Ascent to the Surface

Dickens and Religion

2012-02-07T13:18:00.001-06:00

On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens I found this quote posted on the web by David Cody, Associate Professor of English at Hartwick College. Dickens was apparently not a conventional Christian, although raised in the Church of England. But the spirituality behind his writing and his characters was definitely Christian:

Dickens and Religion: He was reticent on the subject of religion, but we can let an earnest...letter which he wrote to the Reverend D. Macrae speak for him:

With a deep sense of my great responsibility always upon me when I exercise my art, one of my most constant and most earnest endeavours has been to exhibit in all my good people some faint reflections of our great Master, and unostentatiously to lead the reader up to those teachings as the great source of all moral goodness. All my strongest illustrations are drawn from the New Testament; all my social abuses are shown as departures from its spirit; all my good people are humble, charitable, faithful, and forgiving. Over and over again, I claim them in express words as disciples of the Founder of our religion; but I must admit that to a man (or a woman) they all arise and wash their faces, and do not appear unto men to fast.

(The reference, at the close of the letter, is to Matthew 6:18; Dickens's religious emphasis, in his work, is indeed on the New Testament rather than on the Old, on Christ rather than on Jehovah.)

Finding oneself cooperating with evil

2012-02-02T17:25:00.000-06:00

I frequently spend several minutes on Thursdays reflecting on The Compassionate Life using a devotional aid from Renovare. The Occupy movement has had me thinking about bringing about change through non-violence. I have been reading a collection of essays and speeches by Thomas Merton entitled The Nonviolent Alternative (New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1980). I'm finding lots of wisdom that applies to other situations. Here's a quote I wish Eric Holder and the Department of Justice had taken heed of before approving Operation Fast and Furious:

Whoever finds convenient excuses for this adventurous kind of policy, who rationalizes every decision dictated by political opportunism and finds it justified, must stop to consider that he is perhaps himself cooperating in the evil. (p. 17)

The Lord speaks peace to his people...

2011-12-02T12:12:00.001-06:00

Here is a responsive call to worship I wrote for the second week of Advent. It's based on Psalm 85:8-9.

L: Let us hear what God the Lord will speak.

P: God will speak peace to the faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts.

L: Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who go God’s way.

P: May Your glory dwell among us! May our songs of praise never cease!

I hope your Christmas season has started well!

Intimacy with God

2011-11-28T11:46:00.002-06:00

I've been reading a spiritual classic: Thomas Keating's Intimacy with God. It's been very eye-opening to me. One concept is the observation that we become present to God only by our consent. We will only give our consent if we trust. From today's reading, Keating's observation on trusting God:

The Christian spiritual path is based on a deepening trust in God. It is trust that first allows us to take that initial leap in the dark, to encounter God at deeper levels of ourselves. And it is trust that guides the intimate refashioning of our being, the transformation of our pain, woundedness, and unconscious motivation into the person that God intended us to be. [Thomas Keating, Intimacy with God (Crossroad, 1994):22]

Trusting in God's favorable vision

2011-08-22T09:04:00.004-05:00

6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138.6-8 (NIV, 1984)

My son, Jesse, is a high school freshman this year...his sister, Hannah, is starting her senior year. My heart is anxious particularly for my son. Jesse is developmentally disabled, with a sweet and gentle spirit. The high school environment is tough and carnal. I already had a personal demonstration of that. As I walked the hall with him, I accidentally bumped into a young "lady." I sincerely apologized, but she took it upon herself to get smart with me. If she had no respect for an adult stranger, what kind of treatment could Jesse expect from her? I know many awesome students at his school...I'm not taking her as representative of the whole. But kids like my son can be the objects of scorn and ridicule from peers.

This morning I am holding on to the psalmist's words--God is looking favorably on Jesse today. He will not be abandoned, indeed I can trust that God will fulfill God's purpose for him. (It's easy to say...much harder to live into.)

Letting go of control

2011-08-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

Genesis 13:8-9 (NSRV)

Who doesn’t like being in control? You and I like being the master of our own destiny, the captain of our fate. We often like to be in control of things beyond our own selves…our families, our workplace, and our church. Control issues can be major points of contention in these relationships.

Recently I read through the early chapters of Genesis. I noticed some things about Abram (later known as Abraham) I hadn’t before. For example, when his nephew Lot was kidnapped, he put together an Old Testament version of a SWAT team. He led them in a successful rescue of Lot and all the people and goods taken by his captors (Genesis 14). I never thought of Abram as a warrior before.

What Abram is better known for is his trust in God. In the scripture above, he and his nephew Lot had both been blessed by the Lord with substantial wealth. They had been traveling together for sometime and the land could no longer sustain both of their enormous herds of livestock. As you read, it was leading to conflict.

Abram became a peacemaker with Lot and his people. Notice in verse 8, he was willing to defer his control over the circumstances in order to keep his relationship good with Lot. Abram permitted Lot to choose where he would go and trusted that God would bless him in whatever land was left. Sure enough, God blessed Abram and his family in the land of Canaan, the land he got as “leftovers.”

Some Greek converts to Judaism once sought Jesus out. He had this wisdom for them about being his follower:

“Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” (John 12:25-26, NRSV)

Jesus calls us to give up the white-knuckle grip of control on our lives for life-giving service to him. Trust God to take care of you. Trust Jesus to lead you to the right places. Trust the Holy Spirit to give you the gifts, skills, talents, and experiences you need to flourish. God honors those who are able to let go of control and serve. This is the path to discovering, as Abram did, the peace and blessing that comes with trusting God for the outcome.

Getting Somewhere on Purpose: Book Review of Chazown by Craig Groeschel

2011-03-23T10:27:00.000-05:00

The key to your future lies at your death bed. That’s the fascinating place where Chazown, the latest book from Craig Groeschel begins. Groeschel, founding pastor of the nation’s second largest church, LifeChurch.tv, wants us to consider our legacy…what will the reader’s life add up to? Will one’s life really matter? His ambition with this book is for people to capture their vision of the unique life God has designed for them, because: “Everyone ends up somewhere. But few people end up somewhere on purpose” (6). Finding the God-designed vision for your life is the essence of this book. In fact, its unusual title comes from the Hebrew word for vision. Capturing this vision and living into one’s purpose will have positive, life-changing effects.

Groeschel uses a fast-paced, concise style that is easy to read. Each short chapter addresses a singular thought. He begins by helping the reader uncover their God-given vision by exploring their core values, giftedness, and life experiences. Through well-chosen stories and personal anecdotes, he helps you see how these things intersect to reveal the chazown God has designed for you.

One feature I really appreciated was the “You’re the Author” pages. After each major section he provides focus questions and guidance to explore the section through a Chazown journal. There are also a couple of helpful appendices devoted to this. And you will notice several places throughout the book where you are directed to additional resources online. I particularly found helpful the appendix on learning from past experiences.

Indeed, personal application is a major emphasis of Chazown. Almost half of the book is devoted to helping the reader apply the chazown they have uncovered to one’s daily life. He identifies five “spokes” of chazown: Relationship with God, Relationships with People, Finances, Health and Fitness, and Work. As with the vision itself, discussion of each spoke concludes with a “You’re the Author” page where the reader is encouraged to set some specific goals to live out one’s chazown. I found his frank discussion of relationships with other people to be especially insightful.

This is certainly one of the most application-oriented texts among recent books for helping people find their purpose. Though practical in nature, Groeschel takes just enough time to lay a biblical foundation for his points. This book is definitely meant for a lay audience and he hits that target well. I highly recommend Craig Groeschel’s Chazown.

Link to the first chapter.

Watch video introduction of Chazown.

Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Prayer as an occupation

2011-01-13T12:03:00.000-06:00

Acts 1:12-14 (NSRV)
Susan Guise Sheridan, a biological anthropologist at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, has been studying the bones of a large monastic community that lived in fifth-century Jerusalem. After examining more than 6,000 skeletal elements pulled from the crypt complex beneath Saint Stephen's Monastery, she found that the Byzantine monks shared several traits: they were robust, well-nourished men; they lived on average into their 40s; and they had bad knees.

In almost every monk over 20, there was damage to kneecaps, leg bones and heel bones. "If you consider prayer an occupation," concludes Sheridan, "then we have a case of occupational stress."

The glue that kept the early Christians together was their deep devotion to prayer and intimacy with God. The monastic community’s whole life was ordered around worship and prayer.

Prayer is such an important practice for living well. As the hymn “Take Time to Be Holy” observes: “the world rushes on.” Those words were written by William D. Longstaff in the late 1800s. How much more true are they for the world today. “Rushes” is almost too tame a word to describe the pace of most of our lives. And still, God calls us to pray.

