Sketchings And Other Life Reflections

Inspiration from a Song:

2012-01-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

This came across my desk the other day. I found it inspirational with a thread of truth. I thought it worth sharing.

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT
By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

A few years ago, a good friend suddenly died. At her memorial service we wept, prayed, listened to music, heard about her from friends and relatives, and sang. The song we sang was "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
The words to the song were printed on the program under the heading, "Our Song."

As we sang, the words took on an entirely different meaning for me. A meaning far greater than the round usually sung by small children. Here was a group of adults, singing it in cooperative harmony to memorialize a beloved woman. What was so special about "their song?"

Today, the words of this childhood round have significantly greater meaning than they did then.

"Row, row, row." Persist in the effort to move forward in your life. Put your energy and effort into growing, learning and moving ahead toward creating the quality of life you really desire. If you stop in that effort, you get nowhere and stagnate. Certainly my friend was always focused on learning and growing in her life. She indeed, was continually rowing forward.

"Your boat." It is, after all, your boat... your being. Being who you really are not only allows you to move ahead, it is also the vehicle which keeps you afloat and safe in a chaotic world. When we jump out of our own boat, stop being our true selves, we often land in shark-infested waters and are drowned or eaten... or both. Don't try to change anyone else. Trust being who you are. Enjoy being you. Value your uniqueness. After all, you have been in your boat all your life. And there never was and never will be another craft quite like it. My friend loved being who she was.

"Gently." It is so important to be gentle in life. We live in a violent culture. Being gentle with yourself, others and your environment helps dampen the violence, and heal the wounded. We so often cling to, and struggle with, forces beyond our control. We become frustrated, angry or resentful, and destructively take out these emotions on ourselves, on those around us, or on our home... the earth. I learned how to be gentle partly by knowing my friend. She was always gentle, especially with her grandchildren.

"Down the stream." Not up the stream. Not across the stream. But down the stream. How often do we fight the flow of life? We're usually so busy swimming up stream, we exhaust ourselves. Take the time to allow the current of life to move you gently down stream. Let go of the struggle once in a while. Allow your life to move with Life's currents as opposed to always wanting to change the course of the river.

It was not easy for my friend to accept her imperfections, her problems or her losses. But she moved more than most with the flow of Life. Several years prior to her death, she confronted widowhood with an acceptance and equanimity rarely seen. She learned to "flow" with it. And as she did, she more easily adjusted to being single once again.

"Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily." Oh, the joy of being alive! We so often take life too seriously. Or we keep reminding ourselves of all its negative aspects. And when we do we become bitter. We create a lot of misery. Despite her human frailties, despite her share of pain and suffering, my friend found joy in being alive. She went through life merrily. She chose to focus on the positive aspects of her life rather than the negative. And in doing so, she found laughter and merriment joy and delight.

"Life is but a dream." Perhaps the Buddhists are correct. What we usually call "life" is an illusion. Perhaps we are actually expressions of consciousness...spiritual beings having a physical experience rather than the other way around. Perhaps the perceived physicality and permanence of life is indeed, nothing more than a dream. Perhaps we create our own dream/life. Perhaps when we become "enlightened" or die, we cease superimposing upon Life only what we think, and for the first time, experience what life is really like. I know my friend believed that after her death she would be really alive...perhaps for the first time.

May it be so!

"Put the Brooms Away!"

2012-01-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

What I’ve learned from personal conversations with those who are suspicious of thee Christian faith is that the greatest barrier to believing in Jesus is the perception (sometimes fact) that Christians just can’t seem to get along. They say, “Why should I be a part of a group of people who claim the power and unity of one called Jesus, but who just can’t seem to get along with each other?”

Religious people certainly could do better. But instead we tend to get involved in petty battles – sometimes scholarly, sometimes denominationally, sometimes even literal. These petty battles make our faith look foolish to a wide variety of folks. We given them plenty of ammunition when it comes to rationalizing their reluctance to believe and follow Jesus.

Jesus painted a picture of those who stand with him to stand with each other. Not to fight one another, but to be a united community, people with a common loyalty to Jesus and to each other.

Jesus not only expected this kind of unique community. He prayed for this unity (John 17). He prayed that all would be one. He prayed for a unity among his followers, among believers, that would mirror the unity, the oneness, which exists between Jesus and God, between the Father and the Son. But somehow there is still division. There are church fights.

Here is another example. Christmas at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is a season of stress for many as pilgrims come from around the world to visit the birthplace of Jesus. Fights and brawls during this season have become so common place that the world watches for the yearly brawls among the clergy-caretakers of the church.

This year was no exception as Palestinian riot police had to be called to break up a fight between monks having a broom fight! The video made TV news. If you didn’t see it, be sure that millions of non-believers did. They laughed and made additions to the already long list of reasons that the whole “religion thing” is a farce.

You see, three Christian traditions (Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant) claim the Church of the Nativity as the traditional site of Jesus birth. Today the church is under a shared administration. But, the church is in disrepair – the roof leaks and water in resulting in further damage to the building. The three groups can’t agree on who should pay for repairs. Each group wants to and is willing to pay the whole repair bill, but they aren’t able to work together to share. So, repairs aren’t made and the damage continues to expand – not only damage to the physical property, but damage to the wider perception of “religion” and Christianity.

What happened this Christmas is this. A monk from one of the groups was apparently sweeping the floor in an area claimed by one of the other groups. A “holy man” from that group took offense and started swinging. A melee began. The police were called. But the cameras were rolling and the events made headlines. All because a few people became petty and narrow about who cleans a few square feet of floor!

My experience has been that most church squabbles and church fights have been over things equally as petty. We get territorial. We point fingers. We squabble. While the world, with much bigger worries, problems and cares, watches and asks, “Why can’t believers just get along and cooperate for the greater good?”

So, dear readers, let’s just put the figurative “brooms” away and live out the unity, the oneness, Jesus prayed for. Let’s get our act together and work together as a witness to the Kingdom of God, as a witness to the non-believer who is watching. And let’s focus on the kingdom issues that matter, for the Gospel’s sake!

Thanks for stopping by. The comment section is open.

"The Etching in the Glass"

2012-01-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

As I looked at the wonderful design etched in the glass, it occurred to me that it was the "scratches" that made the image beautiful.

It gave me to ponder how often it might be that the real beauty of something is found in the "imperfection." The jagged peak of a mountain, the canyon cut deep by eroding waters or even the "beauty" of an individual personality carved by the twists and turns of life.

The scratches make it beautiful! I sort of like that idea.

"Seeking Jesus!"

2012-01-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, my computer was not working on January 6, the “Day of the Epiphany.” Thank for stopping by my blog and sharing in these occasional life reflections. The comment section is open, I welcome your comments. Now, here’s what I wanted to say on January 6.

When we read the story of Jesus’ birth in the book of Matthew, we find that the story isn’t so clear about when the wise men actually arrived at the “house where Jesus was.” Many interpret the story, given that Herod sought to put to death all the infants under the age of 2, to mean that the wise men did not arrive until the “baby Jesus” was several – maybe even 24, months old. That is to say that the “wise men” were very deliberate in their search for the Messiah. They spent a significant amount of time to prepare for and complete their journey. They spent considerable energy to travel to Bethlehem to see Jesus, the one they had determined to be the “Savior of the world.”

The question that comes up for us, as Jesus’ followers, is this one, “How much energy do we spend in seeking to know our Lord?

There is a line “wise men still seek him”. In this Epiphany time, may we be among the wise who are seeking Jesus and bowing to worship him. May we invest time and effort into our growing relationship with the one who is the “Messiah” of God.

“Daddy Cuddles”

2011-12-29T14:54:00.001-08:00

My grandson Owen's words were clear, through the sobs at 3 a.m. “Daddy, cuddle me! Daddy, cuddle me! DADDY, cuddle me!”. I don’t quite know what was going on for him at that early hour. But certainly Owen was wide awake, something wasn’t quite right and Owen didn’t want anything else but to have some time with his Daddy and the comfort of his father’s arms wrapped snugly around him. It was one of those moments when Momma wouldn’t do and neither would his grandparents (though I must confess that I didn’t budge from the warm cuddles of my bed and blankets).

(This is Owen on a happier day!)

The message I got through the walls and through the tears was that only Daddy could resolve this situation.

As I lay there, in a half-awake, half-asleep stupor, it occurred to me that I’ve faced a lot of situations in my life that only my Heavenly Father could solve. I’ve walked paths (and erred and strayed from paths) that needed “Daddy cuddles” to get me through. I’ve found myself in times that were fearful and uncomfortable where I needed the solution of the power of the Almighty “Daddy” to clarify and make right. I’ve been in those situations where I’ve realized (sometimes late at night or late in the process) that I couldn’t take care of it myself and that I really needed to turn it over to God. There have been times when things weren’t right and only the loving arms of an eternal God could bring the peace that I was so desperately seeking.

So, I’m thinking, I need to recognize, as Owen does, the wonderful grace of “Daddy cuddles” and the power and promise of God’s loving arms that embrace me every moment of my life in His grace!

“Is the Christmas Spirit Gone?”

2011-12-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

“THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WAS GONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR!!” the Christmas letter said. Right there in black and white, right after the line that noted the “un-decorating” of the house and just before the line that noted, “(This) Christmas won’t go down as one of the most memorable.”

Now, just what did it mean, “Christmas spirit gone for another year?”

Could it mean that
The spirit of giving had already been replaced with selfishness and greed?
The adornments were gone, but faith lived on?
The images of Santa and the Christ child had been replaced with the more familiar plants, centerpieces, coasters and candles?
The family has put on masks and managed to fake it through the obligatory gatherings not to speak to each other for another year?
The birth of God’s Son really hasn’t made a bit of difference in life?
The celebration of Christmas was o much bother and fuss it is good to be done with it for a while?

Or could it be an innocent passing remark
That marks the packing up of the decorations and has no meaning beyond that?

Oh, how I hope that the Christmas Spirit isn’t gone for another year,
Not to be brought out again
Until Wal-Mart or Target begin to say that it is time to bring it out again
Or until we begin to have our greed turned on again as we seek presents and bigger and better toys.
Or until, as if by some magic, our grumpy, sad faced critical attitudes are transformed to something more palatable to those around us.

Oh, how I hope
That the renewal of the Spirit of God, among us in the gift of Jesus our Savior, is not wasted in our “putting away the Christmas Spirit.”
That the birth of God in our midst, love showered upon us, has birthed in us new attitudes, new priorities, and new images of what we are as God’s children in this world.
That the Spirit of Christmas can transform our lives every day, all year long.
That we can be generous and warm in our response to the needs of others.
That we can see God’s love shared in all things in our lives!!

Please, oh please, when you pack away the decorations and the tinsel leave the Christmas Sprit unpacked so that this Child of God can change your life daily and through out the whole year.

"Three Bullets"

2011-12-23T11:44:00.000-08:00

This one has been around a while, but it is worth making the rounds again for reflection.

Thanks for visiting "Sketchings!" The comment button is active and your comments are welcome.

Three Bullets
There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner.
As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away. They he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree. As he went further, he saw a large wild “tom” turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining.
A voice spoke to him and said, “Pray first, aim high and stay focused. However, at the same time, he saw a deer that was a better ill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bit him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake.
Still, the voice said again, “I said, 'Pray, aim high and stay focused.'”
So, the man decided to listen to God’s voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all of his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to east for his family.
The snake (satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.
Moral of this story:
Pray first before you do anything, aim and shoot high in your goals and stay focused on God. Never let others discouraged you concerning your past. The past is exactly that, ‘the past.” Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and God is there to help you bear every part of that future. Do not look to others for your blessings, but look to the doors that only God has prepared in advance for you in your favor. Wait, be still and patient; keep God first and everything else will follow.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”

"If You Look for me at Christmas!"

2011-12-22T07:48:00.001-08:00

This inspirational piece from a card I received earlier this week. The human author is not identified.

If you look for Me at Christmas
you won’t need a special star—
I’m no longer just in Bethlehem,
I’m right here where you are.

You may not be aware of Me
Amid the celebrations –
You’ll have to look beyond the stores
And all the decorations.
But if you take a moment
From your list of things to do
And listen to your heart, you’ll find
I’m waiting there for you.
You’re the one I want to be with,
You’re the reason that I came,
And you’ll find Me in the stillness
As I’m whispering your name.
Love
Jesus

"Christmas From Jesus' Perspective"

2011-12-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

The Christian singer, Matthew West, began to think about the idea of what Jesus must have thought when he was asked to come to earth, leaving paradise with its streets of gold, leaving the perfection of his Father’s Kingdom to come to the chaos of earth. It is an interesting line of thought since we probably never ponder the idea of Christmas from Jesus’ perspective.

Matthew West wrote a song about Christmas from Jesus’ perspective. It is called “Leaving Heaven” and it is on his “The Heart of Christmas” album.
Here are the lyrics:

“Leaving Heaven”
Well, it’s been real nice living way up here
In paradise, over the atmosphere
But I can’t stay long, gotta make my way
I’m leaving Heaven today

You see the world is dark and it needs a light
I’m gonna hang a star in the eastern sky
So everybody’s gonna know where I touch down
I’m leaving Heaven right now

I’m gonna walk around that broken Earth
Trading in these streets of gold
So if you ever wonder how much you’re worth
You should know
That you’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven

Ain’t gonna be no kingdom, ain’t gonna be no crown
Just a little old manger, in a little old town
But it’ll do just fine for this humble King
I’m leaving Heaven let all the angels sing

I’m gonna walk around that broken Earth
Trading in these streets of gold
So if you ever wonder how much you’re worth
You should know
You’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven

And when my time comes to an end
I’ll lay down my life like a truest friend
And when I get back home, I’m gonna make some room
So, don’t you worry, ‘cause I’m coming back for you

And you will say goodbye to that broken Earth
You’re gonna walk on streets of gold
And if you ever wonder what my love is worth
Well you should know
That I’m the reason you’ll be seeing Heaven
Oh, you’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven
I’m leaving Heaven

"Jesus in our Box??"

2011-12-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

I've had the chance to spend a little time in line at the postal counter in my supermarket. I'm a "people watcher" by nature so I've had "fun" looking at the variety of packages people carry to the counter. Every size and shape to be mailed off to distant friends and relatives.

I noticed more than one customer who had so over stuffed their mailing boxes that they were bulged and bursting at the seams. I could only hope that the packing tape would hold until they reached their appointed destinations.

I got to thinking that this is the same way that people in Jesus time handled Jesus. They had "boxes" of specific shapes and sizes into which they were trying to "fit" the Messiah. They had "boxes" of particular configurations into which they tired to fit Jesus. "Messiah" didn't "fit." Jesus didn't "fit." Jesus was not a king, but an infant born out of wedlock. He came from a simple family to the back woods areas of Galilee. He hung out with the "lower class" and spent his time rubbing elbows with "sinners." For those who didn't believe, Jesus just didn't fit their definition, their "box."

I'm sorry to say that we, in 2011, are no different. We have our own expectations of Jesus (and of God). We expect prayers to be answered, to be comfortable and secure, to be "successful" and to have a certain kind of life. We expect God to be there when we "need" God, but we are not bothered by ignoring God at other times in our lives, times when the blessings are flowing beyond our need. When God doesn't "fit" out box, our expectations or our image, we are quick to doubt -- to doubt God and God's presence, power and providing in our lives.

Jesus started out His life in a manner that says God doesn't fit our expectations. God won't fit into our "boxes." Jesus came to help us know that outside the box, bigger than our expectations and in ways we can never imagine, God leads us to life and salvation. God fills every promise. God splits the seams of expectations to bring forgiveness, renewal and redemption.

In these waning days of Advent watching, God is appearing. Be ready. Have your eyes open. Expect God in new ways in your life, in your heart.

"A Christmas Message"

2011-12-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

Here is the Christmas Message shared by ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson. I found it worth posting for my readers.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all (Titus 2:11).

Yes In this world where God creates with deep
beauty and profound mystery.
In this world where so many yearn for
God's healing and peace.
In this world where some have thought God has forsaken us:

Yes Here, in this world, the grace of God has appeared.

Not just in this world but for you.

Yes For you, weary from trying to meet the
expectations of others.
For you, worrying about an uncertain future.
For you, wondering if you are worthy.

Yes For you, the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation.

Not just for you but for all.

Yes For all, salvation has come in the wonder of
God in mercy bending low to meet us
in our humanity.
In the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection.
In the power and promise
of the gospel's proclamation,
God's goodness and loving-kindness has appeared
in the Savior Jesus.

So with angelic messengers and witnessing shepherds,
we raise our voices:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors."

"My 'Person of the Year'!"

2011-12-15T13:10:00.001-08:00

"Time" magazine announced their "Person of the Year" today. As you've heard/seen/read the person is simply "The Protester". From what little I've seen there is some protest about "The Protester", but that's a reflection for another time.

What I was thinking about was my "Person of the Year." You see, if I'm naming my "Person of the Year" this year, it would be "The Friend". If I ran a magazine, I'd put "The Friend" on the front cover under the banner "Person of the Year."

I'd name "The Friend" because it has been my friends, those who stick by closer even than some relatives, who have been my support and encouragement this year. It has been "The Friend" who made this year a bit smoother, a bit more "successful" and a bit more enjoyable by calling with words of encouragement, texting words of grace, e-mailing invitations to lunch and just stopping in to say "How are you doing".

You see, this year has been one (not the only one in my life to be sure, but one) in which I've had the privilege of living out my faith and confidence in God in profound and special ways. I've had the opportunity to live what I've preached for almost 35 years, that is to trust that "God is faithful!" I've been tugged and pulled this way and that by the world, but God has been faithful, God's blessings clear, God's grace sufficient and God's power mighty. Most often, the ministry of God's grace has come through the friends and close family who have shared the journey with me. God's faithfulness has been made alive by those who have responded to God's promptings to be instruments of love and grace, of encouragement and support.

So here's to you, "Friend". You're "The Person of the Year" as far as I'm concerned. There could be no finer example of one who is making this world a little more loving and kind and the journey a little easier by living God's love in the important relationship of being a good friend.

“Advent Waiting!!"

2011-12-10T06:57:00.001-08:00

Waiting seems to be, well,
Just a waste of time.
We, in fact, call it “killing time”.

Waiting can be fidgeting and pacing.
Twiddling thumbs or mindless daydreaming.

Waiting can be terribly difficult and uncomfortable.
Or it can be a time of unease and nervousness.

None of this, though, is “Advent waiting.”
Advent waiting is different.

Advent waiting is making a hole in the business of life for God to fill.
Advent waiting is creating a spirit of anticipation for God to act.

Advent waiting is like sitting on the porch watching the road (this is a country image) for the first signs of dust indicating that Grandma and Grandpa are almost there.

Advent waiting is like sitting in the tree stand watching for the trophy buck to finally make his way out of the woods.

Advent waiting is like waiting for the last kernel of corn to pop so I can “dig in”.

Advent waiting is like waiting for the first bubbles of boiling water so the macaroni can go in.

Advent waiting is different than just waiting.
Advent waiting is the anticipation of God’s new and renewed action in our lives.
Advent waiting is creating a new space for God.
Advent waiting is giving God space to enter, to fill and in which to act.

Advent waiting is creative, focused, “making time” with God. For God.

Waiting, Advent waiting, is expecting
And praying . . . .

“Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.”

Written
While “waiting”,
Advent waiting!

"Bibs or Aprons? "

2011-12-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

~Author Unknown~
================
(Offered with the disclaimer that the “bib” image certainly doesn’t fit for many who, for one reason or another, aren’t able to control their eating needs and/or habits. The image is offered as a comparative image only.)

I recently visited a fast-growing church in Minnesota to learn from their staff. It was a privilege to witness their passion for doing high quality ministry in Jesus' name. I left with some new insights and renewed passion for the Gospel.

One of the phrases that I heard while I was there was, "We want our members to wear aprons, not bibs." Here's what they meant:

Bibs are for people who only want to be fed.
Bibs are for those who are not yet ready or willing to feed themselves.
Bibs are for those who are more interested in being served than in serving.
Bibs are for those who insist that the church exists for them and their needs.
Bibs are for babes in the faith, those who haven't caught God's vision for the church, or those who are not yet of the faith.

Aprons are for those who have a heart to serve others in Jesus' name.
Aprons are for those who know that they are the church.
Aprons are for those who don't mind getting their hands dirty.
Aprons are for those who take the time daily to feed their spiritual hunger.
Aprons are for those who are growing in faith, and hunger to help others grow.

Church growth consultant, Win Arn, interviewed thousands of Christians in America several years ago and asked them, what they though the church existed for. Eighty-eight percent said, "The church exists to serve my needs and the needs of my family." In other words, 88% of Christians in America are still wearing bibs.

On the night when he was betrayed, just hours before he was crucified, the very Son of God took off his outer garments, wrapped a towel around his waist, and washed his disciples' feet. When he was done he said, "I have just given you an example to follow." In other words, Jesus called his disciples to wear aprons, not bibs.

In Matthew, Jesus is recorded as saying, "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." He also said, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it."

Jesus calls us to wear aprons, not bibs. Which are you wearing?

"For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, thank you for feeding me daily with your word. Fill me with your redeeming love. Open my eyes to clearly see the needs of those around me, and then open my hands to serve them. Each day, strengthen me with your Spirit, so that I might choose to wear an apron, not a bib. This I pray in your name. Amen."

"Where's the Line to See Jesus"

2011-12-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

Here is the "official music video" of a very moving song by Becky Kelley.

Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OExXItDyWEY&vq=medium

By the way, Becky's father is the pianist.

Thanks for stopping by "Sketchings...

Cruise Ship or Battleship?

