When John Wesley was trying to clarify a position to a correspondent about the importance of Scripture, he cried out, “God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it; here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri (literally, “a man of one book”).”
Wesley’s point was simple. When one looks at all the possibilities from which to base one’s life upon, all the writings, all the research, all the learning, for him, Sola Scriptura was all that was necessary. The primacy of scripture is all one needs in order to find the plumb line of faithful living. (Wesley would later define the importance of reason, tradition, and experience as substantive in the formation of Christian character; but Scripture would always be primary.)
In a conversation with some colleagues a few years back, a question was asked about what sources one should use to begin a dialogue between Islam and Christianity. The obvious answer to the one who posed the question was to take the Koran (to represent the views of Islam), and the Gospels for Christianity. The response we received from the one whom we believed had the knowledge we sought was rather surprising.
“Don’t use the Gospels to define Christianity. Use Jesus Christ himself. He is the truest representation of the Christian Ideal. Nothing else will do. All others fall short.”
The concept of placing Jesus himself up against the Torah and the Koran as a plumb line hadn’t ever occurred to us as an option. However, the more we thought about it, the more we came to realize that any other depiction of Christ would obviously fall short. Jesus is the only one who can stand up to the arguments of other world religions. His life, teachings, healings, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension are unparalleled in every other religious tradition. Others come close in a few areas, but all fall short.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth.” The living presence of God; the divine Reality, manifest in the flesh; the Real Presence. These are but a few of the experiences of the living, breathing, suffering, dying, rising, eternal love of God; incarnate for you and me – to raise us from sin and death.
These are not just theological ramblings – this is the love of God, that it should be made manifest in the form of an infant born to an unwed couple in a distant village in a backwoods section of the world. God’s love became flesh, and dwelt among us. To give us grace, hope, love. LIFE. Eternal. Everpresent. Now that’s what I call Christmas.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Home for the Holidays...
He was tired. They both were. Traveling is never easy. The trip was long, and they didn't really want to go. But alas, when life tells you to go, you go.
It wasn't an easy trip. He hadn't been back home in years - not since he was a little boy. Going home to visit the relatives. Did they even remember him? He wondered. A lot of water has passed under that bridge. But it was time, and they had to go back home.
They say you can't really ever go back. I remember one time when I had traveled back to one of my many childhood homes. The house that I thought was so huge, wasn't. The tree that I remember being planted - it was just barely a twig - was now so large, I couldn't get my arms around it's trunk. The neighborhood had been developed - there were empty lots all the way around when I was growing up. Now it was a fully fledged neighborhood. I almost didn't recognize it. I imagine that's what he was feeling when he had to go back home.
I can see him as he entered town. His face was searching for something - anything familiar. When he finally came to the street he sort of recognized, that's when it happened. IT happened. And he was totally caught off guard.
Oh sure, he had known it was going to happen - eventually. But this was IT! It was happening NOW! Nine months before, it was a different situation. He hadn't known anything about a visit from an angel. She just came and told him - "I'm pregnant." They weren't even married yet. The talk around town was that she was "one of THOSE girls," or that "he must not be very smart." It wasn't supposed to be like this. There was supposed to be a small house, a couple of years to get to know one another, a raise in pay, a small nest egg, and then they would think and talk about starting a family. Sure, he had a job, but it didn't pay much, and besides, the taxes were always eating away most of his take-home. They were young, and on the road, and now they were going to be parents. Right now.
And they were strangers in town - searching for any place that would have them. Oh, and did I mention there's now a child on the way? Trying to find a place to rest from a long journey, and get a bite to eat. Trying to do what they were supposed to be doing - registering for the census. And now this.
It is interesting when God gets in the way of our plans. God has a way of doing that. But there was something that was more important, more significant, more profound, that had to take place. A world needed to be saved. Saved from the sin that was consuming it more than an out-of-control wildfire consumes a desert-dry forest. And the only way to do this once and for all was for God to come down from on high, and become one of us.
In the Exodus story, God told the Israelites to build for God a tent - a tabernacle - so that God may come and dwell among them. I like that word "dwell". It is a simple word. It means to "pitch a tent and live alongside of". God wants to come and camp with us - among us - as one of us.
And the fascinating thing about all of this is that it doesn't matter how much this salvation plan interferes with our own plans - God's plan is what makes our plans make any sense whatsoever. God's plan is what gives purpose to our lives.
So, they found a place to stay, and on that night so long ago, in a far away place, God drew near to dwell among us. And in that simple moment in time, the God of all eternity made sense of our lives. I would invite you to come home for the holidays this year. I mean - come HOME to God's house. Visit the New Tabernacle - the Child born in a stable. That is the dwelling place of God that is among mortals. Find yourself by the manger, and know that you, too, have come home.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
It wasn't an easy trip. He hadn't been back home in years - not since he was a little boy. Going home to visit the relatives. Did they even remember him? He wondered. A lot of water has passed under that bridge. But it was time, and they had to go back home.
They say you can't really ever go back. I remember one time when I had traveled back to one of my many childhood homes. The house that I thought was so huge, wasn't. The tree that I remember being planted - it was just barely a twig - was now so large, I couldn't get my arms around it's trunk. The neighborhood had been developed - there were empty lots all the way around when I was growing up. Now it was a fully fledged neighborhood. I almost didn't recognize it. I imagine that's what he was feeling when he had to go back home.
I can see him as he entered town. His face was searching for something - anything familiar. When he finally came to the street he sort of recognized, that's when it happened. IT happened. And he was totally caught off guard.
Oh sure, he had known it was going to happen - eventually. But this was IT! It was happening NOW! Nine months before, it was a different situation. He hadn't known anything about a visit from an angel. She just came and told him - "I'm pregnant." They weren't even married yet. The talk around town was that she was "one of THOSE girls," or that "he must not be very smart." It wasn't supposed to be like this. There was supposed to be a small house, a couple of years to get to know one another, a raise in pay, a small nest egg, and then they would think and talk about starting a family. Sure, he had a job, but it didn't pay much, and besides, the taxes were always eating away most of his take-home. They were young, and on the road, and now they were going to be parents. Right now.
And they were strangers in town - searching for any place that would have them. Oh, and did I mention there's now a child on the way? Trying to find a place to rest from a long journey, and get a bite to eat. Trying to do what they were supposed to be doing - registering for the census. And now this.
It is interesting when God gets in the way of our plans. God has a way of doing that. But there was something that was more important, more significant, more profound, that had to take place. A world needed to be saved. Saved from the sin that was consuming it more than an out-of-control wildfire consumes a desert-dry forest. And the only way to do this once and for all was for God to come down from on high, and become one of us.
In the Exodus story, God told the Israelites to build for God a tent - a tabernacle - so that God may come and dwell among them. I like that word "dwell". It is a simple word. It means to "pitch a tent and live alongside of". God wants to come and camp with us - among us - as one of us.
And the fascinating thing about all of this is that it doesn't matter how much this salvation plan interferes with our own plans - God's plan is what makes our plans make any sense whatsoever. God's plan is what gives purpose to our lives.
So, they found a place to stay, and on that night so long ago, in a far away place, God drew near to dwell among us. And in that simple moment in time, the God of all eternity made sense of our lives. I would invite you to come home for the holidays this year. I mean - come HOME to God's house. Visit the New Tabernacle - the Child born in a stable. That is the dwelling place of God that is among mortals. Find yourself by the manger, and know that you, too, have come home.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A Mad Dash...
It seems that we're fast approaching the end of the eleventh month and heading into the homestretch of this calendar year. It hardly seems real! There are Christmas Carols being played on several radio stations, and stores have already brought out their Yuletide wares! I read only yesterday that Santa has actually made an appearance at a large downtown department store - before Thanksgiving! (Didn't he get the memo? He's not supposed to appear before the Macy's Parade!)
Just yesterday (or so it seems) we were celebrating the New Year, making resolutions while watching the Wise Men saunter their way across the desert sands toward Bethlehem in search of the Child King at Epiphany (Jan. 6th). (Ok, some of us were watching football, but still...) A couple of breaths later, and we were marching through those dusty streets of Jerusalem on the way to the Cross, watching all our hopes and dreams get nailed into death and despair, only to rise again gloriously on the third day! In the very next breath (or so it would seem), we were rejoicing at the delivery of the Holy Spirit's Pentecostal power!
And here, after only a moment or two of school being in session again, we pause for a Thanksgiving break, preparing for that last mad dash toward Christmas and the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and wonder, "Where did the year go?"
To be sure, it went quickly. But let us not think that for a moment it went so for everyone. For some, it was a painful year. Loss of a loved one or home or job, financial difficulties that the news media cannot begin to fully and accurately report, and serious health issues have affected many in this past year. For others, changes in family relationships or in personal issues have been a difficulty that few outsiders could begin to understand. Still, the year has gone by. And the question that lingers around like the leftovers after a holiday feast, "What have we to look forward to?"
The answer to that question is complex, yet straightforward: "God." God is what we have to look forward to. Immanuel. God with us. The season of Advent begins a new year for us all, and a new opportunity to draw near to the stable with wonder. To ponder again at the miracle, not just of birth, but of the miracle of this birth. To see once again that God has not abandoned us, nor left us alone to fend for ourselves. God has provided. God has come to dwell among us. To give us hope, peace, joy, love, and life. Abundant and full life.
