Thoughts for the Journey

Hats Off To Rescue Workers

2007-04-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

All of us are well aware of what happened on 9-11-01, but I wonder how many people are aware that those EMS workers and other first responders are now suffering from all sorts of lung diseases. On 9-11 each of those first responders and then others went to help our friends and loved ones in the midst of that horrible act of terror. Now they are the next line of victims. I have no idea how many people will have died or been permanently injured as a result of those terrorist acts but I know it will be many more than died on that day.
The reason I wanted to write about this is that these Emergency Responders are having trouble paying for all of the health care that they need as a result of their work. It's not like these are the best paid people in the world who could afford it either. Many of them were volunteers receiving no pay and only recently I learned that a beginning EMS worker in Texas makes about $8.00 per hour. Imagine putting your life on the line for $8.oo per hour or for free.
Why do they do it? They do it because they care. They care about others. They care that people are suffering and they want to do something to alleviate that suffering. We hear a lot of talk about pay these days. I don't know anyone who makes enough money. I can't do anything about the pay that EMS workers, Fire Fighters, or Police Persons make, but I can pray for each of them. I can tip my hat to them. I applaud them.
So today, I call on each of my friends, to pray today for an emergency responder by name. I thank God for them and I pray God's blessings on them and their families. Grace and peace, Allen

Lots of Questions

2007-04-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a week! Just when we thought things might be getting better in race relations, our world was turned upside down again when Mr. Cho decided for whatever reason to go on a killing rampage. And right now the news media is asking all of the questions that go through our minds: Why was he allowed to be among people? Why wasn't the school more attentive? Why did it take an hour to notify the rest of the school? How could he have gotten those guns so easily? What can we do to stop these kinds of things?
These questions and many others are hard questions. There are no really easy answers. The way they are asked, sort of demands that someone must be responsible. Then we hear that the tragic Mr. Cho was bullied as a child and we wonder how much that played a part in his decision. Obviously there are some truths in all of the answers and then even more questions. It is interesting that I haven't heard the usual one, how could God allow this to happen? I am sure some folks are asking that question. It too is a legitimate one. And like the others, there isn't an easy answer.
I want to ask another question and it should also be on all our minds: Can we forgive Mr. Cho or even should we? Wow, that's also loaded. Well, as a pastor, I know I am supposed to say that we should forgive him. And as a Christian, I do agree that those who are the survivors and family members should also work on forgiving him. After all, that is what Jesus calls us to do and that he encouraged us to do. But as a human being, I know deep in my heart, how difficult that would be.
Forgiveness isn't something that should be done easily. In most cases, forgiveness can come only when the offender makes some kind of amends, even if it is only asking for forgiveness. But even in the asking we expect the person to offer real, heartfelt remorse. Last week, Don Imus offered his apology and asked for forgiveness for hurting the ladies of the Rutgers Basketball Team. His request seemed heartfelt and sincere. But Mr. Cho is dead and his deeds were so much more horrendous.
I can't tackle all of the aspects of forgiveness in one column. I mainly want to say that forgiveness is about letting go. Letting go of the anger and the hatred. Forgiveness is not about rebuilding a relationship but about your own personal healing. If the victims of these horrible crimes focus the rest of their lives on hating Mr. Cho, they will become bitter and will harm themselves. If they can focus on the goodness of their loved ones and the good memories they have of them, then they can be healed through this terrible experience.
I am not suggesting that this would be an easy thing to do or a quick thing to do. I am only suggesting that forgiveness is about healing. God has asked us all to forgive even as we ask for forgiveness. So I invite you to join me in praying for these victims of this horrible event. And I also ask that you pray for Mr. Cho's family as they also grieve what their son did and his death too. Let us pray for healing in even the worst of events.
Would you like to talk about it? come on by the church. We meet every week and would love to talk with you about the importance of forgiveness. Allen

What language is appropriate?

2007-04-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a whirlwind week for players on the Rutgers team and for talk show host Don Imus. By now, most of us are aware of Mr. Imus' insensitive remarks about the ladies on the Rutgers team. I have been interested in all of the media hype and as well the comments by the team and others who were harmed by his thoughtless remarks. I am not sure what should happen to Mr. Imus, but Mr. Imus is not the problem. Mr. Imus is only a symptom of the problem in our country.

For along time, we have worked hard to recognize that all persons are equals before God and should be recognized as such in our communities. However, Mr. Imus' remarks which were so quickly said reminds us all that there is still much work to do to overcome racism and other "isms" in our nation and our world.

My prayer is that this incident serve as a reminder to us all that we should be careful what we say to and about others. Apparently, we need to teach many adults what we strive to teach in the Jr. High department in church: that it is never appropriate to call people names. It is never appropriate to make suggestive comments about someone or to make fun of other people. For thirty years or so, according to Mr. Imus, he has made his living in a comedy act that makes fun of all sorts of persons. Indeed, his show has been full of expletives and suggestive remarks about politicians, news reporters and others to the point that I have wondered before when someone was going to call him to task for it.

Should Mr. Imus be forgiven? Well, I would think that he should be. He has apologized and asked for forgiveness. What happens next is not in my area of expertise. What should happen to him is not as important as what will happen to the rest of us. Will you and I now begin to take notice of our language? Will we start to realize that words do hurt and that we really should listen to our mothers when they said, "think before you speak."

Would you like to talk about it? Why not come to church this Sunday? Everyone is welcome and we would love to meet you. Happy Easter. Allen

Why should be we do about the war?

2007-03-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

I always wonder what the title of an article will generate. I can assume that some folks are looking for blogs and articles on the war in Iraq and may respond to this. And I also am sure that no matter what I say here, there will be someone who will disagree, but that makes our nation interesting. So let me begin by saying that I have no answers to that question. I wish I did.

I have been corresponding with a friend of mine who is a Viet Nam veteran and his brother as well as some other friends about the current world situation. Politicians seem to have all of the answers or at least it seems to me that they want everyone to think they are right. Some question whether or not the motives for going to war were pure. I think that is a waste of time. As has been said before, hind sight is usually 20/20.

I don't know why we are in the current situation. I know the answers that Washington gives and I know the answers that come across my desk every day. I suppose to find the answer, we really need to go back about 3,000 years. We are being drawn into an age old conflict and I think we will, unfortunately, remain in that situation for a long time.

So here is what I propose: I think every Christian in America and around the world should do exactly what Jesus taught us to do - Let's spend the next month, praying for our enemies. And no, I am not suggesting that we pray for their destruction as some of the Psalmist have suggested.

Jesus never was very clear about what he meant when he said to pray for our enemies except that to pray for them and do good to them, would be like heaping coals of fire upon their heads. I am not sure all that Jesus meant but I suspect he did not mean for us to actually heap coals of fire. Rather, he meant for us to take a different approach to being persecuted. He chose the hardest path of all and asks us to do the same.