Don Postema, in great book on prayer entitled, “Space for God,” wrote:

I used to write in my daily calendar "7-7:30 a.m.: Prayer." But many times I passed that up. It was one more thing to pass by that day. Now I write "7-7:30 a.m.: God." Somehow that's a little harder to neglect.

It is not prayer that beckons us to pause, but God. There is nothing more important with which to occupy ourselves.

May the coming year be a blessed one for all of you!

Let it be with me...

2010-12-20T17:39:00.000-06:00

Luke 1:35-38

I read this passage again while I was in Minnesota for my father’s memorial service. I am always struck by Mary’s willingness to accept the lot in life that was set before her. The news that the angel delivered was both exciting and scary. As an unmarried young woman in her culture, the implications of her pregnancy were life-changing…far deeper than simply becoming a mother. She would have to endure much. She risked losing a lot. So her ability to say, “Let it be with me…” was a very big thing.

There is challenge for me, as I believe there is for many Christians, found in Mary’s response. Are we able to accept the lots in life that we are dealt? Are we willing to endure the consequences and the challenges that God allows into our lives? Will we live yielded to God’s way and power so we can say, “Let it be with me…”?

It’s important to recognize that when Mary said “yes” to God, she was also saying “yes” to the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary was not in it alone. God’s Spirit was with her, and in due time, God’s Savior would be with her. Whether life is dealing you hardship or opportunity…whatever challenges or rewards lay before you…there is much to endure and much to risk. Fortunately, we live in the generous grace of God who reassures us that “…nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

To get to the place of saying “Let it be with me...” you and I have to answer a big question. “Will I trust God and the Spirit’s power?” When I read this a few weeks ago I found myself confessing that I was taking on a lot in my life without yielding to God’s power and guidance. I was worn out. God’s gracious word to me was that I wouldn’t get through the challenges of dad’s memorial service and the Christmas season very well without inviting God’s presence and power into ALL facets of my life. I share this with you because I believe many who read this know exactly what I am talking about. My confession is your confession.

The Advent season is a time of preparation to receive God’s Messiah. It’s our opportunity to deepen our trust in God and to yield ourselves to the Spirit’s leading and power. Christmas gives us the opportunity to welcome Jesus into our lives afresh. It is from this place of trust and yieldedness…it is when we can say “Let it be with me…” that we discover the very real power and grace of God.

Charles W. Frye In Memorium

2010-11-27T20:16:00.000-06:00

My father, Charles W. Frye MD had been on kidney dialysis for the last year and a half. He had received a kidney transplant in February 2003. In October he went into the hospital very weak and with blood clots in his legs. His dialysis port had also clotted over. Following a poor prognosis from his doctors he decided to discontinue dialysis and let the kidney disease take its course. After two and a half weeks in hospice, he died on November 20, 2010. He was a great doctor and a marvelous father. I wrote this biographical sketch for his memorial service:

Charles was born on October 30, 1928 in Decatur, Illinois, to John and Opal (Beckett) Frye. They lived in a house overlooking Lake Decatur.

A formative event in his life occurred as a junior in high school. Suffering an injury during football practice, it eventually developed into osteomyelitis in his hip. He spent nearly a year in the hospital and did not graduate with his class. He persevered, however, graduating the following year. His fellow students voted him Salutatorian of the Decatur High class of 1947.

Charlie entered Millikin University in Decatur. During this time he demonstrated his gift for working with his hands by building a beautiful wood boat. His junior year he went on a blind date with Djina Champion. He graduated in 1951 from Millikin with a BS in Chemistry.

He entered graduate school at the University of Illinois-Champaign, but soon learned of a medical research position in Chicago and moved there to continue his graduate work at the University of Illinois-Chicago. At the same time, the courtship with Djina blossomed and they were married on August 22, 1953. Charlie had surgery to fuse his hip (a further consequence of the high school injury) in April 1953 and was still in a full body cast on their wedding day!

His research assistant job led to the design and creation of a prototype artificial respirator on their apartment kitchen table. He received a patent for it and sold the patent to a California company. Following graduate school, Charlie entered medical school at the University of Illinois-Chicago in September 1953.

Charlie graduated with his MD in 1957 and began his internship and residency at Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago. Along with the demands of being an intern, Charlie and Djina began their family. Their first child, Randall, was born on July 22, 1957. Thirteen months later, their second son David was born on August 31, 1958. Son number three, Stephen, was born 20 months later on May 9, 1960. Through it all, with Djina's loving support, he successfully completed his medical training in June 1961 with a specialty in Radiology. He accepted a position with Associated Radiologists in St. Paul, MN.

The Fryes took up residence in South St. Paul, MN. There Charlie met some men in the neighborhood who shared his love for fishing. They made regular fishing trips into Canada for years afterward.

In September 1963 Charlie and Djina moved their family to Pheasant Lane in North Oaks. Toward the end of their stay on Pheasant Lane, Charlie and Djina learned they were expecting their fourth child. Thomas was born January 9, 1969. Charlie and Djina wanted to build their own home in North Oaks. They purchase some property that others had passed on and began building in late fall 1969. The family moved to their new home at 88 East Pleasant Lake Road in May 1970, their home to this day.

Charlie's career took a new direction during this time. He joined Minneapolis Radiation Oncology, focusing exclusively on treating patients with cancer. In 1984, he was made a Fellow of the American College of Radiology.

Charlie made his own distinctive mark on the East Pleasant Lake home. One of his great joys was to work in the yard with his tractor. He built several railroad tie retaining walls around the house. He and Djina also did extensive landscaping around their home.

Charlie poured a lot of attention into his kids and, eventually, his grandchildren. He was a very supportive father and father-in-law. As grandchildren came, he was a fun and generous grandfather.

In the fall of 2001, Charlie severely injured his leg while working in the yard. He developed an infection that led to kidney failure. After 15 months of dialysis treatments, Charlie received the gift of a kidney on February 6, 2003 from the family of a cancer patient. After the transplant, he enjoyed six years of good health. Through the summer of 2009 his transplanted kidney began to fail, and he had to resume dialysis. Declining health forced him to be hospitalized in October 2010. A poor prognosis led Charlie to the courageous decision of discontinuing his dialysis. He spent the last few weeks surrounded by the love of family and friends, and with Djina ever at his side. He died as he lived—with dignity, wit and humility. Charlie entered into the kingdom Christ prepared for him in the early hours of November 20, 2010.

Call to Worship for Luke 7:11-17

2010-06-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

I was struck by the reaction of the crowd following Jesus after he raised from death the only son of the widow woman from Nain. I wrote this call to worship for Sunday.

L: We give God glory for God’s unmerited favor.
P: God has looked favorably on his people!
L: We give God glory for God’s unending compassion.
P: God has looked favorably on his people!
All: Let our worship spread the word of God’s love, grace and compassion!

I don't write my own liturgy stuff often enough. I'd like to explore this creative edge a litte further in the future.

Peacemaking begins with the heart

2010-01-28T17:30:00.000-06:00

1 Peter 3.8-9

Many people are resigned to the notion that humanity will destroy itself. We’ve become resigned to the idea that people ultimately cannot get along. A poll taken by the Associated Press a few years ago indicated that six out of 10 American adults believe that world War III is inevitable.

Peter, one of Jesus’ first disciples, wanted Christians to understand that they must live in harmony with each other and with the world. He understood that making peace in our chaotic and contentious world begins in the heart. Take a look again at how the scripture above begins. Notice the words he uses: “unity,” “sympathy,” “love,” “tender,” and “humble.” Making peace begins with the attitude of our hearts.

Most people seem to concern themselves with changing the whole world—they have a very global vision. Peter’s vision begins with our own hearts. For Christians, peacemaking does not begin with a question like, “How can I get the Arabs and Jews to get along?” Peacemaking for Christians begins with questions like these:

How do I get along with my brother . . . my sister?
How do I keep working with the person in the next cubicle who is really annoying me?
How do I treat the kid at school who keeps making fun of me?
How do I maintain a relationship with my parents when they clearly don’t understand me?
How do I live in peace with my neighbor when his dog keeps coming into my yard to do his business?
How can I continue to volunteer in this church when my committee chair is not doing her job?
How do I keep my cool with my kids when they are being so disrespectful?

These questions represent the beginning of peacemaking. Peacemaking begins when we’re willing to look at us . . . at ourselves. Peacemaking begins when we’re willing to check the attitude of our heart and begin to deal with the deep down feelings of hurt and distrust we may have accumulated over time. Peace making begins with purging our hearts of attitudes and stereotypes that keep us from living in unity with one another.

