Thursday, April 30, 2009

Stupid Evangelical Christians...

Ok, I am about to say something that I know that I am going to regret, but I decided to address this issue on my blog rather than on Facebook where it really belongs so as to reduce the fallout. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I tend to lean a little more in the conservative direction than many if not most of my seminary colleagues. I tend to be a little more conservative both in politics and in theology, which could tend to make me some what of a pariah. (but a lovable one) With that being said, I think that most of the people who know me will also say that I am pretty much a middle of the road, live and let live type of person. I try to be kind to everyone, I work hard on loving those who I disagree with, and I try especially hard to do everything that I can to examine all of my views from every possible side, multiple times, and in addition, if someone is willing to share their opposing viewpoint with me in a kind, respectful and non-insulting fashion, I am always willing to listen and to even be persuaded, which I have been on multiple issues, especially in the past four years of seminary.

This brings me to my question which I pose especially to my liberal colleagues. As I have experienced and learned over the past four years, it is very important that as Christians we must be willing to listen to each other. I think that most of us agree that there isn’t anything more frustrating than trying to converse or read excerpts from someone who "knows it all," that claims to have it all figured out, and is now trying to tell you exactly how it should be. I also understand that it is very challenging to listen to someone who you profoundly disagree with, or even worse, someone that you know either empirically or just in your gut that they are wrong. But, as Christians we are called to listen as we can, treat others respectfully and then attempt, if we can, to show them the error of their ways in a loving fashion. I hope that we can at least agree on that much so far.

I have also learned that diversity and tolerance are very good and important things. I have watched as nearly every minority group known to humankind has been lifted up, defended, and spoken out for. Even when we may disagree with ones religion or world view, we know that it is NEVER appropriate or acceptable to ridicule, deride, insult, chastise, mock, demean, or put down someone simply because they are different, whether that difference is racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual. Do we agree on that as well?

I know, you are waiting for the question. Ok, Here it is. If we all agree that it is critically important that we listen to all viewpoints, and love each other. If we concur that we are called to not only love those who we agree with, but also to love our enemies:

Why then is it not only apparently Ok and acceptable, but practically encouraged to ridicule people who would consider themselves to be evangelical Christians or conservative? It seems like this is the one group that it is perfectly Ok to have open season on without fear of negative reprisal. I have heard negative and derogatory comments in class by both students and professors, I have heard many hateful comments at meal times, and especially, I am growing weary of reading these flagrantly hateful things that are posted on Facebook about evangelical Christians and conservatives by my colleagues.

The people who claim to preach only love, grace, compassion and tolerance, are the same people who show absolutely no respect or grace for those who are more conservative theologically or politically.

I am personally offended when anyone is marginalized, ridiculed and belittled. I find both the left and the right offensive when they use these tactics. However, where I might expect these hateful things from people like Rush Limbaugh or Keith Olberman, I not only do not expect them, but am deeply offended when they come from seminarians that SHOULD KNOW BETTER.

Wake up people, some of you will be graduating in 3 weeks, many of you will be serving churches that are filled with people who are everywhere from ultra-liberal to ultra-conservative. I certainly hope that the people in your congregations aren’t reading what you are posting. While some may agree, others will not, and you are called to be the pastor for everyone, even the ones who think differently than you do!

I realize that I have learned a great deal in the past four years about diversity and tolerance, and I know that I still have work to do in these areas, but, from some of the recent posts I have read on Facebook, I get the distinct impression that there are many others that have much work to do in that area as well.

Blessings

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Best of Times…

Well, it has finally happened. The miracle that I have been praying for, for many months has been granted. As of 2:00 PM on Tuesday, I have a $0.00 balance at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and I have been cleared to graduate by the business office. Of course there is still the little detail of completing these last two classes, but that really shouldn’t be an issue unless something very unforeseen and unfortunate comes up. This has been such a long journey, and now I can officially see the finish line. I have even made reservations at a local hotel for all the kids who are planning on coming over for my graduation. I honestly think that the kids and Karen are more excited than I am.

To be honest, I am not completely sure how I am even feeling right now. Of course I am very happy and proud of what I have been able to accomplish with the help and support of a lot of people. I can honestly say that this has been the greatest and most difficult thing that I have ever done. I think that as I look back at my prior experience going through Chiropractic College, that I don’t remember it being quite so difficult. Perhaps that is because, for one thing, I honestly didn’t care as much back then. I wasn’t concerned with things like grade point average; I only cared about what I needed to learn to pass the next tests and the upcoming board exams. If it was just FYI or it wasn’t testable material, then I just didn’t care, and now looking back all those years ago I find my attitude unfortunate. However, I think that my outlook on education was probably just a byproduct of my age, because I see some remarkable similarities between the way that I was in Chiropractic College and some of my younger colleagues here in seminary.

