Archives by: Gary Hoag

And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

“Many years ago now, a sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. When the pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Russell H. Conwell, asked her why she was crying, she replied that they could not let her into the Sunday School because there was no more room. He said that he would take her in, and he did so, telling her that one day they should have a room big enough for all who would come.

Unbeknownst to Dr. Conwell, the little girl, Hattie May Wiatt, went home and told her parents that she wanted to save money to build a bigger church, and they indulged her by letting her run errands for pennies that she saved in a little bank. Dr. Conwell continues with the story:

“She was a lovable thing — but in only a few weeks after that she was taken suddenly ill and died; and at the funeral her father told me, quietly, of how his little girl had been saving money for a building fund. And there, at the funeral, he handed me what she had saved — just 57 cents in pennies.”

What happened next is nothing short of amazing. At a meeting of the church trustees, Dr. Conwell told them of Hattie’s gift of 57 cents, the first gift toward the proposed building fund that had barely been spoken of, as a new building had been simply a possibility for the future. The trustees were impressed to buy a lot on Broad Street, and the owner of the lot was approached regarding its sale.

In the meanwhile, apparently, the 57 pennies were “sold” to members of the church, and the result was the raising of $250. Fifty-four of those 57 pennies were returned and put on display in the church. Checks came in from far and wide, including one check for $10,000, a huge sum of money for that time (near the turn of the century). Reportedly, within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000!

In a sermon on December 1, 1912, which honored Hattie May Wiatt, Dr. Conwell, founder of what is now known as Temple University, reminded his congregation of the impact of that 57 cents.

“Think of this large church,” he said. “Think of the membership added to it – over 5,600 – since that time. Think of the institutions this church founded. Think of the Samaritan Hospital and the thousands of sick people that have been cured there and the thousands of poor that are ministered to each year.”

All this was set in motion by the simple gift of a little girl’s 57 pennies. Amazing, isn’t it? And true. If God could do that with just 57 cents, imagine what He can do with whatever it is we place in His hands. Just like the little boy who gave Jesus his five small loaves and two small fish, “Little is much when God is in it.”

The Apostle Paul told the elders of the church at Ephesus, “I have shown you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Hattie May Wiatt’s gift of 57 pennies was greatly used by the Lord. What will you place in God’s hands?”

Special thanks to my friend and Daily Meditations reader, Randy Bury, for sharing this inspiring story with me, retold on this GBBC blogpost dated 10 February 2021.

The header photo above was my 4:00am “commute” yesterday to the common area conference room at the apartment complex with a foot of fresh snow.

I have only two comments in reply on this frigid morning in Denver, about -5°F or about -20°C. Thankfully the walkways have been shoveled.

Firstly, what will you place in God’s hands? God cares about the size of your faith more than the amount of your giving. Is it childlike? He meets needs. Our role is to share what we have.

Secondly, when I read about the sick in the hospital, my mind and prayers went to my friend Dan Busby. He starts chemotherapy today. Track his progress and find prayer requests here.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35

“God loves, and He invites us to love Him in return… Here we will note two statements Ignatius makes to introduce it. The first is that “love ought to show itself in deeds over and above words.”

The second is that love consists in sharing: “In love, one always wants to give to the other what one has.” The Spanish word that Ignatius uses here is comunicar — “to share or to communicate.” Lovers love each other by sharing what they have, and this sharing is a form of communication. God is not just a giver of gifts, but a lover who speaks to us through His giving. God holds nothing back.

The ultimate expression of his self-giving is Jesus’ death. He shares his very life with us. He also shares with us the work He is doing in the world. Thus, the work we do is a way of loving God. It is not just work. By inviting us to share in His works, God is showing His love for us. In our response of trying to work with God, we show our love.

Ignatius raises the questions:

What does it mean for us to love? How do we go about expressing our love? How do we show our love for God, for ourselves, for others, and for our world? He invites us to answer these questions by looking at how God loves. He is a God who sets no limits on what He shares with us.”

David Fleming in What Is Ignatian Spirituality? (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2008) 4-5.

In this excerpt shared with me by my wife, Jenni, who is a big fan of Ignatius, we discover at least three profound truth about God’s sharing. God communicates unfathomable love toward us. He invites us to share in His works. And He sets no limits on what He shares with us.

As I think about sharing this year, the idea that there is no limit to the sharing of God’s love provides me with deep peace and comfort. I hope you feel it too. No pandemic or any other crisis can separate us from His love and kindness. No problem or need is so great that He cannot meet it.

