Serving in a church with lots of small children keeps one always looking for good childcare workers. I recently came across a potential worker and arranged for her to come and work on Wednesday nights, during our Bible study. Last night was the first Wednesday she was working with us. This particular evening I happened to be carpooling with some folks from the congregation, and as we pulled into the church parking lot, a lone black SUV with the license plates "DVL SPWN" sat there waiting for us.
The folks I was riding with had concerned looks on their faces and asked, "Who's car is that?" To which I had to meekly reply, "I think that is our new childcare worker."
I may have lost some points there...
The worker said that it was a license plate she got in high school to irritate her mother several years ago. I don't know if it worked then, but I fear it's going to irritate some folks at church.
The moral of the story: in addition to background checks on childcare workers, run license plate checks too.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
My Third Place...
What is your third place? There is the place where you live, the place where you work (sometimes those are one in the same!), and then the place where you spend the rest of your time. This "third place" is usually some sort of hobby or activity like motorcycles, running, triathlon, comic collecting, knitting, sewing , etc.
I realize my third place has become my computer. (I'm not sure how I feel about that...) When we moved this past summer I got a new Macbook (which I love!) for personal and work use. As I learned more and more about the mac, web 2.0 and all the cool things out there on the internet, I began spending more and more time on my computer. Which hasn't helped my social life much - although I do spend a fair amount of time at the local coffee shop (on my computer - free wifi is beautiful!)
Where is your third place?
I realize my third place has become my computer. (I'm not sure how I feel about that...) When we moved this past summer I got a new Macbook (which I love!) for personal and work use. As I learned more and more about the mac, web 2.0 and all the cool things out there on the internet, I began spending more and more time on my computer. Which hasn't helped my social life much - although I do spend a fair amount of time at the local coffee shop (on my computer - free wifi is beautiful!)
Where is your third place?
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Renovation of the Heart
Over the past few weeks I have been reading a book that has been a strong influence over the shaping (or reshaping) of my heart. The book is called Renovation of the Heart, by Dallas Willard.
Willard's main is writing about the process of spiritual (re)formation where our hearts are made new in Jesus Christ. I am about halfway through it (trying to read about a half a chapter a day). I am currently in the section about transforming the mind, and the past couple of days I have been reading about "feelings". In particular, Willard is discussing:
Hope - anticipation of good not here yet
Faith - confidence grounded in reality
Love - to will the good
Joy - a pervasive sense of well-being
Peace - the rest of the will that results from assurance "about how thing will turn out"
Willard suggests that if our hearts are resting in the above things, those feelings which destroy our heart (desire, pride, lust, etc.) will fade away. He argues (and I agree) that the foundation for spiritual (re)formation is the power of the Holy Spirit, but that we play a role. We are active participants in this renovation.
He uses a three part model for how we participate in the renovation of our hearts. First there is vision - we envision what our transformed lives will look like. Second is Intent(ion) - we have every intention of living into that vision. Finally, there is Means - we use means (prayer, disciplined thinking, accountable discipleship group, etc.) to intentionally live into the vision of a renovated heart.
So although I haven't finished it yet, I highly recommend this book.
Willard's main is writing about the process of spiritual (re)formation where our hearts are made new in Jesus Christ. I am about halfway through it (trying to read about a half a chapter a day). I am currently in the section about transforming the mind, and the past couple of days I have been reading about "feelings". In particular, Willard is discussing:
Hope - anticipation of good not here yet
Faith - confidence grounded in reality
Love - to will the good
Joy - a pervasive sense of well-being
Peace - the rest of the will that results from assurance "about how thing will turn out"
Willard suggests that if our hearts are resting in the above things, those feelings which destroy our heart (desire, pride, lust, etc.) will fade away. He argues (and I agree) that the foundation for spiritual (re)formation is the power of the Holy Spirit, but that we play a role. We are active participants in this renovation.
He uses a three part model for how we participate in the renovation of our hearts. First there is vision - we envision what our transformed lives will look like. Second is Intent(ion) - we have every intention of living into that vision. Finally, there is Means - we use means (prayer, disciplined thinking, accountable discipleship group, etc.) to intentionally live into the vision of a renovated heart.
So although I haven't finished it yet, I highly recommend this book.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
What about the resurrection?!
The other day I attended a funeral for a young woman (37). It was a sad event because family and friends were mourning the tragic loss of a loved one. It was even more sad, because there was no mention of the resurrection or the hope we have in Jesus.
Now, I didn't know this woman. She was a friend of several of the women in my congregation. I went to the funeral in a pastoral capacity as a sign of support for them. However as I sat listening to the presider an already sad event grew even more sorrowful.
There were probably 150 - 200 people in attendance. People coming to this place to share grief and support for the family and friends of this young woman. What a wonderful opportunity to share a word of hope to this community in their grief.
Instead, the presider read about 25 selected readings from the Bible. Then he read a commentary to some of these passages from a sect known as the Christian Scientists. I found myself growing angry as the presider read. It wasn't that he was reading poorly, he read well. I couldn't help but think of how people were hearing this. Did they understand what they were hearing? Was this soothing to them in this time of grief? Was it clear that Jesus' resurrection, his victory over death, gives us hope in the midst of our grief over the death of a loved one? Isn't that the purpose of a Christian funeral?
