What’s Your Hurry?

After this mornings worship service, Karen and I went for what has become our traditional Sunday noon meal at our favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrel. It is such a nice place, we can either wander through the store and see what has been added since our last visit, or simply sit outside rocking in the rocking chairs. Those who know me well, would have no difficulty figuring out which of those two activities I would most enjoy.

While sitting in my rocking chair outside of Cracker Barrel, I was reminded of one of my favorite episodes of Andy Griffith which I believe was called “What’s Your Hurry.” It is about a Sunday morning sermon preached by a guest preacher who talks about the lost art of relaxation and the importance of rest. According to the preacher, it seems that all we ever do is run and go as many places and do things as quickly as we can. I must say that this message shouldn’t be lost on our society today. After the service, the folks of Mayberry decide that the best way to “relax” would be to have a band concert in the park Sunday night. Well, after a great deal of work and commotion it is decided that, since the band didn’t have enough time to practice, the uniforms were in complete disrepair, and the band pavilion was too dangerous for the band to perform on, that the best bet was to just scrap the whole idea. The last scene found Andy, Barney, and Aunt Bea sitting on the front porch recovering from their hectic afternoon’s work when the preacher coming back through town is forced to turn down an invitation to dinner with the family due to a “pressing engagement.” Andy, realizing that the preacher isn’t following his own advice, simply responds to the preacher by asking “What’s your hurry?”

What’s your hurry? This is indeed a problem that we as a society continue to face. Unfortunately, I am afraid that this problem has gotten much worse since that episode of Andy was televised some 45 years ago. After Karen and I left Cracker Barrel, we witnessed one person backing up on a major highway in order to save about 1 minute at a stop light, 2 minutes and ¼ mile down the road later, a motorcyclist was laying in the middle of an intersection apparently stuck by a car, and another ¼ mile down the road Karen and I were almost run off the road by someone who was being impatient and didn’t think we were going fast enough, even though we were going about 3 mph over the speed limit.

It seems like almost a different lifetime, but about 23 years ago, Ben, Terri and I performed in a musical at church called “The Music Machine,” which really was a great experience. I bring this up because one of the songs called “Patients” has stayed with me all of these years, and I think that the words have just as much, if not more significance today. Let me share the words with you.

Have patients, have patients,
don’t be in such a hurry
When you get impatient,
You only start to worry.
Remember, remember, that God is patient too,
So, think of all the times when others have to wait on you.

As I think about the difference between relaxing in my rocking chair at Cracker Barrel, and the several near mishaps on the way home, my wish and prayer for everyone today is to slow down and have patients. What’s your hurry?

Blessings

Time Flies…

As I am sitting here, the clock is quickly beginning to move well past my bed time. It is a little after 11:30 PM on Friday night, and my mind keeps going to the thought that tomorrow is the start of the big Labor Day weekend. I have always enjoyed Labor Day but I must admit that I am also always a little sad to see it arrive because it marks the unofficial end of summer. Now, in a way, that doesn’t really mean much since I am already back in school and to be honest, the kids here in town have been back for a month already, but it still makes me sad to know that fall is almost here, and then winter will be just around the corner.

In one of my classes last week, the professor observed that time seems to travel much more quickly as we get older. His theory was that when you are 5 years old, one year equals 20% of your life. With that perspective one year would seem like a very long time, but when you are 50 years old, one year only equals 1/50th of your life and so consequently time seems to go much more quickly.

Well, that may be a good theory, and it may even be accurate, but I also have a theory about why time goes by so quickly as we get older that I would like to share with you. Let me try to explain it.

When you are young, you always have something exciting to look forward to. You look forward to birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, playing outside, going on dates, the basketball game on Friday night… When you are young you are constantly in a state of anticipation. Well, my experience seems to indicate that when I am looking forward to something with anticipation, it just never seems to get here. I think they even made up a saying about a watched pot never boils.

Now let’s look at the average adult life. How many things do we really look forward to with great anticipation? Not too many, right? Even the Holidays come with a great deal of work, planning, stress or preparations that need to be attended to. Now lets take it a step further, How many things do you look ahead to with a certain amount of fear, dread, or, at the very least, with a certain degree of anxiety? I was listening to a country song the other day where the singer was complaining that there was “too much month at the end of the money.” Well, I for one can sure sympathize with that, and I think that most of the people I know find themselves in that situation.

So, when you are looking ahead with anxiety to the end of the month or the next holiday, or the evaluation at work next week, of course then, time seems to just fly by. My theory then is that when we look ahead with excitement, time goes by more slowly, when we look forward with anxiety, time seems to go more quickly.

The bottom line is that as you begin this Holiday weekend, you should plan as many activities that you love to do as possible. Plan time with your family, put it on the calendar and see to it that it happens, and in making sure that you are looking forward with joy, you will in reality be extending your life!

Do you know what time it is when the elephant sits on the fence? ................ Time to get a new fence!

Do you know why the boy threw his clock out the window? ……………. He wanted to see time fly!

Blessings

Sole Fide.... By Faith Alone

As I mentioned in my last post, I have very much enjoyed the conversations that my blog has started and this ongoing conversation continues today. I received an email asking the excellent question, ‘What was Luther’s problem with the Book of James." Well, I am not sure that there is an easy or perhaps the better word might be “short” answer, but I will certainly try to answer that for you.

First of all let’s be sure that we are on the same page here. We are talking about Martin Luther the 16th century, German Reformer, who was the namesake of today’s Lutheran Church, as opposed to Martin Luther King Jr. who was the assassinated civil rights leader. I remember a Christmas program once where someone portraying Martin Luther was supposed to stroll through the sanctuary while the choir sang a German Christmas Carol. The youth leader suddenly became very concerned asking the question, “Shouldn’t Martin Luther be black?” I just wanted to be sure that we didn’t have this confusion.

One of the foundational beliefs of Martin Luther and of the Protestant Reformers was the doctrine of Sola fide, or “by faith alone.” This doctrine declares that it is only on the basis of God’s grace through the faith of the believer that we are justified and our sins are forgiven. This is one of the key doctrines that distinguish the Protestant faith from that of Catholicism or Eastern Christianity. This doctrine of “by faith alone” is the bases of Martin Luther’s challenge to the Catholic Church who held that it is a combination of faith and good works that are the keys to salvation.

