Living Bread
Stories
Contents
“Living Bread” by Keith Wagner
“Spiritually Speaking” by Keith Wagner
“Finding Wisdom” by Peter Andrew Smith
Living Bread
by Keith Wagner
John 6:51-58
In 2009 I was reading an article about some companies that were seeing an increase in sales for some of their products. In spite of the economic recession at that time did you know that sales of chocolate products were up? So was the sale of running shoes. Perhaps more people were running to work instead of driving and eating a candy bar on the way. There was also an increase in the sales of Spam. Apparently folks were dining in more and Spam had become the choice of stay-at-home meals.
At the same time there was a decrease in the sales at fast food restaurants. Perhaps people were eating Spam instead of burgers and fries. One study suggested that people were eating at home more which meant they may have been spending more time eating together instead of being constantly on the go.
A recent study at the time also showed that Americans had been spending more money on fast food than they did on higher education, personal computers, software and new cars. It appeared that the recession was causing families to choose between eating fast food and eating at home. That was good news. Abandoning fast food in favor of “slow food” at home could provide quality time for families.
In this exchange between Jesus and the Jews Jesus was challenging them to accept the understanding that he is the “living bread.”
I believe it was their fellowship together at the table that enabled them to “see” that Jesus was with them. There is something remarkable about food that enables people to have meaningful communication and inspire relationships. During our meals with others we tell stories and have conversations that help to validate who we are and connect us with those who are present. Whenever we gather for food, people communicate on a deeper level.
When we choose fast food over slow food we may miss out on the presence of God. Or, to put it another way, we may miss an opportunity to experience newness, wise counsel, or spiritual enlightenment. I believe that we underestimate the presence of the living God in the breaking of the bread. Good things can happen when people of faith break bread together.
God is always near but we miss those encounters because we are in too big of hurry or we avoid quality time together over a meal. The eyes of the disciples were opened because their meal together reminded them of their last supper with him. Other events, like the feeding of the 5,000 or the wedding feast at Cana also inspired them. More importantly, when Jesus becomes known to us in the breaking of bread, we experience community and especially forgiveness. When an opportunity arises for a common meal, it often creates the stage for healing. It can also provide a time for personal growth.
Our favorite restaurant is Max and Erma’s. Our family has met for years at the one at Fairfield Commons in Dayton. It provided us a place to catch up with our grandchildren instead of gulping down fast food. When we traveled to Atlanta earlier this spring, we were looking for a place to have a “slow meal” instead of fast food to prepare us for our journey home. None of the restaurants seemed familiar, but low and behold we found a Max and Erma’s. The familiar food and atmosphere made our whole trip.
One Christmas we took our grandchildren to see the Nutcracker. Following the performance we decided to eat at, you guessed it, Max and Erma’s. But, it was busy and we had to wait an hour before we could be seated. The grand kids were getting hungry and finally they cleared a table for our group of six. At the end of the meal the manager came over to our table and said, “The meal is on me, sorry you had to wait.”
I remember that incident because it reminds me of the importance of taking our time and being together instead of rushing through life with fast food. In that experience at Max & Erma’s the wait paid off.
Jesus is the living bread who invites us to his table. It is a table of forgiveness and nourishment. In this meal we can receive his forgiveness. In this meal we can slow down and be enriched through the living presence of God.
* * *
Spiritually Speaking
by Keith Wagner
Ephesians 5:15-20
At Ephesus Paul was giving assurance to the followers that there would be a comforter, a counselor, an advocate who would be their friend and helper. Jesus would continue to “abide in them,” as the Holy Spirit and therefore they would continue to experience the presence and assurance of God. That same spirit is within us as well. And that relationship depends on our willingness, as Paul said, to “Let the Holy Spirit fill you.”
Paul knew they would be tested in the future in ways they could never imagine. In other words, the future is full of surprises, both joy and disappointment. However, the Spirit is one who would be with them throughout their life’s journey.
Leaving home was never a problem for me. As a child and youth I was encouraged to spend weeks away in the summer with my grandparents or at camp. When it came time to go to college, I couldn’t wait to move. Homesickness was not something I could relate too. There was, however, a time when I was in the Navy and had orders to Vietnam. I was ordered to fly to the Philippines and meet my ship there. It was a journey that took me l0,000 miles away from home. Flying from Norfolk to San Francisco wasn’t so bad. It was the last leg of that trip, the flight over the Pacific Ocean, that really intimidated me.