2011-12-07T13:55:00.001-08:00

The first time I specifically remember a model ship hanging from the rafters of a church was at Grand View College in Des Moines, IA. I had traveled there with a college friend for the “Aebleskiver Festival”. (If you don’t know, an “Aebleskiver” (in Danish, “apple slices”) is a popular Danish pastry, a light, melt-in-your-mouth pancake ball that tastes like a cross between a pancake and a donut.) One of the weekend activities was attending worship in Danish Church.

The first thing I noticed, hanging from the rafters of the church, was a replica of a sailing vessel. Later I learned that this is a widespread custom in Denmark and in churches of Danish origin. It served as a reminder of the ancestral home of many of the U.S. immigrants and, in Denmark (where the life on the sea was central), it was an “offering” of sorts to assure safe voyage for ship and crew.

However, this folk custom coincides with an ancient Christian metaphor which compared the church itself to a ship. Even today we call the main sanctuary of our churches the “nave”, a name derived from the Latin word “navis”, which means ship and the origin of words such as “navy” and “naval”.

The metaphor of the church as a ship has many symbolic connections. We speak of the Christian life as a journey over the sea and we talk about a pilot that guides us. One favorite Christian hymn reads: “Jesus, Savior, pilot me over life’s tempestuous sea.” The ship is not a major Christian symbol but it is an appropriate one.

Now, make this jump with me. If the ship is a Christian symbol, is it more like a “cruise ship” or a “battleship?”

It seems to me that too often we have a “cruise ship” mentality in the Church of Jesus Christ. We approach the church like we do our favorite department store, that is, with a “consumer” mentality. We want to pick and choose what we want and what we’ll share in. We want luxury and glitz. We want to be entertained and made to smile. We want to “go along for the ride.”

It would be more accurate to see the church as a “battleship”, in the truest sense of “nave” (naval). Because, you see, that is exactly what we are called to do, to engage the enemy of our souls with the ultimate power of God in and through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The journey we are on with God is far from a “cruise”. It is a battle, just like those vessels in Danish churches reminded people of the battle against the tempest of the sea and sacrifice given for the freedom to worship God. The mission and ministry of the church today (as it always has been) is to demonstrate God’s power in all corners of the world, society and our lives in order to restore God’s rule on the earth.

The key reason Jesus died on the cross was to restore and redeem that which was lost. The battle is still going on. The battle won’t be won from a cruise ship. It will be won from the battleship where Jesus is the pilot on the journey, through the seas roiled with the tempters power.

So, I pray, “Jesus, Savior, pilot me ....”

"A Line to Ponder"

2011-12-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

This line I read today has me thinking. I don't know yet what I'm thinking, but it is something to ponder. The image that comes to my mind is one of a garden. I've given up on a lot of gardens in my life, usually along about mid summer when the ground is dry, the air hot and there isn't much vision for the finished product -- what I mean is that I love the early garden produce like leaf lettuce, radish, green beans.

Anyway, here is the line:

"Nature thrives in places where people give up." (Joyce Sequichie Hifler in "A Cherokee Feast of Days")

I'm still pondering....

Thank you for stopping by today. If you have a picture or a pondering, please post it in the "comments" section. Thank you!

“How Change is Like a ‘Slinky™’”

2011-11-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

This is a fun little thing about something we love to hate: change:

1. You have to take it out of the box to have fun with it.
2. It comes in many styles and colors.
3. Somebody has to get it started on its way.
4. Once started, the course it takes is unpredictable.
5. It routinely get study halfway down the stairs and has to be re-launched. Repeat as necessary.
6. It is messy, noisy and chaotic.
7. Before it is launched, it has stored potential energy. When launched, that energy force becomes kinetic energy.
8. Once it begins its journey on one can really control it.
9. It rarely lands where predicted.

"Advent Thoughts"

2011-11-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

I just came in from doing some final leaf raking before the final “Yard Waste” pick up day for the season. As I wrapped up the project it was becoming rather dark and quiet in our neighborhood. Things felt empty and barren. It felt that way because it was that way: dark, silent, empty.

Entering the house there was a different feeling. A fullness illuminated by some electric candles (boy are they fun) and the lamp. There were the sounds of people working and the fullness of energy, the energy of life warmed by the protection of four sound walls and a bit of furnace energy.

And, I noticed, the chill on my nose and ears was all the more evident in the warmth of the inside heat. The contrast drew me to appreciate the warmth, the light, the sounds and the energy all the more.

Advent began yesterday. Advent, this strange “churchy” time before Christmas that happens to fall during some of the darkest, chilliest and quietest (in the sense of nature’s winter quiet) days of the year. This Advent is as “long” as Advent can be – four full weeks (not just four Sundays). This Advent, like all Advents, will quickly get busier, more packed, brighter and louder as things gear up before Christmas.

But, what I’m thinking and feeling is that before Christmas I need the emptiness, the darkness and the silence. I need my senses to be ready for the light of Christ and the sounds and fullness of Christmas. I need my senses to be fully ready to experience the Christ anew and in experiencing the Christ to experience that in Him I am being redeemed, recreated, renamed, and reborn.

Tonight I’m thankful for the darkness, silence and stillness that open my senses to deeper awareness of and thankfulness for the wonders of God become flesh in a little baby, Jesus.

May God bless you in this Advent time.

Thanks for dropping by “Sketchings ... “. If you have a favorite Advent tradition or Advent reflection, you are invited to share it in the “comments” section.

"The Joy is in the Journey"

2011-11-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

I came across this item that passed my desk at an earlier transition time in my life. It came via my e-mail box in something called “Mountain Wings.” It still speaks to my spirit because, in fact, in life, we don’t reach every destination. Not every hope comes to pass. But along the way look what we find; look at the dances we dance, the love we share and the power of the spirit come alive among us. Look at the joy that is in the journey!

THE HOLE

“Two brothers once decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of other boys stopped by to watch.

“ ’What are you doing?’ asked one of the visitors.

" ’We're going to dig a hole all the way through the earth!’ one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.

“The other boys began to laugh, telling the brothers that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms, insects and interesting stones. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said confidently, ‘Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!’

“Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. That is what a goal is for, to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen. In other words, to set us to digging!

“But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, ‘Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!’

“It is in the digging that life is lived, and it is the joy in the journey that truly matters!”

Author unknown

“What if ...?”

2011-11-25T07:20:00.001-08:00

With apologies to several current postings around the internet, I was led to this little musing about treating our Bibles like we treat our cell phones.

What if we carried our Bible around all the time and couldn’t let it be out of reach?

What if there were situations that would cause us to say, “I wonder where I left my Bible?”

What if we were constantly checking our messages?

What if we referred to it several times a day?

What if we searched it for important information?

What if we used it to find directions?

What if we used it in the case of emergency or perceived emergency?

What if we communicated regularly with its “contact list”?

What if we were constantly upgrading to the latest version?

What if we kept it charged and “powered up”?

What if stores had to put up signs, “No Bible Reading Allowed”?

What if laws had to be enacted because too many people were reading their Bible while driving?

What if we thought we "couldn't live" without being connected?

"Thanksgiving!"

2011-11-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

No matter what the day, no matter what the hour it is good for us to give thanks. To remember that everything we have comes from God.

I have just been reading some life stories of other people. Some have so much. Some have so little. It is those who have so little who teach so much. They teach about gratitude. The give perspectives on life. They put things in context.

They moved me to think about the top ten things I'm thankful for. Of course, there are hundreds, but these are today's "Tom's Top Ten"!

1. God and my salvation in Jesus Christ.
2. The gift of life and health.
3. My faith and its power to sustain me every day.
4. The love and support of a faithful life partner.
5. My children and grand-child.
6. My Dad.
7. Opportunities to share in the greatest joys and greatest sorrows in the lives of others.
8. A cadre of supportive, loving, honest and faithful friends.
9. Freedom.
10. That I'm healthy enough to walk, eat, breathe, think, sleep and feel.

I wonder, what are your top ten? Not just for this Thanksgiving day, but for every day of the year.

Thanks for visiting "Sketchings". I hope you'll comment on several of your top ten "I'm thankful that/for...."

Blessed Thanksgiving!!!

"Directions Home!"

2011-11-22T16:35:00.000-08:00

This little piece is one of those things that circulates the “forwarded e-mail list”.

Given that many are “headed home” for this holiday season, I found it a bit fun and reflective for this path we call life.

Directions to Our Father’s House

Make a right onto Believeth Blvd.
Keep straight and go through the green light, which is Jesus Christ.
There, there you must turn onto the bridge of faith, which is over troubled waters.
When you get off the bridge, make a right turn and keep straight.
You are on the “King’s Highway” – heaven bound.
Keep going for three miles: one for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit.
Exit onto Grace Blvd.
Make a right turn onto Gospel Lane.
Keep straight and then make another right on Prayer Road.
CAUTION: DO NOT yield to the traffic on Temptation Ave.
CAUTION: AVOID Sin Street (It is a Dead End).
CAUTION: Pass by Envy Drive and Hate Avenue as well as Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Lane and Backbiting Blvd.
However, you cannot avoid going down Long Suffering Lane, Persecution Blvd and Trials and Tribulations Ave.
But it is all ok because VICTORY STREET is straight ahead.

"Using What You Have!"

2011-11-18T12:44:00.000-08:00

The family was bowling. Christian, a nine year old, seemed to be winning by a large margin. He certainly was beating the older players in the group.

What was obvious was that he was the smaller player in the group. He had a lighter ball, he didn’t weigh very much and he couldn’t hold the ball “correctly” or roll the ball with a lot of force. Yet he was knocking down many pins and rolling an occasional “strike”.

Upon closer observation, Christian had a gently strategy. You see, the “bumpers” (foam rails lowered for more inexperienced bowlers to keep the balls from going into the “gutter”) were down. Christian had figured out how to use the bumpers to his advantage. He would gently roll the ball and let it bounce off the bumpers to knock the pins down. And, he was consistently knocking down more pins that the others in his group.

Christian didn’t have a heavy ball like the others. He didn’t have the strongest body. He didn’t have much experience.

But Christian didn’t focus on what he didn’t have. He focused on what he did have. He used what he did have to be successful in the game.

You know, so often we focus on what we don’t have. Our attention is drawn away from our mission and ministry to envy what someone else has, things (tangible or intangible) that may be “bigger” and supposedly “better” than what we have. In so doing, we fail to see and use the incredible resources that God has given us for our daily life, faith, ministry and mission.

Christian’s lesson for faith is about focusing on the talents and resources God has given us, about looking at our abundance rather than our supposed scarcity and about recognizing that “bigger” isn’t always “better” when it comes to the economy of God’s kingdom.

“It Depends Upon What I’m Looking For”

2011-11-17T06:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder about what people are searching for. From time to time in my life I find myself searching for the gifts of God’s grace. At other times, I may be searching for more tangible things in support of my life and ministry.

I thought it would be “fun” to see what people are searching for. What we are searching form tells us of our concerns and interest, our values and perspectives.

So, I “Googled” to see what people are “Googling.”

One day a week or so ago, here are the top twenty things people were “Googling”:

1. school closings
2. daylight savings time 2011
3. bernie madoff
4. mark herzlich
5. powerball
6. national grid
7. ruth madoff
8. ct news
9. pumpkin seed recipe
10. generators
11. mark madoff
12. the strangers
13. disturbia
14. matt barnes
15. mona simpson
16. ufc results
17. hines ward
18. day light savings
19. no shave november
20. mcrib

Here’s the list for November 16:
1. sopa
2. white house shooting
3. spear of destiny
4. rambus
5. internet censorship
6. bradley cooper
7. google music
8. matt barnes
9. stop online piracy act
10. protect ip act
11. sexiest man alive 2011
12. jessie james
13. 2013 ford escape
14. green bean casserole
15. elisabeth hasselbeck
16. willis mcgahee
17. black friday sales 2011
18. pabst blue ribbon
19. the descendants
20. cadillac xts

Maybe you’ll get a laugh out of this. I sure did.

But the point is, what we find depends upon what we are looking for.

"God's 'Zero Tolerance' Policy"

2011-11-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

There was a time (a long time ago) when I chose a behavior which resulted in getting my mouth “washed out with soap”. Turned out I couldn’t out run my father and he had a bar of “Lava” soap. I couldn’t get the soap out of my mouth quickly enough. I didn’t enjoy at all what went into my mouth on that embarrassing occasion.

What I’ve learned over the years, is that I have to be equally concerned about what comes out of my mouth. I need to be concerned that the words and phrases I utter are wholesome, encouraging and supportive. As I listen to what people say (and write), I’m noticing that there seems to be less and less concern for encouraging, positive conversation. It seems that the “tone” of many conversations (writing too) quickly turns to things that are slanderous, gossipy and accusatory.

God has given some pretty clear directions for what should come out of one’s mouth. He has a “zero tolerance” policy for gossip and slander among his people. Yet, may a disciple has ignored God’s directions.

Here are a few of the things God has to say in this regard:

Proverbs 15: 2: “...the mouths of fools pours forth (more accurately “explodes out”) foolishness.”

Ephesians 4: 29: “Let no corrupt word (“dirty talk”) proceed out of your mouth.”

Ephesians 4: 25: “put away lying ... speak the truth.”

Ephesians 4: 31: “Let all ... clamor and evil speaking be put away from you.” That is no character assassinations.

Leviticus 19:16: “You shall not be a talebearer among your people.” That is to talk idly, foolishly or maliciously to spread rumors (or facts) about another was forbidden by the Leviticus law.

Speaking badly betrays confidences (Proverbs 11:13), separates close friends (Proverbs 16:28; 17:9), shames and saddles you with a bad reputation (Proverbs 25: 9 – 10), and perpetually fuels the embers of a quarrel (Proverbs 26: 20 – 22).

Someone has noted that the words that come out of our mouths are like toothpaste coming out of a tube – once out it can’t be put back in.

I’m still embarrassed about behaving in a way to get soap in my mouth.

These days, though, my attention is focused more on what comes out. It is on guarding my mouth to “build each other up in love”, to “speak the truth in grace”, and to use my words to edify others and honor God.

I do so every mindful of God’s “zero tolerance” policy!!

Living Trees and Branches

2011-11-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I had an occasion to take hike in a deeply wooded forest. It was wonderfully warm with bright sunshine. The trail was deeply carpeted with crunchy fallen oak leaves. There was a slight breeze and a cloudless sky. It was silent and peaceful.

As I hiked along, as I looked around, there was evidence of a summer storm. Trees uprooted, branches fallen and the general “litter” that comes after a storm.

It took me a while to move my focus from the dead fallen branches and trees to the trees that were still standing tall, to the branches that still reached out to the sky, to the limbs that still held onto a few colorful fall leaves.

It took me even a while longer to realize that the storms had been an agent of clearing, or cleaning. The dead trees and branches were easily conquered by the storm, by the winds of nature. Those trees and branches that had already let go of life were brought down to the ground. Those trees and branches that had no root of life caved to the pressures of the storm.

But, the trees and branches that had life, that were deeply rooted in the earth were able to survive, to hang on and to probably strengthen themselves to face future storms.

The images from my hike have spiritual applications as well. We encounter storms in our lives. There are challenges and hardships. There are rough spots. The storms of life will clean out that which is dead and worthless. It will topple that which is not firmly and deeply rooted. It will fell patterns of thought and behaviors which are no longer full of life or life giving.

And what remains is what is life giving and deeply rooted. What remains is that which enhances the beauty and interest of life. What remains is what makes me come alive.

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” As a branch I deepen my connections to the power and promise of the Holy Spirit, to the gifts of faith and to the grace of Jesus so that I might be fully alive for the glory of the Kingdom of God.

"God Delights in You!"

2011-10-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

I almost missed the article. It contained a picture of a young girl from India holding a certificate showing that she had changed her name. It didn’t seem like much of a story tucked in the corner of an inside page of the newspaper.

But the story is really heart breaking. You see in the rural poor areas of India girls are considered to be a family liability. Boys are viewed as potential heirs, family heads and wage earners. By contrast girls are a “liability” because their families will have to provide a dowry in order to arrange a marriage for them. The result is female fetuses are systematically aborted.

Or, in the western Maharashtra state, where the language is Marathi, many living girls are given the name “Nakusa”, which means “unwanted.”

Can you imagine being a person with the name “unwanted”? Can you imagine the humiliation, the teasing, the negative self image?

The news story I saw highlighted a young woman named “Nakusa” changing her name, the result of a progressive initiative in Satara state to allow girls named “Nakusa” to change their name. They get official documents and school records are changed. Of course, questions still remain. Is the emotional damage already too great? Will they really get a new life in a culture that insists on remembering the old name? Only time will tell.

Consider this: To a people who had suffered countless indignities: "You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. . . . You shall no more be called Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married, for the Lord delights in you. . . . And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you" (Isaiah 62:2-4 EST)

Know this: You are loved. You are precious. You are wanted! God has given you his family name. You are his beloved child. God smiles when you dance, and live and love. God’s eye twinkles when he thinks about you.

The gift of God’s family name is not to be taken lightly. Carry it with pride.

November, 2011 Sketchings

2011-10-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

“NEW CHAPTERS”

By the time you read this, we will be well into the closing weeks of this chapter of our lives and ministry. We will be well into our community and individual processes of grieving the end of this chapter of life. We will have shed tears, and laughed over precious memories. We will have wished each other well for the time ahead and prayed together for God’s power into the future. But, of course, there will still be other steps before the final words are spoken and the last “farewells” are uttered.

Teresa and I want to express our profound thanks and gratitude for the great honor of walking in ministry with you over these last 6 1 / 2 years. This part of our journey has provided a wonderful time for the growth of our faith. Through you our lives have been richly blessed. You’ve filled our memory bank with golden treasures through ministry, relationships, worship, fellowship and caring. We will always carry you in our hearts and prayers. We will always be thankful to God for this chapter in our lives.

When I am reading a book, I want it to be a “page turner.” That is, I want enough suspense to keep the pages turning, to move me from one chapter to the next. Furthermore, within the suspense I need confidence that the author will continue to develop the plot of the story so that when I read the last page I have a wonderful sense of a complete and whole story.

God is the master author of the story and chapters of human life. God is the master in writing His Story (history) in a way that develops His glory, His grace, and His providence so that in the end it is complete and glorious. God’s story is a “page turner”. There is a fair amount of suspense and intrigue. What will God do next? Sometimes it isn’t clear until a bit later in the story. Sometimes, it takes a while for God to weave a thread of the plot back into the story. But in the end, God’s story is complete and wonderful. And, at the end, we recognize there are many more chapters yet to come.

We, you and I, are standing between chapters in our story, in the story of God’s work in and through our lives. We are here knowing that our God is one who makes things happen. God’s word can bring forth creation. God’s word completes all kinds of things through the lives of people like us. This same God already knows our needs at this point in our stories. The obstacles and barriers we see are not insurmountable to God.

One of the mistakes we humans are prone to make is that we need to have everything in life figured out. We want to know what happens next, we want to know the end of the story. We want to put together a “foolproof” plan that will get us from beginning to ending, no hassle, no problem. But life with God means sitting loose in the saddle with your eye on the ever-changing horizon – looking for hints and clues as to where God wants you to go and what he wants you to do. Life with God means that there is suspense between chapters. Where will this next chapter go?

And here’s one important thought to remember: “God never gives us a task without providing the will and the way to accomplish that task.” He did it with Moses and the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land by providing manna and quails to eat. He did it for Abraham by providing he and Sarah with a son born to them in their old age. Jesus talked about it in parables when he said, “Do not worry. Look at the birds of the air. See how God provides for them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Here’s the deal, as we all start turning the pages into the next chapter of life, ministry, faith and Church, God will not leave us stranded. We will not be left “high and dry”. God will reveal the next step (and all we need to know is the next step). God’s Spirit will empower us with the faith to follow in confidence und God’s leading.

Several have asked what is in store for Teresa and I. Truth is, we aren’t really sure what the next chapter will bring. It is a walk of faith on our parts. Our plans include staying in Omaha so that Teresa can continue to be faithful in her ministry calling with her business. Beyond that, God is working out the details of the next chapter. Teresa and I haven’t ever been at a stage in life where we had the options and freedom to take some time to sort out what ministry God is calling me/us to and how we can best be faithful with the energies and talents God has given. We will do our best to keep you informed.

Blessings as we live between chapters. Blessings as we step in faith to see the “plot” unfold. Blessings! For God is good all the time. All the time God is good!

T. O. M.

Theologian Henri Nouwen has written:

2011-10-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

“One of the most challenging tasks of the Christian is to create the space where people can meet each other without fear, share the human pains and joys which transcend their differences and discover each other as belonging to the same human family.”

A Record of "Saves":

2011-10-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Mariano Rivera (originally from Panama) reached a milestone in baseball history when he broke the all-time baseball “saves” record, getting his 602nd save.

If you’re not familiar with the game of baseball, a save is when the game is turned over to a pitcher called a “closer”. It is when the team is leading near the end of the game and the closer comes in to finish up the last inning or two without allowing the opposing team to go ahead and win. The closer is supposed to “seal the deal” and when he does, he gets a “save.” Rivera now has the all time record.

Now, getting a save might not sound like that hard of a deal. It only means pitching for one, or maybe two, innings. But when the game comes down to the last few outs, every pitch counts, every base runner is a potential score, every score is a potential loss then adrenalin kicks in making the art of being a “closer” a tricky one.

Mariano, however, makes his milestone even more unique with the fact that he usually only uses one particular pitch: the cut fastball, or “cutter.” Batters know what's coming—and they still can't hit it!

Rivera, affectionately known as “Mo” by loyal fans and teammates, has a reputation of being self-effacing, quiet, unassuming and thoughtful. In fact, after being congratulated by his team on the field after Monday's record save, he had to be coaxed back onto the mound so the more than 40,000 fans filling Yankee Stadium could applaud him.