One of Luther’s primary issues with the Roman Catholic Church was the practice of indulgences. This practice essentially held that you could buy your forgiveness, or that of a loved one, by giving money or gifts to the church. In 1517 Pope Leo X offered indulgences to those who were willing to give money to the reconstruction of Saint Peters Basilica in Rome. There was one German Dominican Priest in particular, Johann Tetzel, that especial received the wrath of Luther because of his over aggressive sale of indulgences. Tetzel was credited with the slogan, "As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs"

The scriptural foundation for the doctrine of “by faith alone” is found in the book of Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. The problem that develops with Martin Luther and the book of James is that James says, “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” Here is a little more of what James says about faith and works:

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:19-26


Uh Oh… so which one is right? Is it by faith alone, or does works have something to do with it? Luther chose to deal with this disparity by holding that the book of James was not important or significant and not to be used for the purposes of doctrine. He was widely quoted as referring to the book of James as the “epistle of straw”

John Calvin, another Reformer and contemporary of Luther, had a different take and simply referred to good works as a consequence or “fruit” of faith. Of course our own John Wesley weighed in on this topic in great detail essentially holding that it is by faith alone that we are justified, and that without being justified by faith, it is impossible to do good works. He further held that once a person was justified by faith through the grace of God, then good works and fruits would naturally flow from this new birth, or being born again. In addition he believed that if works were not evident in someone’s life then perhaps they were not justified at all. Wesley was always very good at taking two opposite opinions and blending them into a relationship that made sense.

So, in a nut shell this was the great controversy. It’s funny that we don’t talk so much about these things today, and perhaps that is a shame. The relationship between faith and works is critical. Can we truly be saved if there is no evidence in our life? Is it possible to do works that are pleasing to God if we are not justified by faith? Does Wesley’s view of good works mean that someone outside of the Christian faith can do nothing pleasing to God? What about someone who dies right after they are justified by faith, and was never baptized where do they fit in? Will they go to heaven?

I love these types of questions! It is in the search of these answers and the answers to countless other questions of faith that one could spend a lifetime in pursuit. What kind of questions are you asking?

Blessings

Sunday's Sermon Topic

I just read the most awesome question.

Are you in the way of Christ or on the way of Christ?

Wow, now that is a thought provoking question. I think I just found my sermon topic for Sunday!

Blessings

“You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me!”

I have to admit that one of the great things so far about my blog is that it has sparked several great conversations. Last night one of my favorite people asked me an excellent question, one that I have thought about many times over the last three years and one that I think I am beginning to get a little better perspective on now that I am on the downhill side of seminary. Her question related to my post, “Do You Believe in Miracles?” “How on earth does someone end up teaching in a seminary who doesn’t even believe in the most basic Christian belief of miracles?” This is truly a wonderful question, and one that I have struggled with for quite some time, so let me see if I can offer a few thoughts on this.

First of all, in the past three years I have had professors, instructors and speakers who were Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Unitarian Universalist, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, and some who are a mixture of all and everything in between. Some of these people have been professor’s employed by the seminary while others have been guest speakers invited to speak on topics of their specific expertise. In these past three years I have been exposed to many wonderful concepts, ideas and thoughts that I never before even knew existed. Many of these ideas were at the very least mind expanding if not completely mind blowing. These were the ideas that I couldn’t wait to get back home and share in worship or usually more effectively in Bible Study. On the other hand, there were ideas, thoughts and views that I found totally repugnant which I immediately challenged, argued against and fought with every fiber of my being.

Seminaries have a difficult task. How do you prepare someone for the challenges, trials and even persecutions of ministry, especially in the world which we find ourselves living in today? If you have never been exposed to the world and the thoughts and views which are prevalent outside of our own Christian understanding, how can you ever learn to deal with the people who find themselves living in that world on a daily basis?

There are two basic approaches found in seminaries around the world. The first approach is to teach what to think. Believe it or not, sometimes I wish that this was the approach of my seminary. It would be so easy when dealing with the complex, theological, social and moral issues for someone to simply say, this is the best way to think. How many times I have longed for someone to just say, “This is the truth.” Well, as I discussed in an earlier post, aside from Jesus, the truth can sometimes be a relative thing with areas of black, white and all kinds of gray.

The second approach and the one that I feel is the most beneficial, is rather than teach the students WHAT to think, instead to teach the student HOW to think. This is the direction chosen by my seminary, The Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

The more that you study the scriptures, the more you realize how much that you don’t know, and when you begin to factor in the fathers (and mothers) of the church such as Clement of Rome, Saint Ignatious of Antioch, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Tertullian, Jerome, Gregory, Luther, Calivin, Wesley, and Bonhofer, just to name a few. You learn that these are the people who helped to form and shape our understanding of what it means to be a Christian. An idea as fundamental to Christianity as the Trinity would be a prime example. We think of it as an idea pulled straight from the Bible, and it is, but it was actually Tertullian, more than 1800 years ago, who first introduced in his writings and identified the concept of the Trinity which we take for granted today.

Even our basic understanding of the nature of Jesus was hotly debated for hundreds of years. People lost their lives arguing on multiple sides of an issue which today we simply take for granted. In reality, it wasn’t until the first Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (Think Nicene Creed) that a young scholar named Athanasius, argued against the Arian doctrine. The Arian doctrine said that Christ was of a similar substance or even a different substance from God. Athanasius argued that Jesus and God was of the same substance, hence the great emphasis in the Nicene Creed; We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father…

I share this with you to help give you some perspective on the idea that what we believe today is the culmination of thought, understanding, writings and the work of theologians for 2000 years. Even something as simple as the selection of books which we now have as our canon of scriptures called the Holy Bible were greatly debated for many years. You might not be aware that the Catholic Bible for instance has several more books than our Bible, this is certainly worth the time to research and learn about. Luther, the father of our protestant faith, in the 1500’s even argued that the book of James should be eliminated from the canon, he called it the “epistle of straw.”

I share this with you to perhaps help you see that the Holy Spirit has been working in and through the church for thousands of years. There has never been a time in the history of the church when there wasn’t argument, dissension, and disagreement, including as early as the Book of Acts, and this tradition certainly continues today.

So why would they allow someone to teach that doesn’t hold the same beliefs that we do as United Methodists? I think the reason is that they would like for the students to be exposed to as many ideas, thoughts and theologies as possible in order to allow the student to understand that sometimes what you think may not be as important as the way that you arrived at your conclusion.

So continue with me on this journey and keep the questions coming!

Blessings

Back to School

I have now survived the first week of my next to last semester of seminary. I must say that I have some very mixed emotions about this semester. I think that it is potentially going to be one of the best series of classes yet, as well as perhaps the hardest semester yet.

The first class is “United Methodist Polity.” (Doesn’t that sound exciting?) I actually haven’t attended this class yet. When I arrived on Monday there was a message reminding me that this class won’t start until September 8th. Reminding me? That is to somehow assume that I knew this to begin with. I checked the course schedule, and it said that it started this week, and I checked with some of the other students and they didn’t know about it either. So, I think that when they “reminded me” it is a bit like the times I “remind” Karen when perhaps I forgot to tell her about it to begin with.

The next class is “The History of Christian Spirituality.” This is going to be excellent. The professor, Jeff Jaynes, is wonderful, albeit a bit strange, (in the good sense) and the course looks like it will be very comprehensive. As usual,there will be a lot of reading and writing but no tests (YEAH) which is good when you have a 48 year old brain.

