Daily Lesson for June 30, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Acts chapter 8 verses 18 through 22:

18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ 20But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you."

We ask for pure hearts and motivations, and pray that God will cleanse us from all jealousies and vanity in what we do. For why we do something is just as important, and even more, than what we do. And there are so many who get involved with so many things out of selfish ambitions, vain conceit, and a desire to have the ego fed, and/or our wallets padded.

Earlier this week a pastor whom I used to respect a great deal reported to prison. He was pastor of one of the largest Protestant churches in America, and well regarded around the country. But somehow along the way he got caught up in a scheme that ended up bilking a lot of his parishioners out of a whole lot of money. It was painful to read about, and Peter's words about repentance are hard, but still hopeful words to read in the context.

There was forgiveness available for Simon, but also consequence, as his sin has come down to us all through the ages with his name attached: simony.

We do pray for pure motives, and like Peter, the eyes to see when someone wishes us to sell our souls. It's not always quite so obvious -- until suddenly it's synonymous with our own names.

Dear Lord, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil -- especially the evil within our own selves.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for June 29, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 6 and and 7:

"I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

Today is the commemoration day for martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul. Though their deaths were not recorded in Scripture, tradition teaches that they were each killed under the Emperor Nero, during the same persecutions of Jews and Jewish Christians.

St. Augustine said, that though they were killed separately, we remember their deaths on the same day because their witness belongs together. Their apostleship was the foundation of the church; and their blood, as Tertullian said, "the seed of the church."

This morning's Scripture comes from one of St. Paul's last letters, just before he was killed. He knew his time was coming, and that he had not long to live. Yet, there was a deep peace within him. For he had fought the good fight, finished his race, and kept his faith.

On a day like today, I think of that old hymn "Faith of our Fathers" and its words which may be said to over-glorify martyrdom, except for the reality that the martyr's faith has always been and remains a source of strength and resolve for those keeping their own faith during the most difficult of times:

"Our Fathers, chained in prisons dark,

Were still in heart and conscience free:

How sweet would be their children's fate,

If they, like them, were to die for thee!

Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!

We will be true to thee till death."

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for June 28, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Acts chapter 7 verses 51 through 60:

51 ‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are for ever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. 52Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. 53You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.’

54 When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen.* 55But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’

We are coming up on the July 4 holiday, which this year happens to fall on a Sunday. In preparation for what I will try to say Sunday, I'm thinking of William Sloane Coffin's statement that there are three kinds of patriots in the world, two bad and one good. The bad, he said, are the "uncritical lovers" and the "loveless critics". The good, however, are those who carry on "a lover's quarrel" with their country."

Stephen was a patriot, but not uncritically so. He had read his history. He knew its blemishes. He was not afraid to tell the truth about its sins.

We are in a major debate now as a country over what is to be told and taught about America. Let us be neither uncritical lovers nor unloving critics; but let us dare to love this country enough to tell the truth about its history for the sake of its future.

Truth, Justice, and the American-Way. These are our ideals. So let us be idealistic, without being chauvinist; and let us dare to learn and tell the truth, and do so in love.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Prepared remarks for press conference on racial equity in FWISD

 On Tuesday I was asked by friends at Leadership ISD to speak at a press conference in advance of the FWISD School Board meeting, where a large crowd was gathered to protest the District's work for racial equity and cultural inclusion. Due to the large crowd, the press conference did not take place as planned. However, I think it is important that my prepared remarks be shared, as they are relative not only to what is taking place here in Fort Worth, but also the larger conversation around racial equity and justice in America:

"I am the Rev. Ryon Price. I am the Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, and a member of Pastors for Texas Children. I am also the parent of three Fort Worth ISD public school children.

I join my colleagues today in support of efforts to address racial and cultural equity and inclusion within Fort Worth ISD; and I affirm the intentional actions the District is taking to “identify, acknowledge, and overcome racial and ethnic disparities between students.” It is imperative that our District give serious thought and consideration to the systemic issues facing so many of our students, and work to address those issues for the sake of healing and wholeness within our community.