During a post-game interview, when asked if he felt he was the greatest closer in MLB history, Mo replied, “I would never say that. You know me better than that, I would never talk about myself.”

Not to be trite, but the best part is that Rivera knows the One who truly saves. The One Whose record for saves could never be broken!

Mo is a born-again Christian; his pitching glove is reportedly inscribed: “Phil. 4:13.” (“I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me”)

In a post-game interview, Mo was asked about the impact of what he's achieved in light of how he grew up; a poor child in Panama. He said, “I couldn't dream about this. It's a tremendous journey. I have to thank God.”

Every week when we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness we are reminded that we know the one who “saves”, saves us from the ultimate defeat – sin, death and the power of the devil.

On Brokenness

2011-10-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

The concrete contractor was taking a look at her broken up and cracked driveway. She was lamenting the broken state of affairs. The contractor shared this bit of (perhaps obvious) wisdom. “As broken as it is, it still makes a great driveway.”

That sentence could be said about so many things in our lives. As broken as life is, as broken as we are by sin, as broken as the world is, what remains is still something great. We’re blessed by God to live a wonderful life in a wonderful world. We are blessed by God to be partners in God’s work in the broken places. We are blessed with forgiveness so that this life, the only life we have, can be abundant (great!).

So, fill in your own blank: “As broken as it is, it is still a great life, world, job, family, church, school, club, neighborhood --- the list could go on.”

Not that we don’t need to keep on mending the brokenness, certainly that is part of God’s work through our hands. But, at the same time, we need not lose sight of the fact that even in imperfection, what we have is pretty “great” too.

A Student Athlete's Example

2011-09-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Have you herd the story of Josh Ripley?

Josh is a sixteen-year-old junior at Andover (MN) High School. On September 16, 6-foot 5-inch Josh was one of 261 competitors in a 5 K race. About half way through the race, Josh heard a scream and saw another runner, someone he didn’t know, collapsed against a fence and holding a profusely bleeding ankle.

Mark Paulauskas, a 5-foot 5-inch freshman at Lakeville (MN) South High, was the injured athlete.

Here is what Mark said about what happened next: "He just picked me up without saying anything and started carrying me and trying to calm me down. He said, 'It's going to be OK. I'm going to get you to your coaches.' ... I think it's amazing."

Meanwhile, Josh’s own coach was becoming concerned as he tried to figure out why Josh hadn’t passed the halfway mark. When Coach Scott Clark spotted Josh he was “ ... wondering what was going on, why was he so far back. Then I see Josh. He's got the kid in his arms."

Turns out Josh Ripley carried Mark about a quarter mile. He hands him off to his own coaches and family. And then – dead last in the field of runners, Josh resumes his race. In the end he passed about 50 kids to finish 211th out of 261 runners. Without excuse, without disappointment, without explanation, he just finished what he had started, a 5 K foot race.

Teammate Simeon Toronto asked him, “Why did you fall so far behind?” Simeon says, "He just humbly says, 'Oh, I picked up a kid. And I'm like, 'Dude, you just picked up a kid and carried him?' That's incredible!" Then added Toronto: "It was just so typical Josh."

Newspaper reports simply cite this as a wonderful example of sportsmanship. But there is more. What Josh did is core to the very practical faith Josh embraces. Both Mark and Josh, in their accounts of the event, say that Josh prayed over Mark as he ran with him in his arms. He prayed for Mark’s pain to stop and for him to be all right. He even asked Mark’s permission before he started the prayer.

But Josh, who also volunteers for Living Word Christian Center, says he did nothing special. “I’m just thankful to God to let me be there for someone who needed me.”

By the way, Mark's ankle needed 20 stitches to close the gash another runner's spikes accidentally created. There was no deeper damage to ligaments or tendons and Mark should fully recover.

I love this story. Josh is a great example of how God intended us to care for each other, to pray for each other and to do so with no expectation of notice or reward.

Thank you Josh.

Blunders and Barriers to Addressing New Circumstances:

2011-09-29T12:42:00.001-07:00

When young Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, he launched a major change in how and when we listen to music. Edison’s light bulb changed our world by lighting the nights. But Edison’s high IQ didn’t prevent him from making a bad decision. Thomas Edison could not imagine a world where AC (alternating current) would be the rule. So he rejected AC as a means of powering both his light bulb and future machines. His choice opened the door for Nikola Tesla (his star employee) to spread the use of electric power across the world. Decades after AC proved itself the world’s best commercial current, Edison kept arguing that his DC idea was better!

Zachary Shore uses this story to capture the major insight in his book, “Blunder: Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions” (New York: Bloomsbury USA, 2008). Edison fell into a cognitive trap — a rigid mind-set that can block smart people from seeing the importance of new facts — and thus, blocks the addressing of new circumstances.

Coeditors Herb Miller, Lyle E. Schaller and Cynthia Woolever expand on this thought in the October, 2011 (Volume 19, Number 1) “The Parish Paper” as they apply “cognitive traps” to local congregations.
I invite you to check out the article, not so much for church things, but for what you can learn about the other aspects of life where in “cognitive traps” limit our thinking.

Here is the link. I can also provide you with a hard copy if you ask. http://web.nebraskasynod.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/October2011.pdf

October 2011 "Sketchings"

2011-09-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

“FALL COLORS!!”

In the yard next door, there is a maple tree. It looks like this year it is going to be spectacular with fall color – if we get the right combination of warm days and cool nights and no wind/rain to drop the leaves prematurely. Already, the tree is awash in reds, rusts, yellows, browns and hues of green against the darker green leaves that have not yet been touched with the Master’s paintbrush. Already it is a wonder of beauty in our cul-de-sac.

I happen to be a person who loves the fall colors. (One day I want to find my way to the North East United States during this time of year.)

I think one reason I enjoy fall is that it is symbolic of a faith journey. It is a symbol of the fruits of maturity in faith, a coming to “bloom” from the growth of faith and the work of the Spirit. I know I speak much too simply in this regard. But never-the-less, the full beauty of faith cannot be enjoyed unless one is continually moving toward maturity in Christ.

You see, maturity in Christ is about growth. It is about movement in faith. It is about growing in what has been called “the mark’s of discipleship”: worship, Bible Reading and devotions, prayer, generosity, service and witness (or relationships where we can talk about our faith.)

The problem is, for many, when we come to talk about these disciplines, the reaction is more like that of a person getting a “root canal” than a person who is seeing an invitation to deeper faith, to spiritual growth, to spiritual maturity or to the fullness of life in Jesus.

However, as we commit to the process, embark on the journey and discipline ourselves to draw nourishment from the deep roots of our faith, we find the beauty of God’s handiwork in our lives. We discover the pure joy that comes from being close to Jesus. We display in our lives the beauty of God’s grace and goodness.

I’m excited about the fall season – both outdoors in within our walls. I’m excited about how God is going to paint our world with color and how God is going to paint our lives with grace and peace, forgiveness and His Spirit power. I’m anxious to see what amazing ways God will work in our lives as we live as reflections of His true and wondrous light.

We have been blessed with a wonderful past. We are living in an exciting present. As to the future, it can only be colored with God’s paint brush of expectation and hope as we grow in faith, mature in our mission and ministry and deepen our roots in His Spirit power.

T. O. M.

A Quote from C. S. Lewis:

2011-09-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Church is the Body of Christ in which members share the common life, complimenting and helping one another. C.S. Lewis

Forgiveness story:

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Corrie Tenboom, in her account of her life in Ravensbrook, a German concentration camp for women during WWII, told the story of coming around the corner one day and seeing one of their female guards savagely beating a fellow prisoner. She and her sister, Bonnie, stopped, appalled at what they were seeing. “That poor worm,” said Corrie. “Yes,” replied her sister, “We will have to pray for her forgiveness.” It was then that Corrie realized that while she had been sympathizing for the poor beaten woman, her sister saw the greater tragedy -- the guard who was able to treat a fellow human being in this way.

Years later, long after the war was over, Corrie’s conviction of the truth of her sisters insight was challenged. By this time she was a popular speaker. After one of her presentations a German man pulled her aside on the steps of a church. He had been one of the guards at the camp. He told her how much her words and story had come to mean to him. He put out his hand to shake hers. Corrie felt an unknown horror rising up in her, a revulsion which she did not know she still harbored. She did not want to shake the man’s hand, but she realized that Christ had forgiven him as well as her. On the steps of that church she shook his hand and forgave him too.

Forgiveness requires truth. Forgiveness cannot be possible in the presence of deception and cover up. Forgiveness is not an easy thing, but, empowered by Christ, is it possible. Forgiveness is possible because the energy of forgiveness flows from Christ. From Christ’s arms of love, forgiveness is felt, claimed and “played forward.” From the outstretched arms of Christ forgiveness heals the wounded heart.

One Perspective on “The Truth”:

2011-09-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jesus has said that he is “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

God’s truth is revealed through Jesus and from Jesus through the Bible, the Word of God. Sometimes, the picture that is painted by God Word isn’t something that I want to accept right off. Sometimes I don’t like to see the “truth” the way Jesus sees it. In those instances, I have to step back and honestly sort through the emotion and reactions God’s truth stirs up in me. I have to ask, “What my matter with all that?” “Why am I reacting so dramatically?” I have to process my stuff to come to a new pattern of thinking and acting that is in line with God’s truth, God’s way.

During the time that Knute Rockne was coaching at Notre Dame, a sports column in a South Bend newspaper earned the reputation of being the meanest, most biting, most cutting one in the country. The writer of the column, who wrote anonymously, knew the Notre Dame team very well. He wrote about their weaknesses. He pointed out the mistakes of individual players. He told about those who were lazy and those who were conceited. He told about those who broke training and who preferred to spend their time doing other things than preparing themselves to play a good football game.

The column made the players roaring mad. The truth telling of the writer really hurt. The team complained to Rockne. He was a sympathetic listener, but he said that he could not stop the writer. He advised that the only way in which the players could do so was to go out and play the game so well that they would prove the words written about them were not true.

It was later discovered that the writer of the column was Rockne himself. As coach of the team, he was best acquainted with their weaknesses. The critical column was his ingenious device to make a better team.

In the journey of life, in the path of faith, Jesus is our coach. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus wants nothing more than for us to be “winners” in the game of life. Jesus knows that we cannot achieve “Kingdom Greatness” unless we know the truth. Knowing the truth of God’s game plan frees us to discipline ourselves in the way of being faithful disciples.

Jesus has also said, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

September 2011 "Sketchings"

2011-08-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

“GROWING UP!!”

“This is what God does. He gives his best – the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and the bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
In a word, what I am saying is “grow up”. You are kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Jesus words in Matthew 5: 45 – 48 (The Message).

“Oh, grow up!” This is a phrase that youngsters often hear from adults, especially when they are trying to impress others. Having been a boy once, I can tell you that I don’t like that phrase, especially when it came with my Mom or Dad’s “parental attitude”. At the same time, I needed to be reminded that I could be something and someone better than what I was being. I needed to hear my Mom and Dad’s loving encouragement that they expected MORE from me than the bare minimum. Growing up always involves change, which is difficult and risky. But to not change is to stagnate. To stay the same is actually to go backwards.

“Oh, grow up!” God’s call, God’s invitation, to us is also an invitation to be on the road to growing into complete and whole individuals, kingdom people. God’s work has been, and always will be, to give us the best in order to nourish our growth into the people we’ve been created to be. God is always inviting us to recognize his blessings and live lives that are thankful for who we are now and graciously hopeful for what we can become through the live-giving power and promise of God’s gracious generosity and the guidance and power of God’s Holy Spirit. This kind of growth, becoming the disciples God intended us to be and becoming “kingdom subjects” that live lives that reflect God’s power, is difficult. It is risky. It involves change in our heart, our actions, our attitudes, our priorities and our lives. But if we do not grow up spiritually, we will stagnate and die. The Kingdom promise can not take root in our lives or be shared in our mission fields.

We live on a world in motion. Our culture is shifting more rapidly than we can comprehend. It seems like we just “catch a gear” for the next shift and suddenly there is another shift. Change is the common denominator.

Morning Star is a changing church. It isn’t comfortable to say that. But here again, change is necessary for a living body, for the organism that the Bible calls “The Body of Christ.” Jesus invites us to “Grow up”. Paul invites us to “grow up into Him who is the head, Jesus.” The Holy Spirit compels us to be like new plants in a freshly watered field. Everything in kingdom language is about growing, reaching a maturity of spirit. Nothing invites stagnation, even though Jesus Christ is the constant foundation forever.

Jesus says there will always be more mission we are called to do, more love we are called to experience and more growing up to do. In our growing we move to be more generous and gracious in our response to the needs of the world. As we grow God creates new opportunities and possibilities. Disciples are always ready to grow their faith to respond to the possibilities God lays in front of us.

Here are some of the places where we have opportunities to “grow up” to become like “kingdom subjects”:

In opportunities for worship and praise, learning and faith. As September comes around we will be adding a new opportunity: a worship opportunity for youth and young adults on the first Sunday evening of the month and strengthen others with music and participation of more and more folks. Our opportunities for Christian Education, available for all ages, we provide spots for youngsters, youth and adults to engage faith and grow roots of discipleship.

In opportunities for generous giving and service. The message here is that our generosity and service are simply ways to show others our confidence in a God who always provides and to tell others what the love of this god is all about. We do not give for ourselves, but for the benefit of others. We overflow our lives with the kind of love God overflows for us: undeserved, indiscriminate, surprising. Here we’re called to “grow up” from thinking that there isn’t enough, to living in our God created identity, dreaming beyond the trust that God always out gives the giver. Furthermore, in mission and ministry we are something more than “the bottom line.” God calls us to purposes that are higher, with opportunities to invest in others for the kingdom’s sake.

In opportunities to challenge “our sense of church”. God often comes into our lives disguised as a stranger asking, “What kind of a place are you runnin’ here anyway?” The stranger will probably be looking for a hospital where resources are invested in encouraging and aiding others along the road. The stranger will probably not be impressed with something that looks more like a “club” where membership has its privileges and people tend first to their own. Again we are called to “grow up”. We are to be something more, believe that we are all unworthy of grace, to understand that there are no special privileges.

By now, some are thinking, “Well, preacher, that all sounds good ... but .. it’s just not practical.” Of course it isn’t practical. Jesus’ point has always been that following him isn’t practical. Jesus point is that the law of God’s love dwelling in us compels us to stop depending on ourselves and start depending on him as we seek to grow into the people God created us to be, to go beyond what is practical and expected. Will it feel foolish at times? For sure. Will be wonder how we can meet the next need? Certainly. Will it be easy, painless comfortable? Hardly ever.

BUT, living generously and graciously toward others is a defining characteristic of those who are kingdom subjects, disciples, followers of Jesus. Our calling is to grow in his love, and connect others with the light of all creation. Our calling is to grow, grow over the long term, in the long run, even when in the short run it doesn’t look practical or seems reckless.

To do otherwise is to limit God, to ration grace into the places where it is safe and to be no different that the rest of the world.

God is calling us to “grow up”. Grow individually. Grow as a community. Grow in our generosity and in our graciousness.

What will that come to look like?

I don’t know for sure, but I can’t wait to find out.

T. O. M.

The Ant and the Contact Lens:

2011-08-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

This story from my files. Source: 1995 book “Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot in a chapter titled “Lost and Found”. Ms. Elliot attributes the story to a first person account sent to her by Brenda Foltz of Princeton, MN who maintained she wrote it based upon an event during her first rock climbing experience.

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great", she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can' eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would do all of us some good to say, "God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will."

This parable, like every testimony of the Bible reminds us of truth: God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

We Must Forgive!

2011-08-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Oil and water just do not mix. You cannot have day and night at the same time. The changes of life and the changes of the seasons are something that cannot be held back.

These are just facts. We take them for granted. Because they are fact, we have learned to make some adjustments in our living. You know, for example, that if we fail to make the proper preparations for winter we’ll be found running around in the snow wishing we’d planned ahead. Facts are facts and we real have no choice in accepting them. Of course, we can deny their existence, but that doesn’t change the reality.

Jesus was a very down-to-earth factual kind of guy. He told stories taken from the every day lives of everyday people, people like us. When Jesus told stories people knew that he understood their lives and situations. When he gave advice, it was drawn from the lives that most people lived.

The most needed piece of advice Jesus ever gave was the need to forgive. It wasn’t a matter of choice. It wasn’t something Jesus saw as something that might be good to do once in a while, or if it benefited oneself, or if the circumstances were just right. Jesus spoke clearly about forgiveness, and Paul echoed his teachings. Jesus said, “forgive as you have been forgiven.” Jesus suggests some urgency in the need to forgive.

Why forgive? For one thing, forgiveness gets life off dead center. I have had occasions, and I know you have too, where I have been at odds with another person. I’ve had those instances where I’ve felt that the other person offended me first. From our experiences, we’ve all learned that as long as we hold onto that situation, as long as we hold the other person “guilty” for whatever wrong we feel they have done against us, the possibilities of a future with that person stop dead in its tracks. The possibility of clearing the air and enjoying the wonder of relationships is held hostage by a failure to forgive.

Of course, it is easy to feel justified in our anger. Of course there are those instances where it seems perfectly appropriate that the other person be made to suffer our wrath and have it tossed into their face (time and time again) that they have wronged us. But what really happens, truth be told, is that the opposite occurs. Instead of them feeling our wrath they shrug us off as a person who simply doesn’t get it. Instead of us being in control and holding the other person accountable what really happens is that we place ourselves in chains ... chains buried deep in the past.

So, if you intend to live, you must forgive. You must forgive if you hope for any newness to come into your life. You must take the first step in forgiveness if you ever hope to make amends with those who may have wronged you. You must forgive if you ever hope to be forgiven of the wrongs that are clearly of your own doing and making.

For sure, reaching out with a word of forgiveness might just be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. I know personally that it is a very humbling experience. However, following Jesus' command to forgive, in forgiving we’ll find some parts of our lives moving off dead center and a new spirit of peace emerging.

"This Road Has Potholes!!”

2011-08-09T07:39:00.001-07:00

Around Omaha we hear a lot about potholes, especially in the spring. From what I see on a bike ride, apparently the heat has blistered a few streets and opened some bit potholes this summer.

But I want to speak about some other “potholes” in the road.

Life is a journey. There are hills and valleys, twists and curves and even a few potholes along the way. I’ve encountered a few recently myself. I’m sure you have too. The potholes can be pretty little, like a set back on a project, an unexpected change in schedule or a disagreement in a relationship. Or they can be big rim busting potholes like unemployment, having one’s car stolen or a medical diagnosis. Or they can be a variety of things in between.

What we know is that the people who find the most joy in life are the ones who can deal with the “potholes” in the journey. Temperament appears to predispose some people to see the dark side of situations and to incline toward pessimism. Certainly there are external circumstances and individuals over which one does not have control. But as humans, we are not helpless. We do have control over at least one thing.

Our ATTITUDE is within our control. Our attitude toward life is a choice. Our “self talk” to move us to place things in God’s hands, our self-conversation to “let it go to make room for a miracle” is one thing we can do/control. Negative self-talk, adopting a sense of helplessness practically guarantees a sorry outcome. Unless someone rescues us from ourselves we are likely to get swallowed up in the potholes along the journey.

Maybe you’ve heard about the jilted bride who placed an ad? "Hope Chest for Sale: brand new, half price, long story."

At quite the opposite side of “attitude” is the little boy playing right field for his Pee Wee League team. A latecomer leaned against the fence and asked, "What's the score?" When the boy answered that his team was trailing 8 to 0, the kindly fellow said, "Don't be too discouraged. Maybe your team will do better next time." The kid didn't even look up; he just said, "It's okay. We ain't been to bat yet!"

Now, don’t hear me wrong. I don’t want to say that we become naive or foolish. But, the potholes of life, as big as they might be, even if they are huge “sinkholes” in the journey, don’t have to be the end.

Believe it or not, life sometimes needs to work out the way love does. The twists and turns, the hills and valleys and even the potholes simply help us grow, learn to trust God, become more compassionate and even enjoy more fully the taste of victory and joy.

A couple of phrases of music have been rolling around in my head as some potholes loom in my journey. One goes, “...you make all things work together for my good...” The other is “...when the oceans rage, I don’t have to be afraid ...” Both are from the song” “Your Love Never Fails”. See the you-tube at

See you along the road...

"Being Faithful to Jesus"

2011-08-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

In the interview, the Pastor was asked, “What’s your church growth plan?”

Her reply was, “All I have is a ‘Be Faithful to Jesus Plan’, which would include helping equip you to spread Christ’s grace and peace in this community. If I become your pastor, I’ll be with you for only a season. But this community is where God has called you to be the Body of Christ. This is your church, and you all know your town better than I do. There’s no way I could suggest something better than the ideas already present in your congregation.”

There is wisdom in her reply. The “rudder” of the community of faith, the Body of Christ, is Jesus Christ. As the head of his Church and the “rudder” of its mission and ministry, Jesus directs the Body to be in mission and ministry. The church is energized and motivated by a living relationship with Jesus. The claim God lays on individuals moves them toward discipleship and living like a disciple by giving generously, praying, worshiping, reading and studying the Bible, doing acts of service and sharing one’s faith.

A growing faith develops deeper understandings of how “call” brings disciples into a mutual partnership of responsibility, authority and accountability while continuing to seek the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. This deepening of faith and growth in discipleship enables the church to mutually tend to the matters entrusted by God to human hands.

One growth opportunity is coming to mutual understandings of the place the church holds in mission and ministry and the commitment to be well informed and prepared by having first tended to our personal spiritual commitments and discipleship.

