Promptings...

It’s a word I often use, but every time I type it, the spell checker adds a squiggly red underline indicating that it is not a valid word in the English language.  Years ago I learned the word “Promptings,” as a description of how the Holy Spirit prompts or nudges us to do God’s work and will, and my spirituality professor taught us that the goal of the faith is to listen for and respond to God’s promptings all the time.  In doing so, our faith grows, we share Christ, and God is revealed.
As a father, there are multiple times in a day when I prompt my children and pets to act on or follow through with something.  The prompt is sometimes for the good of my child or pet, but often the prompting is shared as a means of teaching them how to live in community or simply navigate the world.  Sometimes those prompts are received with little to no resistance, but there are other times when it seems I might as well have told them to jump off a bridge into ice cold water.  They act as if I’ve personally attacked them, and they insist on their own way.  And then there are those times when the prompt is seemingly “not heard”...
As one can expect, it can get frustrating at times, because if they would just listen and respond, just be open to seeing and doing things from a different perspective, then everyone might be better for it.  But as such thoughts come to mind, there are times when I am reminded by a voice in my head that I can be just as closed off and resistant to the promptings around me.
Whether it is from my wife, from folks in the Church, or from the Holy Spirit itself, it is so easy to keep the blinders on, resist listening and looking, and if an urge hits, to rationalize that it’s not from God or not important, but if I am open and honest enough, if I dig down under the surface, I can often realized that indeed, it was a prompting.
This morning I felt a prompting.  I came out of breakfast, and there was a man sitting beside the road.  I was nudged to go to him and see if he needed anything.  At first I shrugged it off.  It came again, and I realized I had to meet someone at the office, and so I drove away.  In the midst of the interaction at the office the man’s face and demeanor stuck in my head, and I heard the voice, “Go back after you are done talking.”
I listened to that voice, and drove back to the restaurant, only to find that the man was no longer there.  I drove around a bit to see if I could find him, but he was gone in the 20 minutes since I’d left.
It is bothersome to confess this, especially since our congregation is being intentional in praying, “God helps us to see what YOU need us to see,” then respond as we feel prompted to do so.  And yet at the same time, when I prayed and thought about it, I heard God say, “Yes, you should have responded, but in responding with acknowledgment of not following, you are better equipped to listen and respond in the future.”

In the 15th chapter of the book of Romans, Paul writes, “We...ought to bear our failings, not to please ourselves...but for the good of those around us and to build them up...May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
As I read these words, I am reminded that this is not the first or last prompting I will neglect to respond to, and I am also reminded that there will be many times when those for whom I care will neglect to respond to my prompts as well.  But because of grace, God doesn’t give up on me and will continue to invite me to participate in the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God, just as I will continue to instruct and urge my family to live into a life and way that seeks wholeness and health.

How well are you seeking to live into God’s will?  Where are you missing God’s promptings?  Are you resisting promptings which might transform others and/or you?  These are hard questions, but in asking them, God can change, not just you, but the world.

Holy Spirit, help us to seek Your voice, to tune into Your promptings, and then follow faithfully, trusting in Your will, and Your ways, so that we might be changed, and Your Great Commission lived out through us.  In Your name we pray.  Amen.

Exploring is a Way of Life...

     As of last Friday afternoon, we have become foster parents.  Last week we adopted a Lab/Border Collie mix from “Angels of Assissi,” and now the formerly named “Adeline” is formally named “Summit.”  Technically we are “fostering” the dog until she is spayed, but for all intents and purposes (and we have not intention of giving her back), she is our newest addition to the family.
    Summit has turned out to be a wonderful dog. At eleven weeks she is a joy to play with, and my eight year old daughter has been especially blessed by her enthusiasm and energy.  Both she and the dog are able to work off energy, which has made things a lot easier for all of us.  The boys have enjoyed having her around, and my wife and I are having fun being attentive to sniffing and training, so that she learns the parameters for living together as community.
    This week the kids have been finishing up the school year and my wife at work, so I’ve brought Summit with me to the office every day.  She quickly learned where my office is, and while I work she lays down beside my chair and sleeps, which amazes me.  However, after sleeping most of the day and adding the energy of the kids to the mix, when she gets home the puppy comes out in her.
    The energy level goes up and she’s gets hyper.  The chewing starts up, and we spend hours throwing balls and toys so she can chase them and bring them back to us.  There are things we have to get done, so we will leave her alone with her stuff.  Though she hasn’t destroyed anything (yet), we will often find her roaming the house exploring.    If there is a door open, she is looking behind it.  When walking by the recycling bin, she peers in, looking for something to drag out.  And she is constantly checking under the sofa for something new to examine.
    Overall, she has been amazingly calm for an 11 week old puppy, and she has not gotten into trouble, but in observing her I have been reminded that exploration is how she learns about the world.  Just like a crawler or toddler, when one is young there is no fear nor inhibition toward seeking out the unknown and trying to learn more about the world. 
    Yes, there can be danger involved when one goes out exploring, but there is also always an adventure in store.  The mindset is that there is stuff to learn in the world, and the more they learn, the better they will be.  For a young child and puppies, exploration is a way of life, and it is the way they learn about life.
   
    As a pastor but also as a Christian, one of the most important things I/we can do is reflect upon the things that are before us all the time.  At the church, one of the things we are trying to instill in the culture is to pray every day, “Lord, help me to see what YOU need me to see,” then be open to seeing and responding as led.
    As a pastor and Christian, I also think often of how easy it is to “stay in our lane,” as a friend likes to say, and simply do what we’ve always done, see the world as it always has been seen, and live as we always have.  In a word, it’s easy to stop exploring, and when we stop exploring we can make THAT a way of life, rather than being adventurous.  And yet if we examine scripture, God’s people have always been explorers who trust in God.