As a young ensign I was ready to meet the challenge. Outside I was confident and self-assured. Inside I was nervous and afraid. That’s when I encountered the spirit of truth. The Spirit was in the form of an old salty Navy Chief. It was his 5th trip to the Gulf of Tonkin. He told me what life was like on the ship and what I could expect. What he gave me mostly was comfort and assurance.
We have no idea where our lives will take us. I believe, that God does in fact surround us with the Spirit of truth just as Jesus proclaimed. For me in that situation it was an experienced Navy Chief. But, it could be anyone or any "spirit" that guides us through the difficult stages of life.
Ironically, forty years later my wife and I took a cruise in the Mediterranean and one of our visits was to the original site of Ephesus. It is now a national park, protected by the nation of Turkey. They have excavated the area and now proudly display many of the original structures and lead tours through the area. One site was the arena where Paul spoke to thousands of people. I was amazed of its grandeur and size. At one point I stood in the middle of the arena on marble flooring. I looked around the massive rows of seats made of rock where people where inspired by Paul’s teachings. In that moment I felt a real connection with Paul and the people of Ephesus.
When we think of the "truth" we generally think of saying the right words, or not telling a lie. The word truth in Hebrew means to sustain, to support. It means being firm, solid and reliable. Standing in that historical place affirmed my connection with God’s church and especially Paul. Therefore, the truth, according to John, meant not telling the truth but living it.
For me, living by the truth is to be our authentic selves. Although we all carry our parents genes and are influenced by the people we grow up with we are still unique. We are truthful when we live our lives to the fullest and live with assurance that God’s spirit is always with us. For me it means being free and faithful to my own aspirations and life experiences.
I could have made a career in the Navy. It was a good life. I liked the adventure, the challenge and the travel. But, had I continued on that track I would have been unfaithful to the truth. For God called me to a different path, the path of ordained ministry. I have learned that the most fulfilling thing in life is to be who God made us to be, not what others want us to be. And I believe that Paul is saying that when we are authentic the spirit of truth will be with us on our life’s journey.
That same spirit is with you wherever you go. It is the one promised to us by Paul. It is not just words, but a comforting presence that we will experience in times of struggle or despair. It will be there to sustain you as you proceed on your life’s journey. It is one that is embodied in the ever lasting community of faith and one we have been commissioned to share.
* * *
Finding Wisdom
by Peter Andrew Smith
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Allie came into the kitchen. “Nana, how can I become wise?”
“What do you mean?” Her grandmother asked.
“In Sunday school we learned about King Solomon asking God for wisdom to be a good ruler and God was happy and blessed him. I’d like God to be happy with me.”
“Ah.” Her grandmother pulled out a recipe book. She then reached into the cupboard for flour and sugar. “Would you like to help me make cookies?”
“Cookies? What do they have to do with wisdom?”
Her grandmother took the milk and butter from the fridge. “They’ll help me explain how you become wise.”
“Okay.” Allie sat down at the counter. “What do we do first?”
Her grandmother handed her the recipe. “We check to make sure we have everything we need.”
Allie scanned the paper and the ingredients laid out on the counter. “We need some salt and some baking powder.”
“The first step to being wise is to know where to look for direction. To bake cookies we find that in the recipe.” Her grandmother opened the cupboard and took down the missing ingredients. “So where should you look for direction in life?”
Allie tapped her chin. “The Bible.”
“The Bible is a great place to start. Where do you suppose you could find help understanding and living out what the Bible says?”
“I suppose by going to church.”
“Absolutely. We start with the Bible and worshiping in a community of faith.” Her grandmother measured out the butter and sugar, added a pinch of salt, and started to mix them together. “Prayer is also part of the mixture.”
Allie watched her stir the ingredients. “So I make sure that the Bible, church, and prayer are part of my life?”
“Yes.” Her grandmother showed her the combined ingredients. “They all come together to enrich each other. We read the Bible to better worship God and pray and when we worship and pray the words of the Bible become our words to live by.”
“That seems easy.”
“It is but sometimes people forget that worship is supposed to be joyful.” Her grandmother added a dash of milk. “Worship and study bring us closer to God who is the source of all joy.”
Allie nodded. “I think I get it.”
