"Some Other Thoughts"
March 13, 2005

The Old Testament Lesson: Ecclesiastes 4: 7 - 12
The New Testament Lesson: Philippians 2: 1 - 4

To have people realize that we are called to think of others before ourselves

Drama: What About Me?

Elder: On behalf of the leadership of First Presbyterian Church, I’d like to welcome all of you to our annual meeting. Our chairman Joseph Campbell is under the weather and since I am the youngest Elder, The other Elders forced

Elder 2: (Loud, Very Fake Cough)

Elder 1: I mean asked me to run the meeting. Madam Secretary, would you please read the minutes from last year’s meeting.

Secretary: Certainly. (as she reads, her mouth strays toward the written minutes more than the microphone. She does this constantly and punctuates especially dull moments with sniffs due to his hay fever.)

Am I on? Am I on? Can you hear me in the back there? 

Briana:  Just start talking, the mike will pick you up!  (sotto voice) I’ve told her that hundred times!

Secretary: Okay. The meeting was called to order by chairman Anderson at 7:03 p.m. Treasurer Lewis reported a 10% decrease in giving over the year leaving us unable to make our mortgage payment for November and December and putting the pastor’s salary in jeopardy.

Athena: What about my raise?  I am getting a raise, aren’t I?  I’m not directing the choir for nothing, you know.

Secretary:  Sorry, we’re not talking about next year yet.  Can you hang on a minute?  (continuing) Ruth Toddlemeier reported that attendance was down 25% over the second half of the year, and another 30% over the last quarter. Discussion ensured regarding the sudden drop in attendance. Many spirited remarks were made to Chairman Anderson followed by violent and uncalled for gestures by Chairman Anderson and his wife Marge. A motion was made and carried that all blame be placed on the Anderson family.  The motion was followed by more violent and uncalled for gestures by the Anderson children, young Hope and little Charity.  A scuffle ensued.  The ambulance arrived at 11:05 p.m. and chairman Anderson conceded defeat once the paramedics stopped the bleeding.  Elder Herb Frazee then took over the meeting calling for an end to communism as we know it.  Tim Blau then moved that we excommunicate all the men with earrings.  The motion was seconded and approved. 

Elder 2: Some of those boys wear earrings that are bigger than mine!  It looks so stupid!

Elder 1: Excuse me, but that issue has been settled.  (turns to Secretary) Please continue reading.

Secretary:  The Lewis boys refused to remove their earrings and made some more violent and uncalled for gestures.  Another scuffle ensued with the Lewis family coming out the clear winners.  The Lewis family, the Blau family, and the Frazee family then left the church never to return.  Meeting adjourned at 12:05a.m.

Elder 1: Er, thank you, Madam Secretary. That was a spirited meeting last year, wasn’t it?

Briana: Yeah…just not the kind of Spirit that the Pastor’s talking about!  (All chuckle)

Elder 1: Well…yes…ummm… let’s look at what stands before us this evening. The first order on the agenda is the issue of our continuing decline in attendance. I’d like to open the floor for discussion on the attendance problem.

(Franchesca raises her hand)

Elder 1: Yes, Franchesca.

Franchesca: I don’t care about the attendance problem.  I want to know when you’re going to sing something I want to sing!

Athena: Well!  I never…

Franchesca:  That’s right !  You never pick anything good!

Elder 1: Well, Franchesca, I appreciate your concern, but we are not talking about that issue right now.

Elder 2: Yes, we’re talking about the ATTENDENCE issue

Franchesca: Well, I’ll tell you why no one comes to this church. It’s because people are selfish here.

Elder 1: Well, Franchesca, I think…

Elder 2: What makes you think that people are selfish? 

Franchesca: Because no one ever thanks anyone.  Who cleaned and rearranged the entire kitchen last month?  I’ll tell you who. ME!!! Did any one thank me for it?  No, sir!

Secretary: Well, since we’re on that subject, what about me?  I’ve been secretary for three years now, and has anyone ever thanked me. No, sir!

Athena:  And what about me?  Do you think it’s easy whipping a bunch of no talent singers into a church choir?  And that great cantata last month… do you think it was pre-recorded?

Elder 1: Friends! Friends! We’re straying from the topic at hand. We were discussing the reason for our decline in attendance.  Besides, if anyone has a right to complain, it’s me. I’ve taught Jr. High Sunday School for 5 years and no one has ever thanked me!

Elder 2: You may have taught Jr. Highs, but I taught Sr. Highs!  What have you got to say to that?

Briana: Yeah, well, what about me! I’ve run sound here for three years, and all I ever hear is, “It’s too loud! It’s too soft! IT’s too loud! IT’s too SOFT!  No one ever thanks me!

