Rock Star Washes Dishes to Keep His Community Fed The Wired Word for the Week of July 19, 2020

In the News

Had this been a normal summer, rock superstar , 58, would be on tour with his rock band Bon Jovi, but the global pandemic put the kibosh on that. So instead, Bon Jovi -- the man, not the band -- filled in as a dishwasher at the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit community restaurant in New Jersey operated by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. And one outcome of that is a new song he wrote with help from his fans to tell their stories of life during the shutdown.

The song is called "If You Can't Do What You Do, You Do What You Can."

The JBJ Soul Kitchen, now in operation in three New Jersey locations, is an effort to address food insecurity -- hunger -- among people in need. The menu, which features fresh farm-to-table meals, has no posted prices. Patrons who can afford to do so make a donation to cover their own meal and the meal of someone else. Individuals or families who cannot afford to donate are fed anyway, and those who are able can pay it forward by volunteering for tasks in the kitchen, such as washing dishes.

The JBJ Soul Kitchen website expresses the philosophy this way: "Community Dining with Dignity. All are welcome at our table where locally sourced ingredients, dignity and respect are always on the menu."

The required increased social distancing ordered during the pandemic upended the Soul Kitchen's normal practices, especially when meals could only be served by take-out and the public could not be allowed in the kitchen, so Bon Jovi filled in at one of the restaurant's locations as a dishwasher.

At one point, Bon Jovi's wife, Dorothea, took a picture of him washing dishes and posted it on social media, with the caption, "If you can't do what you do ... do what you can."

Bon Jovi says he thought no more about it, but eventually it came to him that the caption could be a song title. And it also occurred to him that the song was an opportunity for others to express their thoughts about dealing with the pandemic.

So Bon Jovi wrote the first verse:

Tonight they're shutting down the borders and they've boarded up the schools Small towns are rolling up their sidewalks, one last paycheck coming through I know you're feeling kind of nervous, we're all a little bit confused Nothing's the same, this ain't a game, we've got to make it through.

And he wrote the chorus:

When you can't do what you do, you do what you can This ain't my prayer, it's just a thought I'm wanting to send Round here we bend but don't break, down here we all understand When you can't do what you do, you do what you can. Then, using social media, he invited his fans to contribute verses or stories to be made into verses, and stories poured in -- some 6,000 submissions in the first two days.

Here are three of them:

From Adriana:

As we look through the windows and wonder what to do This job is not going to be available for a year or two It's time to get creative, it's time to fight again It's time to give some love to all our families and friends.

From Jeffrey:

Well this life's become a movie that no one wants to see Everybody's workin' hard to keep their heads above the sea. Life is a nightmare, life is a dream I'll hold on for you if you hold on for me.

From Brice (a truck driver);

Tonight I lay my head down and try to get some sleep I pray I stay essential, that my family's health will keep I walk into that warehouse and bring on the load For our country must keep rollin' on our highways and roads.

(You can post your own lyrics using the hashtag #DoWhatYouCan.)

Now that New Jersey, which was one of the states hardest hit by the first wave of the coronavirus, is beginning to reopen and allows outdoor seating at restaurants, JBJ Soul Kitchen has transitioned back to its pay-it-forward model.

The Soul Kitchen website advises, "Please note that our in-need customers will always be seated first as they have no other options for dining."

"Our desire is to make sure that anyone who needs a meal knows that they can come and see us," Bon Jovi said, "and we'll provide them with that nutritious meal."

More on this story can be found at these links:

From Rock Superstar to All-Star Dishwasher, Jon Bon Jovi Is Keeping His Community Fed. CNN Do What You Can -- Our Story. YouTube Bon Jovi Finishes His Coronavirus Song 'Do What You Can' With Help From Fans. NJ.com JBJ Soul Kitchen, community restaurant

The Big Questions 1. What other words or expressions might you use to convey the idea behind the statement "If you can't do what you do, you do what you can"? (For example, "If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.")

