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.