    God came to Abram and said, “pick up everything and follow me.  If you do I will make you descendants as numerable as the starts.”  God spoke to Moses in a burning bush and said, “I need you to tell Pharoah that it’s time for my people to be freed from slavery.”  Though he tried to get out of it, Moses followed and God led the people to freedom.  David was small of stature, and yet he stood up the Goliath and defeated the Giant.  And the Prophets, over and over again risked life and limb, and yet God made a way for them to be blessed and a blessing.
    When Jesus recruited the disciples, they had livelihoods.  Their lives were set, but Jesus gave an invitation, “Follow me,” and they did.  Their lives were changed and so was the world.  And throughout the span of time, God’s disciples and followers have been led to places where the unexpected, and even undesired, resulted in glory for the follower and God.   

     As a people of The Book, the example that is set is for those who follow Christ to be in a mode of

following God’s lead, and when one follows God’s lead, one must take on the mentality of an “explorer”.  We set our minds that we want to do God’s will, and then we seek to see what God wants us to see and be willing to follow.  As we do, we will be led to explore, and if we explore we will see the world differently.

    Sometimes that exploration is self-exploration where we examine ourselves and adjust our lives accordingly.  Sometimes the invitation is to explore neighborhoods, people, or situations where we don’t feel comfortable.  Sometimes the invitation is to explore how we, individually and communally, fall short of God’s desire for our lives.  Whatever the case, God’s call for us to follow with a mind set that places “exploring as a way of life.”
    To do so may feel scary and bring about feelings of uncertainty, but if and when we do, God can open up a whole new world for us.  When we do, like a small child or puppy, we actually learn about the world that’s around us, expanding our horizons, and recognizing that all of it is God’s world...God’s gift to us.

How much of your life is tainted by an “explorer’s” mentality?  How does your Trust and Faith in God, determine who you are and how you live?

3-in-One

    In the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” one of the funnier plot lines is that the father of the bride squirts Windex on everything.  If a plant needs to grow, if someone gets a cut, if something needs a little elbow grease, he pulls out a bottle and begins squirting, and in a thick Greek accent says, “Windex, Windex.  It takes care of everything.”  Well in a similar way, I grew up in a household where 3-in-One oil flowed like water.
    My dad kept a can in the garage, and whenever we had to fix something he’d have it right beside

him.  When we were repairing an appliance or sharpening the hatched to make kindling or to take care of a squeaky hinge, we always used a little 3-in-One oil, and in my memory, it always worked.
    George W. Cole invented this general purpose household oil in 1894, and he called it “3-in-One” because it had the ability to “clean, lubricate, and protect.”  It became one of the first household oils ever on the market, and proof of it’s staying power is that it is still produced and widely used, even after almost 120 years.

    This Sunday is the celebration of the “Trinity Sunday,” where we remember and celebrate the Trinitarian God...God the 3 in One.  There are many who resist the day because the whole concept of God being Father, Son, AND Holy Spirit is too much for the human mind to fathom, and yet at the same time for me there is a lot of solace in the fact that God knows far more than we do.  We’d be in big trouble if that was NOT the case!
    It was while I was reflecting upon The Trinity that I remember 3-in One oil.  At first I thought it

was just a funny (or should I say punny) connection to be made, but then when I read a bit more about the history of the oil, it’s actually not too far off.
    After all, both are always available and useful in just about every situation where there is a need for application.  I have the oil on a shelf at home, and I’m surrounded by God everywhere.  Second, both are here to stay.  Neither are going anywhere, because they is so useful, and I’d expect the oil to be around at least another 120 years and God for eternity.  Finally, the naming of the oil is quite fitting in describing the abilities of our God – “the purpose is to clean, lubricate, and protect.”
    Central to the Christian understanding of life and faith is that we begin as those who need to be cleansed of Original Sin.  I’m not going to define that term too deeply, but there is an innate tendency that we focus on ourselves.  And when we do, we can easily lose sight of God, get caught up in self, and before we know it, we can find ourselves in some sticky situations.
    Through baptism, then community, confession, study, fellowship, worship, and communion, the Holy Spirit places life in perspective AND walks with us.  As this happens, we are cleansed and guided to live into, receive, and share God’s gracious love.
    As this process continues our faith grows, and a kind of lubrication takes place.  We can find ourselves a bit more pliable when we are faced with stress and tragedy.  When we are stuck or frozen, then God can touch us and begin to loosen things up so we truly live.  When we just can’t get going,

God is able to use just the right tools to bring us what we need.
    Finally, but a part of every step, God protects.  With God’s presence, love, and care, God makes a way for us to be protected by Grace.  The Psalmist describes this as us residing “Under the shadow of God’s wing.”  Like a mother whose love never ends and who will go to all means to save...even to death...God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit protects us.

    In the book of Romans, St. Paul writes about what happens when God the Three-in-One is with us.  He writes:
    “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. [Romans 5: 1-5]
    This God of ours is an all-purpose God who especially in the midst of suffering, provides the very thing we need, just as we need it.

    This Truth rings true for those grieving the loss of a loved one, struggling in relationship, trying to wrap one’s mind around a bombing or a tornado, dealing with a grave diagnosis, or just handling the day to day stress of life.  God the 3-in-One is there to cleanse, lubricate, and protect, and God’s staying power is forever.

Where do you need God to touch your life?  Are you stuck?  Feel lost?  Need to be cleansed?