The fact that God did not spare His own son, but shared His life with us demonstrates that there are no limits to His sharing. May this also inspire us today to unlimited generosity, not because we are loaded, but because we tap the only abundant source.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16-17

“In March 2020, when we were given the recommendation to stay home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, my life, like many, ground to a quick and sudden halt… The words spoken by John F. Kennedy in his 1962 State of the Union address kept finding ways to become more and relevant in my life.

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”

A global pandemic might feel like an odd time to claim, “the sun is shining.” But I see it as a time in which the sun is illuminating, as a ray of sunshine would, what we find truly important. Our routines and patterns have been interrupted; we have experienced a “great pause”; and we have the chance to look at what we want to continue as we move forward. This is our opportunity to highlight what is truly important to us…

This can only happen if we track our income and expenses. When we track our spending and income, we are able to have an honest conversation with ourselves, our partners, and God about what we say is important. It is a true snapshot of where we are storing our riches, and such a clear view might cause us to shift our goals… We give ourselves options to spend with intentionality, not mindlessness.”

Rev. Kimberly Montenegro in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 29-30.

Does your roof need repair? In my experience, every roof needs periodic evaluation. An ounce of proverbial prevention is worth a pound of cure. Leaks can be costly.

Montenegro rightly calls us personally and professionally to track our expenses and what we are storing up in heaven. It’s brilliant advice to not waste the crisis of COVID-19.

Hard to believe this situation started in 2019 and here we are in 2022. While some experts say things may return to normal by the end of this year, that means the sun is shining now.

Take time to track your expenses and make at least one goal personally and professionally to store riches where Jesus instructed us with more intentionality.

Lack of tracking is like having leaks. When we are faithful with what we have God often supplies more. I pray your goals lead to growth in your stewardship and generosity.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:10-18

“It is hard to remember the goodness of God when life gets comfortable. you’d think that when people achieve a great level of provision and comfort, that would be when they are most grateful…But honestly, for most people, it’s nothing like that. Humanity by nature is forgetful, especially in our most comfortable moments. Moses knew something of human nature, which is why he called the Israelites to remember the goodness and provision of God [in Deuteronomy 8:10-18]…

The Israelites were nearing the end of their forty years in the wilderness after generations of slavery in Egypt. They had been through hardships and one obstacle after another, yet all the while God had been their provision. God had met their every need: sending manna from heaven, protecting them from enemies, and reassuring that God had not abandoned them in their times of rebellion. When they were in need, God provided. Yet now they were coming to the Promised Lan, a land flowing with milk and honey and everything they could ever want. They were about to be in the land of comfort, not the land of need. Therefore, Moses issued this word of caution to them. Don’t forget who got you here.

Have you forgotten who has gotten you to where you are right now? … Think back and remember the hardships that God got you through, the resources provided along the way, the people sent to you. No matter how hard you worked to arrive at where you are right now, you did not achieve anything apart from the grace of God who got you here. So remember and praise God in your comfort in the same way you called out for God in your time of need. Don’t allow the means you’ve attained to cloud your remembrance of the One who was your means of provision.”

Rev. David Dorn II in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 25-26.

Are you in crisis? Cry out to God. He hears and cares deeply for you and desires to deliver you from difficulty.

Are you comfortable? Our human proclivity is to become fat and self-indulgent rather than focused on serving others. Instead, let’s aim to be careful!

Seriously, our tendency is to build a fine house and settle down. Don’t go there! It’s a test to keep us humble. God blessed His people then and blesses us now to be a blessing.

This is why He wanted His people back then and us now to remember and to share with open hands and grateful hearts. Would you pass the test? Are you comfortable or careful?

And let me add a word about the new header photo.

When I was in Malawi, I met Bonface Milanzi, who was a church planter living in remote, rural part of Malawi (where the average annual income is $242 USD and that is not a typo).

He needed $100 USD to plant a field to feed his family and his whole village. It was about 1.5 hectares or 4 acres. Chris Maphosa and I split it and each shared $50.

He sent this photo. Sorry if it is blurry. It’s the corn or maize that will feed his village. Pray with me that our gift will reap an abundant harvest for him to enjoy and share.

Sell your possessions and give alms; make to yourselves purses not growing old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where thief does not draw near, nor does moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-34

“Your heart always follows your treasure, Jesus says, not the other way around. All of us need our hearts to be transformed by God’s amazing grace. However, one of the ways in which we are transformed is by beginning to place our money where it matters most—the poeople, who al have eternal value.

