Lent: Just Do It!
We are into the season of Lent. One of the topics of discussion around this time of year for folks of faith is a Lenten discipline. In other words what are you doing, what will you do during this season to reflect on the nature of Christ’s sacrifice for you and for all of humanity?
Historically Roman Catholics gave up meat on Friday’s, and I have given things up for Lent in the past. Chocolate, caffeine – particularly coffee, and other things are often high on the list of things that people forgo as a personal sacrifice, and to tune themselves into a deeper spiritual reflection.
But a few years ago, I began to reflect on this practice, though it can be a deeply meaningful one it can also be window dressing. If you really like fish, (which I don’t) is giving up meat on Friday’s a spiritual discipline? Giving up chocolate or sweets or coffee, yes these things can be sacrificial, but mostly they are good for me, so… does this really work for the intended purpose?
I then began taking things up for Lent, things that I do in to be more intentional in my faith and how it works itself out in my daily life. Many of these practices have woven themselves into my daily life.
I think the key for Lent as it is with faith on the whole is, does it change your life? This weekend we will be looking at integrating the Bible into our lives. The key here is as the old Nike ad puts it is: “Just do it!” If by giving up something it causes you to ponder your faith and to put it into action, great! If by taking up something, it causes you to do the same, wonderful…
For Lent to be Lent, and faith to be faith, the key maybe just to DO IT!
One of the reasons I love Ash Wednesday.
Today is Ash Wednesday. I will utter the following phrase a couple hundred times today… “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
It is a somber reminder that death is a reality, not someday, but it is a reality we deal with daily. We all sin, we will all die, when it comes down to it we are dust.
I really love Ash Wednesday. I really do.
You might be thinking how can you “love” such a glum day, such a downer of a reminder. Yes, it causes me to pause, to even become introspective, and even sad as I will be smudging crosses on the foreheads of people, and have that ashen smudge applied to my own very ample forehead.
I will apply these reminders on the foreheads of kids, who haven’t a clue what death means, and on to the heads of other kids for who have seen too much death already. I will smudge the cross on the foreheads of men and women who have lost a husband or wife in this past year, I will smudge this cross on the foreheads of those for whom I may very well make the same sign over their coffin in the not too distant future. It may seem grim, but dust is not the end of this story…
I think we need remind ourselves of our dusty nature because we need to remember who we are, what we are and most importantly who’s we are. You see even as we remember we are dust to need to remember that God does some of his very best work with dust.
“— then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” – Genesis 2:7
We are dust, but we are not just the dust that clings to our ceiling fans and on the back of the dresser. We have been formed by God, loved by God and the depths of that love and the life that it promises is what Ash Wednesday and Lent are all about.
Remember… remember you are dust… remember that to dust you shall return… remember what God can do with dust.
I am not the only one who loves this day, read this blog post by Nadia Bolz-Weber http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/ Pretty good stuff.
So this Tebow thing….
Ok, it is three hours to game time, and I have a couple of thoughts.
Yes, this is about Tim Tebow.
I have not doggedly gone after every scrap that has been spoken, tweeted, and blogged about this man, but as a person of faith it has popped up on my radar. I am not by nature a Bronco’s fan, but a guy who volunteers in our office, is, and wore his very faded Broncos cap into the office long before “Tebowmania.” So I have had a few discussions about Mr. Tebow and faith.
Over the weeks as he guided his team to the play offs, quite an achievement from the way the team started out the year. He has been a huge part of that. While in the spot light, as he did back in college, he uses this exposure it to live out his faith. It is his faith, not somewhat unorthodox playing style that has caused such an uproar.
I have seen plenty of folks ripping on this man’s, out front profession of faith. The infamous Bill Maher being right out front. But his reactions don’t surprise me, they only reinforce my opinion of his very narrow minded view of life the universe and everything. But what does surprise me is the bitter vitriol, taunting, and playground type comments coming from my colleagues and other people of faith.
Ok, sure some of his methods are very evangelical, and for some mainline folks, they seem a tad pushy. As I said I haven’t followed every word, post game interview and the like, but the gist of what I have picked up is that when he “Tebows” he is giving thanks or asking for guidance and strength to do what needs to be done. I find no fault in this. I do not believe that Tim has ever said that God likes the Broncos best, nor even him for that matter. He is simply bringing his faith to his job, something I for one encourage my people to do. You want my opinion on this guy then you need to read the following link.
If you want my opinion of Tim Tebow and his life of faith read this.
(Seriously, it is a fantastic article, click on it it will pop open a new window, you can come back to read this.)
Ok, I don’t believe in Tim Tebow, he is at or below average as far as QB’s go, but I do believe that what he does while not on the field speaks for itself. He has a rare opportunity to witness, to live out a life of faith that many followers of the religion of football rarely see. Maybe that is the rub. It’s not Tebow’s words that bother us so much, it is that he lives the silly things out. Yes, if you look hard enough, you will find flaws in his personality, his playing skills and his theology. He is a professional football player, but one that by the grace of God has been given an opportunity make a difference in Christ’s name, and isn’t that what all the baptized are called to do?
Maybe on Monday at work, you too can “Tebow” a little, maybe quietly but in any case ask God to grant you the ability to be who you were created to be; as a husband, wife, or child, to do your job well and to His glory, to make a difference in the world around you for Jesus’ sake.
As far as the game goes, I don’t really give a fig, my prayer I believe would not be all that dissimilar from Tim Tebow’s, may both teams play well, stay safe, and win or lose to God alone be the Glory.
I didn’t have time to proof this one, either, so if you find an error, or if you find me in error, let me know and maybe practice forgiveness!
Unlikely Saints
Ok, clear your mind. (I know for some of us it doesn’t take much and others of us it is a nearly impossible task)
Anyway… Clear?