There are some things that Jesus said that I am not sure I like and much that he said that I still don't understand - like praying for our enemies. So here goes. "Lord, you asked each of us to do as you did. You asked us to pray for and extend love to our enemies. I don't know what that means. So, I am praying that your Holy Spirit will intervene on my behalf and for the sake of all of your people. Give our enemies and our own leaders, the will and the ability to find a creative, non-violent plan to resolve our differences. I pray that all troops will get to be home soon and that the killing will stop everywhere. I offer this prayer in the spirit of Jesus. Amen"

Okay, some of you will say that I am naive and if I am then so be it. I just want to follow Jesus and I think that means the path is going to be very rocky. Right now, it is terrible. Well, that's my thought, what's yours? Allen

Servant Leadership?

2007-03-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

I have been talking for a few weeks on some aspects of what it takes to be a good leader. I know the topics may have seemed a bit strange but still, being a leader isn’t always about the glory or about the headlines. Being a really good leader involves so many things other than that. Last week, we talked for a while about the need to be transformed and how we as a congregation are a catalyst for the transformation of the world. We are the ones God has called to lead the way to a new creation.

In connection with leadership, I have been thinking about Jesus. I do occasionally think about him, after all, he is the one I work for. Jesus is our leader – my leader – and as I thought about him, I realized that leadership isn’t always a lot of fun. Looking at this prophecy about Jesus and then realizing that we are coming up on Easter week, we must realize that being a leader – being THE leader is sort of like putting a red and white target on your back and singing the leadership theme song: “Hit me with your best shot!”

Isaiah talks of the suffering servant leader. It describes him as not being very good looking but as one who takes on himself the sins of the world and gives himself so that the rest of us can have a better life.

A suffering servant? The passage in Isaiah 52 and 53 is usually reserved for Advent but perhaps it deserves a fresh look since we are so close to Easter.

I have been wondering what most people in the world think about when they hear the church talk about Jesus as the suffering servant. What image does that convey? The first one that comes to my mind is that of victim.

Jesus was a victim of the power struggle that was going on in Palestine. Jesus was the victim of the struggle between the religious leaders and the political leaders. Jesus was the victim of the greed and hubris of the religious leadership of his day. Jesus was the victim of those who were too cowardly to stand with him and for him – those who ran away at the first sign of trouble.

So what is the advantage of being a servant-leader? Right now we are in the beginning of our eight-year election process for president. And one of the characteristics that many people look for in a candidate is this: do they look presidential? Do they look like they are in-charge? Do they look powerful and sure of themselves? Do these candidates possess the characteristics of leadership that we need to guide us out of the distress we have gotten ourselves into? That’s what being presidential seems to mean.

I don’t think Jesus could have been elected president. He didn’t look very presidential. He didn’t come across as one who is in charge. No, Jesus is seen as a victim; a poor peasant teacher who traveled around on foot and was even seen washing the feet of his followers.

Leadership is about serving. Leadership is about transforming our minds to see things differently so that we can provide salvation to all who hear the good news we have to share. According to the prophesy, Jesus wasn’t anything much to look at. He wasn’t beautiful by the world’s standards. He wasn’t particularly powerful. He expected no one to bow and grovel at his feet – he even corrected those who referred to him as good. There was no pretense in the man. He barked no orders and carried no sword. And yet, people came to hear him, to see him, to learn from him by the thousands.

He was not the kind of leader who looked presidential or who would command a great army because of his stature. Yet, people followed him and people have died for him.

We have our image of what it takes to be a leader. We want our leaders to be, well, - presidential.

As I was thinking about leadership and Jesus, I came across the following quote from an article in the Methodist Reporter. This person was writing about the problems in the church and discussing the decline in membership that the church as a whole has been experiencing.

Here is what he said that got my attention: “we are losing members because we practice a lukewarm faith: our preachers preach a lukewarm gospel and our lay people practice a lukewarm discipleship.”

How do you react to a statement like that? In a recent pastors meeting, this statement got the dander up of most of the pastors in the room. None of us saw our church, our message or our members as being lukewarm.

What about you? Do you think of the church as lukewarm? So we discussed worship and sermons and other things. We discussed the fact that people want excitement in worship and courageous leadership in the church. Ah, there is that word leadership again.

What do you want in a leader? What do you think the world is really looking for in a leader?

To those questions, the church answers that our leader is a suffering servant. Our leader went to a cross and died. Our leader fed thousands and stooped to take care of a bleeding woman and wash the feet of his dusty, dirty followers. Our leader even said that we should also do as he did.

I’m not sure how you feel about someone calling your church lukewarm? When I think about Jesus and the price that was paid for this church, I get upset. I get passionate about telling the story of Jesus and I have given my life to encourage you to do the same.

The world is looking for a church that is a leader. The world is looking for a church that will go the extra mile and stoop down to wash its feet. The world is looking for a savior who isn’t afraid to get in the trenches with them.

But the world is also looking for a leader who makes bold and brash moves to bring people into God’s presence. Do you think of Jesus only as a victim – a suffering person who looks pitiful and weak? Or do you see the Jesus who marched into the temple with a whip in his hand and rage in his eyes to cast out those who made a mockery of his father’s house? Do you see the weakling man who spent time with the sick and the afflicted, or do you see a courageous man who was not afraid to touch a leper and walked up to a local politician to invite himself to dinner?

Yes, we present to the world a suffering servant. We present to the world a savior who faced death along with the rest of us and who walked into that death confident that he was going to overcome it.

There is a lot of talk in different church circles about how to present Jesus to men. It is a sad fact that only about 40% of men are active in any church. So now, there are “man-churches” springing up around the country. Churches who say they aren’t church. Churches who say they are tired of the feminine side of Jesus – that we sing too much and we hold hands too much. They are looking for a macho Jesus. They want to see the He-man Jesus – the one who kicks over tables and casts out demons.

Okay, there is that Jesus. But he is also the man who loved the unlovable and who walked willingly to his own death on a cross.

What kind of leader do you want? What kind of savior are you looking for? I’m sure the church is going to see changes made in the way we present the gospel in the next few years. We have seen changes before – changes are important to help us reach new generations.

What doesn’t change is this – we still offer to the world a brave, leader who suffered with us and who still calls us to travel with him to a lost and dying world.

What Jesus wants, it seems to me, is for men and women to be willing to follow him down the same road. Are you willing to go where he went? Are you willing to go where he sends you? The road may be rough and there may be suffering along the way.