I think another aspect of my feelings of mixed emotions can be a result of my trip over here to Ohio yesterday. As I was coming up the big hill from Versailles State Park, I suddenly heard a loud roaring sound. I couldn’t immediately recognize the sound, was it something in the wheel? (I have been having some vibration problems) Was it the exhaust system? Was it a tire issue? I just wasn’t sure, and it was raining, so I started looking for a place to pull over and as luck would have it, I saw a big driveway with a bunch of tow trucks, so I thought that this would be the best possible place. As I started to slow down, I could feel the car trying to slid out of control, but I managed to safely come to a stop in their gravel parking lot just as a cloud of blue smoke came blowing past my window. “This is not good,” I thought as I got out of the car. When I got to the back, I discovered the cause of my problem. The passenger rear tire was annihilated. (it was actually almost a new tire)

So in the rain, I took off the old tire and went to replace it with the donut, but then I realized that the donut was flat as well. I do carry a compressor with me, but I decided that I would go into the truck repair to see if they could put air in the tire for me. They were very kind and accommodating and soon I was on my way back out to the car to put the spare on and get back on my way. But as I leaned over to replace the tire I could hear a distinct ominous hissing sound. Oh noooo The spare tire had a nail in it:(

So, back inside for help. After a number of phone calls, the receptionist found a tire my size at the Marathon station in Milan IN which was about 5 miles away. She called one of the guys from the back who picked me up in his truck and took me to the station, waited while they put the new tire on my rim, and drove me back to my car. Words can not describe the relief, joy and thankfulness that I had for these people who were concerned for me, cared for me, and helped me. When I offered to give him $20.00 for gas and his time he said “Put your money away, if I can’t help out someone that is in need, then I’ve got no business being here.”

This experience seems to be a microcosm of my seminary experience. As I have traveled on my journey, I have encountered a number of trials and difficulties along the way, and just as I thought things would spiral out of control, there always seemed to be a hand that magically (or miraculously) took control and guided me to safety. Each step of my journey I have encountered people (angels) who have cared for me and have been concerned for me and have helped me, often times they were people that I didn’t even know. Then, once refreshed, repaired and ready to go, they would send me back out on my journey, wishing me well.

I have not made this journey alone. I could never have done this by myself. It has only been through God’s grace and the angels that I have encountered along the way that has made this possible. There is no doubt that for me, this journey has been the best of times…

Blessings

Monday, April 27, 2009

Exciting Times

These past few days have been very exciting for me. Of course yesterday we had the big celebration at Church for Dr. Butler’s 45 years of service playing the organ and also my friend Ron had simply an awesome day on his retirement Sunday, but those celebrations seem to only be a small portion of what has been going on in my world.

Probably one of the main reasons for excitement is my upcoming graduation. It seems like there are a lot of people working very hard to prepare for that. Yesterday afternoon my daughter-in-law Crystal and Karen were busy making plans for an “Open House” on Sunday May 24th here in Crothersville at the Fellowship Hall, and even though I am not a big fan of those types of things, Karen has already informed me to keep my mouth shut, smile a lot and say thank-you, that the party is not for me, it is for everyone that has helped get me through these past 4 years. It is certainly hard for me to argue with her on that one, so I will follow her advice.

It was also exciting to hear that the kids were all planning on coming over to the graduation exercises in Ohio. I know that I have made that drive many, many times, so I can certainly appreciate the sacrifice for those who are planning on attending.

Another factor is of course the challenge of getting my balance at school down to $ 0.00 in order to graduate, but I am sooooo close right now, that I can begin to, for the first time, breath a little easier, realizing that it is actually going to happen. Words really can’t describe for you the challenges that we have encountered in paying for a Masters of Divinity Degree. I have been very blessed along the way by help from scholarship opportunities through the school and though our Annual Conference. I have also been assisted greatly through my home church of Trinity UMC and of course I couldn’t possibly be here without the help and support of my two congregations of Crothersville and Cana UMC. The bottom line is that this has been a very long marathon, with an uncertain and seemingly ever changing potential outcome and now I am so close to the finish line that even if I were to stumble and fall, there are so many people running with me, pulling me, and pushing me that through their shear strength and will power I will be swept across the finish line.

These are truly exciting times, and I am blessed to be a part of them.

Blessings!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

I suppose this wouldn't be a good time for me to retire?

Saturdays are always busy days in the life of a pastor, much more so than Sunday if you can believe that. Actually I look forward to Sundays. It is the day that I get to see everyone and catch up on all of the week’s activities. It is a day of numerous hugs and joyous celebration. It is also our traditional Cracker Barrel Day, but not this week. Tomorrow after church we are attending a dinner in recognition of the retirement of our organist for the past 45 years Dr. Butler. Actually he retired officially about a year ago but I kept hoping that he would change his mind. Unfortunately he hasn’t, so I thought that now would be a great time to show him our appreciation for his many years of service to the church.

Tomorrow also marks another day of retirement, and that is for my best friend and mentor Ron, who will be preaching his last sermon tomorrow and then he will attend a dinner held in his honor up in Waldron, IN.

So, tomorrow will be a wonderful day of celebration as well as a day of sadness as I say goodbye to two dear friends. As soon as the service is over for Ron, he and his wife will be officially moving to Gatlinburg to retire in the mountains. I must say that I bounce back and forth between being incredibly happy for them, sad that they are going and very jealous that it isn’t me:) I am just happy that Dr. Butler isn’t going anywhere, at least one of my retiring friends is staying put.

Join me in keeping both of these wonderful men in your prayers. They have each had a major impact on my life and I will always be grateful for what I have learned from them.

Blessings!

Friday, April 24, 2009

God Works in Mysterious Ways!


