George Washington Carver was a brilliant scientist who could have chased international fame, notoriety, and wealth. Instead, he chose a quiet life focused on helping his neighbors who were mostly poor, rural farmers. He used his scientific skills to help improve their soil and crops. He woke up early, worked diligently with his hands, and deliberately avoided political conflicts and any sort of personal fame. His quiet lifestyle and deep respect for the community made him a beloved and trusted neighbor. He was a living example of 1 Thessalonians 4:11, which says, "...aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands…” In other words, be a good neighbor. Don’t give them a reason to consider you anything but a good neighbor. I think this is what it means to love our neighbor “as we love ourselves.”

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, neighbors in small towns across America organized informal "penny auctions" to save family farms from foreclosure. When a bankrupt family’s farm  went up for auction, the local neighbors would gather, agree not to bid against each other, and buy back the land and equipment for pennies on the dollar. Then they would return everything to the original owner. They took action to care well for their neighbors in a practical and tangible way. This reminds of an experience I had in war-torn Liberia, West Africa. Many people there wrestled with having enough food, but they had a wonderful saying…if one person has a bag of rice in our village, we all have a bag of rice. That type of practical care for one another is exactly what Jesus meant when He affirmed that we are called to “love our neighbor as ourselves.”

We have all heard the teaching of Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers…” That sounds good, but when you are in a struggle with a neighbor over your property line it is difficult to be a peacemaker. In fact, I have sometimes been just the opposite when it comes to my neighbors. It is easier to pick fights than to be a peacemaker. God’s Word teaches us something that can be quite powerful when it comes to conflict with a tough-to-love neighbor. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1 ESV) I believe God calls us to be the type of neighbor who chooses a gentle, humble approach to defuse disputes and daily friction before anger escalates.

When we talk about the “Art of Neighboring,” we often think about ways we can serve our neighbors through hospitality and kindness. I was reminded recently that another powerful way we can care for our neighbors is to choose to speak the best about them. In the book of Exodus, we are taught through Abraham’s failure that we should be careful about speaking the truth to them. Specifically, we are taught: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16 ESV) I believe being a good neighbor means actively protecting the dignity and reputation of those around you. At first it might seem to be a strange thing to care about, but I have noticed that my neighbors have the tendency to “pick sides” like a World Cup fan. Who are you cheering for, who are you cheering against? In the end, we can cause a lot of pain through a little gossip.

From the moment I began preparing for our recent sermon series, “The Art of Neighboring,” I was shocked by how many opportunities God has given me to connect with those who live around me. The part that is convicting to me is the fear that I have allowed my agenda to eclipse His desire for me to care well for my neighbors. I have sensed, as I have interacted with many in our church family, that you can relate to me in this area. Several of you have shared stories of neighbors going through crises that remind us of how temporary life is. I do not want to assume I will have a “better” time to connect with them; I want to take the time to engage today. So the commitment I have made is this – if God opens a door, I do not want to be the one who closes it. When we studied the Good Samaritan, these words from Luke 10:33 (ESV) stood out to me, "But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion."

I enjoy boating in all of its many different forms – sailboats, speedboats, and my tandem kayak. I love getting out on the water when I am able, especially with those that I love. When we lived in the Bahamas, I had the joy of being with Bahamian friends who were extremely experienced boaters. A topic that often came up, especially in the shallow Caribbean sea, was coral reefs that were right under the surface of the water that could tear the hull of a boat apart. Almost all of my Bahamian friends could share a personal experience of themselves or someone they knew, having a painful encounter with a coral reef. Interestingly, Jude warns his readers that there are destructive “hidden reefs” (Jude 1:12) in their churches hiding under the surface of ministry, that could cause them and others incredible harm.

The past few Sundays we have been focusing on growing in our ability to care for our neighbors through a special sermon series called, “The Art of Neighboring.” I am motivated to take this more seriously by outspoken atheist Penn Jillette, of the magician duo Penn & Teller. In a video blog after one of his shows, he made a statement that I cannot ignore. He described a man who came up to him after a show to share a bible and talk with him about faith. In response, Jillette said,  “I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.” 

My Ohio driver's license gives me the legal right to operate a motor vehicle. It confirms that I have met a set of criteria making it appropriate for me (under the right circumstances) to operate a motor vehicle. It grants certain rights and privileges, but it does not permit me to do things like speeding, distracted driving, or dangerous driving. It is a license, but it has limitations. Jude, when he wrote his brief letter to all faithful Christians, warned that when we understand that we are saved by grace, we must not treat that grace like a license to live however we want. This is what was happening back when he penned the book of Jude, and it is certainly happening now.