Elder 1: Friends, this is horrible. We’ve been spending so much time thinking about God and others that we’ve neglected to honor ourselves.  I’d like to entertain a motion that we devote each Sunday during the year to honoring the 52 people left in the church. Any discussion?

Briana:  I get to be next Sunday!

Secretary:  Why you?  I should be first!

Franchesca: If I don’t get to go next Sunday, I’m leaving!

Secretary: (rising too challenge Franchesca)  All you think about is yourself. (Turns to Athena)  And you’re no better!

Athena:  Let’s take it outside, girl friend.

Franchesca:  (Standing) I’ll take you ALL on!

Briana: Ha! You couldn’t take a FLEA!

Elder: (standing and waving arms) Meeting adjourned! Meeting adjourned!

(They all leave muttering and complaining to themselves and each other.)

I.  To have JOY, we must get our thinking priorities in the right focus
   A. Sometimes the simplest lessons are the easiest to remember
        1. When I was growing up, the Sunday school I went to used catechisms
            a. I’m not referring to CCD of the Roman Catholic church.
            b. Or even the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
            c. These were simple questions with simple answers for kids.
            d. long after forgetting many Seminary lectures, I remember them!
        2. One of them applies to today’s lesson. I wonder if you can answer it.
            a. How do you spell JOY?
            b. The simple answer: Jesus, Others, You!
        3. simple question illustrates a crucial point in how to live God’s love
   B. If you want to have a well spring of joy, get your priorities in order
        1. First in you life must come your commitment to the Lord.
            a. It is this focus that gives us the right order for all else.
            b. Our life will never be complete unless Jesus is the center.
        2. Second, we must think of others and their needs.
            a. This means that we are called to a life of service.
            b. By meeting other peoples needs, we are fulfilling our purpose.
            c. And that is the second leg of the race toward joy.
        3. I read about a psychologist with a unique treatment for depression.
            a. He didn’t spend long hours talking about their problems.
            b. Instead, after a cursory survey, took them to the local soup kitchen.
            c. There he had them spend lots of time handing out food.
            d. At 1^st they universally complained, “this isn’t what I paid for!”
            e. The complaints stopped as their moods lightened.
            f. It wasn’t that they saw other people’s problems were worse.
            g. It was the satisfaction they got out of making a difference!
        4. Only after we think of Jesus and Others do we think about self.
            a. Most often, people have this backward.
            b. They spend most of their thoughts on themselves.
            c. Only then, once their needs are met do they think about others.
            d. And perhaps then they might have a little time for God.
            e. Thinking about self, others and then God doesn’t spell JOY.
            f. It spells SOG!  There are way too many Soggy Christians today.

 II.  Our Call to take up the concerns of Others is the key to being like Christ.
   A. Paul spelled out clearly what our attitude should be toward others.
        1. It is believed that Paul felt closest to the church in Philippi.
            a. This was one of the churches he build early in his ministry.
            b. They were faithful to him when other churches were wavering.
            c. Constantly supported Paul in his ministry.
        2. To this church, he writes very personally.
            a. Bases his appeal on their feelings of love for him.
            b. They are to humbly care for each other.
            c. He washes them to regard others as better than themselves.
        3. He is speaking of a feeling of mutuality that calls for them to worry more about the other than themselves.
            a. He gives as his prime example, Jesus.
            b. He did not grasp at his privilege.
            c. He laid it down for our good.
        4. Through history of the church, this has been our joy and challenge.
            a. When we have done well, we’ve been a powerful witness to Christ.
            b. when we’ve done poorly, our testimony to Jesus has been doubted
   B. How?  How can we keep these priorities as our essential nature?
        1. We keep our focus off of ourselves!
            a. If you find yourself contemplating how bad it is for you, STOP!
            b. get you mind off of yourself
        2. Put some active helping into you life on a regular basis.
            a. There are all sorts of ways to help others that take little skill.
            b. Can you read?  Can you hand out food? Can you rock a child?
            c. These are things that are badly needed that you can do.
        3. From time to time, an older member tells me she can’t to anything
            a. Remember all the wonderful service they used to give, but can’t.
            b. I always tell them: Pray!
            c. It is an essential service that the church offers.
            d. There are whole orders of Monks who do nothing but that.
        4. Remember, as you serve others, that you’re imitating Jesus.

Peter Marshall was the author of a cute little poem:

We have the nicest garbage man.
He empties out our garbage can.
He’s just as nice as he can be.
He always stops and talks to me.
My mother doesn’t like his smell.
But mother doesn’t know him well.

The key to service is looking beyond the superficial aspects of people, forgetting about ourselves and then simply extending ourselves for their well being.  It is not only the key to service, it is the key to joy.