The Word on the Street

It has been awhile since there has been a posting. It is not that I am out of thoughts, just been out of time. It's not that I haven't been reflecting, it's just that we have focused many hours on the Sunday production, "The Word on the Street." With the help of a fantastic drama team, many talented musicians and singers, and the children of Faith, we were able to recreate the story of Joseph and Mary.

It is a story we know very little about. The Bible tells us of angel appearances and dreams and we get a glimpse of their struggles with the message delivered to them and the eventual faith they embraced in the plan set forth. But their courtship we piece together through historical and cultural reconstruction. Their journey together, we assume, was more than a trek on a donkey to Bethlehem. While Mary emerges throughout the story of Jesus and has become a centerpiece in some faith traditions, Joseph seems to disappear. We hear of his seeking out his son Jesus, only to find him in the temple teaching at a young age. Yet other than that we hear nothing else.

Historians have rationalized that he was much older than Mary and most likely died before Jesus came of age. Some Biblical scholarship has explained the de-emphasis of Joseph's role and the emphasis of Mary's role as a way of informing a male dominated culture of the importance of the role of women in God's kingdom. We all can affirm the many theories.

Yet, I find Joseph to be a valuable missing part of the Christmas story. His response of faith gave validity to an unwed, pregnant Mary. His ancestry connected Jesus to a deeper story of Old Testament prophesy. His love delivered Mary and the baby to security in a highly charged political climate and a threatened Herod. Perhaps his story is important today to a number of men who are absent from their children's lives due to demanding jobs and busy schedules. Perhaps his story of faith is and important message today to a number of men who have not made practicing their faith a priority or living that faith example for their children (many men see the faith development as the woman's role). Perhaps his missing part of the story is the missing part of our story.

The Times They Are A Changin'

This morning as I sat at my desk to start hammering away at a long day, I did not have an internet connection. "Oh what disaster," I thought to myself! I have such a long day with so much to do and our church's internet connection is down. I called Doug in a panic and decided that I would have to go home and work or get my laptop and head somewhere with Wifi. Could I survive my day without email, the Itunes store, http://www.desperatepreacher.com/, http://www.revshuby.blogspot.com/, http://www.sermopnspice.com/, http://www.facebook.com/, my connection to news and the markets and sports? Oh the trauma. 5 minutes later, Doug had us back and running.

How sad is that? When I started ministry and sitting in my office at Walnut Grove, the internet was not an option (neither was cable at the parsonage). All I had was the newspaper, telephone, and my books to entertain me all day and you know how I hate reading. But my world changed rapidly on July 1, 2000 when I moved to Champaign. Welcome to the city, a big church, a busy life, a full staff, a lot of technology and oh yeah ...contemporary worship.

Reality, this world has changed rapidly these last ten years perhaps as rapidly as any ten year span in the history of the world. (Check out the book, The World Is Flat, by Thomas Friedman) The way technology has changed our lives, it has changed our economy, changed the way we shop, educate and connect. It has even changed the dinosaur called the church, which is indeed proof that the last decade has been one of radical change.

My friend recently sent me these statistics at the top of this blog. While we hear of the dangers of the internet through the inappropriate material, the misuse of people's time, and the threats of those lurking and preying on the innocent; there is also a way to connect people to one another and provide spiritual resources that were never imagined sitting in my Walnut Grove office on a Saturday night at 10:00PM.

Faith UMC offers a website, an e-mail news, this blog, worship with technology driving behind, and we are constantly seeking ways to just not be cutting edge .... but to connect people to people and connect spirituality to daily life. We hope to offer streaming video of morning worship soon. We have also recently created a group on Facebook called the Faith UMC Community that also will be a resource for further connection and news. My friends, may we know a grace and peace and community that flows through each of us ... even in cyperspace.

I Heard a Rumor ...

This past Sunday as we gathered together to wonder at the art of Jesus Christ, we got to look a little deeper at the divinity of Jesus Christ that came through the most human of times. The passion story of his betrayal, trials, beatings and crucifixion shows the very humanness of Jesus' being. But the way he handled himself revealed though he was 100% human, he was also 100% divine. Jesus did not strike back. In the face of ridicule or judgement he kept his composure. When false things were said about him or negative talk about him surfaced, he only stood asking if this was hearsay or if this is how people experienced him personally.

The crowd that shouted praises to him on Palm Sunday, had a different tone only days later. Perhaps he disappointed them because he did not meet their expectations ... or even more, perhaps the voice of the crowd swayed like the wind. From there the crowd shouts out that that Jesus is a criminal and that they want him crucified. This is where we see the art of Jesus Christ and his teaching come to be embodied. He did not retaliate, he turned the other cheek. He did not resort to hate, but as he taught his disciples to pray for their enemies, he prays “father, forgive them they do not know what they do.” He was not filled with resentment … but just as he taught his disciples to give your whole outfit when you are asked just for your coat; so as he sees one of his disciples who had abandoned him he says, “Here is your mother” … providing and giving even when everything else has been stripped away. He cared not about who he was associated with as he was chastised many times for eating with sinners and the outcasts and even taught that he could be found among the poor and the least of these; and there in this moment he turns to the thieves and says, “today, you will be with me in paradise.

To love. To love. To love even when you are persecuted … even when you are insulted … even when you are betrayed …when you are misrepresented. To love those who are trying to hurt you. What I hear Jesus saying to Pilate and the high priest, is the same thing that I have heard others say to me recently, the only thing that matters is how those who love you see you. Sit on that thought for a moment... "the only thing that matters is how those who love you see you." (see John 18)

When people do not know you or your heart, they stand from afar and make their assumptions. They feel like there are pieces of a story they are missing and so they try to fill in the gaps with rumors or fabricated stories. Eventually, their story becomes truth to them and there is a momentary feeling of empowerment that they have over others. But Pilate asks Jesus, "What is truth?" Jesus comes back to this, do you say this because others are saying this or because this is your experience with me. Again, the only thing that matters (truth) is how those who love you see you.

History ...

(The following appeared in our United Methodist Conference newspaper and is written by another UM pastor. Regardless of how you feel about the outcome of the election, I hope you see historical impact given where we were as a nation just 40 years ago.)

During his Election Night speech, President-Elect Obama made a reference to “bending the arc of history.” I fear most of his audience missed the reference, but it resonated with me. It goes back to a sultry Sunday afternoon in Montgomery. Alabama in 1965. Thousands of footsore protesters had just completed a dangerous and difficult trek from the town of Selma. There, a few weeks earlier, a young black man had been shot to death by a state trooper while trying
to keep him from beating the young man’s parents. Their “offense” had been to participate
in a peaceful march calling for African Americans to be allowed to vote.

