Possessed

Sermon from Sunday January 29... Mark 1:21-28
Those who know me know that I’m not fond of using the Lectionary. For the most part it can be repetitive (like the last two weeks of call stories) and it often starts or stops in the middle of whole stories. This drives me crazy when they stop in the middle of a story on one week, then pick up the last part of the story the next week. This does'nt seem right to me.

The one aspect of the Lectionary I do like is that it often includes the difficult stories like the one we have today. When this happens many pastors choose other reading from which to preach on… not me… I like to tackle the hard passages because I believe these are the hard lessons God really wants us to hear that we often just blow off because we pastors don’t want to offend and challenge members of the congregation.  

Prayer:

Today our reading is one of those difficult passages because whether or not we want to talk about the issues of evil spirits our lectionary forces us to do it. We have difficulties because many people don’t believe in the devil or demonic activity and whatever was thought of this activity in the past this is now often rationalized as mental illness.

-       A Barna research question asked N. Am’s if You believed in a Devil or Demonic Activity? 65% of N. Am’s said “No”

-       Asked differently, “Do You Believe Evil is Present in the World?” 82% said “Yes”

And more times than not, when we see evil played out in a person, we say this person is “Possessed” and out of his mind. This is a problem for many religious people.

Frederick Buechner says, “The problem with evil is perhaps the greatest single problem for religious faith.

We have difficulties trying to understand it… how someone can kill another, harm children, or be so intent on destroying life. We are often are appalled how people can carry out terrorist attacks or kill thousands of people just because of their race or religious affiliation.

The problem with evil is I don’t believe the evil impulse are all that far away from even the most normal of us.

Author Taylor Hackford says, “The Devil is merely the impulse inside of us to choose what is ethically wrong. It’s not about some guy with a forked tail… we ourselves are responsible.”

In other words, we all have dark sides given different situations would or could find ourselves possessed with the potential to do evil works. And, If we look at being possessed as Evil robbing us from God’s hopes and dreams… then we could say that this might not be as foreign to us as we might think. In fact, we might even have first-hand experience with it.

Personally speaking, I have on occasion been possessed by anger towards my spouse… my kids… colleagues… friends… other family members. How about you?? Have you ever been so angry something took control over you?

What about being possessed by jealousy or envy? Greed and Power?

Drugs, Alcohol, Pornography, Gambling, How many of you are or have been Workaholics?  

What about being so possessed that you’ve used your knowledge and resources in ways you now regret….

If were honest, we’ve all experienced some form of evil possession that has robbed us from all God has blessed us with.

Here is the good news…

If we look closely at the man possessed in our story today… and we often miss this… he is in the Jewish meeting place, ie “The Church” and it’s the Sabbath, ie “Sunday Worship”  and if you think about it what better place would you want to be when your struggling with sin or evil? If I know the church… and if a guy like this would walk into one of our churches, we or someone would ask or escort a guy like the one in our story out of our church. We wouldn’t want to be associated with a person like him.

After-all it would be too much of a distraction, and we wouldn’t want this kind of publicity. But think about this, the church is the perfect place for sinners… how many of you are sinners? Raise your hands… ya’ll better raise your hands because if not we might have to rethink this place.

Jesus happens to be present on this Sabbath day teaching and people are amazed at his teaching. Our story doesn’t say what Jesus was teaching, but that he taught with authority. How do we know when someone is speaking from authority? We know when this happens because of the person’s passion and knowledge. But I believe what Jesus does here is he just loved this man.

Jesus tells the evil spirit to, “Be quiet and come out.” The spirit shakes the man relentlessly and with a shout comes out. The good news is Jesus’ authority and power cleansed the man and will cleanse us today as well. Jesus’ authority and power works through the church and though us by showing the love of God to those who are struggling with possession of evil behaviors.

I know I’ve seen and have heard of stories; perhaps you have as well, the stories where people have had dramatic encounters with God’s mercy and grace. Sometime the healings and restorations come slow, but nonetheless dramatic in their own right.

Sometimes we are part and parcel of such restorations by our presence and journey with people we care about. Maybe we can do this by being a sponsor to an alcoholic or drug addict. Or maybe just standing or  journeying with a struggling person.

You see… God works with us, thru us, and in us to help people experience God’s hopes and dreams for them and to free people from the evil spirits that so strongly possess them and us.

Maybe if we, or the church, as David Lose, a Lutheran Theologian at Luther Seminary states, “ would invited people to contemplate or even name the things that possess us. Perhaps, the congregation is what God had in mind as the place where healing could take place. This is risky business, I know, and I trust that the church of God is able to discern the best way to broach and encourage honest and faithful conversation about how to walk with people. But here’s the thing, I believe that Jesus is still in the business of freeing us from the powers which seek to rob us from all that God hopes and intends for us.”

