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.