Finding Father Benjamin: A Fable by Max Lucado

2011-08-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

This fable was shared at our staff meeting a couple of weeks ago. It speaks for itself.

Unfavorable winds blow the ship off course, and when they do, the sailors spot uncharted islands. They see half a dozen mounds rising out of the blue South Seas waters.

The captain orders the men to drop anchor and goes ashore. He is a robust man with a barrel chest, full beard, and curious soul.

On the first island he sees nothing but sadness. Underfed children. Tribes in conflict. No fanning or food development, no treatment for the sick, and no schools. Just simple, needy people.

The second and following islands reveal more of the same. The captain sighs at what he sees. "This is no life for these people." But what can he do?

Then he steps onto the last and largest island. The people are healthy and well fed. Irrigation systems nourish their fields, and roads connect the villages. The children have bright eyes and strong bodies. The captain asks the chief for an explanation. How has this island moved so far ahead of the others?

The chief, who is smaller than the captain but every bit his equal in confidence, gives a quick response: "Father Benjamin. He educated us in everything from agriculture to health. He built schools and clinics and dug wells."

The captain asks, "Can you take me to see him?”

The chief nods and signals for two tribesmen to join him. They guide the captain over a jungle ridge to a simple, expansive medical clinic. It is equipped with clean beds and staffed with trained caretakers. They show the captain the shelves of medicine and introduce him to the staff. The captain, though impressed, sees nothing of Father Benjamin. He repeats his request. "I would like to see Father Benjamin. Can you take me to where he lives?"

The three natives look puzzled. They confer among themselves. After several minutes the chief invites, "Follow us to the other side of the island." They walk along the shoreline until they reach a series of fishponds. Canals connect the ponds to the ocean. As the tide rises, fish pass from the ocean into the ponds. The islanders then lower canal gates and trap the fish for harvest.

Again the captain is amazed. He meets fishermen and workers, gatekeepers and net casters. But he sees nothing of Father Benjamin. He wonders if he is making himself clear.

"I don't see Father Benjamin. Please take me to where he lives."

The trio talks alone again. After some discussion the chief offers, "Let's go up the mountain." They lead the captain up a steep, narrow path. After many twists and turns the path deposits them in front of a grass-roofed chapel. The voice of the chief is soft and earnest. "He has taught us about God."

He escorts the captain inside and shows him the altar, a large wooden cross, several rows of benches, and a Bible.

"Is this where Father Benjamin lives?" the captain asks.
The men nod and smile.

"May I talk to him?"
Their faces grow suddenly serious. "Oh, that would be impossible."

“Why?”

"He died many years ago."

The bewildered captain stares at the men. "I asked to see him, and you showed me a clinic, some fish farms, and this chapel. You said nothing of his death."

"You didn't ask about his death," the chief explains. "You asked to see where he lives. We showed you."

Source
Max Lucado, Outlive Your Life, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010, xix-xxi.

Early Quotes and thoughts from our "Shared Book Reading”

2011-08-01T06:37:00.000-07:00

The council has been reading “Power Surge” by Michael Foss. Everyone has been invited to join the reading.

Here are some quotes and thoughts from Chapters 1 – 3 for reflection.

1) In the introduction Foss discusses the “membership” model of church affiliation. Here the church lays claim to the lives of Christians. He is advocating a change to a “discipleship” model. In this model Jesus lays claim to the lives of Christians and Christian faith is demonstrated by a focus on growing discipleship. ( pg. 4 – 5)

2) “In the Protestant explosion of the 1950’s, membership implied obligation. In today’s cultural context, membership has come to imply prerogatives.” (pg. 15)

3) “Perhaps the greatest weakness of the membership model has been the loss, over time, of its vision for the mission of the church.” (pg. 16) Foss also says that “all the power the church will ever need comes from people – people whose lives are changes, people who live “in Christ”, people who live lives of disciplined discipleship. (pg. 4)

4) “Discipleship is about changing and shaping lives by the grace of God.” (pg. 20)

5) “Discipleship is a about individual Christians – and the church as a community of Christians – living in mission.” (pg. 28)

6) “Pastors are leaders, not chaplains”. (pg. 31) “Pastors become spiritual catalysts through whom the Holy Spirit encourages, equips, directs and strengthens the faith of those they serve” (pg. 32)

Here are some additional thoughts, connections:

1) On page 4 about half way down it mentions Jacob wrestling with God. The whole story is found in Genesis 32: 22 – 32. The result of this was that Jacob’s name was changed to “Israel”. A name change in Bible language means a transformation of the Spirit as well.

2) Foss speaks to the idea that "the claim of the church on people's lives" has been a standard assumption. In this new North American landscape, this claim is no longer functioning. What is needed, Foss seems to say is "the claim of Jesus on people's lives." The claim of Jesus on a life moves an individual into deeper connections with God and a discipleship style of life. I'm wondering how you might think about these two categories.

3) Over the last couple of years or so, I have been making a conscious effort to talk about “disciples” vs. “members.” I have found that effort to be quite challenging, both to my efforts at consistent language but also to my ability to be understood by a culture that largely is focused on “membership” models. I’m wondering where this language (and commitment) shift is challenging you as you read Pastor Foss’s descriptions and analysis.

If you aren’t reading “Power Surge” maybe this will give you some incentive. If you are, what thoughts are challenging your perspective of your faith? Please share you insights and growth points.

“Why the Lutheran Message Isn’t Popular”

2011-08-01T06:18:00.001-07:00

It is no secret that most Lutheran churches (as well as other “mainline” denominations) are not the most rapidly growing churches around. But there are many congregations that are growing rapidly.

Recently there have been questions about the type of “christianity” / ”discipleship” encountered in these “fast growing” churches. There has been a move toward changing lives, transforming faith and commitment to a discipleship walk with Jesus. Growth in depth for most Lutherans has replaced the goal of growth in numbers.

In the Lutheran tradition the gospel message is different. Instead of focusing on numbers and doing whatever it might take to appeal to large crowds of people, most Lutherans will focus on our rich tradition of preaching something called a “theology of the cross.” Martin Luther first used this phrase during the Reformation in contrast to what he called a “theology of glory.”

A “theology of glory” focuses on “me.” Jesus Christ becomes a means to our own end. It is a way to be successful, healthy, beautiful, morally superior, patriotic or even wealthy. A “theology of glory” “uses” the Bible to support our own preconceptions or ideals and provides easy answers fro some of life’s toughest questions. Jesus comes to us “prepackaged” for our convenience and people crowd in to get a piece of the action.

But a “theology of the cross” sees the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ differently. That’s why the Lutheran message isn’t so popular. At the cross, the crowds scatter and Jesus is left alone. There, on that lonely hill, God enters fully into the human experience of suffering and shame. The God of the cross is not one who magically transforms us into happy and beautiful people. Rather the cross reveals the true depth of God’s love for the world. A “theology of the cross is all about GOD. It is not about “me.’ Through the fullness of Jesus and his willingness to remain faithful even to death, sin loses its power to determine our future and by the resurrection of Jesus form the dead, hope is born into the world in the most powerful way possible. Nothing can separate us from God. We are joined to the divine life through Jesus so there is never a “God-forsaken” moment in our lives! We do not need to escape suffering ... for god provides the power and the nourishment to OUTGROW IT.

The growth we need as Christians is growth through the message of the cross. It isn’t a popular message. It doesn’t attract crowds. However, this growth is real. It is life-changing. It is powerful and real. A “theology of the cross” is brutally honest about the way life is, but it also provides a promise that sin and death and suffering will never have the last word. Our fate is not up to us. It is up to God ... and God has so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only Son so that we might be saved from all that we need saving from.

Claiming and receiving this Gospel into our lives provides a freedom and a power to grow in ways we never imagined.

I’m trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us all to grow deeper roots in the Gospel of Jesus. I’m praying for movement in our lives from a “theology of glory” to a “theology of the cross.” I’m trusting in the power of the Spirit to lead us to grow as people of faith in our love for others, because of our love for Jesus.

We may not attract “crowds”, but we will attract PEOPLE. People who long to know that God loves them, forgives them, frees them from the past so that they too might walk in a “newness of life” and know the joy of God’s grace.

People longing for this Gospel power will never be served by a “theology of glory.” A “theology of the cross”, though, will change their lives.

Take A Closer Look

2011-07-29T07:02:00.001-07:00

On a clear evening, away from the city streetlights and glare, I witnessed a beautiful sight. Looking up into the evening sky I saw dozens of stars twinkling in the darkness. As my eyes adjusted to the light, those dozens became hundreds ... there were more stars than could be counted. Looking closely, I noticed that that the sky almost had more white than black. The beauty of the stars was dazzling.

This experience speaks to a simple but great truth about life: the closer you look the more you see. It is a principle that can be applied to the community of faith.

Take Morning Star, for example. At first glance one might see a building, and attractive building both inside and out. Looking more closely you’d notice that it is a gathering place for babies and toddlers daily in a PreSchool and Child Care Center and a place of worship on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. Keeping a close eye on things, you’d soon notice that there are a variety of meetings, gathering and programs for youngsters, youth and adults. And you would notice that it is a place where laughter and tears are shared.

A close look would reveal something else. Morning Star isn’t a perfect place. Depending on your point of view it’s too small or too large, too traditional or too modern, too demanding or filled with too many sinners. If fact, some people see so much imperfection it gets written off as a bad deal altogether.

Now look closer, much closer, maybe even magnifying glass close. Morning Star is a Christian community gathered in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the place where believers are most likely to encounter God in action. In good times, it is a place of celebration. In tougher times, it is a place of support and prayer. It tragic times, it is the only place that offers a message of true hope. The mission and ministry of Morning Star is founded on a commitment to offer something that everyone needs: a sense of God’s presence and power, forgiveness and love.

Certainly, the church has many critics. But on the other hand the Church of Jesus Christ has no rivals.

Take a closer look and you can see it for yourself.

GOING WITH THE FLOW:

2011-07-27T13:02:00.001-07:00

Life is a canoe trip down a rushing stream.
You can’t turn back, though you long to do so.
You can only move with the current, churning and splashing along.
But how I would like to back up stream and take another look at that breath taking view of mountain peaks, or back to that spot where the water is calm in a pond created by a family of beavers.
How I would like to get back upstream to the point before the canoe overturned and drenched me and I had to pull it up to shore and bail it out.
Back up stream, knowing in advance where the whirlpools and eddies are and the hidden rock that lie waiting to ram my shinny craft.

But life flows on.
And I must go with the flow.
Go with the openness and flexibility to what life brings.

Going with the flow is risk.
I never know when there may be another capsize.
Or even when the trip will be ended by a rock punching a hole in my craft.
But that’s the thrill of it all.
The life and death struggle to keep afloat and moving with the flow.

Moving along, the stream get broader.
I become more skillful in maneuvering the craft of life.
Going with the flow, I discover there are even more thrilling views, views never imagined.
The serendipity of it all is almost too much.
I hadn’t planned on passing through a meadow blazing with spring flowers.
Or seeing a proud buck brazing in the distance.
Or an eagle soaring overhead.
These are the extras of life.
Things I didn’t earn.
Things I didn’t count on
Things I don’t deserve.
They are gifts.
Gifts from the Giver.

I know not what lies ahead.
But I know I must go with the flow.
And I would not turn back upstream.
No. Not really, even if I had the chance.
For there are too many challenges.
Too many thrills to lure me on.
And on.
And on.
by Perry H. Biddle Jr.

New Opportunity for "Financial Literacy":

2011-07-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

In the middle of money meltdowns, tensions over financial policies and debt ceilings and the growing number of bankruptcies, it would appear that there is a high degree of need for personal "financial literacy."

Dave Ramsey is a well know leader in this area. He is the guy with solid information about handling money responsibly, avoiding debt, and practicing generosity. His books are New York Times bestsellers, and his radio program carries the challenge of financial accountability to millions of people every day. Some of you have studied his Financial Peace University classes - and wished you had learned the basics years ago. Before you got married. Before you bought a too-expensive car on a too-meager salary.

Some folks had a vision of presenting the Ramsey materials via qualified academics and for college credit to entice young men and women to study principles of financial management early enough in life that it will make a difference for a lifetime.

The result is that Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance is being offered online--for college credit. The seven-week course offers three credits that can be transferred to any accredited college or university.

This concept should have an appeal to high school juniors and seniors who want to get off to an early start on college credits. It should have an appeal to bring young people who want to add to their elective credits. It should have an appeal for parents who want to equip thier children with solid information they can build on for life. For both college students and even for high school juniors and seniors who can get early college credit for their effort.

The hope is that this effort creates the potential for making a life-changing difference for thousands of young people.

Check out http://rc.edu/daveramsey.

Help someone learn financial literacy.

And, if you're interested in a Dave Ramsey Financial University at Morning Star, please let me know. We have individuals who are qualified to help us host one.

Bridge to Heaven:

2011-07-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

Several have asked for the final slide in my Sunday Sermon. Here it is. It is also in my sermon posted under "Sermons" on the Morning Star Website.
Enjoy the inspiration!

August 2011 "Sketchings"

2011-07-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

“GOING THE DISTANCE!!”

Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? It involves a challenge thrown down by the hare for a race between himself and the tortoise. Of course, it seems like a sure bet that the rabbit is going to win. Speed is not the main asset of a turtle. So when the race begins the rabbit takes off. The hare is so far out in front. His confidence is beaming. The race surely has already been won. So the hare decides take a break, to step out of the action and to take a nap.

But things are far from over. The race hasn’t been won. The tortoise doesn’t stop but plods on with the slow, methodical, deliberate steps that are his forte. He’s in this race to win. He knows that in order to win he must plod on, step after step. You know the end of the story. The turtle proves victorious over the over-confident and foolish rabbit.

This story can be an image of our Christian walk. Our getting to the end means faithfulness in our following of Jesus Christ. It means persistence in staying in the race with our fullest effort. It means keeping our eyes on God’s vision for us and refusing to let circumstances determine the outcome.

Now let me follow that by saying that our goal as Christians is to grow our faith and confidence and trust so that we can keep going. The “prize” that we’re after is the high honor of serving our God out of the deep roots of faith that join us to Jesus, the Christ. Our dream victory is simply being faithful step by step over the long haul to the calling we have to become more and more like the Spirit of God that fills us.

If we’re intent on doing that, we have some steps to take to get going. If we’re going to move from standing still and getting this “race of faith” underway, we need to deal with those old familiar, “who, what, where, when and why” questions.

Right now, I’d say, that the most difficult of those questions before us is the “when” question. As individuals, and perhaps ever as a congregation, we have all kinds of thoughts about where to go; what to do; with whom to do it and why. But in order to get out of the box, up to the starting line and on the way, it is the “when” question that has to be figured out. When is the word of procrastination. When is the element called indecision. When, when put into motion, is the door through which we will need to pass if we are to move from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow. When is the key question to be answered before we can be fully on the road toward the “prize” of faithfulness in our calling as children of God.

When is a serious question as we consider our relationship with Jesus the Christ. When is a serious question as we plod along step by step through life. When is a serious question in putting down deep roots of faith.

When are you going to get back to consistent regular worship with God’s family? When are you going to break the habit of sitting at home with the Sunday paper and a cup of coffee? When are you going to get things straight in terms of generosity and really being a good steward of the resources God has given you to manage? When is Christ going to truly become the captain of your life? When is prayer going to become as natural as breathing and as frequent as your next breath? When will you finally decide that you’ve waited long enough on the fringes of the Christian life (the hare’s nap???) and that it’s finally time to jump in with both feet and see what Jesus Christ wants to really do in and through you for the rest of your life? When are you going to start to take seriously the responsibility you have as a partner and member of the Body of Christ where all parts must work together for Christ’s work to be done in mission and ministry.

As far as your relationship with Jesus Christ, when is a question you need to take seriously. When is Christ going to truly become the captain of your life? When is prayer going to be something as natural as breathing and as frequent as your next breath? When will you finally decide that you’ve waited on the fringes of the Christian life long enough and that it’s finally time to jump in with both feet and see what Jesus Christ wants to really do with the rest of your life?

Answer the “when” question with Christ and you will begin to see some exciting things happen as you move faithful step by faithful step along the road St. Paul calls the “race (of faith) that is set before us.” Exciting things will start to happen for all of us because you’ve made a new commitment to the work of the Body of Christ and our movement toward the “prize” of mission and ministry. Exciting things will start to appear as we persist in not being detoured by circumstances, but only focusing on God’s work through our hands in mission and ministry.

Joining you in the race!

T. O. M.

Invitation to shared book reading

2011-07-13T15:50:00.001-07:00

At the meeting on Monday, July11, the Morning Star Congregational Council agreed to read the book "Power Surge: Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church" by Michael Foss. Our goal is to have some outside perspectives to guide discussion our discussion. Our hope is to have a common point of reference as we face how Morning Star is affected by the changing landscape of North American religion. This common "book club" activity" will provide a common perspective in order that our planning, discussions and actions can be more proactive than reactive.

Anyone is invited to join in the reading process. We'll be reading a couple of chapters a month. When we are all done, there is likely to be a congregational discussion for all who have read the book. And, as always, you can share your responses, ideas and opinions in the "comments" section of this blog.

You can find the book on line (even in Kindle format). Amazon.com also has some used copies available.

Happy reading!

The Role of Clergy:

2011-07-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

Another area of change in the fact of North American religion has to do with the role of clergy. During the era of North American Religion (the era that most people over 40 grew up in), clergy tended to have three roles: chaplain, scholar, and part of the authority structure of the town or community. Note that neither “leader” nor “congregational leader” is on the list.

As the era of North American religion draws to a close, however, and as we seek to shape a new era, clergy take on roles that have strong leadership components in order to equip congregational disciples to identify and make progress in facing the most pressing problems and deepest challenges. Furthermore, clergy are teachers of the faith and mentors in faith development for the larger faith community.
As we move further into a new era, more and more ministry will be carried out by well equipped disciples freeing clergy to equip, train and mentor those whose lives are being molded and transformed by God’s Spirit.

In the new era, the church will begin to more closely reflect the Biblical (particularly Acts 2) norm of ministry – believers tending to believers thereby living out the principle of “the priesthood of all believers.”

Freedom:

2011-07-11T12:54:00.001-07:00

Just a week ago I was celebrating United States’ Independence Day. I paused to sense the meaning of freedom. And I remembered that my freedom wasn’t free! Someone paid. Some gave their all. And all gave some. But in the end the freedom that has been handed to me came at a price.

My heartfelt thanks to all who have served our country to help preserve our and my freedom!

Just yesterday, we had words in our Bible readings about freedom. This freedom is an inward freedom that comes through the gift of the Holy Spirit. What I was challenged to remember is that this freedom wasn’t free either. It came at a price. Someone paid!

My praise and thanks to my Lord Jesus for paying the price so that I can live in God’s grace, peace and hope!

“The bloodstains have dried and been washed clean.
The smell of the pain and smoke in the air has cleared.
The echoes of the throes of agony has been quieted.
We are left with the resulting freedom until we forget.”

“Freedom on the outside nor the inside isn't free.
It never was and never will be.”
(Quote from Pr. N. Bronner, MountainWings #11185)

Changes in the Landscape of North American Religion:

2011-07-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Current books and articles on church life show a pretty consistent them that Mainline Protestant congregations are facing declines.

Several writers suggest that much of what is being faced today is not so much about the local congregation, as it is about changes in the landscape of North American religion. One factor in this landscape is a change in the role of the local congregation/church in our society and the changes in this society. A bigger, and critical factor, many say, is that the era of American Religion is over. There is an opportunity in these changes. Now, the door is now open for congregations, leaders and ministries to rediscover mission, spirituality and encounters with our living God.
At the same time, the end of American Religion, as most of us have known it, means we have “lost” (and are losing) a good deal. We’re losing “church” as we’ve always known it. We’re losing many clear-cut roles in the life of the larger society. We’re embarking into a landscape where none of us have ever been before.

It is important for us to recognize that these “losses” precipitate grief and grieving in all of its forms. After all something important is coming to an end in our lifetimes. It is also important for us to recognize our grieving and sense of loss so that we can name it and cope with it rather unintentionally and unconsciously misdirecting our anger, frustration and sense of helplessness.

What things do you sense "losing" as the landscape changes? How are you handling the sense of "loss" and grief?

Seeing (or failing to see) God

2011-07-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

Reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there are so many times that people observe Jesus, listen to his teachings and see his miracles, yet fail to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. There are those who watched him closely and then either said that he was crazy or that he must be demon-possessed.

From time to time even the disciples couldn’t make sense out of Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God.

The problem was that in every way, from the places he hung out, to the people he healed, to the truth of his teachings, everything Jesus said and did was evidence of the truth of his role, the truth of his mission, the truth of his relationship to his father, the God of all creation.

You see, Jesus never once asked anyone to believe his claim of being the Son of God sent to rescue the earth from sin on the basis of his saying so. NO! Jesus asked for belief on the basis of his works. He said, “Don't believe me unless I carry out my Father's work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe me" (John 10:37-38 NLT).

My observation is that things haven’t changed a lot over the last 2,000 years. For those who don’t want to see God at work, for those who want to miss God, for those who tend to be blind to his presence, deaf to his voice and oblivious to his power, it is still easy to fail to understand God’s claim as the almighty one. And it is still relatively easy to dismiss the loving work of our Savior.

Still today there are those who focus on God’s claim to be God rather than seeing God’s works and sensing God in God’s work.

I just had the wonderful opportunity to spend a few days in one of the most awesome areas of our country – the Rocky Mountains and high desert plains. Seeing the grandeur of the snowy peaks, smelling the fresh pine forests, watching the sun rise (and set) over the high desert, observing plants that had adapted to their environment, listening to the rush of overflowing streams (we know all to well that there was an abundance of snow and snow melt this spring), I was seeing God at work. In seeing God at work, I was affirming my wonder and awe for the God of my salvation.