I am reminded of the advice that the English Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins gave to his unbelieving friend, Robert Bridges. Bridges lamented to Hopkins that he wished he could believe the Christian faith as Hopkins did. Hopkins responded with two words of advice: “Give alms.”

In other words, Hopkins was telling Bridges, give your treasure where you would desire your heart to be. Support the things that matter to God, give to the things that matter to God, and little by little, you will begin to care about the things that matter to God.”

Phil Jamieson in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 24.

I am returning to the idea of what it means to share or sharing in 2022.

When we give to those who cannot care for themselves or ever pay us back, the Bible refers to this practice as giving alms.

Hopkins urged Bridges to give alms for the same reason I am urging you today. Our heart always goes where we put God’s money. Always.

So if we allocate God’s money toward possessions, pleasures, or power, that’s where our heart goes. But Jamieson wants us to direct God’s money toward people.

Look around you. See anyone in need. Look at what you have. Give alms. See what happens in their lives and in your heart in the process.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

“A thought to help us through these difficult times: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Ian MacLaren in a Letter in Trenton Evening Times (New Jersey, 1957).

We live in hard times. Many suffer linked to the pandemic. Coupled with that we have the threat of war. Pray for Ukraine, but pray also for the whole world.

I met with my spiritual director this week who alerted me to this quote.

Think about the people you will see today. Each and every one of them faces unknown struggles, difficult challenges, and hard battles.

So our generous sharing in 2022 needs must be seasoned with kindness and compassion. God help us to this end during these crazy times.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

“It is not [just] what we do but how we do it that matters. It is not different work, but a different way of doing our work that God asks of us. The habit of doing common things with uncommon care is what will make us saints.”

Mother Emily’s message on 5 June 1900 to the Community of the Sisters of the Church in their Rule as recounted in What Do You Seek? Wisdom from Religious Life for Today’s World by John-Francis Friendship (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2021) 177. This will be my last post from this book. I really enjoyed it.

In today’s Scripture, we see that Paul did not work alone. He had key people in cities and regions with whom he collaborated. Related to Corinth, it was Sosthenes. And Paul and Sosthenes wrote to those who were “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to be His holy people” who were part of the larger community of faith, offering them a blessing of grace and peace.

With similar tone, Mother Emily greeted the sisters, challenging them to live set apart or holy lives by doing common things with uncommon care. While it is not our work but the work of Christ in us that makes us saints, our part is to live differently, set apart for God. In so doing, He works in and through us by grace.

Recently I had asked you to pray for Dan Busby, if you visit his CaringBridge and read his 26 January 2022 post, you will hear the inspiring story “God answers prayer in a big way and then some.” Therein you will find that the hospital credited my uncommon care for his miraculous recovery. Of course, I gave all glory to God, but am hopeful that they will allow more ministers to visit the sick, despite the dangers of Covid.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

“The joy of the poor in spirit does not lie in having nothing, but in finding everything in God.”

Community of the Sisters of the Church in their Rule as recounted in What Do You Seek? Wisdom from Religious Life for Today’s World by John-Francis Friendship (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2021) 119.

“Find everything in God” comes into view as not seeking to find anything here on earth.

This relates to generosity as most of us use the resources we have to search for pleasure, possessions, and power on earth. Sadly, everything we buy does not satisfy.

Pause for a minute today. Think about what you spend money on and ponder what it reveals about your own searching. And look at Jesus in your solitude.

He did not have a place to lay His head. He gave His life for God and people. We do well to travel light through life and live for God and others.

By this way we show that we have found everything in God.

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

“We should not judge the poor by their clothes and outward appearance nor from their mental capacity. On the contrary if you consider the poor in light of faith then you will see that they take the place of God the Son who chose to be poor. Although in His passion He almost lost the appearance of a man and was considered a fool by the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews… Since God loves the poor, He also loves the lovers of the poor”

St. Vincent de Paul as recounted by Robert Atwell in Celebrating the Saints (Canterbury Press, 2016) 546.

This reading struck me to aspire to foolishness.

Now that I have your attention, think about this. Those around us should consider our stewardship as foolish. They hoard on earth; we stash in heaven. They avoid being poor at all costs; we pursue this place and posture following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hang with me. Jesus chose to be poor. Clearly this makes it clear to humanity that God’s love is for everyone. It beckons us to care for the poor and undeserving as if we are caring for Him. This requires us not to judge people.

But we tend to judge people and give only to those we think are deserving.