A march was then planned to call upon Gov. George Wallace, to have the incident investigated. Wallace, an arch-segregationist who had come into office, vowing “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” was not inclined to heed their pleas. When the marchers tried the first time, they got as far as the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where horse mounted troopers and officers with attack dogs charged into the unarmed protesters with clubs, tear gas
and even bullwhips. Many were beaten nearly to death. One of them was John
Lewis, who is now a Congressman and who had his skull fractured.

The march was rescheduled for a few days later. During that period, a young white Unitarian minister from Boston came to join in the march. He was set upon by a mob of whites and severely beaten. The Selma hospital refused to admit him and he was taken to another hospital, two hours away, where he died. The march was undertaken a second time, despite constant threats from the Ku Klux Klan and various other white supremacists. Marching through a gauntlet of profanity, the marchers arrived in Montgomery and heard an address by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was just 12 years old, but I still remember that speech and being utterly captivated by what he said. This is how the brief speech concluded… I know you are asking today, “How long
will it take?” Somebody’s asking, “How long will prejudice blind the visions of men, darken their understanding, and drive bright-eyed wisdom from her sacred throne?” Somebody’s asking, “When will wounded justice, lying prostrate on the streets of Selma and Birmingham and communities all over the South, be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men?” Somebody’s asking, “When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night, plucked from weary souls with chains of fear and the manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified, and truth bear it?” I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because “truth crushed to earth will rise again.”

Tuesday, millions of white men and women voted for a black President. Not because he was black, but because they didn’t care that he was black. In fact, as many white men voted for Barack Obama. Condoleeza Rice has described racism as America’s birth-defect. In fact, the
Constitution which she and President-Elect Obama have sworn to uphold, originally
classified black Americans as just three/fifths of a human. But, through the struggles of so many saints through the years, we have come to the point where we are all not just fully human, but fully-realized as people worthy to lead our diverse nation.

(Rev. Robert Morwell is pastor of Quincy Union UMC and was the first white pastor in the conference to pastor a predominately African-American congregation when Bishop David Lawson appointed Morwell to Peoria: Bethel in 1995).

My reflection ... I was not even alive during these civil rights moments of the sixties, but as a student of history read and re-read the stories of such a turbulent times. I have heard the stories of my parents who idolized Mr. King and had to confront their own racism from their upbringings. As I stated in an earlier blog ... the only color that matters now in America is purple ... where the reds and blues can come together and be one community.

Sunrises

(excerpt from Sunday sermon)
When was the last time you saw the sunrise? This past week, I had the opportunity to take a leave for personal renewal. On Tuesday morning, I woke up early and was watching out the window and was able to catch the sun rising between two buildings on the other side of the lake. In most cases, if I am up that early I am busy working on something or rushing around the house getting kids ready or getting myself read for the day. I was really only up to grab something to drink, but with the curtain open I was stopped in my tracks and drawn over to the window. And moment by moment as the sun appeared over the horizon and then over the buildings, I was given a gift that I had not expected.

Interesting thing about taking a renewal, perhaps God had something in mind for me as well, because my cell phone died on the first day leaving with limited ability to talk with anyone back here … much against my controlling tendencies. But perhaps there was something I needed to see in that sunrise.

Most of us have seen too many sunsets in our lives without the eventual reminder of a sunrise. There are vivid images in our minds of some down times and while we also see the high moments, I think perhaps we have all seen too many sunsets and allowed the winters or the long nights to be more telling of our lives rather than the joy and anticipation that a sunrise brings. We are left after an election of negative campaigning and the racist comments that are being made, protesters joining together to make a stand for human rights, concerns about our economy and our ongoing struggles with health and personal vitality have provided more than our share of sunsets recently … so again, when was the last time you have seen a sunrise?

The reality is this, our world is filled with such beauty and such order … and such tov-me-od (remember that word? It means it is good … God’s potential put into God’s creation) but our world is filled with such beauty and such order … and such tov-me-od … and yet at the same time filled with enough heartache and pain.

But before Tuesday, when was the last time I saw a sunrise? When was the last time I stood on a mountain to see for miles? When was time we stood on a beach and gazed out into the horizon and seen the vastness of the earth, or took in the many beautiful moments of the world around us in celebrating God’s diversity? When was the last time I saw the art of creation that God’s hand painted with the stroke of God’s hand and the sound of God’s voice? When was the last time we sang “For the Beauty of the Earth” or “God of Wonders” and took in what we were singing in terms of the world around us and beyond us? Perhaps way too long.

I am not a lover of nature, nor am I typically heard saying that I find God in nature, but there are an immeasurable number of references in the Bible of not only how people experience God in nature, but also how God's care for us is seen in the perfection of creation (the grass, the birds, the seed, the trees). There are signs of God's presence and care for us in the many gifts offered around us. So again, when was the last time you saw a sunrise?

What Message?

(found this picture, I couldn't resist as I laughed for five minutes)

At Saturday's University of Illinois football game, my friend and I encountered people with brightly colored banners that were about 8' x 8'. They could be seen by a block away, and I must admit this the first time I had ever seen anything like it. I have seen such things on television, but never in person. Their signs included messages that read, "Last Chance, Repent, Obey Jesus," and "Satan rules, repent or go to hell."

Well I couldn't resist. The first man I walked by, I asked, "Sir, is there something going on that I may have missed?" He said nothing and would not even make eye contact with me. The second woman I saw, my friend offered up his friendly, "Hey, how is it going?" The young woman leaned aggressively toward him and shouted, "Repent or go to hell!" I followed up by asking what church she was with and again she leaned aggressively toward me and yelled, "I am the church!"
What message am I to hear? When I was in undergraduate at Illinois State University, there was a man we called Preacher Dan who would visit all the campuses to spread "a message." He didn't carry a sign, but he shook his Gatorade bottle full of "Jesus Juice" and shouted similar words of "repent" and "hell" and "judgement" and "burn." Students only stood and laughed at him or even mocked him. Same goes for the people who walked by the people at the game, people would either laugh and point or pass by with a smirk. My question for these folks is this, "How well is this working for you?"

Or better yet? How well is that working for Christianity. I have another friend who is anti-church and he associates me with people like Preacher Dan because that is all they have seen. I guess if that was my only experience of Christianity, I may make the same assumptions. Yet there is a difference between the Church and Jesus Christ. I think people from every place in life are fascinated with Jesus Christ. His work, his life, his teachings have been the study of many religions and philosophers, for Christians and non-Christians. The problem is that the Church for many years has messed up that message. We are human, that's expected. But consider such irony of the young woman shouting, "I am the church." Wow, scary.

