St. Andrew United Methodist Church
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
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Pastor's Page Monday, Feb. 13, '12: How do we know God? Let us count the ways. Infinite! There are an infinite number of ways we experience God. Because of Jesus, Christians believe every human being has direct access to God. Since Jesus is God in the flesh, we look for God through our bodies: senses, thoughts, feelings, insights, intuition. Our bodies are indeed God's temple. We experience God through the Holy Spirit, the hidden but active presence of God. The Spirit causes us to grow in wisdom and in spiritual depth. Another way the Holy Spirit works is through "coincidence;" when things happen at just the right moment. Or, when a group is suddenly inspired with a common sense of mission and direction. You know the Spirit is present when two plus two equals five, or five hundred!
EVERYONE experiences God. But not everyone is AWARE that they do. When we tell our God stories, we increase our awareness of the infinite ways God reaches out to us. This is why we have a time of witness during worship. By training ourselves to be aware of God we discover our own unique pattern of relating to God. Like infant twins who communicante with each other through a language all their own, so is our communication with God. The good news is, we are even closer to God than twins are to each other.
Monday, Feb. 06, '12: I never looked at the beatitudes in terms of sacrifical service until this past week. In them Jesus is basically giving a blueprint for building the kingdom of God. The good news is: It's possible. The bad news is: It ain't easy! I doubt people have ever been keen on making sacrifices for the sake of others, and for the sake of something better. Today, it seems as if we are even less so inclined. There is so much emphasis on me and mine. What's more, we are given the impression that we can have what we want, when we want it, with one easy step. Is there ANYTHING in life that works that way? I don't think so.
Even churches buy into that mindset. Attendance down? Do this. Add that. Take away the other. Jesus is clear that following him isn't easy. We keep insisting it is. I sometimes wonder if church as we know it will cease to exist some day. Will we move back to house churches? Unofficial house churches would keep the numbers down and increase intimacy and accountability. There would be no need for professional clergy, or other staff for that matter. Everything would be done by volunteers who feel called to do something. Not a bad idea. There's little incentive to sacrifice when you have paid people to do that for you. What do you think, church?
Monday, January 30, 2012: Church membership vows include supporting the church through our GIFTS. The church at Corinth struggled with spiritual gifts. That is, those with spiritual gifts, such as healing and speaking in tongues, thought they were superior Christians. Today, many churches have the opposite problem. Too few Christians know what their spiritual gifts are, and those that do tend to use them elsewhere.
Maybe the real problem is the list of spiritual gifts found in the Bible. Maybe they need updated for our time. If the culture is always changing perhaps God is gifting people differently today. A related question is how God calls clergy leaders. What type of person is called to ordained ministry these days? How do they experience God calling them to ministry? When I first entered ordained ministry many call stories sounded similar:
I remember wondering if I had indeed been called, since my experience was nothing like that. That was 27 years ago. I wonder what call stories sound like today? How old are people (men and women now) when they first sense God calling them? What is their life situation? How do they respond? As the needs of the church change, I suspect the gifts needed in its leadership also change. What does the church need today in order to be effective in mission and witness? If you were going to come up with a new list of spiritual gifts, what would be included?
Monday, January 23, 2012: Church membership vows include offering the gift of our PRESENCE. Worship is the main "work" of the church and the place where most members "show up for work." Just what is worship? What is the purpose? For whom is it designed? I've read that in worship God is the "audience." I don't really like that understanding. It's as though God is doing what most of us do in worship: sit and watch. No, I don't think God is the audience. Neither is the congregation.
Worship is something people have always done. There seems to be a need to honor the One who we sense is the source of life. We sense that God is the source of the only life-giving power there is: Love. So, we seek to honor that Giver. We also want to EXPERIENCE God. Hearing, learning and studying ABOUT God no longer satisfies. I think people hunger for a direct experience of God. Second-hand encounters (that is, stories about other people's encounters with God) aren't enough anymore.
Ideally, worship is about our relationship with God. In a relationship with God, it's not God that needs coaxing. We don't worship in order to please God, or attract God, or make God love us. We worship because we want to draw nearer to God. Worship is at its best when it helps us come closer to God.
Wednesday, January 18, 2011: So....Sunday we remembered our vow to support the church with our PRAYERS. 1Thessalonians tells us to "pray without ceasing." It CAN be done. You can use the Jesus Prayer, repeating it in your mind as often as you remember to do so. There are many variations, based on the penitant tax collector. Variations are:
The wisdom of this type of prayer is that eventually, you don't have to remember to say the prayer, it prays itself. The prayer becomes planted in your heart and takes root. The prayer begins to influence your other thoughts. It then begin to influence your behavior. Your life becomes a prayer! It's so simple and so profoundly beautiful. But, you gotta DO it!
Another way to pray without ceasing is to focus on your breath. Notice where you first experience the air entering or existing your body. Which muscles move first, last? Becoming aware of our breath brings us in immmediate contact with God, the giver of every breath. With each inhalation you receive the gift of life. With each exhalation you release the gift of life back into the world. When you pay attention to your breathing you may begin to notice how you try to control it, or hold it. You become aware of how you hold or tense your muscles. It's the perfect metaphor for our spiritual journey.
How often do we try to control our lives, or the lives of others? How often are we simply unaware of our connection with God, though it is right under our noses? Isn't it amazing that God has built into our bodies, our very beings, such an intimate connection!? But, agian, you gotta DO it.