So, when you're out and about in the next few weeks as you do your routines to prepare for the holidays, and you begin to notice the holiday music, or become discouraged that the Spirit of Christ seems to be getting drowned out by the spirit of consumerism and commercialism, don't let the world win. Don't let the world take possession of your soul. Just remember that Christ is on his way to bring hope, peace, joy, love, and life to us all. It may be a mad dash at the marketplace, but God has an amazing sense of timing - sending us an infant savior right when we need him most! See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Just yesterday (or so it seems) we were celebrating the New Year, making resolutions while watching the Wise Men saunter their way across the desert sands toward Bethlehem in search of the Child King at Epiphany (Jan. 6th). (Ok, some of us were watching football, but still...) A couple of breaths later, and we were marching through those dusty streets of Jerusalem on the way to the Cross, watching all our hopes and dreams get nailed into death and despair, only to rise again gloriously on the third day! In the very next breath (or so it would seem), we were rejoicing at the delivery of the Holy Spirit's Pentecostal power!
And here, after only a moment or two of school being in session again, we pause for a Thanksgiving break, preparing for that last mad dash toward Christmas and the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and wonder, "Where did the year go?"
To be sure, it went quickly. But let us not think that for a moment it went so for everyone. For some, it was a painful year. Loss of a loved one or home or job, financial difficulties that the news media cannot begin to fully and accurately report, and serious health issues have affected many in this past year. For others, changes in family relationships or in personal issues have been a difficulty that few outsiders could begin to understand. Still, the year has gone by. And the question that lingers around like the leftovers after a holiday feast, "What have we to look forward to?"
The answer to that question is complex, yet straightforward: "God." God is what we have to look forward to. Immanuel. God with us. The season of Advent begins a new year for us all, and a new opportunity to draw near to the stable with wonder. To ponder again at the miracle, not just of birth, but of the miracle of this birth. To see once again that God has not abandoned us, nor left us alone to fend for ourselves. God has provided. God has come to dwell among us. To give us hope, peace, joy, love, and life. Abundant and full life.
So, when you're out and about in the next few weeks as you do your routines to prepare for the holidays, and you begin to notice the holiday music, or become discouraged that the Spirit of Christ seems to be getting drowned out by the spirit of consumerism and commercialism, don't let the world win. Don't let the world take possession of your soul. Just remember that Christ is on his way to bring hope, peace, joy, love, and life to us all. It may be a mad dash at the marketplace, but God has an amazing sense of timing - sending us an infant savior right when we need him most! See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Back to basics...
It may seem difficult to believe, but I used to play football. I was a Split End. (Well, actually, I wore the uniform, and was assigned to the third string/kickoff and punt return team.) But our team won its division that year, and I still have the first place trophy to prove it. (Did I mention that I was only about nine years old when this happened?) It was a formative time in my life, and there were many things that I learned that year. For instance, I learned that I liked Gatorade more than water; and I learned that it is extremely difficult to catch a football when your shoulder pads won't allow you to bring your arms together in front of you. I also learned that "doing one's best really is good enough."
Another thing that I learned was that if you stick to the basic fundamentals, learn them, know them, and practice them, you cannot go wrong. It doesn't matter at the end of the game what the score is, as long as you tried your very best to do what you had learned about the basics. You were a winner. And we were winners that year. Not because we were more polished, or fancier than the other teams. I believe that we won that year because we practiced the basics. I've never forgotten that lesson. Stick to the fundamentals.
The Church is in a world of transition right now. All about us the world is changing. We've seen more technological advancements in the last ten years than in the previous hundred years - and more in the last hundred years than in the previous two thousand years. But we've seen other changes as well: changes in the ways that we treat one another. Hatred and violence today is more easily recognized for what it is. Bullying has recently made the headlines as teens have been bullied to the point of suicide. We've learned that how we treat one another is important. Self-respect is only as important as the dignity we give to others.
Sounds familiar. Sounds like something a rabbi said two millenia ago. He was asked a question: What is the most important of all the laws? He responded with "Shema, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul." To Jesus, this was the most important law. No other is more important than keeping ourselves in that deep, passionate relationship with our Creator.
But he didn't stop there. He went on to say, "And love your neighbor as yourself." While that first one we can almost all agree on, many folks have a difficult time with the second. Even the fellow that asked the question had a problem with it, and wanted clarification about the word "neighbor". But Jesus was adamant. Love is not conditional. Love is not selective. Love is absolute. In fact, Jesus even summarized his selection of these two with the comment, "Upon all these hang the law and the prophets." In other words, everything points to these two laws as being the basic fundamentals of the faith. Everything else is "commentary."
Maybe this is oversimplification. Or maybe we are so accustomed to looking for a "catch" that we can't seem to wrap our minds around these simple rules. John Wesley put them into three simple rules that he called the "General Rules": Do No Harm; Do Good; Stay in Love with God. When we abide by these simple rules, we're following the will of God. We're doing what we're supposed to be doing, and not doing what we're not supposed to be doing.
If the world seems to be getting out of hand lately, or if your life seems to be somehow getting lost in the shuffle, perhaps its time for you to consider getting back in touch with the basics of the faith. Following these fundamentals will give you a clear sense of direction; a convicting sense of calling; and an absolute resolve to make it through. Get back to the basics. Be grounded in the fundamentals of the faith again, and renew your spirit in the One who loves you most. See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Another thing that I learned was that if you stick to the basic fundamentals, learn them, know them, and practice them, you cannot go wrong. It doesn't matter at the end of the game what the score is, as long as you tried your very best to do what you had learned about the basics. You were a winner. And we were winners that year. Not because we were more polished, or fancier than the other teams. I believe that we won that year because we practiced the basics. I've never forgotten that lesson. Stick to the fundamentals.
The Church is in a world of transition right now. All about us the world is changing. We've seen more technological advancements in the last ten years than in the previous hundred years - and more in the last hundred years than in the previous two thousand years. But we've seen other changes as well: changes in the ways that we treat one another. Hatred and violence today is more easily recognized for what it is. Bullying has recently made the headlines as teens have been bullied to the point of suicide. We've learned that how we treat one another is important. Self-respect is only as important as the dignity we give to others.
Sounds familiar. Sounds like something a rabbi said two millenia ago. He was asked a question: What is the most important of all the laws? He responded with "Shema, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul." To Jesus, this was the most important law. No other is more important than keeping ourselves in that deep, passionate relationship with our Creator.
But he didn't stop there. He went on to say, "And love your neighbor as yourself." While that first one we can almost all agree on, many folks have a difficult time with the second. Even the fellow that asked the question had a problem with it, and wanted clarification about the word "neighbor". But Jesus was adamant. Love is not conditional. Love is not selective. Love is absolute. In fact, Jesus even summarized his selection of these two with the comment, "Upon all these hang the law and the prophets." In other words, everything points to these two laws as being the basic fundamentals of the faith. Everything else is "commentary."
Maybe this is oversimplification. Or maybe we are so accustomed to looking for a "catch" that we can't seem to wrap our minds around these simple rules. John Wesley put them into three simple rules that he called the "General Rules": Do No Harm; Do Good; Stay in Love with God. When we abide by these simple rules, we're following the will of God. We're doing what we're supposed to be doing, and not doing what we're not supposed to be doing.
If the world seems to be getting out of hand lately, or if your life seems to be somehow getting lost in the shuffle, perhaps its time for you to consider getting back in touch with the basics of the faith. Following these fundamentals will give you a clear sense of direction; a convicting sense of calling; and an absolute resolve to make it through. Get back to the basics. Be grounded in the fundamentals of the faith again, and renew your spirit in the One who loves you most. See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Monday, September 20, 2010
Through Valleys...
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."
These words from the 23rd Psalm have meant so much to so many over the centuries. People have turned to this psalm in particular because it reminds them that God's presence is ever nearest when we are in uncertain times. David, the author attributed to this wonderful work, was no doubt a reflective shepherd. Sitting out in the pastures day after day often would give time for one to think, to ponder, to reflect. Somehow, in the midst of his upbringing, David was introduced to God as one who looks after God's people; tending them, much like a shepherd tends sheep. Making sure there is food, water, safety, and a place for rest. It would not be hard to imagine a young shepherd boy feeling comforted by a gracious, loving God.
But there's that line in the middle: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." It seems to stop us cold when we get there. We were just reading about green pastures and still waters, souls being restored, and righteous paths. Then there's that reference to that valley of shadows. We fear this valley for that which is unknown brings fear. Who or what is waiting for us, lurking in those shadows? What does "the shadow of death" look like? (some folks might even conjure up those horrible, dreadful shadows at the end of the movie "Ghost" - but I think Hollywood loses something here in translation!)
