A LIVING WILL TO LIVE
Deuteronomy 6: 1-9
HEBREWS 10: 19-25
NOVEMBER 17, 2025
When Trista saw this photo she immediately texted me and said, “You’re an odd duck.”
There was no caption nor explanation other than I wanted this picture to be shown at the start of today’s sermon. A man in a big ole’ white cowboy hat. And, before you make any assumptions, I happen to know what football team this man called his favorite, and it was not a team from the state of Texas although some might consider his favorite a team reflective of the Wild West.
This man’s name was Louis Shriver. But he was better known in country music circles, especially in Western New York, as RAMBLIN’ LOU! He won numerous awards for his contributions to country music, and he owned his own radio station, WXRL, whose last two initials were RL for RAMBLIN’ LOU.
And, he had a major impact on my life. Lou came up in a discussion this week and I realized that his lessons for my life were relevant to a reflection on our faith walk and especially on whether we are ready to showcase Jesus Christ and whether we have a willingness to live as Christians when we step out into the world. Whether we are committed to support God’s call … Christ’s call … whether we are dedicated to ensuring that this church continues to be strong in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
This past Thursday, the day that I had my last radiation treatment, I also had to meet with the District Committee on Ministry for my annual review with them. They are the ones who certify that I can continue as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. And, I was asked … “Do you believe pastor, that St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of West Deptford will remain strong for the next 3 to 5 years.”
They wanted to know … they frankly needed to know … whether all of you. Those of you here in church today and those of you watching online … have a living will to ensure that this church continues to live. And, to thrive in ministry and mission. Whether there is a commitment to keep the lights on.
They were pressing me as to whether there is a unified collective of people HERE who do not want to see St. Paul’s vanish like the United Methodist Church in Wenonah did and others have or those that are about to disappear. Churches that once flourished with pastors who baptized children and where people smiled as they came and went. They WERE putting me on the spot because frankly the future matters more than the past … the needs of the community for an active church that shares the teaching of Jesus Christ reflective of the Wesleyan traditions of “Doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God” matter more today than fifty years ago.
This committee of clergy and laity wanted to know if St. Paul’s is positioned to carry out the lesson we heard today from the Torah. To “Follow the commandments of God carefully so that things will go well for you and so that you will continue to multiply exactly as the Lord, your ancestor’s God, promised you.”
And, I answered … ‘we are good for the next few years, but I am still worried about the year 2035 and beyond.’ I am worried because young families are not hearing about this amazing church. I am worried because once again this year we are facing the end of the year with a financial deficit. I am worried because I continue to watch neighboring churches shrink because younger people and new people have chosen not to be involved and not take up the mantel of leadership because a church without active leaders … a church without people committed to ensuring that the financial responsibilities are taken care of … a church family living differently beyond the church walls and not inviting others to church … a church family not dedicated to the lesson we heard this morning that “Our God is the Lord! Only the Lord! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. Keeping those words always on their minds” that kind of church does not have a living will to keep on living as a church they are only gathering together to be together.
And, one day … one day there will not be enough people nor enough financial resources to pay the electric bill much less to be activists in ministry for Jesus Christ.
As we approach Thanksgiving and Advent and Christmas and a New Year all of us need to be focused on ensuring that this amazing church remains strong not just for today but for the year 2035 and beyond. We need to celebrate together … a simple potluck supper and church conference tomorrow is a strengthening moment when we can dream but excuses will be made with ease. We have two Christmas Eve services but how many of us will consider inviting others to come here to St. Paul’s to celebrate the birth of Jesus at 5pm or 7pm? New Year’s Day at noon …. Start the year with Communion and God? Oh wait there are football games that day, right?
And, it is important to save our money for Black Friday sales because the more stuff we can get … well that makes Christmas better … the foundation of this church can wait.
Today’s reading from the Good News reminds us, “Let US DRAW NEAR with a genuine heart with the CERTAINTY THAT OUR FAITH GIVES US. Let US hold onto the confession of HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING. LET US CONSIDER EACH OTHER CAREFULLY for the purpose of SPARKING LOVE and GOOD DEEDS.”