But if you go- if you follow – if you lead and spread the gospel, the a world can be transformed again into what God wants it to be. Want to talk about it some more? Then come on by next Sunday and let's see what God would want. Allen

Grace Beyond the Rules

2007-03-04T03:50:00.000-08:00

One of the songs we sang this morning goes, “Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear…” I like that song, mainly because it reminds me that Jesus was a terrific storyteller. Most of his sermons were probably about 10 minutes long and consisted of one or more stories that held people’s attention but always – always drove home an important point from God.

But he did more than just tell stories; his life itself was a story – the story - filled with emotion, conviction, and hope. Recently I have conducted several funeral services and at each of those, we usually read some of the information found in the Obituary. That column in the newspaper that some of you look at each day just to see if your name is written there. You know it is going to be a good day, if you are not listed.

An obituary is an interesting bit of journalism. I am not sure who came up with the idea of writing a death notice in the newspaper but it has been going on for a long time. Regardless of its origin, obituaries always contain some of the same information. They contain the name, age, date of birth and date of death. They usually list the towns where a person lived and some information about their occupation and hobbies. The end is usually saved for mentioning the surviving family members.

The person’s home address is no longer mentioned in most newspapers because family members have been known to come home from the cemetery and find that their home had been burglarized.

But the obituary notice is amazingly short on real facts about a person’s life. It is sort of like looking at a gravestone with the name and dates of birth and death on them with no further information. They just don’t tell us everything about that person’s life.

What we do in the funeral service is to take a few moments to remember the activities and important events in someone’s life so that we can begin the healing process. In short, what we do is tell the stories of someone’s life rather than just the facts. And what makes those stories healing to us is that by tying them together, we get a better picture of who that person was and why that person should be remembered.

While I was in Tennessee, I was once asked by a local funeral home to come to the cemetery to conduct a graveside service for an elderly man in our community. His nearest relative was a nephew living in Florida. When I arrived at the cemetery, the only people present besides myself was the funeral director and the gravedigger. No relative had come to say good-bye to this man. And I only knew his name, age, and information from the obituary. From my experience that was the saddest funeral that I have ever attended, much less conducted. There was no story to tell about this man. No comfort, no help but from the Bible and a short prayer.

That is the problem with reality television. I never watch those things like Big Brother, because they at not stories about people’s lives, they are only a chronicle, an observation. They are a neutral, meaningless, summary of information about people without any sense or purpose.

Jesus makes meaningful sense of life’s experiences and as he does so, gives us hope for tomorrow. “Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear…”

The story we read this morning is one of those favorite stories. As the first lines were read, I am sure that most of us in the room immediately knew what was coming next – and yet, I never tire of hearing this story. Maybe you like it too.

The parable of the prodigal son is one of the best-known stories in Christianity … and indeed in the history of literature. It is so easy for us to identify with any of the three main characters, and to identify with the eternal internal struggle of the family.

Our heart goes out to the prodigal younger son, because we have all been young, foolhardy, selfish, impatient, and made a total wreck of our lives. Our heart goes out to the father, because we have all failed to be the parent we want to be, watched helplessly as our children hurt themselves, yearned desperately for their return, and worked tirelessly for the well-being of the whole family. And our heart goes out to the older son, because we have all felt unappreciated for our dedication, deserving of more than that which we have received, and jealous of the success of others.

With whom do you identify right now? With whom will you identify several years from now? Prodigal children grow up to be older brothers … and older brothers grow up to be worried fathers … and even worried fathers are tempted to chuck it all, divorce their wives, and run off to Vegas where they will squander their living and eventually end up in a pig sty. And yes, the same thing can be said of younger prodigal sisters, older sisters who stay at home to take care of the family, and their mothers.

It would be nice if Jesus also finished this story about how to solve these family problems, but he doesn’t. The story ends with no resolution. We don’t know if the younger son ever really grew up or even if the older brother finally went into the party and forgave his brother and his father.

The resolution of the pain in this family is going to require more than therapy, or some coaching on basic ethical behavior, or three people learning to suck it up and behave like adults for a change. I am not even sure if Dr. Phil could intervene here for a long-term solution. In this love triangle, the resolution literally requires a miracle.

What makes this story so powerful in our lives is that it is also our story. Somebody in the story that Jesus tells is morally, ethically, even literally “dead” … and becomes morally, ethically, and even literally “alive” again. Somebody else is relationally, emotionally, and even literally dying … and becomes relationally, emotionally, and literally hopeful again. Somebody else is selfishly, angrily, resentfully about to die … and is rescued for compassion, forgiveness, and love just on the brink of losing it forever. So it’s no wonder that they kill the fatted calf and rejoice. (easum/bandy.com)

Of course, this is a parable about God and the two basic kinds of people who make up God’s family. Those who are strangers to grace and have either walked away from the community of faith or never been a part of it, and there are strangers to grace who have remained involved in the community of faith out of habit or duty or something else.

This is a story about family squabbles and about broken relationships but it is mostly a story about forgiveness. I think I have mentioned to you before that forgiveness is probably the hardest concept within our faith that we have to deal with. We want forgiveness for ourselves but we are not sure if we want to extend it to someone else unless they demonstrate they are “truly sorry for their sins.”

A teacher once told each of her students to bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to school. For every person they refuse to forgive in their life's experience, they chose a potato, wrote on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of their bags were quite heavy.

They were then told to carry this bag with them everywhere for one week, putting it beside their bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to their desk at work.

The hassle of lugging this around with them made it clear what a weight they were carrying spiritually, and how they had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget and keep leaving it in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty smelly slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and it clearly is for ourselves! (author unknown)

But why is forgiveness so hard? After all, forgiveness is what separates us from the animals around us. The fact is that to preach forgiveness is easy but living forgiveness is what is hard. To forgive is to embrace humility.

Imagine that you are that son wasting away in a pigsty and wondering what in the world you have gotten yourself into. There you are in the midst of what you have done to yourself and knowing that you have hurt your family in so many ways. What do you do? How do you go on?

Of course, many people find themselves in this position and because they are so proud, would never admit that they had done anything wrong at all. So they just stay where they are and wallow in their pain – too proud to ask forgiveness and too proud to forgive themselves.

Then there is the older brother in this story. I can imagine him working every day alongside his Dad – doing whatever he could to make life easier for his father and every day seeing the pain in his father’s eyes. Year after year, hearing his father call out for the son that had left home – the anger and hatred for his brother growing day after day.

Then one day that brat of a little brother comes home and the old man throws a great party – fatted calf, jewelry and friends over for the celebration. And what does Dad ask the older brother to do? Come on in and join the party – let’s all forgive your brother – he was lost and is found – he was dead and is now alive again!

I imagine the amount of pride that the older brother would have to swallow in order to forgive that person who had caused Dad so much pain.

