The Trouble with Journeys

During the season of Advent, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and all the festivities therein, many devotional books, biblical texts, and sermons make extensive use of the metaphor of a Journey.  Journey is a word used repeatedly in the Bible to reflect a season of change or soul-searching. Most obvious is that of the Israelites journeying through the wilderness for 40 years. There are other more subtle references to this whole concept of the journey throughout the scriptures. In fact, the idea of a journey as a metaphor of moving through a life of faith isn't even restricted to the Christian religion. Sikhs and Sufis, Greeks and Romans, modern and ancient religions use this journey language to describe our walk through life to faith.
The word "journey" is defined as the act of traveling from one place to another, a process or course likened to traveling - a passage, the journey of life. It comes from the Latin meaning "of a day".  Our word for journal comes from this. It is how we spend our days, traveling from one place to another - physically, mentally and spiritually.
My mom and dad used to have several time-share condos. They traveled at least 4 times a year to various places for a week at a time.  My dad always took care of the car as they prepared for the journey. He'd rotate the tires, check the oil, etc. My mom took care of the packing. When going to the condo, she had a kit she kept equipped just for these trips. It included coffee filters and coffee, sample sizes of dish soap in the brand she liked to use. It also included dryer sheets, clothes detergent, salt and pepper shakers, and a good ole' cast iron skillet, the one thing my mother could not cook without.
They ALWAYS prepared for these "journeys" depending on where they were going. Going to grandma's was a different preparation process. Going to the beach house our family owned was different again. The idea is: you need to prepare for an important thing like a journey.
Today, with a Wal-Mart on every corner, people have forgotten how to make preparations. Anything can be bought at the last minute if you forgot it. We don't realize that good preparation greatly reduces our stress. If you prepare for a journey for weeks ahead of time, it allows you to do things easily and on your terms. A box of this extra on this grocery trip, a box of that extra on that grocery trip, and the money comes out of the budget slowly in a measured progression. If you wait until you get there and run out to get what you need, you deplete the resources you have saved for your journey, and you may not be able to do all you had hoped to do at your destination.
Our spiritual journey needs this type of deliberate and regular preparation. That's what Advent is trying to tell us: don't rush to Christmas yet, make preparations, get ready, examine your heart, clean out your closets, make ready for something and someone amazing is about to happen. And you don't want to be left in line at Wal-Mart when it does!  Read the scriptures of the prophets, who explain our need for a savior. Read the prophecy that God will take care of his people. Examine your conscience for any sins not given over to Christ for redemption. Prepare for the journey to meet your savior - not just at the end of times when we all face judgment - but everyday when we all rise to live one day more on the journey of life. How are you walking? Are you running too fast that you might lose the beauty of the birth in quiet Bethlehem? Are you moving too slow, that you lose momentum and enthusiasm and settle for things as they are? Or are you making your way steadily, purposefully, and faithfully every day on the journey to becoming a whole person in Christ Jesus?

Judges 18:6
"Go in peace," the priest replied. "For the Lord is watching over your journey." (NLT)

a. The act of traveling from one place to another; a trip.

b. A distance to be traveled or the time required for a trip: a 2,000-mile journey to the Pacific; the three-day journey home.

2. A process or course likened to traveling; a passage: the journey of life.

[Middle English journei, day, day's travel, journey, from Old French jornee, from Vulgar Latin *diurnta, from Late Latin diurnum, day, from neuter of Latin diurnus, of a day, from dis, day; see diary.]

Prepare ye the Way of the Lord

Last night I went to see the touring company of Godspell at Charlotte's Knight Theater. It was a great production: great set, great cast, awesome musicians in the band. The venue was also excellent, because I was up in the cheap seats and I could see everything! They intentionally used references to Charlotte at various points to pull us in.
That in itself was amazing enough. A great cast presenting the Gospel of Matthew through song, dance and soliloquy was more than enough to touch my soul.  I had seen Godspell back in the 70's, and even played piano for Fayetteville Little Theater's local production of it. But nothing prepared me for the changes that Stephen Schwartz made to the score and to the story. He begins it with a new song about philosophy, science, cell phones, and more. It was hard to determine what the actors were singing, because they did many songs at once. The cacophony built to a roar as they began to act out the tower of Babel and folded into a revision of "Beautiful City". Just as it reaches fever pitch, John the Baptist breaks through with "Prepare ye the way of the Lord".
For me, this put into perspective the whole Advent season. It's not about the candles and wreaths.  It's not about too much opulence, too much food, too much partying and too many church services. It's not about presents that put us into debt. It's not about anything else except Jesus coming into our world. It's about turning off the cell phone, the TV, the iPhone/Pad/Pod, and the noise to listen for the breath of heaven. It's about, as one of the cast members listed in his biography, PREPRAYER YE THE WAY OF THE LORD! And that's not a typo.  Preprayer is a fusion of prepare and prayer that we need in our lives to truly find joy in this season. The focus must remain on Christ. All else is just window dressing.
Matthew 1:18 says "This is how Jesus the Messiah was born." (NLT) Preparing, praying and readying ourselves to receive - This IS how Jesus the Messiah is born again in each of our hearts.

In Honor of Bible Week

In honor of Bible week (Nov. 17-24, 2013), I offer a little parable I found years ago...It still rings true for me and maybe for some others, too.
          The Book: A Modern Parable of the Sower, by Margit Gratzl

There is a new book praised by many for its good writing and informative value.  Therefore, many people march to the bookstore. 

Some look at the title, leaf through the book, and put it back on the shelf.  

Some buy the book, start reading it with great enthusiasm, but get tired of it after a while and never finish it.

Others read the book from cover to cover, but due to all the other information they are bombarded with on a daily basis, forget about the book and the value of its content.

 However, some buy the book, read it with great care and commit what they read to memory, integrate it with their other knowledge, and make use of what they have learned for many years to come.

The End. Beginning.

On any given day, any one of us could be in one of these categories with our Bible reading. We have a verse pop up on our computer screen daily and let that substitute for in-depth bible study. Maybe we read on a regular basis, but don't understand what we have read. And our pride stops us from asking for help. Maybe the bible is an old and dear friend; so much so that it falls open to our favorite passages, without ever challenging us to wrestle with parts that make us squirm. Maybe we just plain don't have time to read the Bible until Sunday morning when we use the pew Bible at church.

The strength and joy of the parable of the sower, is that He keeps on sowing seeds. God doesn't discriminate about what kind of soil receives His seeds. Any effort on our part, and God more than meets us half-way. We aren't condemned for not reading the Bible, but we are abundantly blessed if we do read it on a regular basis.

Let this National Bible Week challenge you to up your game, read the book, and receive the blessings!

 

 

It always amazes me when God does something awesome. Yet, I should expect it, because God does awesome things all the time, I just don't notice it. It is truly miraculous to watch as God, the exterior decorator, redesigns the whole world with seasons. The vast array of color and shape of each leaf as it greens, changes, falls, and is reborn again in spring.
God does other awesome things too.  This past Sunday the unplanned testimony of a man in my church gave flesh to the word more than any sermon ever could. The choir director went home sick, and we sang another congregational song that went with the word, and it was just one big happy God thing last Sunday! We plan each week our sermons and songs, but we don't always get the same anointing of the Holy Spirit when the worship service rolls around. Still, God has a hand in even the worst of sermons and worship experiences if we will invite Him in, worship Him alone, and pray for the Holy Spirit to consume us with its holy fire - that powerful fire burns all the darkness, confusion and sin until al is devoured by its flames.
God does miracles in my everyday life - if I stop long enough to notice them. Today, I had a miracle - insignificant in the scheme of things - but a miracle just the same. I forgot my checkbook when I went to the doctor. I had no legal tender at all on me at the time! Normally, I have a $25 co-pay. On the way out, I was all ready to plead my case when she handed me my papers and wished me a nice day! "No co-pay?" I asked (ignoring the miraculous). "Not today," she said. One problem eliminated by a mighty God.
It's no accident that I spent much time in prayer this morning and began seeing everything as miracles. When we focus our minds and hearts on God more and more, our eyes are opened and we see more and more of God. The story of Saul's conversion in the book of Acts demonstrates this quite dramatically. Saul is struck blind by his encounter with God. God sends a man named Ananias to lay hands on him and pray for him. As Ananias prays, "..instantly, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight." (Acts 9:18 NLT)
I'm convinced that we are all blinded at times. Sometimes its the rush of life around us. Sometimes its deadlines and kids and church and work and school and the pets and.......all the stuff we use as a means to give our time away. But when we choose God first, keep our daily appointment with him sacrosanct, then our eyes are opened to his grace and love. We see the world through his eyes, and we are changed in the seeing.
Yes, it always amazes me when God does something awesome. I hope it always will.