Beyond this very practical experience, I’m also privy to the stories of how Jesus Christ is transforming and changing lives – lives of people who sit in Morning Star pews and participate in our mission and ministry. It is there that I witness my Savior’s power over sin and death and have my eyes opened to the Spirit’s power and presence among us.

Perhaps you’re at a point in your journey where you wonder about the reality of God or where it seems especially hard to “see” God at work. If so, just look around. Just witness the little miracles of the sunrise or sunset, the whisper of the wind, the song of the cardinal, the bloom of a flower, the cry of a baby, or the feeling of your own breath. Just pause for a moment and let your senses soak in what’s around you.

I’m pretty sure that as you do so, you’ll not wonder about God any more. You’ll “see” God and be moved to respond with thanks and praise in your discipleship.

Please post stories of where you've seen God in the recent past. The wonder of it all will encourage all participants.

Leadership in the Local Congregation

2011-07-11T12:41:00.001-07:00

The challenge of leadership in the church is that the church is not a “business” and the Congregational Council is not another “non-profit” board. Certainly, a church has to be attentive to good business practices like taking care of obligations, being good managers of human and tangible resources and being attentive to the challenges and opportunities in mission and ministry. And a Congregational Council has some “board” functions like long-term vision, oversight of mission and ministry activities and tending to the congregations vision and goals.

But leadership is much more than this. It is the call to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us: the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the mission and ministry of His body in this mission outreach center. The Bible is clear that the church of Jesus Christ is Christ’s body. It is a spiritual body and a spiritual community. Spiritual principles guide the life and ministry of the local congregation. Spiritual principles bind us together as a body. Spiritual principles guide our direction as we seek to become what God has envisioned for us in this place in His creation.

Leadership, in that regard, then, becomes more than just tending to the “business.” Church Leadership is tending to he primary task: discerning God's desires for this part of Christ’s body in this place.

It would be fun to hear the perspective and experiences of others.

July 2011 "Sketchings"

2011-06-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

“A TIME TO MOVE FORWARD!!”

It is no secret that there is a deep and growing concern for the trends that we are seeing at Morning Star. While lives are being changed and we are growing our sense of mission, other key indicators are showing a rather steady decline. For example, this year to date our weekend worship attendance is down by nearly 20 people a week over last year and about 50 a week over 4 years ago. Our giving is holding steady, but is behind the pace we need to keep if we are going to achieve our goals for mission and ministry this year – for example we have not made a Mission Share gift to the Nebraska Synod since about this time one year ago which means we are not extending our mission and ministry through our Synod and ELCA. While our debt is relatively small (about $ 230,000 at this point), the interest payments we make each month (@ $1, 200) further reduce our ability to engage the mission and ministry to which we are called.

In the grand scheme of things “crisis” is probably too strong of a word. However, we certainly have a deep and growing concern about our ability to be the Morning Star that God would like us to be and that we would like to be – a vital center for mission committed to being the light of Christ in a world of darkness.

To say it another way, focus on these trends can quickly move us from a mindset of mission and ministry to a mindset of “self-preservation.” Self-preservation cannot be the main focus in the Body of Christ. A self-preservation mindset pulls people from looking outward to looking inward. Self-preservation thinking limits mission thinking to the extent that the choices we make pull us into scarcity thinking – what we can’t do instead of who we are and what we are called to do as caretakers of God’s abundance.

The central nature of being the church is being the Body of Christ is mission. God calls His church into a mindset of seeing God’s abundance and then asking how we use God’s blessings for the sake of the world. A mission focus helps the church see God’s abundance as blessing for behaving in ways that reach out for the purpose of changing lives, serving the needy and hurting and drawing people more deeply into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. This mission is only accomplished when each person lives as a disciple and does their part as a caretaker of Kingdom things.

I recently read the story of a college choir that was all set to present its package of music in a large church. The program of sacred song was to be carried live by a local radio station. When everything appeared to be ready, the announcer made his final introduction and waited for the choir director to begin. One of the tenors was not ready, however, so the venerable conductor refused to raise his baton. All this time, nothing but silence was being broadcast (radio stations abhor silence). Growing very nervous, the announcer, forgetting that his microphone was still on and that he could be heard in the church and on the radio, said in exasperation, "Get on with it, you old goat!"

Later in the week, the radio station got a letter from one of its listeners -- a man who had tuned in to listen to the music from the comfort of his easy chair. When he heard "Get on with it, you old goat!" he took the message personally. He had been doing nothing to further God's work, and this startling message was enough to convict him and get him going again.

You know, sometimes we need a wake up call. Sometimes we need to be reminded to “Get on with it!” We need to be challenged to rethink our apathy or our disengagement. I wonder if this current situation isn’t just a prompting to move us into renewing our commitment to the outward focus of mission and ministry.

But I can’t do it alone. Neither can you. It takes all of us recommitting ourselves to our call to discipleship and ministry. So, let’s get on with it. Let me suggest a couple of steps to help us get started.

1. Recommit yourself and your family to regular worship. If you’ve just slacked off, commit to one more Sunday a month. If you’ve gotten out of the habit take some time to create a new habit. If you haven’t been around for a while, now is as good a time as any to make your way back. If there are practical problems that prevent your attendance, please let myself or another leader know so that we might attempt to find a solution with you.

2. Recommit yourself to generosity. Commit yourself to be regular in your giving of time and resources. This isn’t a plea for increases, just a plea for regularity with the commitments you’ve already made. Every week, we have room for worship leaders and servants – greeters, communion assistants, coffee hosts / hostesses, nursery attendants and the list can go on. Your generosity of yourself spreads like a good immune system to wart off apathy and self-centered thoughts.

3, Recommit yourself to the community, the body. Just like a body needs every part and member of the body, the community of faith needs each disciple. Maybe it is time to set aside an old excuse or an old hurt in order to make a new commitment of faith. Maybe it is time to forgive or ask forgiveness in order to open up a new door to fulfilling what God has in mind for you. When we gather as a body, we encourage and uplift each other in the presence of God. We find strength in numbers. And God delights in our witness.

The bottom line is that it will take all of us “getting on with it” to begin to reverse the trends we are seeing. It will take all of us finding ways to make new commitments for the good of the Kingdom. It will take each one of us being willing to step out in faith, to even step out of our comfort zone in order to rebuild our mission focus and get back on the track of a fitting Kingdom Mission for Morning Star.

As your Lead Pastor, I truly believe that Morning Star is exactly at the point in its life where a new burst of energy, faith and excitement is about to take place. I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is moving among us with renewing vitality. I believe that God has great plans for us.

And, I’m delighted that we are partners in this ministry at this point in history.

The Value of Saying “Thanks!”

2011-06-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

It might have been the first prayer we ever learned: "God is great; God is good. We thank Him for our food." And perhaps it started us off with an understanding of the very positive impact gratitude can have in our busy, noisy lives.

You see, a sense of appreciation for all the positives of life, a sense of gratitude for the abundance God has freely bestowed to us, coupled with praise to the God who has provided them, gives us a clearer sense of ourselves and our relationship to the Deity who is the giver of every good gift. Our “attitude of gratitude” is an affirmation that God’s grace is real in our lives.

Rubel Shelly writes about when his son was about four years old, and it was his turn to say a prayer of thanksgiving over lunch. “With open-face sandwiches on the plates, he folded his hands and began. ‘Deah God, we fank fee . . .’ (Note: He wasn't doing well with his r- and th-words at four! But back to the prayer . . .) ‘Deah God, we fank fee foh de bwead and de tomato . . .’ (Another Note: Yes, he was peeking! But back to the prayer . . .) ‘And we fank fee foh de meat and foh . . . and foh . . .’ (Final Note: He knew what lettuce was, but it just wouldn't come to him at that critical moment. So he pointed his still-folded hands toward it and continued to pray . . .) ‘And foh dis stuff. Amen.’”

It’s a cute story, but it gets to the heart of the matter. A bit of thanksgiving at mealtime (or anytime) is such a tiny piece of our spiritual lives. However, being thankful is good. Honoring God as the giver is better since we can’t claim credit for any of it!

So may we be reminded of the wonderful gifts of food and air, friends and work, sunshine and rain and every blessing we enjoy. All are blessings we did not create and for which we can take no credit. It is good to recognize them as gifts and to be thankful. And the bigger blessing is our little bits of thanks make it even more natural to turn to our Creator in stressful times to name our hurts and pains, our stresses and our troubles, and to ask for God’s help without feeling guilty as a thankless beggar.

I remember this verse: "Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6).

A Story with "Heart"

2011-06-10T06:51:00.001-07:00

Did you hear the story from the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this week?

The Texas Rangers drafted two players from the University of Georgia Bulldogs: Zach Cone 37th over-all in the fifth round and Jonathan Taylor 1,000+ over-all in the 33rd Round. The two have been teammates since their years at Parkview High School. They were both quality players for the Bulldogs program.

But what is newsworthy in this story is that Jonathan Taylor, a Junior outfielder, will probably never be able to play baseball again. He is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair after an on field collision with his teammate and friend, Zach Cone, in early March.

The Rangers selection of Taylor was to show a token of support for his rehabilitation process. It was also a way of acknowledging the talent he possessed. An honor roll student his first two seasons, Taylor had a .312 career batting average over 117 games for Georgia and may have had a future on the diamond.

The story is that Taylor was in rehab when he got the Ranger’s phone call. His mother described the news as “awesome” and said her son’s face “lit up” when he heard about the pick.

Baseball fans will know that teams often use the last rounds of the draft to symbolically draft players who may never play for them. The most famous might be from 1987 when Tommy Lasorda used a 62nd-round pick on a little-known catcher as a favor to a family friend. (Guy by the name of Mike Piazza.)

As of this writing, it is noted that in the 40th round, the Houston Astros selected San Jacinto College reliever Buddy Lamothe, who had a 0.86 ERA before being paralyzed in a recreational accident.

These kinds of stories remind us that dreams do come true. And they give us confidence that even organizations like Major League Baseball have a heart to do what is right.

I hope it’s a trend that will spread into other areas of our society and lives.

June 2011 "Sketchings"

2011-05-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

“GREAT CHURCHES ARE NO ACCIDENT!!”

Had I been blessed to be a “fly on the wall” back in the mid fifties, when the founders of Morning Star gathered to create a new Lutheran church in “west Omaha”, I’m pretty sure I would have heard a conversation laced with faith in what God was doing in this area of the city. Faith would have been coupled with commitment to the cause ahead supported by a sense of excitement for the future of the Kingdom of God in this place.

In the now 55 years following, as pastor after pastor took on the mantle leadership of God’s people, as family after family and person after person grew into discipleship in this congregation, as dreams for space became buildings, there has been a sense of accomplishment and thanksgiving to God for the overwhelming blessings poured out in this place.

Entering now into the 56th year of ministry and “bringing the light of Christ to all creation”, Morning Star finds itself right back in that same meeting of 55 plus years ago – the meeting where the seeds of a church in West Omaha first were sown and spouted –asking the same question – How can we identify what God is doing here and align ourselves to be part of it? The question may also be framed in words like, “How can we regain the energy and enthusiasm we once had for being Morning Star?” “How can we deal with what seems to be a decline in our participation?” “How can we over come what feels like a general malaise in our life together?” “How can we renew our sense of mission and ministry to serve and glorify God?”

Recently, some significant research has gone into what makes some churches grow while others fail to thrive. From my ministry experience and from the reading I’ve done, as well as from the experiences of my peers, I’d suggest that these are a few of the key elements that separate healthy mission centers from churches that find themselves declining or dying.

The past is a new beginning. Healthy growing mission centers recognize that the present generation of mission and ministry stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before. Healthy growing mission centers know that good beginnings always help contribute to continued successes. These congregations also understand that yesterday is gone. Tomorrow, with new challenges and opportunities, beckons the church in mission forward.

Welcoming atmosphere. The process a congregation has for welcoming the stranger is telling about the atmosphere of a place. Expressions of welcome beginning in the parking lot, multiple hands of welcome and introduction from everyone from the greeters to the ushers to the people in the same pew (even before the visitor has a chance to meet the Pastor) is a sure sign that this is a place where I will be accepted and find a sense of "home" in the church family.

Long term pastorates. It seems like congregations that thrive, grow and mature have a series of long term pastors, those who remain in that congregation for 10 or more years. From my experience productive ministry and leadership is unlikely to present until year 7 or 8 of a pastor's tenure. The ensuing years are rich for congregational deepening, growth and the development of a strong active laity in ministry.

Spiritual Deepening. In today’s world, where "spirituality" and "spiritual journey" are spoken of with some regularity, it appears that mission centers that experience growth, spend a fair amount of time teaching and practicing spiritual disciplines (worship, prayer, Bible Study and devotions, generosity and witness) and participating in small group or worship group activities that help support spiritual deepening. This deepening usually occurs though a variety of worship expressions that are theologically sound, life changing, challenging and are created to bring the worshiper into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

Smaller caring communities. Within the larger congregation there are smaller caring communities, small groups, sub “congregations”, women’s and men’s circles, youth groups and the like. Congregations that grow recognize that these smaller “congregations” are the key to success. They also find a way to become comfortable with a multitude of smaller communities within the one community. These smaller communities are where relationship are forged, ministry blooms, learning occurs and God is glorified.

Financially committed membership. Disciples in growing mission centers recognize the importance of their financial stewardship as a matter of faith. These disciples are generous not because the bills need to be paid, but because they need to give as a faithful response to God’s blessings. Disciples in growing congregations recognize that they have been financially blessed in order to be a blessing to others churches have members that recognize the importance of their financial stewardship. Growing churches aren’t afraid to talk about tithing and sacrificial giving. Members of growing churches recognize that they have been financially blessed with a trust that comes from God in order to be a blessing for others.

So, the future awaits. Maybe one or more of these key elements apply to us. Maybe one or more will help us unlock the door as we move into a time or recommitment and resolve for our future.

I look forward to the journey with you.

Living "His Story"

2011-05-23T13:15:00.001-07:00

The more and more I dig into the Bible the more and more I realize the Bible is NOT a very safe book. In fact, it is a pretty “dangerous” book. Unless you’re just reading superficially and for pleasure, even simple stories like David and Goliath, Joseph’s coat of many colors or Jesus healing little children, it can still be pretty un-safe

You see, even the simple “children’s stories” are there to tell us of God’s bigger purpose—that is to rescue sinful and broken people who are dearly loved by our God who gave his Son Jesus to show grace, mercy forgiveness and love. The overall goal of the stories of the Bible is for us to see beyond Jesus and to begin to see ourselves in the story. It is for us to see ourselves in God’s big story.

Some years ago a Bible teacher make this connection, one that makes a great deal of sense as far as I am concerned. That is that “my story” is “our story” in “God’s story.” That is to say that my story is ultimately, at some level, the story of every human being. And our collective story makes sense only in the contest of His (God’s) Story. The message of the big story, God’s big story, is not some doctrinal proclamation. It is not some theological treatise for preachers and seminary professors to debate. Finally, God’s big story (His – story) is the unfolding of God’s greater purposes for the beloved of his creation, you and me, made in his own image, out of his own imagination of us.

The task of Bible study, the goal of devotions and Bible reading is to find ourselves in the story of God’s grace, love, mercy, forgiveness and ultimately in the life giving death and resurrection of Jesus. Our goal is to connect with the Jesus who is the culmination of God’s redemptive plan.

To carry it one step further, the goal of outreach and invitation (sometimes called “evangelism” is to invite people into the God story, into the story of Jesus, into our shared story of being the blessed and redeemed of God. It is to challenge folks to see themselves in light of Jesus, The Good Shepherd or Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When we (and others around us) are able to find themselves in the middle of the story of salvation, there is no doubt they will find a new meaning and purpose of the “dangerous” story of following Jesus.

Of course, our world sends a different message. Our world wants to give us the option of leaving God out so that we can pursue “life on our own”, that we can be “in charge of our own destiny.” It is easy to engage our world’s story because it is safe; it leaves us in control.

People of God, on the other hand, are called into His story, the bigger story of God, to be shaped by God, redeemed by His love and to live where true joy and hope reigns. That feels like a more “dangerous” place to be.

As people of God, then we engage the story. We connect ourselves to God’s story. Live out what Jesus has modeled. And, in the end, God will write the final chapters, chapters of victory and renewal, redemption and resurrection.

Late Spring Fashion Shows

2011-05-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

“Spring is a really choice time to put on a fashion show. A time when nature begins to arouse from her winter death-like sleep and burst into her own splendid show of color and life.

Tulips and daffodils dance in their new spring hats, covering the hillsides with a rainbow of color.

Forsythia are proud to display their new yellow frocks.

Magnolia and flowering crab compete with each other to see who can come up with the most beautiful spring outfit.

And tall graceful trees, not at all embarrassed about their high hemlines begin to display their glorious green; starting out with a delicate pinafore or light green soon changing to a lush forest green robe.

This yearly display is always very moving, for it is a reaffirmation of Christ’s rising from the dead and his promise that we too, through his grace and mercy, shall have an eternal spring after our winter sleep. We too shall be gifted with life after death.

As winter drags on, I begin to get bogged down in small worries and plans for this and plans for that. By the time winter ends, I have everything planned out for the next ten years and I’m worrying about all the details now.

But as spring blossoms, I feel a great relief and joy. I feel like running and enjoying and savoring the changes that each day brings. The new leaves on the trees, the flowers sprouting up through the ground, the early blossoms.

By Jan Kane
(Seen during a hospital visit)

May 2011 Sketchings

2011-05-23T06:38:00.001-07:00

EASTER PROMISES

If you were regular in worship during the weeks leading up to Easter, you will know that our lessons all had a focus of lives transformed by the power of Jesus to renew (the woman at the well), to bring sight, spiritual sight, to those who cannot see the presence of God (the healing of the man born blind) and the power to resurrect a life from the grave (the resurrection of Jesus’ friend Lazarus).

One of the stories we missed, due to the length of some of the readings, was one from Ezekiel 37, the “valley of dry bones.” You may know this story from a Sunday School Song, “Dem Bones” which has a chorus that contains “The thigh bone connected to the knee bone, The knee bone connected to the shin bone” etc.

You know, I love to preach this story and I was sorry to miss it this time around. I love to preach it because sometimes when I look out into the world, into the congregation, into the lives of individual people, even into my own life and faith, I see bones. I see the bare bones revealed in grief and the hurts and pains of life. I see lives dried up by fear and insecurity. I see death walking around in the cares and concerns about where the world and the church are headed. I see and feel the rending of relationships and the tearing of hearts. I hear people talking about the mad nightmares that are sometimes the reality of life.

And I wonder, as did Ezekiel, “Can these bones live? Can these bones ever have life again like they did last week, or last month, or last year, or back when it felt like everything was all right? Can these bones ever recover from their dried up death to find life and hope again?

Oh, yes, I’ve wondered aloud, as did Ezekiel. Lord!! Can these bones live? Lord!! Can these bones find the breath of life? Lord!! Is there hope at all for these bones?

And just about at the moment of despair, I hear God’s promise of new life in the resurrection of Jesus. Just about at the moment of giving up, I see God fulfilling God’s promise to breathe new life into these bones and these lives of ours. Just at the moment of hopelessness, God’s Spirit comes to blow in the powerful breath of renewal, even of creation’s life giving power, “he breathed into them the breath of life.” Just when we need it most, God’s Spirit blows like a mighty wind (Acts 2) to fulfill what God promises: life for these bones. Life for this life. Life like never before.

Oh, dear friends. Oh, God’s people. We are not bones. We are not in the tomb. It just seems that way. No, dear people, we are God’s people. We are those who have been brought to life in our Baptism. We are those who have been called from lifelessness to new life. Called to be living examples of what it means to have a faith that is active in our lives.

We are those called forth from the tomb as God breathes the breath of the Spirit over us, as God breathes into us life. We are not bones on a plain. We are not dead in a tomb. But we are full and blessed with abundance because God is God over even death, even grief, even changes, even over all that will be unknown and uncharted before us.

You know on Easter we declare with certainty, with enthusiasm from the depth of our beings, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.” We proclaim with certainly that God has ultimate power to give life, to raise from the dead, to open the doors to a new eternity and to overcome everything, even death itself.

So, now, in the promise of Easter, in the power of the breath of the Spirit of God over us, we do what we’ve celebrated and proclaimed. We rise and live. We let God’s spirit breathe new hope into us.

Because, you see, ultimately this isn’t about us. It isn’t about death. It isn’t about the darkness or despair that seems to close in upon us.

Finally, it is all about God, the God who gives us life, breathes into us meaning and ministry, the God who in Jesus Christ calls into a resurrected so that His name and His power can be glorified.

This Easter, we pray for God to breathe on us the breath of life—the breath of NEW life so that we can continue in what is charted before us, looking forward to the kingdom, when all will be seen in the perfection of His light, in the perfection of the life we long for.

T. O. M.

Finding Directions

2011-05-02T05:54:00.001-07:00

While traveling "Google Maps" is such a wonderful tool. Locating the quickest way to one's hotel, finding the best restaurant in town, locating a "Starbucks" or even finding one's way around a traffic jam -- "Google Maps" can quickly take care of the process. Quickly, efficiently and usually accurately.

In the journey of life and faith, we have the equivalent of "Google Maps." It is God's word recorded in the Bible. And it is our relationship with God through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is keeping in touch with the God who moves in our lives to guide and direct our choices and directions in living faithfully. In addition, God's leading in never wrong. God never gives the wrong directions.

"Google Maps" is a great tool for traveling. But it isn't the only tool for living!!

