The Parable And The Prophet
Stories
Object:
Contents
"The Parable and the Prophet" by Sandra Herrmann
"A House Divided" by Frank Ramirez
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The Parable and the Prophet
Sandra Herrmann
Isaiah 5: 1-7
Story-telling ran in her family. Her Grampa loved to tell shaggy-dog stories (long, involved stories that always ended in a pun). Gramma told wonderful stories about her family and read her books like Green Eggs and Ham. When her mother read aloud, she would change her voice for each character. Her father handed down treasures he'd read as a child.
So, no surprise, she became one of those people who never answered a question in a few words. Instead, she would tell a story to illustrate her point. Over the years, she entertained classmates, coworkers, and friends with stories of close calls, unexpected escapes, and adventures she'd endured.
In the middle of her life, she felt called by God to serves as a pastor. She enrolled in seminary. There, she learned that most of the Bible was a collection of stories -- of close calls, unexpected escapes, and the work of God in history. She was enthralled, especially with the way God gave the prophets stories to relate to anyone who would truly listen. Even Jesus himself, she learned, taught primarily through stories.
Once in the pulpit, she did the same with her congregations. Every week, there was a story in her sermon or the Children's Time. She knew that most of the people in her congregations loved the stories especially.
But one Sunday the father of one of the children approached her after church. "Now what the heck am I supposed to tell my kids when they ask about that story you told them today?" he demanded. "Some guy mooning over a vineyard, threatening to tear down walls. What's that all about?"
"Well," she began.
But he interrupted her answer. "Why can't you just tell us what you want us to know and quit fooling around with stories?"
She was stricken. "But I wasn't fooling around! That was a biblical story from the Old Testament!"
"Yeah, well, like I said. If you want to tell me something, why can't you just spit it out?" Clearly, he was not joking -- his face was flushed, his eyes squinted as he stared at her. "It's confusing," he admitted.
"But Jesus did most of his preaching by the use of stories…"
He interrupted her: "I know! And that drives me nuts, too! Why did he do that? I've never been able to figure it out. It's maddening."
So she tried one more time. "It's like this, Joel: like Jesus, I tell stories because they stick to your mind. They're like pine sap or duct tape -- they force us to pick at them again and again, to figure out their meaning for us personally. Stories have different meanings for each of us, so God's word becomes personal in ways I wouldn't be able to. Does that make sense?"
"Humph," was all he said, shaking his head as he stomped outside. Then he turned back toward her. "I still don't like it," he said grudgingly. "Never did like picking pine sap off myself, either. But I get why you do it. Just -- could you please explain when you do that? I mean, didn't Jesus explain some of the parables to his disciples?"
"Um -- yes, he did, Joel. You're right," she admitted. And to herself, she muttered, "Of course, he often complained about how slow they were to understand. Maybe now I know why."
Sandra Herrmann is a retired United Methodist pastor living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A House Divided
Frank Ramirez
Luke 12:49-56
From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three….
-- Luke 12:52
The American Civil War aroused such strong passions for and against slavery that indeed households were divided, three against two and two against three. Those Dunkers who lived in the South found themselves opposed by their neighbors because of their faith's adamant stand against slavery. Their non-resistant stand against war made them easy targets for theft and persecutions. The Dunker minister P.R. Wrightsman (1834-1908) from Limestone Tennessee was one of those who found himself persecuted by those who were his neighbors during the Civil War, but so strong was his faith he was willing to stand up against the anger of others that resulted, as promised by the Lord Jesus, when people truly believed and lived according to his way.
At one point during the war Wrightsman took a train to Richmond to seek the release of other Brethren arrested because they wouldn't serve in the Confederate army. Wrightsman was surrounded by Confederate soldiers, and challenged by a Methodist minister who, when he discovered that Wrightsman believed all war is sin, insisted that the glorious cause was different. The other minister went on to insist that God also gave guidance to George Washington to go to war against Great Britain. Wrightsman countered by asking that if he and the others truly believed that Washington's actions were divinely inspired, how could they rebel against the nation founded by the first president.
Wrightsman reported that though he received threats and angry stares from those in the railroad car, he felt protected from further danger, perhaps in the same way that angels minister to Jesus after his temptation.
