to be falling apart – something deep inside started to grow: a hope that couldn’t be contained, a hope that they would see a loved one again; hope that tomorrow doesn’t have to be the same as today – things can change – that there can be a new start. 

I’ve had others tell me that just at that moment when they thought they were just about beyond their ability to cope – a strange peace came over them, or an inexplicable sense of joy arose out of the darkness…

We worship a God who can bring strength out of weakness; who can use our brokenness; our failures; and our shortcomings and still make something beautiful.

Today I pray that your faith would sustain you – and also compel you. May it allow you, even in the midst of your own brokenness, to give beyond your means, to make a difference in other’s lives, and as you do, to find a deep sense of joy and peace.

Let us pray: We trust, O God, that your power and grace are at work, in us and beyond us. Even in our brokenness, even as we are being healed, may your grace, mercy, and peace flow through us to touch a hurting world. Amen. 

So We Do Not Lose Heart
Joe Albright

So We Do Not Lose Heart

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In 2 Corinthians, chapter 4, Paul writes, “We have this treasure in clay jars…” The clay jars are our own frail, faulty, human lives. This treasure is the Gospel. Here, Paul seems to have this understanding of the gospel that it is not just a message to be shared – though it is that – but it is also God’s power at work with us. 

Now we know from other parts of this letter, that Paul himself had really been through it. He had been shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, thrown in jail, and ostracized by his community. He had endured hardship after hardship. We get the sense that were it not for his faith, he would be hanging on by the last thread. In fact, he writes:

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…

He goes on to write: “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.”  

Even in the midst of the trials and tribulations of life, there is an inner strength that is growing, a grace that arises.

Over the years I’ve heard stories from people about how just when life seemed to be falling apart – something deep inside started to grow: a hope that couldn’t be contained, a hope that they would see a loved one again; hope that tomorrow doesn’t have to be the same as today – things can change – that there can be a new start. 

I’ve had others tell me that just at that moment when they thought they were just about beyond their ability to cope – a strange peace came over them, or an inexplicable sense of joy arose out of the darkness…

Paul is saying, all that I’ve gone through, all that I’m going through – it’s bad – but it will not have the last word. And, I know that even in the midst of all that I’m going through, God is at work. And perhaps God can use this brokenness, this frailty, this clay jar – even this suffering to help others… to bless others.

I don’t know what you are going through right now. But the promise of the gospel is that those hurts can heal, that God can turn the pain of life into healing salve, and that if we are open to it, even out of suffering – great light can break forth.

Let us pray: We trust, O God, that your power and grace at work, in us and beyond us. Even in our brokenness, even as we are being healed, may your grace, mercy, and peace flow through us to touch a hurting world. Amen. 

Where is God?
Joe Albright

Where is God?

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You know, when trouble comes into our lives or when tragedy strikes, we ask, “Where is God?” And the answer is – God is in the same place he was when his son was on the cross. God does not abandon us; God is with us every step of the way. He is with us even closer than our hands and feet. And as we keep moving forward, living one day at a time, trusting in God, and doing the best we can, he moves with us; he brings us through the valley. 

In the fiftieth chapter of Genesis, this is what Joseph referred to when he said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20) What had happened was bad, but God brought good out of those terrible events. That is the good news of our faith. God is with us, and nothing, not even death, can separate us from Him. “Lo, I am with you always,” – this is God’s most significant promise, and when we claim that promise, it changes our lives. Now make this day a masterpiece for you are blessed to be a blessing to others. 

Let us pray: God of all time, come into our lives and make us whole. As you entered time in Jesus the Christ, be born in us today and lead us to the light of your love. Be with all those in need of warmth and life and hope. Be with those who grieve. Be with those who are sick. Be with those who are afraid, that they may find themselves held in your strong arms. Lead us to your light, for we pray in the name of the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Every Common Bush
Joe Albright

Every Common Bush

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Today, I would like to say a word of thanks to Beth Knopik, who was the keynote speaker at our Dial Hope “Friendraiser” yesterday evening. She is the author of, Beyond the Rainbow. Her courage and faith in the wake of great loss, are inspiring. Thank you, Beth!

Psalm 8 offers this prayer, “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth. In Hebrew thought, a person’s name – was not just a word – but their name also represented their character, essence, and presence. 

O Lord, how majestic is your presence – your essence – your power in all the earth.

Think about those times when you’ve seen an awe-inspiring sunset; or when you’ve been on a mountaintop and it’s breathtaking, or you’ve been on the ocean and you have watched the pelicans soar just above the breakers. It’s moments like these when we feel connected to something so much bigger. It’s moments like these that you can almost feel God’s presence, right there.

Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes…”

Let us pray: Loving God, give us eyes to see your glory and presence in the world all around us. May we notice you in the laughter of a child, in the smile of a stranger, and in the beauty of your creation. Open our hearts to the Holy in this place here and now. And, may our souls be filled with awe and joy. Amen. 

Amid Uncertainty and Change
Joe Albright

Amid Uncertainty and Change

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I’ve been thinking about all that is going on in our world right now: the continued upheaval in the Middle East, the situation on our border… Ukraine…Russia. There is just a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Not to mention the political uncertainty in our own country… We live in a time when we as a nation are divided against ourselves. 

And then, think about how just over the last 50 years, there has been enormous social change. Some of the change has been much, much needed. At the same time, there has been a tremendous loss of trust – loss of trust in each other, loss of trust in our institutions, in our government, in our political system, in our schools, in our organizations, in our churches… The ground is shifting.

How is a person of faith to live amid this kind of uncertainty and change? 

There is no doubt that change and uncertainty often will produce a naturally stressful and reactive environment. We see this all the time, don’t we? People reacting, completely stressed out!

The truth is that it is very difficult to face the uncertainty of life if we have no stillness in our own lives. And it is very difficult to bring about any sense of peace in the world around us if we have no peace within ourselves… 

Yesterday, I shared that I’m more and more convinced, that the one gift we have to offer the world around us, is our own inner peace. It starts close to home, within our families, at our places of work, in our conversations with friends and neighbors, how we carry ourselves. We spread either our own dis-ease and anger and frustration, or alternatively, we can radiate hope, offering grace and peace.

My prayer again today is that you would carve out time in your own life for silence, for stillness – to allow that larger, stronger presence of God to fill you and nourish you. And may the peace and strength that you experience, be a gift you share with a world desperately in need. 

Let us pray: We pause for even just a moment in your presence, O God. Take our anger, our grief, our pain. Wash over us again with your grace, that we might be healed, restored, and filled anew with your peace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Between Times
Joe Albright

In Between Times

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Back during the Covid shutdown, I read this great book by Susan Beaumont called, “How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going.”

Great title! It was a great book.

She talks about how there are times in history, when we find ourselves between the disintegration of the old and the emergence of something new – on kind of a threshold. 

And in these times, not only does anxiety rise; but sometimes motivation will fall. There is the temptation to give up or to give in. And if we are not careful, our fears will drive us.

She argues, however, if we are open to it, God’s greatest work occurs in this space. The Franciscan theologian, Richard Rohr claims that all transformation takes place here.

Some time ago, I was listening to an interview with a Benedictine monk, David Steindle Rast. He was talking about anxiety… which so many of us have been feeling these days. He said, “We have to acknowledge our anxiety, but we must not fear. There is a great difference.”  

We have to have space and time in our lives – to stop, to pause, to get in touch with what’s happening inside us. So that we are not driven by fear.

It is true that so much of what’s going on in the world around us is completely out of our control. And often we wonder, what can I do? What difference can I make? 

I’m more and more convinced, that the one gift we have to offer the world around us, is our own inner peace.

My prayer today is that you would carve out time in your own life for silence, for stillness – to allow that larger, stronger presence of God fill you and nourish you. And may the peace and strength that you experience, be a gift you share with a world desperately in need. 

Let us pray: We pause for even just a moment in your presence, O God. Take our anger, our grief, our pain. Wash over us again with your grace, that we might be healed, restored, and filled anew with your peace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Tie that Binds
Joe Albright

The Tie that Binds

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I remember one Wednesday night a number of years ago now, Pastor Bob Smith was teaching a class on the parables at our church. He had us sing “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God…” as a closing song. I had been through a particularly hard year that year. As we were singing, I looked around the room at all the faces of these people I’d grown to love, and in spite of outward circumstances, an overwhelming sense of joy washed over me. I thought about all the love and support that had been extended to me. And I thought about all the love and support that had been extended to others in that room. I thought about the kingdom of God… and I wondered: Is this what heaven will be like? Will love, and grace and connection be what ultimately endures?

I am reminded today there is a deep tie that binds us together as a people of faith. And that truly, we are bound together as a human family, in ways that ever more clearly coming to light. I pray that you and I, as people of faith, would be the kind of people who honor that tie, that connection. And, may we be the kind of people who invest deeply in our relationships, and in the lives of our communities.  

Let us pray: We thank you for the gift of community, O God. Empower us to build it, and cherish it. Amen. 

Giving Your Heart
Joe Albright

Giving Your Heart

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When he was asked, Jesus said that the first and the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, strength, soul, and mind. 

In my first year teaching high school, I’ll never forget a student named Earnest. Earnest was failing. He often skipped class, and when he did show up it was almost as if he’d checked out before he even got there – wouldn’t even try. He had an “I’m here, because I’ve got to be here,” kind of attitude. 