And of course, the main character in this story is the dignified father. The man who was a leading citizen – everyone knew what had happened. And every one expected the old man to punish this wayward son – but what happened? This dignified, well respected citizen of the community does the most unexpected thing of all – he opens up the kitchen door and runs – RUNS – down the road to meet his son and throws the biggest party ever on that ranch.

How hard is it for you to forgive someone this morning? Or maybe I should ask how hard is it for you to ask for forgiveness for something you have done?

Something is needed to bring this family together again – something tangible, touchable, a miracle. If only we could find a fatted calf to slay in whose body and blood we might all be reunited – one who could stand in absolute identity with God and with each of us as well. A miracle that could bring us all together again.

Of course, we have such a miracle. And it is pictured in the event we are about to do in a few moments. For in a few moments we are going to re-enact an event, which reminds us that God swallowed his pride- came and walked among us and then even died for us. But the event does not stop there – it also reminds us that there is hope for all who meet him here.

This morning I want to say to you that if you want to be a leader in the world, then do what the world does not expect – swallow your pride – get rid of it and come to the table. God has prepared for you – God has forgiven you – and God wants you to forgive too.

Our rules for living may say to us that we need justice – God says let’s break the rules and give grace and forgiveness even to those who don’t deserve it.

Leadership

2007-02-26T05:30:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be a leader? I suppose that first it means the leader is a person who leads others on some journey. That is true, but why would people want to follow a leader except that the leader has or knows something that they do not know. A leader has knowledge and a leader must know the way, or at least convince some folks that he knows the way.

A fishing guide is a leader and he must be a person who knows how to fish and where to fish. A coach is a leader who must know football and how to teach football. It helps if the coach has been a successful player but it isn’t really necessary. A good teacher must know the subject and be able to transmit the information into the student in such a way that the student can use that knowledge and demonstrate that it is now learned. That is the reason for these tests that the students have been taking this week. Demonstrating their level of learning.

But what about the average Christian? Are we leaders in some way? The church seems to push all of us to be evangelists – teachers of The Way so that others can become followers. Our church says that our reason for being – our focus – our life is all about making disciples of Jesus Christ by sharing God’s grace and love. It’s a great mission statement but it doesn’t mean anything at all if we don’t live that mission in our daily lives. We are called upon by the church to be leaders of the faith in this community and in the world.

It is not just the pastor who needs to follow the rules – it is all of us, who act together in the same manner who will lead the community to know who this Jesus is that we are talking about each week.

Do you want to be a faithful follower of Jesus – a spiritual leader in the community? Do you want to be a leader and not a follower? Do you want to live the real authentic Christian life?

Listen, for the answer isn’t all that easy. There are two basic principles for the truly authentic spiritual, Christian, life.

1. the first is to be wholly and completely dedicated to the Lord: to spend all of your energy – the time that you have – on God and what God expects.

2. the second is to use the clarity about God’s expectations as a standard of accountability against which you measure your own lifestyle and your relationships and your career.

You see the spiritual life – the life of credibility – the life of a leader is not really a matter of rules or liturgies or sacrifices or even obligations. The life of a truly credible leader is one that focuses on God and God’s desires for our lives. And the more we surrender to God, and align ourselves with God’s purposes, the more we free ourselves from the clutches of desire and temptation from the world.

I didn’t say it was easy. Jesus didn’t say it was easy either. But that is the place we need to start each day – in prayer – asking Jesus to help us walk with him. Finally, I think that being a leader is a matter of character. And our character is who we are when no one is looking. Have a great week, come and see us next Sunday and let's talk some about the truly authentic spiritual life.

Surgery

2007-02-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

Well, there is no sermon material for this week because I have been in quite a different position this week. I have been in the hospital and had some surgery. The surgery was to correct a condition that I have had for several years, so I should soon begin to be in better health than before. But that is not the subject of my thoughts this morning.

I am sure that there are plenty of folks who want to know the "gory" details, so to speak, but they really aren't important. What I experienced though was important to me. What I have experienced was so much care and concern from people whom I never met before and probably will never meet again.

This morning, I saw Diane Sawyer on television as she was accosted in Iran by people shouting "death to America," only to be kissed on the cheek by a woman from the crowd. In a strange place, she experienced people who hated her culture but not her. As I watched her, I thought about my experience with strangers. I gave my body over to them to care for. I trusted them to do their jobs well so that I could have improved health. I don't know anything at all about the people who cared for me. There were people from all backgrounds and except for my friends and my doctor, I don't know the religion of any of those folks at all. Yet, every one of them took care of me as if I were their father, brother, friend.

My thoughts were that we can all get along, if we would see others as individuals who need friends and help. The problem is that our political ideals and policies get in the way. Now this isn't a blog against any governmental position, but one to say that our positions do count. Our ideas and our policies affect real people in the world where they live.

I am grateful that there are folks who didn't care if I was a Methodist or what I was at all. They only cared that I was a person who needed their help. I am also grateful to be surrounded by a wife who loves me and by friends and church members who care so very much too. I look forward to getting back to work and leading the church again as we try to learn how to care for individuals regardless of where they come from. As Jesus taught us, the rules we have and the teachings we have received from God are for us to help each other become better. God does love us and loves others.

Come by sometime, let's talk about it. Allen

Mission Trip

2007-01-29T08:03:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried to recruit someone for a difficult job? For the past six years, we have been recruiting for Mission trips every spring. We begin in December by announcing when we are going to the first training event and then begin planning our fund-raising opportunities. Our congregation, has been incredible in their support for the youth and adults who go.

And every year, when we return, several folks tell me that they want to go on a mission trip some day. Then in the spring, I get calls from folks telling me that I need to talk to so and so because if I push a little, then they might go on a trip. But I never make that call. I never try to convince someone to go on a Mission Trip.

Every year, I make the same appeal for adults and youth to pay attention to the dates if you want to go – if you are led to go – if it is your turn to go, so that you don’t miss any of the important paperwork dates or the training event dates, or the fund-raising dates. What I want you to realize if you ever want to go on a Mission Trip is that this requires a great commitment.

Mission trips aren’t some vacation that we can take at the last minute if there is nothing else to do. No, Mission Trips are those events that you need to feel led by God to do, so that you can join in the planning. Numbers of people at each Center and on each work team need to be calculated in the early spring, so that we know how much money to count on and how many jobs we can accomplish.

And once you make that commitment, there cannot be any other business done during the week. During that week, each person needs to focus on the work at hand and not be trying to take care of business at home, or keeping up with your social life. That is why we discourage cell phones on the trip because they are an encouragement to let your mind wander and working with power equipment; well, that just isn’t the safe thing to do.