Now take a second, what is the first image, word or thought that comes to you mind when you hear the word….
Saint
All Saints Day has come and gone, but this Sunday we will celebrate All Saints in worship.
Now, think of yourself, the dipstick you saw at the grocery store, the snotty nosed kid screaming at his mother as she tried to wedge him into his car seat, the little old lady that fished out the EXACT change out of her coin purse at the Post Office, all of them and many more are likely to be saints!
Many of us think of the “hall of famers” when we hear the word saint or use it. The truth is that when ever the word saint is used in the new testament, it simply referred to believers, baptized and blessed children of God who are remarkably, um average.
I know saints of all shapes and sizes, ages and temperaments and so do you. So my question for you is what was that first thing you thought of when I had you think of saint? and who in the light of their baptismal nature, have been the saints in your life? Seriously I would love to hear, leave your comments goodness below.
Steve
Its been a little over 24 hours since the world found out about the death of Steve Jobs. I admit it, I was deeply touched when I heard the word myself. I posted this picture as my Facebook profile picture, I just felt it was the right thing to do.
In the past 24 hours there have been a bajillion bits that have flowed out onto the internet paying respects, offering homage and expressing the grief of millions of people. And this is as it should be. He did indeed make a dent in the universe, and those of us who use technology owe him a great debt of gratitude. My world would not be the same without what Steve helped bring into being. I am writing this on my iPad, if I didn’t write it here, it would have been on my iMac, and then there is my iPod and tomorrow the day will come when I will at long long last finally order my iPhone the 4s. My office computer is Windows machine, but that too, would not be what it is without the influence of one Mr. Steve Jobs.
Now that I too have added my bit to the bajillion bits out there, I have another thought or two having read a whole slug of Facebook posts, blogs, and tweets.
Yes, Steve, was a visionary, showman, entrepreneur and so much more. Isn’t it a little funny how so many people who never met the man, have no compunction about referring to him simply as Steve. Maybe it is because the products he helped produce, from Pixar movies to all the stuff from Apple have so nicely wedged themselves into our day to day existence that we feel we truly knew the man. In someways, I think that is exactly true and in someways we did know at least some part of who Steve was.
In these last 24 hours Steve quotes galore have found their way into the warp and weft of peoples expressions of grief. Maybe that is good, it seems to be natural and a healthily way of dealing with loss. But as the hours have ticked by I have noticed more and more folks taking Steve quotes out for walks they were never meant to go on. Church people, nonprofit guru’s, business leaders, and others have all held up Steve’s example and in so many words have said… if only we too would follow Steve’s lead, we too could make our dents in the universe.
Maybe that is true, but would it be good? I don’t know.
For all Steve’s accomplishments, there was a price to be paid. Working at Apple is not the employment equivalent of Nirvana. Steve set a high bar, and there are many who have dashed themselves upon the rocks of high expectations and innovation at Apple. Would we as a church do well to follow Steve’s example, for the sake of the Gospel? I am pretty sure Jesus and Steve have differing outcomes when it comes to how you measure success. Would a ruthless drive to eradicate hunger following Steve’s methods do more damage that it would good? I think it would.
To learn from Steve’s example I think is a good idea, I just want us see the whole picture even as we give thanks for his life, his work and his impact.
People are not electronics, humans are more than the sum of their parts and in the end even Steve was just a dude.
V A C A T I O N
I am up early, earlier than I should be, but I am now officially on vacation and I want to get a couple things done before I hit the road. I am taking two full weeks off probably for the first time in my life! I am looking forward to it. I have a bunch of things going on, the last week we will be down in Ohio visiting my inlaws which will be great as it has been over a year since I have seen them down there. Before that I will take my daughter down to Luther College to begin her Junior year (yikes!) This weekend before all that happens my daughter and I will do a little father daughter bonding up on Washington Island.
View Larger Map
Washington Island is one of those places that holds a very special spot in my heart for many reasons. I was fortunate to serve as a pastor up there at Trinity Lutheran for 6 years. Life on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan is unique, you rely on the ferry, no bridges, you rely on your neighbors, for that is all you have when the rubber hits the road.
In celtic spirituality there is something that is known as a “thin place.” A thin place is where the distance between heaven and earth is well, thin. The island is a thin place for me, not as much of me and the world around me, gets between me and God in this place. I have other thin places as well, the coast of Washington State and up in the Cascades as well. Many people find that they need to periodically make pilgrimages to the mountains or to the sea periodically to keep their lives in balance, they need thin places to reconnect with God.
Well, now it is time to pack… Blessings and peace be with you!
Question: Do you have a “thin place?” If so where is it? How often to you go to that place and what is it, if you can put your finger on it that this place does for you?
Leave a reply if you will!
Ch… ch….ch…changes
Go take a good look at yourself.
Seriously… I’ll be here when you get back…
Ok, with that image in mind (good bad or otherwise) how much have you changed over the years. A bunch, some of the changes might be for the better, some maybe for the worse, some you have had some level of control over, others, well they just happened.
We joke about change, we make fun of our institutions, and groups that struggle with change, while at the same time often feeling mighty unnerved about the whole thing. Its not just the old fuddy duddies either, young or old, liberal or conservative, I have seen them all get mighty riled up when it comes to change. Some of the most liberal folks I know have an absolute conniption fit when something that they hold dear, or has “always been that way” changes. Speaking of which…
There is talk about changing the close of our Advent Candle light service. It has traditionally ended with the singing of “Silent Night” and everyone holding a candle. The music people want to make some changes to the program, and they are some good changes, and could really make for a wonderful evening and a time of preparation for Christmas that Advent is supposed to be!
