Tod Bolsinger

Good News for All the Earth

“Time and again, in the course of Christian history, Romans has liberated the minds of women and men, brought them back to the understanding of the essential Gospel of Christ and started spiritual revolutions.”  F. F. Bruce

“When anyone gains a knowledge of (Romans), he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture.”  John Calvin

For 18 weeks beginning this Sunday with the first Sunday of Advent and ending the Sunday before Holy Week, my congregation and I are will be taking a journey through what is widely considered the greatest book of the New Testament, Paul’s letter to the Romans.  The title of the Series is “Good News For All the Earth” and I will be teaching it as Paul’s “gospel”.

Around 55 A.D, Paul finished his northeastern Mediterranean ministry and decided to begin a new realm of missionary activity in what is now Spain.  He was intending to visit the Roman churches and through this letter articulates the “gospel” he proclaims with the hope that they will become partners and supporters in his ministry.  Paul is looking for a new “home base” in Rome that will further the mission of the Kingdom of Christ into the west and this is his introduction.

At the time of his writing to the Roman Christians, there were considerable amounts of ethnic tension between Jews and Greeks.  Paul, writing to mostly Gentile Christians, as “the apostle to the Gentiles” wanted to insure that the Roman churches understood that any work of the Kingdom would include the Jews, indeed, the gospel FIRST included the Jews and so demands that all churches be a reflection of the One God’s intention to save the world through a new people, a new family, a new humanity of “every tribe and nation”, and most especially Jews and Gentiles together.

The key passage of the whole text is found in Romans 1:16-17:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.”  That’s what this letter is all about: Revealing the “good news” of God’s righteous, loving character to world that has gone wrong.

As we look out at the world around us, we can ask, like a fledgling church in the middle of the Roman Empire in a turbulent time: What in the world is God doing to restore his fallen creation?  What did God actually accomplish in Jesus Christ?  And what does that have to do with you and me?

In the weeks ahead, mostly as a resource for the members of my church, I will be posting sums themes and thoughts every Thursday or Friday on Romans.  I will also be offering a Romans reading plan (See below) for working our way through the text.   Feel free to join us.

December 1-3                          Romans 1:1-17

December 4-10                         Romans 1:18-3:20

December 11-17                       Romans 3:21-4:25

December 18-24                       Romans 5

December 25-January 7             Re-read all of Romans 1-5

January 8-14                              Romans 6

January 15-21                            Romans 7

January 22-28                            Romans 8

January 29-February 4                Romans 9

February 5-18                           Re-read all of Romans 6-11

February 19-25                          Romans 12

February 26-March 4                 Romans 13

March 5-11                               Romans 14

March 12-18                             Romans 15

March 19-25                             Romans 16

Ending Generously

As I bring this series on astonishing generosity to a close, I want to end by talking about what it takes to “end” generously.  What do we want our life legacy to be?  What values do we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren?  What stories do we want others to tell about us after we are gone?

I know that many of think we have lots of time to work out those questions.  And indeed, we all hope that as we age, we’ll mature.  (Unlike, we hope,  Shakespeare’s tragic King Lear who "became old before he became wise.")  And especially when it comes to being generous, magnanimous (a wonderful word that means “great-souled”), and benevolent.

We really think and plan that “someday” we will be generous.  We assume that as we get older, accumulate more resources, and become more “secure”, then we’ll be able to be the generous, giving, person that we aspire to be. 

Someday.  Like when I am “old”. Or when I retire.  Or when I pass on.  At the end of my life, we think, when "all is said and done," then I’ll be able to be generous.  I’ll leave money in my will to cancer research or to World Vision or my church.  I’ll fund a scholarship for a worthy, needy kid to go to school from my estate. I’ll leave my children and grandchildren the resources to live much better than I do.  Someday.   But what I have learned is that when "all is said and done," all there is is what actually was "said and done."

Some years ago I worked as a chaplain for cancer patients.  I was with a number of people when they died.  Three in one day, actually.  (A day I’ll never forget: A 26 year old man dying from AIDS, a 43 year old man leaving behind two teenage kids, a 86 year old man who was mostly all alone…)  And here is something I learned:

By and large there are few big “conversion” experiences at the end of life.  The thief on the cross may have made a big change in the last moment while hanging next to Jesus, but most of us don’t.  As one of my friends has said, “Throughout life, we remain ourselves…only more so.”