2. Do you agree with the do-what-you-can statement? Why or why not?

3. What Bible verses or biblical principles might be called on to support "doing what you can" during this difficult period?

4. When have you been helped by someone who couldn't address the full scope of your needs but who nonetheless did what he or she could?

5. What talents do you possess and how could you employ them during this critical time that would contribute to the common good?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Mark 12:41-44 [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." (For context, read 12:38-44.)

Jesus was in the temple one day, near the place where people deposited offerings for the temple. He noticed that many rich people dropped large sums, but then saw "a poor widow" put in two small coins, "worth a penny," and it was her offering that caught his attention. As he put it to his disciples, "For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on." Or, as he could have worded it, "She has done what she could."

In terms of buying power, the widow's offering was insignificant, but the devotion that motivated her gift was phenomenal. That kind of devotion has done more to help meet the needs of people throughout the centuries than cash alone could ever do.

One thing Jesus taught here is that a little can mean a lot, when we do what we can.

Questions: When is "more" actually "less"? When is a "little" a "lot"? What makes the difference? In what ways does your church celebrate "Widow’s Mite" efforts?

Genesis 28:16-17 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place -- and I did not know it!" And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." (For context, read 28:10-22.)

This is from the account of Jacob's dream about a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. In the worst time of his life, as he fled for his life from the presence of his brother whom he'd cheated, Jacob saw the connection between earth and heaven in that very spot. "Surely the LORD is in this place -- and I did not know it!" Jacob then named the location where he had the dream Bethel, which means, "house of God."

The pandemic can be our Bethel where we see opportunities to do what we can.

Questions: How might "Bethel" be in the present circumstances? In what ways might the current time be a place of recognition of God's presence for you? A place of service for you? What specifically do you know you can do now that would be helpful to others?

1 Peter 4:10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. (For context, read 4:7-11.)

"Whatever gift each of you has received" here refers to the skills, abilities and the like that God has given you. There's no assumption that we all have the same gifts or that we can always function in the areas of our primary skills (Can't have rock concerts now? So wash dishes! Do what you can!)

Note that Peter speaks of using whatever gifts we have "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Questions: What specifically might being "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" mean for you during the current time? Why? In retrospect have you as individuals and as a congregation done what you could these past pandemic months? If n ot, what can you resolve to do in the months ahead?

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints -- and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us ... (For context, read 8:1-24.)

Paul is here telling the Corinthians of the generosity of their fellow believers in other locations, a generosity demonstrated even "during a severe ordeal of affliction," which prompted them not to focus merely on their own needs, but to beg for the privilege of supporting ministry to others.

Questions: To what degree have the measures to limit the spread of the virus been for you a "severe ordeal of affliction"? If you were to contribute lyrics from your experience of that ordeal to Bon Jovi's song, what would be their topic and theme?

For Further Discussion

1. Respond to this, from TWW team member Heidi Mann: "[Regarding] finding the good in the pandemic, our kiddo (15 years old) had to do school online. As parents, we saw it and encouraged him to see it as an opportunity to grow in self-discipline, resourcefulness and appreciation of his teachers and the challenges they were facing, as well as the chance to learn some new digital programs and tools. These will be to his advantage in college and/or the workforce as a resident of the 21st-century world. It's not the same thing as working 90 hrs./wk. to search for a cure [for Covid-19], but it's one way our family has stepped up to the plate during this time. (The same 15-year-old boy also decided to make banana bread -- which he has done multiple times -- to give away to people he appreciates and wanted to reach out to during the pandemic. Again, not exactly 90 hrs./wk. as a researcher, but we each do what we can to reach beyond ourselves. That's part of being a follower of Jesus.)