However, when is change good, and when is change just done for changes sake? That is often a toughie and can be understood differently by different people.
I am going to listen to the feelings of others, pray and consider what it is exactly that this concert is about before I give the go ahead to this change.
Here are a few things that help me filter change in the church
- Is this change for changes sake? I ask this especially for those inside the church, pastors, church musicians, we far too often can get bored with the way things are, we do it all the time! But we need to remember we are not the only ones impacted by the change!
- If we change or keep things the same, how is the Good News of God in Christ communicated, lived and/or grown.
- What do we lose, or what do we gain from this change? There is always a little of both, does the pain of change outweigh the pain of keeping things the same.
- Is this a forever thing, or does it need to be so? Some changes go over well when people know that there is a good chance that if they don’t like it, things can change back or change until something works well! Sometimes a change needs to be “set in stone” so that we can get use to it. It may not always be easy but after a disciplined time we grow into the change and grow from the change knowing that there really isn’t another choice!
- Don’t down play the pain that change can cause. Not all pain is bad, but it must be acknowledged and honored.
- If a change doesn’t work, it doesn’t mean it is a failure. It is only a failure if you haven’t learned from it. Sometimes you know a change is needed, but what you do doesn’t work, learn, and grow, you will change as well!
Ok… I don’t know if this helps you at all, but it has helped me get a little perspective on change, and why I do what I do! Because most of what I do is about change; its about becoming who I am already in Christ Jesus my Lord.
What is difficult or blessed about change in your life?
Reply below if you would.
First Thoughts…
Well technically, these are not sermon related first thoughts. I am taking a couple weeks vacation before the fall kicks into full stride.
However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking!
You consume social media, you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t. I have been doing much thinking, reading, conversating (ok, not a real word but you get the point!), and general mucking about Social Media and the mission of the people of God. Would Jesus tweet? Would the Pharisees have followed him on Facebook? What would Mary and Joseph make of all the time he spent on his iphone?
Ok, it is a little silly, but I hope you get my point. The way we communicate is changing, and some have claimed it has changed period. Would you do me a favor? Would you watch this video and then give me your thoughts in the comments below?
To prime your pump about what I am thinking about in particular is how does this impact small to mid-sized rural congregations and the communities in which they are situated? Do we pour time and energy into this and if so how do we help those who are not part of this “revolution” understand that this is ministry, this is how the good news gets out there?
If you can do this and ponder it a bit thanks! If not, watch it anyway, I think you might be amazed!
Click on the commenty goodness below!
First Thoughts…
Have you ever read a phrase, from scripture, or a book, or the back of cereal box for that matter that triggered a very strong memory? This morning as I looked at the Psalm appointed for this upcoming Sunday, Psalm 67, the phrase, “Let the peoples praise you, O God; Let all the peoples praise you.” I didn’t even get to the end of the phrase and I was humming a melody. No, actually, I was humming the Bass line from a song by William Mathias, based on this psalm that I sang in college. Before you get to impressed, I didn’t actually remember the composer, I did a little “googling” for that, but all the words and nearly all the music was still stored in my head. By my best estimation it has been 24 years since I sang that song last!
One of the reasons I like the song so much is that for me the music so perfectly matches the intent of the psalm, to praise God. The Organ on this puppy, is both strong and light, joyful, yet serious. For me this evokes the very nature of what praising God is all about!
Question(s): What does praise mean to you?
How do you praise God, when does this tend to happen and what does that look like?
Please leave a comment, you can find the place to click under the video! Thanks!
A declaration of commitment.
Ok, maybe that title is a little over the top, and maybe you aren’t interested in this little tidbit of info, but I am going to make an effort to more regularly update this blog. I am shooting for 3 times a week, maybe more, but ya gotta start someplace. Mondays I will post a little something about my first impressions on one or more of the readings for the upcoming Sunday. The rest of schedule, well, I am working on that! The first step for me is saying this out loud as it were… so if I don’t do this you have my permission to bust me, or if you like reading this, maybe a grace filled encouragement would be more beneficial.
Question: what gets you going? What motivates you and drives you to not only start, but continue on with an idea or project?
Trying on cars
About two weeks ago I had an epiphany of sorts. It was noon, and I was heading out for lunch; and once I got into my beloved 1991 Mazda pickup and started it up, I suddenly came to a conclusion– I no longer wanted a new car, I finally felt like I needed a new car.
This one is just like mine... ok mine has a few more wrinkles in it, but if it were in nearly perfect shape, which it isn't it would look like this.
Don‘t get me wrong the Mazda runs just fine. Oh, it creaks, groans and makes this odd noise each time I set on down the road, but I really love this truck. Still, as I sat in my truck on that very humid, 90 degree day, I realized I would really, really, really like to have air conditioning. In fact it was drifting from want into the need category the longer I had to sit in my mobile sauna. Ok, maybe I am spoiled, after all for most of human history we didn’t have cars, much less air conditioning, but whatever the case may be, some switch in my head clicked that day and said, it is time.
So last Friday I started the process of looking for a new car by visiting several dealerships. For many people getting a new car is just an exercise in– manufacturer preference, what they would like to have as options, and what they can afford. These things are a part of my pro-cess. However, because of my size I have learned that I have to ―try on‖ cars before they can be added to my list of possible options. You see, I just don‘t fit in some cars. Oh I am sure they are fine vehicles, but many simply just don‘t fit me, no leg room, no head room, can‘t see the stop lights because I have to have the seat back so far to fit! You might be thinking I need one of those full sized cars or pickups, I would surely fit in one of those. Other than the fact that they can be outrageously expensive, and the gas milage in these types of vehicles is horrendous, I found I don‘t always fit. A number of years ago someone offered me a heck of deal on a Chevy pickup, it was red, it was in perfect condition, and I was so excited… until I tried to get into it! As it turns out, just because it looks like it should fit doesn‘t mean it will. Shortly after that I found a small station wagon which upon first glance you would never think I would fit in; but I did, rather comfortably, and it was one of the best cars I have ever owned!