This is a statement that I have heard and believed my entire life, but never was it such an empirical truth for me until I made the decision to leave the comfort and security of my Chiropractic practice and enter ministry. Since that time I have had to sit back and just wonder in awe at the ways that I have seen God work in my life and in the life of others around me. But, with that said, yesterday my wonder and awe may have hit a new high.

Yesterday I had the opportunity once again to go visit my good friend Rick down in Jeffersonville IN. As I have posted before, Rick has been my friend longer than anyone else with the exception of my wife Karen. We have been though some wonderful times together as well as a few very difficult ones. When I met Rick yesterday, he handed me a stack of books for a paper that I am writing along with an envelope that he said I might want to open right away. So I looked at the envelope that had my name on it as well as the name and address of a couple that I didn’t know. As I opened the envelope I was shocked to see five $100 bills.

Rick said that he had talked to these friends of his (the names on the envelope) many times about my decision to leave my practice and enter ministry and that recently they had a conversation about the financial challenge that I was experiencing trying to have enough money to pay the school in order to have a zero balance and be able to graduate. These friends of Rick, that I have never met, wanted to help make sure that I would be able to graduate and they wanted to give me $500 toward that goal.

There are times when I have words and there are times when I don’t, and that was one of those times that I was speechless. God has continued to bless me over and over and over again on this journey. The funny thing is that I don’t understand why. Why have I been so blessed on this journey? Why did God choose me to begin with? God could certainly have picked someone smarter and better looking (it wouldn’t take much for either of those things). God could have picked someone who could speak much more eloquently or someone with more dedication, but for some reason, God has chosen me to go on this journey and each step of the way, God has seen to every need (not to be confused with wants) and just when I thought that I couldn’t make it, just when I found myself floundering in the middle of the river, barely treading water, with my nose just above the waterline, God has come along, swept me up in his arms and carried me safely to the shore.

I sure don’t know why God has done these things, I only know that God has. All I can say is that God sure does work in mysterious ways!

Blessings

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Open our eyes Lord... We want to see Jesus!


It never ceases to amaze me how God seems to show up in some remarkable and spectacular way, often when I am least expecting to find him. Last night I had to venture into downtown Columbus, OH to meet with a pastor and a couple of lay members for a project that our group in Evangelism is working on. I will have to admit that, for one thing, I wasn’t overly excited about going downtown Columbus. It can be very confusing and the traffic is often bumper to bumper. In addition, I knew that even with the best case scenario, I wouldn’t get home until after midnight, and besides, all I could think about was the fact that, “Hey guys, I’m graduating in a few weeks and I am in pretty good shape grade wise in this class, so if you want a really good grade on this project, then you had better work hard, because old Jim is pretty much just along for the ride on this one” :)

When I arrived at the church, (I was very early since I had no idea where I was going) I watched as literally dozens and dozens of people went in and out of the church door. “Wow, something must be going on in there,” I thought. When it got closer to the time for my meeting I went in and was greeted by a very kind woman who tracked down the people that I was to talk to and then offered me dinner. The great multitude that was coming and going were a part of the food ministry of the church where they provide meals 4 nights per week to the community. What a blessings!

As I was sitting down with one of my fellow classmates, waiting for our meeting to begin, I was surprised when a man came into the room where we were sitting and asked if either of us was the pastor. Of course we both said "no, well at least not of this church," and he said, “So are you pastors or not?” We looked at each other and I responded that if a pastor from Indiana would work for him, then yes I was a pastor. He came over, introduced himself, sat down, and said “I just really need someone to pray for me.” After a brief conversation, we prayed together and then talked for the next 10-15 minutes. As he was leaving, I promised to continue to pray for him, he thanked us for our time and was gone.

He thanked us… Wow, that wasn’t what I was feeling in that moment at all. Instead, I felt that I needed to thank him. I felt so blessed for the opportunity to have my eyes opened to the suffering around me, I wanted to thank him, for allowing me to see and understand that God doesn’t care if I am in Ohio, Indiana, or lost completely in Kentucky, :) there is always work in the kingdom to do. What I thought was just another hoop that I had to jump through in order to graduate, turned into a massive blessing for me.

When our meeting with the pastor actually did start, I can honestly say that it was one of the most productive hours that I have spent in my entire time in seminary. The enthusiasm and knowledge that I gained from Pastor Dave, will remain with me for the rest of my ministry.

You know, I was pretty weary last night when I finally got home around 12:30, but I slept well and awoke refreshed. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. We just need to open up our eyes and hearts in order to see.

Blessings!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

One Day At A Time!

What a relief! I am so glad to be finished with the presentation in my Foucault class. It actually went very well, at least from my perspective it did. I know that I did well enough to pass, and since this class is pass/fail, that’s as good as an “A.” Tonight I will be working on preparing for my quiz in Evangelism, but the way I feel right now, it isn’t going to be a very late night of studying. I will probably jot down a few notes and head to bed early.

There must be something about those four hour drives that exhausts me. Either that or I am just getting old, but I am definitely growing weary of the journey to Ohio.

Oh and by the way, today, I am one step closer to graduation. The financial miracle that I needed in order to graduate is really beginning to materialize. It hasn’t happened yet, but it is so close I can almost see the end of the tunnel. Trust me, when it happens (notice I said when:) You will be the first to know. God is sure good!