It's Harvest Time

I love all the symbols of fall. I like the leaves changing color. The pumpkins, gourds and squash are plentiful (yum!).  It gets dark earlier and stays dark longer. There's a crispness to the air. Everything around me changes, and it's a change I know is coming. When I lived in southern California, the seasons never felt like anything changed. I missed the definite arrival of fall, winter, spring and summer.
One of the hallmarks of autumn is the harvest. Today we can buy anything anytime because of agribusiness, but there was a time when the harvest was a big deal. It was accompanied by bonfires, barn dances and hay rides. A good harvest meant a good year for the farmer. He would be able to live in relative security until the next harvest. I have seen the big hay bales by the road where some farmers are still able to "harvest" and share their crops.  Matthew  9:35-38 says

³⁵ Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. ³⁸ So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

I find all kinds of good news in this passage. First, there are so many today that are turning away from the church. We call them the de-churched. There are also many who've never set foot in a church. We label them the un-churched. Labels and names do nothing to further the cause of Christ. He told us AHEAD OF TIME that there was going to be a crowd that was confused and helpless "like sheep without a shepherd." He had compassion of them. So, I understand this to mean it's my job to have compassion for people who don't know where to go for help and understanding in their lives. That's easy to do. I've had times in my life when I was confused and helpless, and there are so many saints that have held my hand all the way through that I can't count them all! They gave themselves as God's agents to bring me through the dark times of my life. I know it works! I can share from my own experiences. Good news is - I can do what Jesus asks - I can care for the lost.
Next, the good news is that I don't go into the field alone. Jesus acknowledges "The harvest is great, but the workers are few." So when we feel like we're swimming upstream in sharing the gospel, it means we're doing something right! There are few of us, and for the first time in the history of America, Christians are fast becoming a minority. SO - "PRAY TO THE LORD WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE HARVEST; ASK HIM TO SEND MORE WORKERS..."
Finally, this passage says to me that no program, or sermon, or bible study or newspaper article will "fix" this situation in which we find ourselves. We are waist-deep in a harvest and tired and scared and can't or won't see beyond where we are right now. We let the overwhelming harvest control our thoughts and actions instead of listening to and praying to the LORD of the harvest. He never tells us we have to do it all. He tells us to PRAY for help. And not just to pray for help, but also to pray for more workers. It is our job to pray. And pray. And then to pray some more. Until the Lord of the harvest shines the brilliance of his harvest moon of glory on us, and gives us the instructions on how He's going to handle this harvest.
This week as you go through you day-to-day life, each time you are reminded of the harvest, stop and pray for more workers to join you in the field.

"All the flowers of all our tomorrows are in the seeds of today." Robert H. Schuller

The Preacher's Lament

My sister called me yesterday. Her minister had put something in their church newsletter that she thought I'd appreciate. It was something called "The Preacher's Lament." I laughed and then I listened. Sometimes we need to lighten up, we church-y folk. So here I share it with you. Have a laugh on me, but then look honestly at yourself and your church and see if there might need to be a change.

THE PREACHER'S LAMENT
Adapted from "The Public Employee's Lament"
by James H. Dearmore, www.gospelweb.net
Original Author Unknown

(Just a joke, folks, but quite a lot of truth in it!)

If I express myself on a subject, I'm trying to run things.
If I'm silent, I'm dumb or have lost interest.
If I'm often at my office (preparing messages), why don't I get out and learn what's going on.
If I'm out when they call, why am I not tending to business, or studying for a message.
If I'm not at home at night, I'm out having a good time.
If I'm home, I'm neglecting important outside contacts and activities.
If I don't agree with persons, I'm bullheaded.
If I do agree, I don't have any ideas of my own.
If I don't do what I'm requested, I'm a very poor pastor or minister.
If I do agree, well, that's what I'm paid for.
If I give someone a short answer, I'm "too big for my britches."
If I attempt to explain the pros and cons of an issue, I'm a know-it-all.
If I'm well dressed, I think I'm a big shot.
If I'm not, I'm a poor representative of my office.
If I'm on the job a short time, I'm inexperienced.
If I've been there a long time, It's time for a change."

--- Adapted by Webmaster from "The Public Employee's Lament."

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, The Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding." --- Isaiah 40:28.

Give your preacher a hug for me this week!  This is Pastor Appreciation Month...

We Must be Doing Something Right

This Sunday is Homecoming at my church - that is, the church I serve. My home church has homecoming in the spring. Waxhaw UMC is celebrating 125 years of ministry this Sunday. The church is getting excited. We've collected memorabilia and invited former pastors and members to join us. We've advertised. We've planned. Now the time is near, and it's electric.

My church suffers, as most mainline denominations do today, from a concerning amount of attrition currently. The church is trying to stay on top of things. The council is adding new initiatives and undergirding old favorites. Everyone wants to remain a vital, healthy congregation. As I've been involved in looking into the past glory of this place, one idea keeps hitting me: "We've made it this far, and God has always been faithful when we are faithful." I fully believe that if we are acting in God's will and plan for us, this church will last another 125 years.

Then THAT led me to think, all the people wringing their hands and asking, "Is this the end of the institutional church?" should remember that through incredible persecution, scandals and other trials, the church of Jesus Christ has endured for centuries, even millenia! In the seventies they said, "God is dead." Then the Jesus freaks were born. In the period of "Enlightenment," even with the rise of secularism, the faithful still turned to the church for help and hope. Now, today when our cultural climate is becoming increasingly hostile to Christianity, I look around at all the nay-sayers and I don't buy it. God hasn't brought us this far only to leave us stranded now. 

Is this the end of the church as we know it? Maybe. The church wasn't always what we see now. But the faith, the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ, will remain until the end. Jesus says, "So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them." (Matthew 24:42-45, NLT) It doesn't matter whether or not we have a building or a budget. We are still called to do God's will and to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are to stay active and faithful, while we care tenderly for all God's children. What storms are going on around us cannot shake our faith; in fact, they should only strengthen our resolve to be what we were created to be - God's image to the hungry and hurting world. Look where God is working and join him. This is what's important, not numbers on a page. John the Baptist's disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Are you the Messiah...or should we keep looking...?" Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what you have heard and seen - the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the Good News is being preached to the poor." (Matthew 11:2-6)

Perseverance is a CONTACT Sport

I recently spent the better part of 3 months on hold with a certain phone company which-will-not-be-named. In the last week of my struggle, I finally appealed for help. I did this after preaching a sermon I should have listened to myself: Perseverance is a Contact Sport.
Contact is the key to survival during any trial or crisis: contact with God and contact with other Christians. We tend to isolate when we experience frustration or feel challenged. We may feel like it's silly, and we should be able to handle it on our own. That isn't what the Word tells us to do! Using the letters of the word "contact" as a mnemonic device, try to remember this next time you're stressed, in crisis or just in need of help.

C - Connect in community.  God never intended for us to live alone, or to tough it out without help. God intends for us to have a relationship with him, and allow him to carry our burdens for us, to bring us through the trials, and stand with us through all things. God also intends for us to live in community with other Christians. Even Jesus surrounded himself with 12 disciples!

O- Offer it up. Give it to God, leave it there, and let it go. Give your problem to God and get rid of it! God has vastly more power to deal with it than you do. Seems like this would be a no-brainer, yet we seem to use this only as a last resort. Go figure!