Again, mine was never this pretty, but this is the color and style, I still miss that car except when I needed the heat to work. Also when going up hills I felt like I needed to do a Fred Flintstone and push my feet through the bottom of the car to get it to go!
The “right fit” has been on my mind quite a bit lately as I have been working with the Call Committee, getting ready to call our next Associate Pastor. They have been thoughtfully and prayerfully filling out paper work, re-ceiving input, condensing facts and feelings about Reedsburg and St. John onto paper for prospective pastors so they can ―try on St. John to see if it will be a fit for them. Hopefully in a month or so we will be inter-viewing candidates and ―trying them on to see if they would be a good fit for us as well. This time of call is one of discernment, a time to figure out what kind of a person we need to help us continue to do ministry well, and we need the prayers of all of St. John to call a pastor who will be a good fit. We are not seeking a ―generic pastor, this pastor has to have particular options. Options that fit the job description, that fit into St. John‘s congregation as well as it‘s staff, so that they might do the tasks, and lead the ministries needed to grow the whole congregation of St. John.
We are beginning our search looking at first call candidates. These are pastoral candidates who have just finished seminary and have not yet received a call. Only after they are called can they be ordained into the pasto-ral ministry. I say beginning because if the right fit isn‘t found, we may need to have patience as we seek out that fit. I found several cars that were, on paper, pretty good cars; but unfortunately I had to cross about half of them off my list because for one reason or another they were not the ―right fit. There is a car I have my eye on, but it won‘t be released for a couple more months, so I will have to wait. Sometimes the call process works this way too; we may interview some wonderful pastors, but they may not be what we need at St. John. I ask for your continued prayers for the Call Committee, for wisdom and insight as we seek the pastor who will be that ―right fit for us.
While you are praying, you might want to focus a little time on where you fit in St. John. Where are your gifts best able to be used to grow as disciples, to reach out in love? Often people who are teachers are pegged to be Sunday School teachers, but some of the best Sunday School teachers I have ever known were not necessarily teachers by trade, but teachers by calling. The same holds true for other leadership and serving tasks within the ministries of St. John. There is an old saying that goes this way: ―God doesn‘t always call the equipped, he equips the called. Where is God calling you so that you may grow and be equipped to serve him and others in Christ‘s name? Take some time and reflect on what you can do, what you might do, and what you never thought you would do, but feel that God may in fact be calling you to do. Then talk with other faithful people about it: they are the best sounding board to help you find your fit, as together we gather to know and proclaim Jesus Christ and as disciples reach out in love.
This might just be the "right fit" Good head room, and fair leg room, and a price I just might be able to aford! Oh... and you might have noticed I have a thing for boxy design, my first car was a 1967 Rambler American nothing but box!
Blessings on finding your fit and may God continue to bless the Call Committee and all those involved in this process so that we might find the ―right fit!
Just out of curiosity, what is your favorite car, or what was the first car you ever had? Leave a comment!
Remembering Memorial Day
So, what does Memorial Day mean to you? The start of Summer, certainly it has come to be the marker for the season to begin. Many celebrate this day with picnics, long weekend trips and back yard barbeques.
For many this weekend and Memorial Day in particular is a deeply meaningful day. The depth of meaning of this day didn’t really hit me until I was about 25 and I was privileged to be the Executive Director of the Meeker County Historical Society and Grand Army of the Republic Hall. I never dreamed about running a museum, or getting paid to do the same but it put my degree to work out side the realm of being a Social Studies teacher and it was an incredible experience.
The front part of “my” museum is an old Grand Army of the Republic Hall. The GAR as everyone called it was a fraternal organization of Northern Civil War Veterans. In the years that followed many of these Veterans found their way to the rich farmland in Meeker County Minnesota. Once here they bound together and built this hall to hold their meetings and serve as kind of a community hub. When I first walked into the entry of this hall, I was
overwhelmed with a sense of reverence bordering on holiness. The pictures that lined the walls and looked down on you held you in their stoic glare.
Memorial Day was started under the impetus of the GAR. In the early days it was called “Decoration Day” and many old timers on my board still called it that. The reason was that on this day they remembered all those who had died in our nations service graves were decorated to honor the dead.
The histories of these soldiers were full of heroic stories, of terrible stories and many of them bore the scars of their service and sacrifice not only on their bodies but in their souls as well. The solemn photos that filled the museum files of Decoration Day observances show the depth of feeling about those who had died in serving and those who carried the scars of war deep into the rest of their lives.
These days there are those who feel we should not glorify such things as war and its terrible consequences and I agree, war is a horrible thing that God never intends for us. God desires Shalom, peace for all of his creation, but some how we continually muck that up. Why wars are fought and how they are fought have changed over the years but the cost to humanity has never changed. However, this does not mean we should not remember and give thanks for those who did what they had to do. We must take care not to put too much of a modern gloss on things that happened long before we were born.
Today we should rightly give thanks for those who have selflessly served from the very beginnings of our nation to those who serve today. Agree with the political situation that necessitates their service or not, the men and women who serve in our military deserve our thanks for they do what we can not, and maybe will not do our selves. They often put themselves in harms way, and many have given their lives so that we can enjoy a brat, and a beer on a humid May afternoon. May God bless the memories of those who have served and the lives of those who serve today.
Bin Laden and Justice
Ok, so everyone is talking about this, and I guess I will put my .02 in as well.