But when we go back to the heart of Jesus' message and probably what draws us in is that message of love. I do not feel very loved when I am being told I am going to hell. But when I walk into a community of faith and feel welcome, or when I have been the recipient of great generosity or when I have been able to give of myself, there is love at the root of that message.

Our lives live a message ... what does your life say?

Purple!

It has been awhile since I have posted something. My apologies as it has been a full week. But here we go:

I received an e-mail from a friend this past week with a document from a Christian organization entitled "Letter from 2012 in XXXX's America." It was a letter written by a Christian in 2012 who after four years of one of the Presidential candidate's terms opens the letter by saying, "I can hardly sing the Star Spangled Banner anymore ...many of our freedoms have been taken away ... and hardly any brave citizen dares to resist the new government policies anymore." Harsh words. And the 16 page letter concludes, "Personally, i don't know how we are going to get through tomorrow..."

Is all the negative campaigning really worth it? What does slandering your opponent really accomplish. It is not one sided, it goes both ways as both candidates start to pick at the other's policies and values but then starts down the road of digging into the other's families. Now, this is a first for me to see, the projection into the future of how awful our country will be if the other candidate who we didn't vote for wins. I am not so much blown away, I guess, this is expected. But what bothers me is that if I don't vote for a certain person, am I not a true Christian?

Before you raise your temper with me by even bringing this up, remember that these discussions raise people’s passions and sometimes turn normally casual conversations into heated debates. Politics (like religion) are matter of the heart, soul and pocketbook. All three will raise enough emotion in us to start second guessing, question, and even be angry.

It is interesting being a father of two elementary age boys during a presidential election year. They have many questions about who I am supporting; in fact, my older son informed me that I needed to vote for who he wanted because it was a “family vote.” Yet I am also fearful of what they are being told at school by other students. Everyday, they have something new to report about one of the candidates as fellow students report what they are hearing at home, “don’t vote for Obama because he will take all your money,” or, “don’t vote for McCain because he doesn’t care for the people.” Perhaps that is why we used to say we shouldn’t talk about religion and politics as staunch positions at times lead to inflamed and close-minded remarks. In fact, I think in some cases it is easier for Cub fans and Cardinal fans to get along than the Democrats and Republicans!

On election night as you watch the election results roll in on your favorite news station, you will be greeted with a map full of reds and blues. Then after election night is over and the officials have been elected to serve us, the only color that will matter is purple as the reds and blues will have to come together to forgive one another from the negative campaigning of the previous months and look to be a community together that rallies around the elected leaders of our country. I have been asked many times through the years as to why I am such a fan of purple, this is why. It represents a molding together of the two colors and it shows a dialoguing community of the many divisions we experience around.

“Blessed are the peacemakers …” One of the habits of Christian Discipleship is Christian Conferencing, It is our invitation to be a community with one another and to be dialogue or “in conference” with one another as a way to grow with one another regardless of what divides us.

My friends, don't worry ... Christians will vote for both candidates, voting to the issues taht speak to them in their faith. Reality is ... can purple be the only color we see on the other side of the election?

Where's the Love?

In John 4, Jesus visits with a woman at the well. It was a woman who was experiencing life as a "double outcast." She was not in the predominately Jewish population, but even her own non-Jewish community has shunned her because of her reputation of having multiple relationships. But Jesus does not any judgment on her … there is no indictment on multiple marriages or on living together before marriage, but he reaches out to her in noticing that she is looking for a kind of love that she can not seem to find. Jesus talks with her about a water that will end all of her thirsting … all her of searching … of her desiring … s like “an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life,” (John 4:14).

You know we search, for love in so many places. We either think that it will come in a want ad, in an internet conversation. We measure success and happiness in terms of our careers, the sizes of our houses, the number of cars. We value our lives based upon the loving relationship we either have or don’t have. Jesus says to us stop looking, or measuring, or valuing based upon these things … but know your value .. . what you seek is right here in the very person you are and the life that God wells up within you. That there is this fountain full of potential and opportunity and personality just bubbling inside of you, gushing with life. That is the person God created you to be, accept it, be it … live it. There is no need to seek for you life’s value out here or over here or in this relationship or in this person or in these material things. Your life worth can be seen right here in this well of life that is within you. In that well you will know happiness and love. That spring of life is the you … the beautiful you God created you to be . What Jesus is saying is that if you can accept that person that is inside of you … if others can see and accept that person that is in here … if you can see that God accepts and loves that person that he created you to be .. you will stop searching for and thirsting.

It is at the very heart of human nature to want to be loved …. To know acceptance … to be connected with another person. That is perhaps one of my biggest struggles. Even as I can say this over and over and see how God loves me, I still look at many situations through the eyes of rejection. Yet, how can I, or how can we, instill a confidence in our children that won't lead them to question self-worth later on down the road? Self-confidence is found where love lives, and loves home is in those vital relationships that we so cherish.

I saw a button the other day that said, I Am Loved! maybe we all could embrace that at some point to end our searching.

Jesus is Laughing

I hope so. There are so many images of Jesus that have been portrayed for centuries through art and Hollywood that not only show a Jesus of the Passion, or a Jesus that is intensely serious, but most renderings of Jesus are also that of a man of the Western world with blue eyes and blond hair. That image of Jesus is so engraved in our minds that any other perspective of Jesus stretches us to grow in our own understanding of the historical Jesus: a man from the Middle East.

I remember Christmas Eve 1998, when I was serving as pastor at my previous parish, discussing this issue. The Roman Catholic Church had announced that it was unveiling a new image of Jesus that was culturally and historically accurate. Then a voice spoke out, "well if the United Methodist Church adopts such an image, I am outta here!" Who said they haven't? Yet our Sunday School classrooms have been adorned for years with the classic portrait of Jesus Christ by Warner E. Sallman.

Yet I wonder beyond the misinterpretation of Jesus' ethnicity, is the perception of Jesus the ever-serious and over-intense miracle worker. But I can't help but emphasize that Jesus laughed! He was fully human (as well as divine), he was down to earth, he danced cultural dances with his disciples around the fire. He hung out with sinners which also suggests that he spoke their language (literally and figuratively) and carried on conversations in the less respected establishments of his day. He laughed because he was in the moment with people he loved.

Which brings me to tonight. My 6 year old asked, "Dad, why don't you laugh at my jokes and stories?" I couldn't answer, but going through my head were my excuses. I am too intense. I am too stressed. My mind is always on work. Yet, could it be that I have not been in the moment with the people I love? Our children need us and our relationship. Jesus is laughing because he shares in a relationship with us.