I also have an advanced preaching, Homiletics, class this semester, the interesting thing is that it is titled “Spirituality Foundation Preaching.” I am getting the feeling that God is trying to tell me something about Spirituality, so when I begin to figure out what it is, I will be sure to pass it along to you. We did do an interesting, or perhaps a better word would be terrifying, exercise in class this week. The professor asked the class to look up a scripture that he selected, read it, and then after only five minutes give a 1 minute sermon, NO NOTES. Now you might think that should be easy for me. You might even say, “Hey, you talk for 20 minutes every Sunday.” But, that is with a considerable amount of preparation and preaching on Sunday is just for God and those listening, it isn’t for a grade or in front of my classmates who are going to critique me. What made it worse is that I ended up going next to last, so I had to sit and listen and listen, not knowing when I might be called. I think that this last part was his point. You never know when you will be called upon with only a moments notice and you had better be prepared all of the time with something worth while to say.

This morning I attended my last class of the week, “Multi Religious America.” This class, I am beginning to suspect, will be one of my favorites. I am already intrigued by the first assignment which is to select a religion that you are interested in, centered in America, which was founded since 1960, research it and discuss the themes and conflicts contained within the religion. My first thought was to look at Scientology, but it was formed in 1954 so it didn’t fall within the time frame. So, my next thought was The Branch Davidians of David Koresh fame. I think that should be very interesting. I’ll let you know what I find out.

My final class which doesn’t meet until next Wednesday is my “Cross Cultural Immersion.” “What’s that?” You might ask. Well in early January, I am going with a group of students to El Salvador. This is not a mission trip but rather an opportunity to be totally involved in the culture, staying with local families, sleeping on concrete slabs, and meeting with missionary’s and officials of government and private aid agencies in an effort to understand the challenges faced in their culture. I will keep you posted on that as well.

Well, the 75 hour weeks have begun. In reality, although I sometimes complain about being tired and the work load, I truly understand how blessed I am to be able to experience the life of a seminarian, and I am eternally grateful to those who make that possible for me!

Blessings

Do You Believe in Miracles?

Sunday evening as I watched the Olympic Torch being extinguished, concluding an exciting and sometimes controversial Olympic Games, there was one moment that stood out for me, from among the myriad of Olympic images. It was in the 400 meter freestyle relay, it seemed nearly certain that Michael Phelps hope of 8 Gold Medals was over. With just one length of the pool to go, Jason Lezak, the old man of the US swim team, was about half a body length behind the French swimmer, Alain Bernard. Of course we remember him because he was the guy who said that the French were going to crush the Americans. (Yeah, like that is likely to happen) But, at the wall it is Lezak who out touches Bernard in the fastest relay leg in history to keep Phelps’ hope alive.

That reminded me of another moment in Olympic history that I found myself yelling and screaming at the TV and that was back in 1980 when the US Ice Hockey Team won what was not only an improbable Gold Medal against the best “professional” teams in the world, but some would have considered the US chances as impossible. I still remember the announcer, Al Michaels' asking the question “Do you believe in Miracles?” as the US team won their Gold Medal securing for themselves a permanent place in history as well as in the hearts of all Americans.

Do you believe in miracles? Now that is an intriguing question. Most people say that they do, but isn’t believing in miracles also being willing to ask for them or even expect them? Sometimes in the seminary, academic environment it can become a challenge to express your beliefs. I remember writing a paper on Blind Bartimaeus, making some point about the miracle of healing that took place. I was greatly chastised by the professor for having the audacity to believe the possibility that the story could in reality simply be based on a real event that took place and was recorded by the Gospel Writer. His view was that all miracle stories never really happened and that they are only allegories, metaphors or literary devices used by the Gospel writers to make a point. (Yeah Right!)

Anyway, his opinion aside, I certainly do believe in miracles, and I also believe that they are just as common today as they were back in biblical times. It is difficult to read the book of Acts without asking the question, “Why don’t we see these types of miracles today?” My opinion is that we do. The only difference between our times and those of Acts, is that they recognized the miracles for what they were, blessings from God. They were constantly giving God credit and thanking God for the gifts that they received. Today we are more likely to say, “Wow was I lucky!” or “It’s a good thing I didn’t walk out my door 30 seconds sooner or I would have been involved in that accident for sure.”

Miracles are taking place all around you. Today, I challenge you to open your eyes, your minds and your hearts to the glory, power and majesty of Jesus Christ, and know that God wants to do a miracle in your life today!

Blessings

Back to School...

Today I made the journey back over to Ohio to begin what I hope will be my last year as I work toward my Masters of Divinity degree. As I look back on how I have gotten to this point, I realize that the only way that I am sitting here in my dorm room in Delaware Ohio, is though the strength and grace of God. I have told may people over the past couple of years, when asked how close to graduation I was, that I needed about three or four more miracles in order to graduate. This answer was always received by a chuckle or some other disparaging response such as that I must be going for Sainthood if I was waiting for miracles.

The truth is that there was absolutely nothing humorous or joking about my answer. When I was asked about how much longer I had in school, I was very serious that I needed these miracles to occur or I could not possibly finish school, let alone graduate. As I look back over these last few semesters, I have watched as one by one these miracles have occurred in my life. I have watched as God has met or exceeded each need as it has appeared and blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. Sometimes I have wondered if God could possibly have another miracle to give to me, and each time God has continued to be faithful and bless me more than I could have imagined.

In addition, in the last few months I have experienced some devastating situations, and each time I have asked how God could have possibly allowed this to happen. Each time I have wondered if I had somehow strayed from the path and wandered away from the road that God wanted me to take. However, like fire strengthens iron, I have found those things which I initially thought were devastating circumstances, have proven to be important if not critical keys in allowing me to continue the ministry which God has put before me.

I began today by saying that I am back at school, sitting here only by the grace of God. I am now down to needing only one more miracle. The journey ahead over the next 11 months is long, and the road is rocky and at times looks downright scary. But God has proven himself to me over and over again, each time allowing me to put more and more trust and confidence in Him and each time allowing me to simply put my future in God’s hands.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said “If God is your co-pilot then you are in the wrong seat.” My prayer is that I continue to allow God to be the pilot of my life and the captain of my ship.

Blessings

A day in the life...

This has been quite a weekend for us. First of all I found out that I am going to die. Well, perhaps that might be a little melodramatic. Saturday morning Karen and I went for our annual health insurance checkups. I really do despise going to those, even if I know that they are for my own good. Unfortunately, my blood pressure was up, my glucose was a bit high, my triglycerides were high, my bad cholesterol was high and my good cholesterol was low. Oh my, the way they made it sound I have one foot already in the grave. So immediately following this bit of bad news, we went to The Olive Garden to drown our sorrows in pasta and breadsticks.