Here’s where Jesus comes in…we can’t make these heart changes without Christ’s Spirit working within us—growing in us the fruit of peace (Galatians 5:22-23). The apostle Paul says that the fruit of peace grows in us as we practice Christ’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves and as we prayerfully yield our lives to the guidance of the Spirit. My prayer for us all is that the fruit of peace will grow in each of us and that we will bear the fruit of peace in our chaotic and contentious world.

Looked on with Favor

2009-12-14T19:17:00.000-06:00

"Mary in the house of Elizabeth" Robert Anning Bell (1917, oil on canvas, Tate Britain Museum)

Luke 1.39-55

In our day it seems that those who seek to serve God don’t get a lot of recognition. Instead, the people we seem to idolize, the people we think have made it, seem to be the God-neglecting. These people often encourage us to live for pleasure—satisfy our desires—that’s what life is all about. Rock stars, superstar athletes, powerful business executives are always before us--meeting presidents, throwing big parties, making more money than we can imagine, able to go anywhere and do anything they want. At times we may find ourselves envying them.

Who ever notices that person trying to do what is right in his home and community? Who ever notices the person who’s loyal to her family and her children? Whoever gets noticed for putting in an honest day’s work for what seems like an ever diminishing paycheck? How often is one noticed for being a member of a church and serving it faithfully? He or she never makes the headlines…they never gain much power…they’re doing well just getting the bills paid by the end of the month. Who notices him? Who idolizes her? Who sets them up as the ideal of how to live?

God does! God notices and blesses those who seek to follow him and do his will. They may never be noticed by others, but they enjoy God’s favorable attention! Therefore God will bless them with something that all those rock stars, athletes and powerful business men often miss out on. God blesses his humble, faithful servants with the gift of abundant life that comes through the savior. God blesses us with a sense of hope…a sense of purpose…a sense of joy!

How can we live in Christmas joy all year long? Recognize that the greatest way God has remembered and blessed us is by sending his Son Jesus Christ. Each of us has been afflicted with the stain of sin and the pain of death. Each of us needs salvation that only God could arrange. The world needs the salvation and restoration only God can arrange. God remembered his promise to save us. God, the Mighty One, has done a great thing for us through the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

You and I can rejoice knowing that God’s grace will prevail. Jesus is coming! You and I can rejoice knowing that God’s justice will prevail. Jesus is coming! A day is coming when tyrants will be defeated and the callous will be put in their place. A day is coming when the oppressed will be raised up and the poor will no longer lack. God’s mercy and justice may not seem to be at work in the world with any consistency. But the God who has the power to bring hope and joy to a shy, teenage girl has the power to bring hope and joy into your life. Our God has the power to bring hope and joy into this fallen and conflicted world. God has promised it. God has remembered his promise. God’s grace has triumphed! Joy to the world! Let earth receive her king!

Wisdom from a biblical perspective.

2009-03-24T15:11:00.000-05:00

I read this quote on wisdom in J. I. Packer's Knowing God (InterVarsity Press, 1973). I really like his perspective.

To be truly wise, in the Bible sense, one's intelligence and cleverness must be harnessed to a right end. Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.

I think we are entering a time in the church and in our culture where wisdom and discernment will be of paramount importance. (They always are of paramount importance, but how often are they employed?)

Refuel

2009-01-08T11:44:00.000-06:00

Matthew 7.9-11
Christmas season has left me “running on empty.” Do you know what I’m talking about? I think many of you do. Increases in get-togethers with friends, work parties, church and school functions wear us down. The stresses of shopping in crowded malls while trying to get our work done and avoid disappointing our kids, our grandkids, or our spouses and special friends, can leave us emotionally and spiritually depleted. But wait! Some of us feel like that MOST of the time!

Jesus points us folks who are “running on empty” in an important direction in the scripture that begins this post. Whatever we need to live well, God stands ready to give us—body, mind, and soul. Prayer is a critical way that we go to God to express our needs. The process of praying is also a primary way we grow closer to God…where we get to know God better. A great Christian theologian, J. I. Packer, observes that we become energized as we get to know God better.

I ran across this modern parable of prayer recently. A boy and his father were watching a documentary on military aircraft on TV. "Look at those two planes together," said the little boy. "It looks like one is towing the other."

"No," said the father, "the one plane is bringing more fuel, so that the other plane does not have to come down and land. Without the refueling plane the other plane would have to stop its flight."

Prayer refuels the soul. Prayer reenergizes us. Prayer restores our zeal and puts us on track to take care of our business. Prayer is key for getting in tune with God’s direction for our lives.

If you feel like your running on empty, may I encourage you to develop a new habit of prayer? God is anxious to refuel you. What’s more, God is the sole source for the life fuel you truly need.

Retreat time at the right time

2008-08-12T20:38:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to experience a retreat after the manner of St. Francis of Assisi this past weekend at Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio. Covenant Baptist is a unique place . . . baptists who practice contemplative ministry! This is also the home church of Gordon Atkinson, known to many as the Real Live Preacher.

This retreat came at the right time. I needed to think through a few things before resuming ministry after a three month sabbatical. We practiced the monastical hours of prayer and the retreat leaders encouraged us to write a rule of life. I was touched by many things . . . here are a few:

Hospitality--the Covenant folks are a most hospitable bunch. The meals were excellent and the setting is very restful. They made sure we retreatants had all that we needed to rest and refresh our spirits.

Availability--Gordon, Tim, Paul and the other leaders gave the gift of themselves for conversation and prayer.

Worship--The worship experiences were beautiful (Thanks Paul and Lexi for the marvelous music). I could have used more extended silences, but that is just my taste.

Interesting People--We were about as diverse a group of retreatants as you could assemble. I gleaned a lot from their stories, their struggles, and their insights.

I'm still working on my rule. I'm sure it will have something to do with stewardship of my time. I became really aware that what I value is not at all reflected in the way I allocate my time. My family, in particular, gets short-changed. I need to find a way of being where the way I spend my time reflects what I value more consistently.

Gordon said that he wasn't sure if they would continue offering these retreats beyond their own congregation. This was the third of three planned retreats to the public. He thought they probably would . . . I sure hope that they do. Such opportunities to withdraw for rest and reflection are great gifts to busy people in a chaotic world.

Sacred Places

2008-07-16T20:31:00.000-05:00

I think just about anybody have places in their lives that are special. So special that they become sacred. My family visited Yellowstone earlier this month, a place revered by Native Americans for centuries. It's not hard to figure out why . . . it is an incredibly unique and beautiful place.

Jesus seemed to like hanging around the sea. A lot of his life and ministry occurred around the Sea of Galilee. Living in Texas, I've had a chance to walk the shores of the Gulf of Mexico on many occasions. I get why Jesus liked the sea. The sound of waves . . . the constant breeze . . . there is something about it I have found relaxing and soothing. Maybe the same things helped Jesus keep his head together and his spirit refreshed.

One sacred place for me, perhaps the most sacred, is my parents home in Minnesota. My parents built this house in 1970 and I lived in it for 12 years. It's on a large lot with a canal bordering the west side, a pond and marsh to the north, and woods to the east and south. My mother is a Master Gardener, so the place is landscaped beautifully. The picture above is from the yard looking north toward the pond. A day doesn't go by without deer, rabbits, wild turkey or a snapping turtle coming into the yard. It's a very peaceful place, full of life.

I've been spending most of my sabbatical here--working in the yard, reading on the back deck, thinking and praying. God has been very present for me here. My parents have been gracious hosts and have made this a very valuable time.

Where are your sacred places?

To Sophia--Angel of mercy

2008-06-11T09:07:00.000-05:00

Sophia, at A T & T technical support, you were a Godsend yesterday . . . I hope you could tell. The internet problem at my church had been a thorn in the side of my sabbatical. Previous calls to tech support had not helped resolve the problem . . . until you. You were able to diagnose the problem and help me through the solution. It only took one try! You showed great patience and good humor (I've never had a tech support person laugh before). Sophia, judging from your accent, you live far, far away. You blessed me and aided the growth of God's kingdom. You were an instrument of God's mercy. Grace and peace to you. Namaste.

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda

2008-06-09T19:16:00.000-05:00

At last, a movie hero I can identify with! Po, the kung fu panda protagonist is made to fight for his dumplings by his Kung Fu master. That's a training technique that could get me motivated!