Or was this was merely a memorial service. People gathered to remember a loved one, here some words read, tell stories, cry and go home. That's it. Death wins. It's done. Finished.
Sad indeed.
Now, I didn't know this woman. She was a friend of several of the women in my congregation. I went to the funeral in a pastoral capacity as a sign of support for them. However as I sat listening to the presider an already sad event grew even more sorrowful.
There were probably 150 - 200 people in attendance. People coming to this place to share grief and support for the family and friends of this young woman. What a wonderful opportunity to share a word of hope to this community in their grief.
Instead, the presider read about 25 selected readings from the Bible. Then he read a commentary to some of these passages from a sect known as the Christian Scientists. I found myself growing angry as the presider read. It wasn't that he was reading poorly, he read well. I couldn't help but think of how people were hearing this. Did they understand what they were hearing? Was this soothing to them in this time of grief? Was it clear that Jesus' resurrection, his victory over death, gives us hope in the midst of our grief over the death of a loved one? Isn't that the purpose of a Christian funeral?
Or was this was merely a memorial service. People gathered to remember a loved one, here some words read, tell stories, cry and go home. That's it. Death wins. It's done. Finished.
Sad indeed.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Interruptions...
I will be the first to admit, I am a pretty selfish guy. I don't mean this in a "poor me, say nice things to me" kind of way. I mean it in the "right now this seems to be the condition of my heart" kind of way.
One of the ways I seem to be most selfish is with my time. I guard it jealously. I try to horde it up in chunks, so I can do the kinds of things I want to do. I try to manage my calendar so that I am master of my time. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.) And typically when interruptions pop up my initial response is frustration because...well...its ruining my plan.
Well, today three interruptions came my way - and for some reason (most likely the grace of God) I was able to embrace them. I didn't see them as things that kept me from what I wanted to do. I saw them as ways to help others and maybe even serve God.
In these instances, by not clinging so tightly to my time (notice how I said "my" time, like I own it in the first place - ha!) By letting it go, interruption turned into blessing. Or, maybe a better way to say it is that interruption turned into being. I wasn't managing. I wasn't doing. I was just being.
As I write this, I recall a thought that occurred to me last night as I was drifting off to sleep: each day is a gift from God. (Kind of underwhelming, huh?) But for some reason, at 12:07 AM this struck me as profound.
I mean really and truly, I have taken for granted for the past 32 years that when I go to sleep, I will wake up the next day - kind of like when I start my car, I just assume that it will start. Last night I kind of realized that just because I assume that I will wake up does not necessarily mean I am going to wake up. Each day is a gift.
Anything could happen while I am asleep (i.e. a natural disaster, war, fire, a stroke... without going into morbid details, you get the point.) So I decided while laying there, awaiting a peaceful slumber, that I would wake up tomorrow morning (which is actually today) with gratitude for the gift of another day of life; thankful that God, in his grace, has allowed me one more day on earth.
Maybe, somehow last night's reflection subconsciously worked into my psyche, so that today I wasn't as selfish with my time as I was yesterday. Maybe I am maturing and seeing the value in living fully in the present and being more selfless with my time. Maybe I should forget what I think just before I go to sleep.
Or...maybe God is at work in all of this, pointing towards the simple blessings he gives - like another day on earth - and is transforming my heart one day at a time.
My hope is that its a little of the former three and a lot of the latter. Either way. Today is nearing its end. Time to go to sleep. I wonder what tomorrow will bring...
One of the ways I seem to be most selfish is with my time. I guard it jealously. I try to horde it up in chunks, so I can do the kinds of things I want to do. I try to manage my calendar so that I am master of my time. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.) And typically when interruptions pop up my initial response is frustration because...well...its ruining my plan.
Well, today three interruptions came my way - and for some reason (most likely the grace of God) I was able to embrace them. I didn't see them as things that kept me from what I wanted to do. I saw them as ways to help others and maybe even serve God.
In these instances, by not clinging so tightly to my time (notice how I said "my" time, like I own it in the first place - ha!) By letting it go, interruption turned into blessing. Or, maybe a better way to say it is that interruption turned into being. I wasn't managing. I wasn't doing. I was just being.
As I write this, I recall a thought that occurred to me last night as I was drifting off to sleep: each day is a gift from God. (Kind of underwhelming, huh?) But for some reason, at 12:07 AM this struck me as profound.
I mean really and truly, I have taken for granted for the past 32 years that when I go to sleep, I will wake up the next day - kind of like when I start my car, I just assume that it will start. Last night I kind of realized that just because I assume that I will wake up does not necessarily mean I am going to wake up. Each day is a gift.
Anything could happen while I am asleep (i.e. a natural disaster, war, fire, a stroke... without going into morbid details, you get the point.) So I decided while laying there, awaiting a peaceful slumber, that I would wake up tomorrow morning (which is actually today) with gratitude for the gift of another day of life; thankful that God, in his grace, has allowed me one more day on earth.