Reflecting on some valleys that we've all been through is not a pleasant endeavor. We seldom like to revisit such places for they often bring about feelings of despair and foreboding. But occasionally, true healing doesn't occur unless one is willing to travel back through such valleys. Hopefully, prayerfully, the faithful will be looking for those signs that are unmistakable: the journey was not done in solitude, but with a holy, shepherding escort. As I reflect back on some of the valleys I've traversed over the years, I have become more gratefully aware of the ways in which I was guided by the One who has also journeyed down those nights and days, those haunted highways that showed little light. (How many times I prayed for a rapturous event to remove me from the torment I was going through, only to suffer through and emerge on the other side, scathed a bit perhaps, but intact. Looking back, it was my guide who took the brunt of the trauma in my stead, shielding me; protecting me; loving me.)
Certainly there is something more sincere, more vulnerable, more humbling when one stares into the abyss of death. Humanity is its most vulnerable when we are faced with our own mortality or the mortality of a loved one. The unmistakable words: "Cancer. Malignant. Inoperable." And time becomes a precious gift one dare not waste.
But David's words continue on: "...I shall fear no evil for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." For David, valleys are a place one travels through. With the rod and staff of the Shepherd, we've nothing to fear. We're not staying here among the shadows that frighten. We're traveling onward. The faithful have this assurance - this guarantee: We do not travel alone through this journey called life. We have a constant companion. And even in the darkest of moments, those moments when we stare straight at death, we are reminded that the one with whom we walk is the "Light in whom there is no darkness." Shadows vanish, shades flee into the recesses, and we are shown the path with great clarity.
In this we are called to live, and move, and have our being. The eternal THOU (forgive me, Dr. Buber!) is with us. We are God's beloved. And our God provides for us in life as well as in death.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
These words from the 23rd Psalm have meant so much to so many over the centuries. People have turned to this psalm in particular because it reminds them that God's presence is ever nearest when we are in uncertain times. David, the author attributed to this wonderful work, was no doubt a reflective shepherd. Sitting out in the pastures day after day often would give time for one to think, to ponder, to reflect. Somehow, in the midst of his upbringing, David was introduced to God as one who looks after God's people; tending them, much like a shepherd tends sheep. Making sure there is food, water, safety, and a place for rest. It would not be hard to imagine a young shepherd boy feeling comforted by a gracious, loving God.
But there's that line in the middle: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." It seems to stop us cold when we get there. We were just reading about green pastures and still waters, souls being restored, and righteous paths. Then there's that reference to that valley of shadows. We fear this valley for that which is unknown brings fear. Who or what is waiting for us, lurking in those shadows? What does "the shadow of death" look like? (some folks might even conjure up those horrible, dreadful shadows at the end of the movie "Ghost" - but I think Hollywood loses something here in translation!)
Reflecting on some valleys that we've all been through is not a pleasant endeavor. We seldom like to revisit such places for they often bring about feelings of despair and foreboding. But occasionally, true healing doesn't occur unless one is willing to travel back through such valleys. Hopefully, prayerfully, the faithful will be looking for those signs that are unmistakable: the journey was not done in solitude, but with a holy, shepherding escort. As I reflect back on some of the valleys I've traversed over the years, I have become more gratefully aware of the ways in which I was guided by the One who has also journeyed down those nights and days, those haunted highways that showed little light. (How many times I prayed for a rapturous event to remove me from the torment I was going through, only to suffer through and emerge on the other side, scathed a bit perhaps, but intact. Looking back, it was my guide who took the brunt of the trauma in my stead, shielding me; protecting me; loving me.)
Certainly there is something more sincere, more vulnerable, more humbling when one stares into the abyss of death. Humanity is its most vulnerable when we are faced with our own mortality or the mortality of a loved one. The unmistakable words: "Cancer. Malignant. Inoperable." And time becomes a precious gift one dare not waste.
But David's words continue on: "...I shall fear no evil for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." For David, valleys are a place one travels through. With the rod and staff of the Shepherd, we've nothing to fear. We're not staying here among the shadows that frighten. We're traveling onward. The faithful have this assurance - this guarantee: We do not travel alone through this journey called life. We have a constant companion. And even in the darkest of moments, those moments when we stare straight at death, we are reminded that the one with whom we walk is the "Light in whom there is no darkness." Shadows vanish, shades flee into the recesses, and we are shown the path with great clarity.
In this we are called to live, and move, and have our being. The eternal THOU (forgive me, Dr. Buber!) is with us. We are God's beloved. And our God provides for us in life as well as in death.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Saturday, August 21, 2010
My Next Thirty Years...
There was a country music song a few years ago that was titled, "My Next Thirty Years". It was sort of a reflection of what has happened in the first thirty years of the singer's life, of all the things he'd done, and what he wanted to do differently over the next three decades. I liked that song because it made me take a moment and reflect on my own life over the last few decades. In the last thirty years, I managed to graduate high school, complete a four-year college degree (in only five years!), complete a master's degree, get married, get ordained, have two children, complete a doctoral degree, and serve a total of seven churches!
As I have aged though, I wondered what I might do differently. I wonder how I would act, what I would believe, where I'd be when I reached a certain age. The goals I had set for myself so many years ago - how had I done in achieving them? The reflection set me on a journey of my mind - and how the goals might have been acheived differently.
It seems that our culture is driven to set goals - we're often asked where we'd like to be in five, ten, twenty years or more into the future. The problem with this is that oftentimes, we are confused when those goals are not realized by a given timeline. Have we failed? Was there something we did wrong? Could we have done something differently? What happened? It can send the mind reeling, and the spirit crashing.
And yet, Scripture says that we ought not worry about these things. Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." In this passage there is grace. Grace for the exiles to whom Jeremiah was writing, but also to you and me. When we live in the faith of the one who has planned out the entirety of creation - including our own lives - we are kept secure. God knows our lives better than we do, and we can rest assured that those plans God has for us will be far better than anything that we could have dreamt.
Where this comes in most handily is when we begin to remember and reflect. Looking backward, it is easy to despair, especially when our own plans fall short of our expectations. But God's grace is sufficient. And in this grace there is a subtle reminder that when we trust in God's plans, we'll never be disappointed.
So, as we reflect this week about the past thirty years here at Canyon Lake, we can be proud. Proud of the many accomplishments - new members, baptisms, weddings, confirmations, and all the celebrations that a faithful people of God take part in. Proud that we've managed to share the gospel message of hope and grace for over three decades.
And we can be assured that, as a people of God, our faith in the plans that God has for us will take us into the next thirty years - and beyond - with grace and hope as well. The plans God has for us will not only amaze and astound us, but will call out across the community - We've a story to tell to the nations! Here's to our next thirty years! And Beyond!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
As I have aged though, I wondered what I might do differently. I wonder how I would act, what I would believe, where I'd be when I reached a certain age. The goals I had set for myself so many years ago - how had I done in achieving them? The reflection set me on a journey of my mind - and how the goals might have been acheived differently.
It seems that our culture is driven to set goals - we're often asked where we'd like to be in five, ten, twenty years or more into the future. The problem with this is that oftentimes, we are confused when those goals are not realized by a given timeline. Have we failed? Was there something we did wrong? Could we have done something differently? What happened? It can send the mind reeling, and the spirit crashing.
And yet, Scripture says that we ought not worry about these things. Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." In this passage there is grace. Grace for the exiles to whom Jeremiah was writing, but also to you and me. When we live in the faith of the one who has planned out the entirety of creation - including our own lives - we are kept secure. God knows our lives better than we do, and we can rest assured that those plans God has for us will be far better than anything that we could have dreamt.
Where this comes in most handily is when we begin to remember and reflect. Looking backward, it is easy to despair, especially when our own plans fall short of our expectations. But God's grace is sufficient. And in this grace there is a subtle reminder that when we trust in God's plans, we'll never be disappointed.
So, as we reflect this week about the past thirty years here at Canyon Lake, we can be proud. Proud of the many accomplishments - new members, baptisms, weddings, confirmations, and all the celebrations that a faithful people of God take part in. Proud that we've managed to share the gospel message of hope and grace for over three decades.
And we can be assured that, as a people of God, our faith in the plans that God has for us will take us into the next thirty years - and beyond - with grace and hope as well. The plans God has for us will not only amaze and astound us, but will call out across the community - We've a story to tell to the nations! Here's to our next thirty years! And Beyond!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Next Step...
Many of you have commented to me about how great Jan looks these days. She has changed a lot of her eating habits, and has begun an exercise program to help her to maintain these changes in behavior. She looks fabulous, as many of you have attested. I cannot tell you enough how much it has changed not only her appearance on the outside, but the way that she feels about herself on the inside. She is like a brand new woman!
Some have asked me how she has managed to accomplish this goal. When I begin to share what she's been doing, it always comes back to the acknowledgment of it being a "lifestyle change." She isn't starving herself, nor is she on some fad diet that will make her want to bounce back in a year or so. No, she's changed her whole mindset - not just about food, but about life itself. She is feeding herself what she truly needs, and she is not being deprived!
It is not just about what she eats, or how much. It is about her attitude toward food. She has begun to grow and mature in her understanding that food isn't just about filling her belly, but about nourishing her whole being. But it isn't just about the food - She has begun to exercise as well. She is training her body to become healthier - as a way of praising God.