True to its martial arts roots, Kung Fu Panda (Dreamworks Animation, 92 minutes) is all about action. Whether training or in actual conflict with the evil Tia Lung, Po and the other Kung Fu masters are constantly fighting. Po, THE big fat panda is an unlikely and reluctant hero, having accidentally (and literally) dropped in on a kung fu contest to choose the next dragon warrior. But in the spiritual realm of kung fu, there are not accidents. Po's unlikely selection sets him on a journey to realize a dream he's held for a long time. It's also a journey into maturity and greater discipline. He realizes all of these, though that isn't brought out very clearly in the end.

Spiritual themes are lightly touched on in several places: the nature of one's calling in life, staying in the moment, perseverence, and believing in oneself. But this movie is definitely not trying to make any big statements. It's a fun romp with lot's of action and good humor. The animation is beautiful always and spectacular at times.

Some of the cartoon violence is over the top and I heard a few preschool children express some anxiety. My two kids (12 and 14-years old) had no such anxiety and seemed to enjoy the movie thoroughly . . . as did I.

Four out of six candles for Kung Fu Panda.

A lesson from my journal

2008-06-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Something struck me while journaling today . . . but the lesson came in an unexpected way. I take my journal with me almost everywhere . . . whether I am actively using it or not. I keep it open to the page holding my latest entry. My last choice for a journal was a wirebound spiral notebook. When I am not consistently practicing my quiet times the pages in my journal get worn, tattered and stained. Some pages actually get torn out because they have received so much stress. On the other hand, when I am actively reading scripture, praying, reflecting, and journaling the journal pages stay decently in shape.

My journal pages reflect my soul "state." When I'm not attending to my spiritual practices, my soul is worn, tattered and stained. I don't experience the peace and sense of wholeness that comes with regular communion with the Lord. When I notice the pages in my journal getting worn and stained it should be a sign to me to get back to the spiritual disciplines that keep me in touch with the soul-invigorating presence of God.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12

Congested churches

2008-06-04T09:42:00.000-05:00

I am doing a lot of reading during my sabbatical. One book that is stimulating a lot of thought and reflection is Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger. What's got my mind occupied right now is their statement:

Congested churches and stagnant believers are the antithesis of God's plan. (p.138)

Getting churches uncongested and helping believers stay vigorous have been significant challenges in my ministry. The authors advocate a clear, simple process for making and maturing disciples. They identify particular elements critical to a clear, simple disciplemaking process.

I've seen the kind of congestion and stagnation the authors describe in every congregation I've served. In every place it has been very hard to initiate change. Traditional programs and "ways of being" have a terrific inertia behind them. On top of that, I've never really had a frame of reference to effectively address the situations. More than anything else, I want to be a pastor who leads people consistent with God's plan. To think its possible I'm an overseer of believers whose ministry is the antithesis of God's plan is very convicting.

With that sense of conviction, I have a certain sense of grace in hearing that this is a common experience of pastors. And I have some sense of empowerment in that I am developing a frame of reference that explains what I have seen and some good ideas on how to proceed.

Now for the courage . . .

Taking the high route

2008-06-02T21:26:00.000-05:00

Being on sabbatical gives me more opportunity to sit in the back yard and ponder basic truths. The opening prayer from my devotional book today was:

Loving God, clothe me in yourself and enable me to live and serve after the pattern of Jesus. Amen
--A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants.

As I pondered the pattern of living and serving Jesus lived out, I noticed the behavior of our backyard squirrels. Wherever the go they almost always choose to travel above ground, even when walking on the ground would get them there quicker and easier. There are two trees in our backyard that are far enough apart that the branches don't intermingle. Rather than walk from one tree trunk to the other, the squirrel chose a longer route along the top of our chainlink fence to get from one tree to the other. It seems to be deep in their character to choose the high route, even when a little longer and more involved.

There is a spiritual metaphor in this for me. That choosing the high route . . . Jesus' pattern of living and serving . . . become deep in my character. I pray I get to the place where the high route becomes my default choice . . . and that it happens so naturally I don't even notice it any more . . . I just do it.

I can't get to that place, none of us can, without God enabling us. I don't make high route choices on my own that often. The key, for me, is to stay consistently alert to God's voice and the Spirit's leading. Perhaps that is my greatest challenge on the spiritual journey.

Gospel of Judas scholarship dubious

2008-05-26T11:42:00.000-05:00

Thomas Bartlett, of the Chronicle of Higher Education, has an article out this week on the scholarship behind the Gospel of Judas. Marvin Meyer, a Coptic scholar from Chapman University (affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)), was the first translator of the document. Unfortunately, he does not come off in a very flattering way. It seems that there was an agenda to find a more sympathetic Judas as the National Geographic project got underway. They found what they were looking for. The translation has many significant flaws in it, skewing the understanding toward a more favorable impression of Judas. The story and analysis of the scholarly debate are very interesting. I recommend it.

Really Late Movie Review: Terminator 3:Rise of the Machines

2008-05-22T12:35:00.000-05:00

Since T3 is making the rounds on TV again, I'll take a stab at it.

I'm not a big fan of any of the Terminator movies, but I found the first two at least believable, with meaninful plots. So much of the violence and destruction lack purpose in T3. Example: In the chase scene with the T-X terminator driving the crane, what is the purpose of turning the crane sideways to start ploughing through the buildings? It impeded its progress toward achieving its mission. Something a terminator would never do. The scene became laughable to me.

Most glaring is where the plot leads. If Skynet does indeed become self-aware, it is like an infant becoming self-aware . . . not understanding that the action it will take will render itself incapacitated. Any nuclear blast produces large amounts of electromagnetic energy. These EM pulses fry everything electronic, particularly sensitive computer chips. If Skynet did exist as software on everyone's PCs and mainframes, as the plot indicates, the scale of the attack would have essentially killed off Skynet or isolated each computer from each other . . . like isolating every individual brain cell from communicating with each other. Any way you slice it, the people left would have nothing to fear from Skynet. The machines would have managed to kill themselves off.

If the Terminator movies have a point to pay attention to, it is that humankind must always be wary of our dependence on technology. An ironic point, I understand, as I compose this on my personal computer. And nobody can read this without the same. I find that we trust technology too easily . . . we are very willing to turn ourselves over to it without giving it a thought. Perhaps this is why it seems so hard to grasp a sense of the Divine. We have lost our ability to see and hear God. Something that will truly lead to our destruction.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalm 20:7-8

You might be an alcoholic if . . .

2008-04-29T14:24:00.000-05:00

. . . you put a DUI lawyer's phone number on the speed dial of your cell phone. Believe it or not, a DUI lawyer in San Antonio is encouraging this in one of his radio commercials. If this seems like a good idea to you . . . that it might be something you could use . . . in all sincerity and compasssion, see a counselor to assess the possibility that you are alcoholic. You are taking too many risks with yourself and with others on the road.

Super Bowl coaches and team owners who get it

2007-02-05T08:54:00.000-06:00

I ran across this article on the internet which quotes Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy following the Colts' Super Bowl victory. Dungy, Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, and Colts owner Jim Irsay are all strong Christians. Each made it clear that the most important thing in their lives is their relationship with Christ. It's nice to see some sports celebrities who keep things in proper perspective.

Add another blessing

2007-01-23T08:41:00.000-06:00

Today is the day for our congregation's joint prayer service with the Lockhart Church of Christ. I preached about the significance of this opportunity during worship on Sunday. I got a good response from our community of faith. Most unexpected was the response of our CYF (high school youth fellowship). The youth group after worship focused on 1 Corinthians 12 . . . where Paul describes the church as a body. They talked at length about division and schism. In their conversation, they discerned an invitation from God to attend the prayer service as a group. I was caught wonderfully offguard by their intentions. It truly blessed me to see them open to God's leading and their willingness to embrace a worthy cause. They will kill me for saying this, but . . . "I'm likin' the way they roll!"

Restoration Movement internet resources

2007-01-22T08:04:00.000-06:00

I am excited about a prayer service my congregation [First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lockhart TX] is holding jointly with the Lockhart Church of Christ. This service was planned in the spirit of recent formal conversations between the three major "streams" of the Restoration Movement begun by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, and Barton Stone. In 1906, the Movement fractured into these three streams: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Churches of Christ, and the independent Christian Churches. Like most all splits within churches, each group believed they were keepers of the true vision of our founders. That led to further bitterness and disunity. In 2006, leaders from these three streams began formal conversations to thaw the relationships and return to some sense of the unity that was a hallmark belief of our founders. It's an exciting time, and I am most excited about our two congregations worshiping together.

I have not spoken or written much about the history of our Movement. Here are some great websites that have a wealth of information.

Restoration Movement Pages--a vast collection of biographies, documents and sermons from Restoration Movement history.

disciples.org--The official web presence of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Disciples of Christ Historical Society--interesting historical articles and a good variety of links.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I ran across several websites that were interesting but had a bias against one group or another. I chose not to include them. I am looking for a website that deals specifically with the "three streams" conversation. I will pass it along if I find one.