Saturday evening we had the opportunity to attend Cana’s Ice Cream Social. Now that was a great evening! Ben and Crystal and the grandkids were there. We talked and ate and just had a wonderful time sharing life together, and after all of that excitement I had a chance to watch my favorite NASCAR race of the year, the night race at Bristol. I must say that the race didn’t disappoint me and my favorite driver Jeff Gordon finished in 5th so all in all not a bad day.

Today, Odie made his debut in church during the children’s message and he was a great hit. The children’s message is always one of my favorite parts of the worship service. If you have never had the opportunity to look at those beautiful, fresh, young faces as they hear about the love of Christ, you don’t know what you are missing. Through the years I have often felt that I have received as much of a blessing from the children’s message as I have the sermons. To make the day even more special, today’s sermon was more of a dramatic presentation which seemed to be well received and a great blessing to me.

Tomorrow is Karen’s Birthday which is a bit sad because tomorrow is also the first day back to Seminary. So, instead of being able to spend the day with Karen, I will be spending it in the car heading back to Ohio. However, we are planning to get up early and go to our favorite restaurant, Cracker Barrel, for breakfast.

I try hard to remember John Lennon’s line that “life is what happens while we are making other plans.” I pray that I always remember that it is the joy in the small things that makes for a wonderful life.

Blessings

"All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up…”

Sunday is going to be a very big day in the Higdon household. I announced last Sunday in church that there is going to be a very special guest in church next Sunday for the Children’s Message, and this person has never been to church before. Well, you may have guessed who that person is, Yep, you are right, it’s our dog Odie.

Karen has tried to get me to take Odie to church for one reason or another for over two years now. Each time I asked her if she had any suggestions for the Children’s Message she would respond saying, “Yes, you should take Odie.” It seems that no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t convince her that I needed something more than simply taking the dog with me, I needed some type of theological idea or concept to go along with him.

I also didn’t get much help from my dear friend Roger who would come by the house to let Odie out when he knew that I was out of town and Karen was working late. “When are you gonna bring Odie to church?” he would ask, Oh brother, I just couldn’t win.

Then finally, a couple of weeks ago, I looked at the scripture which I planned to use last week which was from the book of Matthew.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
(Matthew 15:21-28 )

What a great opportunity to bring Odie! I knew just what I could talk to the kids about. The only problem was that I didn’t have the Children’s Message last week. Of course, this fact didn't provide an acceptable excuse for Karen, “Can’t you just do it next week instead?” After a little bit of emotional blackmail, I came to the conclusion that if I knew what was good for me, this will be the Sunday that Odie gets to come to church.

You see Odie loves it when our two year old Grandson Andrew comes to visit. Whenever we eat, Odie is sure to sit as close to Andrew’s feet as he can. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, because Odie loves Andrew and Andrew loves Odie, second is because, lets face it, Andrew is the most likely person to drop something on the floor. And third, Andrew also really loves sharing the food that he has with Odie, and of course Odie likes that as well.

In the scripture, Jesus was so touched by the faith of the woman that he told her that because of her faith, her daughter would be healed. Jesus said that he came first to the Jews, but he certainly didn’t mean that he didn’t love all of God’s people, nor did it mean that he didn’t want to share his love with everyone. So in the spirit of this story, I want to be like the woman and be bold in my faith, but I also want to be like my dog Odie, even though he may know that the meal wasn’t originally prepared especially for him, it doesn’t stop him from participating in it and enjoying it. And just like Odie, I will gladly spend my life just sitting at my Master’s feet, enjoying the crumbs and morsels that fall from the table, and blessing God for the joy of being in Jesus’ presence.

Blessings :)

Friend are Friends Forever…

Have you ever had the feeling that God was trying to tell you something, but you weren’t really sure exactly what He was trying say to you? Something a little strange, but quite wonderful, has been happening to me over the past couple of weeks. I have been reconnecting with people that I haven’t spoken to, some of whom, for many years.

It all started last week, as I shared with you in an earlier post about talking on the phone to my Aunt Ginny who I haven’t spoken to since my Dads funeral almost 27 years ago. It was such a great joy to talk with her and catch up and exchange email addresses so that we could do a better job of remaining in touch in the future.

A few days later we had dinner with Ron and Nancy who have been our dearest friends since Ron was appointed to serve as pastor of my home church, Trinity UMC, around 9 years ago. Since that time Ron has not only been my dear friend but he has also been my mentor, helping and guiding me through the challenges of ministry. I do not believe that I would be a minister today had it not been for Ron’s influence. The great thing about Ron and Nancy is that they probably know Karen and I better than anyone else in the world and they love us anyway.

Next came my dear friend Marcia who I had the opportunity to have breakfast with earlier this week. Marcia was one of the most significant supporters of my desire to enter into ministry. Without her help and guidance I am not sure that I would have had the courage to leave my practice and follow my call.

Right after I got home from breakfast with Marcia, the phone rang and it was my great friend Rick. Dr. Rick and I went through Chiropractic College together, and without him, I am pretty sure that I wouldn’t have made it through. We were so close in school that my son Ben, when he first started to talk, would call Rick, Dad. I also remember a time that Karen and I had left our apartment during the summer break and traveled back home to Illinois with our new born son Ben. When we arrived back in Georgia to our apartment we found it infested with fleas. Poor Ben had over 100 of the miserable little creatures crawling on him within just a few seconds after setting him down on the carpet when we first went in the door. Thank goodness for Rick’s gracious offer to spend a couple of days in his apartment while ours was being fumigated or we might have had to sleep in the car.

After hanging up the phone from my conversation with Rick I had an opportunity to talk to my nephew Ben. You might notice that he shares the same name as my son Ben. My nephew, Ben, is one year older than me, and we grew up together. I always loved the name Ben, and when our son was born I had no doubt that I wanted him to be named for my nephew who was more like a brother to me than a nephew. Unfortunately, we haven’t talked as much here recently as I would like, and I think God is trying to tell me to improve on this.

The next day, I ran into another dear friend Alice from Maine, who I hadn’t seen for over three years. Alice was also someone who was very supportive of Karen and I when we made the transition into ministry.

This morning, I had an opportunity to see another dear friend of our family, Leslie, who worked in our office for many years as a Massage Therapist. But Leslie’s friendship went much deeper than just a professional relationship. Her whole family has always been very special to Karen and I. And by the way, between Leslie and her mother, they make the best pumpkin pies I have ever eaten in my life.

Finally, this afternoon Karen and I ran into Mr. Arnold. Carl, (Mr. Arnold is what our kids always called him) and his wife Annie are two of our oldest and dearest friends. Carl is one of the finest woodworkers that I have ever met, and also one of the most profound, and funny, philosophers that I have ever known. One of Carl’s most memorable sayings, which I must admit that I have used myself many times is, “It may be a small world, but I would sure hate to paint it!” Carl and Annie were two people who befriended our family when we first moved to Seymour more than twenty years ago, and I must say that Annie’s home made chicken soup has gotten me through many episodes of flu when I thought I was going to die. Come to think of it, it was Carl that first introduced me to the internet and Nintendo. Hmmmm, I’m not sure if that is good or bad.