Injustice Sucks...and God Knew It

Whether you are a news junkie or not, there is a good chance you have seen and connected to the events of this week – multiple bombings at the Boston Marathon, an explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant, and this morning a city locked down and on edge.  Such events have an impact.  Appropriately, they move us reflect upon life, spur conversations about the rapture, and prompt us to hold onto our children, friends, and family a little more tightly.
I played football for 10 years, and one of the rules of the game is that, once the whistle blows, you’re not allowed to “pile on.”  You can't jump on those vulnerable to attack after the play is over.  Just about every time episodes of destruction and terror hit, it feels a bit like a “pile on.”
Tragically we live in a world where we have seen and experienced far too much pain, heartache, death and devastation.  Our ancestors could not have imagined planes flying into buildings, neighborhoods being bombed, and sink holes engulfing homes and cars.  It leads us to personally live our lives in “elevated Terror-alert”, wondering when that “elevated” will need to be raised to “high” or “severe.”  We ask questions like, “Why?”  And we think about what might cause a person to do the things that they do or how our creations can turn into (or be turned into) instruments of terror.  Ultimately for many, it begs the question, “Why does God let this stuff happen?”
That last question is called “Theodicy,” and when I Googled “when bad things happen to good people,” it brought up more than 378,000,000 hits.  There are all kinds of ways to explain it and many angles to approach it, but if we were to narrow it down to a common statement it would be that those “bad things” are injustices.  And injustice sucks.  Plain and simple.
There seems to be no reason for such pain, and we beat our heads trying to come up with some meaningful answer, which never satisfactorily comes.  Our responses vary, for there are some who are ready to take up arms and act, while others pull back in fear.  Others pray and pray and pray, while others give up on prayer.  And all of us do two things: 1) ask the question, and 2) acknowledge to our core that injustice sucks.
        And yet, God knows it.

In the Gospel story of Christ’s trial, we see blaring injustice, and in fact, the authors themselves, even the villain Pilate, names that Jesus was innocent.  And yet it did not matter.  They still beat him, humiliated him, and killed him.  And that injustice sucked.

More personally to Jesus, at the table Jesus predicted that Peter would betray Him.  Peter, of course, denies it, but when the are standing outside the meeting of the Sanhedran, warming their hands by the fire, three folks accuse Peter of being one of Jesus’ disciples.  Three times he denies it.  For Jesus, for Peter, for those of us who can see ourselves denying Jesus in our own lives, that’s injustice.  And injustice sucks.
Even after He has told them that He was going to beat this thing called death, and He DOES, they still have a hard time believing it.  In multiple accounts, He has to convince them that what He said was true, and in a way that is an injustice.  Injustice sucks.
And yet Jesus knew it.

The great Good News and a comfort to us as we live in these days where injustice seems to run rampant, control is gone, and our alerts are heightened, is that Jesus knows the injustice and in fact is in the middle of those injustices bringing comfort, hope, healing and goodness.  Jesus is the One who transforms death into life, pain into healing, and despair into hope!  Jesus is the One who knew from the very beginning that things had to go the way they did.  That injustice would kill Him, BUT that injustice and death would not have the last word.  Instead, Jesus took the world’s injustice and planted into this world God’s Justice, from that day on to forever.

We live in painful times where injustice can seek to lay a pall over everything, but if you lift the corner of that pall, if you look into the death and the pain, you’ll see that the One who withstood the greatest injustice brings justice, life, hope, and healing. You'll see evidence in those who turned toward the violence rather than ran away, in those who care for the injured, and in those who seek peace rather than violence.  He brings light in the darkness, and for those who follow the Christ, our call is to live as He did and do what He did – bring that same hope and life, especially where justice is needed.
The reality is that injustice sucks, but God knew.  Injustice sucks, and God knows.  And because God knows, there is hope.

Where do you see God at work in the midst of the injustices in our world?  In your community?  In your life?

Holy Week We-eve

        For those of us associated with the Church, we are on the cusp of the most sacred and powerful week of the year, Holy Week.  It begins on Sunday with Palm/Passion Sunday, where in worship we begin with a celebration of Christ’s entrance into the city of Jerusalem.  Palms wave, songs sung, and children joyfully celebrate that the King has come.  But on the turn of a dime, the mood changes. 

The tables are turned in the temple, a final meal is shared, and Jesus reveals the servant way by washing feet.  He prays to avoid the inevitable in the Garden, but the answer comes through the betrayal of a kiss.  Led to a sham of a trial, tortured, beaten, mocked, and crucified, he dies on what we call “Good Friday.”  On Palm/Passion Sunday the celebration turns into a death watch that pushes us toward Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

This week has been a busy week for me, which in itself has been interesting, because often the busy weeks are the ones that are most distracting.  But this week, though distracted by some things, I’ve actually found myself more focused on the Lenten Journey, and when I think more specifically about what that means, I realize that I’m more focused on what is on the horizon...what we will experience next week.
In a way, just as we celebrate “Christmas Eve,” this week could be categorized as “Holy Week ‘Weeve’.”  That is this is the week before Holy Week, and it is the last shot to get ourselves prepared for the stark reality that comes in just a few short days.
As I have gone through this Holy Week Weeve, I’ve realized that I have not been quite as focused this Lent.  I’ve been less deliberate and not nearly as disciplined as I had hoped, and yet despite myself the relationship with God and others has been solidified more deeply.  In many ways, I think this is the point of the season.

Though I won’t recount the whole Passion story, when we go back and examine it, we see that Jesus’ prep for Holy Week was about relationships as well. [John 12-19] The relationship to the People of God is solidified in His Triumphal Entry.  His relationships with His disciples is deepened as they experienced the Passover Feast and struggle in the Garden.  His relationships with the World are cemented for eternity in His death.  
Step after step, Jesus stepped deeper and deeper into relations with others and the world, and as He did, God’s relationship with the world for eternity was forever solidified, so that all might be saved by the grace of God.

In just a couple of days we will gather to hear and relive the story of God’s love for us.  It is a story of relationship.  It is a story of grace.  It is Christ’s story.  It is our story.  Will you be prepared to hear it?
Now is the time, it is Holy Week We-eve.

What are the last minute preparations you need to make for the Holy Week to come?