Osama Bin Laden, is dead. Yeah, I know not exactly breaking news, but it has been very interesting to watch this whole thing unfold.
Last night I was getting ready for bed and I was checking my twitter account before sack time and I saw these slightly obtuse references to what eventually was the official report of his death. I popped up stairs to watch it on old media, that being the TV. The usual talking heads were going on about stuff they really had no clue about waiting for the official announcement. They were all going on about how everyone would remember where they were when they heard the announcement.
I was like really? 20 years from now, I am going to remember this? Well, maybe.
Fortunately it didn’t take too long for the President to come on and lay it out.
I was a little baffled by my reaction. I was like, there you have it.
In the morning I saw reports and photos of people celebrating and again I was caught up a little short. Isn’t this giving Bin Laden way too much credit? I know it is a big deal to have finally caught up with this man, and believe me I feel deeply for those who were and are to this day and will be forever effected by the terrible events of 9/11 (which I do remember vividly) Bad things happened, not minor league bad, but big time bad. When things like that we go to our deepest level of feelings and we want good old fashioned Old Testament justice, an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth, and yes, more if we can get away with it!
The question for me though was this and is this really justice? Before you get all riled up or start standing in what you may think is my corner, I don’t have an answer that satisfies me.
The best thing I saw as a response was posted several times on Facebook. It is classic Old Testament and it is fitting that it came from Rolf Jacobson a Prof at my Seminary. “”As I live,” says the Lord, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they would turn from their ways and live.” Ezekiel 33:11a”
You see, I am a big one on second chances, I am here doing what I do, being who I am in large part do to them. Do I honestly feel that Osama Bin Laden would repent if only shown the error of his ways and then be given a chance at repentance and forgiveness. Not really, but a choice not given leaves one hanging forever. Did this man need to face justice, absolutely! Did he deserve to die, maybe. We live in a broken world and from all accounts this man was as broken as they come. Something needed to be done, and it was.
My next beef is with those who have trotted out the old MLK quote:
”I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that”
That quote is beautiful and it represents a truth so deep that often I forget it. But this is a quote that must be used and understood in relationship. Without that relationship, a possibility for that second chance, for that love to take root and flourish, well, you are left with pretty words and a nice sentiment.
On some levels we all like it when the bad guy gets what he has coming to him. But to celebrate this death, to think that it will change everything? Well, that I am not so sure of…
To change what is going on in the world will take love as Dr. King said, but that love is solid hard work. Love as our culture and world often understand it requires more of us than we are often willing to give, so we substitute easy answers, warm feelings, and gloss and call it love.
One man’s death did make a difference, and not just once, it has made a difference forever, because he gave all he had, and what he had was love beyond measure, the very love of God for each and every person ever created and that love was so strong that not even death could stop it. – That, I can celebrate, the rest I am going to have to chew on for a while.
Planting Seeds
Last night LIFE began again. No, I am not being deep, nor philosophical in any way. LIFE is what we call our confirmation program for 7th and 8th graders. Teaching kids of this age range is always… um… interesting.
When I graduated from college in addition to my major I also had competed everything needed to be a teacher, I even applied and got my teaching licence from the state of Minnesota. I could teach Social Studies in grades 6-12. Never got a full time teaching gig though, as most schools were looking for a football coach, and quite frankly, that was never my idea of a good time, nor part of my skill set. I also knew from my student teaching experience that I never wanted to teach Jr. High, those kids are um…interesting.
So, as time went by, God in his wisdom and what I have come to know as an immaculate sense of humor, chose to call me to be a pastor. Part of this calling as general practice would have it, meant that I would have to teach confirmation to, well, yes, to Jr. High kids.
As a pastor, my deepest wish is that these kids grow in faith, make a connection to the living God that will bless them and in turn they too will be a blessing. But the mind and social atmosphere of Jr. High is… interesting! I have taken training in several different types of confirmation instruction. They all promise the moon, they tell you touching stories of students who experience deep and profound faith development. You come out of these things going “wow!”
Then you implement them, and find that you are still teaching Jr. High kids, which of course are…interesting. The social norms, the hormones, and the varying levels of social, physiological, and spiritual development are staggering! In this group of kids there is a young lady who has already developed a pretty deep devotional life, she knows the basic stories of faith by heart, but struggles with popularity issues. Then there is the young man who just that morning struggled with putting the right appendage trough the proper opening in his t-shirt that morning. He has yet to figure out why showering more than once a week is important, and church and faith, well, mom says he has to go so he does. Spin variations of those themes amidst the 36 kids we have in this years herd and that is what I have to work with each week.
Depth, is not something we always achieve, content is not always comprehended, and discipline for discipleship, well, these are Jr. High kids meeting at church on a Wednesday evening after being in school all day, someday’s it is a miracle that they can focus at all!
Amid this, I have to remember, I am just a farmer. I plant seeds.
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”- 1 Corinthians 3:5-7
Thanks be to God!
The Word: Sends – Day 38
Seven Wonders of the Word
6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)7or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). –Romans 10:6-7
It’s Good Friday.
I had a pastor friend of mine post on Facebook this question: “What makes this day Good?” Chris knows what makes this day good, he just laid that question out there to get people thinking. But he mostly got “smart alecky ” responces.
But I think it is a good question. What is so good about; humiliation, beating, a cross and death?
Doesn’t seem to be much.
But here is where it gets interesting.
It isn’t about us, and our holiness, it is about God coming to us, and despite all that happened, loving in and through it all. Today is good not because of us but it is good because we are who we are. It is good because there is a promise, it is good because God is good on His word, it is good because the cross is not the end of the story.
Good Friday isn’t good in the sense of feeling good or as a dear friend once said “sensational!” It is good because of Jesus. The Word doesn’t end at the cross, the cross and all that it represents is just the beginning. It is Good Friday because… Sunday is coming!