Thomas Merton once said: "What I DO is live. How I PRAY is breathe." These types of prayers help transform our thoughts, our hearts, our actions. There is wisdom in praying without ceasing.
:-) Loretta Isaiah once said: "It's not about making time for God. It's about realizing God is in your time, all the time."
Monday, January 9, 2012: Sorry to have missed the last few weeks. Yesterday we reaffirmed our baptismal vows and renewed our covenant with God. The sermon invited us to view our relationship with God like we do other love relationships. If you want to maintain a loving relationship with a significant other, spouse, family member, friend, then you must nurture the relationship. You must do your part to make sure the relationship is healthy and life-giving.
I asked the congregation how they would categorize their relationship with God: Married. Divorced. Separated. Single. Someone later suggested that we should ask if God would categorize it in the same way. Another asked for the questions to be posted on the website. Remember to imagine how you would answer these and how God would answer them.
I didn't go into all this yesterday, but most of us don't think about the need to nurture our relationship with God. We tend to think that if all is going well and if we are meeting some standard of expected behavior, then that's enough. It may well be enough for some; but many of us want more. We want to know in our hearts, not just in our heads, that God loves us. We want to experience God directly and are not satisfied just listening to other people's stories. If that's true, then what is our plan of action? What are we willing to do? What sacrifices are we willing to make?
The biggest sacrifice for many is ordering their day in order to give their relationship with God the necessary time it takes to grow. The best thing to do is start where you are. It's not always a matter of squeezing something else into your busy day. You can simply build into your days little reminders of God's presence. When you open your eyes in the morning and realize the breath of life is still moving in you, thank God. When you hear the phone ring, pause to take one deep breath, thanking God. When you close your eyes at night, thank God for being with you throughout the day, even if you were unaware of God's presence. And if all this seems silly, simply ask God to show you a way that makes sense for you. I think God responds to our heart's desire.
Monday, December 12, 2011: Because of Lessons and Carols, there was no sermon at the 11am service. At the 9am service I focused on the importance of those who go before us and prepare the way of our spiritual journey. This is what John the Baptist does for Jesus. Not only in life, but in his death John prepared Jesus. His beheading served as a "heads up" that the world would utterly reject the gospel of Jesus.
The congregation was invited to reflect on who prepared the way for their spiritual journey. It could be parents, grandparents, other family members. It could be someone not in the church at all. Likewise, to reflect on what life events served as turning points in their relationship with God. Any life event has the potential to cause us to turn around and head back to God. Life's highs and lows, the good and the bad are ripe with opportunities to choose differently.
I invite you to make a Time Line of your journey with God. Start at birth. List dates, times, people and events that stand out as significant in your life. You may be surprised at what you find.
Monday, December 5, 2011: Well, here's a new experience: I've been invited to be a calendar girl, photo shoot and all. Rev. Luana Scott Cook, director of the CDOM (Community Developement Outreach Ministry) is making a 2012 calendar featuring United Methodist clergy women from the W. Va. Annual Conference. It's a fundraiser for CDOM, $10 each. I'll have copies available to sell.
I'm feeling inferior. One clergy woman is featured on her mototcycle; another with her black belt in karate. Then there's plain ole me...and the pulpit. :-) Someone's got to do it! JK (just kidding). Preaching is one thing I do well, and enjoy. I'm a word junkie from way back, English Major. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 55:10-11.
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
So, if a picture's worth a thousand words there oughta be plenty of seed and bread coming from that calendar. Go, God, Go! :-)
Monday, November 28, 2011: If you were in worship yesterday at St. Andrew you listened to a lot of words in the sermon. Actually, there were too many. I momentarily forgot there are 51 OTHER Sundays in the year. Sigh. That's the way it is when you are excited about something.
There is a tendency to think that if you just tell people a few basic principles about the spiritual journey they will be motivated to take it up themselves. They may, or may not. The assumption is that knowledge equals transformation. What I keep re-learning is that knowledge about something doesn't necessarily lead to a change in behavior or attitude. For example, the human race has known for centuries how babies are conceived, yet teenage pregnancy is rampant, and unwanted babies are abundant. We know how to prevent pregnancy, we just don't do it.
Likewise, Christians have always known that Jesus had a close relationship with God, and urged his disciples to do the same, yet so few actually do. I include myself in that observation. I've assumed for many years that being a minister is the same thing as having a relationship with God. It isn't. I wonder if many Christians have assumed for many years that attending worship is the same thing as having a close relationship with God, and discovered that it isn't.
I also wonder if ministry and worship are not so much ways to obtain a relationship with God, but rather, the natural consequences thereof. It's probably a "chicken and the egg" type of issue. What do you think?
Monday, November 21, 2011: OMG! Actually, I should say OMGSH. We taught our girls not to say "Oh my God" unless they were praying. "Oh my gosh" is acceptable. If God could, do you think God would text "OMH?" Oh my humans! It's fun to think about it. Texting and twittering are designed to communicate using the fewest letters or words possible. This would be a good place to go into a rant about how modern technology is killing communication and social skills among its user. And, about how at least half of all communication is conveyed through body language, which texting can't do...not even the e-moticons. Instead, let's see how God ALREADY communicated in the fewest words possible. Consider the following God's texts to us, reminding us of the importance of Silence in communicating with God.