Blessings

Monday, April 20, 2009

Keeping my nose just above the water line...

The past couple of days have been very challenging. I have finished preparing for my one hour presentation in my Foucault class tomorrow and I am almost finished with the book for the quiz on Wednesday. It feels like every waking minute has been filled up here lately. Hopefully I will have a little more time tomorrow night, interspersed with studying for my Evangelism quiz, to bring you up to date. I will write more tomorrow.

Blessings

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Change is not my friend...


In yesterday’s mail I received the registration packet for our Annual Conference coming up at the end of June. I must say that it really got me thinking about all of the changes taking place in this year’s pilgrimage. First of all, it is going to be in a new location this year. Instead of being held on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, it is going to convene on the Ball State campus in Muncie IN.

I was looking through the packet, trying to figure out where I would be staying in relationship to the auditorium and I was trying to get a feel for how far away parking and more importantly food services were from the dorms as well as the conference. What I realized was how much I really don’t like change. I was just getting so that I could find my way around the IU campus without getting lost, I knew where I was supposed to stay, how to get checked in, where the Executive Session would be, how to get there, where to go for lunch afterwards, where the best places to sit were in the auditorium…

And now, I have to start all over again. Absolutely none of that information gleaned from all those past Annual Conferences will do me any good at all. Oh I know that everyone is in the same boat as me, and there is the possibility that I will enjoy this location even better, but I am the type of person that goes to a specific restaurant because I want a specific food. I usually don’t even have to look at the menu. You name the restaurant, and I can tell you what I will order from there. If I experiment, I usually wind up disappointed and wishing that I had just ordered what I know that I like.

One good aspect about Annual Conference this year is that Karen will be going along with me. It will be very nice to have someone to help keep me heading in the right direction or even better, to have someone else to put the blame on when I get lost, although I am afraid that she might not find all of the meetings and business sessions too awfully exciting. Hopefully she will be able to spend some time with some of the other pastor’s wives that she has had the opportunity to get to know and not feel like she has to sit through meetings that are sometimes less than exciting.

The big day this year will be on Thursday when I will be voted on by all of the pastors in the Indiana Conference. Even though I have watched this vote in the past and no one has ever been rejected, I will be glad when it is over, and then Sunday, I will be on stage for the first time ever to be Commissioned as a Provisional Member of Annual Conference. Talk about change, I am really in uncharted water now :)

Blessings

Friday, April 17, 2009

Religion and Politics... I should know better!


I have been taught my entire life that there are two things that you just shouldn’t talk about: Religion and Politics. The problem is that one of these things is my life and love, and the other I am very passionate about. The problem is that no matter what I say, I am going to alienate about half of the people who read my blog, while the other half would say, “Way to go, preach it Brother Jim!” I am so incredibly frustrated this morning, and I don’t think that there is anything that I can do about it. So, let me just go ahead and alienate everyone.

I think that perhaps I can find in my dilemma, the real problem that I am feeling. No one is interested in listening to anyone else anymore. Everyone has their own agenda, and you are either for them or against them, there is no middle ground. If you don’t agree with a political view then you are simply full of hatred. If you speak out, then you are a radical.

I still remember the firestorm at MTSO (my seminary) when a student requested that Sam’s Club come on campus and offer memberships to the students. There were no death threats (that I know of) but the ensuing heated and nasty emails that resulted from this simple request blocked all possibility of a civil dialog. Oh, we did eventually have a ridiculous dialog, organized by the school administration in the cafeteria, but it was not at all worth the time that I took away from class work to attend. All minds were already made up and there wasn’t the least bit of interest in really listening to the other side.

We are so polarized as a nation, and I don’t see an end it sight. To my conservative friends, I would say that we as a nation must seek ways to help those who are at the bottom of the economic ladder. At the very least we must be willing to allow the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation. I for one was flabbergasted that we went over 9 years without raising minimum wage. We must also seek some sort of way to help those who are uninsured. We do indeed need some sort of health care reform. People living in the richest nation in the world should not have to choose between lifesaving drugs and groceries. We must also pray for our president to succeed, it is unacceptable to want him to fail, because if he fails, we all fail.

Now to my liberal friends I think that it is important for you to recognize that almost 69 million people did not vote for president Obama and although president Obama won by approximately 9.5 million votes, that really isn’t all that tremendous considering how despised George Bush was, with an approval rating in the low 20’s, an extremely unpopular war in Iraq and a nation in an economic crises. This is a time for our nation to pull together and for my liberal friends to be magnanimous in victory and seek to mend fences and reach across the isle.

Unfortunately, I don’t see that either side has learned anything. My conservative friends seem only slightly willing to give our new president a chance, and I am being generous here. And those who despised Bush are doing everything that they can to continue to blame him and vilify conservatives at every turn. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing for our nation to prosecute our past president for war crimes? I’m sure that a war crime trial or “truth commission” would be simply terrific for our standing in the world. We could all pack a picnic lunch and enjoy our democracy and nation being ripped to shreds. (Thank goodness that our president has more care, concern and compassion for our country than people like Keith Olberman who was “insulted” that President Obama isn’t seeking to move forward on this radical agenda) And yes, I was very much opposed to impeachment hearings for President Clinton as well!