I too believe this and I pray those who are struggling and suffering evil possessions can connect with those in this church and begin a journey to discover hope and healing from the things that possess.

See You Out on the Road

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Saw the movie "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" yesterday. I didn't quite get the title, but after sleeping on it, I think I get it now. I found the movie to be a profound and moving excerpt from the day we as a nation sat up and took notice of our vulnerabilities of the world we live in. While some may say the emotions of September 11, 2001 are still too raw I saw this movie as a story that needs to be shared. Furthermore, any movie with Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock in it has got to be good.

The first surprise was that Hanks & Bullock really had small bit parts in comparison to what we might have thought and I believe this was a good thing because they would have taken away from what this story was really about. Though, their star power will help attract people to this outstanding movie.

This is a story of a boy ie "Oskar" (Thomas Horn) who sets out on a journey of discovery after his father is killed in one of the World Trade Center buildings on 9-11. The star of the film in addition to Oskar is a "Key" that Oskar finds and believes as does the audience that this key leads to something his father wanted him to have. A journey of discovery takes place and Oskar meets all kinds of people along the way. 

The most poignant part, one of many, is an answering machine with six messages all of which chronicles the time frame of events of that day... "The Worst Day" according to Oskar. However, the key keeps him focused and driven to find the lock that it fits.

In the end... it's not what you expect and the answering machine comes back into focus and of which I believe is the point of the story. Forgiveness and Grace.

Whatever or however you think of that tragic day this movie opens a door to perhaps the sharing of other 9-11 stories that need to be told. While some may say it's all to fresh in the mind and the emotions are still to raw to let go. I believe this story and hundreds if not thousands of the other 9-11 stories need to be told so that it helps us as a nation continue to heal from this national tragedy. It's by these remembered stories that we heal as a country, and bring forgiveness and grace to those who struggle to understand the why's.

I give it a two thumbs up and 5 stars and I thank those who had the courage to put it together.

See You Out on the Road   

Phophet & Loss

Sermon for Jan 22, 2012   

Jonah 3:1-5,10, Mark 1:14-20

I'd like to share a story given that you've heard the world will be coming to an end later this year.

There is a story that says the world will come to an end in three days. In three days, everything will be deluged by water and everyone will drown.

After hearing this, the pope announces on TV, “Don’t worry, if you all turn to Christ, you will all be saved.”

The head of the Zen community also goes on TV and announces, “Don’t worry, if you put your trust in Buddha, you will be saved.”

The head rabbi of Israel appears on TV and advises: “Don’t worry, we have three days to learn to live under water.

We again have 2 call stories from our bible readings today.

-       Our OT story in Jonah and one we are quite familiar with is a call story for Jonah to go to Nineveh and share God’s imperative that they turn back to God.

-       Our gospel reading from Mark is a two part call story.    

o    Part 1, Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is near, Repent, and believe the Good News.”

o    Part 2, has Peter, Andrew, James & John dropping their nets and immediately follow Jesus.

Both of our readings today are about what I’ve titled my message today, that being, “Prophet and Loss.” This is not about the monetary PROFIT, but the Prophet being spelled “P R O P H E T” noting that both Jonah and Jesus’ newly called friends are being called to proclaim and share the kingdom, and “L O S S”  being that if you don’t do what God calls… well God seems to make sure you do what God wants. Jesus sums it up in Luke 9:25… “What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose your life?”

At some point the individuals in our lectionary stories are faced with a Prophet and Loss decision.

Both of our stories I believe share 2 points of interest for us today.

-       #1… “The Kingdom of God.”

-       #2… “The Good News.”

In our first story, Jonah is called by God to go to Nineveh in an attempt to warn the Ninevites of their impending doom. God would really like them to turn from their evil ways and obey Him. Jonah… knowing how evil these people are Jonah says, “No” I’m not going, it’s too dangerous." Jonah essentially says, “They are evil people, and I’m not going.” Then Jonah then goes in the opposite direction. Of course, God has other plans…

Jonah finds himself on a boat during a bad storm and the people believe its Jonah’s fault, so they throw him over board. Then finds himself in the belly of a big fish, and then, vomited up on the shore. God tells Jonah again to go to Nineveh… Jonah obliges, and the people believe and God changes his mind. Jonah gets really angry with God and has a pity party and God says, “You are concerned about a vine you did not plant… in the city of Nineveh there are 120,000 people… do you think I should be concerned about them?”

We are asked the same question today as well. Should we be concerned about the people we are called to minister to? Should we be concerned about the kingdom of God and the Good News? Jonah was asked to go into the kingdom of God and share Good News. On the same token we are asked to do the same… or are we running in the opposite direction?

Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is Near, Believe the Good News.”

What is the Good News that Jesus speaks?

We hear this story from a post Resurrection perspective. We understand the Good news as Jesus crucified, died, and risen for my sin and my salvation. But, is that what Jesus is saying here?

Is this what Andrew, Peter, James, and John thought when Jesus called them?

Our understanding couldn’t have been what they thought… Jesus couldn’t have even known at this point. Yet, they left everything and followed Jesus and they do it immediately.

I often have found it difficult to understand how 4 successful business men could leave everything they worked so hard for to follow someone they didn’t know…. And to do it immediately!!! That’s hard to understand. Last week Jesus invited… today God calls people to share the kingdom and the good news.

Invitation and call are two different things. Invitation means I can just check it out... I don't have to make a commitment. A call on the other hand, means there must be some action. As a called pastor to this church I have an obligation to go to where God calls me. I may want to go over here, but God wants me to go over there... akin to our Jonah story... God tends to win the argument.

What does God want us to understand today?

First… I believe that the Kingdom of God is really all around us. The kingdom really surrounds us…. When Jesus says that the Kingdom is near… I believe God is really present right here, right now. We don’t have to wait until some appointed date when we die to experience God in some far-away place called heaven. Our problem is that we often fail to open our eyes to see what God is already doing amongst us. Look at what happened with Jonah! God changed his mind because the people listened and turn back and God saved the city from destruction. I believe we get to experience this a little bit when we open ourselves to the fullness of God’s forgiveness and grace, and we can experience this goodness of God well before we enter eternity.

Second… Jesus says, “Repent” or “Turn Back” to God.

The Greek Word “Metanoia” means “To Make a Change” or to “Change Directions”

We see this with Jonah… he wanted to go the direction he wanted to go… God changed his direction. As for Jesus’ friends… there is no mention of a turn back or change in direction with them. However, they left what they were doing and followed… and believe me when I say, that is a difficult challenge to overcome for most of us.

But ultimately, for them in our story and for us… the good news is really about God’s forgiveness and grace. God didn’t destroy Nineveh… the people turned from their evil ways and God forgave them and granted grace. Our struggle with the Jonah story is our difficulty with forgiveness and grace. We are challenged because we often do not do a very good job demonstrating forgiveness and grace. We like to talk about it like we do it, but our walk is often in the opposite direction.

Perhaps the four fishermen from Lake Galilee experienced forgiveness and grace when Jesus called them to be fishers of people in a Prophet and Loss world. Perhaps, they recognized in Jesus that this was the Good News.

In closing, a recent "Dennis the Menace" cartoon caught my attention. As you know, Dennis is indeed a menace to his next-door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and yet Mrs. Wilson continues to be kind and gracious. This particular cartoon shows Dennis and his little friend Joey leaving Mrs. Wilson's house, their hands full of cookies.

Joey says, "I wonder what we did to deserve this."

Dennis answers, "Look, Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we're nice, but because she's nice."

See You Out on the Road

 

What's Happening to Me?

I'm sitting at my kitchen table staring out the window (I'm now writing not staring) looking at the cold snowy landscape and I'm wondering "What's Happening" to me. I'm sitting here looking out the window... the mail lady came on time today... but today I'm still unemployed, feeling crappy (about myself... and I have a cold), and wondering why all this is happening to me at this point in my life. I feel it's getting pretty bad when the highlight of my day is waiting for the mail to come so that I have something to do.

I've spent alot of time over the past six months searching for a job, both online and talking to others to little fruition. I've had one interview just before Christmas and that's it. I placed some 60+ resumes out there and so... it's getting a bit disheartening. Although, I was humbled the other day when I was give a rather large amount of money. Thank You to whom ever you are... it is helpful and I'm blessed by your generosity. 

A week ago I was contacted by a recruiter/head hunter... that's not how I referred to them as. They however, understand themselves to be "Advanced Career Marketers"... at least that's how the person I talked to wanted to be known as. What they do is market you to the people who make the hiring decisions for-going the middle-man HR depts. So... for a fee (a few thousand dollars) they will coach you and get you interviews with prospective employers. They have a process to paying the fee upfront, then you get the opportunity to interview. I've often wondered how these agencies work and if it is a good way to go or are they just taking your money. This particular agency claims to help clergy folks transition from church work to secular business work... in other words from church work to a real job. Maybe you have some experience working with one of these types of agencies. If you have please contact me. I'd like your thoughts.