The Word: Sends – Day 37
Seven Wonders of the Word
“The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. – Romans 10:8b-10
“Oh… you have got to get this ice cream it’s call Caramel Cone Crunch… and you have to get it at the UDF, others make something like it, but theirs is the best the real deal! What’s the UDF you say… oh that is the United Dairy Farmers, they are as odd as it may sound, a chain of convenience stores in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio (mostly in Ohio).
We are all evangelists of some kind. Have a favorite sports team, kind of car, or computer? Ever heard an Apple owner go on about their computer, ipad, or iphone? Ever talked with a Packer fan about their team, ever heard two guys go head to head on Ford vs. Chevy?
But when it comes to faith, how often to people beg off on that. “Oh” they say “we need a pastor to do that.” But the Word comes to us and as Paul writes that Word is near to each of us. In scripture, in song and in worship we hear that word, we study we pray and the Word is there. The Word has come, to each of us, it is near you on your lips and your hearts, so that we too might share the good news.
Next time you are in Ohio, you really have to try some UDF ice cream!
The Word: Shapes – Day 36
Seven Wonders of the Word
“…so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:17
Today that word up there “proficient” has gotten my attention…
Proficient, to me it is one of those report card words. You know the kind where you didn’t get letter grades, but rather you got adjectives that described rather than letters that ranked. I think I liked those grades better, no I am sure of it, I do like them better. I have several reasons for this, but we really don’t have to get into my High School carrer do we? No I don’t think we will, thank you.
Think about grades in the life of faith… Oh I got an “A” in holiness. Well what does that mean? An “A” what?
But to be proficient, well that is different, to be proficient means to be; skilled, capable now that means something. Even the lesser grades let you know where you stood, if you got a NI you knew that you needed improvement, and quite frankly there is hope there! There is a purpose, a goal, there is something worth striving for, but a letter… never was all that much of a motivator for me!
The word shapes us into proficiency for a purpose too, it is there for “every good work.” We are to be proficient so that we might be equipped to do good, “good work.” To do this work you need to be prepared, you need to have a skill set developed and nurtured. If you are going to be a great musician you need to practice, if you are going to be a great ball player, the same holds true.
How this practice happens is based in the Word, but it takes on differing shapes. The tools in your spiritual tool box are uniquely your own, but like with any tools the only time they are of any use is when they are being used.
The Word: Shapes – Day 35
Seven Wonders of the Word
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16
I like books. It’s not that I am a voracious reader, I am not, but I do like books, I like the idea of books, the feel, the look, and yes even the smell. It is nearly impossible for me to get rid of book once it has been given to me or purchased. This can be problematic.
I am related to and know many retired pastors who at some point have shared parts of their libraries with me once retired. So, I have shelves full of books, and yes, boxes of books that will remain there for a while because, well I have only so much shelf space. I have another issue. I only have so much time to read and most often what I read is either to address an current issue, need or concern, and I have another pile that I read for pleasure. So this means that there are many books that look good on the shelf that I have never cracked open. Many of these books are classics, the knowledge and concepts they contain could be interesting, and even helpful if I ever got around to reading them.
I also have a whole bunch of Bible’s. Last time I took a count I have well over two-dozen. These, well most of them, ok some of them get a little more usage. My two primary Bibles are my floppy NRSV Bible I received from my internship congregation and a NIV I received from my Dad on my ordination.
The difference between the rest of the books on my shelf and these Bibles is summed up in the passage from 2 Timothy. While the rest of my books might be good for one thing or another, scripture is the guide, the context in which all else is contained. This doesn’t mean that the Bible directly addresses every issue, concern or topic that will arise in life, even a life of faith. The key even in the tough passages is that scripture is inspired by God, and its purpose is for our good, so that we might have life.
Well its Holy Week, and I am at maximum distraction getting things ready for worship, and all that follows, so this is all I got today! Keep me in your prayers and may your Holy Week be blessed as well!
The Word: Shapes – Day 34
Seven Wonders of the Word
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 3:14-15
About 20 years ago, (wow where did the time go) I was the Executive Director of the Wright County Historical Society. I had applied for this job at a time when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. I had the same position at the Meeker County Historical Society, and well, there didn’t seem to be too much of a future in History for me at that time, so I was looking. I had applied, and interviewed, and didn’t hear anything from them for a time.
During that time, I received my call to enter the ministry and was preparing to go to the seminary. As things would happen they called and offered me the job. Ugggg… now what do to. Well I told them no and thought that was that. They called back, and offered to be flexible if I wanted to go to school part time they would work with my schedule. So, it seemed to be a perfect deal.
The rest of that story may show up at some time, but what got me thinking about this was a display we had set up and a certain visitor to the museum. One day I was working on the “Nelsonian” a brilliant one-man band contraption that used pneumatic pressure to operate over 30 instruments. A gentleman came up to me as I was working and inquired about this display. We talked for a bit, and at some juncture he asked me if I was “saved.” I said well, yes, I was and he became quite effusive!
He pulled out his wallet and produced a tattered cardboard card with a date in the 70’s some time. This was his conversion date; this is when he became a “real” Christian. He asked when I was saved and I stopped and thought for a moment, and said, “February 12, 1964 I think, for that was the day I was baptized by my Grandpa Braaten in Elk River Minnesota. We then got into a conversation about that, which I think he didn’t see eye to eye with me.
The point is this; I have never not known that I was a child of God. I have had my moments of doubt, of denial, of struggle, but in hindsight even in those moments, God didn’t love me any less. I have even my moments of less than stellar faithfulness been a saved and loved child of God. I have never had what I call a “poof bang” conversion experience.