All in all this has been a week filled with the joy of reunions. I get the feeling that God is really trying to tell me something. Perhaps the lesson is that we should never become too busy to pick up the phone and call those people that we care about the most, and maybe, no matter how busy we are, we should be sure to make it a point to keep in touch.

One lesson that I know for sure from this experience is the knowledge that I have always been blessed with the gift of great friendships, and each of them have been true gifts from God.

Blessings

"In God We Trust"

In God We Trust… When in the course of human events…We the people of the United States… Four score and seven years ago…

When I hear these words it causes a reaction deep within me. It is a visceral response, one that goes to the very core of my being. These are words that symbolize something great, something extraordinary, something that is truly bigger than any one person or ideal. In the history of the United States young men and women have fought and died for these words and what they stand for. When I hear these words and stop for a moment to perceive their meaning, I can sense a feeling of pride, and dignity welling up inside of me and I am thankful to God for those who have gone before me, who have spent their lives forging the freedom and democracy which today we too often take for granted.

Unfortunately, these words and what they stand for are increasingly coming under attack. I received an email from Tracy today that said:

Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation. NBC is taking a poll on 'In God We Trust' to stay on our American currency. Please send this to everyone you know so they can vote on this important subject. Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off the web page. Poll is still open so you can vote.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/


So I went to the MSNBC web site and took the poll, what shocked me was the number of people who are in favor of removing “In God We Trust” from our US currency. The numbers when I went showed that 71% were in favor of keeping the National Motto on our currency, and 29 % wanted it removed. 29%? That is an astounding number to me. Now admittedly the poll is being taken on the MSNBC web site, home of Keith Olberman. But 29%? That is almost one third of those responding, or about one out of every three people that you meet on the street, although we certainly aren’t talking about the streets in the Midwest for the most part.

In an attempt to put this number into some form of perspective, I went looking around the internet for some sort of answer to the question of why “In God We Trust” would be so offensive. Let’s face it, if you are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Mormon, or Jehovah’s Witness, you believe in God. (I know that I have left many out). Even those of the Hindu faith believe in god, albeit many of them. I saw a Fox News poll recently which claimed that fully 92% of people in the United States believe in God. So with this overwhelming percentage of people professing some form of belief in God, I am not sure that I can put my finger on exactly what the problem is. However, as I began to read the various web sites, I was truly astounded by the number of people who seemed vehemently if not violently opposed to the use of “In God We Trust” on our currency.

My son Ben wrote a blog not too long ago complaining about people who no longer stand at attention and salute our flag during the National Anthem. I believe that he has hit upon something extremely important and if we are not careful it may be lost forever, and that one thing can be summed up in the word: respect. Respect for God, respect for country, and respect for each other. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly don’t believe that we should blindly follow the leadership of our nation, nor are we to mindlessly say that whatever anyone wants to do is ok. Respect is something that must be earned.

I encourage you to follow the link to MSNBC and take the poll question. Be willing to stand up and be counted as a part of this great democracy, so that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Blessings

"What is Truth?"

What is truth? Now that can be a very difficult question. As a pastor, I find myself frequently choosing my words very carefully, not wanting to offend someone who has asked me a question, but also not wanting to leave the impression that I am in agreement with their position either. Sometimes the question becomes not only what is truth, but also when is it best to tell the complete truth and when is it best to simply keep quiet? Of course there is the additional ethical dilemma of not being truthful at all.

I remember my daughter Terri coming home from a youth group meeting with a list of items needed to take on an upcoming mission trip. There were a couple of items on the list that struck me as rather odd, such as a burlap sack. So when I asked Terri what these items were for, she informed me that they were going Snipe hunting one night. Uh Oh, now comes the challenge, do I tell her the truth, do I simply keep quiet, or do I go along with the joke knowing that poor Terri would probably never forgive me for not telling her what a Snipe hunt was.

With that being said, perhaps not everyone reading this knows about Snipe hunting, If you are planning to attend a Snipe hunt in the near future, perhaps you should quit reading now, I wouldn’t want to be held responsible for ruining your evening. I will wait for you to click off now…..

Ok, if you’re still with me, a Snipe Hunt is a prank played mostly on kids, or very naive adults. The object is to send the unsuspecting hunters out into the woods armed with a paper bag or a burlap sack, a flashlight and some type of stick such as a broom handle. The hunters are told to call the Snipes by yelling “Here Snipe, Here Snipe,” and to beat the bushes with their sticks in an effort to drive the Snipes out of hiding. The poor hunters then spend the next hour scouring the woods for the elusive creatures. The problem is that, there are no Snipes, it is just a prank, and the bird is just made up. Although, in reality there truly is a bird called a Snipe, just not one that kids go hunting for.

Another even more cruel aspect of the joke comes into play when you take the kids out in the woods and leave them, telling them that the object of the game is to be the first one back to the house with a snipe in there bag. Obviously, if something unfortunate happened to Terri and I knew about this in advance, I would be in trouble, if Terri realized that I knew in advance and didn’t tell her, I would be in trouble, and if the trip leader found out that I spoiled his evening’s entertainment, I would once again be in trouble. This question of “What is truth” is just not so easy.

Another example of the ethical dilemma contained within the question what is truth is something common to all men when they are faced with the infamous question, “Does this outfit make me look fat?” Once again, the prudent husband sensing the gravity of the situation he has fallen into and the myriad of possible responses which come to mind, one should always respond, “Of course not dear!” The most unacceptable answer to this question comes from Jeff Foxworthy which is, “It’s not the outfit that makes you look fat.” Of course this answer would be a tragic mistake.

Seriously, In the Book of John 8:38, Pilot speaking to Jesus says “What is Truth?” These words are so simple yet so powerfully insightful. Sometimes the truth can elude us no matter how hard we seek it. Sometimes truth can be right in front of us but yet remain impossible to see. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:6-7)

When the truth seems to be eluding you and the road ahead is fraught with peril, always remember that Jesus is the truth and the life, and if you will only follow Him, you will find the Way.

Blessings

The End is Near!!!

I have to admit that one of my secret pleasures is watching the History and Discovery Channels. Tonight I just watched a program that predicted the end of the world in 2012. As a matter of fact it was even more specific than that, according to the Mayan Calendar the end of times will be December 21st, 2012. Well, although that is certainly good to know, I must confess that I am a little disappointed. It will sure put a damper on my 53rd birthday party. But, then again, they certainly appeared to know what they were talking about.