I think you will find these three websites an excellent beginning if you are interested in digging a litte deeper into our Movement history.

90 by 50 update

2007-01-20T09:18:00.000-06:00

My weight loss saga has been a mixed bag thus far. I'm only about at 50% of my loss pace thus far. I've lost a total of 25 pounds and have been holding there for several weeks. I haven't gained back what I have lost thus far. That is very good. There have been some unseen benefits that I have been very pleased about. I saw my doctor for a check-up on January 10. Everything looks very good. My blood pressure was excellent. Blood sugar and triglycerides in normal range. My cholesteral number was 155. So metabolically, I am also in really good shape. I was very encouraged by the visit and consider it a manifestation of God's grace that I am not suffering any serious consequences from my obesity. And it is all the more incentive for me to persevere with my exercise and diet disciplines. Your continued prayers on my behalf for discipline and the fruit of self-control would be much appreciated.

I received a little additional inspiration this week. Pam LeBlanc, "Fit City" columnist for the Austin American Statesman, featured the story of Jim Martine. Martine lost 200 pounds in 2006. He did it like I'm doing it--reduced calories and increased exercise. I didn't think one could lose that much weight in a year. It's given me new vision for the possibilities and reinforced the feasibility of my own more modest goal.

Prayer for the new year

2007-01-18T19:03:00.000-06:00

I ran across this prayer by the great spiritual writer Thomas a Kempis. I shared it with our congregational board as an opening to the January board meeting. It seems like an excellent prayer to keep in mind as the new year unfolds.

Grant me, O Lord, to know what is worth knowing,
to love what is worth loving,
to praise what delights you most,
to value what is precious in your sight,
to hate what is offensive to you.
Do not let me judge by what I see,
nor pass sentence according to what I hear,
but to judge rightly between things that differ
and above all to search out and to do what pleases you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

May God go with you in the new year!

What "Twelve Days of Christmas" will cost ya

2006-12-05T13:23:00.000-06:00

PNC Financial Services Group has tracked the actual cost of the items from the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for the last 22 years. Click on this link for this year's Christmas price index.

Another sign of our voyeuristic culture

2006-11-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

I read an Associated Press story about letters written to God found floating in the Atlantic Ocean. Apparently, these letters had been sent to a New Jersey pastor, or left on his altar, for him to pray about. The pastor and his wife have both been dead for a few years. The speculation is that someone cleaning out their house didn't want to throw them in the trash. They gave them up to the ocean instead, believing that they would never see the light of day again. Unfortunately they were found. The man who found them took the liberty of looking at a few. Some are comical, many others are heartwrenching . . . I'm sure the people who wrote them never intended anyone but the pastor to see them.

Here's the disturbing aspect. The man who found these letters is planning to auction them off on E-Bay. I think its clear that the letters were never intended for public consumption. This man is attempting to cash in on the voyeuristic tendencies of our culture. It is appealing to the worst tendencies in people. My prayer is that someone will buy the letters on E-Bay for the singular purpose of incinerating them before anyone else can see them. I might do it myself if I can afford it.

90 by 50 update

2006-10-31T08:41:00.000-06:00

Well, progress has been a lot slower over the last couple of months. I have lost 19 pounds since I started . . . I had hoped to be 36 pounds lighter by now. But I am at the lowest point since I began and there is much time. I must be more diligent, both in regular exercise and in keeping up with my food diary. I am pleased that I have not gone backwards . . . and I recognize that this is about changing my lifestyle. That's the only way this loss will remain permanent. I'm going to work harder over the next six weeks and see what happens. I need to do this for myself, my family, my ministry . . . and now, I guess, for the world. Check out this article from the New York Times on how obesity contributes to global warming. It's a crazy notion, but the evidence is there. I guess I'm the person your parents warned you about!

Top Chef, Season Two

2006-10-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

I'm not a big reality show guy, but one that has captured my attention is Top Chef on Bravo. A dozen up-and-coming chefs compete for a number of prizes including $100,000 in seed money to start their own restaurant. They compete, naturally, by cooking through several challenges. I really enjoyed season one, and was expecting a let down for season two. I've been pleasantly surprised.

The second episode of season two has won me over. The competitors and judges worked through an ethical dilemna. I won't tell you exactly what went on because they are still playing the episode this week. See for yourself. I was impressed by how seriously both contestants and judges treated the dilemna and how they ultimately practiced accountability. I recommend the show, particularly if you are a foodie. Here's a link to the Top Chef website if you are interested in learning more.

"Where do you see God calling us to serve?"

2006-10-23T16:55:00.000-05:00

During Sunday's sermon, I gave my congregation a few minutes to reflect on the question, "Where do you see God calling us to serve? The question was in response to Mark 10:35-45, where Jesus teaches his disciples that the way of the kingdom is through service. I asked people to record their thoughts and hand them in to me. Here is a compilation of results:

Abused/neglected children
Benevolence ministries for the needy
Collecting socks for the homeless
College students
Calling on inactive members
Helping people get in touch with spirituality
Inviting people to worship with us
Prayer groups interceding for people in need
Serving people in our community
Serving people in our families
Serving people in our workplaces
Supporting parents--parenting assistance
Teaching evangelism--how to show God's love
Working with youth

There were multiple comments focused on serving our local community, benevolence ministry, and various ways to serve children.

I'm interested in hearing more specific ideas for service. What do the results of this informal survey suggest to you? What is happening in Lockhart and the surrounding area that we can get involved in to serve our community? Where do you see us getting something going as a congregation? Just click "comment" and tell me what you think!

90 by 50 update

2006-08-11T10:09:00.000-05:00

Today was my official 12 week weigh-in. My goal was to have lost 18 pounds by this point. The official scale at the Old Texas Barbell Company indicates a loss of 16 pounds. I'm really not discouraged. This last six week period included two church camps, one mission trip and a two-week vacation! I am working the plan pretty well. I did my walking a few times on vacation and I did my weight training three times at a nice fitness center in Shoreview MN. On most days I kept my food diary. I've never done these things on vacation before . . . they seemed to really help. Keep prayin' for me. God has been merciful and good.

Expresso meets technology and is found wanting

2006-08-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

I'm on my yearly pilgrimage (vacation) to Minnesota to see my parents and some of my wife's relatives and friends. Our habit is to spend the first night at a nice La Quinta Inn in Norman, Oklahoma. I have another tradition associated with this stop--visiting the Starbucks located in the Barnes & Noble store next to the hotel for my morning coffee before making the next leg of the trip to Kansas City.

My stop in Norman proceeded according to habit until I got to the Starbucks counter. I ordered my Cafe Americano. The young lady who took my order took two steps to their new computerized expresso machine . . . pressed a couple of buttons . . . and viola the machine very quietly delivered my coffee to the cup. And, to be honest, the taste was indistinguishable from the coffee produced by the old fashioned method.

Something was still missing for me--the process. For me, a significant part of the experience has been the sound grinding expresso beans, the smell of freshly ground coffee that follows, and the sound of steaming water infusing with the ground beans. Buying coffee this time was sterile and mundane.

I count expresso as one of many things for which a major infusion of technology doesn't improve . . . and may perhaps detract. And I would include church in that list, particularly virtual expressions of Christian community. I'm obviously no Ludite--this blog should certainly speak to my embracing technology at some level. I don't think that virtual community will ever adequately replace real community. Virtual community will always be missing a part of the process of community. In virtual community you don't have to grind out interpersonal conflicts. You can't always smell whiffs of Christ's presence and love being shared together. You miss the delightful sounds of the Spirit infusing with people in worship, service together, and face-to-face fellowship. These are things so important for the vigor of a Christian community. They are what keep Christian community from being sterile and mundane.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. No one has asked me to pastor a church on myspace.com or anything. Just sharing an observation. I would love to hear your reflections on these thoughts. Why not click on "Comments" below and share them with me.

Prayer as paying attention

2006-07-03T10:32:00.000-05:00

Ran across this quote in my devotional reading from The Spiritual Life by John H. Westerhoff III and John Eusden. It's a great observation about prayer:

Prayer is a disciplined dedication to paying attention. Without the single-minded attentiveness of prayer we will rarely hear anything worth repeating or catch a vision worth asking anyone else to gaze upon.

Prayer is contact with God that is continually forming and transforming us. This dovetails nicely with what I was preaching about on Sunday. Worship and prayer are two primary and essential ways that we keep ourselves oriented toward God. Godward orientation is our highest priority as beings created by God and "designed" to be in relationship with God.