We have all had the experience of handing someone cash and watching them awkwardly check the bill to attempt to confirm that it is not a counterfeit. According to the Federal Reserve, “It is important to know what the security features are in genuine currency, because if you end up with a counterfeit note, you will lose that money. A counterfeit note cannot be exchanged for a genuine one, and it is illegal to knowingly pass counterfeit currency.” So the best solution for knowing the fake thing is to know the real thing really well. I think this concept is also key to our ability to spot what Jude warns of as the dangers of individuals sneaking a “counterfeit” version of faith into the church. He writes, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4 ESV)

This summer in these weekly emails, I intend to continue exploring the sweet little book of Jude. The book of Jude contains an incredible sense of urgency. Imagine receiving a text from a neighbor casually asking how you and your family are doing, then the next thing you know, they are at your door yelling, “Get everyone out of the house, I saw smoke, your house is on fire!”

While it is common these days to talk about investing your money well, it is probably more important to talk about how we invest our time. I love the moment recorded in scripture where Jesus had just finished preaching, and His disciples were surrounding Him in order to keep away those who might infringe on His busy ministry. The disciples thought they were doing their jobs by being good bouncers and protecting Jesus’ time. When Jesus noticed what they were doing, He told them to let them through. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14 ESV) Jesus said they were not an interruption to His ministry; they were His ministry! I love the truth that all people, even children, are worth investment.

Dear Hope Family, 

This week, in our Sunday services, our Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts, Tyler Richards, shared that his wife, Sandra, has received a promotion through her work, and they plan to move to Alabama in early July. Tyler’s last day on staff will be June 30. We will dearly miss the Richards family. We are grateful for Tyler’s leadership over the past four years, and we wish him and his family well as they make this move. We look forward to a special reception to honor the Richards family on Sunday, June 14, after the second service.

We interrupt our regular programming for an important message… 

I will never forget sitting in a seminary classroom when suddenly 20 cell phones went off at once. Friends and family were calling to ask if we had seen the tragic events unfolding on September 11, 2001. If you were alive then, you likely remember that for nearly 93 consecutive hours, major networks suspended all regular shows and commercials. They provided around-the-clock coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was the first time since the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy that television completely halted "fun and entertainment" for an indefinite period.

This Sunday, we will take some time to celebrate the gift of moms and the incredible sacrifices they have made on our behalf. I love the way Proverbs 31:28 describes the celebration of mothers: "Her children rise up and call her blessed!” I have plenty of reasons to “rise up” and say thank you to my Mom (who still wears “mom goggles” that see her sons through a lens far kinder than they deserve), and to all the moms of our Hope Church family. I am in awe every day watching my wife, Ally, wear a dozen hats—counselor, nurse, friend, prayer warrior, and cheerleader for our daughters.

If I asked you what your favorite book of the Bible is, I am guessing Jude might not make the short list. The “book” is only 25 verses, but I have found it to have some very timely truths and warnings that are as relevant today as when it was originally written. I hope to explore the book of Jude over the next few weeks and share some ways it can help us grow deep in our faith.

I love the story of a woman who arranged a meeting with her pastor after her oncologist said she only had a few days to live. They met at the hospital to pray and discuss her wishes for her funeral. They chose songs, scriptures, and other details, including the outfit she wanted to be buried in. But, as the pastor prepared to leave she added one unusual request. With a wry smile she said, "I want to be buried with a fork in my hand." 

Having In God We Trust written on our money is either a special declaration of our faith, or ironic. Many today choose to set aside trust in God for trust in the power of the paper it is printed on. I appreciate the wisdom of C.S. Lewis, who brilliantly wrote, "The greatest irony of the American coin is that it bears the name of God while being the tool most often used to forget Him!" It is amazing how many empty substitutes we attempt to use to replace the authority and security of God in our lives. We are prone to making the temporary significant, and forgetting the eternal.

This past Sunday, I mentioned the incredible story of the man on the cross who was saved in the last moments of his life. Clearly he did not understand theology, he never gave a penny to God’s work, and he never had time to get baptized. But Jesus promised him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise!” (Luke 23:43 ESV) What a wonderful reminder that, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV) As the old hymn goes, “Jesus paid it all!” But does this give us an excuse not to get baptized? I do not think so.

We all know that Easter is about more than chocolate bunnies, dyed eggs, and Peeps. We know Easter is incredibly important because of what we celebrate – the fact that Jesus Christ conquered death. This is central to Christianity. As John S. Whale puts it, “Belief in the resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith. It is the Christian faith.” Having a resurrected savior makes all the difference in the world.”

As we anticipate the very special week leading up to Easter, I thought it might be helpful to remind you of the events that took place during the week of Easter that led to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we consider what many call “holy week," I invite you to set aside time to reflect on the gift of Jesus during those very important days.