Maybe, somehow last night's reflection subconsciously worked into my psyche, so that today I wasn't as selfish with my time as I was yesterday. Maybe I am maturing and seeing the value in living fully in the present and being more selfless with my time. Maybe I should forget what I think just before I go to sleep.
Or...maybe God is at work in all of this, pointing towards the simple blessings he gives - like another day on earth - and is transforming my heart one day at a time.
My hope is that its a little of the former three and a lot of the latter. Either way. Today is nearing its end. Time to go to sleep. I wonder what tomorrow will bring...
Friday, March 02, 2007
Recommended Reading...
1. Simply Christian, b
y NT Wright
I really enjoyed Wright's style and thoughtful presentation of Christianity. Some would call this the "Mere Christianity" of our time. I enjoyed how Wright started with a foundation of three different world views and followed those through the various topics - helping the reader to see that what some may consider Christian is really not, and vice versa. Regardless of where one is on the journey, I believe this book is a good companion to have with you!
2. The Gospel According to Starbuck's, by Leonard S
weet
I drank (pardon the pun) this book up! Sweet does a great job of analyzing a cultural icon and the things they do well and then suggesting generally how the church or Christians might consider applying those principles as followers of Jesus. His E.P.I.C. (Experience, Participation, Image-driven, Connections) approach is helpful and worth the price of the book itself. While reading this though, I must admit I had to wonder if this book was somehow partially funded by the coffee industry.
3. The
Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
I just finished this one this morning! Gladwell's use and explanation of some current trends is very interesting. While one could argue with the conclusions he draws regarding those trends/epidemics, he does a good job stating his case for what sends some trends/epidemics past the tipping point. I am still absorbing in the ideas and trying to figure out how these apply to my local church context.
y NT WrightI really enjoyed Wright's style and thoughtful presentation of Christianity. Some would call this the "Mere Christianity" of our time. I enjoyed how Wright started with a foundation of three different world views and followed those through the various topics - helping the reader to see that what some may consider Christian is really not, and vice versa. Regardless of where one is on the journey, I believe this book is a good companion to have with you!
2. The Gospel According to Starbuck's, by Leonard S
weetI drank (pardon the pun) this book up! Sweet does a great job of analyzing a cultural icon and the things they do well and then suggesting generally how the church or Christians might consider applying those principles as followers of Jesus. His E.P.I.C. (Experience, Participation, Image-driven, Connections) approach is helpful and worth the price of the book itself. While reading this though, I must admit I had to wonder if this book was somehow partially funded by the coffee industry.
3. The
Tipping Point by Malcolm GladwellI just finished this one this morning! Gladwell's use and explanation of some current trends is very interesting. While one could argue with the conclusions he draws regarding those trends/epidemics, he does a good job stating his case for what sends some trends/epidemics past the tipping point. I am still absorbing in the ideas and trying to figure out how these apply to my local church context.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Skiing is a beautiful thing...
I am up at Snowmass, CO with some friends for a couple of days. In this picture, Andrew (black) and I (green) just finished hiking up to the top of the Longshot Run. (See trail map here.)The view was spectacular and the run down the mountain was fun and challenging!
The weather has been fantastic and the snow conditions have been even better. The only thing that would make this trip complete is if Jill could be here!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Snow and Grace...
This morning I sat staring out at the falling snow, while enjoying a cup of coffee. As I sat, I reflected on the beauty of the falling snow and how, as it blankets the earth, it transforms the landscape into a new and beautiful creation, if but only for awhile.
I believe God's grace is like this as well - like a blanket of snow it transforms the wintry landscapes of our lives into something new. As fresh white snow blankets dead foliage, so God's grace blankets the sin and shame of our lives, giving us a fresh, new slate. But unlike snow which will eventually melt, God's grace and transforming power is more permanent, more...eternal.
God, thanks for the beauty of creation and a freshly fallen snow. As the snow covers the earth, may your grace cover our lives so that we may be transformed to be new people. Shape us by the power of your Spirit, so that our lives may be as fresh as a newly fallen snow. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
I believe God's grace is like this as well - like a blanket of snow it transforms the wintry landscapes of our lives into something new. As fresh white snow blankets dead foliage, so God's grace blankets the sin and shame of our lives, giving us a fresh, new slate. But unlike snow which will eventually melt, God's grace and transforming power is more permanent, more...eternal.
God, thanks for the beauty of creation and a freshly fallen snow. As the snow covers the earth, may your grace cover our lives so that we may be transformed to be new people. Shape us by the power of your Spirit, so that our lives may be as fresh as a newly fallen snow. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Grace unexpected, yet always amazing...
I'm not sure if this articulates my experience or the richness of my realization of grace very well, but it has been helpful to write.
Have you ever had one of those moments that so clearly exemplified the sacrifice and beauty of the cross? Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone's graciousness in a way that both shames and lifts you up in the same moment? This evening was one of those moments for me.
Tomorrow we are having our church's leadership training event. I was responsible for arranging child care. I had made arrangements, but the fell through on Wednesday night. Not sure what to do, I hesitated like a deer in the middle of the road around a curve with a mack truck bearing down. So, true to my male tendencies I procrastinate.