If we are estranged from loved ones in life, we’ll, by and large, carry grudges and feuds all the way to our death beds.  The stubborn agnostic, who was cynical about people going to church all his days, tends to go equally cynically into that good night.  The person who has pinched every penny will even at the end be checking his portolio on the web instead of hugging his kids.  I knew one woman who was so self-conscious about her weight and cholesterol that even while she was wasting away from cancer, she refused to eat butter.

In the same way, those who were tenderhearted, generous and thoughtful of others through life, tended to face death with a magnanimous spirit that inspired the people around them.  Sunday school teachers died while singing “Jesus loves me”.  Gracious and forgiving people went out of their way to settle accounts.  And those who told their loved ones that they loved them through out life, lavished love on others at the end of life.

Those who tended to think that they got a raw deal in life, tended to face death with resentment; but those who were lived with gratitude died with a deep sense of the amazing grace that surrounded them.

When I asked an 84-year-old pastor how he was feeling when he checked into the hospital with advanced colon cancer, he sat up in bed, looked at this then 26-year-old chaplain-intern and said to me, “Pastor, I have been married to the same woman for 60 years.  I have served the Lord for even longer.  I have lived a very good life.  If I can just get out of this bed long enough to officiate my grandson’s wedding this Saturday, then I’ll be glad to go see my Lord.”

All in all, what I learned from those facing the end of life has been my motivation for every day of my life.  How do you want to end your days?  How do you want to be remembered?  Whatever legacy that we want to leave behind requires that we start living that legacy now. We think that things will someday be different, but the truth is that you’ll go as you went.

You’ll go as you went.

Generous Hugs

One of my associate pastors is famous around our church for being the "Pastor of Hugs". Danny Meyer, restauranteur and author of Setting the Table, a book about the "transforming power of hospitality" in business, says that every customer should feel as if they had received a warm and friendly hug.

And then of course there is this....

Generosity is not just about our stuff, it's a way of life. And when we appropriately, genuinely and warmly offer ourselves to others, we reveal the warm embrace of God in the world.

The truth be told, I am awkward hugger.  But something about all of these people speaks to me about the revolutionary power of giving to others generously.

For Thanksgiving: How Gratitude Becomes Contagious Generosity

You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. 2 Corinthians 9:13-14, The Message

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving Eve, over 60 people from our church went down to Camp Pendleton to serve a Thanksgiving Dinner to a group of Marines with the 1 CEB.  Tomorrow, another group of 30 will head down to Baja California to serve Thanksgiving Dinner and offer help and support for Rancho Sordo Mudo, a Christian ministry serving deaf children in Mexico.  As a church we are now supporting 370 children through World Vision in our Y-Malawi Project.  And yesterday morning, a woman in our church who spent her life in Christian ministry and is now retired on a small pension came up to me and said, "Pastor Tod, you know how you've been talking about astonishing generosity?  Well, two members of the church found out that I have never been able to afford to go to Hawaii and they surprised me and told me that they are going to take me --just as a gift.  Can you imagine?  I think this astonishing generosity thing is working!" 

Praise be to the God who continues to transform us.  We respond to God's generosity by being generous to others.  Those friends pray with thanksgiving to God for us, and God's Spirit continues to transform us.  May the cycle continue...

This year, I am so thankful to be pastor of this astonishing church...

What, then, shall we do...to be Generous?

John the Baptist comes announcing that God is about to do a new thing in the world.  He tells his followers to make themselves ready for God’s coming into history: “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” And they ask him a very important and understandable question: “What should we do?”

Ok, Prophet, if we believe you that God is coming to bring his Kingdom what should we do? If the Messiah is coming to establish his rule, what do we need to do to make ready?  Do we read Torah? Do we move to a desert commune?  Do we pick up arms and ready to resist our Roman oppressors?  What are the people of God, the truly repentant, the real believers, the Kingdom people to DO?” 

(Before I give you the answer that you already know, pause here for a bit…what would we be expecting John to say to us if we asked that question in our context?  “So, Prophet, what would you have us do?  Should we read the Bible? Go to church?  Oppose Abortion or same-sex marriage?  Vote differently? Recycle?  What are the repentant to do? “

John’s answer must have been unexpected, yes, astonishing…

"If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry…“Collect no more taxes than the government requires…Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

Be generous, Be honest. Be content.  And in every case, he addressed the pockets, not the hearts.  The wallet, not the will.  A person’s stuff, not their soul.

Boy, that wouldn’t preach well today.  But look how incredibly practical, how genuinely down-to-earth is the Prophet:  If you want to get prepared for the Kingdom, loosen your grip on the things of this world.