He later recalled how his hunting rifle was almost immediately confiscated, as were most of his horses and his crops. Wrightsman watched as Confederate soldiers over the course of a year stole his plantation rifle, his crops, and eleven horses. After the war he wrote: "Being a minister as well as physician, my business called me over considerable territory. In the spring of 1862 Southern soldiers came to my house searching for firearms, none of which I kept except a plantation rifle. This they took without pay. They came from time to time for three years and took my crops and horses. When the same came for the last horse they rode up with threats and curses. Their language and manner impressed me that they came with intent to kill me. Part of the squad went to the field for the last horse and part remained with me under their charge. I just stepped inside the stable, stood with my hands upward, and prayed to my heavenly Father, saying, 'Dear Father, save me from these men. Have mercy upon them, and turn them from their evil course, and save thy servant.'
"I never exercised stronger faith in prayer than at that time. It seemed as if I was speaking face-to-face with my blessed Lord. When I stepped out to the soldiers, I felt that God had answered my prayer, for I could see the Satanic look going down out of their faces like the shadow of a cloud before the bright sunlight.
"The soldiers then said to me, 'Mr. Wrightsman, can we get some bread?' 'O yes,' said I, 'we are commanded to feed the hungry.' I went at once to the kitchen and requested my sisters to cut off a large slice of bread, and butter it for each of them. They did so and I took it out into the yard and handed a slice to each. They thanked me for the bread, bowed their heads, mounted their horses, and rode away, taking my last horse with them, however. Feeling sure the Lord had saved my life, I felt happy, thanked God, and took courage. This occurred in the summer of 1863…."
The danger did not cease. In February of 1864 he himself was conscripted and fled to the mountains in the night, waiting there until danger had passed. Then, in the fall of 1864, at Love Feast in Limestone, Tennessee, a regiment of soldiers surrounded the meetinghouse to taunt the Brethren, but Wrightsman invited the soldiers to join them at the table, breaking the tension. According to Wrightsman they behaved well and expressed an earnest desire to meet the Dunkers again.
Frank Ramirez has served as a pastor for nearly 30 years in Church of the Brethren congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. A graduate of LaVerne College and Bethany Theological Seminary, Ramirez is the author of numerous books, articles, and short stories. His CSS titles include Partners in Healing, He Took a Towel, The Bee Attitudes, and three volumes of Lectionary Worship Aids.
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StoryShare, August 15, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 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.
"The Parable and the Prophet" by Sandra Herrmann
"A House Divided" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * * *
The Parable and the Prophet
Sandra Herrmann
Isaiah 5: 1-7
Story-telling ran in her family. Her Grampa loved to tell shaggy-dog stories (long, involved stories that always ended in a pun). Gramma told wonderful stories about her family and read her books like Green Eggs and Ham. When her mother read aloud, she would change her voice for each character. Her father handed down treasures he'd read as a child.
So, no surprise, she became one of those people who never answered a question in a few words. Instead, she would tell a story to illustrate her point. Over the years, she entertained classmates, coworkers, and friends with stories of close calls, unexpected escapes, and adventures she'd endured.
In the middle of her life, she felt called by God to serves as a pastor. She enrolled in seminary. There, she learned that most of the Bible was a collection of stories -- of close calls, unexpected escapes, and the work of God in history. She was enthralled, especially with the way God gave the prophets stories to relate to anyone who would truly listen. Even Jesus himself, she learned, taught primarily through stories.
Once in the pulpit, she did the same with her congregations. Every week, there was a story in her sermon or the Children's Time. She knew that most of the people in her congregations loved the stories especially.
But one Sunday the father of one of the children approached her after church. "Now what the heck am I supposed to tell my kids when they ask about that story you told them today?" he demanded. "Some guy mooning over a vineyard, threatening to tear down walls. What's that all about?"
"Well," she began.
But he interrupted her answer. "Why can't you just tell us what you want us to know and quit fooling around with stories?"
She was stricken. "But I wasn't fooling around! That was a biblical story from the Old Testament!"
"Yeah, well, like I said. If you want to tell me something, why can't you just spit it out?" Clearly, he was not joking -- his face was flushed, his eyes squinted as he stared at her. "It's confusing," he admitted.
"But Jesus did most of his preaching by the use of stories…"
He interrupted her: "I know! And that drives me nuts, too! Why did he do that? I've never been able to figure it out. It's maddening."
So she tried one more time. "It's like this, Joel: like Jesus, I tell stories because they stick to your mind. They're like pine sap or duct tape -- they force us to pick at them again and again, to figure out their meaning for us personally. Stories have different meanings for each of us, so God's word becomes personal in ways I wouldn't be able to. Does that make sense?"