So here is my recruiting speech. If you feel led to go on one of our summer mission trips or on the adult trip that the District is planning in March, then carefully consider the cost and make your plans now. It may well be some of the most rewarding hard work you have ever done. It will be hot. There will be long hours. You will have to sleep on a cot and you will probably gain weight because the cooks are wonderful. There will be worship every night and devotionals to do during the day. And you will get to work with some of the most terrific youth that you could ever imagine knowing.

Sound good? I hope so, but I sort of feel like the disciples listening to Jesus. Do you remember his recruiting speech? It is found in Luke and it goes like this:

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another, he said, “Follow me.” But the man said, Lord, first let me go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury the dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Another said to him, I will follow you Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Would you believe that was a pep talk – a recruiting talk? But- but – but – and we begin to think that this Jesus guy is not right in the head. These are hard words, yet – he recruited seventy people to go out and become itinerant healers and evangelists. And when they returned to Jesus, they had wonderful stories to tell of how God had been working through their lives.

Sort of like the stories our folks tell every summer when they return from their mission. Wonderful stories. Stories that bring tears to your eyes and hope for your soul.

Well, what is it that keeps you from going on a mission or from serving God when you feel God calling you? Maybe for some folks the question is this: what is it that keeps you from becoming a Christian in the first place? Perhaps it is that you think serving God is going to be hard? Or perhaps you think that you will have to change something so you can become worthy?

I suppose that the short answer is you are right and you are wrong. It seems to me that over the past several years, the main stream Christian media has made becoming a Christian and serving the Lord too easy a thing for most of us. We have heard that all you have to do is say some magic words and you will be in forever. We have heard that often misquoted passage when bad things happen, “God makes all things work for good” and somehow we have sent the message that it is easy to become a Christian and once your “in” that life will all be good – as good as one could get.

When you read the Bible, you come to understand that that God seemed to be on a perpetual building project with his disciples. Look at those faithful disciples and apostles who get their stories told in the New Testament: Shipwrecks, stonings, suffering, arrest, persecution, illness, run through by the sword, hunger, thirst, sacrifice and loss. In fact, none of the “good” guys in the New Testament seemed to fare very well at all.

It seems that becoming a Christian and a missionary for Jesus means that life is going to change. We all know that change is inevitable but the great anxiety that most of us face is whether or not the change is purposeful or not. Is there a point to change? Is there a point to the difficulties that we face trying to follow Jesus?

The Bible assures us that there is purpose, a point, and a destiny for those who follow Jesus. The prophets, the Apostles, and other followers help us to see it, identify with it and go for it. Their message is both good news and bad news. The good news is that you are in God’s hands. And the bad news is that you are in God’s hands.

No matter how confused you might be about God or your life be assured that God is not confused and knows what he is doing. God can rescue you and reshape you to fit his purposes, no matter how much you have messed up.

I would love to discuss God's plans with you. Why not come by on Sunday and let's see if we can understand together what God wants to do in your life. See you then. Allen

Seeing Isn't Believing

2007-01-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered why Christians say that they believe in things that they cannot see? We have just finished Christmas and heard much about the Christmas Spirit, whatever that is, and about the birth of the Messiah, the Savior of the World. And yet, no one has ever seen the Christmas Spirit, nor, for that matter, have we seen this Jesus that we are so committed to. We say that Jesus is the Light of the world and he, himself, says that he is the light of the world; but if Jesus is the Light of the world, why is there so much darkness still here?

I suppose anyone can claim to be the light of the world. Anyone can claim to be the Messiah or for that matter, anyone can claim to be God. Hey, there are institutions all over the world full of people who think they are Jesus or Napoleon Bonaparte or somebody they aren't. So why should we believe the words of this teacher from Galilee?

The reason we believe in Jesus is that there were and are proofs to substantiate his claims. In John 9 there is a story of a man born blind.

Why was he born blind? Did he sin? Well, the obvious answer to that is no because he was born that way and had no chance to sin. Well, then, it must have been his parents who sinned – right? But Jesus doesn’t tell us there was any sin involved at all – just a blind man who needed some help. And so he healed him. He brought light into his darkness and then repeats those words, “I am the light of the world.”

Okay, then what the passage means is that Jesus brings sight to the blind. If that is the case, then why are there so many blind people? Why are there so many sick people? If Jesus is the light of the world, then we want to see some results – right? It seems to me that what many people want is to find a formula, not even an easy one, but a formula for making our way through the darkness. The easy answer is to say that Jesus is the light of the world.

I like what Donald Miller says in one of his books, Searching For God knows What: "The Christian faith is not about finding a formula for life. Christianity offers a relational dynamic with God. The essence of Jesus message isn't about a bunch of hoops we must jump through to get saved nor was it a series of ideas we had to agree with. Rather, it is an invitation to know God."

When we say we believe in something we cannot see, it is because we believe in a person whose life has changed our lives. We believe in Jesus because those who follow him are people who have also been helped to find their way out of darkness.

As Phyllis Wolk said, "The outer darkness of our world can be so heavy, so oppressive. But sometimes all it takes to lift that darkness is an invitation.

In the 1994 movie, The Santa Claus, Scott Calvin finds himself suddenly at the North Pole. His comment to Judy the Elf, is "I see it but I don't believe it." To which Judy replies, "Santa, seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing."

I know you can't see Jesus, but you can see those who know him and perhaps through believing, you can come to see also. Are you in darkness? The light is here, waiting for you.

If you would like to talk about your relationship or lack thereof, with God, then come on by on Sunday. I would love to get to know you and talk about it. You won't find any easy formulas for finding light, but I hope you will get to know some folks who have light enough to share. Peace, Allen

What's the point of church?

2007-01-15T13:19:00.000-08:00

What is your experience with Jesus? I know that is a loaded question, but it is an important one, at least, I think it is. I ask it because as 2007 gets rolling, the news media is often heard telling the world about what different religious faiths believe. They will tell you about Islam or Judaism or about Christianity, as if the world doesn't know anything.

I suspect that almost everyone in this nation, at least, has some preconceived idea of what Christianity is. Perhaps we also have our ideas of what other religions are about too. But where do they get those ideas? Did you have an experience with Christians somewhere that colored your thinking about what the faith is about? Was it a good or a not-so-good experience? Perhaps you read some books on faith or you have heard sound-bytes on the television and determined that you knew everything there was to know.

So when you get invited to any number of churches, mine included, you might think that you already know who we are and what we are about. You might think that we are here to tell you how to live your life. Or you might think that we are going to spend our time telling you how bad you are. (I always have to laugh inside at preachers who think they know how bad I am.) I determined a long time ago that there isn't anything I can guess or say that you don't already know. I suspect most people already know if they have messed up their life or not.

What I hope you hear when you come to church, especially at China Spring, is that there is hope for your life and for all of us. After all, none of us have ever gotten it all together. So as a pastor, I believe that our job is to help you find your way through all of the confusion about what church is to get to the real point of it all. And what is the point? Well, you may laugh at my simplistic answer, but the point of it all is Jesus. Jesus is the point of our life and he is the point of our death.