Sit with Jesus on this. Reflect on how undeserving you were when He lavished mercy and grace on you. Now go lavish that on others, particularly the poor. Many may call you a fool for doing this. But do it because it’s following the example of Jesus Christ who Himself was considered foolish.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

“The first and best gift we can give to the world in which we live and work is the gift of praying personalities. We must be true to our stewardship, ever seeking to raise and never to lower the standard of our life of prayer. We need to bring our spiritual consciousness to our Lord that we may learn as He does. When we reach out hands that are consecrated by wounds, we shall really be able to bear one anothers burdens.”

Andrew SDC, as recounted in What Do You Seek? Wisdom from Religious Life for Today’s World by John-Francis Friendship (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2021) 108.

I had not thought about this as my first and best gift to the world until my experience this past week at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Prayer makes a difference. But don’t take my word for it. I got this message from Don Johnson, the patient advocate who helped me get clearance to visit Dan Busby.

Don to Gary: “Hello Gary it’s Don. I’m not working today but was told left the SICU! Yesterday he went from 6L of O2 to room air! Never quite seen such a 180 and I give you much of credit. I’ll drop by to see him on Monday. I know how busy you are but I would like to share Dan’s story with upper management and I’m hoping you would be willing to write a paragraph or two of the impact visitation by family and clergy can have on the prognosis and outcome of patients with COVID-19. It’s my goal to make more exceptions to our visitation policy. Thank you and remain safe.”

Gary to Don: “I will happily do this for you. To God be the glory, but it’s a privilege to be God’s ambassador. I could not have made it in there without your help. Again God bless you. I’ll write this up tomorrow. Today’s a full day for me. And catching up on my rest.”

Don to Gary: “Thank you!!!”

Gary to Don: “23 January 2022 – Attention: Don Johnson, Patient Advocate SICU, Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore

I am writing to thank you for your service as Patient Advocate. Dan Busby was in a very low place when he asked me to visit on 17 January 2022. He was grasping threads of hope and contemplating end of life. In such moments, a visit from a minister who reads from the Bible and prays over the patient can release them to rest in peace or restore the person to health.

When my visit was approved on 18 January 2022. I found Dan despondent. I read Mark 10:46-52. In that text, Jesus urges the blind man Bartimaeus to take heart and invites him to ask the Lord for whatever he wants. Bartimaeus wanted to see. In Dan’s case, Dan said he wanted to recover from Covid and transition seamlessly to getting cancer treatment. So, that’s what we prayed.

Also, on my visit on the wall I saw a chart that Dan could not read from his bed. It was too small. It marked the steps to get out of there with rainbow colors. I remind him that God heard his prayer, and that he had to take steps like blowing in his toys, eating, sitting up, standing, and walking to recover. He deeply appreciated my 90-minute visit and resolved to do his part.

On the morning of 19 January 2022, I visited Dan’s wife in Winchester, Virginia, to give a report and to encourage her and pray with her. This lifted her spirits. I returned and spent nearly 4 hours with Dan that afternoon. This time we prayed for his complete healing and I anointed him with frankincense after reading James 5:13-16. The text reads as follows:

“Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

With each question in the text, Dan replied, “That’s me.” So, while I believe my visit deeply inspired Dan, when coupled with the great medical care he was receiving in Surgical ICU, the Lord is the One who raised him up from 6L of O2 to room air. Dan just followed the steps outlined in the Scriptures. My role as a minister was to guide him and remind him what God wanted him to do.

So, Don, when we met together on the morning of my third day of visiting, 20 January 2022, it was a privilege to thank you and to see the transformation that had happened before our eyes together. You yourself advocated for the power of a visit of a person of the cloth. I merely played my role on the team and hope other ministers can get access to do the same thing.

I am deeply thankful to the doctors, nurses, and other servants who cared for Dan and others at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in SICU. And I am thankful that as a minister I was invited to join this care team. Together we ministered to the physical and spiritual needs of Dan Busby. To God be the glory for his speedy recovery. I hope this case inspires the hospital to give others access as was given to me.

Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Gary G. Hoag”

Dan Busby has miraculously recovered and been released from ICU. Today he gets a port put in for transitioning to cancer treatment. They plan to send him home tomorrow to rest up to start chemo treatments next week. Jesus heard and graciously answered his prayer.

Father in heaven, make us into praying personalities so that our first and best gifts to the world are the ways in which we call on you to show up, to supply, and to provide in ways that bring you glory as people of prayer. Do this by your Holy Spirit. In your mercy, hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.