N - The powerful name of Jesus changes it all. Speak his name and demons flee, the sick are healed, the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the unsaved are converted. The scriptures tell us "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11, NLT)

T - Think good thoughts. We are surrounded by a climate of negativity and scarcity. We are richly blessed and called the children of God the Father who created the universe, yet we think we are poor and abandoned! What's up with that? The power of positivity is nothing to sneer at. Remember: the JOY of the Lord is your strength. Don't let stinking thinking suffocate your life. Choose to think differently.

A - Adore God, even in the rain. The best way to get out of your funk is to stop and think of all the wondrous things God has done and can do for you. Focusing on God will bring you into a state of awe and wonder which zaps negativity fast!

C - Communion: as the food of bread and wine nourish the body, so the remembrance of our Christ who gave his body and blood for us strengthens the soul. Communion brings us into an awareness of the mystery of Christ. The mystery fills us in ways that the mundane never can. We can find joy in His communion, even in times of darkness.

T - Thank God for the trial! Although this might seem counter intuitive, it causes us to refocus our thinking on God's control over all things, even our trials. Philippians 4:4 (NLT)  "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!" There is an old cliché, but it is true: If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it.

Stay in contact with God, especially in the hard times!

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

I hate to sweat! I absolutely hate it. It runs down in my eyes and stings, it makes me stink, and it chaffs my legs. I hate to sweat!

I have recently been convicted of my sin of gluttony. I confess to using food to deal with life instead of trusting in God alone. I have been known to say things like, "Chocolate chip cookies can fix anything." I know people understand that I'm joking, but it still points to a deeper hunger in me - since childhood, food has been my survival tool. I have comfort foods like many of us do. If I'm sick, I want chicken noodle soup. If I'm depressed, I want chocolate. If I feel unloved, nothing says love to me better than a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Food and I have wrestled for control of my life for years.

I am not alone in my struggle. Obesity rates in America have been rising steadily and show no signs of reversing any time soon. If a recent study by Duke Divinity School, Duke Medical Center, Duke University Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, and Duke Global Health Institute is to be believed, the obesity rates among clergy are significantly higher than among others.

The obesity rate among clergy aged 35-64 was 39.7%, 10.3% higher than their NC counterparts. Clergy also reported significantly higher rates of having ever being given diagnoses of diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, angina, and asthma compared to their NC peers. Health interventions that address obesity and chronic disease among clergy are urgently needed... These interventions should focus on decreasing obesity and chronic disease. Churches and other religious institutions have often been viewed as structures in which to enact health interventions. However, this study’s findings indicate that it is critical to improve the health of clergy themselves. (taken from Proeschold-Bell, R.J., & LeGrand, S. (2010). High rates of obesity and chronic disease among United Methodist clergy. Obesity, 18(9), 1867-1870.)

Now, enrolled in the program developed by Duke for clergy know as "Spirited Life", I am more than ever convicted that every bite that goes into our mouths makes a difference. Even small changes in our lifestyles can make HUGE differences in our health. I am committed to this program, yet challenged everyday. Part of the program is walking 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week. As I mentioned above, I hate to sweat. Yet now I have to sweat ALOT! 

As I was grumbling about that to God this morning, I received a message. It came into my mind that Jesus Christ did a whole lot more than just sweat for me. He bled and died for me. Why can't I sweat to make myself into a more effective servant of my Savior? He sacrificed his life for me. Why can't I sacrifice dessert in order to care for the temple of his Spirit, my body. He cared for the poor and lost. Why can't I support local farmers and markets, instead of giving my money to big business by the food choices I make?

Food matters, but my relationship with Jesus Christ matters more. Each choice I make is a testimony to the power of Christ in my life. Jesus is Lord. Chocolate chip cookies are just a sugary treat that has no place in my life until I am the size God intended, and then only in moderation. Did you know that the bakeries and stores that sell my favorite foods aren't going away? They will still be there after I bring my eating under the authority of Christ!

^{I Corinthians 15} Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ?...¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Join me in sweating for Jesus, and please pray for me and all clergy as we embark on this journey to health and wholeness.

The power of Jell-O

As I sit in my husband's hospital room, they bring his evening meal and I see the ever-present Jell-O with just a dab of whipped cream, and I'm taken back to times I've been ill and my caregivers faithfully administered the sweet, slippery, easy to eat gelatin. There's no ailment for which Jell-O isn't the cure! As I got older, the Jell-O became more complicated. There was the orange fluff - a concoction with whipped cream and marshmallows and mandarin oranges and God only knows what else! My all time favorite is the infamous "Watergate" salad - don't know what the name implies - that also involves whippiness and pistachio pudding and, again, no one knows what else. 

When friends or church members are sick, we take Jell-O dishes called congealed salads. These involve fruit or vegetable additions to the luscious gel. Thanksgiving usually calls for a cranberry-Jell-O mixture of some sort. It's everywhere! But, does it heal?

I think Jell-O has healed many people - not because of the flavor or recipe - but because of the love behind the gift! It says to the sick person, "I don't really know what to say or do, but I thought you could use some Jell-O." It's kind of the "kiss-it-and-make-it-better" phenomenon. It may just be a placebo, but who's to say a little love well applied doesn't go a long way toward healing?  When people are sick, they often are frustrated often by their weakness or inability to take care of themselves. They draw comfort and healing in the fact that there is someone who cares enough to help them in their weakness.

My faith in Jesus Christ gives me comfort and strength in my weakness - but sometimes it's really nice to have one of his angels show up with Jell-O!

What makes us happy?

I heard a sermon on Saturday night about a Christian's search for happiness, and it got me thinking...What makes me happy? What makes me happy deep down in my soul on a level almost imperceptible and unexplainable? The answer didn't come as quickly as I would have thought.
There are many things that make me temporarily happy. When I read stories to the children in our Weekday Children's Ministry, and the children all pounce on me with hugs and thank you's, I feel really happy. It makes my day! I feel happy that I've ministered to those most beloved of God, the children. I feel happy that they openly show love and joy and all the things we adults have learned to suppress. It's a happiness that lasts a day or until something goes wrong and the joy is interrupted.
Walking through our prayer garden makes me momentarily happy. I love the smell of the rosemary bushes that flourish there. I love the stone bench, where I can sit and pray. I like to sit and watch the various critters flitting around the crepe myrtle. There are eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies everywhere. There are flies and gnats and all manner of other flying bugs. There are also birds - swallows, cardinals, pigeons, and the occasional blue jay. It reminds me that God is our creator and sustainer. I go back to work refreshed and content - and happy. But it only takes something like the internet going out or a telemarketer to bring me out of my reverie.

So, what gives me lasting happiness? Spending time with God, my family, and my friends leads to sustained happiness. Time with God in prayer, in singing, and in worshipping fills any heart with joy. When my mom and my sister and I all get together, I laugh and laugh and connect with so many memories. I also spend a great deal of my spare time scrapbooking family photos, staying connected with my family. Talking to my friends not only makes me happy, but also helps keep me connected to hobbies and interests.

I find that if I try to make others happy, it actually makes me happier. When I give in the name of Jesus, I always get more than I give. The scriptures tell us we are blessed to be a blessing. The preacher I heard on Saturday put it this way, "Happiness is not something you can pursue - it comes to you when you live in God's will...Only when we give him all of us can we truly experience all He is." That reminds me of a familiar scripture: "Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33 NLT) And that "everything you need" includes happiness!

Faith - Unplugged

I went to a service of worship last night. There were a lot of young people and children. There were a lot of older people. They were all singing and laughing together. There were no big screens. There was no powerpoint. The only reason for electricity at all was the overhead fans, lights and a single microphone.  The pastor was the only one with a jacket on. It was horribly hot. There were bugs everywhere - flies, mosquitoes, gnats. Yet, under the great arbor, there were no bug bites, no swarming flies, not a single mosquito. It's like they know - this is holy ground. A couple of cell phones went off - they seemed alien in these surroundings. 