Needless to say, I will be supply pastoring for the next month... a good thing, and I'm glad for it. It is something not only to do, but more importantly a few bucks, and to keep my mind from wondering into places I'd rather not go. I'm already cynical enough and I'd like to keep looking at the glass as half full rather than half empty. However at the moment, as I look out the window the pity party feels pretty good.... wow is me :(

All this to say, What is Happening to Me? Perhaps... what is happening to us? I'm using the Revised Common Lectionary for my devo reflection (there is a good use for the lectionary after-all) and it helps me prepare for my Sunday pastor gigs because that's what's used where I'm serving. This week there are two call stories. One where God calls Jonah and in Mark's gospel where Jesus calls Andrew & Peter, and James & John, all who are fishermen, to "Come With Me" and they immediately leave to follow Jesus.

Jonah on the other hand refuses to go where God wants him to go... Nineveh. These are contrasting stories. Jonah doesn't want to go and runs in the opposite direction.... Jesus' friends leave everything immediately and go. For Jesus' friends, they go not knowing where they are going or what they will do... Jesus tells them they will fish for people... but what does that mean? They have no clue... they give up everything... home, job, income, family for something they know nothing about. In the end... Jonah experiences God's grace even though he didn't want to do what God wanted... in fact, Jonah gets quite angry with God because God changes his mind about punishing the Ninevehites... God forgives Jonah again. Of course we know the outcome for Jesus' friends, but the story ends with them following Jesus giving up all they knew.

So... what's happening to me? I don't know. In similar fashion I've left my comfort zone to follow Jesus into the unknown. Like Jonah, I'm really angry with God... I've gone to Nineveh and shared the Good News. I get beat up and God does nothing, but give grace.

See You Out on the Road

Vampire Ministry

John 1:43-51... Jesus Calls Phillip and Nathanael to "Come and See"

Sermon from Sunday Jan. 15, 2012

There is something missing from Christianity these days as people flock to mega-experiences of church with power-personality-oriented ministries. In contrast, this call story from John is wonderful for one reason, and Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) says it better than I can: “Recognizing power in another does not diminish your own.”

And because of this, most church communities are now in survival mode, they are practicing what I have titled this message and what I think of as a “vampire ministry.”

Vampire ministry happens when a church that doesn’t know how to connect with the world around it meets a new-comer to its community. Someone with new blood walks through the door for their first Sunday, we catch our breath, we casually walk over to them, welcoming them, and sensing this new blood in our weary bones, our fangs come down and we ask ever-so-innocently, “Would you like to join the choir?” or make some cookies for next Sunday.

Maybe that’s not what your church does, but it is my observation and experience with many churches. However, you may think of it… Vampire Ministry or its other variations are taking place, and I don't believe that’s what Jesus had in mind when he calls us to faith.

We see in our gospel reading today the 2^nd call to follow Jesus story. The First was Andrew Vs 40… Andrew was one of John the Baptist followers and Jesus invites him to “Come & See." Andy is convinced Jesus is the one & goes to find his brother… Peter and tells him to “Come & See”… then they both follow Jesus. Now, in today's story Andy & Peter find and tell their friend Phillip, they go to meet Jesus. and Jesus says, “Come with Me." Then, Phillip finds his friend Nathanael and tells him about Jesus of Nazareth, but Nathanael isn’t all that enthused… In fact, he is a bit skeptical & cynical… He says, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Phillip says “Come & See” anyway.

Nathanael reminds me of my own call story when a friend & mentor asked me to come & see… I was a bit skeptical as well. In fact, it took me 2 years to discern whether or not I would go into the pastoral ministry.

The story continues...Jesus & Nathanael have a conversation. In fact, Nathanael’s honesty is quite well known to Jesus. Jesus can’t find any deceit in him. You see, Peter was “The Rock” that Jesus could depend on. James and John are the “Sons of Thunder,” known for their short tempers. Philip had a warm heart and a pessimistic head. Thomas, whose heart was broken by the cross, would not believe until he saw. In John’s gospel there is the un-named disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. But Nathanael? He was honest. He had no deceit in him. And Jesus, who was used to all kinds of people, well... that honesty must have been refreshing.

Then Jesus does it…. This happens elsewhere in the gospels most notably with doubting Thomas. Jesus asks, “Did you believe because you saw?”

This call story and others like it speak to the heart of the matter for us today in our churches. The truth brought out in this story is our reluctance and failure to share our stories of faith and invite others to “Come and See and Experience” Jesus as the grace of God.

Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend in their book “12 Christian Beliefs” say, “We are all broken in some way, both sinful and sinned against. Because none of us has escaped the results of sin, we suffer spiritual and emotional damage. We won't let others love us. We can't say no. We don't know how to connect with people. We're unable to be firm in our convictions. We need help to be disciplined, to accept our weaknesses, to stand against those who would abuse us. The broken, damaged, immature parts of our character need to be fixed.”

