“On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight. (Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.) A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him, and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!” Then Paul went back upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them a long time, until dawn. Then he left. They took the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.” Acts 20:7-12

“Push Comes to Shove”

The earliest reference for the exact phrase “Push Comes to Shove” is from a 1898 newspaper in Georgia: “When ‘push comes to shove’ will editors of the Yellow Kid organs enlist?”. Earliest reference at all is from 1873 in United Methodist Free Churches’ Mag.: “The proposed improvement is about to fail, when Push comes up behind it and gives it a shove, and Pull goes in front and lays into the traces; and, lo! the enterprise advances, the goal is reached!”.

The account we have in Acts about Eutychus mentions that he falls to his death because he fell asleep. No one pushed him out the window — he fell on his own accord. However, it is a warning for those who choose to fall asleep during sermons, that there can be perilous consequences for drowsiness.

Why do so many people wait to have a relationship with G-d until “push comes to shove” — until they are forced because of an illness, a death or a tragedy? It is true that there are no atheists in fox holes and few in cancer wards, but I am here to tell you that G-d does not want a relationship with us when our backs are against the wall, and we believe we have no other choices.

We all know someone who needs a gentle nudge when it comes to igniting their interest in a relationship with G-d. Notice I said a gentle nudge – and not a push. I believe it is better for you and me to give gentle nudges, and to allow the Holy Spirit to do the pushing.

Pastor Dave

Happy Thanksgiving

“Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He fell with his face to the ground at Jesusʼ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to the man, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

“Let’s Talk Turkey”

The origin of “talk turkey” is, perhaps, as old as colonial times. Dictionary entries from the 1800s show that the term was used in a variety of ways – and that “talking turkey” meant both talking about something pleasant (possibly referring to the dinner conversations that occur during a Thanksgiving feast) and talking in a silly manner (like the weird way turkey’s walk and act). Historical accounts suggest the modern meaning of the phrase came about from the day-to-day bartering between colonists and Indians over — you guessed it, wild turkeys. An account of the tale comes from an 1837 article in the Niles’ Weekly Register where a local Indian man and a colonial man bargain over a turkey and crow, only to shut the bargain down fast when they began to disagree. The swift and quick message behind the term was used to cut the bartering short and to-the-point – which is how we now use it in modern day conversation.

We should live our lives in a constant state of “gratefulness”. But it isn’t always easy to remember to give thanks to G-d on a daily basis. Do you know someone who struggles with “gratefulness”? I think we all do. There are a lot of people who live their lives in a constant state of “entitlement” rather than “gratefulness” – there are even people like that in the church, believe it or not. R. Alan Culpepper is a Professor of New Testament at McAfee School of Theology – he writes:

“Are we self-made individuals beholden to no one, or are we blessed daily in ways we seldom perceive, cannot repay, and for which we often fail to be grateful? Here is a barometer of spiritual health: If gratitude is not synonymous with faith, neither response to God (can be separated) from the other.”

In other words, Gratitude and Faith must be co-existent in our lives – if we are to be living the Christ-like life. Yes, we will not always say thank you when we should, or appreciate the blessings we have – but taking time each day to appreciate our blessings will go a long way in increasing our gratitude, and our faith.

Pastor Dave