Words from 2000 years ago that are still powerful this morning. But I hope you heard these words that show us that the challenges of today’s shrinking churches were a problem back then too. Yet there were people dedicated to their faith in such a way that the church continued through good times and bad, “DO NOT STOP MEETING TOGETHER with other believers, WHICH SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN into the HABIT of DOING. INSTEAD ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER …”
So, back to Ramblin’ Lou Shriver.
After being interviewed on the University of Buffalo radio station, I discovered that I had more than a casual interest in radio. So, I decided to take a few classes in broadcasting. In one of the radio classes the students were told we would have the opportunity to do a mini-internship at a Buffalo area radio station. We were told which stations and there was an audible groan when we heard that the country western station was going to be an option because we were rock n roll kids … I not only had hair but hair down to … well I had long hair. Jim Santella our teacher put the names of the radio stations into a paper bag and we each were to draw a radio station’s name out of the bag. I was second to draw … and when I read the station’s name that I picked every other student smiled because I had chosen the country western station, WXRL.
So, I drove out to Lancaster New York, a Buffalo suburb, where the station was located to meet the general manager. A man by the name of Lou Shriver. I did not know what would happen but I walked into the station. Went up to a woman dressed in a country dress and said, “Hi, I am Dave Delaney … here to meet Lou Shriver.” In a very southern accent she said, “Ramblin’ Lou is waiting for you.”
I nervously looked around at all the COWBOY photos cringing at the music playing in the background all about someone’s pick up truck, dead dog and lost love. I walked into Lou’s office and reached out to shake his hand saying, “Hi I am Dave Delaney.”
Lou stood up and immediately said, “BOY … I never want to hear you sound like that again! This is WXRL and everyone … EVERYONE including YOU will talk COUNTRY when you are in this building.” I tried to say ‘But, Mr. Shriver I am from Buffalo and this is how I sound … but RAMBLIN LOU DEMANDED that AH TALK COUNTRY from that moment on.”
It was a shocking moment but as our relationship moved forward Lou taught me so much about the business side of radio. He taught me how to splice tape. He told me how to focus on my audience. But, early on he sat me down to explain why I had to talk country. He said, “if you do not act like you believe in our product, if you don’t sound like you believe in our product and are not reflective of our product why in the world would someone think that WXRL is the real thing. Every sales person who walks in this building needs to leave thinking ‘wow, this country attitude is real.’ “. I reemember Lou chuckling and saying, “Dave, maybe we will even get you to become country.”
No, I never bought a big white hat like Lou’s but I will never forget his lesson that if you don’t act like and sound like and reflect what you believe in why in the world would anyone else want to join you in something that matters to you.
Lou was on the airwaves until 15 days before he went skyward to the countryside of heaven. Lou wanted everyone to love the music he loved. I sure hope that we get music options up there but I will stroll over to the countryside to see Ramblin Lou from time to time.
So, today … as we approach Thanksgiving … as this church lags behind financially … today one day before we have a potluck supper to celebrate this church and dream about the future … does the future of St. Paul’s matter to you? Is your faith life something that you reflect in your life. Are you willing to live each day as you walk into your life’s moments of awareness as if you are a Christian?
Living with confidence … with genuine hearts … certainty of faith … remembering our God is the Lord! Keeping those essential commandments that Jesus shared, LOVE GOD and LOVE ALL of YOUR NEIGHBORS as a sign of who you are and what you are! Writing them on your doorframes … celebrating them … living each day sounding like a Christian others would like to join with and then invite them here! To church on Sunday, to Christmas Eve services and then make plans to join us tomorrow at 6 for the potluck supper and then our church celebration. It does matter … this church has proven it matters … I would love to go to next year’s review and tell the District Committee on Ministry that I feel good about the year 2035 as well as the next 3 to 5 years. This church has succeeded because of people of faith like you .. willing to step up and lead … willing to take on missions … and willing to share the truth of God’s love through Jesus Christ. AMEN