As I have gone through this series on astonishing generosity, I have become keenly aware that the words trigger a deep longing while almost simultaneously, a firm resistance.  We truly WANT to be people of astonishing generosity, but are so hesitant to actually take the necessary steps to do what is necessary to actually become generous.

Generosity is not natural to us.  From moment when as a toddler our first declarative sentence is “Mine!” we are naturally selfish, insecure and clinging to whatever we can hang on to.  Parents have to teach their children to share their toys.  Mark Twain even said that the last thing converted in a man is his wallet.  Generosity, even run-of-the-mill (not to mention “astonishing”) generosity doesn’t come easy. 

So what, then shall we do?  Let me give you a couple of humble suggestions:

1. Hang out with truly generous people.  See if it will rub off on you.  A couple of weeks ago someone asked my wife, “What is your favorite thing to do that doesn’t cost money?”  She answered, laughing, “Drink wine with my cousin Mike!”  Mike is one of the truly generous people I know.  He almost always picks up the check, he shares things easily, even lavishly.  And if we go to his house for dinner, he always brings out one of his best bottles of wine.  Being around Mike makes me want to be more like him.
2. Practice being generous.  Tip big when you go out to dinner.  Buy every box of Girl Scout cookies some sweet little girl brings to your house and then give them away to your neighbors.  Buy a struggling young man a new suit or offer to pay the rent for someone who needs a helping hand.  And then thank them. Tell them that you are doing it for yourself and that they are doing you a favor. Then find something that you are hanging on to a little too tight and just give it to someone.  Give away all your Yugio cards, or your Reyn Spooner shirt collection, or whatever.  Empty your wallet in the offering plate just for the experience of doing so.  Write the biggest check you can ever imagine to some work of God in the world and watch how there is still food on your table.  And don’t ask for any recognition for it, because this is helping you.  Reorganize your finances so that the first tenth of every bit of income that comes in your door goes to the work of God.  I mean really tithe.  Look at it as a whole lot better deal than the rich young ruler got. 

Many of us start to get really nervous when we read stuff like this.  We start wondering whether we’ll really be okay if we truly loosen our grip on all we hang on to.  Jesus is not interested in making us poor, he just wants us to be devoted.  He just wants nothing to hinder us from following him.  And he assures us that no matter what we give away for his sake, we will receive more than we ever imagined. 

A Community of Contagious Astonishing Generosity

Because I am an avid, albeit slow, triathlete, I have had literally a dozen people send me the inspirational story of Rick and Dick Hoyt.  It is an amazing account of a bond between father and son that speaks about the power of love and mutual astonishing generosity.  (The topic of this latest series of blog posts.)

In my sermon yesterday, I shared about how our multi-generational worship services were the result of a legacy of inspirational lives and generous giving through a few specific stories.  I want also want to share some other stories that come right out of the life of our church.  For the next two weeks, our church services will be filled with story telling and it is our hope that through these stories, we’ll continue to grow together in what it means to become a “contagious community of astonishing generosity.”  But I also want to share these stories here on the blog.

• Like the elder in our church who had a homeless woman ask her what time it is and she felt the Spirit prompting her “Don’t just tell her the time, give her your watch.”  So she did. 
• Or the men who have done beautiful wood-work around the church, serving with their own two hands.  One of the men also built the shelves that hold the projectors for our big church screens.  When our worship director thanked him and told him the big difference that it would make for our contemporary service, he replied, “I don’t much care for that kind of worship service, but if it blesses others, then I’m glad to help out.”
• Or the woman in our church who for several years now has given our church staff a beautiful Christmas lunch at a nice restaurant just to thank the staff for their service. 
• Or the man who quietly tends for our flowers and plants on the church grounds.
• Or the family that has given such a high proportion of their income to the Lord’s work that the I.R.S. can’t believe that anyone could be so “astonishingly” generous. 
• Or the over forty men in our church who take turns driving one man, who two years ago became a quadriplegic through a diving accident, an hour each way to San Diego, three times a week so that when he goes for physical therapy, he doesn’t have to go alone.
• Or the couple who pledged $60,000 to a new fund that will help young adults who are willing to serve with our mission partners for two-year-long short term mission experiences.
• Or the over 250 people from our church who did an “extreme home makeover” of the home of one of our associate pastors while she was going through chemotherapy.
• Or the woman who started the “Give it Away Fund” a special account that we keep just to care for people in need.  She literally said to me, “Here is some money that I think God wants me to give away to care for others.  Would you make a fund for others to join me in it?  If you or the other pastors see a need, then, well, give this money away.”
• Or the couple that set a personal goal of giving to the Lord’s work as much money each year as the government takes in taxes. 
• Or the teenager who set up a booth during the monthly crafts fair in our downtown to earn money to send to our Malawi ministry in Africa.
• Or the women’s group that makes quilts for anyone in our church who is going through a hard time and needs to be reminded of the warmth and comfort of God.  (Members of the church tie the finishing knots on the quilt and pray for the person so that it becomes, literally, a prayer quilt, wrapping the person in the prayers of the community.)
• Or the dozens of people who will provide, cook and serve Thanksgiving meals for the Marines at Camp Pendleton.
• Or the cycling group that moved a young couple from one apartment to another because their baby was born unexpectedly on the day that they needed to be out of their apartment.