Pendulums swing and so do the fortunes of political parties. If we don’t do something to break this horrific cycle of blame and persecution, (both parties do it), then we will continue to be a nation divided, and I for one am really tired of being divided!


Blessings (Even if you are no longer speaking to me:)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Are We There Yet?

It seems like it is always about this time each week that I am starting to reflect on where I have been and what is to come. I have finished all of my seminary work for classes this week, so now I can begin to work on the week ahead. I am also continuing to get closer financially to the goal of graduation and each week that goes by, the reality that my journey through seminary is almost over continues to seep relentlessly into my consciousness.

Next week is a very challenging week. I have an hour long presentation to make in my Foucault class (yuck) I can’t imagine talking for an hour about Foucault! I think that I will try to come up with some real thought provoking questions for the class and turn them loose, if all goes well, I may only have to talk for 20 minutes and let the class handle the other 40 minutes. I also have a book to read for Evangelism and a test to take over the reading, so it should make for a busy week. Of course that doesn’t include preparation for Bible Study, services on Sunday and those countless odds and ends that tend to crop up during the week.

When I get home tonight around 9:30, I will have only four more trips to Ohio. That light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter.

Blessings

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

How goes it with your soul?


How much attention do we really pay? When we ask how someone is doing, do we listen for the answer? Do we really even care? The reality of how much we live on the surface of each others lives and how we are sometimes so incredibly clueless to the pain and suffering around us was brought home very strongly to me today. As I was coming into school, with my mind going 1000 miles per hour and carrying two arms full of luggage and books, I met one of my fellow students. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I asked how her day was going and she made some comment about how churches can sometimes be the most unchristian like places, and I quipped back that it was good for her to find that out at a young age so that she can be better equipped for dealing with the trials of church life to come.

What I didn’t know, or realize at that moment was how hurt she really was and how a church had just attempted to sabotage an entire year of her life. The only way that I found this out, was by pausing and taking the time to get past the pleasantries and to truly want to know how she was. John Wesley had a question that he asked on a regular basis and that question was “How goes it with your soul?” To me, this question truly gets to the heart of our responsibility to each other. How goes it with your soul? How are you really doing? What pains and burdens are you carrying today? How can I pray for you today? These are the types of questions that we should be asking each other. Not, How are you? (hoping that they really don’t try to tell you)

So today my friends, I ask you a simple question, How goes it with your soul, and yes I really want to know.

Blessings

Sunday, April 12, 2009

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Happy Easter! I have to admit that I am just about exhausted. That could have something to do with a worship service on Thursday, one on Friday, the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday and then getting up at 5:00 AM for the 3 worship services today, but those things are all behind now. The only thing left on the agenda for today is to fix dinner for all the kids and grandkids tonight, but that shouldn’t be too difficult :)

Actually there are a dozen different things I could write about today. I could fill you in on the Community Good Friday Service which went exceedingly well, or I could tell you about the worship services today or the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, but if you don’t mind, I think that instead, I will just go take a nap:)

Have a very Happy Easter and God Bless each of you!

Blessings

Friday, April 10, 2009

Good Friday


As I sit here in my office, doing a little bit of meditation, relaxation, prayer and mental preparation for this evening’s Community Good Friday Service, I have had a few moments to reflect on how truly wonderful this Holy Week has been so far. I had an excellent time at our weekly community dinner on Wednesday night. I know that I should have spent more time doing “my job” which was pouring iced tea and lemonade, but instead I spent most of my time just sitting with different groups of people and sharing life together. I once had a pastor friend advise me that prior to walking through the door of the church I should always ask myself, “What is my purpose for being here? Is it to do dishes? Is it to help paint? Or is it to be the pastor, to talk with the people, and to help support what ever they are doing. I think that perhaps my job Wednesday night was to pour lemonade, but my purpose was to listen to the folks of our congregations and to the people of our community. Maybe they will forgive me for not doing such a good job of serving drinks:)

Then yesterday, I had the opportunity to have lunch with an old friend and share with him some of the challenges of seminary and life and hear from him in return about the challenges he is facing. One thing that I have found to be true is that each person is hurting in one way or another, and the more sensitive we are to that fact the better our conversation and communication can be with those who we come into contact with.

Last night was truly an awesome worship experience as we joined together for our Maundy Thursday/Healing Service. It was a very emotional service and the presence of the Holy Spirit was palpable. The one negative comment came from my son Ben this afternoon when he asked if there was going to be as many tears at tonight’s service as there was last night. (I am still working on increasing his sensitivity :) On the way home I received a call from another very dear fried who after finding out about some of the financial challenges that I am facing in order to be able to graduate, offered to help get me a little closer. I am truly blessed and maybe a couple more miracles and I may graduate on time yet:)

This morning Ben, Crystal, Mary, Andrew and Karen and I met for breakfast at Cracker Barrel before coming to the house and helping us clean out the garage. We are working hard to get our kids moved out of our house. Lets see, Ben has been married for six or seven years, Terri has been moved out for about that same amount of time, Why is most of our garage still full of our children’s possessions? LOL I don’t know either.

That brings me to tonight. I have put my last minute preparations into my message tonight. It will be a dramatic presentation of the events of Holy Week from the perspective of Peter. I feel like this is going out on a limb for me, I haven’t seen anything like this before at our Community Worship Services, and I didn’t ask permission. (It’s always easier to get forgiveness than permission) I feel pretty good about it right now; we will see how I feel in about three hours.

