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
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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
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