Her grandmother put some flour and baking powder into another bowl. “That’s not enough, though, because we need to have service and generosity as part of our lives.”
Allie frowned. “Now that you’ve mixing the flour and baking powder I can’t tell the difference between them.”
“That’s the way it is with serving others and being generous. Once we start caring and sharing we realize they’re pretty much the same thing -- we give to others from what we have been given.”
“That makes sense.”
“The problem some people have is that they forget that worship and service are supposed to go together.” Her grandmother looked at the bowls sitting side by side. “Can you give me a hand?”
Allie held one bowl as her grandmother gradually added the ingredients from the other. She also helped her stir the batter until everything was well combined.
“So are the cookies finished?” her grandmother asked.
Allie looked at the dough. “No, they need to be baked.”
“They certainly do.” Her grandmother turned on the oven. “There are places and times it’s safe to be a Christian and even places where it’s easy to serve and be generous. The truth is, though, if we don’t get into the world and live our faith we can remain a gooey mess.”
Her grandmother got out the cookie sheet and together they portioned out the dough. When the oven was hot enough her grandmother put the cookies in to bake. “So do you remember everything we need to do in our lives?”
“I need to read the Bible, pray, go to church while remembering to rejoice and I need to help other people and be generous.” Allie tilted her head. “Did I forget anything?”
Her grandmother pointed at the oven.
“Oh yeah,” Allie said. “I need to do all of that out in the real world.”
“Exactly.”
Allie scratched her head. “I’m not sure what all that has to do with being wise.”
Her grandmother smiled and sat down beside her. “When we live a faithful life then we connect to God and learn from God through what God says to us and from what God asks us to do as disciples.”
“And that makes us wise?”
“That opens us up to become wise people, yes.” Her grandmother paused. “Can you smell something?”
“The cookies. They smell great!”
“They do because all those ingredients are blended and now cooking to make something wonderful. That’s what happens to us when we do everything God asks us to do -- we become something wonderful in the world.”
“The cookies take time to bake.” Allie thought for a moment. “Growing wise and being the person God wants us to be takes a while, doesn’t it?”
Her grandmother kissed her on the cheek. “It takes a lifetime.”
*****************************************
StoryShare, August 19, 2018, issue.
Copyright 2018 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“Living Bread” by Keith Wagner
“Spiritually Speaking” by Keith Wagner
“Finding Wisdom” by Peter Andrew Smith
Living Bread
by Keith Wagner
John 6:51-58
In 2009 I was reading an article about some companies that were seeing an increase in sales for some of their products. In spite of the economic recession at that time did you know that sales of chocolate products were up? So was the sale of running shoes. Perhaps more people were running to work instead of driving and eating a candy bar on the way. There was also an increase in the sales of Spam. Apparently folks were dining in more and Spam had become the choice of stay-at-home meals.
At the same time there was a decrease in the sales at fast food restaurants. Perhaps people were eating Spam instead of burgers and fries. One study suggested that people were eating at home more which meant they may have been spending more time eating together instead of being constantly on the go.
A recent study at the time also showed that Americans had been spending more money on fast food than they did on higher education, personal computers, software and new cars. It appeared that the recession was causing families to choose between eating fast food and eating at home. That was good news. Abandoning fast food in favor of “slow food” at home could provide quality time for families.
In this exchange between Jesus and the Jews Jesus was challenging them to accept the understanding that he is the “living bread.”
I believe it was their fellowship together at the table that enabled them to “see” that Jesus was with them. There is something remarkable about food that enables people to have meaningful communication and inspire relationships. During our meals with others we tell stories and have conversations that help to validate who we are and connect us with those who are present. Whenever we gather for food, people communicate on a deeper level.
When we choose fast food over slow food we may miss out on the presence of God. Or, to put it another way, we may miss an opportunity to experience newness, wise counsel, or spiritual enlightenment. I believe that we underestimate the presence of the living God in the breaking of the bread. Good things can happen when people of faith break bread together.
God is always near but we miss those encounters because we are in too big of hurry or we avoid quality time together over a meal. The eyes of the disciples were opened because their meal together reminded them of their last supper with him. Other events, like the feeding of the 5,000 or the wedding feast at Cana also inspired them. More importantly, when Jesus becomes known to us in the breaking of bread, we experience community and especially forgiveness. When an opportunity arises for a common meal, it often creates the stage for healing. It can also provide a time for personal growth.