A Non-Snow Day

    They had been calling for a wintry mix, and all bets were that school would be cancelled for the day.  Sure enough, when I woke up this morning and checked the news, Roanoke County Schools were closed.
    At the time of my awakening I could hear sleet pinging off of the siding and onto the sidewalk, then when I went downstairs to check on the conditions, it began to rain.  Not freezing rain, just rain.  With these non-impending conditions in place, I got up and started my day.  Within an hour the rain had stopped, and but for moisture lingering in the cold air, all is well – A Non-Snow Day.
    It reminds me of when I was in school in Durham, NC, and there was a chance that we were going to receive an inch and a half of snow the next day.  By 6PM the kids had already been informed that there would be no school but to stock up at the grocery store.  We woke up to no snow, not even rain.  Instead, we enjoyed a beautiful 55 degree, sunny day.
    Now I don’t mean to get the school superintendents upset, as I know there are multiple factors that go into making the hard decision of calling a snow day, nor would I desire to be the one making the decision.  Add to that the fact that this particular county has mountains and hollers which cause for different weather activities in different communities, and it makes it tricky, but it is an interesting thing for the kids to be out for a snow day with no snow.
    I guess if we were to look at the two extremes of the situation, we could remember the phrases “better safe than sorry” and “leave caution to the wind.”  One leans toward the strong possibility of danger and interruption, while the other simply takes no precautions but hopes nothing bad will happen.  And yet, so often in life, in fact I would say MOST often in life, we land somewhere in the middle.

    I invite you sometime to pick up your Bible and turn to the twelfth chapter of Luke’s Gospel.  It’s a rather odd chapter.  It begins with warnings against hypocrisy and an encouragement to the disciples to keep the faith, then Jesus tells a story of a Rich Man who just keeps building so he’ll have room for all his “stuff,” then He turns it back on them (us) saying, “do not worry about anything.”  Then it shifts to a whole conversation about being watchful and prepared, but THEN Jesus throws out that He’s going to cause strife and division between family members.  THEN He says, “watch the clouds, read the weather, because you’ll know what’s coming if you do.”
    There are some passages where one reads them and wonders, “Was Jesus having a bad day?  Was his mind simply racing from one thing to the next?  What’s his point?”  This is one of those.  He seems to be pinging all over the place, and yet underneath it all, there is one simply message.  Inserted into the pockets of emotions and feeling is subject matter centering around how to navigate life, mainly that the invitation is given for us to focus on and trust in God.  That if we do, all will be well.
    That is, if we focus on God and strive to follow, then hypocrisy flies out the window and we live in faith.  If we keep our eye on the prize, then we don’t need all the stuff, and we won’t worry...or at least worry as much.  That when we seek Christ’s Kingdom, then we align ourselves with the right priorities, despite what family and friends think, and it even means that we are able to predict the “weather” around us and navigate the peaks and valleys more effectively.

    On this “Non-Snow Day” I can’t help but think about how often we get things wrong.  How we make the wrong predictions, or read the signs around us incorrectly, then how easy it is to get lost.  We can get lost in despair, lost in ourselves, lost from the realities of life, lost in fear, lost from security...the list goes on, but the lostness is real.
    However, the message that we have heard over and over again, and even experienced, is that the lost get found.  That the Non-Snow Day, and even the snow days...and perfect days...come and go, but God is always with us.  The key is to turn to Him, to trust, to follow, to journey with the One who already took the path for us.  When we do, God makes a way.
    This is a comforting message at any time, but it is even more assuring during the season of Lent, when we are invited to look toward the aspects of our lives where we don’t trust, where we don’t see, where we don’t follow, then ask God to lead and change us.
    In a way, this season is a "schooling season".  Despite our desire for a snow, or even a “non-snow” day, God's hope is that we'll allow ourselves to be schooled by Christ.  And yes, it takes work.  It requires effort, but the result and blessing is that when we trust and allow ourselves to be schooled by God, the weather of our lives really doesn’t matter.  Instead, we realize WHAT matters, and we are blessed by and through such faithful living.


What are the snow day/non-snow day aspects of your faith walk?  How are you being invited to trust more?  What Lenten disciplines have you included in your life which will shape and bless you, so that you might be a blessing to the world?

Positioning Ourselves for Perspective

     I have a confession to make.  I have a new addiction, and it is called “Plague, Inc.”  I ran across it while browsing through “Staff App Picks” section of the “Google Play” store.  It looked both disturbing and intriguing, so I clicked the icon to read up on what the game was all about, which subsequently moved me to download it and eventually spend the $1.00 to purchase the full version of the game.
    The concept is simple.  The player creates a basic plague – a virus, bacterial, or fungus, then a map of the world is revealed and the player taps on a country to start the plague.  One get’s DNA points as the sickness spreads, and you can use those points to “purchase” ways of transmitting the disease, the symptoms of the disease, or the resistance of the disease to cures.  The player manipulates these factors, but as the disease is discovered, scientists and nations come up with a cure.  The goal: kill off humanity before a cure is found and distributed, but note, everyone has to die.  If you just take out 99% and the hosts die taking the disease with them, you lose and the survivors repopulate.  (BTW, Madagascar and/or Greenland are tough to infect!  Very little air or water traffic coming in and out.)
    Yes, I know.  I’ve already been told by my wife and daughter that it sounds terrible, and my sons, who by the way are now playing it on their iTouchs, get a bit of a chuckle at their Pastor father playing a game with the goal of annihilation, but if you think about it, most of the things that compel us have a dark side.
    Though I haven’t been playing Plague too long, I have found myself fascinated with what happens when I play.  I take on the perspective of one whose goal is to take over the world, not as a scientist manipulating a disease, from I become the disease and try to figure out how best to conquer the world.  As this happens there is a desire for control, a need to win, and a mentality that gets anxious when good begins to prevail.  I get caught up in survival at all cost.
    As I have recognized this I’ve begun to think about the parallels between playing the game and playing the game of life.  After all, we have an innate desire to be in control, and we live in a culture that teaches us that the strongest and most powerful will win and that willing is the point of life.  The goal is to have the most things, to gain power, and spread that power across our sphere’s of influence.  We’ve all seen how such power can spread like a plague.