All too often, it seems as though most folks think that the Christian walk is characterized by just one thing: our participation in worship alone. But this is ludicrous. If we expect to be spiritually nourished through only one hour of worship a week, the soul is deprived. Starvation sets in. Just as we cannot hope to be nourished on only one meal per week, we cannot hope to be spiritually fed and nourished during only one hour of worship each week. Daily sustenance is needed for our life, health and wellbeing, especially in our faith lives.
This past week, I was sharing a plan that a friend of mine and I have been working on that is loosely modeled after the Walk To Emmaus image of the three-legged stool of a Life in Christ. We called the program "Companis," which comes from the Latin meaning "to break bread with someone." It is designed to draw us into a closer communion with one another in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an invitation for those who claim Christ to grow in their knowledge, piety, and action (as the Walk to Emmaus model goes). Working on the idea that we Wesleyan Methodists are rooted and grounded in our covenantal relationships, the Rev. George Bradley and I developed a model of discipleship that has three components: Spiritual Discipline, Communal Worship, and Social Outreach. These three aspects, when viewed as an integral part of one another, move the disciple along a path toward a more fulfilled life in Christ.
Worship is an active part of the Christian experience. We surround ourselves with other Christians in order to reaffirm who we are, and whose we are. We surround ourselves with others of the faith in order to hold one another accountable. We surround ourselves with others of like minds and like hearts so that together, we can support one another in our various needs. Together, our voice is stronger when we praise the living God.
The invitation is designed to draw one deeper into communion with Christ through the learning and adopting of the classic and contemporary spiritual disciplines of the faith - daily Bible study, prayer, reflection, meditation, journaling, etc. Participating in a weekly small group Bible study with others will inspire you and challenge you in ways you've never imagined. Drawing on the experiences of those who have gone on before us moves us closer to what God had in mind for us from the very beginning. Spending time with God individually allows us to hear and discern the will of God more clearly, and moves us into a deeper relationship with Christ. We become more in tune with the Holy Spirit's direction and guidance in the everyday issues and problems of life. The more we practice these disciplines, the more in tune we become. The more in tune we become, the closer our walk with Christ will be.
Such discipline informs and inspires us to begin to see the love of God in our neighbor, to hurt when our neighbor hurts, and to act accordingly. This model of social outreach shares what we've learned of the love of God with those in need, and inspires a deeper commitment to Christ, not only in ourselves, but in those whose lives we have touched. Both of these help us to daily fall in love with God all over again, and to become a part of the worshiping community of Christ.
Companis. It means to "break bread with someone." It is a gift of growing closer to Christ. It has been said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The next step is simple: will you grow closer to Christ? Start with the basics. The spiritual disciplines of the faith. Then see your neighbors the way God sees them. And above all, come to the community of faith in worship of our God. The next step is right in front of you. Will you take it?
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Some have asked me how she has managed to accomplish this goal. When I begin to share what she's been doing, it always comes back to the acknowledgment of it being a "lifestyle change." She isn't starving herself, nor is she on some fad diet that will make her want to bounce back in a year or so. No, she's changed her whole mindset - not just about food, but about life itself. She is feeding herself what she truly needs, and she is not being deprived!
It is not just about what she eats, or how much. It is about her attitude toward food. She has begun to grow and mature in her understanding that food isn't just about filling her belly, but about nourishing her whole being. But it isn't just about the food - She has begun to exercise as well. She is training her body to become healthier - as a way of praising God.
All too often, it seems as though most folks think that the Christian walk is characterized by just one thing: our participation in worship alone. But this is ludicrous. If we expect to be spiritually nourished through only one hour of worship a week, the soul is deprived. Starvation sets in. Just as we cannot hope to be nourished on only one meal per week, we cannot hope to be spiritually fed and nourished during only one hour of worship each week. Daily sustenance is needed for our life, health and wellbeing, especially in our faith lives.
This past week, I was sharing a plan that a friend of mine and I have been working on that is loosely modeled after the Walk To Emmaus image of the three-legged stool of a Life in Christ. We called the program "Companis," which comes from the Latin meaning "to break bread with someone." It is designed to draw us into a closer communion with one another in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is an invitation for those who claim Christ to grow in their knowledge, piety, and action (as the Walk to Emmaus model goes). Working on the idea that we Wesleyan Methodists are rooted and grounded in our covenantal relationships, the Rev. George Bradley and I developed a model of discipleship that has three components: Spiritual Discipline, Communal Worship, and Social Outreach. These three aspects, when viewed as an integral part of one another, move the disciple along a path toward a more fulfilled life in Christ.
Worship is an active part of the Christian experience. We surround ourselves with other Christians in order to reaffirm who we are, and whose we are. We surround ourselves with others of the faith in order to hold one another accountable. We surround ourselves with others of like minds and like hearts so that together, we can support one another in our various needs. Together, our voice is stronger when we praise the living God.
The invitation is designed to draw one deeper into communion with Christ through the learning and adopting of the classic and contemporary spiritual disciplines of the faith - daily Bible study, prayer, reflection, meditation, journaling, etc. Participating in a weekly small group Bible study with others will inspire you and challenge you in ways you've never imagined. Drawing on the experiences of those who have gone on before us moves us closer to what God had in mind for us from the very beginning. Spending time with God individually allows us to hear and discern the will of God more clearly, and moves us into a deeper relationship with Christ. We become more in tune with the Holy Spirit's direction and guidance in the everyday issues and problems of life. The more we practice these disciplines, the more in tune we become. The more in tune we become, the closer our walk with Christ will be.
Such discipline informs and inspires us to begin to see the love of God in our neighbor, to hurt when our neighbor hurts, and to act accordingly. This model of social outreach shares what we've learned of the love of God with those in need, and inspires a deeper commitment to Christ, not only in ourselves, but in those whose lives we have touched. Both of these help us to daily fall in love with God all over again, and to become a part of the worshiping community of Christ.
Companis. It means to "break bread with someone." It is a gift of growing closer to Christ. It has been said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The next step is simple: will you grow closer to Christ? Start with the basics. The spiritual disciplines of the faith. Then see your neighbors the way God sees them. And above all, come to the community of faith in worship of our God. The next step is right in front of you. Will you take it?
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Twenty Years...
Twenty years...Doesn't seem like that long ago. It seems as though it was only yesterday. But the days have flown into weeks, months, years, and now two decades have passed since she said, "I do." Boy, was I nervous! I didn't know if she would say "yes", or just laugh at me! She said, "yes", and now we're twenty years down the road.
I wish I could say that all twenty years have been easy, fun-filled, and full of everything we've ever dreamed. Truth be told, most of it was, but some of it wasn't. The day we got the news that Jan's father had Pancreatic Cancer was a day that I will never forget, and the day we heard that he had died is a day that still breaks my heart. The day we lost our second baby is another that lingers in my memory as well as a dark time of great sadness. Moving days were never painless nor easy. Saying goodbye to good friends has been difficult over the years.
And yet, there things for which I am grateful as well. Two healthy, adorable children. Ordination. Friends that still communicate more than just at Christmas time. Most especially, a beautiful, intelligent, gracious, thoughtful, helpful, loving companion, who is not afraid to hold me accountable and keep me in line when I most assuredly need it. I wish I could say it was a storybook romance. But I can say that it is filled with passion, adoration, and absolute love.
You may think me odd, but that is exactly the way that God looks at the Church. We are God's bride, and God is eager to hear that we are as deeply in love with God as God is with us. God wants only the best for us, and wants us to be the best we can be. God is passionately in love with us, and there is nothing that God wouldn't do for us.
And what breaks God's heart is not so much our going through the rough patches in life. It isn't about the troubles that we've seen and endured. It isn't even the dark moments of despair. What breaks God's heart is when we don't see God with that same passion and intention. When we fail to love God back in return with our whole heart. When our hearts have grown so accustomed to having God around that it isn't special any more, and we more or less take it for granted.
Sometimes we don't even know we're doing it. We fall behind in some task that we don't take the time to speak with God in the morning. Or we somehow only manage to remember God when things get scary. Sometimes, we've gotten so accustomed to being away from God we don't even know God is waiting for us. And it breaks God's heart. God, who is so much in love with us, keeps waiting. Never giving up hope. Never quitting on us. Because God loves us. And God has given everything for us. "For God so loved the world that God gave his only Son..." What great love is this!!!
This past month, Jan and I renewed our vows at La Mancion on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Truth be told, there was this small tinge of fear that she might not want to re-marry me! She did, and I am more convinced now than ever before that I love her. She's still my heartthrob, and I am grateful.
We're still God's heartthrob. Spend some time today with the one who loves you so much. And give thanks.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
I wish I could say that all twenty years have been easy, fun-filled, and full of everything we've ever dreamed. Truth be told, most of it was, but some of it wasn't. The day we got the news that Jan's father had Pancreatic Cancer was a day that I will never forget, and the day we heard that he had died is a day that still breaks my heart. The day we lost our second baby is another that lingers in my memory as well as a dark time of great sadness. Moving days were never painless nor easy. Saying goodbye to good friends has been difficult over the years.
And yet, there things for which I am grateful as well. Two healthy, adorable children. Ordination. Friends that still communicate more than just at Christmas time. Most especially, a beautiful, intelligent, gracious, thoughtful, helpful, loving companion, who is not afraid to hold me accountable and keep me in line when I most assuredly need it. I wish I could say it was a storybook romance. But I can say that it is filled with passion, adoration, and absolute love.