Let me back track a little. There was a meal prior to the service. There was food - more food than you can imagine. The cholesterol police would have had a conniption fit. There were plates filled with fried chicken, deviled eggs (my personal favorite), mashed potatoes, green beans, peas, fresh tomatoes, and various other "potluck" things. Then there was a WHOLE TABLE full of cakes, pies, cookies and various sundries. And, of course, the wine of the South, sweet tea. Everyone ate their fill. 

Then we went to preaching! The amazing thing was that no one fell asleep. No one nodded off after eating all that rich food. Everyone was quiet, transfixed to the stage area. We sang with full voice. The choir brought us a lively rendition of a familiar tune. The host pastor stood to introduce the guest pastor.

As he began to speak, he was playful - teasing us about being "Southern" and the fact that we were Methodist and he was Baptist. He was a good speaker and had everyone engaged. As he delved into the letter to the Galatians, the preacher worked up to a feverish pitch - then hit us with the simple, straightforward truth - the gospel of Jesus Christ. There rose a chorus of amens across the assembly. Heads nodded in agreement. 

There were no trappings. No brass altar-ware. No paraments. No brass flower vases. No organ music. Just the Word and the people. That is all that we needed. There are those who would object to the informality of it. Those who would pharisee all the glory of God to death. Even here, I'm sure there are distracters.  People casting stones, and worried about specks instead of logs. People who are control freaks. People who drink too much. People whose marriages are in trouble. People who are judgmental, as many people accuse all Christians of being. In other words, there are normal people with normal lives, who all know they need something more. 

For over a hundred years, people have gathered at this place. The ground is holy, blessed by years and years of fervent prayers. The arbor stands as a focal point of the grounds. It is a beacon of testimony to the thousands who have given their lives over to Christ. It is a living anthem of praise to the many voices raised in worship to Christ our King. It is camp meeting, a step back to at least the 1800's if not earlier. A long-standing Methodist tradition, some say dating back to Francis Asbury himself, that still is relevant today. Youth, children, adults, and all ages gather together and welcome Christ into their lives. There are first time commitments and re-commitments, dedications, baptisms, and weddings that have taken place here over the course of the years. The tents have changed. The people have changed. The language has changed. The technology has changed. But, the main thing - the unveiled, life-changing power of Jesus Christ shows up, year after year, and THAT never changes. The gospel is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. And the third week of July, at Pleasant Grove Campground, the gospel is offered to all who are seeking. Jesus touches the hearts of all who come here seeking more, hungry for meaning in their lives. And we all leave changed, to make plans, circle the dates on our calendars and return next year, counting on the Spirit to meet us here.

To ring or not to ring, that is the question

Last night I arrived at the church early for a meeting. I sat in my car for awhile, thinking I would read or answer emails. Then I heard the most beautiful music coming from the belfry of my church. We have music playing every day from 5:00-6:00pm. It was so stunning, I rolled down the windows to hear better. I entered into prayer, as the music inspired me to do. And I was sad when promptly at 6:00pm, mid-song, the music abruptly stopped.
There are neighbors to the church who complain about the music. One says it makes their depression worse. Another says we are pushing our religious views on people who don't want to hear it. Hmmm. It is just instrumental music, so I'm not sure how that's pushing Jesus on anyone. Someone would have to recognize the tune and know that it was a hymn or religious song in order to be disturbed by its content.
I asked myself, "What would Jesus do?"  At first there was no answer. I searched the Scripture for noise and how it affected Jesus. I read how he would pull away from a noisy crowd to pray, but then he always went back into the fray to teach and to heal. The only "noise" that seemed to bother him was the questions of the Pharisees  and the clamor of the market at the Temple.
So, I didn't get much help from that. I had to pray for the answer.  I believe that I have found my answer: love everyone in Jesus' name. Love those neighbors in the name of Jesus. Love the church members that love the music. Focus all the attention on Jesus. Jesus would want us to live peaceably with our neighbors. Therefore, we limit the hours the music plays. Jesus also provided the most beautiful music for us to listen to over the sound system. It must not be silenced! We have decided that between 5 and 6 PM we have the best chance reaching the lost, as the cars often pile up at our intersection.
The psalms are constantly telling us to sing and praise. The New Testament gives us all hope that everything is in his care and we respond with praise. Paul and Silas were singing when the jail was opened and they were set free. Music is a vitally important part of our spiritual beings. It speaks to us on both the conscious and the subconscious level. Through the ages the church has been the source of many great and wonderful pieces of music that both teach and sooth. We need to keep singing his praise and sharing through our music. I started to build a defense of our music. I wanted to be ready for the next time the devil tried to silence our music.
I was all ready for the fight. But then something else hit me. The Lord himself says that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength AND to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Am I loving my neighbors? How do I love and accept their complaints and still keep the mission of reaching others for Christ? They do have a right not to hear the music, just as I have a right to play it. What would be the Christian response? I believe the compromise we have adopted was a loving gesture, and I pray it brought good will and good intentions to our neighbors.
At least for now, the music still plays on.....

I Need a GPS!

My husband recently downloaded a new voice for our GPS. It's supposed to be a horror voice, somewhere between James Earl Jones and Vincent Price. It's a low deep voice with elongated vowels that echo long after he stops speaking. I have affectionately named him Igor.
One day as I was driving to day camp at Pleasant Grove Campground, Igor was quite insistent that I go a particular route. I was dead set on going the route that I knew. So every time I strayed off course, Igor would grumpily say, "Let me consult my magic book." Then he would come back with new instructions from my current location to take me back to the route HE wanted me to use! He was quite aggravated with me by the time we got there and he said (it's true, I have witnesses!), "Arrive at this dreaded destination on left." Such attitude!
On the way to work yesterday, it occurred to me that it would be great if God would vocally give me directions for my course in life! I would put in righteousness as my destination, or God's will as my destination, and God's voice (think clouds and thunder!) would come over my iPod, car stereo, iPhone, telephone or computer! And you know God would never steer you wrong, so you'd be set for life! Why hasn't God thought of this? He could set up a facebook account and nudge me when I go astray! Life would be so much easier if God's plan for me was that easy to understand and follow.
The great nineteenth century British preacher C.H. Spurgeon explains why God doesn't make it too easy on us.

He will be my guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14 KJV

We need a guide. Sometimes we would give all that we have to be told exactly what to do and where to turn. We are willing to do right, but we do not know which one of two roads we are to follow. Oh, for a guide! The Lord our God condescends to serve us as guide. He knows the way and will pilot us along it till we reach our journey's end in peace. Surely we do not desire more infallible direction. Let us place ourselves absolutely under His guidance, and we shall never miss our way. Let us make Him our God, and we shall find Him our guide. If we follow His law we shall not miss the right road of life, provided we first learn to lean upon Him in every step that we take. Our comfort is that as He is our God forever and ever, He will never cease to be with us as our guide. "Even unto death" will He lead us, and then we shall dwell with Him eternally and go no more out forever. This promise of divine guidance involves lifelong security: salvation at once, guidance unto our last hour, and then endless blessedness. Should not each one seek this in youth, rejoice in it in middle life, and repose in it in old age? This day let us look up for guidance before we trust ourselves out-of-doors.

 He makes it sound so simple! Actually it is simple, but it is not easy. God doesn't yell at us when we do wrong. He speaks to us in our innermost being, coming as a still small voice that we have to look for, wait for, and listen for. As Spurgeon says, we have to look up for guidance before we trust ourselves to leave the house! There is a GPS for life - it's called the Word (God), the Word Incarnate (Passion), and the Word indwelling (Spirit). With that GPS, who could go wrong?