I know there are others, and indeed, some may be more astonishing than others, but maybe my posting these will lead others to post some of the ones I missed.  Mostly, what I hope is that we’ll begin to realize just how contagious generosity can be.

Another Article on Faith and Work

On Friday, I mentioned that I'll be speaking next weekend at Laity Lodge, outside of San Antonio, Texas.  Here is another introduction to an article that I wrote for the Lodge's online "sister" ministry about faith and work called The High Calling.

Standing with Others Prepares Us to Stand Alone

We tell our children about the people we hope they will become (and indeed hope we are): people of courage and conviction who stand for right even before powerful authorities able to make things awfully wrong. William Wallace refused to beg for mercy from a corrupt king (as immortalized in Mel Gibson’s film Braveheart). Sir Thomas More spoke out against King Henry VIII’s flagrant disregard of Christian teaching at the cost of his own neck. We admire the few willing to lose what is dear in this world to maintain a standard from another world.
We call them people of integrity. But how do we become like them?

Click here to read the rest of this essay at The High Calling.

Click here to read other High Calling Bible study/reflections
by Tod Bolsinger

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

SCPC 2006 CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION
San Clemente Presbyterian Church is proud to present their 22nd annual Christmas Musical and Concert, “Sacred Grounds—A Coffeehouse Christmas”-- a heartwarming Christmas story for all ages. The show includes performances by our Christmas choir, hand bells, drama troop and full orchestra.

This family event is open to the community, running Saturday, December 9th 4 and 7 PM as well as Sunday, December 10th at 3 and 6 PM. Admission is free and childcare is provided for nursery through 4 years old.

In addition to the concert there will be a simultaneous event aimed at kindergarten through 4th grade “La Posada”. An interactive story of Joseph and Mary’s journey into Bethlehem, as they search for an inn to rest and prepare for the birth of Jesus. Children interested are encouraged to come dressed in Biblical period costumes. Children are invited to attend either event.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this inspiring holiday tradition at SCPC.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

SCPC 2006 CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION
San Clemente Presbyterian Church is proud to present their 22nd annual Christmas Musical and Concert, “Sacred Grounds—A Coffeehouse Christmas”-- a heartwarming Christmas story for all ages. The show includes performances by our Christmas choir, hand bells, drama troop and full orchestra.

This family event is open to the community, running Saturday, December 9th 4 and 7 PM as well as Sunday, December 10th at 3 and 6 PM. Admission is free and childcare is provided for nursery through 4 years old.

In addition to the concert there will be a simultaneous event aimed at kindergarten through 4th grade “La Posada”. An interactive story of Joseph and Mary’s journey into Bethlehem, as they search for an inn to rest and prepare for the birth of Jesus. Children interested are encouraged to come dressed in Biblical period costumes. Children are invited to attend either event.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this inspiring holiday tradition at SCPC.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

SCPC 2006 CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION
San Clemente Presbyterian Church is proud to present their 22nd annual Christmas Musical and Concert, “Sacred Grounds—A Coffeehouse Christmas”-- a heartwarming Christmas story for all ages. The show includes performances by our Christmas choir, hand bells, drama troop and full orchestra.

This family event is open to the community, running Saturday, December 9th 4 and 7 PM as well as Sunday, December 10th at 3 and 6 PM. Admission is free and childcare is provided for nursery through 4 years old.

In addition to the concert there will be a simultaneous event aimed at kindergarten through 4th grade “La Posada”. An interactive story of Joseph and Mary’s journey into Bethlehem, as they search for an inn to rest and prepare for the birth of Jesus. Children interested are encouraged to come dressed in Biblical period costumes. Children are invited to attend either event.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this inspiring holiday tradition at SCPC.