2. Comment on this, from TWW team member Frank Ramirez: "Regarding doing what you can, this morning I paid a pastoral visit to a friend who is finally home. He went into the hospital with Covid-19 on April 13 and came home last Friday [July 10]. We discussed what truck drivers are doing, especially during the early stages of the pandemic when their support systems weren't operating (showers, bathrooms, food services, and the like). And of course the vital work of all those in the health-care industry. We talked about those who took it upon themselves to use their enforced free time to make masks for others. I can think of factories that retooled to make ventilators and other vital equipment. A farmer I know had lots of those top-notch masks that were in short supply (he works with chemicals and other things) and he made them available to those who wanted one."

3. Name people you know who always do what they can. What motivates them? Have you expressed your admiration to them or, maybe more to the point, learned from them how not to hesitate to do what little you can?

4. What scripture verses reflect your own experience during this pandemic?

Responding to the News

This is a good time to look at what you might consider your "secondary" or even "minor" skills and consider what you can do to bless others during these difficult times.

Prayer

Help us, Lord, neither to discount the little we can sometimes do, nor the much we can do at other times. Make us willing to put both our little and our much at your disposal. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Other News This Week

Name Changes For Master Bedrooms and Washington Redskins The Wired Word for the Week of July 19, 2020

In the News

The Houston Association of Realtors has replaced the phrases "master bedroom" and "master bathroom" in their listings. A spokesperson for the group told ABC News that "a diverse group of members expressed concern that some consumers might perceive the terms to be sexist or racist." The listings now say "primary bedroom" and "primary bathroom," since no one felt that the term "primary" would be objectionable.

Some members of this realtors' association did not view the term "master" as either racist or sexist but were willing to change it for others who may find it objectionable, according to the spokesperson. The idea to stop using the term "master" has been a topic of discussion in the association for several years. In Illinois, the managing partner of a brokerage firm called GetBurbed made the decision to switch "master" to "main" in her agency's listings. She said that the term "master bedroom" gave her the impression that "a white, Anglo-Saxon male lives in that room." As a woman in a woman-owned business, she wanted to change that line of thinking. She is now calling on other realtors and MLS.com, the real estate listing service, to make the change as well.

"There's (sic) a lot of things that people do in everyday life that we don't necessarily realize are derogatory," she said. "The major online real estate websites have to get on board with the idea too. It can't be as simple as some brokerages in Illinois making the change, or some in Texas." An Atlanta- based national home construction company called PulteGroup eliminated the term "master bedroom" several years ago, confirming to ABC News that it now uses the terms "owner's suite" and "owner's bath" in its floor plans.

Like so many terms, the meaning and effect of "master bedroom" is contested. Its first known use was in 1925 and it means "a large or principal bedroom," according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The term "master" on its own is defined as the male head of a household and the owner or employer of slaves and servants. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has determined in the past that the term "master bedroom" is not discriminatory and its use does not violate fair housing laws.

But the meaning of words is always changing. Vince Malta, the 2020 president of the National Association of Realtors, told ABC News, "Even though there may be no historical connection to discrimination and HUD finds it does not violate fair housing laws, [the National Association of Realtors] has no objection to the use of other terminology if consensus evolves that the word has taken on new meaning." The association, which represents 1.4 million members, is comfortable with realtors using other terms to describe a main bedroom and bathroom.

Although people have called for an end to the use of "master" for some time, recent protests in response to George Floyd's death have focused attention on the need to eliminate terms that can be heard as racist. In recent weeks, other companies announced plans to eliminate brands based on racial stereotypes such as Aunt Jemima, Mrs. Butterworth, and Uncle Ben's. As of Monday, Washington's NFL football team will no longer be called the "Redskins."

For more than 20 years, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has resisted calls to change the name of the team, even in the face of charges that the name is offensive to Native Americans. But now, with corporate and political powers urging a change, the team has announced that it will "retire" the name. Snyder's decision was "long overdue" but "welcome," said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), and an organization called "Rebrand Washington Football" said that it "applauds" the news.