Joy of the Lord

I have the privilege of starting each day with a walk down a long sidewalk right beside the playgrounds of our Weekday Children's Ministry.  The children all wave and say hello, the older ones calling out "Hey, Pastor Caren".  Some of them don't quite understand the Pastor part, so they call me Mister Caren.  It doesn't matter; I answer them all with a cheery hello.  It starts my day right. It makes me feel loved and that is worth its weight in gold.
Then I started thinking...thinking about how very many children in the world don't know that someone loves them. The ginormous numbers of orphans and abandoned children.  The children who are abused by the very parents that are supposed to give them unconditional love. It breaks my heart. I know it breaks God's heart, too.
All this political correctness and lawsuits, as well as the desire to protect children from predators, has made it practically impossible to hug a child. I have to wait until the child hugs me, and be sure there is another adult present as a witness in order to be in compliance with our church's safe sanctuaries policy. Most churches and schools have similar programs. The scouts require special training before a volunteer can work with them.  And unfortunately what is meant to protect children from predators also "protects" them from non-predators - the people who would give them a hugs or listen to them talk or read them a book or any number of things that would make a child feel safe and loved.
So how do Christians look after the orphans as scripture demands we do? There are actually many ways. We can partner with local schools to provide school supplies. We can provide weekend backpacks, packed with nutritious food for the children who go home to face hunger or homelessness. We can support foreign missions for and with children. We can revive the "trick or treat for UNICEF" program. We can participate in "Peace One Day" which works with local governments and helping agencies to declare a complete ceasefire on September 21, so aid workers can go in and immunize children against disease without having to risk their lives to do so. The myriad ways to support children are there for us to support with our time, our money and our commitment.
The Bible is full of admonitions for us to help the widows and orphans in our midst. When safe and secure, they are at least free to give and receive love. We can provide shelter, safety and healthcare for these children. Psalm 10:12-14 says,

Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless! Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, "God will never call us to account." But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans.

Obviously, God is committed to helping the orphans. I believe God is committed to every child, not just orphans. Some will read this and say, "Well, I don't know any orphans." For every safe and happy child you know, there is one who isn't safe or happy. They live in your town; they go to your schools; and they need YOU. Whether they are orphaned or not is beside the point. There are children right beside us that are starving, homeless, and don't know God loves them.
Wouldn't it be great if we could walk among them, get to know them, and help them remember how to play? It is my prayer that the playgrounds of the world would be overrun with happy children. And hugs would be contagious.

 

Perfectionism vs. Excellence

I was chatting with some friends last night about my "over-achiever" high school and college years. I would absolutely fall apart if I didn't get an "A" in everything! My parents were proud, my sister was miffed because she was expected to meet the same standard, and I was ... lost. I knew how to "do" school to perfection, but could I "do" life at the same level? Could I live up to my own ideals?
I unwittingly was afflicted with the often paralyzing effects of perfectionism. Monica A. Frank, Ph.D. defines perfectionism as "the individual's belief that he or she must be perfect to be acceptable." This affliction has many causes and many manifestations. Some of the basic characteristics are:

• Focusing on the outcome rather than the process
• Valuing achievement over the person who is achieving
• Setting or accepting unrealistic expectations of ourselves
• Criticizing ourselves mercilessly for perceived failure
• Needing, wanting, looking for external recognition
• Avoiding failure because it will further lower our self-esteem
• Viewing others as potential critics, therefore setting up an adversarial relationship
• Expecting goals to be achieved immediately (and perfectly!)
• Burying ourselves with "shoulds" that can never be met
• Experiencing unhappiness, dissatisfaction or even fear once perfection is reached (no fulfillment in the achievement)

God never intends us to be perfect. God shoots the basic premise of perfectionism down with one word of scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5 NLT "Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it, but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the Word of God and prayer." In other words, you are acceptable. Period. You don't have to be perfect, what you do doesn't have to be perfect, your walk with Christ doesn't have to be perfect, and even what you think doesn't have to be perfect. Instead, God wants us to strive for excellence.
It is in the striving for excellence, that we learn how to be healthy in our achievements. Going back to Dr. Frank's research, the definition for excellence is "the desire to attain a goal of excellence, to achieve at a high level, to be the best that one can be but without the demand attached to the goal or desire."
All that God demands of us is that we grow into the person we were designed by God to be. That ultimately, his children (us) are far more important to him (and should be to us), than any product we can produce. After all, he made us in his image! When we accept Christ as Savior, we become Jesus' brothers and sisters, "joint heirs" the bible calls us. But we cannot rest on our laurels, just because we've been saved! He still call us to excellence and the pursuit of holiness in all that we do. "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.  We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence....In view of this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone." 2 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT) None of us will ever be perfect in any of these things, so we might as well just stop trying for perfectionism, and instead use that energy to strive with all our might for moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for everyone. And when we fall short, let us not beat ourselves up, but soak up the grace and forgiveness God offers so freely, while we strive to go a baby step further than the next time we try!

Speaking Jesus in an Information-blasted World

You can see just about anything on TV these days. I'm on Facebook and Pinterest almost every day. When I do research for sermons where there used to be one, maybe two websites dedicated to Biblical interpretation, there are now literally hundreds (I stopped counting after 400) of websites to read. My inbox is filled up with messages demanding my attention. I'm overwhelmed and I feel like I can't keep up with all this STUFF. Blogs, instagram, current research on church leadership and church growth, and current scholarship on the Bible, including archaeological finds and anthropological studies. I feel like I'm barely treading water. Yet, I want to do the best I can to be an accurate interpreter of the Bible, a well-read person and the best pastor I can be. So, what's a pastor to do ?
That train of thought made me think about how we communicate the gospel in this information saturated age. Church specialists tell us we have to have a web site, AND a Facebook page, AND a twitter account, AND the latest research is that most young adults are on instagram and tumblr.  So I faithfully keep up with as much as I can there. Still, I think the best way of giving the good news of Jesus to the world is through one-on-one contact. People don't just automatically look for the church on the web, Facebook, or other social media. There are many who are disillusioned with the church, and have left on purpose. There are many for whom the church is a foreign concept. We must step up, my friends in Christ, to the challenge to "Go, and make disciples of all nations..." How?
Our demeanor must be Christlike all the time. So, when we're cut off in traffic, dealing with an inept employee, or standing in line at the grocery store, we must ooze the Gospel from our very pores NO MATTER WHAT! It doesn't matter to God if we meet someone antagonistic, mean or unreasonable. We must still "Love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart, mind, soul, and strength, AND love [our] neighbors as [we] love [ourselves.]" We lead the way in agreeing to disagree with only love and respect for the other. We lead the way in being the first to apologize, even if we feel we did nothing wrong. (Something about "turning the other cheek" comes to mind!) We are the first to give up our "rights" for the good of the Gospel and the Body of Christ, his church. Is it better to be right, or to be holy? In the words of Han Solo in Star Wars, "Let the Wookie win!" Because as a matter of fact, we don't know it all. In fact, we see only dimly (I Corinthians 13:9, 12). All we have to offer is Christ, and him crucified, dead, and resurrected. As my preaching professor used to say, "Speak a good word for Jesus."
So, instead of all those info sources that "have" to be read, I need to focus on all those human beings that "need" to be loved. I tell myself all the time, "Speak a good word for Jesus, and leave the rest to God." No debating the agnostics or athiests. Just gentle loving manners and holy living before them, and kind words and actions toward them. And if we feel like we're being picked on because we're Christians, just remember...Jesus was crucified for the way he lived. The disciples were persecuted. Believers were thrown into the coliseum with lions. You think you've got it bad? Thank God that you are only being verbally persecuted! We are still called and equipped to go out in the name of Jesus and make disciples of all the world!
As I go about my life this week, I'm going to intentionally focus on keeping the main thing the main thing - Jesus is love and wants me to love in his name.

Powerless

As I watched the television reports of the devastation in Oklahoma and other parts of the world, I felt badly. I felt sad. I felt powerless to do anything about it. Powerlessness is akin to hopelessness, and often they come together into our consciousness. To be powerless is to be "devoid of strength or resources, lacking the authority or capacity to act." (Merriam-Webster Online) Then I watched more in-depth interviews showing the people of Moore, Oklahoma as they began life after the tornado. They were moving on. No one was having a pity party - at least, no one they interviewed. Even a man whose daughter was killed had a smile on his face as he told the reporters how he would remember her. Neighbor helped neighbor. Stranger helped stranger. And inside me, some kind of switch was thrown, and I realized that if they weren't powerless over their situation, then neither am I!