The point of what Andrew, Peter, Phillip, and Nathanael experienced in Jesus is the heart of Grace. Not only were they fixed, but they were healed by God’s love. Being fixed and healed are two different things. We fix a lot of things, but often they continue to break. Healing on the other hand is permanent and long lasting. I would rather be healed than fixed.

In addition, we Lutheran’s need to awaken the grace DNA in us, and invite people to come and see, and experience the difference Jesus can make in our lives… to be healed by God’s grace.  This is our gift to the church!!! Not because we need to make improvements to our buildings, or programs, or our bottom lines. But, to be healed and freed by the grace of God.

The other part of the story we often miss is that of becoming a follower of Jesus.  We often are willing to come & see, however many stop there. Perhaps, that is what happened to Nathanael… we don’t hear from him again. However, if we choose to follow Jesus, as Jesus says, Vs 50…”if you believe you will see something great.” Jesus also says this again in John 14… where he says, “If you believe in me you will do even greater things than me.” Interestingly, Jesus says this to Phillip who is doubting the greater things of God. You see, following Jesus opens us up to experience the greater things of God. 

This speaks to our discipleship or as I like to call it... "Followership." What is "Followership"? You may think this is about just going to church, or giving a little, or participating in a bible study… it is this, but it is also more than that. Followership is the act of following & practicing in the Way of Jesus.

I believe it’s about the practicing & following of the following 7 practices the best you can.

1.     Being a person in daily Prayer...... communal prayer, not just some written   

        prayers on Sunday morning.

2.     Worship God Heart, Mind, Soul... to pour out yourself at the foot of the cross.

3.     Being a Learner… Study, conversation... learning how to better understand  

        what God is about.

4.     Serving Others unconditionally...

5.     Being in Relationship with others… small groups

6.     Being Generous with all we own.

7.     Being open to the Holy Spirit’s calling for your life.

We need be open to God doing something greater our your lives. To be open to what it might take to welcome someone into the experience of God’s Grace. Maybe even being the face of Jesus to someone else.

I’d like to close with 2 stories.

The First is from Luther... and one that you may have heard before... Luther observed, for one to be a follower of Jesus they had to experience 3 conversions.
         1. A conversion of the Heart.
         2. A conversion of the Mind.
         3. And most difficult for us is the conversion of our Wallets.

 

The Second....Is from Pr. Jim Harnish, where he says… "Like many of you, I was fascinated by the Ken Burns series on the Lewis and Clark expedition. I was so impressed with it that my wife gave me a copy of Stephen Ambrose's account of the expedition entitled Undaunted Courage (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996).   

This week I came to the place where Meriwether Lewis invited William Clark to go along. This was a courageous thing. When they left St. Louis, they were going into uncharted territory without any contact with anyone back home. So that was the kind of invitation Lewis offered. And here is Clark's response:

"I will cheerfully join you and partake of the dangers, difficulties and fatigues ... and I anticipate the honors and rewards of such an enterprise ... with many difficulties. But, my friend, I do assure you that no man lives with whom I would prefer to undertake such a trip ... as yourself" (104).

Harnish continues, I can assure you that to follow Jesus means entering into a journey with many dangers, difficulties and fatigues, but there is no other person with whom I would rather make that journey than with Jesus. They left everything and followed him."

Jesus invites us to “Come & See” what’s even greater….

Of course, we could revert back to the “Vampire Ministry” we’ve always done, but there’s nothing Great about this… because we, if were honest, know it doesn’t really work.

See You Out on the Road

A Call... or A Job

I've had a couple conversations with congregations lately about serving them as pastor. These conversations were not for what our tribe (denomination) names as calls of service, but to serve as interim or supply pastor. Perhaps in lay-mans terms... be a part-time pastor, though I'm unclear about what this really means.

Our tribe, considers people who are rostered (ie credentialed) leaders who serve at a congregation as called positions of service. Meaning that a pastor is called to serve at a church. Being a called servant of the church means (at least the church hopes) that the Holy Spirit of God nudges the congregation and person seeking the call towards discerning whether or not both congregation and pastor are called to work in the congregations ministry together.

A calling also implies something higher and deeper taking place. For our tribe, an importance on conversation, forgiveness, and grace is part and parcel of this higher calling that both the congregation and the pastor are part of. And... this is where our tribes potential breakdown comes from because this is also the crack opening for our sinful desires to penetrate.

A job on the other hand is sort-of open-ended. You apply for a job... you get an interview or two, take some personality tests, and you get hired. While I believe most employers seek our loyalty (some jobs demand it) many workers aren't all that loyal. Many are still looking for that job that pays better, has better benefits, or better working conditions. Many settle and do the job or task they are told to do for a short time until the next move. Especially with today's economics as they are. It's a JOB!! and when you are without IT's A JOB!!! You invest what you need to and continue the look.