Skepticism and Atheism

This weekend, I got to spend one of those "guy weekends" with some good friends. Three of us being Die-Hard Cowboy Fans, we went to St. Louis to watch the Cowboy-Rams game. Unfortunately, it was a slaughtering. But not to be overlooked was the opportunity to hang with the guys and act like middle school boys again. It was good therapy as I even gave up my controlling habits (I didn't drive, didn't hold a room key, and made no decisions). I was just there to hang out.

One interesting thing that I came across on Sunday morning in the St. Louis Dispatch was an article about Atheism and Skepticism. The article suggested that there is a "resurging popularity of doubt and skepticism in American Society." Though Atheists raise some of the same questions as skeptics, doubt and skepticism opens itself up to a willingness to believe in a higher power but many life circumstances (such as pain and suffering) lead skeptics to question God's existence. This new level of doubt is being phrased the "new atheism."

I always thought that atheism was the question of God's existence was an argument of the 1970's as science was brought to the forefront of thought over that of theology and belief. That perhaps is true, but Generation X (a largely unchurched generation born between 1967-1981) is experiencing the challenges of middle age, of losing parents, facing divorce, parenting children, meeting economic hardships and it leads to doubt. Being a lost generation, we (yes, I am in there too as being in between those ages) question everything, we dislike authority, we struggle with some of the stable factors that defined our parent's generation. A recent study suggested that 16% of Americans don't believe in God, my guess is many more are skeptics still seeking proof.

I am hoping to give some attention to this after the first of the year in a preaching theme that will address some of these key questions of science, one-way religion, the way religion has led to division and violence through the years, and of course, hope. I also hope that as we discern it together (and I will post the sermon texts on this blog) that we will discover something about our own faith and how to not hold judgement or hostility against those who may differ from us.

The Nightshift

I remember the night my father's emphysema and COPD first put him in the hospital, December 1, 2005. My mother found him in the bathroom, unresponsive and unable to breathe. They rushed him to the hospital and after stabilizing him, they put him in intensive care and began to talk with us about his limited future (though he lived another 2 1/2 years).

By 1:00AM that night, the rest of the family had taken off. It was my brother Todd (the oldest), my mother, and me … we had agreed to work the nightshift. Knowing that this was going to be a long weekend, I tried many times to get mom to go home and get some sleep, but she wouldn’t do it. My brother and I were there if the medical staff needed anything and it was not as if there was anything we could do. But for mom she was not going to leave Dad’s side. Despite our uncertainty (and please know when I say “our” I am talking about my siblings and me), despite our helplessness, despite our disappointment and, at times, hopelessness; mom hung right in there … by dad’s side, holding his hand, believing, hoping, comforting … loving.

And yet I know this, watching my mother that night, nothing I have ever done as a parent or child or friend or pastor or disciple compares to countless hours of compassion my mother has shown through the years. Watching her by dad’s side … mom did that for us when we were sick, holding us on the bathroom floor, sitting by our beds … or in later years, waiting for us to come home from a date or out with friends. Chances are a lot of you can relate to either side of this style of parenthood ... as a parent or as a child.

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night with questions of salvation and hope, questions of life and death and the future. There is a cloud of uncertainty this night for Nicodemus …and perhaps, he comes on this night because of restlessness, because of confusion, and regardless of how or why he came by night … he meets a God who is there, at work, waiting and watching, on the nightshift. I think we all can relate to those long late nights … where restlessness and sleeplessness can come about because of our fears, insecurities, uncertainties, doubts, anxieties. Yes there are those long nights and fears that come about with failing health and times of death, but there are also those circumstances that in our minds are matters of life and death because of uncertainties in our jobs, confusion in our relationships, doubts for our future happiness … all are magnified in our minds.

What we learn as parents, though mom always seemed to defy this, is that we can’t always be 24/7 through all circumstances. But when we just can't be anymore, God is. When we can't be everything to everybody, we can't be everything to your kids, we can't make every choice for them, we can't always protect them, we can't be in all places at all times, we can't always be there to lead them down the right path – but God can because God just is. We have a God who works the nightshift. For we pray "Now I lay me down to sleep ..."

Money

So the Dow is climbing again as I write this blog this afternoon. I heard all weekend about the global economic crisis. As a church, we have been worried about our stewardship drive for 2009 as we know there are a lot of fears out there in regards to what will happen for people's personal financial situation. None of us lived through the Great Depression, but fears are widespread as people are seeing their investments slip away and their retirement date get pushed back. Some of you face some serious questions about where to give next year or how to give.

Interesting though at the Illini football game on Saturday, the Orange Krush (Student organization who support athletics, i.e. who gather around the court at home basketball games and and other places of support) presented a check for $500,000 in Lou Henson's name to the Coaching Fund. According to the newspaper, the Coaching Fund helps train and encourage young coaches. I found that an interesting (or more so, bothersome) venture, given where I am in life. But we all have to choose where we invest or donate, though those decision will get tougher this year as some will not be receiving raises or bonuses, and many others getting downsized and are now looking for a job.

In Matthew 22, some followers of the Pharisees were sent to Jesus to try and trap him, asking if it was right and in accordance with their religious values to pay the tax to Caesar. Jesus' response? "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." I have struggled with understanding this over the years. But perhaps there is a message here about our passion. We have to pay taxes, it is the cost of our freedom as U.S. Citizens. But even more, we have a great deal of freedom to exercise in the use of our assets, and it is good for us to learn how to be generous with the money we have. It has been said that: “Giving is the way we can feel abundant, giving is the way that we fill ourselves up.” True … that there is a great freedom felt in our giving.

But giving to God what is God's goes beyond our loyalty or our faith. Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God. And in this reference to money, we need to learn how to express our beliefs not only with our words, but with our wallets….not only with our wallets, but with our lives. Our faith is more than words … or actions … or money … or death … or heaven. We have to step back and see all how faith runs through our life … if we allow it.

For each of us, we will give generously to matters of faith when we believe that there is an important mission at work, and when we see real opportunities to advance God’s interests in the world. It would be hard for me right now to support a coaching fund, when a good friend of mine has cancer, my friends in Juarez are sleeping in cardboard shacks, and my friends at Faith are working to raise up children in faith and leaders for servanthood. There’s a lot of meaning to be found in money, it reveals a lot about where our commitment is.

Questions of God

My friend's cancer has returned. The friend I shared with you last week who got a tattoo to affirm her strength and endurance as one year passed since being diagnosed the first time. Since she found out Tuesday and news has spread, many questions have been asked by her friends, family, herself, and her pastor. Questions of God that start with "Why" and "How"? Of course there is no simple answer to these questions.