You see, the problem is that we have advertised "Childcare Available" for the last month and a half for this event. Actually the problem isn't that we have advertised childcare, its that there is no childcare. By this point my stomach is churning in knots due to fear of failure and fear of incurring the wrath of members of the congregation. Friday morning comes and goes, and I still know idea how to work to resolve this.
Friday afternoon sneaks up on me will I try to pretend that the childcare monkey is not really on my back (despite the fact it has been weighing me down for almost 36 hours!) In my mind I begin to start going down the list of invitees, wondering who has children. I know of a couple of families won't be able to attend due to work responsibilities. Hope flickers...maybe no children will show up. I place calls to two families I know are attending. One family can make other arrangements. The other family will wait and see how their child does Saturday morning -they may have to leave early.
The fact remains - I was responsible for child care and we have no child care. Then my saint of a wife speaks up. She says she will be the childcare. I know this is the last thing she wants to do on a Saturday morning after already spending a significant amount of time with children in her classroom. She would much rather do her own thing.
My burden -my anxiety- has now become hers. There will be childcare after all, thanks to my wife. Yet I feel shamed because she is sacrificing her time to bail my sorry hide out of a bind which is my fault because I did not deal with it quicker in the first place. Moreover, its not something she wants to do. She has picked up her cross to bear this weekend, and I am the recipient of its grace - something I don't deserve. Thank you my dear, for showing me grace and for gently pointing towards the deeper grace found in the cross of Jesus. I love you.
Have you ever had one of those moments that so clearly exemplified the sacrifice and beauty of the cross? Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone's graciousness in a way that both shames and lifts you up in the same moment? This evening was one of those moments for me.
Tomorrow we are having our church's leadership training event. I was responsible for arranging child care. I had made arrangements, but the fell through on Wednesday night. Not sure what to do, I hesitated like a deer in the middle of the road around a curve with a mack truck bearing down. So, true to my male tendencies I procrastinate.
You see, the problem is that we have advertised "Childcare Available" for the last month and a half for this event. Actually the problem isn't that we have advertised childcare, its that there is no childcare. By this point my stomach is churning in knots due to fear of failure and fear of incurring the wrath of members of the congregation. Friday morning comes and goes, and I still know idea how to work to resolve this.
Friday afternoon sneaks up on me will I try to pretend that the childcare monkey is not really on my back (despite the fact it has been weighing me down for almost 36 hours!) In my mind I begin to start going down the list of invitees, wondering who has children. I know of a couple of families won't be able to attend due to work responsibilities. Hope flickers...maybe no children will show up. I place calls to two families I know are attending. One family can make other arrangements. The other family will wait and see how their child does Saturday morning -they may have to leave early.
The fact remains - I was responsible for child care and we have no child care. Then my saint of a wife speaks up. She says she will be the childcare. I know this is the last thing she wants to do on a Saturday morning after already spending a significant amount of time with children in her classroom. She would much rather do her own thing.
My burden -my anxiety- has now become hers. There will be childcare after all, thanks to my wife. Yet I feel shamed because she is sacrificing her time to bail my sorry hide out of a bind which is my fault because I did not deal with it quicker in the first place. Moreover, its not something she wants to do. She has picked up her cross to bear this weekend, and I am the recipient of its grace - something I don't deserve. Thank you my dear, for showing me grace and for gently pointing towards the deeper grace found in the cross of Jesus. I love you.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
You gotta read this...
... story about a nine-year old who ran away from his house in Washington state and ended up in Texas. He stole a car (NOTE: this was his third time stealing a car!), jumped on a plane to go to Texas, switched planes in Phoenix and was finally arrested in San Antonio. According to his mother, he really doesn't like Seattle.
Now, I don't condone running away, stealing cars or sneaking onto planes, but I must admit, I admire his tenacity and his creativity.
Now, I don't condone running away, stealing cars or sneaking onto planes, but I must admit, I admire his tenacity and his creativity.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Super-heroes...
Just the other day, I was talking with a friend of mine believes about "superpowers." So I had to chuckle to myself when I came across this super-hero test. You can see below who I would be, who would you be?
Your results:
You are Spider-Man
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
Your results:
You are Spider-Man
| You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.  |
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Preparing for Christmas...
...so that is why I haven't written much lately - working on getting Sunday's services ready as well as preparing to be out the first week of January, when I hope to spend a little time at the monastery. While there I hope to spend some time working my brief reflections on ebenezers to be posted upon my return.
So, I hope you and your family experience much blessing, peace and wholeness in the celebration of Christ's birth and eventual return!
So, I hope you and your family experience much blessing, peace and wholeness in the celebration of Christ's birth and eventual return!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Amnesia No More...