You may think me odd, but that is exactly the way that God looks at the Church. We are God's bride, and God is eager to hear that we are as deeply in love with God as God is with us. God wants only the best for us, and wants us to be the best we can be. God is passionately in love with us, and there is nothing that God wouldn't do for us.
And what breaks God's heart is not so much our going through the rough patches in life. It isn't about the troubles that we've seen and endured. It isn't even the dark moments of despair. What breaks God's heart is when we don't see God with that same passion and intention. When we fail to love God back in return with our whole heart. When our hearts have grown so accustomed to having God around that it isn't special any more, and we more or less take it for granted.
Sometimes we don't even know we're doing it. We fall behind in some task that we don't take the time to speak with God in the morning. Or we somehow only manage to remember God when things get scary. Sometimes, we've gotten so accustomed to being away from God we don't even know God is waiting for us. And it breaks God's heart. God, who is so much in love with us, keeps waiting. Never giving up hope. Never quitting on us. Because God loves us. And God has given everything for us. "For God so loved the world that God gave his only Son..." What great love is this!!!
This past month, Jan and I renewed our vows at La Mancion on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Truth be told, there was this small tinge of fear that she might not want to re-marry me! She did, and I am more convinced now than ever before that I love her. She's still my heartthrob, and I am grateful.
We're still God's heartthrob. Spend some time today with the one who loves you so much. And give thanks.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Seeing the Present from the Perspective of the Future...
In a bible study series that I have taught in the past, a statement was made that helped me to gain a fresh perspective on Jesus' ministry in the Gospel of Luke. To be able to understand the present, Jesus' teachings to his disciples offered a glimpse into the future reality of the coming Kingdom of God. He began to illustrate for them the vision of what the Kingdom will be like, and in so doing, began to line out for them the necessary changes in the present in order to be in accord with what is going to be. Jesus, who has already seen the future, had a radically different perspective on the present than most of his contemporaries.
A couple of weeks ago, several folks from Canyon Lake UMC met with about 1,500 other United Methodists in Corpus Christi to engage in our annual gathering of "holy conversations" - what we have come to call Annual Conference. During that time, we worshiped, and did the business of the church. We gathered the first night to sing praises to God for having the blessing and privilege of having been touched by the saints of the church who have died during the year since our last meeting. We lifted up the pastors and pastors' spouses who have gone on to that great reward - who have transferred their membership to the Church Triumphant.
Then, on Thursday, we celebrated the ministries of ten retiring pastors who have reached the end of their appointive ministries. While their calling is still valid - only God can take that away - their active ministries will take a new turn, and for their many years of service, we are thankful.
Friday evening was the opportunity for us to witness the next generation of ministers who have come into the calling actively, and we watched them receive the blessing of our Bishop, and the command to be faithful to the tasks of serving the Church through Word, Order, Sacrament, and Service.
Saturday witnessed the setting and fixing of appointments for all the clergy and churches in the Southwest Texas Conference.
All in all, it was a wonderful conference. But there was a lingering feeling in my bones - something that was different this time (or perhaps I just noticed it fully for the first time this year). As we were saying goodbye to several of our brothers and sisters, and thanking God for their ministries, we were also saying hello to our newer brothers and sisters. Stepping back, taking a longer look, our beloved Church is not finished yet. We can see clearly where we've been. But we worship a Savior who sees very clearly where we're going. And that faith is what will inspire us to come into line with what Jesus has been teaching us all these years. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will become what Jesus has been calling and guiding us to be. What he sees as the Kingdom of God is where we are headed. I have been inspired by those who have come before us, and I am equally inspired by those who will come after us! I can see God's hand in the present, because God sees us from the perspective of the future. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
A couple of weeks ago, several folks from Canyon Lake UMC met with about 1,500 other United Methodists in Corpus Christi to engage in our annual gathering of "holy conversations" - what we have come to call Annual Conference. During that time, we worshiped, and did the business of the church. We gathered the first night to sing praises to God for having the blessing and privilege of having been touched by the saints of the church who have died during the year since our last meeting. We lifted up the pastors and pastors' spouses who have gone on to that great reward - who have transferred their membership to the Church Triumphant.
Then, on Thursday, we celebrated the ministries of ten retiring pastors who have reached the end of their appointive ministries. While their calling is still valid - only God can take that away - their active ministries will take a new turn, and for their many years of service, we are thankful.
Friday evening was the opportunity for us to witness the next generation of ministers who have come into the calling actively, and we watched them receive the blessing of our Bishop, and the command to be faithful to the tasks of serving the Church through Word, Order, Sacrament, and Service.
Saturday witnessed the setting and fixing of appointments for all the clergy and churches in the Southwest Texas Conference.
All in all, it was a wonderful conference. But there was a lingering feeling in my bones - something that was different this time (or perhaps I just noticed it fully for the first time this year). As we were saying goodbye to several of our brothers and sisters, and thanking God for their ministries, we were also saying hello to our newer brothers and sisters. Stepping back, taking a longer look, our beloved Church is not finished yet. We can see clearly where we've been. But we worship a Savior who sees very clearly where we're going. And that faith is what will inspire us to come into line with what Jesus has been teaching us all these years. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will become what Jesus has been calling and guiding us to be. What he sees as the Kingdom of God is where we are headed. I have been inspired by those who have come before us, and I am equally inspired by those who will come after us! I can see God's hand in the present, because God sees us from the perspective of the future. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Monday, May 17, 2010
A Growing Family...
I remember as a child, during one particular time in our family's history, my father had gotten a new job out of state, and my mother, sister and I had to remain behind to sell the house before we could move to the new city. As a matter of course, the house had to be spotless - and remain that way at all times - because we never knew when the realtor would call and want to show the house to some prospective buyers. Getting the house clean was not the problem for us kids. KEEPING it clean was! It always seemed more difficult to maintain that level of cleanliness after it was clean, because it always felt as though we didn't really live there. Nevertheless, at the drop of a hat, the house had to be ready for inspection by strangers.
The question was asked, "What would be your level of preparation if you knew that someone was coming over to your house for a visit? Would you clean or tidy up the house? Would you put out the good guest towels in the bathrooms? Would you prepare a meal for your guests and serve it in the formal dining room? To what extent would you prepare for these visitors? Perhaps more importantly, what would your attitude be toward them? If you knew they were just coming over for a visit, would you go to great lengths to be hospitable to them? Would you secretly hope that their visit would not last long?"
The responses would be indicative of how we feel about our visitors to our homes. Sometimes they are truly welcomed, but there are occasions when their visits seem to be intrusions into our spaces. Not all visits are announced, and a few are surprises.
But what happens when that visitor comes home with your college-aged child, and has the potential to become a member of the family? Suddenly, getting the house ready takes on a different kind of meaning. Suddenly, the visitor has the potential to become more than a one-time intrusion into one's schedule. A relationship becomes not only possible, but absolutely essential.
Such is the case when a visitor comes to worship at God's house. The attitude changes, because we know that the possibility exists that this person may very well become part of the family. Even the term "visitor" suddenly becomes inaccurate; "honored guest" seems somehow more appropriate. We tend to treat visitors with a different tone than we do those who might become family, don't we? Radical hospitality has that kind of potential - the potential to make visitors into guests into family.
Next Sunday, when we take that time to greet one another after the Call To Worship and before the Opening Hymn, take a moment to look around you and see if there are any guests that may become family among us. Make a special effort to get around to them, and welcome them, not just to worship, but to the family of faith. And we can all watch our family grow...
See you in church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
When I was writing my final paper for the degree program at Perkins School of Theology, I came across a book that quintessentially defined for me the notion of what "Welcoming" meant. I hadn't thought about it for a long time, until my daughter Kaitlyn gave her sermon yesterday and mentioned it. While her sermon was absolutely wonderful (ok, I may be bragging just a little bit, but I'm allowed - I'm a dad!) it was that brief comment she gave concerning how we welcome people into the kingdom.
The question was asked, "What would be your level of preparation if you knew that someone was coming over to your house for a visit? Would you clean or tidy up the house? Would you put out the good guest towels in the bathrooms? Would you prepare a meal for your guests and serve it in the formal dining room? To what extent would you prepare for these visitors? Perhaps more importantly, what would your attitude be toward them? If you knew they were just coming over for a visit, would you go to great lengths to be hospitable to them? Would you secretly hope that their visit would not last long?"
The responses would be indicative of how we feel about our visitors to our homes. Sometimes they are truly welcomed, but there are occasions when their visits seem to be intrusions into our spaces. Not all visits are announced, and a few are surprises.
But what happens when that visitor comes home with your college-aged child, and has the potential to become a member of the family? Suddenly, getting the house ready takes on a different kind of meaning. Suddenly, the visitor has the potential to become more than a one-time intrusion into one's schedule. A relationship becomes not only possible, but absolutely essential.