The theology of pain and suffering seems to have no end or resolution. Such events that lead to pain and suffering, or those things we define as evil are lost in mystery. Medieval theologians called evil "absurd" or in other words, something without meaning. St. Francis of Assisi defined evil as the "absence of God". As retired pastor Miley Palmer explains, goodness also is shrouded in mystery. when we hear stories of healings or other turnarounds (medical and personal) there is no explanation. He writes, "We live daily in the presence of mystery, and we walk only by faith."

Yet, we still find ourselves trying to justify and we walk down a path of frustration with the God we have given our devotion to. We struggle with what to say to those we love. "I will pray" or "I am sorry" doesn't seem to cut it. I am trying to step back and look at it from a broader scope in my faith. When we ask "how could God allow" or "why won't God intervene" and similar questions, does that jive with our understanding of God and how we have known God up until this point? My guess is we have known and experienced the love of God in many relationships, events, and high points in our lives. We say there are "soul mates" indicating God brought us together and gave us a love that is deep in our hearts. We experience deep community in the church and in mission believing that God is proving such deep koinonia and agape love.

As 2008 unfolded and I felt a sense of hopelessness for my own future, I blamed God. I actually fell into my mother's theology and felt that God was punishing me for something. But my broader understanding is that God doesn't allow these things to happen or punish, if God did then it does not jive with the God of love who has provided so much around me. But I know this now, God weeps with me in tragedy. God walks with me through evil. God comforts me when I am broken. God waits for me when I push God away. How do I know this? Because of the people God has put in my life. I feel God in relationship. The Bible never promised that bad things won't happen, But God did promise ... "I will be with you." (i.e. Isaiah 43. Psalm 23.)

God is not in the cancer. God is in the relationships that surround us giving us strength to fight and love to hold on to.

God's Knocking On My Door Again!

In Jesus' parables, he usually has a "God" character. The Forgiving Father, the Generous Vineyard Owner, the Seeking Shepherd, etc. As you read this Scripture, which character is God?

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!' " 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8)

Our tendency, when we hear Jesus’ words, that when we read this scripture, our tendency is to align God with the powerful, with the one who is able to grant justice. That God is the judge. Omnipotent and omniscient. In our hearing of this and in our frustration of unanswered prayer, our tendency is just that .. we believe that God is the judge and can grant whatever, whenever and when things don’t go that way, we are filled with doubt.

Look a little harder at the Scripture though and we something different. The widow here is more determined the judge, she is a model of not losing heart or one’s faith. The judge was in a seat of power. With his indifference to people, he surely could sleep well at night despite his not granting or even seeking justice.

But is God more like the formerly unyielding judge who now gives in to the persistent widow who is wearing him out with her constant nagging? Or is God more like the persistent, tireless widow who seeks out justice continually until it is achieved? Is God more like the powerful on the throne occasionally hearing our requests, or is God among the people knocking on all of our hearts? Is God more like the aloof one who is removed from human suffering or is God more like the widow who knows loss and suffering from the pain of losing one you love? Is God more like the one who resides in power with servants to wait upon every need, or is God more like us wondering why justice and equality are not practiced? Is God like the one who gets tired of hearing from the people, or is God more like one of the people who is persistent in seeking what God wants from us?

These are all key questions that we have to consider when one member of the congregation recovers from cancer and the next does not; we have to consider all of this when society wants to know when one person feels the nudge to skip the flight, but the rest of the ticketholders board the fated flight. When one of us gets a financial blessing and another can’t even pay the electric bill … yet both pray for God’s blessing. Where are you God? Are you present? Are all-knowing? Are you all-powerful? Or God are you not a just God and grant us all our prayers?

Reality is, it has been 2000 years since Jesus told this story … yet our questions persist … where is justice when school shootings happen, where is justice when car bombings and world hunger still litter our headlines? When we question God with what God is doing about injustice or question God’s fairness in answering our questions, we should be prepared for God to ask the same question of us.

Cubs ... Oh Dear!

Well it happened. The Cubs let us down again. My mother was convinced that they would do it this year for my recently departed father. "This is the year," we heard over and over on the radio. In fact, Friday I walked into the bookstore and on the shelf was a book by that same title: This is the Year: A Look at the Cubs' Historic 2008 Season. Where they counting their chickens before they hatched? Maybe it was historic because it is 100 years of losing? Excuse my cynicism, but as a Cub Fan (Die Hard, that is) I knew that I was not going to celebrate until the last out was made and given the way 2008 has unfolded I knew it wasn't going to happen. Well, now we go after our first World Series in 101 years next year. I am good at waiting til next year!

Some people blame curses for such things. I am not into that. I watched the Cubs play a red hot Dodger team who was playing good baseball. You have to go with the hot team and the Dodgers were on a roll late in the season. I can deal with losing, but what makes it hard here in central Illinois is the number of Cardinal fans who have to rub salt in our wounds - of course I would do the same in return.

As hard as disappointment can be, so there is hope. "Wait til next year" is the Cubbie Cry, and is the statement of hope for all of us. There are bad years, but there is always next year. There are bad days, but there is always tomorrow. The feelings of today can always be remedied after we have thought things through and began to embrace the opportunities of tomorrow.

Grind That Axe!

Along the lines of forgiveness that we discussed a couple of days ago, it was pointed out to me that there are times when we are not ready to forgive. I absolutely agree. Jesus suggests to forgive and infinite number of times and he also was able to hang on a cross and ask God to "forgive them for they know not what they do." I think that's where the whole notion of Jesus fully divine comes from. The book, The Shack, (yes, it's fiction ... but) addresses Jesus' divinity in this way: “Although he is fully God and fully human, Jesus has never drawn upon his nature as God to do anything. He has only lived out his relationship with me, living in the same manner that I desire to be in relationship with every human being … he would be the first to absolutely trust my life within him, the first to believe in my love and my goodness without regard to consequence or appearance. Healing the Blind? He did so as a human being trusting in my life and power to be at work through him …. ” and God concludes, “…that’s how every human being is designed to live out my life.”

So we may not be ready to forgive or loosen the strands ... but what about grinding that axe? I have a friend who for two years now has been trying to get back at someone with vengeance. Not only have I suggested forgiveness (which he isn't ready to do), he still acts in ways that seek revenge for feeling as if he was wronged. What good will that do? Why grind that axe? But who is really held captive, my friend or the one who wronged him?

In John 8, Jesus says "If the son sets you free, you are free indeed." Free from regret. Free from anger. Free from resentment. Free from revenge. To absolutely trust in a way of love that is in a way of God.

Souveniers and Tattoos

I remember when my brother got his first tattoo. Being the rebel that he was, he couldn't wait to get out of the house to pierce his ear and get a tattoo. It was harmless, really ... but being the younger adolescent brother, I had to take on my parents' views and chastise him for his decision. I am sure that in addition to the religious reasons, we also came up with the stereotypical and social reasons to put upon him. It didn't phase him. My brother has always wanted to mark moments or milestones in his life with such choices.