Our favorite restaurant is Max and Erma’s. Our family has met for years at the one at Fairfield Commons in Dayton. It provided us a place to catch up with our grandchildren instead of gulping down fast food. When we traveled to Atlanta earlier this spring, we were looking for a place to have a “slow meal” instead of fast food to prepare us for our journey home. None of the restaurants seemed familiar, but low and behold we found a Max and Erma’s. The familiar food and atmosphere made our whole trip.
One Christmas we took our grandchildren to see the Nutcracker. Following the performance we decided to eat at, you guessed it, Max and Erma’s. But, it was busy and we had to wait an hour before we could be seated. The grand kids were getting hungry and finally they cleared a table for our group of six. At the end of the meal the manager came over to our table and said, “The meal is on me, sorry you had to wait.”
I remember that incident because it reminds me of the importance of taking our time and being together instead of rushing through life with fast food. In that experience at Max & Erma’s the wait paid off.
Jesus is the living bread who invites us to his table. It is a table of forgiveness and nourishment. In this meal we can receive his forgiveness. In this meal we can slow down and be enriched through the living presence of God.
* * *
Spiritually Speaking
by Keith Wagner
Ephesians 5:15-20
At Ephesus Paul was giving assurance to the followers that there would be a comforter, a counselor, an advocate who would be their friend and helper. Jesus would continue to “abide in them,” as the Holy Spirit and therefore they would continue to experience the presence and assurance of God. That same spirit is within us as well. And that relationship depends on our willingness, as Paul said, to “Let the Holy Spirit fill you.”
Paul knew they would be tested in the future in ways they could never imagine. In other words, the future is full of surprises, both joy and disappointment. However, the Spirit is one who would be with them throughout their life’s journey.
Leaving home was never a problem for me. As a child and youth I was encouraged to spend weeks away in the summer with my grandparents or at camp. When it came time to go to college, I couldn’t wait to move. Homesickness was not something I could relate too. There was, however, a time when I was in the Navy and had orders to Vietnam. I was ordered to fly to the Philippines and meet my ship there. It was a journey that took me l0,000 miles away from home. Flying from Norfolk to San Francisco wasn’t so bad. It was the last leg of that trip, the flight over the Pacific Ocean, that really intimidated me.
As a young ensign I was ready to meet the challenge. Outside I was confident and self-assured. Inside I was nervous and afraid. That’s when I encountered the spirit of truth. The Spirit was in the form of an old salty Navy Chief. It was his 5th trip to the Gulf of Tonkin. He told me what life was like on the ship and what I could expect. What he gave me mostly was comfort and assurance.
We have no idea where our lives will take us. I believe, that God does in fact surround us with the Spirit of truth just as Jesus proclaimed. For me in that situation it was an experienced Navy Chief. But, it could be anyone or any "spirit" that guides us through the difficult stages of life.
Ironically, forty years later my wife and I took a cruise in the Mediterranean and one of our visits was to the original site of Ephesus. It is now a national park, protected by the nation of Turkey. They have excavated the area and now proudly display many of the original structures and lead tours through the area. One site was the arena where Paul spoke to thousands of people. I was amazed of its grandeur and size. At one point I stood in the middle of the arena on marble flooring. I looked around the massive rows of seats made of rock where people where inspired by Paul’s teachings. In that moment I felt a real connection with Paul and the people of Ephesus.
When we think of the "truth" we generally think of saying the right words, or not telling a lie. The word truth in Hebrew means to sustain, to support. It means being firm, solid and reliable. Standing in that historical place affirmed my connection with God’s church and especially Paul. Therefore, the truth, according to John, meant not telling the truth but living it.
For me, living by the truth is to be our authentic selves. Although we all carry our parents genes and are influenced by the people we grow up with we are still unique. We are truthful when we live our lives to the fullest and live with assurance that God’s spirit is always with us. For me it means being free and faithful to my own aspirations and life experiences.
I could have made a career in the Navy. It was a good life. I liked the adventure, the challenge and the travel. But, had I continued on that track I would have been unfaithful to the truth. For God called me to a different path, the path of ordained ministry. I have learned that the most fulfilling thing in life is to be who God made us to be, not what others want us to be. And I believe that Paul is saying that when we are authentic the spirit of truth will be with us on our life’s journey.