Now seriously, I can’t remember how many times in my life I have heard that the end was coming. Does anyone remember the excitement over January 1, 2000, Y2K? I was so concerned that I am pretty sure I went to bed early that night, if the world would have come to an end I would have slept right through it.

Now I realize that I am probably stepping on some of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ’s toes, but there is almost an obssesion with the Book of Revelation, far more than with any other book of the Bible. I watch with great interest as televangelists and preachers spend sermon after sermon utilizing massive backdrops and using wonderful illustrations to explain exactly where and when each Biblical prophecy will come true, what we should expect to happen and even how best to prepare.

The problem that I have with these end of times prophecies is that every generation has said that they were living in the end of times. EVERY Generation!!! And, if you ask people today, they will say oh yes, the signs are all present, it is very close. The problem with this way of thinking is that although I whole heartedly agree that we are closer today than we were yesterday, and we are certainly closer this year than we were last year, the idea that it is immanent, just seems a little paranoid on our part. I remember driving to school last year listening to a preacher being interviewed on the radio who said that there would be a catastrophic disaster by April of this year that would usher in the end of times, well it’s now August and it hasn’t happened yet. (I was a little nervous about tax time)

The main problem that I have with this incessant fascination with doomsday prophesy is that, in my view, it borders on blasphemy. Let me explain, Jesus says in the book of Matthew, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:35-36) It seems pretty audacious to me for someone to spend their entire lifetime trying to figure out something that Jesus says clearly that not even the angels in heaven nor He knew. Only the Father knows the time.

Now, with that being said, I do believe that there is an end of time that we should all be immanently concerned with, and that end of time is our own personal last day. There used to be a sign between Seymour and Columbus, IN on I- 65 North that read “You Have a Expiration Date.” Now aside from being gramaticly inacurate, I agree with it completely. Each one of us has an expiration date, each of us has only a limited time on this earth to follow God’s will for our lives and this is the date that we should be most concerned about. My Mother died at the age of 80 waiting for two things to happen. One was for the Chicago Cubs to win a World Series and the second was for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Neither of these happened in her lifetime and even though I am a lifetime Cub fan, I just don’t think that either one is all that likely in my lifetime either, although I certainly believe that the second coming of Christ is possibly more immanent than a Cubs World Series victory.

If your heart is prepared for your "expiration date," then you are prepared for the second coming of Christ. Jesus said in the Gospel of John, “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.” In this scripture we find the answer to the end of times prophesies. The answer is simple, believe in God and have trust and faith in the one who was willing to die for you on Calvary.

Blessings

Train up a child...

For some reason I have been in a bit of a nostalgic mood here lately. Perhaps it was my phone conversation last week with my Aunt who I hadn’t talked to since my Dad passed away 27 years ago, maybe it was my conversation with my sister, talking about all of the old pictures that she had received of our family, most of whom are no longer with us, or maybe it was my canning excursion that took me back to a simpler, less hectic time.

I was telling my congregations yesterday how much I despised working in the garden when I was a kid. My Dad had a humongous garden that seemed to need some type of attention every single day, and the last thing I wanted to do was to get out in the hot sun and tend vegetables. Besides, I enjoyed vegetables almost as much as I enjoyed working in the garden, so if I didn’t eat them, why should I have to help grow them? At least that was the way a 10 year old mind worked.

I remember Dad coming into my room at the awful hour of 8 am announcing that it was time to get up, that we had work to do. When I finally staggered up and out, I could see that Dad had already been down to the garden and pulled up a wagon full of beans and piled them as tall as me under the shade tree in the front yard with Mom already hard at work picking them off the vines. One thing that Dad never liked doing was picking beans, so he would plant beans that would produce all about the same time so that he could pull up the entire plant rather than sit out in the field and pick the beans off. The rest of the morning was then spent with the whole family picking the beans and putting them in bushel baskets. Of course Dad was never content with just one pile that was as tall as me, no, as soon as he got us started working he would head back down to the garden and pull up some additional rows just for fun.

About lunch time, our task of picking the beans would be done and we could go back inside, (thank goodness for air conditioning) have lunch, flip the TV on to WGN and the Chicago Cubs game, spending the rest of afternoon breaking the beans that we had picked off. The next day Mom and my sister Verna would can the beans. I didn’t have much to do with that because I don’t think they wanted me hanging around the kitchen. I remember one year that Mom canned over 1000 quarts of vegetables, and after my 36 pints Saturday, I have even more respect for that number.

As I have been thinking back to those days here lately, I have come to one very important understanding, and that is that I would gladly trade everything that I had for one more opportunity to go back down and work in that garden with my Dad or spend one more afternoon breaking beans with Mom, watching the Cubs get beat by the Cincinnati Reds and simply sharing together the most important things of life which have taken me 40 years to understand.

The activities that we are doing today will be the memories of tomorrow. How are you spending your day today? What memories are you creating? Are you doing what is really important? Have you even thought about what those really important things are? God gives us the opportunity to touch so many different lives, it is my prayer for you that today you create a wonderful memory that will last a lifetime.

Blessings

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

If the Harvest Never Comes...

If the Harvest Never Comes…

Yesterday was going to be a day of rest for me. My final paper for the summer seminary session was submitted, the service for Sunday was ready, my sermon was finished and the only thing on my mind was trying to figure out which of my favorite leisure activities I was going to spend my Saturday afternoon pursuing. When suddenly, I was presented with what my dear friend Sue would call the favor of God. I now had over a half a bushel of tomatoes just begging to be canned. In reality, tomatoes consider it a tremendous honor to find out that sometime this winter they will be included in a batch of my “World Famous Chili."

The problem was that I needed canning lids, lemon juice and another dozen jars, so off to the Dollar General which is the store that employes that beautiful, witty and exceptionally fun cashier, Karen. I remember a year ago buying all of my canning supplies there, and as a matter of fact, they had so much stock at the end of canning season that they were practically giving it away. Unfortunately, this year they had absolutely nothing. So now I am off to Walmart, however, they had only slightly more canning supplies than Dollar General, but at least they had most of what I needed.

So, now I can head back home to start canning, everything was going well until I realized that I forgot the lemon juice, so back to Dollar General to pick up the juice and then back home again. Odie (our dog) is beginning to wonder what on earth I am doing.

Finally, around 11:00PM last night I took the last batch off the stove and we now have 36 pints of tomatoes all ready for the winter and my “World Famous Chili.” As I went to bed I began thinking about the favor of God that began my canning adventure and I realized how blessed that I was. I began to ask myself the question, What if the harvest never came? Would we still praise God? Would we still be thankful for the blessings that we have.

It is easy to praise God when life is going well, but can we praise God with the same enthusiasm when the storms of life are raging around us? Allow me to recommend one of my favorite songs; Praise His Name, which is performed by Jeff and Sheri Easter (what a great name for a Christian)

Praise His Name
Words and Music by Bruce Haynes & Lee Hendrix

When you're up against the wall and your mountain seems so tall ,
And you realize, life's not always fair.
You can run away and hide, let the old man decide,
Or you can change you circumstances with a prayer.