Monday, November 14, 2011: Yesterday I quoted Thomas Kelly from his book "A Testament of Devotion." He was born in 1893 and died in 1941. He spoke of how hectic our lives are and how difficult it is to find time for the really important things, like God and family. His words still resonate today. He encourages us to go often to our inner sanctuaries where our souls unite with God. He writes,
The way to access this inner sanctuary is through prayer practices and spiritual disciplines that continuously orient us to our center. Again, he writes,
Many who study religious trends note an increase of spiritual longing among people of all ages. Yet people are not turning to the church for help. Some suggest that mainline denominations are out of touch with the spiritual disciplines and practices that were once part of our tradition. These practices were lost or thrown out during the Reformation. To their credit, many of these churches are rediscovering this rich resource and tradition. More and more churches are introducing their congregants to different prayer forms and providing ways for them to practice together.
A Centering Prayer group practices every Thursday morning at 10am at St. Andrew. This group is open to anyone. I hope to start more prayer groups in the year to come. Everyone has a deep rooted connection with the Divine. Everyone has direct access to God and has direct experiences of God. These often go unnoticed because we haven't trained ourselves to know what our God moments are like. It's never too late to start.
Monday, October 17, 2011: Last week I sent out a prayer to the congregation that reminded me of Julian of Norwich's most often repeated quote: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." Many may not be familiar with her, as I wasn't until a few years ago. She was a 14th century mystic who had a series of visions during a near death experience. In one of these visions, God said to her "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." She wrote down her visions immediately following her recovery, and several years later wrote further reflections on them. These two writings formed the basis for her book, "Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love." It is said to have been the first book written in the English language by a woman.
Despite that, her real name is unknown. She is called Julian after the name of the church where she is believed to have been an anchoress, the Church of St. Julian, of Norwich, England. Nothing is known about her personal life, though some speculate she may have lost her husband and children during the plague. Her faith that in God "all things shall be well" strikes a hopeful cord in our world today, as it did in her own.
Monday, October 10, 2011: We are such creatures of habit! It's a form of survival. Predictability equals safety, or the illusion thereof. I once heard a prominant pastor of a mega church say that every time a change was made in the bulletin, no matter how small, the next week's attendance dropped by 400. Every time.
With that in mind, St. Andrew is doing well. We've added a visual system in the sanctuary and included a Time of Witness in worship. Two huge changes. Both are taking some time to get used to, but people are warming up. The most obvious benefit of the screens is that you can hear people sing, since faces are not pointed down into hymnals. People like following along with the scripture reading and seeing visual images and pictures. I look forward to All Saints Day when we will have pictured of our loved ones on the screens as we remember their lives.
The Time of Witness is included for two reasons. First, to increase congregational participation. Worship shouldn't be lop-sided, with all the "action" done by leaders up front, whether it's the choir, the liturgist, the pastor, etc. Worship is something we all come to do. God wants to hear from all of us. Second, the witness opportunity reminds us to be on the look out for God in our dailly lives. The benefits are enormous. The person telling his or her God Story receives the gift of Listening. The listeners are inspired to look for God in their own lives.
In additon to listening and inspiration, education takes place. Sometimes we just don't know what the signs and cues are that God is present. We think a God moment has to be miraculous, like a healing or walking on water. God is also present in much smaller, but no less powerful ways. These are all signs of God at work: When someone or something shows up at the moment of our greatest need (phone call, card, visit). When we witness something that pinches our conscience. When we are suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of peace, joy or awe.
Since God is ALWAYS ACTIVE, we can be assured that things will ALWAYS CHANGE. That's LIFE! In the best sense of the word.
Monday, October 3, 2011: Received another response summing up the Bible in one word: Peace. How true!
Yesterday's sermon focus was Worship...what it is and why we do it. We will never figure it all out or get it right. Since God is the primary focus, worship is by design MYSTERIOUS. Most worship is too "Wordy" and too "busy" for me. This sounds strange coming from the person who does the most talking during worship. Still, it's true.
It's not just us. While on Renewal Leave I visited several churches of different denominations and found the same thing. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Have you ever talked with a good friend about something troubling or perplexing, and, while listening to yourself speak you notice what rings true and what doesn't resonate at all? After a good conversation with a good friend you discover what you really think, feel and believe. Perhaps that is what happens during worship. We talk, sing and pray with God, our Good Friends Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In doing so we discover what we believe. What do you think? Email: LDI1960@aol.com
Monday, September 26, 2011: How would you summarize the Bible in one, two, or just a few words? Two people responded to this question posed during worship yesterday. One person said he could do it in three words: "Faith, Hope, Love." So true! Another person said he could do it in two words: "Jesus wept." It is a powerful picture of how deeply Jesus, and the One who sent him, love us. What do you think? What would YOU say? You can send an email to: LDI1960@aol.com
Monday, September 19, 2011: Yesterday I invited people to share any insights they had into the meaning of Jesus' remark that whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever we loose in earth is loosed in heaven (Matt.18:18). I have no idea what the part about heaven being affected means. But a few people do. One suggested that since God "forgets" our sins on earth, they are also forgotten in heaven. Another said that since we are in a relationship with God everything we do affects God. These are two very thoughtful insights. The first one seems to say that God behaves and does the same on earth as in heaven. The other says that our relationship with God is like others in that what one does affects the other.
The only thing I could think of last week was that whatever we do has temporal and eternal affects...kind of like sound...it keeps vibrating on and on through out the universe. It reminded me of the law of nature that states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. It also reminded me of the Hindu concept of Karma, which says we will experience the consequences of actions, for better or worse, in this life time or the next. In other words, while crooks oppressors "win" in this life time, they will eventually suffer the consequences of their choices. Justice WILL be served, no matter how long it takes.
