Pastors' Blog

February 17 is Presidents’ Day. But how is it we have one of these days anyway? It started as a day set aside to honor George Washington’s birthday. A former neighbor of mine used to talk about money as being a way of honoring presidents. He said you have to die before they put you on a greenback so he sarcastically called them “dead Presidents”. So far we have had 45 men in 47 presidencies, and yes, based on sociological studies, there is a definite carryover between the man in the Oval Office and what’s going on in the world around them. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Tim. 2.1-4, “That we should offer prayers—intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and those in authority, so we can live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God, who wants all people to be saved and to know the truth.” It strikes me that one of the best ways of being political is to spend time praying for whoever is in office, be they the president, a congressperson, a governor, or even a mayor. What do you think?

Ps.22.28 reminds us that the Lord rules over the nations. Sometimes people have a hard time surrendering to Him, but your and my prayers could make a big difference there. One more response from us could enhance their governing: Heb 13.17, says “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no benefit to you.” Makes sense.

The 4 highest-rated presidents in American history are Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt. Of all the presidents, the one that is rated as the best was Jimmy Carter—because he got the most accomplished—more in 4 years than most would in 8. I was always impressed with his working on Habitat for Humanity in retirement rather than golfing.  

There are a lot of quotable quotes from many of the presidents. This one for instance: “There can be no greater good than the quest for peace, and no finer purpose than the preservation of freedom.” - Ronald Reagan.  “There is no honor for what a person received, but rather for what he gave.” - Calvin Coolidge. “The national character cannot be built by law. It is the sum of the moral fiber of its individuals.” - Herbert Hoover. Another quote that I don’t remember who said it, but, “When a government lacks honor, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.” We need to pray for whoever is on the Hill.  

Lastly, one of the more thoughtful quotes is this one: “All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort—a sustained effort—to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.” - Barack Obama.

We do have our problems, but if we look around like one fellow who came back to this country knowing he would be arrested as soon as he stepped off the plane, said he’d rather be in jail in America than free anywhere else. And as Paul said, we should pray for our leaders. Join me in this?  

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10 NIV).

In the text above, we observe a proposed agreement between God and those who accept to enter into a covenant with Him. I don’t find any evidence to suggest that this covenant was only for the people of Israel or, in the present time, only for those considered God’s people. Instead, I propose that anyone can enter into a covenant with God and reap the blessings as promised. Let’s start with the basics: What is the tithe?

In Scripture, a tithe is first mentioned when Abraham and his allies defeated the kings who had taken the people of Sodom as prisoners in Genesis 14:17-20. Abraham gives a tenth of everything he had taken from the battle. It is mentioned a second time when Jacob vows to give a tenth of all God gives him (Gen. 28:20-22). But what is a tithe? A tithe simply means a tenth. When God says to bring the whole tithe, he commands those who covenant with Him to bring a tenth or ten percent of all their earnings back to the church. According to Scripture, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psa. 24:1), meaning God owns one hundred percent of our earnings. Yet, in his grace, he lets us keep ninety percent of what’s His and only asks for ten percent. Now that we understand what a tithe is, how should our tithes be given?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” (Mal. 3:10). According to Scripture, the storehouse or the treasury was a particular room in the temple. (2 Ch. 31:11). This is where the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts were faithfully brought to. (v. 12). In the present day, the concept remains. The tithe should be given to the treasury of the local church in which the person’s membership is held, who then send these to the treasury of the local conference. How, then, should tithes be used?

According to Numbers chapter 18, the tithes of the children of Israel were offered as a heave offering to the Lord, given to the Levites as an inheritance (v. 24). The tithes were meant to support the Levites. They also gave the tithe of those tithes to the priests (Num. 18: 23-26). The Levites and priests were in charge of the religious services full-time. The church's pastors and lay workers are currently responsible for the religious services. This is why the tithes are currently used to support pastors and lay workers employed by the church. Finally, what must be tithed?

In Genesis 28, Jacob vows to give a tithe of all that God was to give him (v. 22). Our covenant with God should be the same. How does that translate to today? We must tithe on our personal income. Personal income includes our salary, hourly wage, commission, tips, and allowances, to name a few. Our tithe should be computed on the gross salary or wage amount before any legal or employee-required deductions.

Let’s review our tithe covenant with God. First, God requires a tithe or ten percent of all our income. No less and no more. Second, we must set that amount aside before using our income for any other purpose. Third, we bring it to the church's treasury, indicating that it is a tithe (and not an offering). Fourth, trust that our tithe is being used for its rightful purpose: supporting the workers and mission of the church. We show God our faithfulness by doing the first three. The fourth depends on the faithfulness of the church leaders, but being a steward of all God gives us is an honor and a responsibility that brings countless blessings to our lives and those who surround us.