When everything falls apart, Praise His Name.
When you have a broken heart, just raise your hands and say,
"Lord, You're all I need, You're everything to me" and He'll take the pain away.
When it seems you're all alone, Praise His Name.
When you feel you can't go on, just raise your hands and say,
"Greater is He, that is within me" you can praise the hurt away.
If you'll just praise His name.

You can overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of your testimony.
You'll see the darkness go, as your faith begins to grow.
You're not alone, so how can you be lonely?

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Luke 12:22-25

Got Faith?

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Mark 11:22-23

What is this faith that Jesus is talking about? Is it even possible to have this kind of faith?

As many of you know, I just completed a two week intensive course on United Methodist Doctrine. All in all it was an excellent course, perhaps one of the best courses that I have ever taken. (I will wait until my grade comes back before I say it was the best course) One aspect of the class which I especially enjoyed was the focus on the sermons of John Wesley, who is the founder of Methodism. In his sermons he takes on some very important theological issues one of which was this issue of faith. Allow me to share with you a few insights about faith that I learned from John Wesley.

First of all, it is important to understand what faith is not. Faith is not, to use Wesley’s word, the faith of the “heathen.” This would be someone who simply believes that God does exist and that God will reward anyone who seeks God. On the surface this sounds good, but in reality it is missing a couple of very critical components of faith.

Faith is also not the faith of Satan or in Wesley’s word “devil,” (I really love this one,) who not only believes that there is a wise, powerful and gracious God, who rewards those who follow and is also a just God. But in addition, believes that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ, and the Savior of the world. Even Satan would be in agreement with our Methodist Articles of Religion and consent to each one of them, He could even be able to recite the Apostles Creed and agree with everything in it, but that still doesn’t measure up to the faith that Jesus is talking about.

Wesley even goes a step farther in explaining what faith is not by saying that it isn’t even the faith of the apostles prior to the resurrection, who had the power to work miracles, heal the sick, and even cast out demons, but even the apostles were referred to by Jesus as a “faithless generation,” and as not having the faith of a mustard seed.

Faith isn’t speculative or even rational, nor is it a simply agreeing to a litany of doctrinal standards or confessions.

Faith according to Wesley means, “not only an assent to the whole gospel of Christ, but also a full reliance on the blood of Christ; a trust in the merits of his life, death, and resurrection; a recumbency upon him as our atonement and our life, as given for us, and living in us; and, in consequence hereof, a closing with him, and cleaving to him, as our "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," or, in one word, our salvation.”
(Wesley’s Sermon, Salvation by Faith)

Faith to Wesley was a confidence and a trust in God, a full and complete reliance upon God’s grace and mercy, knowing with a calm, confident assurance that Christ died for my sins, that he loved me and gave himself for me. But, in addition to this complete trust and confidence, one must also have a deep abiding love of God, Loving God with all of your heart with all of your soul with all of you mind and with all of your strength. This is the faith of a mustard seed and the faith that can move a mountain.

Blessings

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

When I began this blog, I committed to share my journey with anyone who was interested in traveling along with me, both the good and the bad. Well yesterday I found that I need to add one more adjective to my list; ugly. In my role as seminary student, pastor, and candidate for ministry in the United Methodist Church, I spend a great deal of time in contemplation and reflection, this can sometimes be good, bad or sometimes even ugly depending on what I happen to be reflecting on.

Yesterday, I appeared before the District Board of Ordained Ministry seeking their blessing to begin the Commissioning process. Commissioning, is my next step in the journey thorough the Candidacy for ministry process.

First of all let me share the good. It was such a blessing to meet with the pastors who serve on the board, especially when I realize that they gave up their time and gas money to come to Columbus for only one reason and that was to meet with me and talk with me about my call.

The bad part for me was looking forward as the board members meticulously set before me the path toward ordained ministry. They lovingly explained each step and obstacle that lay ahead on my journey and, as best as they could, attempted to calm my fears as I gazed for a moment down the road that awaits me.

The ugly part was the necessary reflection, looking back at past mistakes and seeking to draw lessons and learn from them. It is never pleasant to expose your faults and flaws to the light of day. If given the choice I would much rather keep them tucked away in the dark. But with that being said, let me quote from Karen’s favorite philosopher, Barry Manilow, “I learned more from failure than I learned from success, I learned from no thank-you so much more than from yes.” So in reality, as I look back, I realize that I have learned a great deal, and that even in past failure, God has always been right there with me, and as the story of the White Horse demonstrates, nothing by itself is necessarily good or bad, only God knows the answer to that.

So, what happened? I was approved by the board to request the Commissioning packet from the Annual Conference and begin the process of reading, reflecting and writing which has truly become a part of who I am now. As I look down the road, gazing at all of the obstructions and obstacles that lay ahead, I am comforted by one thought that I preached about a year ago. If the road that is before you is green and plush and easy, get off quickly, you are on the wrong road. If the road that you are traveling on is difficult, challenging, long and arduous, then know that is the path set by God, the path that leads to the cross.
Blessings

Gutenberg vs Google

Gutenberg vs. Google

I must admit that the learning curve has been rather steep over the past few days as I have fought an ill equipped battle against the computer and internet in an effort to move into the 21st Century and create this blog. I was informed by a fellow seminarian last week during an intensive summer session that there are two groups of people, the “Gutenberg Generation” and the “Google Generation.” Let me take a moment to describe these groups to you. Of course Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press in 1440 which has been suggested to be the most profound invention of the last millennium, He was also credited with printing the world’s first book using this new technology, the Gutenberg Bible.

You know that you are a part of the Gutenberg Generation when you have no idea how to turn a computer on. Another indicator that you might be a part of the Gutenberg Generation is if you have no idea what a “Google” is. When I am assigned a task in seminary which requires downloading an electronic text and reading it, I always print it out, which is another tendency of those in the Gutenberg Generation. We simply like to hold the book in our hands. Another example could be found while I was showing Karen (my wife) my Blog, she commented on how it gave her a headache to read the text on the computer screen, which once again demonstrates that she, like me, is a part of the Gutenberg Generation.

Now, as for being a part of the Google Generation, well that is easy. If you know what Google is, that is a first step in placing yourself in this category. (For those of you who are of the Gutenberg persuasion, Google is an Internet search engine. What’s a search engine? Oh never mind, it’s just some of that internet stuff, it’s not worth worrying about) I can tell you that all of my kids, as well as yours, are from the Google Generation. My kids are all on “My Space,” and “Face Book,” they all have had blogs for several years and they are all great sources of information when it comes to setting the clock on the VCR or trying to set up my own blog. Even my grandkids have spent time online. Mary and Andrew (my grandkids) have both been raised sitting on my son Ben’s lap as he plays the most recent beta version of his computer games or trouble shoots and reboots his computer after viewing the inopportune “Blue Screen of Death.” (Do you like the way I throw that Google Generation lingo around almost like I know what I am talking about?) If given the choice between reading a book and surfing online, they will choose online almost every time, except for when they can’t take their computer with them, then a book will have to do.