I finally found the courage to call his mother, and she came in to talk to me. After a long conversation that felt like it was going nowhere, she said, “Ernest ain’t getting nothing out of your class.” Frustrated, I answered, “But Ernest ain’t putting nothing into my class.” After that, Ernest switched out of my class. He decided to take Latin. 

Have you noticed that we tend to put the most into those things that we care about the most, things that we love, things that we treasure?  

It’s also true that if you care enough about something or someone to put your heart and your soul into it – it is so rich – so rewarding. Think about a job or a relationship. But, if we give only half our heart – we never really get to experience the fullness of what it could be.

This is true also with our faith, isn’t it? When we make time for prayer and worship, when we give, and when we serve, our faith is most often alive and it is a resource we can draw on. 

I pray today that the fullness of God’s peace would rest upon you. May you know God’s love, forgiveness, and hope in the very deepest part of your being. And, may you respond with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.

Our prayer today was written by my friend Rev. Roger Kunkel. Let us pray: Awesome God of hill and valley, of sunshine and thunderstorm, of the tall pines of the forest and the humble forget-me-nots that bloom on the forest floor, or purring cats and snoring dogs, of popcorn and pizza, we that you for the gift of this day which is unlike any other day. Forgive us when we do not think of you, and help us to find our way back to who we really are in you, and to the joy of your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stepping Out in Faith
Joe Albright

Stepping Out in Faith

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One of my favorite movies as a kid was the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It’s an old movie, but if you remember it, it is about his quest is to find the Holy Grail, the original chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper. Along the way, Indy finds himself in these life-threatening challenges that test his humility, his obedience, and his trust. 

In the final challenge, he finds himself dangerously close to the edge of a deep, vast chasm. According to the legend, the way across lies right before him. But he can’t see it. The only way he can get through it is by stepping out in faith. He has to trust what his eyes cannot see. 

There’s this great scene where Indy is right on the precipice – you can see the fear in his eyes. He lifts one leg out over the ledge, eyes closed, and out he steps… For a brief moment, you think he is history. But sure enough, as he steps out, he finds himself standing on a bridge of rock, solid and firm beneath his feet, but invisible to the eye. 

What’s that like? 

If you have ever been worried sick about a job or a loved one – and turned the situation over to God, you have stepped out onto that bridge. If you have ever given beyond your means – you have stepped out onto that bridge. If you have ever been so overcome by grief or sorrow that you didn’t know how you would ever survive but trusted God to carry you, you have stepped out onto that bridge. If you’ve ever dropped to your knees in prayer, asking for mercy, strength, or a way forward, you’ve stepped out on that unseen bridge. 

We know it is there. We’ve been on it. We just can’t see it.

One of the elders at my church Jennifer King, shared that her Great Aunt Rose October used to say, “Trust Him where you cannot trace Him.”  

Let us pray: Gracious God, Help us to believe where we have not yet seen, and to trust when we cannot know. Grant us faith. Grant us hope. Amen. 

Stop the World
Roger Kunkel

Stop the World

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Today’s message was written by my friend Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

In the Broadway musical, “STOP THE WORLD, I WANT TO GET OFF,” actor Anthony Newley sang a powerful song: “Once in a Lifetime.” It contains these poignant words: “This is my moment… I’m gonna do great things.” 

Sadly, we must confess that we know the empty feeling of “missing our moment,” letting the moment pass. All of us, because of fear or timidity, or insecurity, have let special opportunities, special moments slip by us. Psychologists tell us that if we do not act every time we have this kind of feeling, we are less likely to act later when other such moments present themselves. Each time we fail to act, we become more hardened, more desensitized, more emotionally paralyzed. We trick ourselves by substituting emotion for action, by thinking that just because we felt it, it has been cared for. 

How many letters never have been written? 

How many phone calls have never been made? 

How many compliments have been left unsaid? 

How many “I’m sorrys” remain unspoken? 

How many “Thank yous” have never been said? 

How many “I love yous” are still unexpressed? 

How many commitments are still not made? 

because we missed our moment! 

If there is an emptiness, a void, a vacuum, a hunger in your life, remember: Jesus offers you life. Don’t miss this moment! If there’s any kindness or love you can show, show it now. Seize the moment! Live today fully and make it a masterpiece! 

Let us pray: God of love, we know you are always with us and you love us. How patiently you tutor us! Straighten the backbone of our beliefs, strengthen our resolve, move us to action, so that the roots of faith will reach the center of our hearts. Grant us peace that comes from your love…that whether we walk through fields of flowers or stumble along streets of sadness, we will walk beside you. Be close today to those who are experiencing grief or loneliness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.