So, regardless of what you may think we are about at church, what we want to be is a place and a people who help you experience Jesus Christ in such a way that life begins to make sense. We want you to find hope in the midst of your worst dark night.

If you would like to talk about it, come on by. I'd love to discuss it with you.

See you on Sunday! Allen

New Beginnings

2007-01-07T04:20:00.000-08:00

I have just completed my first sermon for 2007. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to make my column a truly weekly (not weakly) column for this year. So I am making a new beginning in the blogasphere, if that is the correct way to spell it.

I also just returned from Tennessee where I had some valuable rest time and great visits with my Mom and my children and grandchildren, even getting to be there when my newest grand-child, Chloe JoAnn came into the world. She was 7lbs 2oz and 19 inches long. I only wish I had a picture to share with you. That will come later from my son-in-law.

As I thought about Chloe JoAnn and as I thought about today's message from Genesis, I realized that the whole world is new to her. What challenges will she face? What opportunities will she experience? What will she see in her first years of life as a new person in the world?

For most of us though the road has been long and we have seen and experienced many things already. The question is, what will we do with the opportunities that are before us? What will our world be like this year? What will I do to make it a better place?

Tom Scholz of Boston fame once wrote a song entitled, "Don't Look Back."

Don't look back
a new day is breakin'
it's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
the road is callin'
today is the day!

So, what opportunities are before you right now? What new things will you accomplish in 2007? As I think about this new year, I realized that we are facing the year with a new congress and a whole new political world is opening up. Is it going to be for the better or for worse? What will happen now that a dictator has been executed?

Perhaps the real question is this, what will the world look like in 2008 because I have been here in 2007?

When God created the world, God began with the creation of light, and from light, life began. As we begin a whole new year together, I pray that you will choose to live in the light that God has already given to you as those who look forward, rather than huddling in the darkness of useless misery.

The story of Christmas is of God's sending a whole new light into the world - the light of God in Jesus Christ. Today, each of us has an opportunity to start over - to begin again in the light of life.

Why Go to Church?

2006-12-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

Ihave been thinking lately about why people should go to church. A friend of mine and I were discussing evangelism as well as getting folks to come back once they have dropped out and he asked the simple question, why should people go to church? Of course, I thought of lots of reasons only to realize that those were superficial reasons.

We can get our social needs met at a ball game or playing bingo at the Lions Club.
We can donate money to any charitable organization to help the poor.
We can volunteer at the hospital to help the sick.
We can tune into the PTL channel to get some preaching (although I am sure not as good as at our church - at least I hope so).
We can go on the Internet to read blogs or Bible study material and grow intellectually.

Let's see, why should people go to church? Afterall, we preachertypes are asking you to get up on the only morning you have to sleep in, get dressed up, drive to one location, sit on a padded pew and participate with other people, some of whom you may not even like. And that may only be the beginnning, because we are also going to ask you to volunteer, to give of your time, your talents and your service. You might also hear a sermon or a lesson which challenges your comfortable television theology.

Okay, why should people go to church? well, I have listed several good reasons from a CEO mentality, but let me offer you one that cannot be met anywhere else. At church, we offer hope to people who hurt. We offer comfort for those who suffer loss. We are not a hospital and we don't offer to fix your physical or mental ailments, but together, we do offer you a hand up to help you on your spiritual journey.

You can get a lot of the things we do at church other places, but I don't believe you can get the hope that we offer, because at church, we each offer it to one another. Do you go to church? Maybe you haven't been in a while because there are hypocrites at church. Okay, they are everywhere else too, but at church, at least we recognize that everyone is a sinner, even you. Okay, you may not have wanted to hear that but it is true.

I think, you and I both need the hope that can only come from a relationship with God and that comes from being in God's family of believers on Sunday or any other time we meet. Why not come by this Sunday and let's worship together. Allen

Thoughts on Getting Going

2006-11-27T15:30:00.000-08:00

This week our church collected 314 pounds to "Match the Pastor's Weight" for our local food bank. Now I have never weighed that much so I am thankful that everyone exceeded our fun goal. Many hungry people will be fed because of your faithfulness. Thanks for helping. As I thought about that goal and about my real struggle with weight loss, I also realized that I seem to be at a standstill on losing weight. I work out regularly and eat good foods in moderation, yet I cannot seem to get beyond that first loss of 20 pounds. It's frustrating.

If I am to lose more weight, I need to do something different, yet it is so hard to get going on more exercise or eating less.

Then I thought that sometimes life throws some pretty bad curves in our path that keeps us from getting going in other areas. Financial difficulty, marriage problems, sudden ill health issues and many more often leave us wondering what do I need to do to just get going and make things better.

Of course, if we don't deal properly with these big issues of our lives, then they become worse. I have talked with many people during my ministry who just can't seem to get going on making their life better and they have suffered for so long that they now are in a real serious state of depression. When I began in the ministry, depression was thought of as a mental disorder that only needed a kick in the pants to get you going out of it. Wow, was that way off base. I pray that if you are suffering from some amount of depression over your life issues that you don't beat yourself up with those old bad words about this serious situation.

I am certain that many of us have periods when we are down and can pull ourselves out of that feeling, but that is not depression. Now, keep in mind that I am not a medical doctor,but it seems to me that depression is a serious challenge to many of us that needs some intervention. If you are just down a bit, then a brisk walk in the sunlight or a nap when you are tired may help. But if you suffer from long bouts of downess, then you may need some help. So here is what I would suggest if you just can't seem to get going:
1. Go to your family doctor for a complete physical. Some bouts of depression have phsyical causes and can be corrected.
2. Take charge of your life and go take a walk, drink more water and eat better today.
3. On Sunday morning, get up and go to church. It is amazing how many people think that staying in bed will make them better. But the contrary is a truer statement - going to church and being with people who will love you and help you will indeed make things better.
I would love to discuss your feelings and your faith so why not come by this Sunday morning and let's get to know one another. Take care of yourself, you are the best you that there is. Allen

Grace and Disgrace

2006-11-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

I just saw the news that the leader of the Evangelical Association Dr. Ted Haggard has resigned in disgrace over publicly admitting to "some indiscretions." He had been accused of buying and using amphetamines and securing sex from a male prostitute. Obviously, there will be an investigation by his congregation and others. Rev. Jimmy Swaggart admitted to some immoral behavior a few years ago and his church basically disintegrated within a week. Jim and Tammy Faye Baker left in disgrace from the PTL network and he served some time in a penitentiary following a very public trial.