“Welcome home.” 

The words that were meant to convey warmth and belonging caused an eerie juxtaposition in my mind. I had heard these words many times without such a controversy in my soul. However, this time, the small expression called forth a response that I had not anticipated. 

It was 2017 and I was on an assignment for my Christian Witness & World Religions class.  We had been asked to pick a unique faith group and attend a worship service, and I had selected the closest mosque. 

Before now, I had visited several Muslim countries. I had experienced the very early morning prayer call. I had noticed the quietness of the streets on Fridays. I had stood outside the main mosque in Jordan to sketch and draw people for an art class. But I had never stepped inside a Muslim place of worship until now.

The words “welcome home” were energized with a warmth, a joy, and a sense of gravity. If I could have smelled these words, they would have been like the fresh aroma of Momma’s baked bread lingering in the air, calling me to the table to join in family fellowship. They were sprinkled and seasoned with a love that could only come from a lifelong friend, but I had never met the man.

As I had traveled to that mosque in East Lansing, I had never anticipated a welcome that would disarm me of all my prejudices. I could imagine that if I hadn’t had such a strong conviction for Adventism and a real, transformative experience with the Gospel, I might have returned one day. At the very least, the hospitable words broke through my apprehension and made me feel at peace in that place and as if I belonged during that Friday service. 

What about now?

I am new to the Berrien Springs community. Do I have that same sense of belonging when I attend Pioneer Memorial Church? Do I provide to others a sense that they are at home in my congregation?

After the Gospel presentation in the first 11 chapters of the book of Romans, Paul switches from building a theological structure that lifts up Jesus and His salvation, to helping the readers apply the practical gears of the Gospel in their lives. In Romans 12, Paul gives a list of more than a dozen ways by which the Gospel should move the machinery of our hearts in order to help us live out the good news of Christ. In verse 13, Paul counsels us to “seek to show hospitality” or, in other words, to pursue the showing of love to those that we don’t know.

As I think of all the places where we should show hospitality to others, inviting them to feel at home, churches should, perhaps, be the warmest places of all—places where our welcome thermostats are turned up high. 

Let’s challenge ourselves to make steps toward a sense of belonging and to invite others to belong with us.  Let’s seek to more robustly embrace the mission of the kingdom with the active community of Christ. 

Let’s answer both calls at once and make small group ministry—in the midst of our large congregation—one means by which we can seek to show hospitality.

A Feast of Hymns turned 25 years old on Wednesday, November 20. Yes, A Feast of Hymns was born on Sabbath, November 20, 1999. 

Yet unique elements of this PMC Thanksgiving Celebration go back to at least Thanksgiving 1986, when there was a Processional Offering. And then the November 28, 1987 church bulletin acknowledges a “Notes of Thanks Offering.”

The first celebration had the heading Bring Joy! Give Thanks! A Feast of Hymns, but also had the unique additional title, "Faith Ablaze! Hymns of Heart and Heritage." On that day in 1999, Andrews University president Niels-Erik Andreasen preached on the topic, "Music, Spirituality, and Worship."

And on that day in 1999, two musical pillars were instituted.

First, "This Is a Time for Banners and Bells" was a hymn with a choir stanza, and as of this next Sabbath will have occurred in a total of 17 Feast Sabbath over the years. Second, "What Gift Can We Bring?" also was a congregational hymn, occurring as a congregational invitation to the Procession of Thanksgiving in 22 Feast Sabbaths over the years, including this next Sabbath.

Particularly with "What Gift?", Minnesota composer, Donna Kasbohm's gentle melody, using motifs found in the famous Westminster Quarters carillon pattern, has figured in various versions of the melody and a substantial number of musical arrangements in these services.

Here are some notable features of A Feast of Hymns through the years.

In every one of them, Steven Zork has served as choral conductor, the most frequent participating choir being the Andrews University Chorale. Frequently, premier presentations of new musical works and arrangements have occurred. A brass quartet or quintet has been frequent, as have been string quartets.

Retired Lead Pastor Dwight Nelson spoke the homilies in most of them. Pathfinder youth and leaders have collected and processed many thousands of food items for members of the community in association with the Procession of Thanksgiving. Thousands of notes of Thanksgiving have been written. Many prayers of joy have ascended.

Special features uniquely have included one Feast Sabbath subtitled, "Christ Comes Again!", and one commemorating 500 years from 1517, the famous Martin Luther year of the 95 theses'.

At the core of A Feast of Hymns have been the two elements of Joy and Thanksgiving: "Bring Joy! Give Thanks!" and as on November 23, 2024 choir singers will conclude with the choral response "Take Joy! Live Thanks!", we receive both encouragement and admonition to take from this celebration God’s abundant joy, and to live out a spirit of Thanksgiving!