"Humph," was all he said, shaking his head as he stomped outside. Then he turned back toward her. "I still don't like it," he said grudgingly. "Never did like picking pine sap off myself, either. But I get why you do it. Just -- could you please explain when you do that? I mean, didn't Jesus explain some of the parables to his disciples?"
"Um -- yes, he did, Joel. You're right," she admitted. And to herself, she muttered, "Of course, he often complained about how slow they were to understand. Maybe now I know why."
Sandra Herrmann is a retired United Methodist pastor living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A House Divided
Frank Ramirez
Luke 12:49-56
From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three….
-- Luke 12:52
The American Civil War aroused such strong passions for and against slavery that indeed households were divided, three against two and two against three. Those Dunkers who lived in the South found themselves opposed by their neighbors because of their faith's adamant stand against slavery. Their non-resistant stand against war made them easy targets for theft and persecutions. The Dunker minister P.R. Wrightsman (1834-1908) from Limestone Tennessee was one of those who found himself persecuted by those who were his neighbors during the Civil War, but so strong was his faith he was willing to stand up against the anger of others that resulted, as promised by the Lord Jesus, when people truly believed and lived according to his way.
At one point during the war Wrightsman took a train to Richmond to seek the release of other Brethren arrested because they wouldn't serve in the Confederate army. Wrightsman was surrounded by Confederate soldiers, and challenged by a Methodist minister who, when he discovered that Wrightsman believed all war is sin, insisted that the glorious cause was different. The other minister went on to insist that God also gave guidance to George Washington to go to war against Great Britain. Wrightsman countered by asking that if he and the others truly believed that Washington's actions were divinely inspired, how could they rebel against the nation founded by the first president.
Wrightsman reported that though he received threats and angry stares from those in the railroad car, he felt protected from further danger, perhaps in the same way that angels minister to Jesus after his temptation.
He later recalled how his hunting rifle was almost immediately confiscated, as were most of his horses and his crops. Wrightsman watched as Confederate soldiers over the course of a year stole his plantation rifle, his crops, and eleven horses. After the war he wrote: "Being a minister as well as physician, my business called me over considerable territory. In the spring of 1862 Southern soldiers came to my house searching for firearms, none of which I kept except a plantation rifle. This they took without pay. They came from time to time for three years and took my crops and horses. When the same came for the last horse they rode up with threats and curses. Their language and manner impressed me that they came with intent to kill me. Part of the squad went to the field for the last horse and part remained with me under their charge. I just stepped inside the stable, stood with my hands upward, and prayed to my heavenly Father, saying, 'Dear Father, save me from these men. Have mercy upon them, and turn them from their evil course, and save thy servant.'
"I never exercised stronger faith in prayer than at that time. It seemed as if I was speaking face-to-face with my blessed Lord. When I stepped out to the soldiers, I felt that God had answered my prayer, for I could see the Satanic look going down out of their faces like the shadow of a cloud before the bright sunlight.
"The soldiers then said to me, 'Mr. Wrightsman, can we get some bread?' 'O yes,' said I, 'we are commanded to feed the hungry.' I went at once to the kitchen and requested my sisters to cut off a large slice of bread, and butter it for each of them. They did so and I took it out into the yard and handed a slice to each. They thanked me for the bread, bowed their heads, mounted their horses, and rode away, taking my last horse with them, however. Feeling sure the Lord had saved my life, I felt happy, thanked God, and took courage. This occurred in the summer of 1863…."
The danger did not cease. In February of 1864 he himself was conscripted and fled to the mountains in the night, waiting there until danger had passed. Then, in the fall of 1864, at Love Feast in Limestone, Tennessee, a regiment of soldiers surrounded the meetinghouse to taunt the Brethren, but Wrightsman invited the soldiers to join them at the table, breaking the tension. According to Wrightsman they behaved well and expressed an earnest desire to meet the Dunkers again.
Frank Ramirez has served as a pastor for nearly 30 years in Church of the Brethren congregations in Los Angeles, California; Elkhart, Indiana; and Everett, Pennsylvania. A graduate of LaVerne College and Bethany Theological Seminary, Ramirez is the author of numerous books, articles, and short stories. His CSS titles include Partners in Healing, He Took a Towel, The Bee Attitudes, and three volumes of Lectionary Worship Aids.
**************
StoryShare, August 15, 2010, issue.
Copyright 2010 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.