Such is the case when a visitor comes to worship at God's house. The attitude changes, because we know that the possibility exists that this person may very well become part of the family. Even the term "visitor" suddenly becomes inaccurate; "honored guest" seems somehow more appropriate. We tend to treat visitors with a different tone than we do those who might become family, don't we? Radical hospitality has that kind of potential - the potential to make visitors into guests into family.
Next Sunday, when we take that time to greet one another after the Call To Worship and before the Opening Hymn, take a moment to look around you and see if there are any guests that may become family among us. Make a special effort to get around to them, and welcome them, not just to worship, but to the family of faith. And we can all watch our family grow...
See you in church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Borrowed Language...
When I was in high school, I took one of those “tests” that was supposed to help me to determine a career path. As a senior, I was anxious, nay, excited, to have some glimpse into what destiny my life might attain in my pursuit to find meaning and fulfillment. At last, someone would share with me that destiny, and point me in the general direction. I would finally know beyond the shadow of a doubt where my fate and future would take me. My results were less than hopeful.
It seems that, given my particular gifts and graces, I was destined to be (gulp!) an English grammar teacher. Now, I have nothing against these fine folks, who struggle to make fools like me attempt to learn what is arguably the most difficult language on the face of the planet. Not just learn it, but to master it. To be able to convey with words (written and spoken) the very thoughts that my brain has conceived. To be able to articulate concepts and ideas in such a way that comprehension and dialog can be achieved. To be able to express myself with clarity so that growth may be attained. (Ok, enough with that dribble.)
My only problem is that – well, I hated English grammar. I detested graphing sentences, learning split infinitives (which I have mastered, by the way!), sentence, paragraph, and chapter structures, as well as all the no-no’s that go along with them. I didn’t mind reading others’ works, but I hated having to write my own. I despised the thought of the tasks that were before me to write, phrase, and express myself. I could not imagine the notion of becoming a teacher of this stuff!
It is interesting that I make my living using words. I use words to describe grace, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, repentance, redemption, salvation, hope, love, peace, joy, relationship… well, you get the idea. Words are the tools by which I work, and the building blocks of my trade. Without the ability to express these concepts, how could one share the most important idea the world has ever known, and indeed, needs to hear?
What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend,
For this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?
O make my thine forever; and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.
("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," UM Hymnal p. 286)
These words, anonymously written and translated in the seventeenth century to describe the indescribable – the debt each of us owes but will never be able to repay to the one who has died for our sins. Over the years, I have learned that my struggles with the English language have not been in vain. I have struggled so that I might better listen to others. I have struggled so that I might be better able to communicate. I have struggled so that others might come to the faith. It isn’t easy. And the words do not always flow easily. And, like the author of those words above, I often ask in prayer, as I sit down to write sermons, newsletter articles, and letters, “What language shall I borrow?” What words shall I find that will help me to express this grace to another soul who needs to hear it?
Maybe you have had a similar situation, where you struggled to find the right words to help someone in need. Maybe you’ve struggled to express the love of God to someone who is hurting. Trust God. Even when the words are hard to find, God knows. God has a way of giving us what we need when the time comes – of putting the right words in our mouths. And when there aren’t any words, “The Spirit intercedes on our behalf with sighs too deep for words.” Thanks be to God! See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
It seems that, given my particular gifts and graces, I was destined to be (gulp!) an English grammar teacher. Now, I have nothing against these fine folks, who struggle to make fools like me attempt to learn what is arguably the most difficult language on the face of the planet. Not just learn it, but to master it. To be able to convey with words (written and spoken) the very thoughts that my brain has conceived. To be able to articulate concepts and ideas in such a way that comprehension and dialog can be achieved. To be able to express myself with clarity so that growth may be attained. (Ok, enough with that dribble.)
My only problem is that – well, I hated English grammar. I detested graphing sentences, learning split infinitives (which I have mastered, by the way!), sentence, paragraph, and chapter structures, as well as all the no-no’s that go along with them. I didn’t mind reading others’ works, but I hated having to write my own. I despised the thought of the tasks that were before me to write, phrase, and express myself. I could not imagine the notion of becoming a teacher of this stuff!
It is interesting that I make my living using words. I use words to describe grace, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance, repentance, redemption, salvation, hope, love, peace, joy, relationship… well, you get the idea. Words are the tools by which I work, and the building blocks of my trade. Without the ability to express these concepts, how could one share the most important idea the world has ever known, and indeed, needs to hear?
What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend,
For this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?
O make my thine forever; and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.
("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," UM Hymnal p. 286)
These words, anonymously written and translated in the seventeenth century to describe the indescribable – the debt each of us owes but will never be able to repay to the one who has died for our sins. Over the years, I have learned that my struggles with the English language have not been in vain. I have struggled so that I might better listen to others. I have struggled so that I might be better able to communicate. I have struggled so that others might come to the faith. It isn’t easy. And the words do not always flow easily. And, like the author of those words above, I often ask in prayer, as I sit down to write sermons, newsletter articles, and letters, “What language shall I borrow?” What words shall I find that will help me to express this grace to another soul who needs to hear it?
Maybe you have had a similar situation, where you struggled to find the right words to help someone in need. Maybe you’ve struggled to express the love of God to someone who is hurting. Trust God. Even when the words are hard to find, God knows. God has a way of giving us what we need when the time comes – of putting the right words in our mouths. And when there aren’t any words, “The Spirit intercedes on our behalf with sighs too deep for words.” Thanks be to God! See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
No Resurrection without the Cross & Tomb...
It seems odd to have to say it, but every year it seems I must. For there are people - good Christian folk - who somehow have become so familiar with the story that they have forgotten why we need to repeat it each year. They have become so accustomed to it's details that they don't want to make the trek.
Early on that Friday morning, there was a great deal of turmoil in many peoples' minds and hearts. There were Scribes and Pharisees who were attempting to gather together to make the case before the Sanhedrin that this rabble-rowser had stirred up enough trouble, and now needed to be dealt with swiftly. Earlier that week, he had the audacity to upset the sacred customs of the Temple Treasury in a fit of rage, turning over tables, screaming in the courtyard like a madman, and chasing away the livestock that had been assembled for the holy sacrifices.
There were ordinary citizens of Judea who had taken the trouble and the time to make an arduous journey to Jerusalem to make that pilgrimage a reality - already dealing with the difficulties of long-distance travelling by foot, and dealing with the unpleasantries of the Roman guards and centurions who would harrass them along the way. Only to find as they arrived that the whole city was in turmoil, and the coming trial of a criminal who had disrupted the order of the day.
Then there were the followers. Men and women who had been travelling - some as long as three years - with this man, only to scratch their heads in wonder at why he was doing what he was doing, why he was saying what he was saying.
Last of all there were the disciples - that close-knit band of brothers who had been with him from the beginning. They were confused by the late night feast the evening before, confused by the changing of the centuries-old customs of the seder. Then, there was the arrest, the surrender without a fight, and the disgrace of that mock trial. Had they backed the wrong horse? Had they followed the wrong Messiah? Had these last three years been a waste of time?
The events of that Friday made it difficult for a lot of people. It is no wonder that there are so many folks who live in the moment of Palm Sunday's parade, and exist for an entire week, hoping to land safely on the other side of the Resurrection without having to traverse that dark hillside shadowed by a cross, and then watch as the stone sealed up the last remaining hope for a new order, a new way of life, coming to a halt in the silence of that evening. It is easier, and much less painful to move from the Hosannas of Palm Sunday to the Alleluias of Easter without having to make that trek through Good Friday.
As tempting as it may seem, please do not allow yourself to skip over the darkness of that day. We truly do need the darkness in order to appreciate the brightness of Easter morning. If there is no cross or tomb, there can be no resurrection. Experience it, reflect upon it. Allow God's Spirit to walk with you - even through the darkest valley - the valley of the shadow of death. For the other side of that valley is life everlasting.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Early on that Friday morning, there was a great deal of turmoil in many peoples' minds and hearts. There were Scribes and Pharisees who were attempting to gather together to make the case before the Sanhedrin that this rabble-rowser had stirred up enough trouble, and now needed to be dealt with swiftly. Earlier that week, he had the audacity to upset the sacred customs of the Temple Treasury in a fit of rage, turning over tables, screaming in the courtyard like a madman, and chasing away the livestock that had been assembled for the holy sacrifices.
There were ordinary citizens of Judea who had taken the trouble and the time to make an arduous journey to Jerusalem to make that pilgrimage a reality - already dealing with the difficulties of long-distance travelling by foot, and dealing with the unpleasantries of the Roman guards and centurions who would harrass them along the way. Only to find as they arrived that the whole city was in turmoil, and the coming trial of a criminal who had disrupted the order of the day.
Then there were the followers. Men and women who had been travelling - some as long as three years - with this man, only to scratch their heads in wonder at why he was doing what he was doing, why he was saying what he was saying.
Last of all there were the disciples - that close-knit band of brothers who had been with him from the beginning. They were confused by the late night feast the evening before, confused by the changing of the centuries-old customs of the seder. Then, there was the arrest, the surrender without a fight, and the disgrace of that mock trial. Had they backed the wrong horse? Had they followed the wrong Messiah? Had these last three years been a waste of time?