There have been times when I envy those who have had such times in their lives, great moments of clarity about life and faith. But I it seems I have something they don’t, I have been blessed with a consistency, an on going and blooming relationship with Jesus Christ. He has always been there where I was looking for him or not. Walking with me shaping me, and guiding me. This doesn’t mean I haven’t had my struggles, made bad choices, and all the rest, its just that I have never been alone. There were times when I felt that way, but in hind sight, I have no other explanation other than that God has been faithful with me even when I was less that perfect in my own faith.
I give thanks for my parents and others who have kept me in their prayers, who have witnessed to me what to what God has done and continues to do in their lives and in mine even as I continue to be shaped and loved into the image of Christ I first received in my baptism. It seems like that old “Nelsonian” my life too has been powered pneumatically, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Word: Shapes – Day 33
Seven Wonders of the Word
“They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” -John 8:33-36
A young couple that wanted to get married sat in front of me. She was not a Christian, had never been baptized or really ever been to church. They had come to me because the husband to be, had struggled, trying to explain his faith, the Christian faith to this young lady who he wanted to marry. He deeply wanted her to get it, to be baptized to join him in the faith.
Two problems…
1) By his own admission it had been, well… it had been since his confirmation since he had spent any serious time working on, or connecting to his faith. So as much as he tried he was ill equipped to do what he felt needed to be done, thus he brought her to me, the “professional.”
2) Now, this one is by far the bigger problem… She didn’t get it. “What didn’t she get?” you ask… um… just about everything.
Essentially she had no concept of anything outside of what would be needed for her moment-by-moment comfort. The idea of creation; she didn’t care. The concept of God; hadn’t really dawned on her. She did mention that her daddy was getting her one of those new smart phones (I had a comment, kept it to myself). To her the world was made up of two kinds of people, those she liked who did things for her, were her friends or family and those who weren’t in one of the afore mentioned categories. She was thoroughly, completely and one hundred percent convinced that she was perfect. I am not kidding, not even a little.
When she announced this to me at first I though she was kidding. Even the most self assured person I had ever met would be willing to at least confess a flaw or a weakness or two… She was not. I was flabbergasted. I was literally at a loss for words, and that never happens!
When we confess that “we are in bondage to sin and can not free ourselves,” I can think of no truer statement. But as this young lady showed me, we are often so bound, that we don’t even realize that is what it is. This over the years I have found out that this once young lady was sure as shoot’n not perfect. In fact she was so far from it she couldn’t see perfection with binoculars. She was bound to material things, chemicals, popularity and other things that clouded her vision. The good news in all of this, is last time I heard, she was getting a clue, and in that we find the persistence of the call of Christ. Both of them have some way to go, but that’s alright, they are not on the journey alone, and I think that is what finally opened her eyes to what Christ is doing, has done and promises to do, to and for us and that is to show us the truth; the truth of us, and the truth of God’s love for us. When we see this, we we realize what God in CHrist has already done for us, we are freed indeed.
The Word: Shapes – Day 32
Seven Wonders of the Word
“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – John 8:31-32
I never saw the movie “A Few Good Men” but I saw the trailers, I have seen a number of spoof’s of Jack Nicholson’s character bellowing out the line… “you can’t handle the truth!” There is if you will pardon me, some truth in that line. It’s not that we can’t handle the truth, its very often we don’t want to. When the truth is known, we lose control, we fear that the house of cards that we have constructed to give us the illusion of freedom will come tumbling down if the truth is truly known.
When Jesus speaks to his disciples, those who had been following them, he was laying bare the illusions that we cling to, that the world and our lives are all about us, that we are the boss, that we have everything in control. I think that is why Jesus addresses those who follow him in this way. To know the truth the real truth is to be exposed to its fullest in relationship to the God of all creation, nothing hidden, nothing reserved, we are fully connected to the Word and in being so known, we are free. Free to be who God created us to be in the first place. The problem is that often we are tempted to be something else, something we think we are supposed to be.
These things, the expectations of what truth is, can be imposed on us by family, culture, friends and even religion itself and we cling to them thinking that we will be truly free if we only… But Jesus points out a little later in John that he is in fact THE TRUTH. It is by connecting to him in relationship, fully known, totally exposed good and bad, that we find that we are loved with a love that not even death can defeat. When we cling to that love, when we draw our strength from that relationship we find that the Word shapes us and guides us into the fullness of truth and life and freedom.
Yes, I know connecting seems to be the opposite of freedom, but we all connect to something, we all align ourselves in some fashion or another, there is no such thing as a freedom apart, there is only freedom within. Jesus tells his disciples then as he does us today that if we want to know the truth, then we need to remain, or dwell in relationship with him and in him we are connected with the fullness of God.
When we are so connected, we find that we are free to live, free to love, free to serve, free to be who we really are, not just what we think we are, or what we think we need to be. The key here is where do you draw your strength from? Is it from the Word, or is it from yourself or other things that appeal to your sense of freedom? Jesus tells us that if we stay connected if we continue in all things we will be made truly free, all other ideas of freedom are forms of bondage, and in that light we very well might not be able to handle the truth. The truth of Christ, will change you, and maybe that is why we struggle with it. We like our own little self defined worlds, but Jesus doesn’t let you stay there with yourself as the center of the universe. The truth calls us beyond what we define ourselves as and into the fullness of what God has created us to be. Often we might squint deeply once we see, but it is in the light of God’s love for us that we not only can handle the truth, we can grow and flourish in this life and in our lives for others and be truly free.
This truth will change you.