The most troublesome aspect of the Google Generation that I have run across occurred in the chapel service a few weeks ago. One of my fellow classmates stood to read the scripture during the worship service and instead of opening a Bible, he turned on his Palm Pilot. Talk about a culture shock! I also watched Bishop Coyner do the same thing earlier this summer. Oh my! I have such a long way to go to fit into the Google Generation.

I must say that I have been working very hard to leave at least a few of my Gutenberg tendencies behind me as I continue to learn this new technology. I still haven’t figured out why texting is a good thing, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to play games on their phone. (I can barely see the screen) But with that being said, it is truly my hope that as I continue to share my life and experiences with you through this blog, that as with all things, there can be good and their can be bad. The jury is still out on this one.
Blessings!

Hymn of Promise

Hymn of Promise
by Natalie Sleeth

In the bulb, there is a flower; In the seed an apple tree;

In cocoons, a hidden promise: Butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter There’s a Spring that waits to be,

Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, Seeking word and melody;

There’s a dawn in every darkness, Bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future; What it holds a mystery,

Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; In our time, infinity.

In our doubt there is believing; In our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection; At the last, a victory,

Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

When God looks at us, what do you suppose God sees? One of the most beautiful hymns in the United Methodist Hymnal is the Hymn of Promise. Each of us is a work in progress, each one of our lives is like a cocoon waiting for God’s graceful touch to change into beautiful butterflies. Each one of us is like clay upon the potter’s wheel waiting to be transformed into a beautiful vessel. The problem is that change can be painful and transformation is sometimes agonizing. My good friend Don shared this story with me today and I wanted to pass it along to you.

Carl was a Quiet Man:He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well. Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII. Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs and drug activity.

When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.

He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?" The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah, sure," with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running out to help him. Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. "Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet. Carl just passed a hand over his brow and signed, shaking his head. "Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday." His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water. Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl, what are you doing?" "I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately," came the calm reply.

Satisfying himself that Carl really was alright, the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place. A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before, their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose. This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done. Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.

The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack. "Don't worry old man. I'm not going to hurt you this time." The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl. "What's this?" Carl asked. "It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet." "I don't understand," Carl said. "Why would you help me now?" The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "I learned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate."

He stopped for a moment. "I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back." He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked off down the street. Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular, the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church. The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do you best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden."

The following spring another flyer went up. It read: "Person needed to care for Carl's garden." The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer. "I believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said. The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around.

As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him." The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done. In that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.
One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday." "Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?" "Carl," he replied.

When God looks at me, what does God see?

It is my prayer that you understand that no matter where you are on your journey, that God isn’t though working on you. God’s grace and mercy surrounds each of us and envelopes us with love. Even though God alone can see our hearts, let us always be willing to let our light shine before all people, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven..


"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

The Old Man and the White Horse

Well, here we are. I have thought for a very long time about writing a blog and sharing my journey through thoughts and stories with everyone. One thing, about me, that is certain, is that I love stories of all kinds. Perhaps that is one reason that I am so drawn to the Holy Scriptures for they are the stories of life which lead to salvation. As I have begun the process of preparing for this Sunday’s sermon, I ran across this very old Hasidic story. I know that it has also been published in Max Lucado’s book, In the Eye of the Storm, but I am unaware of who the original author might have been. I pray that this story has meaning in your life as it has in mine.

The Old Man and the White Horse

Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor,
he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the
king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen
before such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength. People
offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused.
"This horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It is a
person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a
possession. How could you sell a friend?"

The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the
horse. One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. All
the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told
you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would
be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever hope to protect such
a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You
could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have
been too high. Now the horse is gone, and you 've been cursed with
misfortune."

The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the
horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is
judgment. If I've been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you
judge?"

The people contested, "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be
philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact
that your horse is gone is a curse."

The old man spoke again. "All I know is that the stable is empty, and
the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or
a blessing, I can't say. All we can see is a fragment. Who can say
what will come next?"

The people of the village laughed. They thought that the man was
crazy. They had always thought he was a fool; if he wasn't, he would
have sold the horse and lived off the money. But instead, he was a
poor woodcutter, an old man still cutting firewood and dragging it out
of the forest and selling it. He lived hand to mouth in the misery of
poverty. Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool.

After fifteen days, the horse returned. He hadn't been stolen; he had
run away into the forest. Not only had he returned, he had brought a
dozen wild horses with him. Once again the village people gathered
around the woodcutter and spoke. "Old man, you were right and we were
wrong. What we thought was a curse was a blessing. Please forgive
us."

The man responded, "Once again, you go too far. Say only that the
horse is back. State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but
don't judge. How do you know if this is a blessing or not? You see
only a fragment. Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge?
You read only one page of a book. Can you judge the whole book? You
read only one word of a phrase. Can you understand the entire phrase?
"Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word.
All you have is a fragment! Don't say that this is a blessing. No
one knows. I am content with what I know. I am not perturbed by what
I don't."

"Maybe the old man is right," they said to one another. So they said
little. But down deep, they knew he was wrong. They knew it was a
blessing. Twelve wild horses had returned with one horse. With a
little bit of work, the animals could be broken and trained and sold
for much money.

Now the old man had a son, an only son. The young man began to break
the wild horses. After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and
broke both legs. Once again the villagers gathered around the old man
and cast their judgments. "You were right," they said. "You proved
you were right. The dozen horses were not a blessing. They were a
curse. Your only son has broken his legs, and now in your old age you
have no one to help you. Now you are poorer than ever."

The old man spoke again. "You people are obsessed with judging.
Don't go so far. Say only that my son broke his legs. Who knows if
it is a blessing or a curse? No one knows. We only have a fragment.
Life comes in fragments."

It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war
against a neighboring country. All the young men of the village were
required to join the army. Only the son of the old man was excluded,
because he was injured.

Once again the people gathered around the old man, crying and
screaming because their sons had been taken. There was little chance
that they would return. The enemy was strong, and the war would be a
losing struggle. They would never see their sons again. "You were
right, old man," they wept. "God knows you were right. This proves
it. Your son's accident was a blessing. His legs may be broken, but
at least he is with you. Our sons are gone forever."

The old man spoke again. "It is impossible to talk with you. You
always draw conclusions. No one knows. Say only this: Your sons had
to go to war, and mine did not. No one knows if it is a blessing or
a curse. No one is wise enough to know. Only God knows."

What a lesson this story has for our life! How quick we are to judge whether something is good or bad, old or young, strong or weak, worthy or unworthy? May we always remember that we serve a loving and gracious God.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15