What do you think? E-mail me at LDI1960@aol.com
Monday, September 12, 2011: No doubt you've heard stories this past week about "where I was when I heard" the news of the 9/11 attacks. I was at the church. I remember listening to reporters speculating whether the planes crashing into the Twin Towers was an accident or deliberate. My first reaction was disbelief. I could neither believe the pilots could fail to see the Towers, nor that anyone would deliberately crash into them. As impossible as the first thought was, the latter was even more incredulous. In a short amount of time all disbelief was disspelled.
Three things stand out in my memory about that day. One, how eerily quiet and void of white marks was the sky. Two, how precious and precarious life is. And three, how very small the world is. On the way to pick up our daughters from school I drove very slowly, aware that anything could happen to anyone at any moment. A sudden panic about my girls' safety terrorized my mind. They attended Mountaineer Montessori School, as did several Muslim children. What if someone sought revenge at the school, striking out at any Muslim, even children, especially children?! It didn't take long for concern for my own children to spread to concern for the whole school.
It was the day I realized how intimately connected every life is. West Virginia seemed suddenly quite global. And Charleston seemed just as likely a place for terrorists to strike as New York City. Where was I the day our world changed? Occupying the same little spot of the universe I always have, as vulnerable as I always was, as vulnerable as we always are. I guess that's where I'll always be.
Monday, August 29, 2011: Thank you to everyone for prayerfully considering "What is God's purpose for us at St. Andrew?" I'm still in the process, but those I've read are insightful and quite frankly, inspiring. The Ezekiel Team* is compiling the responses. (* A group of people helping us process wisdom from the Anthony Robinson books "Transforming Congregational Culture" and "Changing the Conversation") I anticipate a range of responses, from common threads to challenging issues. I'm excited to hear what God is saying to both long time participants and newer folk. We need everyone's voice. If you weren't present in worship yesterday, just email your response to me at LDI1960@aol.com. Continue to pray for God's Spirit to guide us in discerning our purpose and mission.
.....Speaking of challenging issues...I've found the more difficult the challenge, the harder we have to work at it, the greater our appreciation for one another and the greater our faith in God. Remember how we used to dread the annual stewardship campaign? It was like pulling hens' teeth to get anyone to serve on the committee. One year the finance committee decided to invite God into the money conversation. We had an honest discussion of the things we dreaded most regarding church finances, and the issues we struggled with as individual givers. Tough questions were raised. Prayerful reflection was given. And the Holy Spirit inspired.
According to Natural Church Development (a resource which helps a church assess strengths and weaknesses) one of St. Andrew's greatest strengths is Loving Relationships. The Spirit prompted someone to suggest we use our Loving Relationships to help the congregation gain a better understanding of stewardship. Several people opened their homes and provided snacks for small gatherings. Members of the finance committee led honest and prayerful discussions on what stewardship means to us. A large portion of the congregation participated in these gatherings. That year, we received $7,000 more in pledges than the previous year.
The success wasn't the increase in giving (that was a natural consequence), it was the increased awareness of God's role in our personal and communal finances, and an increased appreciation for those who lead the process. It was a win/win. From here we moved on to the Consecration Sunday model for stewardship campaigns. It puts the emphasis on the giver's need to give, instead of the churches need for money. It intentionally invites God into the money conversation. With the exception of last year, which was off just $2,000, we have increased our giving every year since then. That was seven years ago. The people at St. Andrew are good. But God is better! Monday, August 22, 2011: During centering prayer time last week this mantra came to me: "Just this. Just now." I had heard it before, but not sure where. "Just this. Just now." is a good way to stop yourself from geting all worked up about having too many things to do at once. In his book "The Power of Now," Eckhart Tolle points out that all we have is the present moment. We don't have the past or the future. Yet, so much anxiety comes from worry about the past and fear of the future. He says that when we spend all our time in places that don't exist, we miss the opportunities of the present moment.
In a way he's not saying anything new. Jesus understood the wisdom of dwelling too much on things over which we have no control. He encourages us not to be anxious about the future, for in doing so not one person can add even one day to his/her span of life. Neither can we get more than one thing done at a time. We try. We call it multi-tasking. But only one thing ever gets our full attention. The rest is half done at best. So, the next time you find yourself in a vat of worry and fear, feverishly flailing about, just say to yourself "Just this. Just now." Take a big breath, let it out slowly, and allow the Holy Spirit to direct your attention to the One Thing that needs your attention in this one moment. And do Just this, just now.
Monday, August 15, 2011: We continue to pray for those whose loved one have died, especially those whose deaths were untimely and tragic.
Our congregation is embarking on a discernment process, seeking to recapture a sense of purpose. It's funny how individuals and organizations get into a comfortable routine and just keep going. Eventually it gets to where things don't work as they always had. This can be discouraging and cause for much fear. But there is GOOD NEWS! It is also an opportunity to look deeply into our souls to see who we are and who we are called to be. You know, most times when people take stock of their spiritual lives they find things they aren't proud of; but they also discover qualities they had forgotten or never knew where there.
I think St. Andrew will find the same. We will find things we need to change, and it won't be easy. But we will also find new energy and excitement when we realize that God is working with us. We are not alone. There is not much we can do on our own. There is nothing God can't do. Let our mantra be "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Tuesday, August 2, 2011: I spent all day yesterday in tomorrow.* :-) Julie (our Worship Arts Director) and I are trying to map out an outline of worship for the coming year (Sept - May). It was like being in a time warp with no sense of direction. We aren't necessarily following the lectionary, instead we are working with themes related to discipleship. It's no problem coming up with themes and images. The time consuming part is finding corresponding scripture readings. It takes FOREVER!