Issues of racial and ethnic disparity have existed for too long within our community and District. So I commend the Board for its courage in confronting the hard truth of those disparities, and committing itself to addressing their causes at the very root.

There is a powerful metaphor found in the Christian tradition which speaks of the Body. We are all members of one Body – one Body, with many members. And when something happens to harm a member part of the Body, we have to address it. The answer is not to pretend like the pain and what is causing it do not exist. We have to pay attention to the pain, determine its cause, and commit ourselves to doing what is necessary for the sake of healing.

Last week a momentous event took place in America. Juneteenth was officially recognized as a U.S. federal holiday. We give thanks for the work of Fort Worth icon Miss Opal Lee, and so many others who did so much to make that recognition happen. It was a day of hope and healing, because our country made a commitment to recognize the truth about our divided history and commit ourselves to a more-united future.

From now on, every day should be a day of hope and healing in America; and every day should be a day of hope and healing in Fort Worth. We must not be afraid to recognize and name the truth. We have committed ourselves to knowing the truth, and to telling the truth. And, as the old proverb says, the truth will set us free.

The truth is we are one Body, made up of many parts. For too long certain parts of our Body have been neglected, and abused, and treated like they don’t belong. But they do belong. And we owe it to them to show them how much we believe that.

We are all members of the same Body. And though our Body has been broken, it can be healed. We can be healed, if we will continue with our commitments to care for one another in both part and in whole, and with a loving and equitable eye on every child who has been entrusted to us."

Thank you and God bless.

Daily Lesson for June 24, 2021

 This morning's Daily Lesson comes from John chapter 3 verses 25 through 30:

25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and another Jew. 26They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.’ 27John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah,* but I have been sent ahead of him.” 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.’

Today is the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and we read about John's ministry, and his understanding of his own role.

John was a tremendous champion for the poor and underprivileged, a prophetic voice, and a real rabble rouser for justice.

John understand his role, and his limitations; and he did not try to be something or someone he was not. John was called as a voice to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. He was to anoint the Anointed One. He was not to try to be the Anointed One.

How powerful John's witness was. He plowed the ground. He cleared the field. He called the people to come and behold the lamb.

What he did not do was become petty and jealous, or determine that he had to be in charge.

He was a voice in the wilderness. He pretty stayed in the wilderness, until he was imprisoned.

John was the greatest of all the prophets because he knew his place, he remained faithful to his mission and call, and he didn't mind others taking the lead.

This is why Jesus said, no one born of woman was greater than John.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for June 22, 2021

 This morning I am sharing the remarks I gave at last night’s Fort Worth ISD School Board Meeting. The Board has come under attack for its work on racial equity and cultural inclusion.  At last night’s meeting hundreds gathered to protest or support the District’s policy decisions.  All on the other side of the debate spoke out against CRT, some linking the District’s focus on equity to brain washing, Marxism, vaccination war crimes, and evil. 

It was an interesting meeting, and tense at times.  I was confronted by one person who said I should be ashamed to call myself a pastor because of my support of the Board. I am not. 

Public remarks were limited to one minute.  Many of us who spoke in support of the District’s equity work ended our remarks with the words Truth, Humanity, and Unity:

Good evening President Ramos, Dr. Scribner and Members of the Board. 

 

I am the Rev. Ryon Price, and I have three children in Fort Worth ISD public schools.  I am also the Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church here in town, and a member of Pastors for Texas Children.

 

I wish to commend the Board for its courage in seeking to specifically address the issues of racial and cultural inequity within our District.  And I want to encourage you to continue in that work, as achieving a more equitable and inclusive place of learning for all students is essential for the future of our community.

 

In the church we have a saying: “Keep your hand on the plow.”  You’re plowing hard ground.  The roots of racism and inequity are deep, and they are trenchant.  So how much more reason to hold on tight, and keep at it for the sake of truth, humanity, and unity.

Daily Lesson for June 22, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapters 21 verses 37 and 38; and chapter 22 verses 1 through 6:

Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. 38And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.

22Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus* to death, for they were afraid of the people.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.

Some Bible study:

When Jesus was killed, he was arrested, tried at midnight, and sentenced to death by 9am.

What was done to him had be done when there was nobody awake to stop it. It had to be done under the cloak of darkness. For as Jesus said, "And they loved the darkness, because their deeds are evil."

Crowds upon crowds gathered around Jesus in the day. He amassed probably thousands right in the courtyard square. The Sanhedrine and the Romans didn't dare touch him during the day, because he was a man of the people.

A handful of powerful Jewish leaders conspired with the Roman authorities to kill Jesus. But it had to all be done in the dark and not in the day, due to the crowds. The crowds were for Jesus.

I think we should remember that the next time we hear somebody say the Jews killed Jesus.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for June 21, 2021

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 21 verses 29 through 31:

29 Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 

We’ve been seeing the signs of summer all around — nesting birds, greening grass, buds in the bushes — and now it is here, officially, and hotter than Hades in Texas. 

Pause. Take a few moments to think on your life. What signs do you see of a new season?  What can you notice now which might clue you in on what is to take place later?

Paula D’Arcy says, “God comes to us disguised  as our lives.”  

Look at your life; the kingdom of God is near. 

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Daily Lesson for June 18, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 21 verse 9:

‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’

The word "insurrection" in this morning's Gospel stunned me.

I have read this verse dozens of times, and though I have it memorized in the old King James, "wars and rumors of wars", reading the word "insurrection" after January 6th of this year brings new, revelatory light to the text.

There will be insurrections, "but the end will not follow immediately."

We still have a long ways to go, friend. This week's passage of Juneteenth as a federal holiday was momentous. But we still have come to terms with insurrection, and what and who caused it. We still haven't repented of the madness of the Big Lie. And the lie is still out there. The Big lie is still out there, and all the little lies are also.

So, a chastening word this morning from the Daily Office. Be alert, stay awake, be prepared, hold your hopes.

For the end is not yet, and we have miles to go before we sleep. The end is not yet, and truth and love still have a long ways to go.

"And the ones who endure to the end, shall be saved," (Matthew 24:13).

Daily Lesson for June 17, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 20 verses 45 through 47:

45 In the hearing of all the people he said to the* disciples, 46‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets. 47They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

When I was in seminary I served as a chaplain to a neighborhood ministry where I both lived and worked. I made friends in the neighborhood, and was appalled by the living conditions some of them had to endure.

One couple's rental house was especially appalling. There were exposed wiring behind the wallpaper, gaping holes in the kitchen floor linoleum, and broken commodes, ceiling fans, etc. And the exterior wasn't any better. The place was shocking really.

Not getting very far with the rental agency on repairs, I went to down to the City to find out who actually owned the home. These were the days before the internet is what it is now, and so I had to go downtown to find out.

Much to my shock, after looking up the property I discovered its owner was one of the most wealthy and prominent members and deacons in my own church.

It is hard to overestimate just how much that discovery has shaped my understanding of housing, economics, citizenship, church, and who and what a good deacon really is.

Remember friends, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And do it in business, even as you would do it in church.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for June 16, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 21 verses 1 through 4:

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; 2he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’

I am grateful for the widow and her little mite.

I am grateful for the retired couple and their larger but not huge mite.

I am grateful for the teacher who gives instead of going on vacation to California.

I am grateful to the young couple who pledged because they wanted to be a part of the refurbishment of the sanctuary where they were married.

I am grateful that they are still giving towards their pledge.

I am grateful for the child's dollar, given to them by their grandmother.

I am grateful for that grandmother, who has included the church in her will.

I am grateful for the homeless man who walked into the church with a $100 bill and laid it on the altar.

I am grateful for the folks who give to feed that homeless man on Thursday nights.

I am grateful for the friend who gave up Starbucks for a year in order to help the church pay off its loan.

I am grateful for the church administrative assistants who give back ten percent of whatever the church pays them.

I am grateful.

For all these, and many more I am grateful indeed.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.