You may have your own opinions on tattoos and piercings. But they seem to be much more appealing to the general population among my generation than my parent's generation. Miami Ink and L.A. Ink offer reality shows about a couple of businesses and the stories that come from people as to why they are getting certain tattoos are really amazing. My mother used to say that those tattoos were for "bikers." The preachers used to say that your body is a temple for God ... and a tattoo would deface it. Perhaps, but so does my high cholesterol/high fat eating habits. Who is to say anyway that a tattoo is defacing, of course unless you are making a decision to rebel against God in your body marking.

My friend got a tattoo last week. She wanted to mark the one year anniversary of being diagnosed with breast cancer. A cross with a pink ribbon ... to symbolize her battle, but also the faith that sustains her. I have other friends who have also got tattoos and again, they have a story behind that tat ... stories of perseverance, stories of hope, stories of overcoming adversity.

In the Old Testament, when the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan river (actually the lesser known story of crossing a parted river in the book of Joshua) Joshua instructed them to stack the twelve stones drawn out of the Jordan river to serve as a monument, marking the moment and place of entering the promised land. Joshua says " "In the future when your descendants ask their parents, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground,' (Joshua 4:21-22). You may say ... oh yes, but that has nothing to do with the body. True. But the Old Testament also tells us that circumcision (which we still practice today) was meant to show the covenant, our covenant with God.

Some tattoos tell stories of these covenants and commitments of how God delivered us, God saved us, God stood by us, God walked with us, God gave us. By the way, my tattoo tells a story like that as well.

Jesus Delivers Batteries

Sunday in church was an interesting moment. During the drama about a woman finding Jesus on every channel she turned to on her television, we discovered early on that our actress' microphone wasn't on. I headed up there and knelt beside her and noticed that actually her wireless pack needed new batteries. So I quickly took off my wireless pack and shuffled the batteries. The congregation chuckled and many afterwards said they thought I was a part of the drama. Nope! Just a stagehand. But a friend quipped after the service, "Jesus delivers batteries!"

Hardly ... Jesus I am not!. But it begs the question about what Jesus does provide for us. Batteries falling from heaven like manna? Eh, I am not too sure of that. I have heard people say that their financial well-being is a result that God blessed them. That does not sit too well either. Our financial success, good looks, ability to navigate a conversation? All interesting traits that people would credit to as being blessed ... but then what about those who are poor or who are not as eloquent? In many situations, there are those who value such gifts as a "blessing" but then fail to be a blessing for others. Is that of God?

How does Jesus deliver? We measure things by this world, but he told us as he stood before Pilate that his kingdom was not "of this world." It's found in community. It's found in love. It's found in companionship. It's found in wholeness. It's found in peace. It's found in hope. Jesus delivers indeed. How often do we find blessing in the unseen ... but rather in what is felt in a deep relationship and connection with Jesus. We must not forget that our God leads with love ... our God gives in love.

Forgiveness

I was asked about this notion of forgiveness again recently. "What do you think is the point of forgiveness?" Well that's a darn good question. What do we want to get out of it? Jesus points out that we are to forgive seventy times seven. He also points out that in lieu of gossip, talking behind one's back, or revenge, that we are to go to that person and talk through how we may have been offended or explain how we were hurt. How opposite is that from the way the world works? I think that we would rather get revenge or smear the other person because either that's the way we see it done from others or we THINK it will make us feel better.

In many ways, Jesus was equipping his disciples to live in a way of life that is more in line with kindness. Yet also, when we look back at the Old Testament and through the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul ... we see God trying to create a community of people that practices peace and love. HMMM, perhaps God is trying to build a church? Of course not, because the church is full of division, gossip, squabbles, right?

So again, what is the point of forgiveness? To forget? That doesn't happen. A friend told me about our hurts that "we will never get over it, but we will get through it." True.

Yet it keeps coming back to relationship. In our Lord's Prayer we pray, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Historical Jesus scholar John Dominic Crossan suggests that the Aramaic translation of this line in Jesus' prayer sounds more like this: "Loosen the chords binding us as we release the strands of guilt we hold of others." Isn't that an interesting way to phrase that? Does forgiveness release us or someone else? What is Jesus getting at?

We may not be ready to give that message ... but Jesus, once again, is onto something about where true joy and freedom comes from.

Journey, Will We Ever Get There?

This past Sunday, I asked the congregation to write out their questions for God. It was a good experience to not only see how when we cry out to God with questions of how, why, or when, that many of our questions of God are expressions of hope. We express hope for our world, for our community, for our schools, for our children, for our health, for our faith, for our salvation, for our relationships and for global relationships. We ask questions about the past seeking healing, and questions about the future seeking something to be settled around or in us. We all have hope for something, anywhere from sports to questions of happiness in life... BUT ... when do we start to lose hope?

It seems like I keep coming back to that notion of personal contentment, repeatedly seeking, reaching, desiring things that I do not have. There seems to be a life that continues to elude me. When I get close, it escapes my grasp. There seems to be something there for everyone, but I keep thinking I haven't got it yet. I see a lot of others wondering the same. So my question for God is this: will I/we ever get there?

I feel like a child, sometimes, sitting in the backseat of God's station wagon asking repeatedly, "Are we there yet?" I know that life is a journey, i understand that faith is the journey as well, but what is the destination? is the destination my contentment or the fulfillment of my hope?

Yet, I hear God saying (and I keep preaching this) just grab a hold of what is right there ... embrace the gifts that have been given. That is so right and a real possibility for contentment.

Contemporary

A friend of mine sent this video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NOZU2iPA8 ) to me asking me if this was what we call Contemporary Worship. After laughing for about an hour and tormenting my staff for a day singing this over and over ... I sent this out with the caption: fusion, the Early Days.

Sad thing is, there are still those misperceptions of Contemporary Worship. I have another friend who thinks we are trying to recapture the church camp feeling and another friend who thinks we sing Kum-ba-Yah every Sunday. When I was in seminary, and told that I was moving to Champaign to lead a Contemporary Worship service I laughed out loud ... much like when Sarah was told by God she was going to have a baby at the ripe age of 90 years old. Was God kidding?

I spent a lot of time researching what Contemporary Worship meant. The first book I read was Marva Dawn's, The Dumbing Down of the Church, and she argued that the theology and practice behind Contemporary Worship was leading people down a road of shallow beliefs and an abandoning of a tradition with rich theology. How sad to realize that the nature of the church is that of constant renewal at the hand of God. The same arguments crept into discussion when organs made their way into the sanctuary. Ironically enough, the hymns of the United Methodist hymnal are Christian words sang to familiar tunes that were found in bars years ago.