Lydia Lunch, a singer, poet and activist, put it this way: "Sure you're powerless, sure you're just one person, sure you can't change anything...but you don't have to be miserable about it as well." Those people in Oklahoma did NOT "lack the authority or capacity to act." They took action, in spite of all the devastation. They got busy. They are already beginning to see the results of their faithfulness. They are giving each other the one thing that will ZAP powerlessness: hope.

Our source of hope as Christians is not our talents and abilities and attitudes. Our source of hope is Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:6 (NLT) "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners." It is when we are most vulnerable and feeling powerless that we finally let go and let God. God knows we feel powerless. God knows we don’t like it. And God also knows we think we have power. We talk about personal power and power struggles, etc. In His wisdom, God allows us to keep on trying in our own power. Then, when we finally turn to him, he comes to us in a mighty wind, and fills us with His Holy Spirit of power. We find that as we let the Spirit direct our lives, being powerless is the best way to be! I don’t like the situation of the citizens of Moore, OK. I, Caren Morgan, am powerless over it. However, my God is all powerful, and he places His spirit in my heart to guide me into using the power available to me.

I can use this column to make people aware of ways they can help. (Call or text the Red Cross) I can send supplies and goods through my church’s channels, and know that joined with all the other Methodists in the world, I can make a difference. I can pick up the phone or go online myself and give a donation. I can help put together emergency response kits, and get them to the Mission Response Center for distribution to those in need.

I believe that God weeps with those who weep, and cares tenderly for those who need Him. I believe the promise God made through the prophet Isaiah: “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (Isaiah 40:29, NLT) I believe that with God nothing is impossible. I believe that even in my darkest hour, God goes with me, is by my side caring for me, and, if God deems it necessary, intervenes on my behalf. I believe that God is not only all-powerful, but also all-loving. And I believe God can and will bring the people who suffer strength, hope and power through the holiness that lies within each of us.

Where is Love?

Today I read a story about the Virginia woman whose actions led to Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev finally being buried. Her actions have been maligned by officials in her town, some cemetery neighbors, and online. The AP report quotes her as saying she has no regrets.
     "Any time you reach across the divide and work with people that are not like you, that's what God calls us to do." (AP, Doswell, Va., Friday May 10, 2013) Tsarnaev was buried quietly at a small Islamic cemetery in rural Caroline County. He was buried May 9. He died April 19. Cemeteries in Massachusetts and other states refused to accept the remains. This lady was in Starbucks when she heard the news. "My first thought was Jesus said love your enemies...I thought someone ought to do something about this - and I am someone." She worked with Islamic Funeral Services of Virginia, who arranged for the burial plot. "Nobody is without sin," she said, "Certainly this was a horrific act, but he's dead and what happened is between him and God. We just need to bury his body and move forward. People were making an issue and detracting from the healing that needed to take place.
     Wow. This really moved and motivated me. When someone wrongs us, is our first thought Matthew 5:43-44? "You have heard the law that says, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" It was for this lady. Christians are under attack and persecuted all the time, and we have been for centuries! Jesus was pretty clear about how to handle that. He taught us things like: "If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also." (Matthew 5:39b) Or "I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." (Matthew 25:45) And then there's the great commandment: "You must love the Lord your God with all you heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) Finally, John 15:17 tells us some of Jesus' last words to his disciples: "This is my command: Love each other."
     Jesus often aligned himself with those who were left out. He ate with sinners. He hung out with lepers and tax collectors and people with less-than-stellar reputations. I think if we ask ourselves in every situation, "What WOULD Jesus do?" we might live a little differently. We are all sinners, trying to get better. Some people say the church is full of hypocrites. So was the "church" of Jesus' time. Paul wrote letters to many of the churches, trying to settle them down and learn how to "love each other" even though they came from different backgrounds, cultures and religions. Isn't that what we are faced with now? The church is struggling to learn how to get along with our Islamic neighbors. We are sinfully ignorant of their beliefs and culture. Things like refusing to bury an Islamic extremist make Christians look prejudiced, judgmental and hypocritical. Jesus called out the hypocrites of his day and challenged them on issues of race, gender, immigration - all still hot topics today.
     What would Jesus do? He would offer them love. The command didn't say "Love each other inside the church." Or "Love each other just within the Christian community." No, he said "Love each other." Period. Even when we are in shock and horrified by what we see around  us, we are still called to offer love. We are still called to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are still called to minister to the least of these. And sometimes that means burying a terrorist. Jesus calls us to do the right thing for the right reasons - even in the face of sure persecution. Jesus calls us to be willing to die just because we are his followers.
     I'm proud to relate that the woman who stepped up and buried Tsarnaev was a United Methodist! I'd like to say that I'm a woman of faith who just might have done the same thing. I hope and pray I would have had the courage to do so. "I thought someone ought to do something about this - and I am someone." Those words are deep in my heart. There is hunger right here in Waxhaw. Someone ought to do something - and I am someone. There is homelessness right here in Waxhaw.  Someone ought to do something - and I am someone. As we live our lives, there are people all around us who need to know they are loved by someone. And we are someone....

Godly Play

I am now, and always have been a good student. I have excellent study habits. I take good notes. I make good grades on most of my sermons. For many years I saw this as the only way to do ministry - to be constantly reading and studying and trying to "make the grade" among my peers. Recently, however, I have found a fatal flaw to that line of thinking about and doing ministry. It disconnects me from my people and my community. I would venture to say that almost no one I preach to has a Master of Divinity. They wouldn't know a periscope from a hermeneutical triangle. I discovered I had to get out of the books and out of the office and find out what was going on in the "real" world!
The apostle Paul knew this instinctively. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23  he explains how we are to include the world as a part of our "research":

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.  When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.  When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.  I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

I need to get out more. Enjoy people and get to know them. Find the ones who need a friend. Find the things they are passionate about. Find the things they are worried about. I need to play with them. It helps so much in finding the context in which I am called to preach.
There's more to it, though. I found that as I went out among strangers to make friends, something in me changed. I became more relaxed and friendly. I learned how to let down and just be me. In trying to reach others for Christ, I found myself easily sharing my story with strangers. Now, I'm an introvert, so just talking to someone I don't know is hard for me. Yet, God worked on me and changed me as I introduced myself to various people in the community. I found a holy boldness that I have never had! In attempting to bless others, I am the one who was blessed! People shared their stories with me. Strangers shared their faith and their doubts with me. We prayed together for the needs of ourselves and the community. And I felt blessed.
I don't know if my little "field trip" will improve my sermons, but I DO KNOW it has improved my walk with Christ. I pray that God will continue to guide me out of the office and into the world that needs to know Jesus loves them. My dad used to always greet anyone on his path with the words: "God loves you and I love you!" And he meant it. And people would often respond in like kind. Or some people just kept on walking. But the seed was planted....

Scripture and Scrapbooks

I am an avid scrapbooker. My husband would say I'm a rabid scrapbooker. I say I'm just passionate about what I do. I have scrapbooks for each segment of my life. I have one that covers all the churches I've served. I have one with pictures and mementos from all the musicals I've been in. I have one for my daughter's first year, one for her graduation, and one for her years at Salem Academy. I have one for my husband's family, one for each of the kids and one for the grandkids. I have a wedding scrapbook, and one of all the houses I've lived in. I just completed one for my mother's 80th birthday - and she was thrilled.

One thing I've learned over the years is that scrapbooking is a process. When you first start out, your layouts are fairly simple, and your pictures need cropping and lots of embellishments. As you get into it, you begin to take better pictures and pay attention to more detail in the printing process. At first, you just want to get the pictures in the book. As you grow, your layouts become more complex. At first you try to put as many pictures as possible on a single page. As you grow in your knowledge of the artistry and beauty of scrapbooking, you begin to build a whole page around a single picture.