On the one hand, I like the idea of having a general sense of direction for worship. It provides much more room for creativity. It also addresses a new practical need. The people who work with our new visual system need ample time to find pictures, songs, videos, etc that will enhance the scripture. On the OTHER hand, it sometimes feels like trying to make God follow MY voice instead of the other way around.
What's a pastor to DO?! I found the answer during staff devotions, this week led by Karen (our Administrative Assistant). She shared a devotion about how we often forge ahead with our own plans instead of waiting for God...even when our plans don't work. Instead of stopping to pray, we just work harder. We just want to get it done!
Bull's Eye! Ouch! That's exactly how I felt (at times) yesterday. I appreciated the reminder to STOP, PRAY and WAIT. Isn't that what I've been preaching for months? Years?! Just goes to show you, EVERYONE needs to be reminded now and then...even again and again.
Thank you, God, for raising your voice so I could hear. Amen.
* Sounds like a good title for a country music song!
Monday, July 25, 2011: Thanks, Roger, for leading our initial adventure into the visual world. Our sanctuary has been "updated" with screens, projectors and computers. Several people have volunteered to learn the worship software. Remember: Today's screens are yesterday's Felt Boards (or Flannel Boards). Since we are embodied beings who worship the God who made us in his/her image, why not use ALL our senses? Today's worshipers are more visually attuned. With their technology savvy they are helping us pass on the story of Jesus Christ to another generation. Do you know what I'm learning? One is never too old to learn!
Now, for Jesus' teaching on discipleship we looked at John's gospel. Here, the last words of Jesus to his disciples are "Follow me!" Pretty simple. Yet, Simon Peter finds a way to distract himself from the hard work of following Jesus. He turns his attention to another disciple and asks "What about him?" Jesus sees right through him and basically gives him a "smack down." He says, in essence,"He is not your concern. Follow me!"
Churches get distracted all the time! Reflect on YOUR congregation. What consumes most of your time? Are they things that keep you tending and loving the sheep of Jesus' fold? I suspect many spend a lot of time wandering down dead end paths. NOT TO WORRY! You can ALWAYS TURN AROUND and head back! You can always repent. Isn't that amazing?! Jesus never grows weary of welcoming us back. He is always delighted to have more helping hands.
Church, once you realize you are off track, don't waste any time pointing fingers (at yourself or others). Just REPENT! Turn around. Remember what God told Isaiah: "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth,
do you not perceive it?" (43:18-20.)
What sweet words!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011: OOPS! Don't know how, but my picture is deleted. Oh well. Yesterday was a little crazy. Today is better. Sunday we looked at what Luke's gspel has to say about discipleship. Basically, he tells the disciples to expect suffering, proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name. Presumably that means the disciples must also PRACTICE repentance and forgiveness. You cannot proclaim or preach what you don't know.
That gets me to thinking....how would life be different if disciples of Jesus were actually willing to suffer, practice repentance and forgiveness? Many times, in fact, we avoid suffering at all costs. We assume that suffering is a bad thing. God was able to redeem that suffering by giving life back. So, suffering is sometimes a necessary part of our walk with Christ. If Jesus suffered for the sake of the gospel, what makes us think we can do it better, that is, without suffering?
As for repentance, again, not many are "in to it." No one wants to admit they are wrong, much less have the courage to change their ways. But imagine it! How would things have been different if the pastor who threatened to (and eventually did) burn the Quaran called a press conference and said: "You know, I've been reflecting on what I said and I think I was wrong. It is not right to burn anybody's holy book. Come to think of it, Muslims are our spiritual cousins since they trace their ancestors back to Abraham. Now, I don't agree with what some of them do, but then again, I don't agree with what some Christians do. Heck, to be honest, I haven't read a single line from the Quaran."
If had repented, he would have been a powerful witness of Christ-like living. His congregation would have grown spiritually, maybe even numerically. Indeed, such a witness would have cast a good light on all Christians and all churches. For better or worse, what one Christian does affects people's view of all Christians. This would have been for the better of all
As for forgiveness, how would life be different if Christians forgave that pastor after he burned the Quaran?
Monday, July 11, 2011: HOMEWORK TURNED IN! Following are the responses to questions about discipleship and purpose of the church. THANK YOU to everyone who responded. I enjoyed reading them! We are on our way to becoming more intentional, aka, on purpose disciples!
(Experiencing technical difficulties...can't transfer document because of pop up blockers, which I disengaged as directed, only STILL doesn't work! HELP ANYONE!)
ROUND TWO: Let's try this again.....GOT IT! YEAH!
PS: Email me at ldi1960@aol.com if you want to add to our list, or (less likely :-) I missed your answer.
Why does Jesus want/need disciples? Hint: What is God up to in Jesus?
Why are YOU a disciple of Jesus?
Why does St. Andrew exist?
Monday, June 27, 2011: "But WHY?!"
Such a predictable, exasperating question. As I said in yesterday's sermon, the "WHY?" question from children and teenagers is a GIFT. It forces us to be more clear about what we believe and why we believe it. A child will keep asking why until he/she gets a reason that makes sense, or resonates. "Because I said so" used to be sufficient,"back in the day." Not any more...and that's a good thing. We don't live back in the day.