    I heard a sermon recently where the preacher described “the wilderness” (his biblical reference being both the Israelites and Jesus’ temptation story) as that place where we are taken to discover our true selves.  He talked about how the Israelites were forced to rely on God because they had nothing else, and the same happened with Jesus in His battle.  And God’s invitation was for them to position themselves in the wilderness to look to the one constant, the one thing that was reliable and trustworthy, God.
    A modern day example of one in the wilderness given was Lance Armstrong.  He’s stepped into his wilderness.  Imagine how he feels.  He came clean with a deep lie.  He doesn’t know where this will all end up, and he has nothing and no one to turn to.  His battle with cancer may have taken him to a place where he faced his true self and resolve, and the same could be said about winning 7 Tours, but the focus of those was victory.  It was winning at all costs.  Not so in this wilderness.
    He does not face a battle, he faces surrender.  He doesn’t face the external demons and competitors but he faces himself.  He is not striving to win OVER anyone, instead he’s just trying to survive, and he has to so so under a different set of rules.  I’d venture to say that this is a different game, different sporting for him right now, and the way he will emerge alive will be to position himself from the right perspective.

    One of the things I have always said is that “faith is about perspective,” for in order to have faith we are invited to position our lives from the perspective of faith, look for God at work, and be willing to trust in God.  This is not a position of power but it is a position of surrender and even servitude.  It is a positioning that places us in opposition to the world’s plaguely ways, but we position ourselves in places where we risk the wilderness...risk discovering our true selves...risk everything for God and others.
    This is one of the main reasons it is necessary for Christ followers to be a part of a community of faith.  On our own and left to our own devices, it’s easy to create our own faith stories, even create situations where we come out on top, but when we turn toward others and ask  the hard questions about who they see us as, or how they see God wanting to use us, we find our control threatened.  We can no longer rely on ourselves, but there is a community that relies on us.  Even harder, we realize that we need the insights of others on our own lives, in order to be positioned to see the world from the right perspective and truly live.
   
    Are there any “plagues” in your life?  Is there a wilderness time on the horizon, and if so will you dare to listen for what you can learn through it?  How might you position yourself to keep perspective and allow God to use you?

Light on the Darkest Day

    For many today is a dark day, especially in the wake of the tragedy that happened exactly one week ago (for as I write this, it is 9:30 AM) in Newtown, CT.  Darkness shrouds the nation and world for there are many unanswered questions, and the pain is great. 
    It is a dark day for many today because, despite Christmas being a time where Joy and Hope come, it is also a time of great grieving for those who have lost family members and friends.  This special time of gathering together and sharing life is transformed by death into a period of pain and loneliness that can become a pall over simply living.
    It is physically a dark day, as this is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  Starting tomorrow the shift of the earth’s rotation on it’s axis is such that, little by little, the nights grow shorter and days grow longer, but today there is more night than day.

    Darkness is fascinating, mysterious, and sometimes scary, for we are creatures who need to be able to see what is around us.  We desire to know, rather than sit with the unknown.  We want to see and believe rather than believe it what we can’t see.  We seek that which is visible, even though there are far more things in life which are invisible and in which we trust.
    Yet despite our fear of darkness and uncertainty, it is in the midst of the darkness and in living through the uncertainty that we are shaped and molded.  When we go through the pains of daily living or the extremities of death, divorce, addiction recovery, and/or physical dis-ease, we can emerge on the other side as ones who are stronger, more faithful, and even more hopeful.  And yet, not everyone does.
    There are many who cannot emerge from that darkness.  For some depression or mental illness is a factor, but for many the darkness remains because of inward focus or inability to perceive a greater reality. Some may call it low self-esteem, others learned identity, but the darkness can easily take up residence when one continues to listen to the messages of the world or internal messages that tell us that there is no hope, or this is just how the world is, or even I just can’t do it.  To emerge from the darkness, an invitation is given to turn toward the light.

    We are just days away from the coming of the Light of the World, and what often gets forgotten about the story of Christ’s birth is that the days into which God entered this world through the Christ, were dark days.  This was a period of Roman occupation.  It was a time where persecution was the norm and survival was a challenge for many.  It was into just such a time that Jesus came to bring light.
    As we read in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus came to Shepherds in fields, and in that day and age if there was ever a profession that was looked down upon and despised, it was shepherds.  They were dirty, rough, avoided people who lived dark lives, and yet it was to them that Jesus came.
    Matthew recounts how God’s messengers spoke to a young peasant girl and told her she would bear the Son of God, and how her betrothed, Joseph, was also spoken to and told that his fiancé was pregnant with God’s child.  Imagine being the recipient of such truth.  Dark days.
    And yet, the words of angels rang true, and the life that came was the life that grew to become the Light of Life.  Through Him the darkness was dispersed, and that same Light enters our world and enters our lives again.  Even more amazingly, the Light’s focus, those upon whom God aims His light, are those whose lives have been shattered by darkness.  Those who most need to see, because they are blind and the uncertainty is just too great.  To them, the Known One, the One who Knows, invades the unknowing and brings clarity and hope.

    It is the shortest day of the year.  It is a dark day for those who grieve.  It is even a day when the world perpetuates a Mayan myth that this is the last day, and yet despite the darkness, in the grief, and even in reflection upon the last day, the Truth of God’s love is that the Light of the World has come, is coming, and will come again.
    One of my favorite hymns is “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”.  I love this hymn because it speaks to the Truth of God’s coming Light, but is also calls us to live in that light and allow that light to live in us.  The first verse and chorus are:

I want to walk as a child of the light;
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world;
The star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain
In him there is no darkness at all;
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God;
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

    On this darkest day, in these last days before the Great Celebration, look for the Light.  Seek the Son.  Walk in the Light and walk as a child of the Light, for indeed, always, there is hope.  Indeed, always, the Light of the world comes.

Heat Rises...

    Now that the cold weather has returned, I am reminded again that heat rises, even though in this situation, it seems counter-intuitive.  Let me explain.                                                                                Our home is about two-thirds up the side of a 2300 foot tall mountain, which makes for some interesting dynamics and great science lessons for my kids.  I didn’t notice it too much the first winter, but the second winter I remember walking out on a cold morning and realizing there was no frost on the ground nor the cars.  I’d head down the mountain, and by the time I reached the houses below, the roofs, lawns, and cars would glisten with the frozen film.  I've never being a great scientist, so it took a little thought, but I realized that’s because heat rises and it is warmer at my house than below.
    Now that may sound like a no-brainer, but when I am talking temperature change, I mean a true shift in just a few hundred feet elevation change.  I can drive out in the morning when it is 39 degrees at the house, but when I get to the church below the thermometer on the car reads 30 or sometimes colder!  It’s amazing to me how with such short distance there can be so much change.

    Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the change.  As my children grow up, I realize I am aging, and with their maturing so increases the activity level after school and in the evenings.  Add one dance class a week, and everything has to shift.  Things change.
    Professionally I’m at a space where I am realizing that change is in order.  That the 18 years of learning is the foundation for what the next 18-20 will be, and in order to both make my work impactful and rewarding, as well as meaningful for myself, it’s time to begin to prayerfully take some risks for the Kingdom and in my own life so that I can live into the gifts God has given me and call for which God has prepared me.  In thinking about these things, it seems like just a little change has an impact exponentially.  Things change.
    Most especially, and maybe hardest to navigate, the Church is at a point where we need to change.  I use the term “Church” with a big “C” because indeed the institution of the Church can so easily become set in her ways, and in doing so get comfortable in it’s own skin.  When that happens, we forget that the Church is the one organization that exists almost solely for those outside the community.  We could discuss THE Church, your church, my church, whichever church, but church is church and often one small change can be perceived and received as seismic and threatening.  Things change.

    As I have been thinking about such changes, I’ve been reminded of how scary change is.  To enter into change is to risk being changed.  It opens the possibility of going into the unknown.  It means giving up control and trusting.  Ultimately, as I’m working through the changes of life I’ve found myself turning back toward faith and trusting in God.
    After all, the Bible is filled with story after story of folks who went through changes.  From Abraham to Moses to the Prophets, the Disciples, even Jesus revealing a whole new way of seeing the world, biblically we are reminded that change is inevitable, BUT that God is unchanging.  That the God who calls us to enter the change goes with us, and even guides us so that on the other side, we emerge blessed and a blessing.  And what is even more amazing is that God knows that sometimes it just takes a small shift for the Kingdom of God to break loose in the world.


    One other thing that I’ve been thinking about and realized is that at the higher elevations, it’s a little warmer but it can also give us a better perspective.  That is, from on top of the mountain we can look down and see the big picture, and when we see the bigger picture, we are better able to navigate the change because there is less that is unknown.
    Relating that allegory to life, it’s vital to go to that place of warmth and elevation when trying to navigate change, and the way we do that is to step back from acting, and instead reflect and pray for the right approach, rather than the next approach.  When one steps away, our eyes are opened, the voices of fear subside, and we can rationally and deliberately enter that knowing and feeling that, though it may be frightening, God is already there and will remain with us.


What changes are happening in your life?
Try this: For one week in every decision you make, stop before reacting, ask for God’s help, then listen, look at the bigger picture, and follow God’s lead.

Rejected...Restored...

    There are times when you and I head out to the grocery store.  Maybe we are in a rush, maybe not, but it's easy to get anxious or frustrated because of the slow moving customer or long-talking checkout attendant in front of us.  Don't they know we are in a hurry?  And yet, to respond in such ways borders of judging, even rejection -- rejection of the person maybe, but rejection of an opportunity to be a witness definitely.

   Yesterday I was rejected.  Well, I wasn't rejected, though it felt like it, my car was.  It was inspection time, and though I expected to pop in and out to go on my merry way, instead I was called into the workbay and told that the wear on my front tires was too low.  They'd have to reject my car for inspection, and after getting new tires bring it back so I could receive a passing grade.  

    Yes, I was frustrated by the fact that I'd have to spend $300 on two new tires, but what I found interesting was that on and off throughout the day, my mind kept turning to the rejection...the label.  In fact, I don't really want to be driving it to the tire shop today, lest someone see the sticker and think things about me...lest a cop stop me letting me know that I can only drive directly to the repair shop and back to the inspector's lair.
    It's odd really, because it isn't me that was rejected, but it was my car.  I was not conscious of the worn equipment, and yet for some reason there is this feeling inside that I messed up.  That there is something wrong with me, or that I have been irresponsible driving a car with tires that have worn beyond the acceptable level.  And yet, that's how I feel.
    As I've reflected upon my reaction to this "judgment" on behalf of the auto repair industry, my heart and mind have been moved to think beyond this trivial judging and reflect upon the many time I, and we, judge and even reject others.  It has given me a good reminder.
    As with most pastors, I deal with many folks calling or stopping by seeking assistance with food, shelter, and help with bills.  There are times when I can be quick to judge them or quick to take care of their needs and get back to my work, and when I do, I not only judge them but in a way reject their needs...even reject them.
    There are even times in church when folks get so used to seeing a certain kind of people there or doing certain things, that when someone different or something creative happens in worship, we reject it as being out of place.  To do so is to judge, and it may be a rejection of the very thing that might draw us closer to God than we ever had, had we not experienced those encounters.

   In the book of Deuteronomy, God shares the law with Moses, and in the first chapter, at the beginning of this whole process God say, "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”
   How often we find ourselves judging others, especially in this political environment?  How often do we reject others because of their political or religious affiliation, sexual orientation, race, class, sex, even vehicle they drive?  And maybe even harder, how often do we judge or even reject ourselves?
    The Good News is that God is the one who judges, and God proclaims from the beginning and revealed through the Son that God loves and invites us to embrace that love.  God points out where we need to be inspected and corrected, then God invites us to do what we need to do to be "upgraded" and changed so that we would be at optimal functionality.  Ultimately, God points out our need, even when we don't see it, and invites us, "Come with me, and let me make you new again.
 
    Are there places where you have been rejected?  Are there people that have judged you?  Are you overlooking some area where God desire for you to be changed?  God's inspection station is always open, we just have to go there and seek to know the truth, so we might be made whole again.


Where is God inviting you to be renewed as a follower of Christ?  

Following...