I wish everyone a very peaceful, meaningful and inspirational Good Friday.

Blessings

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Maundy Thursday


Sitting here in my office this morning, I watched as the sun rose above the Marathon Station. (So, Ok, it’s not the mountains, but it was still quite beautiful) Today is Maundy Thursday, the day that we commemorate Jesus’ last meeting with his disciples. This is the day that we reflect upon what it means to truly be a servant to our brothers and our sisters. We remember how Jesus washed the disciple’s feet and we think about how Peter was so entirely repulsed by this idea, until Jesus said that “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me,” to which Peter responded, “not just my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Are we willing to serve as Jesus served? In addition, are we willing to have our feet washed as well, or like Peter, does this idea repulse us? What does this mean for us today? Do we want our whole bodies washed clean like Peter, or would we rather just pass?

We also think about and reflect upon the sharing of the bread and the cup. Has this simply become a meaningless ritual to us? What significance does it hold for us today? Through the centuries following Jesus’ death and resurrection, wars have been fought and countless lives have been lost over differing understandings of the meaning and significance of Holy Communion. But today, are we even willing to make the effort to leave our houses, miss a night of “Survivor” and go to church and remember the night that the Eucharist was instituted? I have one young boy at Cana who when offered the bread on Communion Sunday’s always grabs a big chuck, much to the consternation of his mother, but for me, I love the symbolism of wanting all of Jesus that we can have. Maybe next time we should all take a big hunk of the bread, not only in Communion, but in our spiritual life. Allow Jesus to consume your thoughts, your actions and your deeds. Perhaps we should all approach our spiritual life with the same zest that my young friend approaches Communion.

This is also the day that we remember Jesus’ commandment to: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." In this world of corruption, greed and power, have we forgot what it means to love one another? Are we willing to put someone else’s needs above our own, or are we too quick to judge them unworthy? Can people tell that you are a disciple of Christ by your love? I have always loved the song “We are One in the Spirit” And they'll know we are Christians, By our love, by our love, Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love. It is my prayer that these words are true in your life.

Another event that we remember today is Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." How often, do we pray for God’s will to be done? Oh we certainly pray those words in the Lords Prayer, but do we really mean what we are saying, or are we just repeating a series of memorized words. One of the difficult things for me is to simply turn my life over to Christ, to surrender everything, body mind and soul. On this most Holy of nights I encourage you to pray that God’s will be done in your life. In addition, I always add the prayer that God never allows me to get in the way of the plans that God has made, and I pray that God never allows me to become a stumbling block for others, but instead, always to be a stepping stone.

And finally, today we remember that this was the day that Jesus was betrayed. One of my favorite songs was written by Michael Card titled simply “Why?” In that song he asks, “Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray our Lord, and why did he use a kiss to show that’s not what a kiss is for.” Only a friend can betray a friend a stranger has nothing to gain, and only a friend comes close enough to ever cause so much pain.” Have you been hurt by someone who was close to you? Christ understands your pain, for it was on this night that Jesus was betrayed by one that he loved with a kiss. Are we guilty of betraying Christ as well?

Take the time this evening to go to church. Find a worship service in your area and spend the time necessary to answer these questions in your life and to remember the sacrifice that was made for us. I will be praying for you today! God’s blessings and peace be with each of you on this Holy Day!

Blessings

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

I am begining to embrace uncertainty...


I am beginning to embrace uncertainty! Wow did I say that? That doesn’t sound like me. Let me look again… Yep, it was me, I said that. I wonder where that has come from? I don’t like uncertainty! I don’t like not knowing what the future holds! I want to be in control! I want to not only know what’s happening next, I want to be a part of shaping what is about to happen. So where does this embracing uncertainty stuff come from?

I think that God has finally convinced me to just let go. (Ok, I know, I can’t let go completely) I have been working on that for a long time, but I think I am beginning to come to the reality that I am never going to be in control of the future, and where I used to think I was in control, in reality it was all just an illusion.

I was so sure that once I was approved by the Board of Ordained Ministry, that I would finally have peace and be able to eliminate at least some of my uncertainty about the future. But once that uncertainty was put aside, I now have 3 or 4 more areas of uncertainty that have popped up to replace that one.

What does my future hold? Where am I going to be? Will the Bishop and the Cabinet move me or will I stay here? Will I have the money to be able to graduate? Will this old car make it another 10,000 miles and get me though graduation and this summer? (Trust me, I can go on for another two pages of uncertainty questions.) I can sometimes drive myself insane wondering about what is going to happen next.

Ok! Ok God! I have the picture. I am not in control! See there I said it! Here, I will say it again, I am not in control, no matter how much I think that I want to be, or how much I delude myself into thinking that I am in control, I am realizing that I simply need to start letting it go. Unfortunately, I find myself becoming more and more like my Mother everyday. If she didn’t have something real to worry about she would go ahead and just make something up.

So, with that realization and understanding, and even though I am being pulled kicking and screaming, I have decided that my only real option is to embrace uncertainty. I will begin today embracing the reality that it is God that is in control and not me and that my job is to simply be faithful and obedient. I’ll let you know how I do with that!

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:28-34)

Blessings

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Use it or Lose it!