The events of that Friday made it difficult for a lot of people. It is no wonder that there are so many folks who live in the moment of Palm Sunday's parade, and exist for an entire week, hoping to land safely on the other side of the Resurrection without having to traverse that dark hillside shadowed by a cross, and then watch as the stone sealed up the last remaining hope for a new order, a new way of life, coming to a halt in the silence of that evening. It is easier, and much less painful to move from the Hosannas of Palm Sunday to the Alleluias of Easter without having to make that trek through Good Friday.
As tempting as it may seem, please do not allow yourself to skip over the darkness of that day. We truly do need the darkness in order to appreciate the brightness of Easter morning. If there is no cross or tomb, there can be no resurrection. Experience it, reflect upon it. Allow God's Spirit to walk with you - even through the darkest valley - the valley of the shadow of death. For the other side of that valley is life everlasting.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Monday, March 8, 2010
Offensive...
"One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling. "This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!" (Luke 15:1-2, GNT)
This was the passage of scripture today for my morning devotions. As I read it, I began to wonder about Jesus' reputation. That was surely the question the teachers and Pharisees were raising. They were amazed that he would dare to associate with "the wrong kind of people." Didn't Jesus know the law? Didn't he understand the rituals concerning clean and unclean? Didn't he understand that those people weren't politically correct to associate with? There is a decorum that must be maintained. There are certainly standards that have to be upheld. And there are laws! "Jesus! How could you possibly eat with those folks?!"
The harshness of their criticism stung in my mind. How dare they challenge Jesus! How dare they distinguish between who Jesus can associate with and who he may not! How dare they raise their noses in the air in superiority! Don't they know who Jesus is?
Then I began to wonder about their comments. Who were these "tax collectors and other outcasts"? Tax collectors in those days were people of unscrupulous greed, willing to sell out a relative for a larger cut of the take. They were unconcerned about who they were taxing - as long as they managed to get their part from Caesar. "Other outcasts" is a sanitized way of saying "just about everyone else who doesn't deserve to be included in community." Sinners, to be sure, but of such a voracity of sinfulness that this translation chose not to itemize. Immorality, self-centeredness, greed, those suffering from disease and dis-ease, and so many more that the list was virtually endless. "Other outcasts" pretty much says it all.
My reflections meandered their way down to where I am in my ministry, in my own discipleship, and even to my own soul. I began to wonder, "what do others think of me? Do others care if I associate and even eat with the "wrong kind of people?" And then the conviction hit. Am I more concerned with my reputation with the Pharisees and teachers of the Law than I am with those who desperately need to hear a word of hope? Am I more concerned about what the "right crowd" thinks of me, that I am afraid of being bold enough to associate with the ones who need to hear the word of grace the most?
Ultimately, how I behave in the world - who I associate with, what and how I share what I have and who I am, and how available I make myself to others - comes down to being the visible result of who I am in my inmost being. If I have aligned myself with the world, I will value what the world values - possessions, power, prestige. If, however, I have aligned myself with Christ, I will value what Christ values - people, relationships, the soul. Christ's values are simple - they are directed toward bringing people back into a right relationship with God. In Christ, the sin is outcast, not the sinner. In Christ, the value is in the person and the relationship between her/him and God, others, and the self. To be aligned with Christ is offensive to the world's values. To be aligned with the world's values is offensive to Christ.
I pray that God will have mercy on me when I forget these values, because it directly affects how I behave in the world. I pray that God will grant me the boldness and courage to share a meal with those who are desperately in need of being "cast back into the fold". I pray you will find that same grace in strength also, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
This was the passage of scripture today for my morning devotions. As I read it, I began to wonder about Jesus' reputation. That was surely the question the teachers and Pharisees were raising. They were amazed that he would dare to associate with "the wrong kind of people." Didn't Jesus know the law? Didn't he understand the rituals concerning clean and unclean? Didn't he understand that those people weren't politically correct to associate with? There is a decorum that must be maintained. There are certainly standards that have to be upheld. And there are laws! "Jesus! How could you possibly eat with those folks?!"
The harshness of their criticism stung in my mind. How dare they challenge Jesus! How dare they distinguish between who Jesus can associate with and who he may not! How dare they raise their noses in the air in superiority! Don't they know who Jesus is?
Then I began to wonder about their comments. Who were these "tax collectors and other outcasts"? Tax collectors in those days were people of unscrupulous greed, willing to sell out a relative for a larger cut of the take. They were unconcerned about who they were taxing - as long as they managed to get their part from Caesar. "Other outcasts" is a sanitized way of saying "just about everyone else who doesn't deserve to be included in community." Sinners, to be sure, but of such a voracity of sinfulness that this translation chose not to itemize. Immorality, self-centeredness, greed, those suffering from disease and dis-ease, and so many more that the list was virtually endless. "Other outcasts" pretty much says it all.
My reflections meandered their way down to where I am in my ministry, in my own discipleship, and even to my own soul. I began to wonder, "what do others think of me? Do others care if I associate and even eat with the "wrong kind of people?" And then the conviction hit. Am I more concerned with my reputation with the Pharisees and teachers of the Law than I am with those who desperately need to hear a word of hope? Am I more concerned about what the "right crowd" thinks of me, that I am afraid of being bold enough to associate with the ones who need to hear the word of grace the most?
Ultimately, how I behave in the world - who I associate with, what and how I share what I have and who I am, and how available I make myself to others - comes down to being the visible result of who I am in my inmost being. If I have aligned myself with the world, I will value what the world values - possessions, power, prestige. If, however, I have aligned myself with Christ, I will value what Christ values - people, relationships, the soul. Christ's values are simple - they are directed toward bringing people back into a right relationship with God. In Christ, the sin is outcast, not the sinner. In Christ, the value is in the person and the relationship between her/him and God, others, and the self. To be aligned with Christ is offensive to the world's values. To be aligned with the world's values is offensive to Christ.
I pray that God will have mercy on me when I forget these values, because it directly affects how I behave in the world. I pray that God will grant me the boldness and courage to share a meal with those who are desperately in need of being "cast back into the fold". I pray you will find that same grace in strength also, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Reflections...
On a retreat some time back, I was asked to take a moment or two to reflect on my ministry thus far. I remember thinking that it had been a long, winding road, from a college student in Abilene, through the Rocky Mountains of seminary, to the wind-swept plains of western Nebraska, to the deep south Texas Rio Grande Valley. It had been an interesting journey, one filled with mountaintop highs, and deep, dark valley lows. It was always exciting, never boring, and filled with the signposts that marked where the Spirit's guiding had led the way.
Early in my ministry, Jan gave me a notebook that resembled an old, tattered spiral-bound notebook that her grandfather had kept as a record of his ministry. In that old, lined ledger, Grandpa Otto had written down every baptism, every wedding, every confirmation, and every funeral over which he had ever officiated. Page after page, line after line, names were written - recorded for all history. The new, leather-bound notebook was engraved with my name. Jan had given it to me to begin to record my own ministry's milestones, perhaps as a way to carry on the tradition of her grandfather. The names that are written there are more than just names. They are the people whom I have encountered on my own faith journey - not just as a pastor, but as a fellow traveller. From the baptism of my own nephew, to the burial of my grandmother and grandfather, and the many names in between, I have been blessed to witness what this faith journey is all about.
As I sat reflecting on that journey, and where it has taken me thus far, I am amazed at how much it has been the people who have shaped my life. Not the books, nor the lectures, nor the sermons, nor the degrees. It has always been the people - people that I believe God has placed in my path to show me the way. People that have been loving enough, and bold enough, to point out when I have fallen away from the path I am supposed to be on. People that have been gracious enough to forgive me when I have messed up royally. More than names. People.
Perhaps that is a small part of what Lent is about. It is about how we have managed to share with one another the path that we know is truth - the path that comes from knowing and following our Lord Jesus Christ. The path that is light. Lent is a wonderful time for us to get back in touch with our faith, to re-learn the practices and disciplines that distinguish us from the worldly, and help us to be more in tune with the Godly.
Perhaps you also might take this time to get back in touch with your faith-roots, and re-learn your spiritual disciplines. You might just bump into God there!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Early in my ministry, Jan gave me a notebook that resembled an old, tattered spiral-bound notebook that her grandfather had kept as a record of his ministry. In that old, lined ledger, Grandpa Otto had written down every baptism, every wedding, every confirmation, and every funeral over which he had ever officiated. Page after page, line after line, names were written - recorded for all history. The new, leather-bound notebook was engraved with my name. Jan had given it to me to begin to record my own ministry's milestones, perhaps as a way to carry on the tradition of her grandfather. The names that are written there are more than just names. They are the people whom I have encountered on my own faith journey - not just as a pastor, but as a fellow traveller. From the baptism of my own nephew, to the burial of my grandmother and grandfather, and the many names in between, I have been blessed to witness what this faith journey is all about.
As I sat reflecting on that journey, and where it has taken me thus far, I am amazed at how much it has been the people who have shaped my life. Not the books, nor the lectures, nor the sermons, nor the degrees. It has always been the people - people that I believe God has placed in my path to show me the way. People that have been loving enough, and bold enough, to point out when I have fallen away from the path I am supposed to be on. People that have been gracious enough to forgive me when I have messed up royally. More than names. People.