Eight and a half years later, I am still here leading "Contemporary Worship," and it is as natural as I could ever imagine. The theology that is preached and the practice of preparing a service is as deep as any service I have prepared in my career. The fears and battles around contemporary and traditional worship really feel like a "robbing of the church" and its ministry more than a dumbing down. For what we seek is to make disciples for Jesus Christ who transform the world. We do that in all styles of worship, we educate our children adults in classrooms for such ministry, we seek that life in our prayers and meditation, we practice that life in the way we give of ourselves and resources.

May all that we do, be a blessing to God and the bringing of God's kingdom, right here, right now.

Reunion

This year would have been my 15 year class reunion. I don't think there was one, if there was, I probably would not have attended. I graduated in a class of 400 and was very active in school as junior class president and senior class vice president including being on homecoming court my senior year (of which i am very proud). Yet, of those I graduated with I really do not talk to any more and those I want to catch up with I have been able to do so through the Internet. For some reason, there is no appeal for me. Maybe because I am significantly larger now or that I know my career makes others uncomfortable and makes for awkward conversations.

However, yesterday I had the opportunity to return to the Walnut Grove UMC where I served from 1997-2000. Walnut Grove holds a special place in my heart as that was my first appointment as a pastor and through the three years there I matured a great deal. I like to tell people that I moved there as a 21 year old boy and left as a pastor. They taught me a lot about Christian community and supporting one another through loss, accepting one another through forgiveness, and loving one another through celebration. I am not sure I did much for them, but I know they did a lot for me.

Yesterday was their 150 year anniversary and former pastors were invited back to celebrate with them. Interesting how when I heard of their celebration date, I didn't want to miss it. I so wanted that chance to experience "reunion" with that community of people. Given the nature and practice of love in Walnut Grove, I wasn't worried about acceptance. I longed to hear their memories and stories of the years that have since passed and to catch up on how life was for them now. It was a bittersweet experience. I loved the connection, but it broke my heart to hear the reading of the name of the deceased and the faces of those I used to serve communion to, preached yo, argued with and served with, but have since left this life.

I don't think we can ever underestimate the power of Christian community. Sure there are times of division and times when we don't understand the community or feel that it is for us, but when we truly are the body ... we are reaching, going, serving, loving, and healing.

Not Just the Children

Interesting how the Old Testament is timeless. The stories upon which we preach, study, and read, continue to provide insight for our living today. One of those examples I have been reflecting on lately was the relationship between Moses and Joshua. As Moses led Israel from slavery and oppression to freedom on a grueling journey, Moses chose leaders to assist him. And perhaps Joshua was the most gifted. Only Joshua went with Moses to Mt. Sinai, Joshua guarded Moses's tent, and Joshua would risk his life to stand with Moses when they confronted the Israelites for their sin. Moses would pass on the leadership of Israel to Joshua after mentoring him for many years.

It's not just the children who are in need of role models. Parenting, role modeling, mentoring never ends even as we emerge in our careers and mature as adults. The idea of mentoring goes back in the history of our faith if we are humbly willing to admit that we haven't learned everything yet and that there is still much that we can learn from our parents and friends.

In these days since my dad has passed, I have latched on to some father figures in my life. Doug, Dave, and Mike have adopted me and I them. their companionship for the last several years has meant a lot to me, but now I find them offering a mentoring that my dad offered for many years. Advice, compassion, listening ears, and sharing in conversation about the mundane and the challenges are essential pieces for me that have helped fill a hole.

May we not lose sight of these relationships in our lives.

Mothers and Fathers, Coaches Too

Last night was our last game of the baseball season, a season that ultimately started in April with Spring Baseball. After taking a month off, Fall Baseball began. We are done, ending our season last night with a victory. A couple of things I have learned this season:

1) Coaching my strong-willed son is more of a challenge than I would have imagined

2) Our children need coaches (well parents, teachers, and adults) who will be role models for them.

The second lesson I learned comes on the heals of an interesting situation that won't seem to go away. Our game on Monday (which we lost) unfortunately included a scene where the opposing coach yelled across the diamond at our coaching staff with sarcasm and anger. Keep in mind, our players were watching. His players were watching. His argument was not only out of line with the rules, but also included an anger and sarcasm that perhaps did not set a positive example for the young eyes and ears that were there. As is usual with such arguments, it didn't matter and they won and advanced in the winners bracket. But it wasn't over for the other coach. He came out to our last game last night (a meaningless game in the consolation bracket) to not only root against us, but to tell the opposing coach that we were cheaters.

I tend to be aggressive and let my testosterone get a hold of me in the spirit of competition, but never to the disadvantage of a child. As our game ended last night, I kept thinking about my interactions through the season and whether I was a positive role model for the players on our team. Did they learn the game? Yes. Did they learn sportsmanship and life skills? To be determined. Maybe that's why I didn't sleep last night.

How are we modeling and living in the way of Christ ( A Christian's goal). But also as parents and coaches, as teachers and adults in children's lives, how are we living in our children's eyes?

Old and New

On two different occasions in the Gospels, Jesus encounters fisherman (who he would become his disciples) who are having no luck out on the lake. In one encounter, he suggests they push out a little further and let their nets down in deeper water and the result is so many fish that their nets are busting. In the second encounter, Jesus suggests they put their nets down on the right side of the boat rather than on the left and again they have great success.

Studying the text offers different insights into this matter. Putting the nets down in deeper water may suggest that there are those at the depths of humanity who need to be caught up in Jesus love and brought into the kingdom. Putting the nets on the right side of the boat rather than the left may be a suggestion about left brain vs. right brain where our old way of calculating and managing (left brain) should give way to a more creative way and a revisioning of of how we do things. Either way, Jesus seems to step into an old world expressing a need for constant renewal.

Maybe a new job is what you desire OR a new way of doing the old one with a need of redefining your position, a re-envisioning of its contours. Maybe a new relationship OR some fresh ways of acting within the old one relationships, so that they get injected with passion again and you begin to laugh and sing and skip and look forward to being with the people in your life. Maybe a different approach to a spiritual side of life, so that everything looks different and throbs with beauty and meaning and vitality again.

Renewal at the hand of God, aren't all things possible within the life we have been given?

Where Were You?

I remember sitting in the bank drive-up with my mom when I was in elementary school. She was doing her banking business when a song came over the radio and my mother began to tear up. "Listen to this, Bradley." There we sat and listened to the song Abraham, Martin, and John. My mother grew nostalgic as she began to share about that very day was the anniversary of JFK's assassination and how she could remember where she was when the news was shared across the country.