The bad news is that fewer people (all ages) attend church. The GOOD news is those who DO are there because they WANT to be there. They know WHY they are there. Do you? Anthony B. Robinson ("Transforming Congregational Culure") says that younger generations will go to church "on purpose," not out of habit or guilt. And that's a good thing. He believes the question of PURPOSE precedes the question of VISION. That is, until the church can answer WHY it exists, it cannot answer who, what, where, when or how.
CHURCH HOMEWORK: Give some prayerful time to these questions:
Monday, June 20, 2011: Happy Birthday,West Virginia! Where's the cake?! :-)
Yesterday's worship concluded the series on Michael Foss's six marks of discipleship. "Spiritual Friendships" is perhaps the most difficult one. Spiritual friends are those who walk the journey of faith with us. They meet regularly, intentionally seeking to deepen their relationship with God. The presence and prayers of others is crucial!
Many congregations have small group ministries that fulfill this role. After worship yesterday a woman said she had been thinking about leading a small group. A man indicated that he and others had been thinking the same thing. Sounds like the Spirit is moving! There are countless resources out there. Small groups use a variety of content material. Your group could focus on the spiritual disciplines or Bible study. Or, you could simply listen to one another reflect on where you saw God at work in your life that week.
Are you interested? Call or email me: 304-727-7114, ldi1960@aol.com
Monday, June 13, 2011:
Back from Annual Conference. Starting year 13 at St. Andrew. Since Bishop Lyght was sick, Bishope Grove, retired, presided. It felt like a blast from the past. Twenty-four years ago Bishop Grove ordained Ravi and me. Six years later he baptized our daughter, Jamiela. Where does the time go? Our prayers are with Bishop Lyght and his wife, Eleanor. We pray for a full recovery.
St. Andrew celebratd Pentecost yesterday with much spirit,color, music and food. Thank You to Julie Janisch, our Worship Arts Director, and her band of cohorts who made the worship spaces beautiful and celebrative. Thank You to the children, youth, and adults who gave leadership. Our worship included an Invitation to Discipleship, an opportunity to step up and deepen our faith. We introduced four new people to the congregation and signed up five people for our six week session on "Real Faith for Real Life," by Michael Foss. This coming week finishes a series on his six marks of discipleship.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011:
Another image or logo I like: St. Andrew, a House of Prayer. It comes from the story (found in all four gospels) of Jesus driving out those selling animals for sacrifice and overthrowing the table of the moneychangers. He said: "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers." (Mt. 21:12; Mk. 11:11; Lk. 19:45-48; Jn. 2:13-17)
Our worship doesn't include animal sacrifices any more. But what do we sacrifice in the name of "church growth" or efficiency? If Jesus walked into our church, what would he throw out? What have we made into an idol? What gets in our way as we seek to walk with Christ? These are good questions for all churches and all Christians to ponder. What say you?
Monday, May 23, 2011:
Pastors walk a fine line between challenging people in their discipleship, and making them feel guilty. You can't do the former without doing the latter. Guess that's just the way it is. Still, when I preach about the struggles of discipleship I'm usually preaching to myself; the congregation just gets to listen in. In "The Practicing Congregation" author Diana Butler Bass writes that many churches are finding new life through old spiritual practices. Everything old is new again. I like the idea of a practicing congregation. That would be a good logo for us: "St. Andrew, a practicing congregation." What do you think? (ldi1960@aol.com)
I read somewhere that Christians don't have to be perfect, just practicing. This is also an "old" concept. John Wesly wrote about Christians always going on to perfection. That is, that we ought always to strive for the perfect love of God. Even if we never reach perfection, the practicing strengthens us. Every great spiritual teacher says that he/she often has to start over again. Every time we do, we strengthen our spiritual muscles. So, let's get in shape!
Monday, May 16, 2011:
Driving to church yesterday morning thinking about the sermon. A delicious thought brought a smile and chuckle. "I get paid to be a nag." Yes, the good folk of St. Andrew PAY me to nag them about their spiritual lives. How great is that?! If I had a nickle for every time....hey, wait a minute....I DO! :-) Yesterday's sermon was on the importance of daily prayer. Hardly a new thought. Yet, so few really practice prayer on a daily basis. Maybe it's because we don't think of prayer as something that requires practice.
If prayer is the way we communicate with God then it behooves us (I just love that word...wonder what it's origins are?) to know the language. Learning a language takes practice. Learning to communicate in a new language takes practice.
The hardest part of communicating with God is LISTENING. Given how many times I've said otherwise, I'm surprised how many people think prayer is a verbal activity. But, such is the life of a nag. :-) BTW...if anyone knows how I can use emoticons here let me know. You can email me at: LDI1960@aol.com.
On another note, thank you to those who have encouraged me about writing a blog. I didn't realize how many questions need considering: How often? Accessible to whom? Can people respond on the web site? Or, should they send an email? What topic or theme? I'm pondering these things. If you have words of wisdom let me know. You can email me. Thanks for listening!
Monday, May 9, 2011:
Read an article in the Charleston Gazette this morning on what was said from the pulpits of various religious leaders regarding the news of Bin Laden's death. Not a single Christian pastor interviewed quoted Jesus' teaching to turn the other cheek and not repay evil with evil. Some referenced his teaching to pray for our enemies, however. I guess Leo Tolstoy was right. Christians leaders and people in the pews seem to have an unspoken rule of not speaking on this subject. Tolstoy references a historian (whose name I can't remember at the moment) who blames the Emporer Constantine for taming Christianity by making it the state religion. From that point on the gospel became subject to the whims of political and economic powers. What government or church do you know that has turned the other cheek?