A Question for Easter

2011-04-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

What was your favorite part of Holy Week and Easter this year? Where did the message of Jesus' death and resurrection speak to you most helpfully?

I really don't intend this to be an 'rhetorical question. I invite you to take a moment to post a comment. As we share we all grow and are encouraged in our faith.

My most moving moment was the beginning of the 8:30 a.m. service when we all proclaimed so boldly "Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia!!" Our proclamation stood in such wonderful contrast to those who wanted to declare "God is dead" and dampen our Easter faith and enthusiasm. The tomb couldn't hold Jesus. The tomb wouldn't hold back our Easter faith.

The Shining Face of Jesus!

2011-04-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

For those who know the Morning Star Church building, you know we have a floor to gable stained glass window on our western exposure. Central to this window the figure of Jesus walking on the water with the Disciple Peter just about ready to sink.

This time of the year, about 7:00 p.m. (give or take a little) the setting sun, when I’m standing at the altar for the special worship services of the season, is in just the right position to shine into my face directly through the face of Jesus.

Sometimes, I have to tell you, this image and moment is so moving that it leaves me speechless. It is the loving, caring face of Jesus shining into my face with eyes of love, a smile of un-conditional acceptance and a sense of pure delight in me. It is one of the most uplifting and affirming feelings I could ever hope to have.

This moment takes on a added significance when I relate it to the benediction, “may the Lord bless you and keep you, ... may his face shine upon you and give you peace.” You know the old words were “lift up his countenance upon you.” A “countenance” is something like the calm appearance of an accepting, loving face.

You see, in these moments of worship, that’s just what I get. It is just what I often need. It is the face of Jesus shining on me to give me His peace, His peace which passes all understanding and gives me hope.

Sometime this week, you may want to take a little walk up to the place where I usually stand and catch a glimpse of the shining face of Jesus. I know you’ll be blessed. And I won’t mind having you there enjoying what I enjoy!

May God’s face shine peace on you in these days leading up to Easter!!

A Lenten Devotion

2011-04-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Bibs or Aprons?
~Author Unknown~
================

(Offered with the disclaimer that the “bib” image certainly doesn’t fit for many who, for one reason or another, aren’t able to control their eating needs and/or habits. The image is offered as a comparative image only.)

I recently visited a fast-growing church in Minnesota to learn from their staff. It was a privilege to witness their passion for doing high quality ministry in Jesus' name. I left with some new insights and renewed passion for the Gospel.

One of the phrases that I heard while I was there was, "We want our members to wear aprons, not bibs." Here's what they meant:

Bibs are for people who only want to be fed.
Bibs are for those who are not yet ready or willing to feed themselves.
Bibs are for those who are more interested in being served than in serving.
Bibs are for those who insist that the church exists for them and their needs.
Bibs are for babes in the faith, those who haven't caught God's vision for the church, or those who are not yet of the faith.

Aprons are for those who have a heart to serve others in Jesus' name.
Aprons are for those who know that they are the church.
Aprons are for those who don't mind getting their hands dirty.
Aprons are for those who take the time daily to feed their spiritual hunger.
Aprons are for those who are growing in faith, and hunger to help others grow.

Church growth consultant, Win Arn, interviewed thousands of Christians in America several years ago and asked them, what they though the church existed for. Eighty-eight percent said, "The church exists to serve my needs and the needs of my family." In other words, 88% of Christians in America are still wearing bibs.

On the night when he was betrayed, just hours before he was crucified, the very Son of God took off his outer garments, wrapped a towel around his waist, and washed his disciples' feet. When he was done he said, "I have just given you an example to follow." In other words, Jesus called his disciples to wear aprons, not bibs.

In Matthew, Jesus is recorded as saying, "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." He also said, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it."

Jesus calls us to wear aprons, not bibs. Which are you wearing?

"For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, thank you for feeding me daily with your word. Fill me with your redeeming love. Open my eyes to clearly see the needs of those around me, and then open my hands to serve them. Each day, strengthen me with your Spirit, so that I might choose to wear an apron, not a bib. This I pray in your name. Amen."

In Memory of Eleanor

2011-04-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of decades ago, I was privileged to become acquainted with Eleanor. Eleanor was a widow, in her 80’s. Every time I went to visit I would notice that she had a hardbound copy of “Daily Guideposts” on her side table, right beside her Bible. As we got to know each other, I asked her about the “Daily Guideposts” books. It turned out that each year Eleanor would receive a copy of the year’s “Daily Guideposts”. It was a gift from one of her grand children. And every day she would use her devotional time to read her Bible and reflect on the devotion for the day. When she pointed to her bookshelf, there in a neat row was the whole collection, about 10 years worth, of “Daily Guideposts.” Each had a special marker she had knit or crocheted for the year. Some also had bookmakers created by her grand children.

After Eleanor died, I stopped by the house to visit the family. Somehow they had gotten wind of my admiration for Eleanor’s devotion time with “Daily Guideposts”. They had the whole collection packed neatly in a box. They insisted that I should have them for my library.

I still have them. I still used them. Each year I find the one that fits the current calendar—that is January 1 is on the right day of the week (it makes it easier for me to stay on track that way) – this year it is “Daily Guideposts 1994, I pull it out and follow Eleanor’s discipline for my devotional time. And each year, I get to enjoy the wonderful bookmarks -- this year it is a white cross, made with a soft “sparkly” yarn.

Each year I give thanks for the legacy that Eleanor has passed along to me.

Furthermore, each year I marvel that the devotions are timely as every, just as though the whole book was written just for me.

Staying in One Lane:

2011-04-04T06:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was driving a few miles over to run an errand. I wasn’t in any particular hurry so I was just meandering along at just about the speed limit and enjoying the fresh Sunday afternoon springtime air. And I was keeping my safe pace in the right hand lane, no need to change lanes, my destination was a right turn.

As I drove there was a particular car that caught my attention. It was speeding up and slowing down, shifting from one lane to the other, apparently trying to gain some advantage as the driver hurried along to his/her destination. At one point this vehicle passed me, the driver appearing to have a tense and annoyed facial expression. Up ahead, the street became one lane instead of two and I noticed that the driver made a quick turn onto a side street.

I a few blocks I reached my destination. As I reached my destination, I noticed that same vehicle, with the same annoyed appearing driver, waiting at a stop sign as several vehicles passed by. I actually reached the common destination ahead of this other driver. I reached it with a smile on my face and peace in my gut. I don’t know what was going on in that other driver’s gut, but I sure do know he didn’t have a smile on his face. And apparently his “short cut” hadn’t helped out either.

Maybe there is a lesson for life here. Too often, it seems, we are speeding along, focus on a destination. Along the way we keep speeding up and slowing down, jumping lanes in life (that is pursuing one thing then another) and taking “short-cuts” when we think we can. We get annoyed with others on the same journey who seem to be taking too long, hogging the road and living with a sense of peace. Much of the time none of this is because we “have to” but because we think it is going to gain us some kind of advantage in the end. And, in the end, you know, we all come to the same place – the gate of heaven.

Maybe there is something to be said for staying in the same lane, enjoying the pace of the journey and ending up the day, month, year or life with a smile on ones face and a sense of peace in one’s gut.

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES

2011-03-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

“NO Shoes” Awareness:

Background: In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

At Issue: Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:
• A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
• Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
• Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

What Can You do?

The first thing that one can do is become aware. Toms Shoes “One Day Without Shoes” is an awareness project. “One Day Without Shoes” is Tuesday April 5, 2011. You can learn more by watching the video at this website: . You might even be adventuresome enough to spend your day (or part of it) without shoes.

The second thing one can do is give a gift to help a barefoot person have shoes. For example, one could buy a pair of Toms shoes to have a “one for one” pair go somewhere in the world. Or one could give one or more pairs of new shoes to a homeless shelter or any helping project.

April 2011 Sketchings

2011-03-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

“SPRING FASHION SHOWS!!”

I find Spring a marvel of God’s redemptive resurrection power. New life springing up out of winters death at every corner. Seeds sown in death growing to life. Buds popping out on what appear to be lifeless limbs. Green blades of grass surging forth from ground bedraggled with the guck of winter.

Spring’s redemptive resurrection power becomes a simple prelude to the Easter announcement. Miracle of miracles. Neither death, the devil, or a tomb could hold him in! Jesus rose from the dead so that believers can know the transforming power of His Spirit, of resurrection life and experience our own spring renewal each day!

I liked this little piece by Jan Kane. I spotted it in a hospital lobby one day.

“Spring Fashion Shows”

“Spring is a really choice time to put on a fashion show. A time when nature begins to arouse from her winter death-like sleep and burst into her own splendid show of color and life.

“Tulips and daffodils dance in their new spring hats, covering the hillsides with a rainbow of color.

“Forsythia are proud to display their new yellow frocks.

“Magnolia and flowering crab compete with each other to see who can come up with the most beautiful spring outfit.

“And tall graceful trees, not at all embarrassed about their high hemlines begin to display their glorious green; starting out with a delicate pinafore or light green soon changing to a lush forest green robe.

“This yearly display is always very moving, for it is a reaffirmation of Christ’s rising from the dead and his promise that we too, through his grace and mercy, shall have an eternal spring after our winter sleep. We too shall be gifted with life after death.

“As winter drags on, I begin to get bogged down in small worries and plans for this and plans for that. By the time winter ends, I have everything planned out for the next ten years and I’m worrying about all the details now.

“But as spring blossoms, I feel a great relief and joy. I feel like running and enjoying and savoring the changes that each day brings. The new leaves on the trees, the flowers sprouting up through the ground, the early blossoms.”

With you, I’m waiting spring’s full miracle. And even more so the more wonderful miracle of Easter.

T. O. M.

Blunders, Grace and Humility

2011-03-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

Maybe you’ve seen the new story of an awkward moment between the second-ranking general in the US Army and Valerie Jarrett, White House adviser. Both were dinner guests at a White House dinner when this incident occurred.
Ms. Jarrett was seated at a table when Four-star General Peter Chiarelli happened to walk by. Ms. Jarrett saw only the striped pants of his dress uniform mistaking him for a waiter. So she asked him to get her a glass of wine.
This is where it could become a “really awkward moment” –- rebuke, embarrassment, chagrin. You can use your imagination to picture the possible next scenes.
Instead, the general smiled, walked away and came back with the glass of wine that had been requested. In his brief absence, Ms. Jarrett had been advised of her blunder. Beet red and holding an acute sense of needing to set the matter right, she began the apologies to General Chiarelli. With a degree of class, good humor and in order to defuse her discomfort, General Chiarelli acknowledged her honest mistake and invited her to a meal at his home.
Questioned about the gaffe, the General told a CNN reporter, "It was an honest mistake that anyone could have made. She was sitting. I was standing and walking behind her, and all she saw were the two stripes on my pants - which were almost identical to the waiters' pants, really. She apologized and will come to the house for dinner, if a date can be worked out in March."
General Chiarelli displayed a whole lot of class in this situation, more than most people would be able to muster under the circumstances. In fact, columnist Bob Green captured that sense in a title, “4-star general, 5-star grace.”
Too often our emotions get in the way of a truly humble and graceful response to such situations. Too often we react in less than helpful ways to cover our own embarrassment or our own pride.
Jesus walked the way of humility to serve others. The “Son of God” wasn’t embarrassed or to prideful to stoop to the level of humanity to serve our deepest need – the gift of grace to over come our sin. And in his living, dying and rising, Jesus gave us an example for our lives. The example is summarized in I Peter 5: 5 (NLT) "Serve each other in humility, for 'God opposes the proud but favors the humble’.”

“Spring Training”

2011-03-10T06:37:00.001-08:00

While driving the other day, I was listening to reports on professional baseball’s spring training camps. The conversation was about the “basics” that the teams were practicing that day: soft lob throws, fielding dribbling ground balls, keeping the foot on the bag while catching a ball, hitting balls off a tee, fielding easy pop flies. I was taken by the fact that these seasoned players, with probably thousands of these skills accomplished over a lifetime of play, were spending their time practicing the basic skills of the game. These professionals, who have moved above hundreds of others in the game of baseball, are spending their time and energy doing fundamental, even kindergarten (hitting balls off a tee) drills.

Of course, the truth is, no matter how many times one has successfully accomplished a skill, one needs to get back to those basic skills in order to build the foundations necessary for game day situations and for skills that are more complex and difficult.

I think we all understand spring training and pre-season camps.

But when it comes to our faith life, we seem to act the exact opposite. We seem to believe that when we have learned the fundamental skills can coast for the rest of our lives. We somehow think we can be a “professional” in our faith with the things we learned in Kindergarten or third grade or fifth grade. We seem to think that there is no need to return to “training camp” once in a while to brush up on the fundamentals of prayer, devotion, Bible reading. We don’t want to let anyone think that we should be working on the fundamentals of worship, generosity, service or witness. We seem to quickly reject that notion that it would be helpful for a quick drill on being loving, friendly or passionate Christians.

You know, the church has its own version of “Spring Training”. It’s called “Lent.” Lent is a time for professional believers to take a bit of extra time to brush up on the basics. To return to the Lord who is full of grace and mercy and deepen the ties we have with our Lord. It is a time to practice the basics of a few of the disciplines of our faith – worship, prayer, Bible reading and study, generosity (see our Lenten Devotional booklet), service and witness. It is time to review the basic and fundamental event of our salvation – the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Lent sets the tone for brushing up on the fundamental principle of faith – as humans we are imperfect and we depend on the love of a perfect God to save and redeem us. Lent is an opportunity to wrap our arms around the fact that Christ has already wrapped his arms around us. It is a fresh new time to re-acquaint ourselves with ourselves and a chance to re-frame ourselves as a children of almighty God.

Professional ball players brush up on the fundamentals of the game to give them the foundation for a “winning season.” Professional believers use Lent as a time to brush up on the fundamentals of faith to insure the depth of faith that wins over sin, death and the power of the devil and brings us to the title of victory in everlasting life.

Here’s hoping to see you out and about for “Spring Training.” Here’s hoping to join you in the basic, fundamental process of being who we are called to be, the beloved of God.

“At the heart of worship is a heart for God”

2011-02-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

While I was visiting an individual the other day, we got around to the topic of worship. The individual shared with me something that is attributed to the theologian Soren Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard said something to the effect that we tend to think of church as some kind of theater: we sit in the audience, attentively watching the actors on stage. If sufficiently entertained, we show our gratitude with applause. Church, though, should be the opposite of theater. God is the audience for our worship.”
It is true, isn’t it, that what matters most in worship takes place in the hearts of the congregation – not “on stage.” The question that we should ask ourselves after worship is not “What did I get out of it?” The real question is “Was God please with what I offered?”
In the Old Testament animal sacrifice served as a way to indicate that God is the center of Worship. Yet God didn’t need the animals, they were already his. What God desires is the sacrifice of the heart, an internal attitude of elevating God to God’s worthy place (the word worship really comes from an old word which means “worthy”.)
Ultimately, the goal of our worship is nothing more than to meet God and to please God with the offering of ourselves in fellowship, song and praise.

Counting the Stars:

2011-02-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

The other day I heard a person talking about the stars and the amazing number of stars that dot the galaxies of our universe. The number 1 trillion came as a round number to number the stars.
The question was raised, “Do you have any concept of what 1 trillion is?” Well, of course I don’t.
Think of it like this, I learned. If a person could count from one to 1 trillion, saying 1 number every second (of course that would be hard when one gets to 575,637,438, for example – but for the sake of this illustration say that it were possible) it would take 30,000 years to count that far. That’s right, it would take 300 plus life times to count from 1 to 1 trillion, to number the stars, if you will.
Chris Tomlin in the song “Indescribable” says of God, “You placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name....”
Can you capture that? God not only created this wonderful universe, but he took the time to ‘name’ every one of the stars. I have to think that his naming process wasn’t as flippant as a name every second. I think he poured over his creation and thought deeply about the names he’d give even the stars. And after giving those names, he remembers and knows those names.
I recently had a conversation with an individual whose extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren has grown into the range of 30. The individual said, “I can’t even keep their names straight any more.”
But God can. He keeps the names of the stars straight and he keeps our names straight.
If you’re ever having one of those days when you feel like you don’t count. Please know you do count. Not only do you count, God knows your name, your hurt, your weakness and your needs. And God will tend to you because he not only created you, but he knows you by name. More than that he knows you well enough to die and rise again for your eternal well-being, your eternal destiny.

March 2011 Sketchings

2011-02-16T06:12:00.000-08:00

“TAKE TIME TO WORSHIP”!!

In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January 2007 morning, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on.

About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The child stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. Several other children repeated this action, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to quickly move on.

After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. During the time he played only 6 people stopped to listen for a short while. About 20 people gave money – a total of about $32 -- but continued to walk at their normal pace.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where people paid an average of $100 each to listen to the same man play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post (see: http://tinyurl.com/3x9s2a) as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

There are, obviously, a number of implications that could be made, and have been made, about this experiment.

For my purposes, though, I just want to say this: In our faith, we need to pause for some moments on a regular basis and to be in awe of the “greatest One” in the world. In our busyness, we miss too many things of beauty. In our busyness, we too seldom break our stride to stop and listen, to stop and be in awe, to stop and marvel at the wonder of our God in action around us.

Worship, being drawn into very presence of God, is a break in our routine to be in awe of God, to hear the wonderful “music” of God’s voice and word, to stop and see the abundance and riches that God is pouring our for us. Worship brings us into a place where we can set aside all the cares and worries of daily life to be ministered to by the God who works miracles in our midst.

As we approach Lent, as we move through life, let your Spirit be open to the presence of God and be disciplined in moving out of busyness to enter into the shadows of God’s loving grace and mercy.

A Meaningful Devotion:

2011-02-15T15:35:00.001-08:00

These thoughts from Joyce Sequichie Hifler in A Cherokee Feast of Days (pg. 54) spoke to me this week:

"Turn around right where you are and face the frightening situation, the lion, on your path. Don't waver and dodge. Look the problem in the eye and call it nothing. Speak to it in definitive words so that there is no doubt that it must go. Wisdom tells us to get out of harm's way at times, but it never tells us to weep with fear. Once we turn to face it, a quieter determined strength pours in to end the terror. Fear is terrorism. It is not running from it that cripples us but refusing to call it what it is. When fear takes over it flows through all our thinking. If we have any faith at all, it is a sacred faith, but faith will grow when we charge it with determination and powerful words."

I thought about Paul's words to the Romans, Chapter 8, "Nothing (Not ONE thing) can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

If we name our fears and threats what they are in God's eyes, "nothing", they lose their power and faith grows and deepens.

Thoughts from Sailing:

2011-01-31T06:30:00.001-08:00

During our recent vacation, Teresa and I, along with her brother and sister-in-law, were doing some sailing in the Virgin Islands. In so doing we decided to tackle something new – making a bit of an “open water” passage to the island of Anegada. By no means is this passage like crossing the Atlantic, but it is a passage that takes a couple of hours or so during which one is guided only by the compass, with no visible landmarks ahead. (You see, Anegada’s highest land point is only 13 ft above sea level so you can’t see the island until you’re almost there.) Sailing to Anegada is an exercise in trusting the compass, an exercise in being guided by a “truth” that is out of one’s personal control. Along the way, one can encounter unexpected squalls and gusts, ocean surge and rogue waves. It is a time to trust and have faith.

The Bible is full of images that are related to the sea, to storms and open seas. The calming of the storm by Jesus (Mark 4: 35 – 41) is probably the most well known (and it is the theme of our Welcome Center Stained Glass window).

Beyond the Bible, my attention was also drawn to a couple of song choruses that were part of our worship the weekend we returned from our sailing adventures:

“Your Love Never Fails” by Chris Quilala

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

Verse:
The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

“You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman

Verse:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

I share this to tell you, that an “open water” sailing adventure opened my spirit to ponder in a new and different way God’s presence, love and care for me – and for you!!

Making our Own Music:

2011-01-27T07:14:00.001-08:00

In an interview with William Parry, a pianist and composer who got his start in accompanying silent films, the interviewer commented, “That (being a silent film accompanist) must have required great attention. You must have followed the action frame by frame to reflect in the music what the audience was seeing on the screen.”

“Yes,” Parry agreed, “but it also worked the other way. The music I played affected what moviegoers saw.”

He remembered one Charlie Chaplin film, with its trademark blend of humor and pathos, where he could underscore a scene either way. “If I played bright, bouncy tunes, the audience would roar with laughter. But if I accompanied the very same scene with mournful music, handkerchiefs would come out all over the theater.”

I think it is that we go through life, each hearing our own background music. For some it is brisk and stirring, for others it is in a minor key. For some it is full of dissonance, for another melodic and harmonious. The same set of circumstances in two different lives can be handled in different ways – depending on the background music with which one accompanies life.

I know for myself, about a year ago I changed the background music on my radios. With the change to more positive music, I found myself seeing events and circumstances differently. The same can be true of the background “music” of the books we read and the movies we watch and the TV programs that are selected.

In the end, you see, we may not be able to change the circumstances or events of life, but we can change the music to which they are set.

Worth Repeating:

2011-01-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

“Worship is a weekly opportunity to practice not being God.”

“If we stay away from worship too long, we start to make God into our own image. The privatization of our spiritual journey only transforms God to be virtually anything we want. Once back in the habit and flow of worship, however, and surrounded by a mix of people who don’t mirror every fact of our life, something delightful happens. We discover God to be quietly remaking us into God’s own image. We encounter a rhythm stronger than our heartbeat. We find ourselves full of more joy than we can contain.”

These are the words of Pastor Peter W. Marty from the series “A Lutheran Christian Life for Today” titled “Praise in an awe-deficient world” (The Lutheran; January, 2011, page 3). Marty is Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Davenport, IA. You can find Marty’s whole article on the Lutheran Magazine Website.