On July 2, FedEx released a statement asking the team to change its name. The Redskins play at FedExField, and the company is one of the franchise's top sponsors as well as the holder of its stadium's naming rights. Similar demands were made by sponsors such as PepsiCo, Nike and Bank of America.

Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the District of Columbia's non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives, said in a phone interview that the team's move "reflects the present climate of intolerance to names, statues, figments of our past that are racist in nature or otherwise imply racism." According to The Washington Post, the support of Norton and the D.C. mayor "are important to Snyder eventually getting a new stadium in the city, where the D.C. Council and some House leaders had opposed letting Snyder build on the RFK Stadium site as long as the team was called the Redskins."

Protests over the name began in 1992, before Snyder was the owner, when more than 2,000 Native Americans protested the name Redskins ahead of the Super Bowl. In 2004, an Annenberg Public Policy Center poll revealed that only nine percent of Native Americans were offended by the Redskins name. In 2013, Snyder told USA Today, "We'll never change the name. It's that simple. NEVER -- you can use caps." In 2016, a Washington Post poll revealed that nine out of ten Native Americans were not offended by the Redskins name. In the days after the death of George Floyd, at least one of Snyder's outside advisers urged him to deal with the Redskins name, and then Snyder began moving toward a name change.

More on this story can be found at these links:

Realtor Groups Drop 'Master' Bedroom, Bathroom Terms From Listings. Good Morning America Washington's NFL Team to Retire Redskins Name, Following Sponsor Pressure and Calls for Change. The Washington Post

Applying the News Story

Words shape reality in powerful ways, for good or for bad. Use these stories of recent name changes as a starting point for reflecting on your own word choices, as an individual and as a member of the Christian community.

The Big Questions

1. In your experience, what particular words have changed meaning over time, and how have you altered your use of these words?

2. What words strike you as racist or sexist today, even though they once seemed non-offensive to you? How were you made aware of their offensiveness? What changes did you make in your speech, if any?

3. How do words play a role in the Christian faith? What care should Christians take with their word choices?

4. What power do words have to shape the life of an individual or a community? When have you seen words change history? Be specific.

5. Who decides the meaning of a word? What forces can take useful words out of circulation, and what is lost when this happens?

6. Sometimes the term used by outsiders for a denomination, like "Quakers" for the Society of Friends, becomes accepted by the group even if it was originated by outsiders. What is the history of your church’s name? What associations do outsiders make with terms such as "Christian" or "Evangelical" today? Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Genesis 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light (For context, read 1:1-5.)

On the first day of creation, God created the powerful light that is absolutely essential for life, and God did it using nothing but four words, "Let there be light." God used a set of words to bring order out of chaos and light out of darkness. This creative speech of God has continued throughout history, through the words of the prophets and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Questions: What meaning do you attach to the idea that God created the heavens and the earth with nothing but words? How are words connected to creativity, in your experience? Where do you see power in speech, divine and human?

Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it (For context, read 55:1-13.)

The prophet Isaiah offers an invitation to abundant life, in which he speaks for God and invites people to "listen, so that you may live" (v. 3). Part of his message is that God's word is creative and life- giving, like rain, snow, seed and bread, and that it accomplishes God's purposes in the world.

Questions: Where have you seen a connection between God's word and God's work in the world? How does God's word bring forth life and cause things to grow? What does this say to you about the importance of listening to what God says? When have your words come back to you in a positive way (perhaps a word spoken in encouragement had a good effect far beyond your intentions)? In a negative way?

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (For context, read 1:1-18.)

John describes the Word of God as being in existence in the beginning of creation. This Word "was with God, and the Word was God" (v. 1). The Word was part of the creation of the heavens and the earth, and all things "came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being" (v. 3). Eventually, this Word became human and lived among humans as Jesus the Christ, "full of grace and truth."

Questions: Where do you find significance in the connection between Jesus and the Word of God? How does Jesus show God's Word to you? In what ways does the life, death and resurrection of Jesus help you to understand God's Word? In what ways have your words become flesh, or real, in your life? Say more about this.

