Rev. Zach

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God...Matthew 5:9 Peacemaking and peacekeeping are two terms that can often be confused with one another. The extremes of liberalism and conservatism each use these terms to benefit their own agendas, and often the meaning of peace making and peacekeeping become co-opted. Generally speaking, peacemaking tends to describe actions that bring about the condition of peace. Those who consider themselves peacemakers often use non-violent strategies that model and begin the implementation of peaceful resolutions. Peacekeeping, on the other hand, is generally understood as the means of enforcing the conditions that allow for others to co-exist peacefully. The irony of the situation is that peacekeepers often do so through the threat of violence. Ideally this seems antithetical, but in reality there is evil in this world that must be restrained with force. Weeds must be pulled to keep a garden healthy. Terrorists att...

First Presbyterian of Lafayette, Louisiana September 26, 2010 – Ordinary 26C Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31 In 1996 I stood at the top of a snowy peak in Colorado looking off into the distance of the continental divide. The grandeur of God’s creation was overwhelming, and I felt rather insignificant in the face of it all. As a group of young men in their late 20’s might, we marveled how you could spit in one direction and it would eventually make it to the Atlantic or in the other to contribute to the Pacific. Then we got into a snow ball fight that would continue through the remainder of our snow mobile tour. That’s what we do when faced with the magnitude of life in its fullest. We focus on ourselves, on that which we can control, and we find some way to distract and amuse ourselves. It is only natural. Think of it as a more generalized fight or flight response. We don’t want to know how much is beyond our control. We don’t wa...

One of the things I love about being southern is the fact that we are more than ourselves. Just before leaving Savannah, GA to move to Lafayette, LA I was at the bank finishing up some business and had some small talk with the teller about the  move.  As I left she said, "Good luck, y'all!" Clearly there was no one else there but me. There is something strangely comforting to me to be part of a society that understands and expects our reality to be couched in relationships.  Of course our language does not always reflect our reality.  The south is often a segregated society.  We are kind and hospitable, but we keep to our own. Paul told the church in Corinth, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Cor 66:19-20)"  Of course this was at the end of a section on sexual morality, but how often do we consi...

First Presbyterian of Lafayette, LA September 19, 2010 - Ordinary 25C Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 Reality TV is an oxymoron that has, unfortunately, been around too long to dismiss. Obviously, there are a lot of people who like the idea of television shows that offer real people in unreal situations, and I will admit that we are far too interested in shows like America’s Funniest Home Videos and The Biggest Loser at the Sasser house. The Apprentice is a show I have never found interest in, but I think Jesus would have liked it. At least it would seem so, based on today’s gospel lesson. For the audience of the day, the parable of the dishonest manager was as reality-driven as a story could get. It’s full of sin, greed, and human failing wrapped up in resilience that wins the day. Perhaps it’s the title that kept it from getting the ratings that, say, “The Good Samaritan,” has gotten. People want to be “good.” People do prefer to survive, and w...

First Presbyterian in Lafayette, Louisiana September 12, 2001 – Ordinary 24C Exodus 32:7-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 I have a card in my wallet with my name on it. It is not so that I can remember my name. It is so I can remember my grandfather, Samuel Arthur Hutchins - Daddy Bill, who gave it to me years ago. I never asked him why he had it, but it effected me deeply to know that he came across it sometime, somewhere and was moved to keep it in his wallet. The card tells me the meaning of my name, “God Hath Remembered.” I can tell you there were times I wish God would not remember, but that card helped get me through them anyway. It was the only thing remotely Hebrew that I knew the translation of before seminary. So, you can imagine how deflated I was in my late 20’s to learn that although the literal root verb was long memory, the associated noun was simply, “old man.” Hebrew is, of course, a more poetic than literal language, and there is some poetry in the knowledge ...

First Presbyterian in Lafayette, Louisiana September 5, 2001 – Ordinary 23C Jeremiah 18:1-11 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33 Hate is a word that we really don’t like to use in polite conversation. Well, I guess if it’s used sympathetically that works. “I just hate it when that happens,” or “I’m so sorry. I hate that for you.” These phrases can take on any even more delicious character when said by a gentile, southern woman of a certain age. I have a good friend who will not even let his children say the word “hate.” He corrects them, telling them to say, “I strongly dislike spinach,” or whatever the case may be. The truth is, we really don’t like to hate things. Maybe we have seen too much of it. Considering the wars and the events of social change experienced by many in this county, one can see why. Hate, as we know it is a destructive, relentless, and unforgiving force that can twist even the purest motives into chaos. Yet we have Jesus, the One without sin, the One ...