Back to "a Calling".... a calling I believe implies a deeper passion of vocation. When you are called to do something it implies a loyalty to the largeness of what could be. A calling is the coming together of your giftedness and passions empowering the vocation.

I believe if passion and giftedness are missing, one or both... well then, you have a job. Most people have the ability to do a job, but passion & giftedness take you to another level, thus it becomes a vocation.

All of this to ask....  is a part-time pastor position a calling or just a job? I mean, a person no matter if they are a pastor or just a regular Joe or Josephine, has to support themselves and or family don't they?

Another question that often crosses my mind... Is it ok for a pastor to look at what he/she does as a job? When I find myself thinking this I'm troubled by it. However, when I look at the church for a called position, there are few matches... so much for church/pastor discernment.

The long and short of this conversation is lately... I feel my passion and giftedness of vocation are not being utilized in our tribe. Thus... I conclude the feeling that working as a part-time pastor is just a job.

See You Out on the Road

Tebowing

Ok... I've just about had enough of all the talking time about Tim Tebow and how God is somehow showing favor upon him and the team he plays for. I've had enough about all the press about his kneeling pose after he completes some impressive play. I've had enough about how all the evangelicals are calling him the next.... whatever because God is blessing whatever.

I don't believe God cares one iota about what Tebow does or doesn't do on the playing field. God cares about him as a person, but what he does on the field is inconsequential... it's a game!!! He and another player made a great play and the team won... YEA!!!

If God cared about football or another sport or activity all teams would be undefeated and every player would be MVP's. So those who believe God is blessing Tebow... well what about all the other Christian players sitting on the sidelines and not in the playoffs? Their not blessed? Come on... please.

So... enough is enough... please. He's doing what he is getting paid to do... play a game of football. If the team he plays for didn't think he was good enough to play, he wouldn't be playing.

So... all you Christian types who think God is doing all this great stuff through Tebow... please spend more time growing your own faith. I'm tired of all this prosperity gospel crap that says if you do this or that, God is somehow is going make you this great person with lots of money, abilities to play games so you can make lots of money, and all of this is suppose to bring favor from God upon you. I really don't think so!!

God only cares about what is in your heart!!! And... how you Love God, Love Others, and Follow Jesus. That's what God really cares about... Period. 

See You Out on the Road








  

It's Offical... It's Over!

The Christmas season is officially over. It ended yesterday January 6... the day of Epiphany. Epiphany means... "To Appear" or "To Manifest" and has long been celebrated by the church as either the coming of the Three Kings or story of Jesus' baptism. Both of these stories reveal Jesus as the "Son of God" or "Messiah" to the world. Whatever your take on Epiphany is it marks the end of the Christmas season. I'm grateful the season is finally over. We took down all our Christmas decorations yesterday repositioning all our furniture and resuming to some sense of normalcy. 

I'm not much of a fan of Christmas... OK go ahead and get your Scrooge notions out... I'm not a fan because of several factors. Mostly because of a lot of expectations and few of those expectations coming to fruition. My childhood/ home experiences were mostly difficult and I always hoped that years Christmas would be different. It often wasn't. After a while you become numb and the holiday becomes just another day.

My wife of nearly 37 years had the opposite experience, so she likes going all out for Christmas. Joy, Joy, Love, and lots more Joy is her attitude. I really do think this is a good thing, but I can't seem to get there most years. I've managed to be better about this over the years, mostly by taking a step back while saying to myself repeatedly... "It will be ok, It will be ok."

This year I sort-of reverted back because of being unemployed. It certainly was a different experience for me. For the last 8 years I've served congregations and celebrating Christmas Eve worship and some with Christmas Day worship. I missed that this year. Because of all the circumstances at my last call, we hemmed and hawed about going to a church this year for Christmas. We did go to a church down the road from where we live, but it was not what we had hope for. The worship experience was only a half-hour long. That's right... a half-hour! Three songs in the beginning, a sermon comparing Charlie Brown's Christmas, a make-shift communion, Silent Night, and out the door. It was a half-hour long. We were obviously bummed, but it fit the mood I have been in for the past few weeks anyway.

I believe for the most part my disaffection with Christmas is how we Christians have bought into the commercialization of the holiday. It's not for me a "Jesus is the reason for the season", but how we have made the season be a consumer competition. Furthermore, it all begin's now in October... even before the Halloween season is over. It use to be that all the frenzy started the day after Thanksgiving... well that has even come to an end with many stores opening on turkey day now. It just seems over the past thirty years Christmas has been more about the "Dollar Bill" than just about anything else.