Earlier I posted about my spiritual forgetfulness. In that post, I challenged others and myself to remember. So I made a list of things I wish to make "ebenezers", or spiritual markers in my life. I hope over the next several weeks to be able to post a brief reflection on each. Here they are in chronological order:
- my baptism (Age 5)
- my parents divorce (Age 6)
- my conversion (Age 14)
- call to work in youth ministry (Age 22)
- awareness of call to ordained ministry (Age 25)
- appointment to Rectortown Church (Age 32)
- a second repentance (Age 32)
- a call to remember (Age 32)
My Papers Part 3
6. Describe your understanding of clergy leadership from a Biblical and Wesleyan perspective.
From a biblical perspective clergy leadership is helping God’s people take the next faithful step, to borrow a definition from Lovett Weems. This is true both individually and corporately. Moses led the people out of a land of slavery eventually to the edge of the promised land. He did so under God’s direction, meaning he looked to God and listened to his direction. Thus he interpreted God’s faithful steps for the Israelites to lead them to the place God prepared for them. He helped them to take the next faithful step.
Jesus, as part of his earthly ministry, invested his life in 12 men. He taught them and showed them the way towards the next faithful step. Because of Jesus’ leadership (and the fact that he was the Son of God) Peter and James were instrumental (with the power of the Holy Spirit) in the founding, leadership and building of the church. From John we have several important (and much discussed) canonical texts. These men took the next faithful step.
Thus clergy leadership is helping the church as a body and as individuals to take the next faithful step to which God is calling them. We do this through participating in a relationship with God from which we gain our vision and understanding. We do this by spending time and investing our lives in other leaders who will then invest their lives in other leaders, etc.
From a Wesleyan perspective, clergy leadership seems to be the specifics of how to help God’s people take the next faithful step. For instance, preaching and the sacraments were very important to share God’s grace with others, thereby enabling them to follow the movement of the Spirit.
Additionally accountability and discipline as a community helps people to take the next faithful step, because it helps us to focus on where we are going. Disciplined accountability helps the church and individual believers, as Stephen Covey once said, to “keep the main thing the main thing by keeping the main thing the main thing.”
From a biblical perspective clergy leadership is helping God’s people take the next faithful step, to borrow a definition from Lovett Weems. This is true both individually and corporately. Moses led the people out of a land of slavery eventually to the edge of the promised land. He did so under God’s direction, meaning he looked to God and listened to his direction. Thus he interpreted God’s faithful steps for the Israelites to lead them to the place God prepared for them. He helped them to take the next faithful step.
Jesus, as part of his earthly ministry, invested his life in 12 men. He taught them and showed them the way towards the next faithful step. Because of Jesus’ leadership (and the fact that he was the Son of God) Peter and James were instrumental (with the power of the Holy Spirit) in the founding, leadership and building of the church. From John we have several important (and much discussed) canonical texts. These men took the next faithful step.
Thus clergy leadership is helping the church as a body and as individuals to take the next faithful step to which God is calling them. We do this through participating in a relationship with God from which we gain our vision and understanding. We do this by spending time and investing our lives in other leaders who will then invest their lives in other leaders, etc.
From a Wesleyan perspective, clergy leadership seems to be the specifics of how to help God’s people take the next faithful step. For instance, preaching and the sacraments were very important to share God’s grace with others, thereby enabling them to follow the movement of the Spirit.
Additionally accountability and discipline as a community helps people to take the next faithful step, because it helps us to focus on where we are going. Disciplined accountability helps the church and individual believers, as Stephen Covey once said, to “keep the main thing the main thing by keeping the main thing the main thing.”
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Forgetfulness...
The longer I live, the more I realize that my story is like that of the Israelites. They had this amazing experience where God rescues them from slavery, yet they continued to grumble and forget what God had done for them. Their story is my story. I forget.
I forget the lessons that I have learned about life and faith. I forget that when I trust in anything other than God I wind up disappointed. I forget that God's power and love are bigger than me and my mistakes. I forget.
This is why I love worship on Sunday mornings. I remember, if but only for an hour, that God is God, and I am not. I remember that Jesus is the cure to the disease of sin that infects the world and me. I remember that God's plan for creation is one of redemption, renewal and ultimately resurrection. I remember...
...then I forget. But, maybe tomorrow I will remember. In the desert the Israelites built piles of rocks called "ebenezers" to commemorate the events that took place. They gave those rock formations names that reminded them of what happened there. What shape might my ebenezers take? How might I name them? (I must admit my first thought is that tattoos would make good ebenezers. Don't worry, Mom. I'm not planning on any tattoos in the near future.)
This week I am going to work on remembering. As I do, I invite you to join me and ask you to ponder and maybe even share how you mark the ebenezers on your journey.
I forget the lessons that I have learned about life and faith. I forget that when I trust in anything other than God I wind up disappointed. I forget that God's power and love are bigger than me and my mistakes. I forget.
This is why I love worship on Sunday mornings. I remember, if but only for an hour, that God is God, and I am not. I remember that Jesus is the cure to the disease of sin that infects the world and me. I remember that God's plan for creation is one of redemption, renewal and ultimately resurrection. I remember...
...then I forget. But, maybe tomorrow I will remember. In the desert the Israelites built piles of rocks called "ebenezers" to commemorate the events that took place. They gave those rock formations names that reminded them of what happened there. What shape might my ebenezers take? How might I name them? (I must admit my first thought is that tattoos would make good ebenezers. Don't worry, Mom. I'm not planning on any tattoos in the near future.)