As I prepared to teach my two Bible studies this week, I found myself comparing Bible study to scrapbooking! (Imagine that!) My two favorite things - scrapbooking as a metaphor for Bible study - how awesome is that? You see, some students come to the Bible as I did to my first scrapbooks. They jump in and try to read as fast as they can so they can say they've read it all. Their interpretation is often just a soundbyte type of blipvert, taking pieces of the Bible out of context. Their understanding is simple, and needs lots of trimming and embellishments: a Bible dictionary, a Bible commentary, a good Sunday school, a mentor, a pastor. All these and more can help our understanding of what we read.

As we grow, we begin to get a better picture of the Bible as a whole. We begin to pay more attention to the margin or footnotes. We remember sermons, songs, or classes we've taken. Our understanding becomes multi-faceted as we grow in the knowledge of the history and peoples of the scriptures. We change our focus, open our hearts and look to the Holy Spirit to guide us as we approach the Bible. Just as a scrapbook page has many layers, so the Word of God is layered with meaning that we receive in different ways depending on where we are in our own spiritual growth.

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." So, where ever we are on the continuum of learning the Word of God, it is just important that we keep on studying, learning the lessons there and correcting our lives accordingly. Then, as we progress, deeper and stronger truths seem to jump out at us. Story gives way to understanding and faith is fed as we study the Holy Bible. Where are you in your Bible reading?

God's Hand

John 3 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. ² After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

 ³ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

 ⁴ “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

 ⁵ Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 

 

I've started a new walking program. I'm on my second week, and I'm still walking! That's amazing for me. As I was walking today, I noticed trees beginning to show their bright green new leaves. The flowering trees are about to be in full bloom. It seems like overnight, the world went from nothing but sticks for trees and dead lawns to budding, flowering beauty. I walk by them each day and watch them change.

I thought as I walked today, that the seasons are really a good metaphor for our spiritual journey. No matter how deeply we are into the winter of life, with its cold unfeeling wasteland surrounding us, God can bring about a resurrection of the soul, a rebirth, just as surely as he brings the spring after the winter. 

The words "born again " have been misused, overused and sometimes abused by Christians through the years. To Nicodemus, they are totally foreign. He has no concept of what born again might mean. He takes it literally, and just cannot wrap his brain around that concept!

Jesus then gives the interpretation for Nick: "No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.

Every day when we awake, we make a choice whether or not to enter the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world. We choose whether or not we will remember our baptismal vows to resist evil in all forms, to study the scriptures, and many other things that will lead us into Kingdom living. We choose whether or not we will walk in the power of the Spirit, or neglect our daily contact with God. I find myself having to daily be born again into the newness of life that Jesus offers us through grace. I come home at the end of the day covered in my sins from past few hours, and I go to God again to "know that I know that I know deep down in my knower" that I am forgiven. I go to bed with a (fairly) clean slate, knowing tomorrow I begin again. Each day offers us rebirth and renewal.

So, I'm going to watch as the trees go from budding in spring,to full foliage in summer, to colors in the fall, to seeming death in the winter, and remember that God is with me through all the seasons of my life.

Children Keep Us On Our Toes

I read a story each Wednesday to the children in our Weekday Children's Ministry. It's one of the highlights of my week! The children come from all sorts of backgrounds and home lives. I don't know if they are Christian families or not (except for the ones that go to my church).
On this particular day, I was telling the children about National Library Week. We talked about all kinds of books: books of information, like dictionaries; books with directions in them, like cookbooks; books with maps; books with nothing but pictures; books just for fun.
Then I held up the Bible. I told them it was a very special book with lots of stories and interesting characters. I told them it teaches us the way to live in peace with one another and with the world. Then I read the story The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. That's when it happened. As I was explaining that God's love follows us around just like the mother bunny followed the baby bunny, and that God would never leave us because we are his children. A hand went up in the back. "What does Jesus do?" he asked.
I was caught completely off-guard. I had to think for a minute. How do you explain to a three-year-old what Jesus does? The fact that he died for our sins is pretty difficult to explain. So, I went with the basics. I told him that, just like God, Jesus loves us very much. And since he is the son of God, we are all his brothers and sisters, if we believe in him and have faith in God. I told them He set an example of how we are to live and told us to love everyone, no matter who they are.
How do you answer a question like that? What DOES Jesus DO? I'm still working on a better answer for the young boy. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. How does that translate into three-year-old concrete understanding level? I remembered something my father told me all the time growing  up. "Just always remember to keep the main thing the main thing."
So I taught them about the love of God being so big that He sent his son to share that love with us. Jesus loves us and teaches us to love God and each other. The main thing is: Jesus loves you. God loves you. And I love you. That's all we really need to know about what Jesus does. He loves. Yes, there is much more to learn in our daily walk with our Savior. Yet Christ himself said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our being and the second greatest is to love others as we love ourselves. I hope the children went away knowing that God, Jesus and Pastor Caren love them. I wonder what question they'll ask next.........

It all comes out right if you follow the recipe

Today as I was leaving work, the temperature was in the low 40's. As I scurried down the sidewalk to the relative warmth of my car, I saw a beautiful bright red cardinal sitting on the fence of our playground. "How ironic!" I thought to myself, "Spring is here, but it still feels like winter." And then, once I was safely in the car with the seat warmer on HI, I stopped and thought about it.
We people like to pigeon-hole things (pun intended) into our categories and impose our stereotypes on the rest of God's creation. We see things in black and white. We live in a culture of dualism: rich/poor, fat/thin, good/bad, liberal/conservative. We want to fit everything neatly into our concept of how the world ought to be. But God created the earth and everything in it. (See Psalm 24:1.) God created us in His image, but it takes all of us to reflect His glory. Otherwise, part of the picture is missing, like that one piece of the jigsaw puzzle you just can't seem to find. We are all a part of God's creation. So no one is all bad or all good. We are all a blend of both. That's why we read the Bible and go to church and study up on how to be a better person, because it keeps our focus on the good in us, not the bad. In Romans, Paul says, "I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate." (Romans 7:15) We all struggle with the various personality defects we have. No one is perfect. It takes a blend within each of us, and our world to make up who and what we are.
It's kind of like making chocolate chip cookies. The ingredients, all by themselves, aren't all that good. Try eating plain flour! It's gross! But, add eggs, brown sugar, baking powder, a little vanilla, and those wonderful chocolate chips, and put them in the oven, and you get yummy cookies! (There's a little more to it, so don't try to make this a recipe - it's an analogy.) It takes all the ingredients to make the cookies come out right. It takes the right cooking temperature, the right amount of baking time, and other conditions for the cookies to be good.
Likewise, seeing a cardinal when it's 42 degrees out, can make one see just how many elements go into making this world work right. I sure am glad I don't have to keep up with all of it! It's in God's control - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Rev. Caren Bigelow Morgan
Waxhaw United Methodist Church
P. O. Box 9
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 843-3931

Playing with God

I love music. I love God through music. I worship God through music. I find comfort in the old hymns, and vibrancy in the new ones. I love to sing. I listen to Contemporary Christian music most of the time, but I do listen to other things depending on my mood. Classical, jazz, oldies, rock, indie, and others. Often to express my feelings - good or bad - I turn to music because I don't have words to express what I'm going through.  Often to bring myself to a gentler place as I prepare for prayer time, I listen to music. Psalm 69:30 says "I will praise God's name with song; I will magnify him with thanks."
I have to be careful that I don't surround myself with noise all the time. Sometimes, I like to keep the TV off and sit and read. Sometimes I drive long distances with the radio off, and just watch and listen and talk to God. I've found that it's in the quiet that I hear God speak to me. He speaks to me other times as well, but I guess I'm listening better when all is hushed.
I've always loved that time in the evening when all the kids are in bed, all the pets have been fed and bedded down, my husband is in bed watching TV, and I have the den all to myself. I dance. I sing. I play the guitar. I play the piano. I play the keyboard. I play with my dolls. I knit, crochet, quilt or scrapbook. I play with God. We talk and pray and dance and sing and do all those things as we commune with each other. I know God thinks I'm a bit daft at times, but he made me that way! I think he gets a really good laugh about me from time to time. You see, God isn't always that strict, no-nonsense guy he's portrayed to be. Sometimes, God plays. He wants us to talk to him, in good times as well as bad. He wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, instead of an inexhaustable wish list of our selfish wants. And if we look for it, we can see scripture that teaches us to enjoy God with praise and worship and thanksgiving.
There's this interesting side effect when we give God our praise and love and worship. Our lives get better! It changes our whole outlook on the day if we just stop and pray. And just wait until you see how you feel after playing with God! There are no words.....