The church has been about this as well. The church I believe pays lip-service to the Jesus aspect of the season all the while caving into the consumerist greed our society has embraced. Why do I say this?  say this because I over-heard a person say that they were appalled that some kids in our school district go without boots or winter coats. This person couldn't believe that people in our community lived like this. I over-heard another person say... well you should come over to where I live... most kids don't have boots or coats. So... what do Christians do... we go buy boots, food, coats, and gifts so that they can have a nice Christmas like us. Christians do this every year... I think because of guilt... my question is, "Why is it only at Christmas or Easter (we've commercialized this too) we feel so generous? Please don't mistake me for being a prude... I'm thankful that people who need help are able to get some. Look at all the people who paid for lay-aways at K-Mart this year, but what I question is our authenticity.

I received some gifts this year from my family. They were simple gifts which is fine... I think those are the best. I really don't want anything because if there is something I want or need, I will buy it, but if you are going to buy something, don't spend a lot of money. What I believe I'm really looking for at the Christmas season is for my family and friends to be loving and caring people. To get together and have good conversation and friendship with no expectations.

Maybe I'm thinking this way because of getting older and I'm on the back side of my life. I'm sure this is partially true. Furthermore, I believe I'm just coming to the realization that life is more than some temporary trinket that can be bought that gives a temporary high. I think I'm searching for deeper meaning and understanding about what Jesus really is after in me. In fact, I think Jesus wouldn't be all that impressed with how we have come to celebrate His birth. More to the point, I believe Jesus doesn't care! Jesus cares more about how I'm living my life rather than how I'm celebrating Christmas. I mean... after-all.... two of the gospels don't have any birth stories in them!

Anyway... I'm glad the season is over. I hope you are as well. Now it's time to get closer to Jesus... maybe spend some time thinking how you might do that.


See You Out on the Road.

Texting

Texting is the new mode of communicating these days. Yes, even I have found myself doing this more and more. I would prefer not too. I would prefer to talk face to face with a person. Texting while efficient, is often not all that effective at learning about someone or something.

Pastors often do biblical texting to prove their points. We often look thru the bible texts to find specific texts that help us to make our sermons biblically authentic. I remember a pastor I was listening to make a statement, then quote a passage from the New Testament chapter and verse to prove his point... then he would say, "Right" after the quote. It was like, what he was saying, "this is truth." You've heard pastors do this! You've heard Christians do this... you are talking with them about a particular subject. Then the conversation turns a bit more intense, then they throw it out.... book, chapter, and verse to prove their argument.

While I admire people who know their bible like this, I often do not like how they sort of lord it over people and make others feel inadequate in their faith because they can't spout off chapter and verse.

Me.... I'm more of a story person. I remember biblical stories. Zacheus, Peter & Cornelius, Paul at the Acropolis, the Women at the Well... you get the picture. Stories are what made the Bible what it is. People told stories of the faith. Stories bring people together. Unlike texting, stories have texture. Stories connect people to history... in many ways stories connect us to each other.

Jesus told stories... he didn't proof text his stories. He often quoted the scripture story, not a particular text, but the story. There was no book, chapter, and  verse when Jesus told stories. Jesus told stories about real life and often used his own experience in the story. He would share stories from the world he inhabited to bring out a greater truth. 

While the text is often informative I believe it's the story that open us up to the truth of God. The text can be efficient, but it is the story that brings faith to life. Stories transform, text informs. What would you prefer to hear from your pastor? A bunch of text or a story that transforms your life. Perhaps, it would be more effective to learn the Jesus story, then share how that story has transformed your life.


See You Out on the Road

Slowing Down

As mentioned in my last blog Kathy and I spent the New Years weekend at our daughters farm. They live amongst an Amish community and are friends with the couple of families that live next to them. This Amish group are a bit more progressive, but like most if not all Amish groups still work their fields with actual horse power. Yesterday while we were just lounging around the TV the Amish neighbor was spreading manure. Yes out in the cold terrible snow and wind. Yes... with 2 horses and this got me thinking of a couple of things.

First, while they often do some hypocritical things they still manage to do their work in a manner that is quite out dated. But I wonder if it really is. Yes, it is not very efficient use of time when there are very powerful tractors and could make sort order of the job. But what is time? It is a commodity for sure. But maybe the lesson is, that we "English" as they call us, need to slow down. I must admit that I've had to adjust a bit since being out of work. Some days I want to go, go, go, but there is nothing to go too. In some ways I've had to much time on my hands. The mind often wanders when you aren't doing much, and that can get you into trouble.