I recommend the movie "Ghandi" (the one with Ben Kinglsey playing the lead). Ghandi managed to drive the British out of India through the practice of non-violence. Though a devout Hindu, he studied the gospels of Jesus noting his teaching on non-violence. Isn't it interesting that a Hindu practiced what Jesus preached? Martin Luther King, Jr. did the same thing in his effort to drive out racism. Both men struggled against the cultural tide to return violence with violence. Both men, like Jesus, were assasinated.
BTW....someone passed along an interesting story about the Dali Lama who was asked which religion is the best. What do you think he said? He said whichever one help you be the best possible person you can be.
Monday, May 2, 2011:
We had a great Holy Humor Sunday yesterday. A collegue who had their first one said she can't wait to do it again next year.
First news I heard this morning was of Bin Laden's death.
First thought: Are we any safer because he's dead?
Best line from a song about war is from Susan Werner's "Together": (we need to) "Get beyond these awful, bloody wars. Get beyond this way of settling score, 'cause the score is never even." That is SO true! The only thing that changes in warfare is the amount of time between them.
The sermon yesterday asked if we would be Jesus' disciples if he began his ministry today. One woman said afterward that she has often asked herself if she would "recognize Jesus if he came today." Right there is the heart of faith. To recognize Jesus is to recognize the injustice of the world, and our role in it. We have so romanticized Jesus that few in the pew are even aware that he was...and is...a dangerous radical. The fact is, he challenged every institution from the family, to the church, to the government. Viewed from this light, it is more difficult to judge those who handed Jesus over to be crucified.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011:
You wouldn't believe the things that pop into my head when I'm on the treadmill. Really. It's because all attention is focused on one thing: SURVIVAL! Seriously, all attention is focused on BREATHING. There is no thought. No feeling. Just complete awareness of what is happening in that moment. All at once some insight bursts open out of nowhere. It might be an answer to a problem or some further thought on a sermon. That's what happened the Saturday before Easter. I wasn't even thinking about the story of Mary's encounter with the risen Jesus. Yet, I was suddenly overwhelmed with an awareness of the profound humility of Jesus as he spoke to Mary. A feeling of deep gratitude washed over me, as though I were in Mary's place.
Remember, this is the Risen Lord! It is Jesus' first resurrection appearance. Though he has every right, he doesn't jump up and down, wave his arms and shout: Look at me! I'm ALIVE! I made it! No. Jesus doesn't call attention to himself at all. His only concern is for Mary. He recognizes this moment is more about her than himself. That's a beautiful reminder of how God relates to each of us. God NEVER, ever forces him or herself on us. Even though God desperately loves us and has all the power, God simply calls us by name. And waits for us to turn around. How God HONORS us! What humility! What grace!
Thank you, Oh Lord.
Monday, April 11, 2011:
Yesterday's sermon was on the story of Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones. I shared a formula received from a psychologist on the stages of human life and relationships: Form, Norm, Storm, Transform. I suggested the corresponding stages of our spiritual lives. During our Silent Prayer God spoke one I had missed, the very FIRST stage. Here is the updated version: Bless, Mess, Confess, Forgive, Live.
I also shared something from Dr. Paul Borden, a speaker at the Ambassadors for Christ event sponsored by the UMC. He said that whereas human life receives only one birth, God grants the church innumerable opportunities for new birth. The problem is most congregations seek to avoid the messy storms, and sometimes death, that precede every transformation. We try our darnedest to avoid the pain of birth, even if it kills us! There is hope. Look at what God did with the dry bones. Remember, the death and resurrection of Jesus guarantees that even if churches die, God will bring new life somehow, somewhere. The even better news is that we don't have to wait that long. We just have to be willing to grow up and pass through the stages of life, all of them.
Monday, March 28, 2011
I recently received a letter from a person of our congregation unable to attend worship of late. He wrote of his delight in listening to the sermons and reading our Lenten Devotional booklet on our website. The last line of the letter contained a request, printed in bold and underlined: Please let those who administer the web site know that their work is a powerful and effective tool for the Lord! So, to all contributors: THANK YOU!
We don't always know how our work for the Lord is being received. We don't often see any fruit from our labor. That's a very humbling fact. Yet, take heart! Jesus tells us that the word of the Lord falls where it will; sometimes on rocks, sometimes among weeds, sometimes on fertile ground. Furthermore, who knows but that some bird may pick up one and carry it far, far away. All this is God's work. It is God's job to do the growing and our job to plant the seed.
I still remember a sermon given by Bishop Grove (now retired) many years ago during an ordination service. He was preaching from Mark's gospel on the farmer who sows the seeds then goes to bed. The plant grows automatically! Bishop Grove painted a vived picture of how absurd it would be for the farmer to sow the seed, go to bed, and then anxiously get up in the middle of the night with flashlight in hand to inspect for signs of growth. There was hearty laughter from clergy, laity, and those about to be ordained. It was the laughter of recognition. Of course we wouldn't do that!
Alas, how many times have we done just that? I confess that as pastor and parent my flashlight is seemingly welded to my hand. My prayer for congregants, children, and self: Please forgive me! Thank you for the good pleasure of just tending the soil together. Lord, keep us humble. Amen.
March 21, 2011:
This past Sunday the men's choir sang a song with words something like this: "May all who come behind us find us faithful." It's about the people who will fill the pews when current Christians are dead and gone. But it got me to thinking in a more literal and personal way. What will my children "find" among my belongings when I am gone? What will it tell them? Maybe I should burn those journals, some of which date back to junior high (oh my!) As a mother I often think: One day they will appreciate me! Secretly, I hope it happens before I die.