February 2011 Sketchings:

2011-01-24T07:08:00.001-08:00

“A ‘Quick Start’ Guide”

I’m a man, for goodness sake, so I tend to not want to have much to do with “Owner Manuals”. I tend to not take time to read the directions and I ignore instructions.

I really like the “Quick Start Guides” that come with most gadgets these days. Usually they are only a few pages, a fraction of the size and complexity of the full manual. In a few easy steps on can find out all one needs to know to set up and operate fancy equipment without digging through all the details of a think manual.

“Just tell me what I know to get this thing going!” The Quick Start Guide is just the ticket as far as I’m concerned.

A “Quick Start Guide” to faith could be a good thing too. Of course, we have the full manual for faith and our relationship with God – it’s called “The Bible”. But what are the few basics that lay a foundation to get things headed in the right direction and help keep my relationship with Jesus on track?

These “marks of discipleship” might serve for our “Quick Start Guide” to faith:

1) Worship. Weekly worship of God in the community of faith is essential for our faith. In the community we are encouraged by and offer encouragement to other worshipers, humans/sinners just like us. In worship we let God know that we believe God is “worthy” of honor, praise and our undivided attention for a while. You see, worship isn’t about us. Worship is all about God and the prayer, praise and thanksgiving we bring to God. The Psalmist said, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.” (Psalm 100:4)

2) Pray. Prayer is a deep conversation with God. Prayer is the way in which we build a relationship with God, just like we build a relationship with another human through sharing and conversation. Taking time, even short moments of time, to pray deepens our sense of God’s presence and gives God some time to reveal God’s self to us. Prayer isn’t just our telling God what we want, need, think, but pausing in silence to give God a chance to “speak” with us.

3) Bible Study and Devotion. Sometimes, the “quick start guide” doesn’t give me enough information and I have to turn to the full manual. The same is true in our faith. We’ve got to dig into the Bible, the Word of God, to find directions for the bigger picture in life. The use of daily devotional booklets, like “Our Daily Bread”, coupled with a time of reflection and Bible reading open our spirits for deeper insights into God’s grace and love and calling upon our lives. A program of “reading through the Bible in a Year” (i.e. http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/) is one way to create the discipline of reading.

4) Generosity. Generosity with our resources, time and money, is one of the ways in which we are able to put life in perspective. In generosity we make a statement that we are not the center of the universe. God is the center. God is the provider. God owner of everything and simply gifts us with what we want to call our own. In generosity, we return to God portions of what is already God’s to give evidence to our sense that life is a gift for which we have deep thanks and for which we are deeply grateful. The biggest temptation is always to take care of ourselves first and bring God what is left – if anything. The basic principle here, though, is to be generous with God first (in worship, in prayer, in Bible Reading and devotion and in sharing of time and money). It is to recognize God’s ownership by first returning to God what is God’s already. What we want to say is “I don’t have the time/money.” The truth is we don’t have anything, all of it is already God’s. So by first being generous by returning to God a portion of our blessings, we always have it, it is always readily available. From there God is able to bless His abundance into the rest of life. It is like the popular routine of how many rocks and pebbles will fit into a container. If one starts with the little pebbles, there isn’t room for the big rocks. But if one starts with the big rocks (the most important things – the basis of generosity) there is always room for much more than one might expect of the smaller rocks and pebbles.

I like the idea of a “Quick Start Guide.” I like the idea of some simple steps to deepen my walk with Jesus.

I’m praying for God’s full abundance to, as we walk the walk of faith in 2011, as we enjoy the wonders of God’s baptismal grace”

T. O. M.

Playing in Baptismal Waters:

2010-12-31T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a baptismal service for Owen David. What was "fun" was that as soon as we were done with pouring the water "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Owen wanted to play in the water. Splash it with his hands. Dance in it with his feet. Get wet and have fun.

Somehow, "playing in Baptismal waters" could be an image for all the baptized. Would that we would so delight in God and the gift of grace that we'd get all wet with God's abundance, God's love, God's mercy. Would that we would be so attached to our Baptism and our Baptismal family that we'd find no more delight than playing, dancing and splashing with God and God's people. Would that our baptismal identity would have us getting all wet, moment by moment, for our mission and ministry.

Someone said that baptized people are "walking wet" - connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-6) - living in the wash cycle of conviction, confession, forgiveness and submission to the Spirit. "Walking wet" (aware of our Baptism) in every relationship, every business dealing, every choice, every decision, every ministry and in every other aspect of our lives. "Walking wet" is a wonderful image for our lives of Baptized faith.

And I rather think God delights when we find those kinds of ways to play in God's Baptismal power and grace!!

Gifts and Priorities:

2010-12-28T07:37:00.001-08:00

I just read that in the United States $450 billion was spent on 2010 Christmas gifts for children.

That was compared to the suggestion that a mere $10 billion could establish clean drinking water for all of the children and adults in the Western Hemisphere.

That gives me some food for thought.

“Expecting Jesus”:

2010-12-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

It should not surprise us,
but it often does
He comes to us in
the unexpected moment.

He, Our Lord, that is,
is not one who is
particularly discriminating
about where and how he chooses
to make himself known.

Who would think, for example,
that he would show up in
a straw filled manger in a stable?
Or that He would choose to be
hung up on the cross,
and there reveal Himself as Lord?
Or that He would choose to come
into view
beside a stream;
or at the bed of a sick man;
or in the home of a dying child;
or at the wedding feast;
or in the moment of a meal;
or even, perhaps,
in the middle of worship?

These are certainly unexpected moments
for our Lord to appear.
Unexpected for He appears where we
least expect Him –
or, humanly speaking,
it seems we should!!

In Sunday School we heard it
should be true.
That Jesus, Our Lord, came down to
love kids like me and you.

But we seem to have forgotten that He
doesn’t always choose,
the moments of convenience
like we would often do.

Rather He chooses the unexpected
the unique,
the times that He seems
furthest away.
The moments of sorrow,
the moments of joy.

The times we need Him most
to show His face
to offer grace,
to be there for us to depend upon.

He is here, in any event.
In times of need,
We should expect it.
For He has promised it.

In the unexpected moment.
He does really appear.
And is never is He very far away
from any of us!!

During these Twelve Days of Christmas,
and throughout the New Year,
I’m praying,
He will appear a time or two
or three or three hundred
in an unexpected moment.

January 2011 Sketchings:

2010-12-22T09:15:00.001-08:00

“EPIPHANY APPEARING!”

Hidden in the days after Christmas and before the New Year gets traction is a date to which almost no one pays much, if any, attention.

Sometime, somebody picked January 6 to be the “Day of Epiphany”, the date when the wise men, sages from the East, supposedly showed up at the “house where Jesus was.” January 6 also marks the date when those 12 Days of Christmas are over.

This twelfth day of Christmas almost always falls on a weekday, so it gets largely ignored in the bigger scheme of worship. That’s why we often miss reading the story, singing “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and generally getting the meaning of this part of Jesus’ birth saga.

Epiphany (which means “appearing” or “manifesting”) is the day and a time when we mark the arrival of those “wise” guys (we say three, but the Bible really doesn’t tell us) from the east finally showed up with their gifts. They were late, you see. They came with only a few facts and not even enough information to know their ultimate destination. They came depending on a miracle of science (the star) that no one understands or can adequately explain. After their initial excitement they ended up asking directions from a King, trying to work within the existing political system.

When they found Jesus they had gifts. Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Impractical things, really. Costly stuff that foretells death, strange gifts to leave with a tired young mother and a frazzled surrogate father who are trying to make sense out of life without any comforts of their own home.

Having deposited these dangerous, ominous, beautiful gifts they slip away. They leave by a different route than the one they came by having figured out (by God’s grace) that the political powers aren’t happy about the possibility of another “king.” Apparently they make it home safe. The Bible doesn’t tell us. (You can read the whole story in Matthew 2.)

It seems that the whole purpose of the wise men’s coming is to add to the truth of Jesus’ birth and arrival in this world. To give testimony, even as un-named foreigners, that “This is God.” To “reveal” and “declare” that Jesus is the Son of God. It didn’t matter that they were late. It didn’t matter that the gifts were so unusual. It didn’t matter what the political climate might have been. It didn’t matter that they didn’t have all the facts. It didn’t matter that they didn’t linger long there. It didn’t matter that they would be among the first (the shepherds preceded them) of a long line of odd characters who would enter and pass through this newborn’s life.

Sometimes it feels these visitors from the east are very much like us. For, you see, we too often come wandering by to meet Jesus, late, with some enthusiasm, but few facts, little understanding, trying to figure out our journey but all the while thinking, “This is God!” “This is the Son of God!” “This is my Immanuel.”

That’s what makes “epiphany” – when we glimpse God. When we recognize the coming of God in our midst.

That makes every day a potential day of Epiphany – of coming to a more powerful understanding of God’s presence with us.

With that in mind, it might be just as well that January 6 is hidden somewhere at the end of the “12 Days of Christmas” or caught in broken New Year’s resolutions. It might be just as well that we don’t linger on this odd festival like we do Christmas and Easter.

It might be just as well because it opens up the possibility, hopefully the reality, of every day being a time for God to become real, for God to work miracles and for us to say, “This is God, Immanuel, ‘God with us.’”

T.O.M.

"Christmas Spoken Here":

2010-12-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

In the book, Christmas Spoken Here (Broadman Press) John Killinger wrote: “One day I was staring through the window of a beautiful little Christmas shop. It was packed with Christmas items, even though Christmas was still six months away. There were exquisite crèches from Italy, Germany and Norway. There were ... jolly old Santa Clauses ... nutcrackers ... angels and wise men and drummer boys stars and snowmen and gingerbread cutouts. The little shop was fairly bursting with Christmas, and a loudspeaker broadcast a medley of Yuletide tunes. It was infectious, even in the summer time. Down in the corner of the front door, where no one could miss it, was the neatest touch of all. It was a small sign that said, ‘Christmas Spoken Here.’”

What a great slogan for believers. A great slogan, not just for Christmas, but also for every time of the year. How could we say any clearer why we believe and follow Jesus? How could we state any more concisely the core of our faith? God has entered human history to change the course of life forever. God has come to dwell with us and to walk with us, so that we can walk with him.

Christmas has to be spoken here, for it is the basis of all that we are, all we do, why we live.

As people of faith, as Jesus followers, we always speak Christmas. We speak it as we live out a love that is for the un-loved, a peace that is for the hopeless, a power beyond all earthly powers, a grace and forgiveness we cannot earn, but only accept and receive. We live out God full grace and truth and peace and hope, that has become one of us in Jesus.

In faith, Christmas is always spoken here.

A Christmas Thought:

2010-12-21T09:38:00.001-08:00

God came down to us because we were worth the trip.

Jesus is the Center!

2010-12-13T06:48:00.001-08:00

A number of years ago I was leading a Children’s Message on Christmas Eve. I had a box that contained several items related to Christmas. There were Christmas cards, decorations, music, candy, cookies—just about anything I could get my hands on that had to do with the season. As I was unloading the box, saying something about each items and what was special about it for me, I heard a little voice from somewhere in the room quite loudly ask, “But, where is Jesus?”

This little one understood something quite profound. This little one understood that Jesus is the center of Christmas.

You know that Christmas, as a cultural event, places us at the center. It pushes our me/my buttons. It stimulates our wants and desires (over our needs). It lures us into the false promise, “If I were just to get the right gift at Christmas everything would be alright and all my problems would be solved.” It tempts us to believe that we are in charge of our lives.

While all of this is fun, the truth is Jesus is the center, not just of Christmas but, most importantly, of life. Think about the ways that Jesus is announced in the scriptures. “In the fullness of time...” has to do with in the center of time, at the right time. “Immanuel, ‘God with us’” has to do with Jesus dwelling right in the middle of us, individually and corporately. “Light” always is always the center of darkness.

All this is to say that Jesus is the center of all life: the center of our right relationship with God, the Center of the presence of the Holy Spirit, the center of the Bible, the center of all faith active in life.

Jesus is the center of the salvation story, the center of worship the center of prayer and devotion, the center of our ability to live with love and to offer love and forgiveness to others. Jesus is the center of life everlasting and the center of our hopes and dreams for this world.

Jesus is the center of my joy at the sunrise and the awe in the face of the setting sun. Jesus is the center of my confidence of safety and rest in the night and meaningful relationships and ministry during the day. Jesus is the center of my confidence in leaving the house in the morning and the wonder of a welcome home in the evening. Jesus is in the center of friendships, marriages and ministries. Jesus is the center of love, faith hope, forgiveness, generosity and grace.

You see, the center of anything that I can name is Jesus.

Sometimes these days it is so very easy to miss all of this amid the hype, the boxes filled with “Christmas” stuff. Even the reminder to “keep Christ in Christmas” can lure us into (perhaps falsely) believing that we are putting Jesus at the center.

Every year about this time, that little voice from the past echoes in my mind, “Where is Jesus?” And I take a moment to reflect, recalabrate, reset, restart and refocus.

The center? Jesus.

Jesus and no one, no thing, else ....

The God of Small Things

2010-12-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it seems that we live in a culture that is caught up in the super-sized and the superlatives. It seems we see it all over the place – in our language, in our view of the world and in the way we think about things.

The other day I heard about a man who was lamenting that he has been the same size, with no weight gain, for 39 years. But today he has to buy “extra-large” when there was a time he could buy “medium.”

In the burger joint, I’m asked if I want to “super-size” my order and I find myself tempted to purchase a super-size drinks at the C-store when a more average size would serve just as well.

At Starbuck’s, a small coffee is called “tall”, a medium is a “grande” (even though “grande” means large in both Spanish and Italian) and a large is a “venti” which means supreme.

I’ve also noticed a growing trend for people to respond to a question with “absolutely” when “yes” would worked just fine or with “fabulous” when something more modest like “fine” would have worked just as well.

You see, we are a superlative people in a very large world. Even though technology has allowed the world to “shrink” in many ways, the world is just as big and confusing and complex as it always was.

The world’s story is a superlative story. It is a story of “bling-bling” and glitz and flash and dazzle. It is a story of super-sized, double XX, “big-gulp” and “venti”. It’s a world of fabulous and absolutely. You know what I mean.

And then there is God’s story. God’s story is a story of small things. God’s story is about little miracles in out-of-the way places. God’s story is about mustard seed faith and new life out of old dead stumps. God’s story is about newborns placed in the hands of old people and boy’s slaying goliaths. God’s story is about a God who comes to us in whispers and words carried on the breath of life.

God’s story, the Christmas story, is a story of God becoming one of us, God becoming a human baby, birthed to a poor family in a backwater town. It is the story of God coming with a whisper of a baby.

This should not deceive us, though. This small God is the only God big enough to claim, love, redeem save and transform our lives and the world around us.

Yesterday, I was glancing through some pictures and came across this one. Of course, it is Owen, as an infant, grasping his father’s nose. But when I saw it, that’s not what I saw.

In the imagination of my spirit I saw an image of God as a baby, in human flesh, reaching out with love to touch the heart of a world longing to be loved. I saw an image of God touching me. And my heart smiled!

So, during these Advent days, as you wade through the glitz and the glitter, the busyness and the clutter, I pray that somewhere in there, you’ll hear the small voice of the infant Jesus who came to love you and I pray that somehow, you’ll feel the infant Jesus’ redemptive and loving touch.

A Little Bit More; A Little Bit Less

2010-11-29T15:14:00.000-08:00

A tightrope walker will tell y0u that the main ingredient in making it from one end of that wire to the other is balance. You can have the neatest costume. You can have the most radiant smile. You can produce the best "show" on earth. But take away balance and you'll find yourself heading no where but down.

Sometimes I have the feeling during this time of the year that everything is out of balance. There just doesn't seem to be enough time or energy to focus on and take care of the things that really matter. There just doesn't seem to be the right balance between doing and being, preparing and being ready, taking care of the outside distractions and tending to the work of having a spot in my heart for Jesus.

At the same time, Jesus is the individual who is the best example of balance. From the words that he spoke to the ways in which he inter-acted with people, Jesus was always seeking balance. When he had the face the Pharisees, Jesus had the right balance of words and tone to make the point. When the disciples were clamoring to get the best place at the feet of Jesus, Jesus had words about "being servants first." You see, Jesus was showing in these (and other) aspects of his ministry that it is important to have a natural balance in life. To say it another way, God and humans are made to work together. God created humans and life to have a natural harmony that brings a sense of completeness, joy and well-being to this thing we call life and this journey we call living.

However, it doesn't always work out that way. I can attest to that. You probably can too. Sometimes it just seems impossible to find that right balance. And, just when we think we've got it, something happens to throw everything off. The result, for many of us, is that we don't see this "something" as a gift. It is more like another distraction and we might respond in a variety of ways: internalizing anger, ranting and raving, or pouting and hiding in a corner. Of course, all of those strategies compound our sense of being "out of balance".

So, is there a solution? Is there a way to find this balance that makes life work. Well, I think so.

It begins by asking God and yourself for a little bit more:
...more patience, more understanding, more forgiveness, more willingness to let go and "let God", more attempts to find God's way in what we are doing, more alertness to the many ways in which God is seeking to speak to us, more openness to God's presence in the here-and-now, more trust in Jesus, more moments for prayer, more generosity, more moments to just stop and say "thank you" for the abundance God has given us.

It continues by recognizing that there are some areas where we could do with a whole lot less:
...less anger, less jealousy, less worry about most things, less feelings of self-pity, less being distracted by distraction, less business, less trying to suck it up and do it on our own.

A little bit more and a little bit less, that's the way we can move toward the balance we were created for. That the way to begin to find the joy God intends for us. That's the place where we can begin to find the full meaning of the power and promise, leading and guiding of the God who gives full meaning to life.

T. O. M.

"'No Calorie' Jesus!!"

2010-11-22T06:08:00.000-08:00

This is my "Christ the King Sunday" sermon. Again, I was asked by several to have it available. I'm so glad to be able to share it with you.

“'NO CALORIE 'JESUS!!”
The Reading is Colossians 1: 17 - 20
Some of us take our calories seriously. If we’re on a diet, watching our intake or just being as healthy as we can be, some of us take those calories seriously. Lo Cal, no cal, fat free, sugar substitutes, natural fats and the like. I don’t know how you are in this regard, but for me, I want all the taste, all the richness, as much body as possible, with none of the calories. I want the most for the least.

Today we arrive at the end of our church year cycle. We come to this point with this day called “Christ is King”. The bridge between the long season of Pentecost – which has to do with the life of the church, and Advent – a time of expectation for the coming King.

Today is a time for us to focus and reflect on the real Jesus. It is a time for us to ponder what kind of Jesus we believe in. It a time to dig into what it might really mean to say, and act, like, “Christ is King.” It is a day to take a look to be sure we don’t treat Jesus like we treat our low/no calorie food options. Paul’s letter to the Colossians gives us a framework for considering the Jesus we claim to believe in.

You see, we have a tendency to want the same Jesus we desire in our food. We tend to want all of the taste and note of the calories. We tend to love the concept of Jesus, but not the impact that Jesus might make on our lives. We tend to be attracted to being a fan of Jesus, but we don’t want to be a follower. We want Jesus to save our souls, but to leave our daily lives alone. We want to be part of Jesus’ family but we aren’t so quick to take seriously what Jesus has to say about discipleship, generosity, loving our neighbors or His priority in our lives.

But, to think of Jesus like that is as misdirected as over eating accompanied by a diet drink. Or a Starbucks with skim milk to make room for the mocha and whipped ream.

When it comes to faith we can’t check off the “saved” box and then not take a look at our lives. We can’t be saved and stay the same. “We are a New” Creation, Paul says. In Colossians he says, “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom. (Vs. 13). That means that we are different. We are changed. Not just forgiven and given a fresh start to keep doing things the same old way. But changed. Part of a new way of living. Part of a community that makes different choices, spiritual choices, ethical choices, God choices rather than the same old shortcuts and life by worldly values. Being in this new community means that we are challenged to look more and more like Jesus, rather than just bearing his name.

As you know, the big headlines this week had do with Prince William and Kate Middleton becoming engaged. It took lots of press. Some of the press of course has to do with whether or not Kate – a commoner, a classy commoner to be sure – can make the move to “look like” what a Princess of England must look like. Can she make the transfer to Princess Catherine Elizabeth? Questions like, “Can she face the press?” “Can she live up to the public scrutiny?” “Can she handle herself like a Princess?” “Will she look like, act like and be like the ‘royal family’?” Such stuff makes great press and gives room for much speculation. On the other hand, it can be a serious question.

Certainly it is a question we can ask our selves, our faith. Given that we are “commoners”, we say “sinners”, who have been by our baptism “transferred into the Kingdom”, elevated to brothers and sisters of the King and made heirs in this Royal Family what might the press say about our move. Have we made the jump? Is our place now full bore, or are we still looking for that “no calorie Jesus”, great for the taste, but we don’t want those calories to stick to us. All of the gifts, but none of it really taking root. Not just an additive to things once in a while, but also a reality

Paul gets at that to, in these introductory words to the church at Colossae. There are plenty of images, metaphors and superlative language to make the point. In this new place, as new people, as subjects of the king, Jesus offers “all the strength” that comes from his power (vs. 11). There is nothing that God wants us to take on alone. There is nothing that Jesus doesn’t want us to be part of. Jesus is nosey in that way. Every thought, every insecurity, every goal, every aspect of who we are. Jesus wants to be the entire concept behind our lives.

That can't take us back to the Prince William image. Yes, we have plenty of fascination with this whole story. We will love the great wedding. We’ll talk about the Prince, and eventually the King, probably. But the fact is, we wont’ have to live under this king. What I mean is it is easy to talk about a King, if that King doesn’t have any power over us. It is easy to talk about a king, if our “queen ego, Prince, selfishness, princess, I love my freedom” can still be in charge.