That same spirit is with you wherever you go. It is the one promised to us by Paul. It is not just words, but a comforting presence that we will experience in times of struggle or despair. It will be there to sustain you as you proceed on your life’s journey. It is one that is embodied in the ever lasting community of faith and one we have been commissioned to share.
* * *
Finding Wisdom
by Peter Andrew Smith
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Allie came into the kitchen. “Nana, how can I become wise?”
“What do you mean?” Her grandmother asked.
“In Sunday school we learned about King Solomon asking God for wisdom to be a good ruler and God was happy and blessed him. I’d like God to be happy with me.”
“Ah.” Her grandmother pulled out a recipe book. She then reached into the cupboard for flour and sugar. “Would you like to help me make cookies?”
“Cookies? What do they have to do with wisdom?”
Her grandmother took the milk and butter from the fridge. “They’ll help me explain how you become wise.”
“Okay.” Allie sat down at the counter. “What do we do first?”
Her grandmother handed her the recipe. “We check to make sure we have everything we need.”
Allie scanned the paper and the ingredients laid out on the counter. “We need some salt and some baking powder.”
“The first step to being wise is to know where to look for direction. To bake cookies we find that in the recipe.” Her grandmother opened the cupboard and took down the missing ingredients. “So where should you look for direction in life?”
Allie tapped her chin. “The Bible.”
“The Bible is a great place to start. Where do you suppose you could find help understanding and living out what the Bible says?”
“I suppose by going to church.”
“Absolutely. We start with the Bible and worshiping in a community of faith.” Her grandmother measured out the butter and sugar, added a pinch of salt, and started to mix them together. “Prayer is also part of the mixture.”
Allie watched her stir the ingredients. “So I make sure that the Bible, church, and prayer are part of my life?”
“Yes.” Her grandmother showed her the combined ingredients. “They all come together to enrich each other. We read the Bible to better worship God and pray and when we worship and pray the words of the Bible become our words to live by.”
“That seems easy.”
“It is but sometimes people forget that worship is supposed to be joyful.” Her grandmother added a dash of milk. “Worship and study bring us closer to God who is the source of all joy.”
Allie nodded. “I think I get it.”
Her grandmother put some flour and baking powder into another bowl. “That’s not enough, though, because we need to have service and generosity as part of our lives.”
Allie frowned. “Now that you’ve mixing the flour and baking powder I can’t tell the difference between them.”
“That’s the way it is with serving others and being generous. Once we start caring and sharing we realize they’re pretty much the same thing -- we give to others from what we have been given.”
“That makes sense.”
“The problem some people have is that they forget that worship and service are supposed to go together.” Her grandmother looked at the bowls sitting side by side. “Can you give me a hand?”
Allie held one bowl as her grandmother gradually added the ingredients from the other. She also helped her stir the batter until everything was well combined.
“So are the cookies finished?” her grandmother asked.
Allie looked at the dough. “No, they need to be baked.”
“They certainly do.” Her grandmother turned on the oven. “There are places and times it’s safe to be a Christian and even places where it’s easy to serve and be generous. The truth is, though, if we don’t get into the world and live our faith we can remain a gooey mess.”
Her grandmother got out the cookie sheet and together they portioned out the dough. When the oven was hot enough her grandmother put the cookies in to bake. “So do you remember everything we need to do in our lives?”
“I need to read the Bible, pray, go to church while remembering to rejoice and I need to help other people and be generous.” Allie tilted her head. “Did I forget anything?”
Her grandmother pointed at the oven.
“Oh yeah,” Allie said. “I need to do all of that out in the real world.”
“Exactly.”
Allie scratched her head. “I’m not sure what all that has to do with being wise.”
Her grandmother smiled and sat down beside her. “When we live a faithful life then we connect to God and learn from God through what God says to us and from what God asks us to do as disciples.”
“And that makes us wise?”
“That opens us up to become wise people, yes.” Her grandmother paused. “Can you smell something?”
“The cookies. They smell great!”
“They do because all those ingredients are blended and now cooking to make something wonderful. That’s what happens to us when we do everything God asks us to do -- we become something wonderful in the world.”
“The cookies take time to bake.” Allie thought for a moment. “Growing wise and being the person God wants us to be takes a while, doesn’t it?”
Her grandmother kissed her on the cheek. “It takes a lifetime.”
*****************************************
StoryShare, August 19, 2018, issue.
Copyright 2018 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