Why do we have this desire to be appreciated? I think it has something to do with our desire to be known. We want someone to know our story, to understand our struggles. We want someone to say "Hey! You've done pretty well, all things considered." It is slowly (oh, so) dawning on me that the best place to begin is with yourself. How can I expect others to appreciate me when I don't appreciate myself? I take myself for granted. What I do as a parent or as a pastor anyone can do. This may be true. But no one will do them for exactly the same reason, hope or desire.
Underneath this psychological perspective may lie a deeper truth. What if our desire for gratitude or attention from others is really God tugging on our skirt or coat tails saying: "Notice ME! Appreciate ME! I'm right here all the time!" We have a standing invitation from God: "Dear Child of Mine, The pleasure of your presence is desired today. Please RSVP: Reflect. Savor. Validate. Pray." Amen. We may find that when we RSVP to God every day, every moment, we won't worry so much about what others think today or after we are gone. PS: Still...think I'll burn those journals. :)
January 11, 2011:
If you lived in India you might say: "1-11-11! What an auspicious date!" Meaning, something good is going to happen today! Does the pastor updating her website page count? :) Of course it does!
For some reason a church sign keeps popping in my mind today: A day hemmed in prayer seldom unravels. I like that. When it comes to intentional, dedicated prayer time I seem to be perpetually starting over. Perpetual Prayer! When put like that it doesn't sound so bad. The Apostle Paul encourages us to "pray without ceasing" (1Thes. 5:17). The only way to do that is to BE the prayer, LIVE the prayer. In other words, prayer is more than a conversation with God. It is a way of life. It is the way we live BECAUSE we are loved by God.
The followers of Jesus came to be known as "people of The Way." They sought to live life according to the way Jesus lived his. They didn't just "hem their day in prayer." They were the thread! Jesus' followers are continually (perpetually) called to be aware of God's presence in all things. When we are aware that IN GOD we "live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28), we live differently. We are less prone to say or do hurtful things and more prone to choose words and ways that lead to life.
I know for a fact that I respond to things and people differently when my day is hemmed in prayer. I have an understanding why C.S. Lewis said: "I don't pray because it changes God. I pray because it changes ME." May our perpetually starting over strengthen the thread. Peace be with you. Rev. Loretta Isaiah
August 12, 2010:
I've been reading two very interesting books about church life and recommend them to you. Following is a summary and some reflections on one of them, Transforming Congregational Culture by Anthony B. Robinson. I welcome your thoughts.
Transforming Congregational Culture (2003) by Anthony B. Robinson
Overarching Theme: Culture of current main-line denomination churches reflects era of history when being a Christian and being a good citizen were the same thing. Christianity was seen as doing good works and living a moral life. These were also the values of the culture at large. Since there was little or no distinction between church and culture there was no reason to critique the culture. What is distinctive of Christianity and the gospel of Jesus became smoothed over. Christians and churches lost their ability to define and articulate their faith and the gospel partly because it was assumed that everyone was a Christian.
Cultural shifts have rendered main-line churches ineffective today.
People have come to define the “problem” of main-line denominations as losing membership. The real problem is deeper: We have lost our identity and our voice. The solution is not in church growth programs, but in returning to the Purpose of the Church. The purpose of the church is no mystery and requires no discernment. The church exists for the transformation of the world. Robinson notes that before we can do that we need to transform the churches themselves.
The world around us has changed, and drastically, but we haven’t. Robinson calls the type of deep change churches need to make “adaptive change” (as opposed to technical changes, eg…room is crowded, build bigger room, etc, where problem and solution are obvious). The changes we need to make are analogous to the change required in lifestyle a person with a bad heart needs to make. Having a stint or by-pass surgery alone isn’t going to solve the problem. The problem is deeper. Person has to make change in diet and exercise, quit smoking, etc.
(My own thoughts to further this analogy: This type of change requires the person to examine his or her life. Determine values (identity as child of God). Chart a course (discernment). Follow it. Get support (community).
A church member just today commented that we (church) can’t keep functioning like we used to. She used body image saying, “I can’t function like I did when I was 20.” Neither can the body of Christ. As a living organism it is always changing, never static.
Robinson says he doesn’t think the church is in its death throes, but rather birth pangs. Even if it is death, Christians are to be reminded that death precedes resurrection. Amen, brother!
Transforming the way we think and function requires new leadership skills from lay and clergy. He outlines these new skills…too much to go into here.
Theological Basis (my thoughts)
God’s intention is to transform this world. To draw all of creation into a loving relationship. In Jesus Christ God reveals what love is and can be and can do…it can build the kingdom of God. The church, as the body of Christ, continues to reveal and reflect this love. Continues to be an agent of Christ for transformation.
Robinson says the purpose of the church is to change lives, to transform lives. More to the point, that is GOD’S job, but the church must develop new skills and paradigms.
He makes an interesting point I hadn’t thought of before: That the question of Purpose PRECEDES question of Vision. Too often people see the church dying and they demand the pastor have a vision, to chart the course, tell them what to do etc. He suggests this is a trap and puts the cart before the horse. You can’t have a vision or chart a course of action until you are clear about your purpose. We need to ask questions that help us reconnect with purpose.
Robinson wrote a subsequent book, Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations (2008) which I’ve just received and am beginning to read.
Transforming Congregational Culture (2003) by Anthony B. Robinson
Review and some reflections by Loretta Isaiah
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