     Just about every morning I take a few moments to share in the online devotional, www.d365.org, and this morning’s devotional got me thinking about following.
    As a pastor, one of the things that I am expected to do is lead.  The congregation looks to me as the spiritual leader, those on the upper levels of the UMC at times invite me to be a part of the leadership.  The voice inside me which holds expectations of myself calls me to be a leader.
    At home I find myself being drawn to lead.  Yes, it’s an egalitarian type of leadership where my wife and I work together to lead our family through life and spiritual matters, but at the same time there are some aspects of family leadership into which we’ve agreed that I’ll take the lead, and there are other aspects through which my wife takes the reins.
    When I reflect upon who I am and who I perceive God has shaped me to be, I realize, and have for a long time, that God wants me to be a leader.  I am reminded of this every time I get into a “teambuilding/ropes course” type of activity, where despite telling myself that I will refuse to take control and be directive, after 10 minutes of no one being decisive, like having to itch a scratch, I step in and do the very thing I said I wouldn’t do.
    Leadership is important.  In fact, leadership is necessary, and no matter who we are, we influence others.  When I think about leadership I envision a continuum upon which each one of us can be placed.  Some are natural born leaders and others avoid leading all together, but each of us influence one way or another.  The key is to recognize and name what our influence is to whom we are leading.
    This is especially important in the context of living out the faith, for when we live into who God calls us to become, we, either deliberately or inadvertently, affect the lives of those around us.  We can lead others to Christ through our words and deeds, or we can turn folks off to the Lord by the same.  We reveal or don’t reveal God’s love, depending on how we live, and we lead others down paths, which can be good or bad depending on which path we choose.
    In this season of history in the United States, we are bombarded with messages about how one person is a better leader than another, and if this person is elected we’ll be a more powerful or prosperous nation.  Depending on what color our political stripes are, we engage the message and are easily sucked into the image of the powerful leader.  And yet, Jesus reveals a model of leadership which stands our world expectations on it’s head.

    In Mark’s Gospel, but it can be found in all the Gospels, in fact the concept is foundational to the message of God in the Old and New Testaments, Jesus says, “If you want to be my follower, you must be a servant.  In the Kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first.”  This is quite a juxtaposition of leadership expectations, and yet when we reflect upon those leaders that have been most influential on our lives, especially our spiritual lives, Jesus’ model is most likely what we experienced in them.
    I have a friend who served in the military, and as his career continued, they saw promise in him and put him on the officer track.  As a result he headed out for a week away in intense training.  He was a part of a covenant group that met weekly, and upon his return he shared with us that God had been at work in that week away.  Specifically he spoke about the whole concept of the first being last and last first as illustrated in his experience.
    He shared with us that before he left he decided that he was simply going to participate in the event.  He did not want to take a lead in anything, and decided that he would avoid such situations if they were to arise.  He went through the week, and as he shared with us, he thought he had done well to keep his promise to himself.  He had not been called to present anything to the body, he didn’t take the lead on any aspect, and he simply experienced the event.
    On the last day they gave out awards for the trainees who showed the greatest promise and who exhibited the best leadership skills.  There were quite a few categories, but as often happens in such things they saved the category of “best leader” until last.  His name was called.
    It floored and confused him when his name was read, and so he asked the leadership of the event why he had been chosen.  They named that it was because he led by serving.  He was empowering and encouraging others behind the scenes, while also creating a group dynamic where the body excelled rather than any one person being the focus.
    For him, and for the rest of us, we gained a deeper understanding of Christ’s call for the greatest to be the servant, because through servanthood, leadership is revealed and lived into.

    As I think about the role of a leader, especially the role of being a leader to a congregation, I realize that, if I am being a good leader, if we are being the leaders Christ needs us to be, then we will never be in the front, and I don’t take that word “never” lightly.  No, if we are to lead, or even if we do not lead, and we are striving to remain faithful to God’s call, there will always be one whom we will follow.  That one is the servant of all.  The one whom the world placed last, and yet ascended to become the greatest, the One above all, in all, and through all, Jesus Christ. 

    Are you a leader?  Are you following?

Words...

    My father was a preacher, I grew up with a brother who read the dictionary in his spare time, and I am told by my parents that before I started school I couldn’t wait to learn to read.  I grew up around words, was taught that words were important, and have used my fair share of them, but interesting enough, once I learned to read, the novelty wore off.  To put it bluntly, when I was in high school English classes “Cliff” was my best friend, and I lived by the mantra that “pleasure reading was an oxymoron.”
    Maybe it’s because I am on the cusp of a generation where video games, tv shows, and e-mails, the net, and computers became central to societal living, but I just didn’t like to read.  Did it have to do with the fact that I had to read so much in college?  Probably not.  Did it have to do with the many distractions that so easily permeate my mind and environment?  Probably more so.  Did it mean that I didn’t like to sit still, take the time, or even stop to reflect upon my own thoughts?  Probably a little of all of these. 
    The reality is that I didn’t appreciate reading until I was about to finish graduate school, and even then, and now, I still have to work at reading.  I read a lot at work, and so when I go home I usually want to simply veg out watching TV or catch up with the family, but that changed a few months ago when I bought a tablet.  It opened up the world of the Kindle app, and since then I often spend my spare time reading.
    I’m guessing it has to do with the fact that it’s electronic and I don’t focus on how much more I have to read before finishing, but for some reason I have picked up reading again, and it is a blessing.