90 by 50 update

2006-06-29T07:59:00.000-05:00

This week marks six weeks into my effort to lose 90 pounds by my 50th birthday--10 percent "down the road." My goal was to lose nine (9) pounds. My weigh-in today indicated I had lost eleven (11). I'm very excited. I have been at church camp for the last 10 days. The camp's high carb cuisine usually does me in--I never lose weight while I'm there. But this time I kept track of my diet and walked every other day and viola! My next six week benchmark is August 10. This will be an even more challenging segment as it includes our youth mission trip and my usual two vacation to visit family relatives in Minnesota. Lot's of opportunity to "backslide." However, my mental approach is different this time. What has, in the past, looked like such a formidable undertaking seems much more do-able now. This initial success brings much encouragement. Many of you have been sharing words of support or serving as accountability partners--I am grateful.

Roofer's haiku

2006-06-25T09:52:00.000-05:00

I've been away at church camp for a week. . . a very good week. Perhaps more about that later.

A couple of months ago, our humble community experienced two major hailstorms in the span of one week. Since then the air as been alive with the sound of roofing nails being driven. Almost every home has a sign from some roofing company out front, staking its claim. In a moment of inspiration, the following haiku came to me:

Hail pounds rhythmically
in the morning roofers come
the sound of money

So much for that bit of culture. I'm off to another church camp--second and third graders, of which my son will be participating. Should be fun. I'll have a "90 by 50" update later in the week.

A sobering discovery

2006-06-03T10:19:00.000-05:00

I was watching one of my favorite episodes of Magnum, PI yesterday entitled "Basket Case." It's basically a version of Oliver Twist. A young girl, played by actress Dana Hill, lives in a foster home where she is taught how to scam and steal. Magnum has a big charity basketball game, but his team stinks. Willie (Dana Hill) is a basketball whiz kid, it's what she does, along with hanging out at the library, that helps her escape her home environment. Well, naturally, the foster parents figure out that Magnum lives at the Robin's Nest and they set up a plan to burglarize the mansion of several priceless antiques. And, as you might have guessed, Willie is so touched by the love she has been shown by Magnum and Higgins that she exposes the plot. She learns a valuable lesson about her own inner morality and strength.

The story is totally beside the point. I decided to check on the biography of Dana Hill. It turns out that she was a diabetic who died at the age of 32 from severe complications of her diabetes.

It seems that since my son Jesse's diagnosis of diabetes in 2005 I am coming across many stories of the severe consequences of the disease. Couple that with his developmental delays and cognitive problems and I become very worried about his future. Right now, we are managing his diabetes pretty well. But I am very conscious of the fact that Ronda and I won't be around forever to help him with it. He struggles to take greater responsibility for the management of his condition. It's hard not to be anxious about his future and our future together.

How Church can transform culture

2006-06-01T13:49:00.000-05:00

In my devotional reading I ran across this great quote from Howard A. Snyder this morning. It comes from his book, The Community of the King:

. . . when the Church is taken merely as a means to transform society, very little is accomplished. For in that case the uniqueness of the Church is denied and we enter battle on the same terms as secular and godless forces. We assume the battle for right and justice can be won by force, by technique, by doing. It can't. These very clearly are not the weapons of Christian warfare (Eph. 6:10-20). Truly Christian transformation of culture comes through Christlike (and henceforth sacrificial) love, community and being.

Snyder has put into words what I have felt for many years, particularly when Christians enter into the arena of politics and social justice. We have become very adept at threatening and manipulating to achieve our "righteous" ends. But it looks a lot like the world and not like the Christlike community and spirit I yearn to see revealed in the effort to confront the world with the values of God's kingdom. (See, I said "confront." Power language is very hard to get beyond.)

Many believe Christians are called to speak truth to power . . . but do we speak in the language of love or in the language of power? Power may understand the language of power when we speak it. Power is also very skilled in neutralizing the language of power when we use it. Sacrificial love, on the other hand, presents problems to power. They can crush it, thus exposing power for what it is. Or power can give in to it, thus transforming it and bringing it in line with the values of God's kingdom. Power can try to ignore love, but I believe, as Snyder does, that the love of Christ is a compelling force that ultimately cannot be denied.

90 by 50

2006-05-18T07:32:00.000-05:00

I've told my family . . . I've told the closest thing I have to a personal trainer, Mike Graham at the Old Texas Barbell Co. . . . now I'm telling the greater world. I will be turning 50 years old in about 60 weeks. I've committed myself to losing 90 pounds by my 50th birthday. That works out to be a somewhat ambitious, but realistic, 1.5 pound weight loss per week.

My plan is reasonably simple--calories in, calories out. I will maintain an 1800 calorie a day diet by keeping a food diary provided by the Mayo Clinic. I will also be weight training three days a week and brisk walking another three days a week.

I have waypoint checks planned every six weeks to reward myself as I maintain my program. There is a real big negative "carrot" motivating me as well. If I'm not able to achieve significant weight loss by my 50th birthday, I will investigate bariatric surgery to reduce my weight. The very idea is frightening to me. But I must do something.

Your prayers will be appreciated in this effort. You have my permission to hold me accountable. With God's grace and the fruit of self-control there will be less of me to love in a year or so.

"You must be in sales."

2006-05-16T22:04:00.000-05:00

While checking out at the local Walmart today, the cashier and I simultaneously asked, "How are you today?" She then speculated . . . "You must be in sales." I quickly denied.

Initially, the notion was repelling. But I thought some more about it. Perhaps, in a way, sales is exactly what I am in. I represent what I and many others consider the most valuable commodity in the world. Having it means the difference between life and death. In spite of death threats, many have refused to give it up. Indeed, many have taken it to the grave . . . dying because they possessed it. People have ordered their life around their possession of it. Having it, by the way, demands a reordering of life to accomodate it.

I finally confessed to her that I was in sales . . . I'm a pastor. I want to help you see that you need what I have. Let me show you that you can't live without it. Having it has the potential to transform your life. It's valuable . . . it will cost you . . . but you'll never regret your decision to get it.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which
someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all
that he has and buys that field.
--Matthew 13:44 (Revised Standard Version)

"You remind me of my son"

2005-12-10T10:15:00.000-06:00

I was doing a stint as a Salvation Army bellringer this morning. I've never volunteered to do that before. I was stationed outside our local Wal-Mart store. I was surprised at the high percentage of people who give something. Very few people put in more than a couple of dollars, but I'm guessing at least 80 percent of the people who came by this morning gave something. I was encouraged.

One man's gift particularly stood out. He came up by the side of the bucket. I didn't see him until just before he put in his gift. He said to me, "You remind me of my son." I could tell by his voice and in his eyes that it was a melancholy memory. I wish I knew the story.

It reminded me that the Christmas season is not a merry one for everybody. Many people face the first holiday season after the death of a loved one. Others, like myself, are really stressed out by the commercial expectations of Christmas. They want to give for their family, but don't have a lot of spending cash to do so. So they risk disappointing their loved ones or heavy post-Christmas debt. And sometimes Christmas is just too damn busy--sucking whatever joy one might have right out of the season by overcommitment and fatigue.

Take a deep breath, everyone. Slow the pace down and savor the true Spirit of Christmas. Do less. Spend less. Give more . . . your best gift is probably totally free and completely valuable and precious . . . YOU. Give YOU a little more this year. You might be surprised at how special and valued that gift is!

A rational opinion on faith in the public arena

2005-12-05T08:15:00.000-06:00

Michael Medved has an excellent op/ed piece in USA Today entitled "Faith in Film: Why not?" He's examining the controversy over the release of the film based on C. S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Medved, an observant Jew, notes that a devout Christian family's celebration of Christmas in no way threatens his faith or observance of Hanukkah. Nor is a Christian family threatened or somehow weakened when it

" . . . watches its neighbors joyously, meticulously celebrating Hanukkah--or Ramadan or Kwanzaa, for that matter . . . . In fact, confronting other religious practices may help raise substantive questions about the deeper meaning of the holiday, beyond Santa and sleigh bells."

Read the article in it entirety. I think Medved has it right. We who celebrate Christmas in an overt way pose no threat to the deeply held faith of others. We are contributing to "the kindly, soulfoul seasonal atmosphere that encourages all people to take their traditions and commitments more seriously."

God on the internet

2005-11-25T21:43:00.000-06:00

Here's a great article on religious blogging by Jonathan Last, online editor of the Weekly Standard. It appeared in the most recent issue of First Things. It's essentially a benign critique of virtual spirituality. Among the things that he finds "troubling" are the tendency for politicization, the rampant consumerism, and the potential for "demystifying" religion.