Ephesians 6:5-6 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, dong the will of God from the heart. (For context, read 6:5-9.)

The apostle Paul was writing in an era in which slavery was an accepted part of the culture, and he encouraged members of that society to be in right relationship with one another. He ordered slaves to obey their earthly masters while commanding masters to "Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality" (v. 9).

Questions: How do you apply the words of Paul to your life today, in an era in which slavery is understood to be antithetical to the will of God? What can be done to reject the message of obedience to earthly masters while accepting the message of obedience to a "Master in heaven"?

For Further Discussion

1. "Cancel culture" refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. But "cancel culture" has value, according to Sarah Hagi in Time. "I'm a black, Muslim woman," she writes, "and because of social media, marginalized people like myself can express ourselves in a way that was not possible before. That means racist, sexist, and bigoted behavior or remarks don't fly like they used to." When has a marginalized person made you aware of offensive words or phrases? What helps you to listen to criticism without becoming defensive?

2. In the novel City of Peace (Köehler Books, 2019), a Methodist pastor named Harley Camden speaks about the power of words. "I'm convinced that words create reality," Harley explains. "It's a very biblical idea. Think of God creating the world in Genesis, saying 'Let there be light,' and there is light. Jesus is described in the New Testament as 'the Word.' When Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'I have a dream,' people began to see a vision of a new world of equality. Words create reality. Whether we say 'I love you' or 'I hate you' makes a huge difference." In your experience, how do "words create reality"? When have particular words changed your life, for good or ill? Be specific.

3. When Jesus used the word "Father" to describe God, that was not a common way of referencing the Lord, so it probably shocked people who didn't see God as having that kind of intimate relationship with humans. Today, many people have had experiences of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of fathers, other male relatives or clergy who were called "father" or who served as father figures. How is that term problematic for some people? Do you think Jesus would use that term today? What other ways can we describe God?

4. Jesus was addressed as master, and he told parables about masters and slaves. How can these terms be used in a meaningful way today? In the world of computers, one form of communication or control between devices is called "master/slave." In this approach, the "master" device controls one or more other "slave" devices and serves as their communication hub (recently, this master/slave terminology has been a subject of controversy, and some organizations have replaced it with other words). What images of "master" speak to you in positive and faithful ways, if any?

5. Paul's order that "women should be silent in the churches" (1 Corinthians 14:34) are words that have been used to prevent women from preaching and teaching. Peter's command to "accept the authority of every human institution" (1 Peter 2:13) has given oppressive governments permission to abuse innocent people. When, if ever, should the traditional understanding of the Bible's words be changed? How does the Christian community do this?

6. The Kansas City Star has a story titled, "The Redskins are gone. Are the Chiefs next? KC’s NFL team prepares for the debate" (link requires a subscription to gain access). The point is made that "Redskins" is a dictionary-defined racial slur, while "Chiefs" is not inherently offensive. But both teams have identities that draw on Native American culture. What guidelines would you use to determine when it is appropriate to borrow images or words from other cultures? How do you assess whether you are being offensive or not?

7. Respond to this, from TWW team member Stan Purdum: "As a culture, we can get carried away with word changes. Some of it is good, but it can go too far. I remember back when we were abandoning 'mankind' in favor of 'humankind,' some writer referred to a manhole as a 'personhole.' That's when I felt we'd gone too far. The change to humankind was important and useful and helped broaden our thinking, but thankfully, 'personhole' didn't catch on."

Responding to the News

On the first day of creation, God brought order out of chaos and light out of darkness. We can do the same with the words we speak today. Try to use language that communicates the equality of human beings created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), as well as words that express the grace and truth of Jesus (John 1:17).

Prayer

God of creativity, help us to choose our words wisely and in ways that accomplish your purposes throughout this world that you love so much. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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