Nevertheless, maybe our society is moving to fast. Maybe we as a people need to take a lesson from the Amish and slow down. Maybe take some time to look at all that we do and make some adjustments. You know what I'm talking about... we have all been in predictmints when life seems out of control. So... take your time today... go a little slower.

The other observation that came to mind was the manure... yes the "MANURE" in the spreader. It reminded me of a story of a little boy digging in a big pile of manure, when his dad came up to him and asked why he was digging in the manure pile. The boy answered, "with all this manure here there must be a pony in there some where."

Lately...I'm wondering where my pony is because the manure pile has been pretty large. Maybe you are wondering too? Anyway, I'm still digging... maybe that's a good thing!!!


See You Out on the Road







  

A New Year

It’s New Years Day… Jan. 1, 2012… my first real blog writing of the New Year. I’m doing this from my daughter’s horse farm. She raises “Gypsy Vanner Horses”. There a small draft horse that gypsy’s used to pull their caravans, wagons. If you want to learn more go to www.willowwindstable.com  so… I’m spending the New Year’s weekend at the farm trying to find some hope for this New Year.

As I mentioned when I created this blog that I am an unemployed pastor nearly six month’s as I write this. I resigned my call back in July. I didn’t challenge this for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t think it was the thing to do. I didn’t do anything wrong mind-you, but it just didn’t seem like the right thing to do. The other reason was I didn’t want the congregation to go through challenges it would had I decided to fight. I didn’t see this as wanting to win because I don’t think I or anyone would have won. I’ve observed pastors and churches who do challenge each other… both lose and usually both have greater sins because of it.

I chose instead to be above it all. I chose to be about forgiveness and grace. And, I chose forgiveness and grace because it was the right thing to do. As I often share during funerals, the person whose life is celebrated is never perfect. They are at times in their lives not the best son or daughter, not the best husband or wife, not the best father or mother, or the best sister or brother, or even the best worker or friend. Yet… God still invites them to the table of grace. When you boil it down… I’ve tried to live my pastoral ministry thru the lenses of forgiveness and grace. I’ve tried to live my life as an invited guest to the table.

I am getting more and more anxious these days however. My last two installments of severance will come in the next few weeks, and then I will be without any income. I’ve sent out some 50 resumes and have had only one interview. My emotions are running quite high at the moment. Thoughts of God seemingly abandoning me are running ramped. I’m trying to believe that God didn’t get it wrong. That God has a purpose for all of this… I’m not sure what this would be… but it would be nice if God acted … like NOW!!! I don’t need more clichés … I need a job!!

I watched the movie “Secretariat” on DVD today. I saw it at the theater when it first came out and thought it was a good movie back then. Today, I watched differently. Today it was more than the underdog proving he could win. Today, I saw this movie as one who preservers through seemingly insurmountable odds. I know first-hand how one demonstrates this through my own life experiences and by my internship pastors experience I observed while on internship. The part that stood out for me in this movie was when Penny, Secretariat’s owner who was under pressure to give up her dying fathers farm said, “I’m going to see this horse run, and we’re going to rejoice every day.” Life is really mostly about persevering. I’ve preached on this topic several times. I know about all this, yet I’ve struggled with this over the past few weeks.

This is not what I expected my life to be like at this point. I’m 55 years old and I have really nothing to show for it. Over the next 2-3 months I will use up all my savings from 401-K’s, and on the surface anyway, the church or anyone really doesn’t seem to care (that’s the pity party of my story today). While I’m not really angry at the former congregation, I’m kind of angry at the church over-all. Most every church that I talk to or have interviewed at has said they want to be different. They want to change so they can make a difference in their community. They all say they want to be open to seeing more young people come, yet when the rubber meets the road… when change comes, they often baulk. Most people in congregations like this I believe want change to come, but as it often happens, a handful to a few who call the shots don’t want the necessary change to take place. So, the church often loses. The church stops and the kingdom of God isn’t expanded.

Yes… as you may have guessed or as some of you know… I am not a typical Lutheran pastor. I am more concerned with growing disciples and God’s kingdom than I am with taking care of those who just inhabit the pews. I am more interested in those who visit the church than I am with those who are already there. Not because those already in the pews are bad or unimportant, they already have God, but that those who are on the outside are looking for the face of Jesus, and I just believe that God has called me to be that face to those who visit. This is why I’m not your typical Lutheran pastor. If this prevents me from receiving another call to serve… well… I guess it does and the church loses. And, that to me is a great sin and makes me angry at the church. After-all… we are all called to grow and disciple one another in the faith. Taking care of people is all our calls of the faithful, not only the pastors.

However, despite my anger at the tribe I am part of, I forgive them and I give grace. I hope they can of me as well. This should be all about seeing the horse run, and rejoicing every day.

See you out on the road.