This week I am going to work on remembering. As I do, I invite you to join me and ask you to ponder and maybe even share how you mark the ebenezers on your journey.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Soul food...
Preparing for Sunday's sermon, I stumbled across the words below; they fed my soul. Possibly they will feed yours too...
It all starts here out in the hot sands of repentance. The gospel begins here, if it starts up in your life at all, that is. The gospel begins not with the cry of a baby in a manger, not when shepherds hear the angels sing, and certainly not when the stockings are hung by the fireplace with care or any other such cozy holiday image as we usually think of them. The gospel begins, the gospels say, with John. The gospel begins out in the desert, out in that place that, throughout the entire Bible, is associated with death, chaos, and danger. The wilderness is not the place to go if you're looking for a good time. The wilderness is not safe. But the prophet Isaiah once predicted, and the man John the Baptist later fulfilled, the promise that it would be precisely in the desert, in the place of death, where God would build a highway to new life. You go into the desert to die, the gospel says. But in baptism, you not only drown, you rise back to new life.
Have you ever heard John preach? It's the most refreshing thing in the world! It's new birth, gospel-style. It's a fresh start. It's good news. It's like going to the doctor convinced you've got a tumor the size of a basketball pressing on your abdomen only to be told it's just gas. Take some Rolaids and go home. A new start. Good news! It's like getting called into the boss's office convinced a pink slip was coming only to get promoted to be the head of a whole new department in the firm. A turn-around, a reversal of fortune, good news. You get on the phone and gush, "Honey, you won't believe this but . . ." and then you go on to make her believe it anyway because it's true.
John offered that. A new start. A fresh beginning. The Messiah is coming, John says. He's coming soon and he's going to dip you right into the life-giving waters of no less than the very Holy Spirit of God. But don't get me wrong: none of this means that everything will become instantly hunky-dorey in your life. For instance, if you are celebrating Christmas this year without a certain loved one who died since Christmas last came and went, that's going to hurt. The gospel doesn't say it shouldn't hurt, but only that through the hurt shines the light of Christ. For now at least, even the gospel can't fix everything. Relationships fracture. People up and die on us before we get the chance to say we're sorry. It hurts. John the Baptist knows that. The One for whom John prepared the way knows that, too. Jesus doesn't leave the room in disgust if you find yourself weeping in front of the Christmas tree--as though your sorrow is ruining Jesus' holiday cheer. Instead, Jesus catches a salty tear or two on the tip of his finger and quietly whispers, "I know. I know. That's why I came in the first place."
John helps us to see and remember that. John takes a buzz-saw to the tinsel and glitter of it all, but he's not finally wrecking anything but building something more lasting, more real, more full of the gospel. John is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It starts here or it starts nowhere. Because if it starts here, the gospel will have some longevity to it. If it starts here, the gospel can endure long after we put the decorations away on January 1. If it starts here, the gospel will have depth to it even if we find ourselves merely going through the motions this month because of how sad we feel on the inside. If we start out right, we may finish right, too. And then in between the start and the finish, our lives will bear the gospel fruit of repentance, showing that we really do get it.
Have you ever heard John preach? If you haven't, you should. Because the gospel tells us that the only way to get to Bethlehem is to travel through the desert first. Well, that's not really true. You can get to Bethlehem without going through the desert. But if so, then once you get there, you won't find Jesus.
(Adapted from “Have You Ever Heard John Preach?” A Sermon by Fred Craddock.)
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
My Tech Buzz...
For those who are not interested in my paper responses, here's something about technology. (You may not be interested in that either...sorry.)
Over the past couple of weeks I found two need tools I have enjoyed working with and I hope to use more. The first one is Airset. This on-line personal information manager is pretty cool. It is great for keeping track of calendar, making group calendars and I can even make a public link to the group calendar from my church's website. Cool stuff.
The other cool program is Skype. This program allows you to call either other Skype users or regular phone lines over the internet! For free!!! (Please note that as of 1/2007 Skype calls to regular or cell phones will cost money.) The other thing that is incredibly cool is the video portion of it.
Cingular and Palm just began offering a Treo 680, a cheaper version of the Treo 700. I have been wrestling with whether or not to get this. My plan is to wait until January to make any decisions. (Waiting is killing me! My poor wife has to listen to me talk about it until then.)
Finally, a very good friend of mine is blending and stretching the boundaries of education and tech with a colleague of his with a new website. Check this out!
How about you, any cool tech discoveries?
Over the past couple of weeks I found two need tools I have enjoyed working with and I hope to use more. The first one is Airset. This on-line personal information manager is pretty cool. It is great for keeping track of calendar, making group calendars and I can even make a public link to the group calendar from my church's website. Cool stuff.
The other cool program is Skype. This program allows you to call either other Skype users or regular phone lines over the internet! For free!!! (Please note that as of 1/2007 Skype calls to regular or cell phones will cost money.) The other thing that is incredibly cool is the video portion of it.
Cingular and Palm just began offering a Treo 680, a cheaper version of the Treo 700. I have been wrestling with whether or not to get this. My plan is to wait until January to make any decisions. (Waiting is killing me! My poor wife has to listen to me talk about it until then.)