The Word: Shapes – Day 31
“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples.” – John 8:31
Do you know anyone who has never played a game like follow the leader, or Simon says? I am no cultural anthropologist, but my guess is that there are games like this in every culture. These games can be used to teach, to have the followers practice what the leader is doing. However, in my experience, these games tend to get more and more difficult trying to get their followers to lose their way. I guess that is the point of the game.
When we speak of discipleship we are talking about more than a game of follow the leader. The word that comes to my mind is to “abide.” When we abide in Jesus the Word, it shapes us we gradually take on its form and shape more and more each day. Unlike the game we this is no contest, this is about relationship, about walking with Jesus, growing to know Jesus as an active part of your life.
The key to this relationship I think is a quote found in my devotions today from Brother Martin; “The chief article and foundation of the gospel is that before you take Christ as an example, you accept and recognize him as a gift, as a present that God has given you and that is your own.”
This abiding this being shaped is not of our doing; Jesus comes to us and says I pick you! The good news is Jesus call is not limited to a special few… “For God so loved the WORLD!” Jesus call for us to be shaped by his loving word is for all people. Our call once we have heard this message to is continue in that word and to be shaped as disciples into his image. The good news for us is unlike games of follow the leader or Simon says, Jesus doesn’t want us to lose, he wants us to grow into the love the God has for each of us and as we follow.
The Word: Sustains – Day 30
Seven Wonders of the Word
“10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11
I admit it… I don’t wait well.
Never have.
Maybe it is related to the attention thing that I struggle with from time to time. Maybe it is in part due to the 24/7 nature of the world in which we live. I am not certain.
I have gotten a little better at waiting though. For six years I served a congregation on a small island in the middle of Lake Michigan. You can’t do much in a hurry on an island, you just can’t.
First off, you need to take a ferry to get on or off the island and you don’t have any say over the schedule. For a goodly chunk of the winter months there is only one ferry a day, and that is if the weather permits and the ice cooperates. During the summers the ferry’s run quite often, but as it is a tourist area, they are often packed and just because a ferry leaves at 10 o’clock, doesn’t mean you are going to get on it! Sometimes… um…. often… it means you have to wait.
One late spring, my family was to head off island so they could go visit my in-laws over spring break, as it was Lent, and pastors are sorta busy then, I couldn’t go. However it just so happened the school district needed someone to pick up the Drivers Ed car in Algoma and drive it back. So, we caught the ferry and my family dropped me off to get the car, and they headed on to Ohio, I turned around and spent the night in Sturgeon Bay until I could get the ferry in the morning. Next morning I show up at the dock, no boat. The ice had shifted overnight and they couldn’t get the ferry out of the harbor. So… back to the hotel I went. Twice. The next day was no better. It wasn’t until the Coast Guard ice breaker made it to the island that the ferry was able to make it out. 3 days, with nothing to do… well that isn’t true, I had much to do back home, but not there… not stuck in a hotel.
So, I waited.
Turns out I met some wonderful folks as I wondered around Sturgeon Bay. I had time to talk with fellow islanders who were stuck like me. I had time to think, to sleep, to pray and to well watch some really bad TV. But all in all when I got back to the island I was in good shape for Holy Week, I was well rested and I and ready to do what I needed to do.
You see the guys who run the ferry line do what they can to keep you safe. Sometimes that means waiting. Sometimes that means you don’t get to do what you want to do, but when you get on the ferry you can trust that they do what they can to get you to where you are going!
God’s Word is like that. Sometimes we have our agendas, our ideas of the way God’s justice, and God’s will should be done. It’s just that they are not always God’s ways. This passage from Isaiah we read today is in part one of the reasons I was able to say “yes” to God’s call for me to be a pastor. God will get done what God needs to do, it will accomplish that which God proposes.
We hear the word and trust in its promise, not our abilities. Yes we each are given ministries, and skills we are to use, and God works in and among them. God’s promise is sure, it has defeated the grave and we can count on it. This Word sustains us in our work, in our love and in our relationships. It is the rock in which we can trust, for God’s Word will succeed in the thing which God has sent it.
Today I will ponder where I need to wait on the Lord, and where I am being called to be a part of that redeeming word so others might be loved, forgiven and have life in that Word.
The Word: Sustains – Day 29
Yeah, that's me.
Seven Wonders of the Word
Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. – Isaiah 55:3a
I hear just fine.
I just don’t always listen very well.
Early on in our married life together, my wife figured out that if you want me to listen, really listen, to fully hear what she had to say, she need to have my full attention. This is not as easy as it may sound. First off, if she came to talk to me and I was watching the TV it had to be turned off. Not just muted, actually off. Its not because what I was watching on TV was all that important or even very interesting. But, because, frankly… I am very easily distracted.
If you have ever watched the movie “UP” there is a dog named Dug. Dug has a collar that converts his thoughts into human speech. Dug can often finish a thought because… SQUIRREL!!!! Yes, he is easily distracted, that is part of what makes him so endearing. However when someone you love is trying to convey some important fact of life, about their feelings, their needs, the fact that the trash needs still needs to be taken out, then being distracted is no so endearing, not at all.
This passage from Isaiah tells us to focus, to really listen, to draw close to God so that all our attention is focused on his Word. When we listen, when we really hear what God has to say there is a promise attached, “so that you may live.”
There is a deep truth to that! I have found that if I want life with my wife to be good, to be more than two ships passing in the night, to avoid conflict and to actually have life as husband and wife, it is very important that we listen to each other. Not only hear, but to comprehend, to fully understand, and to grok (that one is for my daughter) each other we need to draw near and listen with all we are. This doesn’t mean we always fully understand each other, but to really listen goes a long way down that road and generally makes life that much more livable!
So it is with God’s Word. God wants nothing but the best for us. God would have us come to him regularly, to walk with him daily in all aspects of life, and in particular take time to draw near and really listen, so that we might live.