I pulled out a CD yesterday of a Cantata that our choir did up at Trinity UMC a few years back titled “Behold the Darkness.” It brought back such awesome memories and got me to thinking about something that I have been missing since I have entered ministry. In reality, that is probably the most common question that I am asked on a regular basis. Do you miss your Chiropractic practice? And, what do you miss about your “previous life?” You will have to trust me when, for the most part, I can answer truthfully that I miss very little. Oh, I certainly miss the patients and people that I worked with, and I would have to admit that I miss having the extra money to pretty much do what I wanted to do, and maybe more than the money, sometimes I miss the freedom that owning your own business allowed, such as the ability to travel and to take time off whenever you want.

But, those things are really just minor thoughts that rumble through my mind at times when I am feeling sorry for myself, or after an exceptionally stressful time. Last night, however, did allow me to focus for a moment on something that I very much have missed and that is music. Almost for my entire life I have been involved in music at a fairly high level. Beginning in third grade, I became a member of the Moline Boys Choir and even had the opportunity to go on tour to New Zealand with that group. In 5th grade I joined band and was ultimately accepted to play in the Quad City Youth Symphony in my last 2 years of High School. Our High School choir produced 2 different recordings while I was there, and we were selected to perform for the National Music Directors Convention in Kansas City.

Since that time I have been privileged to perform in a great number of large exceptional choirs as well as numerous small groups. Up until entering ministry I was involved in a large number of musical activities every week such as Chancel Choir, Hand Bells, Praise Team, “Like Living Stones” (Church Group) and “Sons of Jubal” (Gospel Group). These groups kept me busy, on average, between 6-8 hours every week (sometimes more). I still remember as one of the highlights of my life, standing near the top of a 30 foot high cross, surrounded by 50 exceptional voices, singing in a Cantata at the First Baptist Church in Seymour. We even had an orchestra backing us up. It was a totally awesome experience which I think of often at this time of year.

A fear that I have is that one of nature’s undeniable laws is “Use it or Lose it” If we don’t use something, we will gradually lose the use the use of it. This can best be demonstrated when you break your arm and it is put into a cast for four weeks. When you finally get the cast off, your arm is pale, stiff and withered. In reality this process begins almost immediately. I have seen a tremendous difference in my voice over this past four years. Instead of singing up to 6 hours a week, I now sing maybe 30-45 minutes total, and I have notice a definite loss of control and breath support. I believe it was Luciano Pavarotti, the renowned opera singer that said, "if I miss one rehearsal, I can tell a difference. If I miss two rehearsals, my critics can tell a difference, and if I miss three rehearsals my fans can tell the difference." Trust me when I say that I am really beginning to tell the difference and it will be my hope and prayer that after the stress of seminary is over, that I will have more time to participate in the musical activities of the church that I love so dearly.

Blessings

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Holy Week Is Upon Us...


Palm Sunday, one of my favorite Sunday’s of the year, is just about over, and I must admit that I am a little bit intimidated by the schedule that I am facing next week. The early part of the week isn’t too terribly bad. It will give me an opportunity to get caught up on some school work and also to make the necessary preparations for the remainder of Holy Week.

Wednesday evening we have our weekly community dinner which will be good, we are having one of my all time favorites, Beans and Cornbread. I can’t eat cornbread anymore without thinking of one of my favorite lines from the movie "Life" with Eddie Murphy: “I'm from New York City, … Nobody take no cornbread from me. That goes for anyone of you farmers who wanna start something. You mess around with me, there's gonna be consequences and repercussions.” (I cleaned it up a bit) But, I echo Eddie Murphy’s sentiment, nobody messes with my cornbread cause if they do, there’s gonna be consequences and repercussions :)

Thursday the real work of the week starts with our Maundy Thursday Service of Healing. I combined a healing service with a traditional Maundy Thursday Service last year and it seemed to work well, so I am planning to repeat something similar this year.

Good Friday will be our Community Good Friday Service, and I am thinking about going out on a limb and instead of doing a traditional sermon, I am going to do a dramatic presentation from the perspective of Peter, I will let you know if I end up going that direction. If I do, I will probably wear a costume, which is always a stretch for me, so as I said, we will see.

Saturday will be the final preparations for Easter Sunday as well as an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning. Then of course Sunday will be our three worship services, with the Sunrise service beginning at 6:45 AM with breakfast following Mmmmm :)

The week ahead will be a busy one, but it has been that way for many years now. I don’t really remember a time when I wasn’t actively involved in Cantatas, Living Crosses, dramatic presentations, multiple services on Easter Sunday and an overall hectic Holy Week . The week ahead will definitely be busy, but it is also one of my favorite weeks of the year.

Blessings

Friday, April 3, 2009

Deep Thoughts...Me? Naaaa


I hope that I am not going to burst anyone’s bubble today, especially for those of you who think that I must put a great deal of thought into what I am going to blog about, but even though I admit that sometimes I actually do spend a great deal of time in contemplation, there are days like today that I have absolutely no idea what I am going to talk about, so I will have to wait until I am done before I can tell you for sure, but by then you will have finished reading this and then you will already know, so there wouldn’t be any reason for me to tell you then. Would there?