You see, at this point, Jesus is no lo calorie Jesus. Jesus is no additive. Jesus is no trend, fad or flash in the pan. Jesus is not a King that we can just admire and pay lip service to.

Jesus is “first place in everything” (vs. 13). Starting with creation, the first born of creation (vs. 15), the first from the dead. From before time, eternal Jesus had his passion and love and creating and dominion over every aspect of this universe. From eternity past, through 2000 years of history, Jesus has demonstrated staying power, reshaping souls. The full bore, calories enriched, protein added Jesus has been changing lives so people can help change the world.

You see, as for the priority of the created order Jesus is the head that holds it all together. Jesus is the fullness. Jesus is first place in everything. “Everything” here, as in the Greek, means everything. It means that the only thing that Jesus doesn’t care about is nothing. Jesus is everything, fullness, and completeness.

That means in very simple terms that we can’t take out our priority list and ask, "Where can I fit Jesus in"? There is only one place for this king Jesus. That’s first place. There is only one place for Jesus sin our life. That everywhere. There is only one place where Jesus is pleased to work, in everything!

To become effective servants for God, we must let go of our self-righteousness that says, "I know what is right," our self-will that claims, "I know what is best for me," and our self-centeredness that declares, "What I want is most important."

You see, this King Jesus, is no “lo cal”, “fat free” diet King. This Jesus is full bore. Jesus is “fullness”. Jesus is the one come from heaven to enter our lives and “stick with us” – stick to our bones, stick in our lives, hold first place with us.

Jesus is king.

God, send your Spirit to empower us to live under His Kingship and people who have made the move to the “kingdom life”, the Kingdom place, under the head, from whence comes all good and gracious things.

Amen.

December, 2010 Sketchings:

2010-11-15T15:06:00.001-08:00

“JESUS IS COMING? NO! HE’S ALREADY HERE!!”

The Advent sign appeared in the churchyard about a week before Thanksgiving. It was a simple, hand-lettered sign that read, “Get ready. Jesus is coming!” It was simple, clear and to the point.

My initial reaction was something like, “That’s cool!!” But after a bit, the message struck me as quite odd. Somehow it felt like my mother saying, “Tom, clean up your room, your Grandma is coming.” Or maybe more like, “Get ready! Get cleaned up. Get your hands and face washed, our special guests are due at anytime.”

I think what struck me as odd was the subtle sense that Jesus isn’t already here. It seemed more like Jesus is coming for a short visit, but he isn’t going to stay very long so don’t get too excited. It gave me the sense that I only have to get my life “ready” for a little while at the end of the calendar year to celebrate the birth (coming) of Jesus but Jesus might not have to do much with any of the rest of my life.

Now, in defense of the churchyard sign, Advent is about preparation. It is about getting ready. It is about Jesus coming. It is about taking a look at our lives and making some assessments about our readiness for Jesus to come, as promised, in final Glory.

But Advent is not about the sense that Jesus is just coming for a short visit. It isn’t about being ready for the time while Jesus is here before he disappears “back home” where I don’t have to worry about his presence until next year about this time.

You know the truth. Jesus is always here. AND Jesus is always coming. It’s an interesting contradiction in our faith.

Jesus came once! He came to visit this earth. He came to accomplish his mission and ministry, not in the miracle of his birth, but in the miracle of his death and resurrection. And once he came, he stayed! He is still here in the spiritual presence through his Holy Spirit. Jesus has come. He is already among us.

At the same time Jesus is always coming. Jesus is always showing up in our lives in ways that make his presence even more real and profound. Jesus is always arriving with the challenges of His call to mission and ministry, with the abundance of His blessings and mercy and with messages of hope and power for our every day lives. Jesus is always showing up in our lives through other people, through the power of nature, through the silence of our devotions or in the words of a song that flits through our consciousness. Jesus is always showing up and if we haven’t done at least a little bit to clean out the cobwebs of our spiritual house we will probably miss Him.

What I’m trying to say is this: Advent (which means coming) is an on-going process. It is a daily process. This “getting ready” business isn’t just about 20 some days before Christmas. It is really more like a “being ready” process for every moment of every day.

T. O. M.

Loving Jesus and Loving His Bride--the Church:

2010-11-13T10:35:00.001-08:00

A while ago, I was recalling an event in which a person found that as much as they loved their best friend, they couldn't stand that friend's spouse. The negative feelings for the spouse tended to grow, multiply and eventually eroded and destroyed the friendship.

The principle is this: "Love for a friend extends to the spouse."

Maybe you have or know a situation like that. Your love for your friend is the love that overcomes any shortcomings of their spouse. Because I love my friend, I am willing to overlook and let go the rough edges of their spouse. My love for my friend moves to include his/her spouse. Or maybe it went the opposite direction, the love for the friend just couldn't overcome the negative feelings one had for the spouse. No doubt the friendship eroded.

Today, one hears pretty often, "I love Jesus, but I can't stand His church." Or, "I love Jesus, but I'm not going to have anything to do with church." Or even as crassly as this (from a recent obituary) "She loved the Lord, but she didn't need the church to prove it."

There is a problem here. The Church is the "bride" of Jesus. (cf. Revelation 21:9) The problem here is that it is impossible to love Jesus and not extend affection (if not love) to His bride, the church. If one tries to go along that road long enough, the relationship with Jesus will erode to nothing because one hasn't moved past their feelings about Jesus' bride.

The truth is, of course, that the church isn't perfect. No congregation, no individual, no denomination of the church is perfect. There are people involved. And where people are involved, there are plenty of rough edges, bad habits and grating personalities to give us reason to dislike the church.

On the other hand, by it's very nature loving Jesus almost demands that we love and find affection to include his Bride for who she is. It pushes us to look past the imperfections and the flaws to enjoy, value and find affection for what is good and right, for no other reason than that we have deep love for the church's mate, Jesus.

So, if you're in this boat of loving Jesus but not being enamored with His bride, I hope you'll take another look. I pray you'll find a way to forgive the imperfections of the bride, to look past the flaws and imperfections of people to enter into a new relationship with Christ's church.

I trust that you'll recognize that the church is the only Bride Jesus has and the only one He ever will have. In turn, in order to fully love and accept Jesus is to find a way to include his bride, the Church in your life.

Some Thoughts on Grieving

2010-11-13T10:08:00.000-08:00

Grief is our normal, human response to changes and losses in our lives. Every time we move from something precious and wonderful into a new unknown in life, we experience grief. Nearly every change that comes in our lives brings a sense of grief. Death brings grief.

Grief is our sense of emptiness and our uncertainties about the future. Grief is our sense of being out of control and having to make sense of something so much bigger than we. Grief is our emotional response to emotional hurt.

The thing about grief is that it has to be worked through. Grief can't be stuffed and forgotten about. Grief can't be set aside and ignored. Grief must be worked through, fully completely, every time, or it will come back to haunt us.

You see, every time we have a new event in our lives that has the emotional response of grief, we are taken back through all the other grief events in our lives. And if, for whatever reason, we have not fully processed the grief an earlier event, or events, those griefs come back up. Not only do they come back up, the grief response is compounded. Unresolved grief compounds unresolved grief. This is the reason that someone may have what appears to be a quite exaggerated grief response to something that seems relatively minor -- or would have been relatively minor under other circumstances. This is the reason why one might be observed to have an wildly emotional response to a minor event. Sometimes, the emotional response might even be triggered by an event in the life of another person whose situation is similar to ours.

I know in my own life and ministry that I don't recoup from funerals as quickly as I once did. The grief work takes longer. It is sometimes deeper that what might seem reasonable. But it takes longer because each time I'm grieving not only the present situation but parts of all the other funerals I've ever officiated at, plus the other losses, changes and grief events I've ever experienced.

We must deal with our grief, or it keeps on nagging at us. We must clear our emotions and our bodies of the "toxic" stuff set off by grief (or personal hurts, emotional insults, deep rejections and the like, for that matter) or they will compound our emotional response to the next similar event in our lives.

So, "what can I do?", you might ask. Well, you can take a look at past events and ask if you've really processed them or grieved them. You can think about your last emotional response to an event that really had an effect on you. Was your response exaggerated given the nature of the event? If so, what other similar events, feelings and/or griefs come to mind? Were they fully processed? If not, can they be processed now, in light of this event/situation? Are there things one has to go back to, re-live, re-feel, re-grieve in order to move forward? If so, can you do that on your own or do you need help?

Here is a little illustration that helps get at what I'm talking about.

PUT THE GLASS DOWN!
The professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see and asked the students, "How much do you think this glass weighs?"
"50gms! .....100gms .....125gms," the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, " but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
"Nothing," the students said.
"Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?" the professor asked.
"Your arm would begin to ache," said one of the students.
"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress and paralysis and have to go to hospital for sure!" ventured another student and all the students laughed.
"Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor.
"No," was the answer.
"Then what caused the arm ache and the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.
"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked the professor again.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students.
"Exactly!" said the professor.

This is the way it is with grief and many other life problems. Hold on to them for a while and they seem OK. Hold on to them for a long time and they begin to ache. Hold on even longer and they begin to paralyze you.

It is so important to work through the griefs, challenges and problems of life, or they will take over life, they will eat you up from the inside.

But when they are tackled, when they are resolved, then you have your full emotional being to handle any issue, any grief or any challenge that comes your way.

I want these comments to be helpful. Please let me know if we need to talk!

“Risk in the face of Fear!”

2010-11-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

There were suggestions that I should post my sermon for All Saint's Sunday, November 7, 2010, here on this blog. So here it is....

A few days ago I asked a colleague if he’d figured out what’s to be going on in churches and our society, because I haven’t. I listed places I’ve seen anxiety present in my life and that of those close to me.

The perspective he brought was the perspective of fear. Taking things from bullying, to the political agendas, to international relations to church conflict. Taking things from the movement of the stock market and the winning or losing of a football team, there is a “hunkering down” and a lashing out that grows out of deep anxiety. The anxiety is fear.

This set me thinking. I took a look at some of my behaviors. What feeds my fears? Why gives me the feeling that I need to “hunker down” or take control or become defensive? The list got grew fairly quickly:
The stories of the evening local new gave me reason to fear: gun violence, new taxes and “fees”, and a new turn in the housing market.
The front page of the money section gave me reason to fear: who knows where this recession is going, people are out of work, businesses closing their doors, work is drying up and health insurance premiums are out of control.
The letters to the editor fed my fears: the republicans or the democrats and more about tax hikes, pet problems and big spending.
National news, the weather and a counseling session with a colleague gave me a few more reasons to become afraid.

Then I took another step and thought about some of the other “inputs” I get in my daily life. Sometimes I read espionage books. I know I can only read a couple in a row before I have to move to another genre – I get paranoid. The TV shows recorded on our “list” – NCIS, Chase and several like them. Hum... there’s some food for fear there. And then there are the ads like “Credit Scores.com”, every single political ad and the slough of spam e-mails and ads that eat away at my self-confidence and tell me “You’re not good enough.”

And then, though it is quite (I think) tongue in cheek, the “March to Keep Fear Alive” speaks volumes of truth about current fear and anxiety.

So, what does this have to do with “All Saints Sunday?”
What does this have to do with a day established in the 17th century by Pope Boniface IV on May 1 and later changed to November 1? Pope Urban IV once explained that the day was set aside to provide a time to honor and remember the saints who might have been overlooked during the year. There were so many martyrs that it was not possible for each to have his/her own day, so this day took care of all of them. This day is set aside to take care of us, saints, “... those belonging to the entire community of baptized Christians.” (Big Webster Dictionary)

What does it have to do with today? Well, I’d say just about everything. Because, you see, as you read down the blessings outlined in Jesus’ teaching, everything on that list – poverty (the economy), hunger (job security), death (health care), ridicule (I’m not good enough) – feed our fears. And most everything we think we long for, or will make us happy – riches, being filled, popularity and carefree living -- is in Jesus’ list of woes! It all seems backwards. Yet Jesus is pretty clear. And, in his clarity, is quite challenging.

Jesus’ kingdom prayer is that God’s reign works. Not that some achieve perfection or holiness and others don’t. We all go out of this world with the same blessing at our funeral – commended to God as “lambs of his own flock and sinner’s of his own redeeming.

Not that we need to pretend to be perfect. We aren’t, we never were and we never will be.

Not that we need to draw in, hunker down and just wait. Fear can paralyze us into thinking that we can ignore the world out there and that by not taking risks we can avoid pain and failure.

Now that we need to take more control of our emotions, spirit, calendars and checkbooks. Taking control means that I don’t have to be honest about my fears and gives excuses to not risk.

You see, Jesus’ economy works a whole lot different than all of that. Jesus said, “Have no fear little flock, for the father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

This writer, Angie Klock, took the words right out of my mouth: “.... we are very aware of how easy it would be to allow fear to take a foothold in our hearts. Like every phase of treatment and every change we encounter in our lives, whether we plan them or not, there is always room for fear. But, that place is not where God is. ... Fear says, God I do not trust that what you have in store for me is good, even though You are good and loving. Fear says that I know what is best for me and it would be the path that I choose for myself. So how do we go forward without fear? How do we go forward rejoicing and not looking back over our shoulder for words like relapse or metastasis?”

In Jesus’ economy we look risk the Kingdom promise that Jesus is pleased to give. To take God literally (that’s the real mark of sainthood) and trust God’s pleasure to bless us even in the deepest times of trouble. To be everyday humans, ordinary sinners, who step forward in faith, who risk being confident in the face of fear, to struggle doggedly with bravery and truth. To take action – to be generous, to trust, to love to, to stand against injustice, etc. -- even against the odds of fear. You see, in the kingdom economy this is where God is and this is were we see the miracles of God’s holy reign in the lives of the likes of us.

I think I’ve told you before about Justin. Justin is a 6th grader, playing organized football. When asked by Bishop David what his favorite part was, he said, “I like the huddle. Calling the plays, being part of the team, being close to the guys, that’s what I like. But I have to say, I don’t much care for what happens after that.”

Sometimes that’s the way we approach our life of faith. We huddle up and enjoy the places where we feel safe and secure. We hunker down and block out our fears (the parts we don’t like about life). We find ways to not take the risks of the Kingdom promises of God.

Sainthood is to live life “out loud”. Live as an authentic saint, not moved and motivated by fear, but by faith, not a fan of Jesus but a follower. Not just in love with Jesus, but looking more and more like Jesus.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Let’s can the fear. Let’s risk living in the Kingdom promise, in the spirit of the power and promise we have as saints in His kingdom.

Amen.

Encouragement: Have it, Do it, Be it!

2010-11-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

The other day I heard one person tell another "You have the gift of encouragement." It was a high compliment to a person who is able to offer the right words that become affirmation and encouragement for another person on life's journey.

Indeed, encouragement is a gift. It is listed among some of the spiritual gifts given to God's people.

On the other hand, encouragement is one of the "natural laws" which governs relationships and our well being, just as there are other "natural laws" that govern our world. These laws are predictable and reliable. It is one of the gifts that we need to both give and receive. We need to bask in it's luxury while also being quick and generous in giving it away.

Here are some thoughts that might help make encouragement a more natural part of who you are and what you are.

HAVE IT:
One of the "natural laws" is that you cannot give away what you don't already have. Encouragement is one of those factors. One has to start with having it. And having it has to do with a decision to look at the encouraging side of living. It is to let those who want to be negative and pessimistic make their own choices. But the encourager can be one who uses the words "Yes, but..." in positive ways to not stop with what's wrong with life, but to look past the darkness to call attention to the light. It is sort of like seeing dark clouds in the sky and being able to look past them to see the beauty of the sun on the cloud tops, or the wonder of the lightening in the clouds or even the miracle of rain and wind. One can start by filling one's own spirit with a positive outlook. With a positive outlook, one can start to give away what one has built in one's own life.

DO IT:
Resolutions are so easy and quickly broken. Just think about New Year's past. This time the start doesn't have to be a false start or a failed resolution. Encouragement isn't limited. There isn't just so much to go around. It is not the kind of thing that needs to be hoarded. There is enough to go around, and always more where the first batch came from. In fact, encouragement is almost like a breeder reactor. The more encouragement is used, the more it creates. It comes back in far greater measure than how it was given away. Encourage another person and they've been given fuel for living. Pat them on the back and a friendship has been created. Keep urging another person to greater success and one's own sphere of influence has been extended. By being an encourager, one becomes party to the growth and expansion of the life of another person.

BE IT:
You know, it doesn't take long in looking back on life for one to pick out a number of people who had positive influences on the path of life. It might have been a parent, a teacher, a mentor, a uncle or aunt or even a pastor. It was the person who said just the right words at just the right time which made all the difference in a decision that turned out to be life changing. Picturing that person, decide to be that kind of person. Put on encouragement like a top coat. Get all wrapped up in it. Don't think of leaving home without it. Never start a new day without thinking of one other person to encourage. And then be the encouragement you want to be.

Life does matter. Each of our lives counts. They count for much more than we really ever know. Each of us, by sharing the gift of encouragement, can change lives, influence negative forces and make a difference even into the lives of people we may never have a chance to meet.

You are blessed. You are claimed by God. You are gifted with life. And all is good!

T.O.M.

Promise Yourself

2010-10-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine shared this with me. I found it to be a moving reflection worth sharing.
T.O.M.

Promise Yourself by Christian D. Larson

Promise yourself to be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

A Prayer from Haiti

2010-10-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

“There is a big devil named ‘discouragement’ out there. He is bothering us. Make it go away! In Jesus’ name. Amen”

The Land In-Between

2010-10-21T16:05:00.001-07:00

Here are the study guides for the three sermons: "The Land In-Between".

“THE LAND IN-BETWEEN: FERTILE GROUND!!”
Read: Numbers 11: 4 – 35; Philippians 4: 4 – 7

The land in-between is any time we are in the middle of a journey, a race, a project or a life challenge. It is that time when are far enough away from the beginning that we’ve lost our drive, our energy and our vision has blurred, but we aren’t close enough to the finish/end to see the completion or gain energy from the fact we “are almost there.”
Can you identify one or two times when you’ve been in, or are in, a land in-between?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for complaint.
How/why do you remember the “good old days” when they may not have been that good?
Do you ever find yourself looking back and longing for what was? What is the result?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for emotional meltdown.
What/where is the focus when we ask “Why?” or “Why me?”
In your land in-between what has caused you emotional meltdown?
What events cause you to move to ‘why me?’ thinking and how do you respond?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for God’s provision AND God’s discipline.
Is there an area in your life where you doubt God’s willingness or ability to provide?
Has God ever offered a “discipline” for your sinful complaint about God (different that your complaint TO God)?
What happened?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for faith to grow.
How do you begin to thank God in your trials while rejoicing and offering prayers for God to supply your needs (supplication)?
Where do you see God at work and how do you trust God at work in the monotony of day-to-day life?

“THE LAND IN-BETWEEN: SNAKE ON A POLE!!”
Read: Numbers 21: 4 – 9; John 3: 1 - 21

In the land in-between the Israelites are getting more and more impatient. When their impatience gets the best of them, God becomes angry.
Think of a time when you have doubted that God is good and active in your life.

The impatience of Israel caused the people to speak out against God and against Moses.
What is the difference between complaining about something and complaining against someone? How does that fit here?
Is there a time in your life when a discouragement turned into a complaint against God? What happened?

Sometimes in the land in-between we erroneously conclude that God is evil, incompetent, apathetic or distracted. .
What do you think the Israelites were thinking?
What erroneous conclusions have you made about God because of life circumstances?

God becomes angry. God also gives a measure of grace.
Are you troubled by God’s response? Why? Why not?
What meaning do you find in God’s deliverance?
Do you see a connection between acknowledgement of sin and the action of “looking upon the pole”?

Jesus is lifted up on the “pole” of the cross as part of God’s redemptive plan for all people.
Who/what are the “snakes” in the Jesus story of salvation?
How is the Exodus story of a “snake on a pole” a fitting illustration of Jesus’ redemptive actions?
When was the first time you heard the words of John 3: 16?
What do these words stand for in your life?

“THE LAND IN-BETWEEN: WATER!!”
Read: Numbers 20: 2 – 13; Exodus 6: 1 - 8;
Luke 15: 1 – 7

God is a rescuer!! He loves to see people who are dying come to life. The problem is we tend to give up on people, and ourselves, before God does. Here we see Moses, fed up with the complaining, ready to leave the Israelites dead in the wilderness. God also wants to still their complaining, but also wants to rescue his people.

There is a problem of thirst in the desert. The People have given up. Moses is ready to give up too.
What gives the impression Moses has given up?
What does Moses do to “change” God’s plan? How does God react? Does Moses hold back his blessing of water?
Have you ever given up on somebody? Does God give up on them? How can you trust God with this person?
Where can you identify God’s persistence and grace in your life?

God’s covenant is rooted in Exodus 6: 1 – 8; and before that in Genesis 12: 1 – 4.
What is the promise? To whom is it made?
Make a full list of God’s promises. What do God’s promises suggest about the character of God?
What is it about humans that we have trouble believing and trusting God’s promises?

Luke records three stories of God’s faithfulness. In the parables of “the lost” we get a picture of God’s promise in Jesus.
Look at the setting of Jesus’ teaching. How/why is the setting important to the meaning of these stories?
What is the character of Jesus, the “shepherd”?
When are you like a “lost sheep”? Where do you go? How does it feel to know God is searching for you?
How can you encourage other “lost sheep” for whom God is also searching and willing to “carry” them home?

You might be interested in exploring this theme more fully in the book: "The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions" by Jeff Manion