    Being a preacher I am inundated with words.  Each week I read, interpret, and process words in preparation for the creation of something which might convey the story of God’s grace and truth to those hungry for hope, and as that process takes places a world is created which can be powerful and important.
    I’ve been thinking about words a lot this week for many reasons.  This society and time in which we live (November can’t get here too quickly) is one filled with words, and much of the message that is intended to dissuade and divide, rather than persuade and unite.  As the words roll off the tongue, spin is shared, and even untruths told without means of accountability, I’ve been amazed at how they create worlds, build walls, and even destroy lives.  As a Christ follower, it’s disheartening.
    If you want to hear a great commentary on this topic, listen to Barbara Brown Taylor’s sermon, preached at Duke Chapel this past Sunday.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwFxmsWAiyI ) She addresses it well and puts it in perspective.
    The other reason I’ve been reflecting on the use of words is that a good friend of mine, former pastor and former parishioner of mine, now turned Life and Business Coach, uses words every week.  Bob sends out what he calls “Provisions,” (his company is “Lifetrek Coaching”) which he rightly names as his sermon for the week.  The provisions are coaching tips for life, business, and leadership, and they are sent out via e-mail to every corner of the globe.  In contrast to the news and politics, his words too create a world, only that world is intended for unity, love, and hope.
    Bob’s words have been placed on hiatus, because this past weekend his body began battling with itself.  Because of an auto-immune response he has had multiple seizures, and his heart stopped multiple times, which required the installation of a pacemaker (an interesting addition to one who has run multiple marathons and coaches marathon runners).  I, and many, are praying for his quick restoration, but one of the things that is grievous is the loss of his words right now.  This time, more than most, his word of hope is that which I need to hear.  They are words that the world needs to hear, for indeed words shape lives and create worlds.

    The writer, James, writes about the use of words in the first chapter of his writing.  He says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires... Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”    James understood the power of words, and through his advice gives us the opportunity to understand and live by the same.  It’s so easy to let words fly without remembering their power.  It’s so easy to forget that words shape lives and create worlds.  It’s so easy to neglect to ask ourselves the question, “What worlds am I creating through the words I use?”

    One of my favorite times to observe a child is when they first begin to speak.  Yes, crawling and walking are cool, but when one thinks about all that that child’s brain has to put together for the seemingly simple act of speaking, it is baffling.  And yet we know how easily that miracle can turn into that which can destroy or maim. 
    Though some today would downplay that words are important, and despite the old phrase about “sticks and stones not hurting,” words are important and can and do hurt folks everyday.  The blessing and the challenge to we who call ourselves Christ followers is, that we are called to use words well.  We are called create worlds of hope.  We are called to use Kingdom building words, for through them Christ is revealed.
    The way to do that, at least for me, is to try to remember that God knew all of this from the beginning, and because of this gave us the help we need.  The invitation is constantly given, turn to THE Word, let Him in, and let Him guide our hearts, feet, actions, and tongues.  When we do, the Word becomes flesh and dwells among and within us.

What worlds am I creating through the words I use?   
Is THE Word the guiding force in my life?

Will You Play with Me?

     I believe the gifts that God shares with us through children are innumerable.  Yes, they can be a challenge, but it is sometimes in the most challenging times of my life as a parent, that I receive some of the most powerful lessons from God.
    With summer now over and we are “back to the grind,” meetings have picked up at church, and that means that I am away a bit more in the evenings.  Add this to the fact that my wife is back to work, kids are at school, and we are carting kids to and fro between band practices, lessons, and sports, and face time has diminished considerably, all in the short span of just a couple of weeks.  I’ve noticed that the stress level has risen a bit more and time together has become an even more precious commodity.
    I have teenage and pre-teen sons, so their desires for time with their father, though certainly not less important, is a bit less urgent, as compared to their soon to be 8 year old sister.  Much of the male interaction takes place in conversation or responses to the latest Youtube video, Minecraft mod, or factoid learned from the History channel, beside the interactions that take place around the dinner and homework table, however my daughter just can’t settle for conversation.  She’s more hands on, and most nights needs time with her dad.
    She used to wait until I got home and watch what I did to find out if I had a meeting, because if I have to return to work I simply sit, talk, eat, and go, but if I put my things up then head upstairs and change into my comfy clothes, I’m in for the night.  Recently however, I walk in the door and she is the first one to speak.  “Hi dad. Do you have a meeting tonight?” 
    Depending on the answer depends on how excited she will be at dinner, because if I do not have a meeting she will say to me, “Dad, can you play with me outside?”  There are times when I am exhausted and don’t take her up on the invitation, but many nights I’m jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the swing, or sitting on the deck admiring the view, listening while she talks...and talks...and talks.
    Multiple factors and layers are associated with this nightly response, but the most obvious is that she needs time with one she loves.  She seeks to be close to her father, and because of that, she is assertive enough to ask the question, “Are you home?  Will you play tonight?”  She does this because she wants time to be in relationship.  Actually, she needs time to be in relationship, and without that time, the relationship can become stagnant or even sour.
    Growing up as a Preacher’s Kid, I understand her all too well, and one of my greatest fears is that my kids will feel like they did not connect with me as deeply because of night meetings and sharing myself with the church.  I remember asking the same question to my father.  I remember when he had to go back to work and the disappointment I felt, and I remember the times he smiled and said, “I’m home tonight.”  And it was in the midst of that relationship that I was shaped and molded to become who I am today.  Those times were, and are, important.

    In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus comes across some men and invites them to follow Him.  He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”  When I think about what God’s greatest passion and the reason Jesus was sent to the earth, it is that God wanted/wants to reconcile everyone to be in relationship with God.  God calls out time and time again to everyone, “Follow me, and I want to show you the coolest, most amazing and fulfilling thing, my way of life, and the very intention of my creating you.”
    I think about this, and it’s as if Jesus said to those disciples, “Will you play with me?”  Will you share the joy?  Will you walk on the journey?  Will you be in relationship with me, because if you will, it will be a blast, but to be in relationship means investment of time, love, and life.

    Every day I hear my daughter ask questions that invite me to be in closer relationship with her, but every day God asks the same question to us inviting us to be in closer relationship with God.  And quite honestly, it’s a question that we need to be asking each other whenever we can, “Will you play with me?”  Because when we ask that question, it’s not just us asking it and building relationship with one another, but undergirding it all is God asking the question and building our relationships, and even transforming us through relationship, to be the people God dreams and hopes we will be.

Challenge: This week ask someone, “Will you play with me?” More importantly, ask God, “Will you play with ME?”