Perhaps that is a small part of what Lent is about. It is about how we have managed to share with one another the path that we know is truth - the path that comes from knowing and following our Lord Jesus Christ. The path that is light. Lent is a wonderful time for us to get back in touch with our faith, to re-learn the practices and disciplines that distinguish us from the worldly, and help us to be more in tune with the Godly.
Perhaps you also might take this time to get back in touch with your faith-roots, and re-learn your spiritual disciplines. You might just bump into God there!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The User's Manual...
I have a new cell phone. My old phone began to be "unreliable" (which is a nicer way of saying that it was not working all the time!). I began to notice that there were names and dates missing on it, which made it difficult to keep track of appointments and phone numbers - especially when I needed them. So, I got a new phone.
It's called a "smart phone," although I'm not sure why. Supposedly it does lots of things, just like my old phone did, only it wasn't called a "smart phone." It has a calendar, a camera (both still and video), and can access my email and the internet. It even allows me to update my Facebook page whenever I want. I can read and create Word and Excel documents on it. It even has a calculator on it, wherever it is. I haven't located it yet. There's even an application for a GPS, although that costs extra. Oh, did I mention that it has a phone?
Technology seems to be getting more and more advanced. A few years ago, telephones were stilled wired into the walls of your home, although a few were "cordless." A few years before that, much like Henry Ford's words, you could get a phone in any color you wanted, as long as it was black. Now there are arcade games and programs on them, and you can take pictures of sunsets, and flowerpots, and whatever else you desire, and upload them to the World Wide Web. One of these days I'm going to read the user's manual and find out exactly what all is on that new phone.
Dr. Grace Imathiu, a United Methodist Pastor, once shared a brief story about the Garden of Eden scene in which God went searching for the wayward couple after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit. God asked, "Where are you?" And Adam replied, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." And God said, "Who told you that you were naked?" Dr. Imathiu said that this was the most important question in all of scripture - "Who have we been listening to other than God?"
In a few days, we will be beginning the season of Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday services on Wednesday, February 17th at 6:30 p.m. Lent is that time of year when Christians begin to reflect on their walk of faith with our Lord Jesus Christ. We begin to look at how closely we are following in our Master's footsteps. We reflect on how much we have come to depend on things other than Jesus. Things like money, position, status, which team will win the Super Bowl, etc. Even things like new cell phones.
Perhaps I should take out the "other" user's manual and read up on what it has to say during this season of Lent. How about you?
See you in Church!
It's called a "smart phone," although I'm not sure why. Supposedly it does lots of things, just like my old phone did, only it wasn't called a "smart phone." It has a calendar, a camera (both still and video), and can access my email and the internet. It even allows me to update my Facebook page whenever I want. I can read and create Word and Excel documents on it. It even has a calculator on it, wherever it is. I haven't located it yet. There's even an application for a GPS, although that costs extra. Oh, did I mention that it has a phone?
Technology seems to be getting more and more advanced. A few years ago, telephones were stilled wired into the walls of your home, although a few were "cordless." A few years before that, much like Henry Ford's words, you could get a phone in any color you wanted, as long as it was black. Now there are arcade games and programs on them, and you can take pictures of sunsets, and flowerpots, and whatever else you desire, and upload them to the World Wide Web. One of these days I'm going to read the user's manual and find out exactly what all is on that new phone.
Dr. Grace Imathiu, a United Methodist Pastor, once shared a brief story about the Garden of Eden scene in which God went searching for the wayward couple after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit. God asked, "Where are you?" And Adam replied, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." And God said, "Who told you that you were naked?" Dr. Imathiu said that this was the most important question in all of scripture - "Who have we been listening to other than God?"
In a few days, we will be beginning the season of Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday services on Wednesday, February 17th at 6:30 p.m. Lent is that time of year when Christians begin to reflect on their walk of faith with our Lord Jesus Christ. We begin to look at how closely we are following in our Master's footsteps. We reflect on how much we have come to depend on things other than Jesus. Things like money, position, status, which team will win the Super Bowl, etc. Even things like new cell phones.
Perhaps I should take out the "other" user's manual and read up on what it has to say during this season of Lent. How about you?
See you in Church!
Monday, January 18, 2010
When the Earth Trembles...
In a moment of reflection this morning, it dawned on me that we may have fallen into that same trap that comes along every so often. We get excited about the newest, the latest, the labor-saving, the time-saving, the solution to all of our needs. We become consumed by the latest trends that promise to make life easier, and we try it, and lo and behold it works! We become enamored with how our lives seem to coast along pretty nicely, and we begin to believe that we have actually "arrived." It seems so odd that our world has come so far, and yet, when something dramatic happens, something traumatic, it always seems to knock us back on our heels.
Last week, people got up and began their day thinking that it was just another Tuesday. Breakfasts were eaten, jobs were attended to, and life was going along fairly smoothly. Few folks noticed that in a specific place not far from here, people were still starving, still homeless, still in need of basic medical care, still in need ofthe basic elements of human existence. Those few folks gathered together to discuss and plan how they could help the rest of the world take notice of this small country that was struggling to just survive. And then the unthinkable happened.
It was unthinkable because no one had ever imagined that there would be a plate-shift in that region of the world. It was unthinkable because earthquakes don't happen there - especially with that kind of magnitude. It was unthinkable because it wasn't on our minds. At all. This tiny country seemed the world away to most of us. We knew about where it was, we'd studied it in geography class in school. But other than the distant memories of conflicts from years gone by - ousted leaders, civil unrest, disease and poverty - it seemed as though it was just another country in need. "The poor you will always have with you..." we seem to recall Jesus saying (Mark 14:7).
Several United Methodist mission executives were in Port Au Prince last week to discuss and plan for a way to help the poor of that nation to get the resources they need to have a quality of life that we take for granted. In the midst of their time together, the earth shook. Buildings fell. People were killed. Including two of those executives. Rev. Dr. Sam Dixon, head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and Rev. Clint Rabb, head of Mission Volunteers for UMCOR, both died from the injuries they sustained when the Hotel Montana fell upon them. Our prayers naturally go to their families who are experiencing great loss at this time. And yet, they are but two of the tens of thousands of victims who perished in this tragedy.
Their mission was to get the world to take notice. While it seems painful to say, their mission was accomplished. The world has noticed. Not because the earth shook. It has been doing that since the beginning of time. The world has noticed, perhaps because we aren't as self-absorbed as we thought we were. When people suffer, we notice, and many of us are moved through compassion into action.
I hope and pray that the events of this past week have us all thinking and praying. Haiti is not all that far away - especially when we consider that they are God's children just like us. Maybe, because of the earthquake we'll take notice, not just of the devastation of this natural disaster (which still seems so unnatural to me), but of the devastating effects of poverty for an entire population. I hope and pray that these events will move us beyond thoughts and prayers into action to make a difference in the lives of so many people who are so affected by this disaster. And maybe, just maybe, at least two deaths will not have been in vain.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
Last week, people got up and began their day thinking that it was just another Tuesday. Breakfasts were eaten, jobs were attended to, and life was going along fairly smoothly. Few folks noticed that in a specific place not far from here, people were still starving, still homeless, still in need of basic medical care, still in need ofthe basic elements of human existence. Those few folks gathered together to discuss and plan how they could help the rest of the world take notice of this small country that was struggling to just survive. And then the unthinkable happened.
It was unthinkable because no one had ever imagined that there would be a plate-shift in that region of the world. It was unthinkable because earthquakes don't happen there - especially with that kind of magnitude. It was unthinkable because it wasn't on our minds. At all. This tiny country seemed the world away to most of us. We knew about where it was, we'd studied it in geography class in school. But other than the distant memories of conflicts from years gone by - ousted leaders, civil unrest, disease and poverty - it seemed as though it was just another country in need. "The poor you will always have with you..." we seem to recall Jesus saying (Mark 14:7).
Several United Methodist mission executives were in Port Au Prince last week to discuss and plan for a way to help the poor of that nation to get the resources they need to have a quality of life that we take for granted. In the midst of their time together, the earth shook. Buildings fell. People were killed. Including two of those executives. Rev. Dr. Sam Dixon, head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and Rev. Clint Rabb, head of Mission Volunteers for UMCOR, both died from the injuries they sustained when the Hotel Montana fell upon them. Our prayers naturally go to their families who are experiencing great loss at this time. And yet, they are but two of the tens of thousands of victims who perished in this tragedy.
Their mission was to get the world to take notice. While it seems painful to say, their mission was accomplished. The world has noticed. Not because the earth shook. It has been doing that since the beginning of time. The world has noticed, perhaps because we aren't as self-absorbed as we thought we were. When people suffer, we notice, and many of us are moved through compassion into action.
I hope and pray that the events of this past week have us all thinking and praying. Haiti is not all that far away - especially when we consider that they are God's children just like us. Maybe, because of the earthquake we'll take notice, not just of the devastation of this natural disaster (which still seems so unnatural to me), but of the devastating effects of poverty for an entire population. I hope and pray that these events will move us beyond thoughts and prayers into action to make a difference in the lives of so many people who are so affected by this disaster. And maybe, just maybe, at least two deaths will not have been in vain.
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
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