The concern that he raised that I share with him is that many are using the internet as a substitute for actual community. The internet cannot provide real fellowship. He concludes the article with these words:

. . . even at its best, the Internet is a weakening of reality, and with its consumer satisfactions, politicizing impulses, and substitutions for the body,
it constantly lures us up into thinner and thinner air. Isn't religion supposed
to enrich the world around us instead? Shut off your computer. Take a deep
breath. Go to church.

Amen!

I am Peter.

2005-10-11T17:54:00.000-05:00

I took the Narnia Web personality test and I tested out as Peter Pevensie, former king of Narnia. According to the website . . .

As Peter, you are brave, loyal but intelligent, and are greatly respected for upholding what you think is right.

Clearly, I must have cheated! With the impending release of the movie based on C. S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and Wardrobe, Narniamania has arrived. Thanks Roy Clemmons for turning me on to the test.

Take the test and tell me how you came out in the comment section below.

Who has been the most influential person in your faith journey?

2005-09-26T21:45:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I polled my congregation on who they considered the most influential person in their faith journey. It was supposed to be a forced choice (they only could pick one) but many people wanted to put more than one and I went with it. I got 30 responses and the results were what I expected. Here's the list in descending order. Number of responses out of 30 is indicated in parentheses.

A parent (20)
Pastor (11)
Sunday School teacher (8)
Friend (4)
Grandparent (4)
Television preacher (3)
Spouse (3)
Church camp counselor (2)
1 vote each for: Sister, coworker, aunt & uncle, parachurch ministry, employer, cousin

I anticipated that parents would be the highest. The point of the sermon that morning was that parents play a key role in the faith journey of their children.

Biggest surprises: How highly pastors rated and how low church camp counselors were rated.

This was, of course, an unscientific survey of a very limited sample group. But the responses were consistent with statistics I've read on the subject (otherwise I would not have run the poll to prove my point!).

How about you, my virtual friends? Who has been the most influential person in matters spiritual? Let me know through the comment link below.

Taize Worship in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

Here's a Taize style worship service our congregation held this evening that addressed, in part, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Welcome

Call to Worship

All Sing: "In the Lord"

In the Lord I'll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid;
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near;
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.

Prayer for the Day

An Old Testament Reading: Psalm 46

All Sing: "Nada Te Turbe/Nothing Can Trouble"

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
Those who seek God shall never go wanting.

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
God alone . . . fills us.

Silence

All Sing: "Come and Fill"

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord, are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
Al-le-lu-ia.

Prayers for Intercession

As part of this time we used a prayer written by John H. Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.

All Sing: "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"

O Lord, hear my prayer; O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer; O Lord, hear my prayer.
Come and listen to me.

The Lord is my song; the Lord is my praise:
All my hope comes from God.
The Lord is my song; the Lord is my praise:
God, the well-spring of life.

A New Testament Reading: Mark 4:35-41

Silence

All Sing: "Nada Te Turbe/Nothing Can Trouble"

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
Those who seek God shall never go wanting.

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
God alone . . . fills us.

Service of Holy Communion (in silence)

All Sing: "Take, O Take Me As I Am"

Take, O take me as I am;
summon out what I shall be;
set your seal upon my heart and live in me.

Dismissal with Blessing

It's not all that original but use it with my blessing.

I must be doing something right!

2005-08-07T14:08:00.000-05:00

We're back from a two week vacation to the St. Paul MN area to visit my parents. It was a nice relaxing visit. I didn't do much but watch TV, spend some time on the computer and basically veg out. Did a little reading, too. Played golf on a beautiful links style course in Ramsey MN--The Links at Northfork.

Unfortunately, my father spent half of our visit in the hospital. He had a bad case of gout. Since his kidney transplant two and a half years ago, severe pain such as he experienced last weekend cannot be ignored. He's home from the hospital now and doing quite well.

So on to what I might be doing right. And, of course, it is much more than myself. During children's moment at church this morning, my developmentally-delayed son Jesse (9) volunteered a response to the question, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?" Anytime Jesse volunteers an answer to a theological question we're prepared for anything from the insightful to the odd. I thought perhaps the question was beyond his understanding. I was wrong. His answer, clear and confident, was "For our sins." I raised my fist in jubilant celebration. He is paying attention. The gospel is seeping its way into his heart. I am deeply grateful for my wife, my church and the Lord for his growth in understanding.

Divinity and humanity

2005-08-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

August 6 holds a great deal of irony. Today is the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb by the United States on the city of Hiroshima. Today is also a special feast day for millions of Christians--The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate the revelation of Jesus' divinity to his disciples . . . we remember humanity's enormous capacity to wreak war and carnage on one another.

But now you must get rid of all such things--anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive language from your mouth . . . Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
--Colossians 3:8, 14

Come Lord Jesus!

Where do you meet Jesus?

2005-06-22T21:56:00.000-05:00

For my sermon last week I asked worshipers to respond in writing to this question at the beginning of the service, "'Where do you meet Jesus?' or in other words, 'When does Jesus seem most present for you?'" Here were the results of the informal poll of worshiper at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Lockhart TX:

In appreciating Nature--6
At bedtime, reflecting on the day--4
In silence--4
In prayer--3
During times of need and stress--3
At church camp--3
In the presence of children and loved ones--3
Praying in the morning--2
Feel a constant sense of Jesus' presence--2
During worship--2

One response each for: At the beach, in the mountains, on the golf course, during prayer vigils, taking communion to the homebound, funerals, music and singing, during daily commute, retreats, mission work, reading the Bible.

Not surprisingly, meeting Jesus is a very diverse experience.

How about y'all? Where do you meet Jesus? Add your comments below.

Some thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case

2005-03-23T16:39:00.000-06:00

OK, seems like everybody in the blogosphere has been weighing in on the Terri Schiavo situation, I guess I will too. Here are somethings I have noticed:

I have had a very visceral reaction to much of the broadcast media coverage of her unfortunate situation. I find much of the coverage voyeuristic and indiscreet. Though well meaning, advocates for her have turned her into a public spectacle to make their point. And, it seems, that many who are acting as if they are advocates are more concerned about making political hay than in her personal well-being.
Michael Schiavo claims that Terri stated that she would not want to be kept alive with the extraordinary methods as have been used. Though he has waffled on this, who would know better than he? I also realize he is not a very attractive individual--there is much distrust of him. What I am pretty certain of is that many people who claim to speak for Terri have no earthly idea of what her wishes would have been.
As a culture, we are afraid of death, which is why we are in this quandry to begin with. We have developed medical technology to a point where we are able keep bodies alive beyond what is the natural course. We can cheat death. We strive toward immortality. (Remember the mess over freezing baseball great Ted Williams' body.) Medical technology is a wonderful thing . . . a grace granted from God. Dialysis kept my father alive for a year and a half until he could receive a kidney transplant. He's doing great now . . . and God has blessed me with a few more years with him. So I'm no medical Ludite. But there seem to be some ethical considerations we haven't thought through well when in comes to prolonging life in extreme circumstances.
Bill O'Reilly has the most logical position in my eyes. Michael Schiavo has already taken up with a different woman and has had two children by her. If Terri's parents and family have the resources and desire to care for her, why doesn't he step out of the way and allow them to do so.
One of the lessons of Easter is that it was through death that we received life. Death does not need to be feared. For many, death has been release from pain and suffering. They are ushered into the glorious presence of a God who loves them, where:

[God] will wipe away 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.(Revelation 21:4)

I freely admit not having an opportunity to think about all of the facets and implications of this case. I'd love to hear from you. What's your take on the situation?

Eight action roles for social transformation

2005-03-08T20:27:00.000-06:00

As I have been pondering Jesus' teaching of "Blessed are the peacemakers . . ." I ran across these challenging words from a recent meeting of the Austin Spiritual Directors Community. Sister Amata Miller, IHM shared with us eight action roles Christians can assume to bring about peace and social transformation. Sister Amata has been very active in Roman Catholic social justice ministries. Currently she is teaching Economics and Finance at St. Edward's University. Here are her eight action roles:

Developing in ourselves a kingdom-centered perspective: reading and studying things that help us develop our own social conscience in light of the signs of our times and the teachings of our faith.
Making daily lifestyle choices square with Gospel principles. Living more simply that others might simply live; Learning to settle conflicts nonviolently, to disagree without being disagreeable; loving those around us; sharing what we have with those who have less.
Fostering Gospel values, making them attractive to others. Helping young people to be nonviolent, other-centered; Encouraging non-materialistic enjoyments; facilitating development of social moral consciences; Praying alone and together in the Gospel spirit.
Helping to nurture alternative ways to meet human needs. Spreading success stories about alternatives; Volunteering for service in new kinds of social ventures; Make your donations to positive change agents.
Working to transform existing institutions from within (parishes, workplaces, families). Gradually figuring out ways to embody Gospel values within these; Bringing all people affected by decisions into the making of them sometimes; Acting in belief that changes will ripple out from here as others see new ways.
Developing and participating in organized strategies for political and corporate change. Making active citizenship a part of one's life; Joining groups effectively focused on transformations for social justice; Encouraging others to join in collaborative actions for transformation.
Acting in opposition to what goes in the wrong direction. Writing letters to the editors of newspapers to influence public opinion; Participating in prayer vigils; Taking part in boycotts; Marching in public demonstrations.
Living out of a kingdom-centered spirituality. Letting God work through us to "write straight with crooked lines" (2 Corinthians 4:5-7); Prayer and liturgical rituals that widen our sense of God and neighbor; Being hopeful in the struggle for greater peace and justice.