We all have those moments. I remember sitting in fifth grade science when they told us over the intercom that the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded 73 seconds into take off; we are all interested as it carried the first public school teacher with them. For the children of the 80’s, it was the JFK shooting equivalent. It was an event that defined a whole generation: generation X.

And yet the same would happen – for the millennial generation. September 11, 2001 two hijacked planes would crash into the World Trade Center in New York City, a third into the Pentagon in Washington DC, and a fourth in Pennsylvania. Do you know where you were?
Again, we were horrified while watching the World Trade Center crashes over and over and over. With today’s media we got closer than we ever wanted to be. An event that defined a whole generation: the millennial generation.

There are moments for each generation that cause telephones to ring in schools across the nations, classes to be cancelled, shopping centers to closed, cause people stop working, clergy to open churches for prayer, for citizens to be in mourning. The sinking of the Titanic, Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, the assassination of JFK, the Challenger explosion, Columbine High School, September 11. They are events that according to sociologist Carl Manheim that shape generations and affect the way they approach everyday life.

As we remember this week a moment in time, where were you and how has it shaped you? Your faith? Your life?

Our Hands

If you think about what your hands are doing right now ... how would you describe their action? I have just been thinking about that a lot lately as I went from two hands to one hand to now a hand and a half. My hands are always busy typing, dialing, shuffling, pitching, holding, carrying, pushing, steering ... all in ways that serve myself, my job, my agenda.

Is that a reflection of our relationship with God? This past Sunday we talked about contentment. We use analogies like "keeping up with the Joneses" or "the grass is greener on the other side" to describe discontent in life or the pursuing of contentment. But in many ways we find our hands grabbing to obtain or achieve. Paul talks about contentment in Philippians 4, that as he concludes with "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," he leads into that text by suggesting he has learned to be content in all situations. "I know what it is to have plenty, and what it is to be in need," he writes, "but I have learned to be content."

Psalm 23, that favorite Psalm suggests that the Shepherd makes us lie down in green pastures ... to be at home where we are led. The Shepherd leads us beside still waters and refreshes our soul ... constant renewal of who we are. The Shepherd comforts us in times of trial ... giving comfort. We shall dwell in the Shepherd's house forever ... contentment that is eternal. The Shepherd provides.

So, back to those hands, are they grasping or are they open and ready to receive whatever it is God gives us?

Paul

It's been two years now since this herbal doctor from the Netherlands ended up on our church lawn. It may seem minor, but the few days he spent with us here at Faith UMC left a mark on my life and as this fall starts to unfold I certainly wish I saw his bike pulling into our lot.

While we were out dining as the reel faith small group, I received a phone call from another pastor who said he sent "this homeless man" to our church. For whatever reason, his church was not open to have a tent pitched in their yard. So at 9:30 at night, this pastor sent this man to Faith United Methodist Church, our church, our community - perhaps knowing that we would make room for this newcomer.

As we got back to the church, we drove around the building, trying to find the staked out tent but found nothing until almost everyone had left. And I saw a man, out under the trees with a flashlight attached to his head, making his arrangements for the night. His name was Paul; he was from the Netherlands and had been in the United States for 8 years. With an understanding of holistic medicine and a heart for Jesus, he had been across the United States 3 times on his bicycle. I called him over to the fence to get his story and it was apparent how frustrated he was with Champaign. How he was treated by city employees and the church left a rather negative mark of how he saw our community as a community of closed doors. I certainly heard more than I anticipated because I was only checking with him to make sure he was comfortable so I could get moving and continue my evening.

I didn’t think it was necessary to bring him in the building as he had set up his tent for the night and the phone call I received was not asking us to put him up for the night but just to provide some space in our yard for him. Knowing that we have a security system that I haven’t been able to figure out yet, it was easy to use the alarm as the excuse when he asked if he could sleep inside for the night. “I’m sorry, Paul,” I began, “but if I need to turn the security off at night, I need about 24 hours notice.” I was heading back to my van at that point and he, on his way back to his tent, looked out of the corner of his eye and said, “Jesus wouldn’t make you wait 24 hours.”

To make a long story short, we invited him into our building where he stayed five nights. But that made people uncomfortable as well. As open and serving as a church we are, fact is we live in an age where we are driven by fear and mistrust. Sure, you could point to 9/11 and our heightened concern for our own personal safety in daily life. But we are also led to question our leaders, looking at every election we gaze with speculation. There is also mistrust of church leadership (yes, we as a church have failed at times, leading people to question), but yet the mistrust also carries over to our peers and those who we know and those whom we don’t know.
We question peoples intentions and believe that their pursuit is purely for personal gain and believe that they will do us wrong in the process or even injure us. And yet, Jesus’ words to us are counter-testimonial to the way we live life in saying that if we can’t trust the intentions of our fellow Christians, if we can’t believe someone who bears the names of Christ on their hearts and is offering us a drink or seeking a drink, then we’ve got some real problems. And the future state of God’s kingdom on Earth is without hope.

I keep coming back to the fact that perhaps Paul came to Champaign to challenge us Christians as to our level of hospitality and to gauge how open our churches really are. Are we as open and serving as we are called to be? Paul's image in my mind keeps reminding me of that.

Living and Dying

We spent part of August in fusion reflecting on heaven and earth in a theme called It's Good to Be Home. We talked about how God's home is among mortals as scripture reminds us many times that God is trying to get to us. Revelation 21 brings this to light in a vision of heaven: "Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

The idea of no more crying and pain death is one of our shared experiences of heaven, but the coming of God right here among us, perhaps is not one of our visions of heaven. Rather we see ourselves going to God rather than God coming to us, though God intersecting in our lives is throughout scripture and the nature of Jesus Christ. Interesting though that if heaven were to come crashing into earth, would that be a good thing for us where we are in life? If God's kingdom come, what it mean for us everyday?

Would you enjoy it? Would you be comfortable? Where would the whiplash be? One of my favorite preachers asks: "If you are bitter—hard in your heart and bitter—and the Earth is invaded by pure, unadulterated joy, would it be heaven for you?" Or put it another way, if you are stingy and tight, and you aren't compassionate and aren't generous, and you find yourself in the presence of sheer, unadulterated generosity, would it be heaven for you, or would you be miserable? Or if you are a racist and you have bigoted, biased feelings and attitudes toward people of other lifestyles, skin colors, political preferences, and ethnic backgrounds, and you find yourself in the presence of people from every tribe and tongue and nation…. if you find yourself at the great wedding banquet table of heaven and you're a minority at the table and the table is populated with people that you have deep, racist feelings for, is it heaven for you? Where are we more at home … heaven or earth? Because in our minds the realm of earth certainly offers more personal control, right? Is this a matter of living and dying?