Lunatic Fan for Jesus

I have this tradition. Now, before I start, as a minister of the gospel, I do not officillly endorse any team over another. That said, as a human being, I LOVE UNC BASKETBALL! So, on game day, I always try to wear a little something to show my school spirit. Usually, it's a blue sweater. Or a Tar Heels hoodie. But the boys are struggling this year, so today I decided to go all out!
I have on UNC canvas shoes, I carry a UNC purse, I have on a Carolina blue sweater, and a UNC scarf, and before the game tonight I will paint my nails Carolina blue. My nails will stay blue until Carolina is out of the tournament. I have a Carolina rocking chair to sit in at gametime. I have a garden flag that has the UNC logo on it. Anyone who has had any contact with me, my house or my yard KNOWS that I'm a Tar Heel.
That got me thinking. Could I say the same about my devotion to Jesus Christ? I don't have a sweater or hoodie that represents my faith. I don't have Christian shoes, purse, scarf, or nail polish. My devotion to Christ and His Kingdom of God are MUCH more important to me than even UNC basketball. Yet, it's almost as if I'm going incognito - hiding the fact that I am a servant of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Hmmmm...
I do have crosses that I often wear and some youth camp t-shirts that I don't ever wear (because I'm not a t-shirt kind of gal). Then it dawned on me. I have to be a stark raving lunatic fan for Jesus. I need to be as excited about preaching and hearing the word each week as I am about the next basketball game. I need to know the names and histories of my congregation the way I know all the players on the UNC team. And MOST OF ALL, the only paraphanalia that I need to have is FREE. I need only to be me, and tell others about Jesus. I must show my devotion every time I speak to someone on the phone. Even sales people need to know Jesus. My life needs to be a picture of Jesus in action. My ways need to point to Christ. People need to be able to notice that I am not only a Christian, but also one who cares for them with the love of Christ.
In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” Our witness to the world matters. We need to be Jesus fan - atics! If we aren't, the there is less and less light and hope in the world. We are Jesus' cheerleaders, singing songs, writing, and creating any way to get the gospel to the people. So ask yourself, as I did,
Am I a Jesus fan? What would that look like in my life? What would I have to do different for everyone to know I'm a Christian?

One Little Letter

I've been noticing more and more around me there are angry people. Traffic makes people mad. Waiting in line makes them mad. And forbid it, Lord, that we try to talk to each other about politics or religion. It seems I deal more with my own anger than I remember doing before. We are all on edge, and have increasingly short fuses. So, what's a Christian to do?
Well, this Christian went to the concordance and looked up scripture about anger. Ephesians 4:26 says "don’t sin by letting anger control you.” So, it seems to me, it matters more what we DO with our anger than the fact that we get angry. Psalm 4:4 says, "Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent." So, the Bible also recommends a cooling off period. The KJV of Psalm 4:4 reads "Be angry, but sin not." In other words, God knows that we get angry. He gets angry, too. We are created in God's image, and God gave us the emotion anger. So it's okay to be angry - it's a God given emotion. It serves us well at times. It keeps us from being attacked, gives us energy in times of distress, and helps us react when we've been wronged. So anger in and of itself is not a sin.
The sin part comes when we let the anger consume us, change our essential character, and drive us to do things we know are wrong. When we get angry, it's seldom half-hearted. We don't get a little angry - we're in all the way. It arouses our passion. It's that passion that can help us move from angry to creative to angel. That's right, I said angel.
An angel is literally a messenger from God. We can change our world one person at a time by our attitudes and actions. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare." How we react can change the whole situation. We can choose our words carefully when we speak to the one who angered us, and give a "gentle answer" instead of one born of anger and resentment. Your words can actually bless the other! Instead of cursing at the car that cut you off in traffic, laugh and say "Go with God." Because, seriously, anyone who drives like that needs our prayers. I've made this a practice in my life. Once, it was when I had a church van full of youth. They laughed at me, but I planted a seed. I became God's messenger, and that's the definition of an angel.
Ephesians 26 says, “don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil." Too often, instead of turning our anger into to a blessing, we hold onto it and turn it into a grudge. THAT'S when it turns from anger to sin. "Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires." (James 1:20) We cannot hold onto anger because it eats us up inside. And, worse still, it blocks us from God. Grudges keep us in the problem instead of moving us to the solution. We need to remember just one simple pneumonic device: turn your anger into an angel. What a difference one little letter can make in our lives!
In 1 Timothy 2:8, Paul is teaching Timothy about the best way to help the church through growing pains. He says, "In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy." That is why we have confession as part of our worship, so we CAN be free from anger and controversy. We MUST lay it down before God in order to have worship as God intends.
Next time I get angry, I'm going to picture an angel. Maybe it will help me to bless rather than curse, love rather than hate, and carry God's message of love to the world.

Why Bother?

On Wednesday, I was at Stacks, by favorite local eatery, when I noticed a man coming in. He had what appeared to be dirt on his forehead. Then I saw his wife and several others with cross-shaped smudges on their foreheads. It dawned on me. It's Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I should have known; I was busy getting my remarks together for our Ash Wednesday service later that evening. It moved me to see the public witness of those Christians. They were literally marked for Christ. It made me want to go to an earlier service so I could join them!
Why do we bother with Lent and Ash Wednesday and Shrove Tuesday and Holy Week and Palm Sunday and all the "stuff" that's coming our way in the next 46 days? It has origins in the earliest of Christian churches, probably as early as 200 C.E. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Fat Tuesday because it is traditional to have pancakes and other sweets to use up any fats and sugars in the home prior to the lean weeks of Lent. Lent is 40 days (not counting Sundays - because they were considered "little Easters") of prayer and fasting in order to share in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It's 40 days because that's how long Christ was tempted in the wilderness.
But back to my original question, "Why bother with Lent?" What can our post-modern culture gain from this ancient practice? Well, I can't answer that for everyone, but I know why it's important to me. Beyond the superficial New Year's Resolutions I come up with, Lent is a time to really step back and take a good look at myself. Resolutions may be losing weight or getting out of debt. Both of those are just symptoms. Lent is when I look inside myself and say, "What's broken? What hurts? What keeps me from enjoying life in Christ? What grudges am I holding onto? Where am I on my spiritual journey? Am I the person God intends me to be?" During Lent, I intentionally take the time to do self-examination. In my prayer time, then, I can begin to work with God to change from within. But, it's not just about me. Lent is also a time when we are called to care for the poor and oppressed among us. So now I must turn my gaze outward, and ask some of the same types of questions. "What's broken with society, my world, my community? Who is hurting? What prevents others from enjoying a life in Christ? What prejudices surround me? Who's holding a grudge that's literally eating them alive? Where are my friends and family and congregation in their faith journey, and how can I be of assistance to them as they move toward the cross? Is my world what God intends it to be?"
Tough questions. I don't want to face them. But like the bare trees outside that must be cut back in order to bloom in spring, I must turn inside and begin the process of pruning in order to prepare for new growth. I can give up chocolate for Lent - but seriously, is that going to make any kind of spiritual sacrifice on my part? I'll just chomp down on a huge chocolate bunny on Easter day. What lesson is learned?
But if I give up.....

• negativity
• shopping for anything other than the ACTUAL necessities of life
• electronics - phones, iPads, computers, etc. except when necessary for our work
• media - newspapers, magazines, television, internet

and spend all that time changing my world - interior and exterior. What would happen to me? to my world? Grace, perhaps?
That's why I bother with Lent. Do you? Drop me a line and join in my challenge - Lent 2013! I pray we all have a holy and blessed Lent. I'll pray for you. You pray for me. Let's change our world!