Sister Amata noted that we might take on different roles at different times in our lives. Each of us can do one or more where we are, given our own responsibilities and sphere of influence, and if each of us does our part and help others to do theirs, God's kingdom of justice and peace will come for all people . . . in God's time.

The soul of a preacher . . .

2005-03-07T21:06:00.000-06:00

Gordon Atkinson, the San Antonio preacher of RealLivePreacher.com fame, has written an essay that expresses the thoughts and feelings of a preacher better than anything I've seen in a long time. If you want to know what's going on in my heart and mind much of the time, read this essay.

Things I'm surprised about myself

2005-02-22T10:37:00.000-06:00

I was reflecting about my life the other day, and here were some things that surprised me. I'm surprised . . .

. . . I don't watch the Golf Channel more than I do.
. . . that I'm crankier than I had hoped.
. . . I like yogurt and cottage cheese.
. . . at how difficult it is to lose weight.
. . . that the computer, cell phone, and my PDA have become an integral part of life.
. . . that my best essays and preaching are developed without technology--long-hand, with legal pad and pen.
. . . how much I treasure silence and solitude.
. . . how much I treasure my great family and congregation.
. . . how lousy I am at showing my appreciation for both, especially family.

What surprises you about your life? Let's talk about it. See comment link below.

A predictable end

2005-02-21T09:07:00.000-06:00

Hunter S. Thompson, famed "gonzo" journalist died yesterday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. You may know him through his book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He also wrote for Playboy and Rolling Stone. He was famous for inserting himself into the story he was writing about. He often portrayed himself as wildly intoxicated or stoned. Although, in his defense, he told USA Today once that his description of his own drug use was highly exaggerated--he'd be dead otherwise. Here's what a journalist colleague said about him:

"He may have died relatively young but he made up for it in quality if not quantity of years," Paul Krassner, the veteran radical journalist and one of Thompson's former editors, told The Associated Press by phone from his Southern California home.
"It was hard to say sometimes whether he was being provocative for its own sake or if he was just being drunk and stoned and irresponsible," quipped Krassner, founder of the leftist publication The Realist and co-founder of the Youth International (YIPPIE) party.
"But every editor that I know, myself included, was willing to accept a certain prima donna journalism in the demands he would make to cover a particular story," he said. "They were willing to risk all of his irresponsible behavior in order to share his talent with the their readers."

Quality of life? I guess I don't see it. And apparently, in the end, neither did he. Hunter Thompson may have seemed to have a lot, but in the end, it seems it didn't nourish his soul.

Catching my breath . . . Catching up

2005-02-19T13:46:00.000-06:00

It's been over a month since I have posted anything. Much has happened in my little family. After Christmas, we noticed my eight-year old son, Jesse, needed to go to the bathroom a lot. Naturally, he was complaining frequently of being thirsty. We thought he was peeing a lot because he was drinking a lot. So we restricted his fluids, thinking that would get to the bottom of it. It didn't. My wife was quite insistent that we take him to the doctor. I resisted for a time, but eventually she prevailed.

I took him to the doctor on January 24. Blood and urine samples were taken. His urine sample contained excess sugar and ketone levels. The physician's assistant called me and asked me to bring Jesse back for a random blood glucose check. After school we took him back and his test revealed a blood sugar level of 427 (normal is 80 to 150). The PA spoke with pediatric endocrinologist, who recommended we take him to the emergency room at Austin Children's Hospital. We did.

Jesse was admitted that evening, and by Tuesday morning a diagnosis of Type I diabetes was made. He stayed at the Children's Hospital for five days. They do a great job there. He didn't really want to leave. The doctor discharged him partially because he was getting a little too comfortable!

So that has been my big news. The last three weeks has been spent adjusting routines and trying to get his insulin levels correct. His school and our church have been incredibly good sources of support. I can't imagine being in a better situation given the circumstances. So God is still taking care of us. May it continue to be so!

Still more God and tsunami

2005-01-13T13:39:00.000-06:00

The website for evangelical Christian magazine Christianity Today has several excellent articles, commentaries and links dealing with the disaster and God's presence. There are also disaster relief links and suggestions for prayer in times of disaster.

The disintegration of something I held dear

2005-01-11T08:11:00.000-06:00

I have been an avid sports fan. Growing up in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MN area, I have always loyally supported Minnesota teams. Lately, I have found it more and more difficult to support my teams (any teams for that matter) with any kind of enthusiasm. The most recent antics of Minnesota Viking wide receiver Randy Moss (walking off the field before the Washington game was concluded, his faux mooning of the Green Bay Packer fans) has really disappointed me in the team. Few people in the Viking organization are confronting him. They certainly don't have the guts to risk benching him in the playoffs, even though he is classless and arrogant. I'm grieving because I don't have a team I like or am proud of. Playing and following sports has been a pleasurable aspect of my life . . . that pleasure seems to be rapidly disintegrating.

Meet Harry Iron Kidd

2003-11-21T10:05:00.000-06:00

I found an interesting website about pirates a few days ago. In it was a link to a pirate name generator. I answered the questions and the generator revealed my name as "Harry Iron Kidd." It's an interesting diversion. I guess interesting diversions are one more thing to be thankful for!

Where my blog got its name

2003-11-18T10:57:00.000-06:00

I wrote a poem based on a dream I had. The dream became a metaphor for my spiritual journey. I was an officer on a submarine. I call it:

Sub-Mariners

We are travelers
Sub-mariners in a murky, viscous world
Fooled into believing
This is our home

Prophets and pray-ers
Expose the truth
Tear the skin, allowing danger in
So we can see

We like it here
Though we cannot breathe or truly live free
Our bellies filled
With empty calories

Neck deep in truth
Panic sets in
Our fragile ship
Cannot be saved

Reluctantly
We don our survival suits
And make the ascent
To the Surface

December 7, 2002

Enjoy, reflect, respond!

Ascent to the Surface

Dickens and Religion

Finding oneself cooperating with evil

The Lord speaks peace to his people...

Intimacy with God

Trusting in God's favorable vision

Letting go of control

Getting Somewhere on Purpose: Book Review of Chazown by Craig Groeschel

Prayer as an occupation

Let it be with me...

Charles W. Frye In Memorium

Call to Worship for Luke 7:11-17

Peacemaking begins with the heart

Looked on with Favor

Wisdom from a biblical perspective.

Refuel

Retreat time at the right time

Sacred Places

To Sophia--Angel of mercy

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda

A lesson from my journal

Congested churches

Taking the high route

Gospel of Judas scholarship dubious

Really Late Movie Review: Terminator 3:Rise of the Machines

You might be an alcoholic if . . .

Super Bowl coaches and team owners who get it

Add another blessing

Restoration Movement internet resources

90 by 50 update

Prayer for the new year

What "Twelve Days of Christmas" will cost ya

Another sign of our voyeuristic culture

90 by 50 update

Top Chef, Season Two

"Where do you see God calling us to serve?"

90 by 50 update

Expresso meets technology and is found wanting

Prayer as paying attention

90 by 50 update

Roofer's haiku

A sobering discovery

How Church can transform culture

90 by 50

"You must be in sales."

"You remind me of my son"

A rational opinion on faith in the public arena

God on the internet

I am Peter.

Who has been the most influential person in your faith journey?

Taize Worship in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

I must be doing something right!

Divinity and humanity

Where do you meet Jesus?

Some thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case

Eight action roles for social transformation

The soul of a preacher . . .

Things I'm surprised about myself

A predictable end

Catching my breath . . . Catching up

Still more God and tsunami

More on the question, "Where was God in the tsunami?"

The disintegration of something I held dear

Meet Harry Iron Kidd

Where my blog got its name