Finally, a very good friend of mine is blending and stretching the boundaries of education and tech with a colleague of his with a new website. Check this out!
How about you, any cool tech discoveries?
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
An Excerpt from My Papers - Part 1
How has the practice of ministry affected your experience and understanding of God? (¶330.4. a) (1) for deacon; or ¶335 (7) a) (1) for elder).
My understanding and experience of God has been shaped in three ways as through practice of ministry over the past three years: the preparation for the proclamation of the word each week; leadership of corporate worship, including celebrating the sacraments; and finally through the practice of pastoral care.
As I prepare for sermons, I enjoy spending time with the text and other resources learning the cultural context and trying to gain a better understanding for the way it spoke to its original audience. This shapes my understanding of God, because it becomes easier to connect with the Biblical witness and seek practical applications for my/our contemporary context. This connection with the text helped me to realize that God has an overall plan (I know it sounds cliché, but I think I better see that overall plan, not necessarily the specifics) for the renewal and redemption of Creation.
Leadership of corporate worship has changed the way I experience God. Previously I used to mainly seek God in personal devotions and “quiet times.” However, I now experience God more fully in corporate worship (in conjunction with regular devotions). I think it has something to do with the discipline of gathering each week in expectancy – somehow be shaped by that act of corporate worship. The idea that we have set aside all other things to gather before the throne of grace and seek to be shaped and molded in community. And when the hour ends our shaping and molding doesn’t stop, but we continue to try and live out our worship in the world around us. There is something very beautiful to me in that idea.
Finally, the practice of pastoral care has affected my understanding of God. As I have sat with families who just lost a loved one, or individuals who are crumbling under the weight of guilt, or people seeking meaning in the midst of tragedy, I feel so very small. There are no words I can offer, no comfort I can give other than my presence and a spoken prayer. As I sit in those situations and as I now reflect back on those situations, I realize that I have come to understand God as One who sits with us in our pain and brokenness, yet the Living God is not bound by that grief, sadness or despair, because just as Jesus was resurrected so God can and will help us to experience little resurrections from the figurative deaths we experience living in a creation that is ravaged with the effects of sin.
I am sure that as I continue to grow, mature in all areas of my life, my practice ministry will continue to affect how experience and understand of the Living God, the Author of Salvation.
My understanding and experience of God has been shaped in three ways as through practice of ministry over the past three years: the preparation for the proclamation of the word each week; leadership of corporate worship, including celebrating the sacraments; and finally through the practice of pastoral care.
As I prepare for sermons, I enjoy spending time with the text and other resources learning the cultural context and trying to gain a better understanding for the way it spoke to its original audience. This shapes my understanding of God, because it becomes easier to connect with the Biblical witness and seek practical applications for my/our contemporary context. This connection with the text helped me to realize that God has an overall plan (I know it sounds cliché, but I think I better see that overall plan, not necessarily the specifics) for the renewal and redemption of Creation.
Leadership of corporate worship has changed the way I experience God. Previously I used to mainly seek God in personal devotions and “quiet times.” However, I now experience God more fully in corporate worship (in conjunction with regular devotions). I think it has something to do with the discipline of gathering each week in expectancy – somehow be shaped by that act of corporate worship. The idea that we have set aside all other things to gather before the throne of grace and seek to be shaped and molded in community. And when the hour ends our shaping and molding doesn’t stop, but we continue to try and live out our worship in the world around us. There is something very beautiful to me in that idea.
Finally, the practice of pastoral care has affected my understanding of God. As I have sat with families who just lost a loved one, or individuals who are crumbling under the weight of guilt, or people seeking meaning in the midst of tragedy, I feel so very small. There are no words I can offer, no comfort I can give other than my presence and a spoken prayer. As I sit in those situations and as I now reflect back on those situations, I realize that I have come to understand God as One who sits with us in our pain and brokenness, yet the Living God is not bound by that grief, sadness or despair, because just as Jesus was resurrected so God can and will help us to experience little resurrections from the figurative deaths we experience living in a creation that is ravaged with the effects of sin.
I am sure that as I continue to grow, mature in all areas of my life, my practice ministry will continue to affect how experience and understand of the Living God, the Author of Salvation.
An Excerpt from My Papers - Part 2
2. What effect has the practice of ministry had on your understanding of humanity and the need for divine grace? (¶330.4. a) (2) for deacon; or ¶335 (7) a) (2) for elder).
Over the past three years, I have noticed a trend in people’s responses to me when they find out that I am a pastor. They inevitably have one of three reactions: they either look for a way to exit the conversation as soon as possible, they try to make sure I understand how good they are and how they are so active in their home church, or they want to make sure I understand why they are not active in church or faith. This says something to me about humanity – we are constantly looking for some king of assurance that we are okay. Or else, we will avoid those things that might tell us otherwise.