I mention these for a couple of reasons. Obviously it is news when a religious leader admits to conduct that is sinful and disgraceful. And yes, the actions make him or her seem to be a hypocrite. Makes you want to throw up when someone who is a moral leader - a role model - acts just like many others. It doesn't have to be a minister because we have all been mortified by the actions of other of our heroes too.

But here is my point: what the church is all about is forgiveness and grace. I don't know any of these men personally but what I do know is that they are human beings just like me and just like you. As a minister, we all struggle with various sins and yet we stand, week after week, in the pulpit and offer God's forgiveness and grace to others who struggle with sin. Can we not also offer forgiveness and grace to national religious leaders and ministers who sin?

I suppose that the problem has to do with our judging each other. Ministers often are held to a higher standard than other persons and probably should be. But that doesn't mean that they should not also receive God's grace and forgiveness as well as ours. We preach and teach about little David slaying Goliath with a stone and hold him up as a great example to our children,yet King David committed adultery and murder.

I suppose I am rambling and I don't mean to do that. What I do want to say is that God offers forgiveness to these national leaders. I hope we can. Would you like to talk about this? Come by on Sunday and let's visit. Allen

Thanks for the Encouragement

2006-10-31T09:43:00.000-08:00

I suppose this column and my blogspot are really for me to wax philosophical. I am not sure I am much of a philosopher. Besides, the only one I remember was Socrates and didn’t he drink poison? Ugh! Not my cup of tea, please. Well, I will try.

Over the past few weeks, I have been encouraged by your faithfulness. We have been urging people to step forward in faith financially and with their time and wow, it has been happening. I see that as God moving in our midst. But mainly, I see God moving in our midst when I see your concern for others. I see God moving in our midst when I hear you joyfully singing on Sunday morning or on Tuesday night. I see God moving in our midst when you let me help you struggle with the stuff of life.

So thanks. Thanks for being who you are. On my birthday, last year, I received a card from someone and the card said, “I thank God for the Day you were Born.” And it wasn’t from my mother either. Wow that card made me feel good. I want to pass that along to you.

I thank God for the day that you were born. You have made my life richer and fuller. I am a better person for knowing you. Now I want to ask you to do something today. After you read this article, find someone who needs a bit of encouragement and let them know you are glad that they were born and it doesn’t even have to be their birthday.

You have been an encouragement to me and I know that together, we can be a force of encouragement and hope for others this year. Remember, invite a friend to church and bring some food for the poor. But most of all, come to church and expect great things because God is going to be with us. Allen

Stewardship Time

2006-10-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

We are in the middle of our semi annual stewardship campaign. Well perhaps it is more of a bi-annual campaign. We don't do one every six months and only every other year or so. Well, anyway, October is Stewardship month at our church.

Okay, I know some of you don't like these kinds of things but I do. I like them because they remind me that I need to renew my commitment to Christ and the church every so often. I am reminded that Jesus spoke more about how we manage things than he did about a lot of other stuff. I am reminded that the ministry of the church depends on each one of us.

Do you remember the story about the stranger who rode his tired horse into town. It was late afternoon and the man was very tired and hungry. He knew no one in this town but thought that the townspeople might be willing to share a morsel of food for a weary traveler.

As he rode into town, he waved to the people but they only stopped to stare. He got off his horse and approached one of the villagers and asked for a bite to eat. "We have had a poor harvest here and there is barely enough food for our family. You won't find anything to eat here."

From house to house the story was the same. The stranger saw that the people were very disheartened and fearful. So he went to the village square where several folks were gathered. "Gentle folk of the village," he said, "I have in my hand a special stone that will help you make it through the long winter. this is a magic stone. With it we can make stone soup."

Well, by now you may remember the rest of the story. One by one, the villagers brought vegetables, seasonings and such to the fire to watch the man make soup out of the stone. And before long, everyone had a full belly and best of all, the stone soup had brought them all together.

That is the reason, we ask people for a commitment. We ask everyone to put something into the pot. God tells each one what to bring. And when we do, everyone gets filled, even the strangers, and we are all brought together.

I would love to visit with you this Sunday. Come by and let's have some coffee and who knows, maybe a pot of soup. Allen

Some things I have learned...

2006-09-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day (I do occasionally think you know) about what I have learned over the past many years in the ministry.
I have learned that:
a good cup of coffee revives the body in the afternoon.
people will talk about almost anything if the conversation is boring.
people are unpredictable (including me.
it feels good to see those you have taught begin to lead.
it's a good thing to say thank you every so often.
sugar free pie is as good as the real thing.
it is hard to say good-bye to an old friend.
plans cannot replace the Spirit.
the Spirit expects us to plan.
God still moves in mysterious ways.

I've learned a lot more but that is about all my mind can think of today. What have you learned recently? I would love to discuss your thoughts with you and your questions. But please keep in mind, I have about as many questions as you do. Why not come by on Sunday morning or on Tuesday evening and let's discuss the questions? We may not get to all of them but we can give it a shot. Allen

Why Bother Going To Church?

2006-09-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a while again since I have written any words. I suppose it has been that I have not really had much to say. I know that is hard for some of my friends to accept but it is true. As I read over some other blogs out there in wherever it is that blogs come from and go, I just wasn't ready to write much about BBQ or the latest movie I had been to. And I don't want to use this column as a place to put forth my latest grips either. I suppose there really isn't anything wrong with those things, after all, we need to be able to grip or talk about movies or BBQ (Memphis style pulled pork with slaw on top really is the best so there shouldn't be much debate anyway).

Well, to get back to my question, I was thinking this week about why people don't come to church. We preacher types think about this question a lot. We are reminded a few times a year to turn in reports of our membership and average attendance and, well, it seems relevant to what we do. So why should people bother to come to church?

I suppose many of us would want to think that folks come to hear our wonderful sermons but after rereading some of mine, I think that surely there is a better reason. Then someone said to me, "Pastor, I really don't need church as much as those other people." I heard another version of that one Sunday when a member said to me following the late service, "Well, Pastor, if they had been here, you would have given it to them." Whatever "it" may be.

Then there are those who don't come to church because it isn't as exciting as a ball game or a movie. "We want action, preacher, you know, more hell,fire and brimstone." Or, "We want more modern songs." Whatever the reason, people can find some excuse not to come.

So I thought it might be important for me to list a few reasons why I like to go to church. 1. I want to go and worship God. 2. I want to be with people who want to become more like God. 3. I want to give my life more meaning. 4. I want to participate and be there to help someone else. 5. Did I mention that we usually have great food (spiritual and physical)?

Okay, I know I am supposed to think like that because I am a pastor. But is it really a stretch for you to think like that too? Even if we don't offer you something new and wonderful this week, your being at church helps someone else. You see, our calling as followers of Jesus Christ is to be a bridge. With one of our hands, we hold on to God and with the other, we reach out to our neighbor. Is that so hard? After all, what is more important in life than the relationships that we build?

