August 26,2024
Early on in my ministry career I served a church with a Finance Committee that asked me to cut the office budget from $10,000 a year to to $5000. It seemed like a reasonable request. Money was tight and they were trying to be good stewards of the resources that they had period.
One of the biggest expenses in the office was a color copier. To replace all four toners' costs over $250. We were spending close to $500 a month on toner. The drums for that machine were $100 — there were four of them and they had to be replaced monthly period. Remember this is the early 2000s And color copier technology was not what it is today.
At a trustees meeting following the Sunday service one of the trustees flipped his lid as I explained the cost saving measures of replacing the color copier with a monochrome one.
He ranted and raved and cursed like a sailor at me for even suggesting the idea. He got up from the table with his fist clenched. At this point I was fearful that he was going to hit me. I could not understand why this was such a volatile issue. I was only doing what the Finance Committee asked me to do. This individual was so out of control that I had to ask him to leave the meeting. Upon his exit from the room, he put his fist through the drywall.
The committee was so shaken by his behavior that there was nothing else I could do but to end the meeting. A few days later I went to his home and talked to him about his behavior. His reasons for being so upset were that he had bought that copier for the church out of money left him when his dad died. He was also drunk at the meeting. His elderly mother who was a former clergy that had served that church had just moved in with him and his wife as she could no longer live on her own. Remember these are reasons they are not excuses. He apologized profusely and asked to be able to come to the next trustees meeting and apologize for his behavior. I agreed and we prayed together about the situation. Remember it is never about the copier!
We have all been there in the middle of a grief bomb losing our minds. Our actions often do not reflect a Christ like behavior. I know that I can get pretty torqued up when somebody pokes a hole in the dam of my emotions. I will often do things that are not Christ like and regret them the next day.
None of us are perfect. We do not come with nail prints in our hands. And the title of Messiah.
Controlling our emotions and our responses to the things that take place around us is paramount. The last thing that I ever want to do yes is to hurt someone with my words and actions. When we do hurt someone, it is our job to make amends. The amends is not about us it is about the other person. When you mend a garment, you do not just put a patch over the hole. You try to make the garment like new as if the tear never happened.
God does not want us to be at one another's throats over a copier. God wants us to work together through our differences and ideas that we may be good stewards of the resources that have been given to us. There are times when this works perfectly and other times when it is a complete disaster. Part of being the church is recognizing that none of us are perfect and we are all in need of God's grace.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14
Over the years we have had some tough and tense meetings. There were large decisions to be made, and questions about how to fund ministry during COVID and after we reopened. A lot of churches did not survive COVID they simply shuttered their doors and called it quits. I am proud to say that we are far better off than we were seven years ago. We have an increased number of individuals on Sunday morning and have received new members and baptized a lot of individuals. We are a vital congregation. Are there issues we need to continue to work through? Absolutely, but what gives me hope is I know that everyone who serves in leadership wants the best for this church and we will do anything to make it happen.
This church is not about you or me. It is God's idea and plan for salvation in the clay and north Syracuse, NY communities.
The cradle and beyond building has become so much more than a thrift store. It is our mission hub in which we reach out to individuals who will never grace the doors of our church. With every donation and every prayer that is lifted in that store with individuals who are dealing with grief and loss of a loved one we show the love of Christ. We operate in a world that does not see a need for God. But the moment they set foot in that store they are on holy ground. They have a burning bush the moment when the grace of our volunteers shares the love of Christ. The actions of the volunteers in offering a word of prayer or just a hug can make the difference in someone's day.
People do not need to be browbeat with scriptures or made to feel bad because of their actions. They know when they have blown it, it is our job to listen to them and when the time is right simply offer to pray for them period. Their offense while it may be great is not against you or me. It is against God and God deals with such offenses by offering grace and mercy. We need to do the same because lives depend on seeing the tangible grace of God expressed through our actions.
Following that ordeal in the trustees meeting made me realized that I needed to spend more time with this individual.
We began to meet for lunch once a week and talk to all about what was going on in his world. Because of his blow up at that meeting he entered a recovery program. He was able to connect with a therapist and face his anger issues. When I left that church, he was a different person. He died some years ago and I wish that I had been able to attend his funeral. So many times, I experience the grace of God through the shortcomings of others. When I stop getting offended over someone's actions that is when God can work threw me, because of me or despite me.
I have been that guy in the meeting who has flipped his lid. I have taken things personally that have nothing to do with me. My actions do not always stand for Christs intentions. It is part of the human condition again reasons do not excuse injurious behavior, I need to be accountable for my actions and when it is time to make amends, I need to be prepared to do that. It is part of doing the next right thing.
This summer I have had to come to terms with the fact that I am not the same person I was prior to the strokes. I do not process information the same way anymore. It takes me longer to listen to individuals, to write sermons, and articles. I need to continually be in the presence of God and that means more times sitting without a phone, the internet, or the television. I need to retrain my brain and my spirit to continually reflect the grace of God. Lives are dependent on me showing grace to others in their time of need. This world does not know God and every time we flip our lids and act like unruly children, we show them another reason not to believe in God.
I am continually reminded of our mission statement: “Seek God, Serve God and Share God with others.
As we enter fall our theme for worship is the stillness of God. Over the months that lie ahead we will explore the scriptures as they relate to individuals in the Bible that were still in the presence of God. It is my hope that as you read this article you are examining your own life and actions. If there are people you need to make amends to do not wait. Show others grace when they do not show you grace and kindness. Listen to their stories without judgment and condemnation and God will open opportunities for you to be the hands and feet of Christ.
In Christ,
Rev. Daniel J. Bradley
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