Another example of this is the story of a young mother who came to my office in my first year as an associate pastor. She had been suffering from extreme depression which required medication. While under treatment for this depression, she became pregnant. The medication she was taking for her depression was hazardous for the baby so she stopped taking the medicine. While off the medicine she fell into deep, deep depression. She could not function. She could not be a mother to her children. She could not be a spouse to her husband. This woman went to the doctor seeking help at which point she was asked to choose between her unborn child and the ability to function and be a mother and a spouse. She chose the latter. Which brought her to my office.
A year after choosing to abort the child, she was still wrestling with guilt. She was afraid that God was angry with her that he hated her for her choice. That somehow she had made God not love her anymore. She came to my office desperate for some assurance that God might still love her.
My heart broke for this young woman. To have to make a difficult choice and then to have to wrestle with whether or not her decision might have somehow stopped God from loving her.
I wonder if much of humanity is not in this same situation – we are afraid we have somehow angered God and prevented him from loving us. We are seeking some assurance that we are okay.
Which leads to our need for divine grace. I believe there is nothing we can do to stop God’s love for us; if there were that would make us somehow stronger than God. I believe God freely offers divine grace to humanity to give us the assurance that we are loved, not by virtue of what we did or did not do, but by virtue of God’s infinite capacity for love and mercy. To be sure, I imagine God is not pleased by much that we as humans think and do, yet in spite of our sin and brokenness, divine grace is offered freely, without cost to us.
My practice of ministry over the past several years has helped me to this understanding. As I study the Scriptures and experience God in corporate worship, service and Bible study I think I see that God had great desires and plans for humanity – the biggest of which is right relationship with the God who made us, our fellow humans, and the created world. Yet I see how we turned away from God’s plans and tried to follow our own plans. The story of the fall is my story as it is every human's story. We abused the gift of freedom of choice to choose wrongly.
Thus our need for divine grace. We need our hearts, our very core to be renewed in that image in which and for which we were originally created! We cannot do this ourselves – only the God who made us can set us back into the right relationships for which we were created. This grace rescues us from our waywardness and reorients us to face in the right direction.
This grace enables us to be in right relationship with our Creator. It then allows us to be in right relationship with our neighbor. Finally, it changes our hearts in such away that we then see the need and the purpose to be in right relationship with the creation.
Over the past three years, I have noticed a trend in people’s responses to me when they find out that I am a pastor. They inevitably have one of three reactions: they either look for a way to exit the conversation as soon as possible, they try to make sure I understand how good they are and how they are so active in their home church, or they want to make sure I understand why they are not active in church or faith. This says something to me about humanity – we are constantly looking for some king of assurance that we are okay. Or else, we will avoid those things that might tell us otherwise.
Another example of this is the story of a young mother who came to my office in my first year as an associate pastor. She had been suffering from extreme depression which required medication. While under treatment for this depression, she became pregnant. The medication she was taking for her depression was hazardous for the baby so she stopped taking the medicine. While off the medicine she fell into deep, deep depression. She could not function. She could not be a mother to her children. She could not be a spouse to her husband. This woman went to the doctor seeking help at which point she was asked to choose between her unborn child and the ability to function and be a mother and a spouse. She chose the latter. Which brought her to my office.
A year after choosing to abort the child, she was still wrestling with guilt. She was afraid that God was angry with her that he hated her for her choice. That somehow she had made God not love her anymore. She came to my office desperate for some assurance that God might still love her.
My heart broke for this young woman. To have to make a difficult choice and then to have to wrestle with whether or not her decision might have somehow stopped God from loving her.
I wonder if much of humanity is not in this same situation – we are afraid we have somehow angered God and prevented him from loving us. We are seeking some assurance that we are okay.
Which leads to our need for divine grace. I believe there is nothing we can do to stop God’s love for us; if there were that would make us somehow stronger than God. I believe God freely offers divine grace to humanity to give us the assurance that we are loved, not by virtue of what we did or did not do, but by virtue of God’s infinite capacity for love and mercy. To be sure, I imagine God is not pleased by much that we as humans think and do, yet in spite of our sin and brokenness, divine grace is offered freely, without cost to us.
My practice of ministry over the past several years has helped me to this understanding. As I study the Scriptures and experience God in corporate worship, service and Bible study I think I see that God had great desires and plans for humanity – the biggest of which is right relationship with the God who made us, our fellow humans, and the created world. Yet I see how we turned away from God’s plans and tried to follow our own plans. The story of the fall is my story as it is every human's story. We abused the gift of freedom of choice to choose wrongly.
Thus our need for divine grace. We need our hearts, our very core to be renewed in that image in which and for which we were originally created! We cannot do this ourselves – only the God who made us can set us back into the right relationships for which we were created. This grace rescues us from our waywardness and reorients us to face in the right direction.
This grace enables us to be in right relationship with our Creator. It then allows us to be in right relationship with our neighbor. Finally, it changes our hearts in such away that we then see the need and the purpose to be in right relationship with the creation.
Papers Submitted...
It is good to be back writing for fun again. Friday I turned my papers to apply for ordination as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. I enjoyed the practice of reflecting on some of the questions. I will post some questions and my responses in later posts over the coming week.
In addition, I hope to get back to posting semi-regularly as before.
In addition, I hope to get back to posting semi-regularly as before.
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