I read some of the blogs of people that I know, and I am so impressed how every blog is some sort of significant book review, or deep theological reflection on Sin, addiction, abuse, justice issues or any one of a thousand other deep and pressing topics of social importance. I, on the other hand, am willing to admit that my thought process is simply not that deep. (It would be my guess that this statement didn’t surprise you all that much.)

As I have advanced through seminary, I have discovered some striking similarities between my career as a Chiropractor and my career as a minister. Both seminary and chiropractic college has taught important issues relevant to the life and health of all people. Both career paths have also required the learning of an entirely new language. For instance, in Chiropractic college I would have learned that many health issues can be the result of an inherent defect of the pars interarticularis resulting in a posterior slippage of the vertebral body with accompanying compression of the neuro doki, which essentially means that a bone in the back has slipped backwards and is pinching on a nerve.

Seminary has given me a similar opportunity to learn the challenging languages of theology and academia. Actually, I think that the big words in a theological education are much worse than the ones I learned in my chiropractic education. But, be that as it may, I have always considered it my responsibility in 25 years of Chiropractic practice to take those large words and break them down so that people could understand what has happened to them, and why they were in pain and I feel the same calling in ministry to break down those deep multi syllable theological terms and concepts and make them understandable to the people that God has placed in my path.

Of course as I am writing this, I can hear the words of some of my colleagues saying, that we shouldn’t ever compromise, that we should be willing to use the language necessary and spend the time required to teach people what these words mean. Yeah right! These are also some of the same people who would take a paper that they wrote for Doctrine of Christ class and read it as their sermon on Sunday morning and wonder why no one liked it (or understood it)

As I think about this, I am reminded of the first question that I was asked when I was interviewed by the Board of Ordained Ministry a few weeks ago. “Tell us what the Bible is about and what it means to you." I could have spent hours talking about the ramifications of sin and creation, I could have discussed, in depth, the roll of Jesus as the long awaited Messiah of the Old Testament and the fulfillment of that role in the New Testament, especially contrasting the significance of how that roll was lived out in the Book of Matthew versus Luke, Mark and John. I could have talked at length about the immanent parousia as expressed by Paul or its implication in the Book of Revelation, but instead, I shared with the board members my thoughts on the Bible being a book of love and a book of salvation for all humankind.

During these long years of seminary, I have had the opportunity to take a long look at who I am, and I realize that there are things that I do well, and things that I don’t. I am very confident when I say that I will never be a real academic. My mind just doesn’t work that way, I am always looking for the simplest way of expressing myself, rather than the most complicated and I always try to use 4 and 5 syllable words as infrequently as possible. Not because I don’t know them, (I have been forced to learn a few of them) but because most people seem more impressed by how you treat them than by how many big words that you use.

Well, now you can see where I have ended up in my thoughts this morning, and when I started writing, I was planning on just telling you how much I enjoyed the movie “Madagascar” with the Grand kids last night:) Maybe next time!

Blessings

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Who Needs Good Friday Anyway...?


I have been putting some thought into the Community Good Friday Service. It is actually something that the Ministerial Association of our small town of Crothersville does each year, which I think is an excellent thing. I have been very disappointed in the Ministerial Association of Jackson County over the past few years. Several years ago, they held both a Community Good Friday Service and Community Thanksgiving service, but in the past few years, both of these services has been first scaled back and then dropped completely due to “lack of interest.” (which I hope you are asking the question whose lack of interest are we really talking about) This issue is troubling to me on a great many levels.

First of all, Jackson County Indiana is a pretty large county, with more churches than I would like to count, and it seems almost ridiculous to me that if the small community of Crothersville with a population of 1800 can host a Community Good Friday Service, then what possible excuse can a city the size of Seymour, with a population of over 20,000 people have for discontinuing what I always believed to be a wonderful ecumenical service. Don’t forget that I was a lay person in Seymour long before I was a pastor, and personally I think that it is a shame that it is no longer felt to be important for the churches to put aside their doctrinal issues for a couple of services per year and worship together as a combined community of faith.

With that being said, Seymour will have to sort out their issues without me, I will be focusing my attention on Crothersville, who still feels that worshipping together as a community is important. In reality, our churches work very well together. I was reminded recently that when the Crothersville Christian Church burned down, it was one of my predecessors who was the first on the scene to offer help and the use of our sanctuary while the Christian Church was rebuilt. Since that time, our churches have worked together on Vacation Bible School as well as worshiping together at the Easter Sunrise Service, which is followed by a wonderful breakfast. (I can’t wait)

In recent years our Vacation Bible School has been joined by the Crothersville Nazarene Church which has brought tremendous help and enthusiasm to the program, and this year will be their first year to host VBS. Once again, I can’t wait!

When we work together for the Kingdom of God, we all benefit, when we put aside our doctrinal differences to worship together, God is glorified. There isn’t a separate heaven for Methodists, Baptists, and Christians, although I’m not sure that some of my Missouri Senate Lutheran friends would agree with that. (do you get the feeling that I don’t care what others think anymore, I am just telling the truth) I believe that it is though working together that we can best serve God, and it is by sharing our knowledge and resources that we can each best get through these difficult times.

So what do you say, my friends and neighbors to the North? Can we find the time to worship together? Can we put aside whatever the issues have been and come together as members of God’s Kingdom? I know where I will be on Good Friday, how about you?