I'd love to talk with you about it. some of us get together every week and discuss our relationship with God and our relationship with our neighbors. Why not come by and talk it over with us this week? See you Sunday, Allen

The End of Times?

2006-08-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

I have heard a lot lately about the end of times. It seems that the events in the Middle East has spawned yet another round of folks who believe they see signs of the end of history and the emminent return of Jesus. Now I want to give a bit of a disclaimer first; before I give my two cents worth, I want to say that all of those folks who are preaching that are good people. I do not want anyone to think that somehow my statements are meant to ridicule or defame anyone with that set of beliefs. I think that you are entitled to your opinion and that we are both entitled to be different.

Currently, as I understand it, most of the end times theology is based on John Nelson Darby's theology of the 19th century. Darby was a "Dispensationalist" who believed that all of human history is told or foretold in the Bible and can be divided into certain time periods, called dispensations. According to Darby's understanding, the end times can be understood by watching the events that happen around the world but especially in the land of Israel. Okay, his theology makes sense because he uses prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures as well as the New Testament scriptures.

But, he seems to forget one important bit of evidence. Jesus told his disciples that there would always be wars and rumors of wars but that would not be the end, yet. Then he added that even he did not know when that would be.

It just seems to me that the God of the New Testament is more of a God of grace and forgiveness than one who is violent. Will God really come back and send all of our enemies to hell? Besides, if you listen to those who follow other gods or even Allah, we are the enemies. The God that I have seen and felt is a God of forgiveness and starting over.

There is one more thing. Even if this is the end of times, my responsibility and perhaps yours is to continue living and doing what Jesus has called me to do. As another UM minister, Mike Ramsdale, said this week:

"If a border dispute in Israel is a sign of biblical prophecy or if it is just a continuation of a long-standing dispute over a piece of land, it changes little about my responsibilities as a Christian, or even the when and how of His return. He will still return when He is ready, as I will die and stand before Him also when He is ready.

I must still pray every day.
I must still love my neighbor.
I must still live as He teaches me.
I must still live out my faith in our faithful God.
I must still share Christ with others.
I must still serve the least, the last and the lost.
I must still give, worship and grow in my knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I must still follow Christ. " (www.pastormike's thoughts.com)

I don't know about you, but I think Mike has it right. Regardless of what is coming, I have a job to do - a calling to continue living. Would you like to discuss it? I'd love to meet you, so why not come by on Sunday? We meet every week. Now where is my coffee? Allen

The Problem with Words

2006-08-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

I apologize to all who have missed my words of wit. (ha!) I have been gone on Mission trip and then spent some time getting better. Actually the trip was fine but the long drive home nearly killed me. I am better thanks to some good doctors and a wonderful wife.

I have been working with some of our Ministry Teams and last night during our Worship Team meeting, it dawned on me that we were all using the same words but we obviously had different meanings. So we spent some time working through what certain terms meant so our discussion would be meaningful for all of us. Here is what we decided about worship:

The word "Traditional" for some of us means a more liturgical, high church, type of service, but for some in the meeting the word was being used to refer to the way they did church thirty years ago. We discovered that what they were referring to was to my understanding a more "revival" type of service. You may remember that much of the early history of the UM's in this country was from the Camp Meeting days - a spiritual movement that swept over the new country and land.

We decided that some people like a more "contemporary" type of service and then quickly realized that even that term was difficult to understand. For us it will be used to describe a worship experience with more modern praise songs, usually accompanied by guitar or band music as opposed to a piano or organ. And we then realized that some of our worship services were often a "blend" of more than one style of music.

Isn't it strange how we use words and mean different things? In seminary, the argument of the day was over using gender-neutral language about God. We are past some of that discussion now, but we still need to pause everynow and then to understand our the other person is using the same words that we are using.

Well, I suppose I need to stop or this will turn into an academic paper. I don't mean to do that but if you have questions, we would love to discuss them with you. Why not meet us on Sunday and let's talk about what Jesus meant. Perhaps together we can begin to understand his words. See ya! Allen

Coffee or the Cup?

2006-07-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to several information sources on the Internet. One of them is Kirk Weisler's Thought for the Day (T4D), you can subscribe to Kirk's Thought for the day at Kirk@kirkweisler.com . The following comes from Kirk and apparently he shared it from one of his subscribers. While Kirk doesn't drink coffee, I do and really did enjoy this story.

"This next piece was shared with us by T4D subscriber Randal Rupert, and while I don’t drink coffee… I totally drank in this wonderful story and analogy!!

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal,
some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While, it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself, adds no quality to the coffee in most cases, just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... and then began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee life has provided us."

Think about it. And if you would like to discuss the coffee of your life, come by and see me. We are gathering every Sunday morning to discuss life and how to live it the fullest. Allen

Taking Inventory

2006-06-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

This week, I returned from Mission trip to Coweta, OK and immediately began moving my office from one room to another at the church. I don't know how many times you may have moved your office, but it is really a chore to get that done. It is almost worse than moving into a new one on arrival at a new place to work. I discovered that I had become comfortable in my little office and when another room became available, it seemed like the thing to do. It is larger and quieter, so I thought I wouldn't have any trouble getting settled. Wrong! What I discovered was that moving required me to pack up and evaluate what to keep and what to store. I began to take inventory and then spent some time remembering what each item meant to me. Pictures, crosses, art work, not to mention files and books. Each of them has a story and those stories represent friends who have loved me. I suppose it is old hat so to speak to be reminded that it is a good thing to stop and take inventory of the things I own because that makes me take inventory of my life. You know, who I am and where I am going, that sort of thing. Mission trips do that for me too. When we travel to work for others, sleep in someone else's church and spend long hot days trying to make get the jobs done, life sometimes gets lost in the busyness and the things that we have and do. On arrival home, and after a good nap, there is time to reflect on what had just happened. And what happened in moving my office and working on a Mission trip is that my life is never the same for I am reminded that I am only here for a short period of time. So it isn't what I collect that makes me who I am, it is what I do with the time I have. What do you think? I'd love to talk with you about it, why not come by some Sunday and let's see if we can understand one another. Allen

The Longsuffering of Job

2006-06-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

I use that title loosely because I don't really want to know what Job encountered in his experience. These past few weeks, I have been dealing with a case of the shingles. (does that make me a roofer?) I was diagnosed a couple of weeks before Mission Trip but after treatment by the Doctors, was able to attend Sr. High Mission Trip. I was thinking about my personal irritation with being sick this morning. I don't do sick very well. But then I don't know very many people who do. Being sick is not only an inconvenience it can be painful and downright uncomfortable. I haven't spent any time wondering why me or why now because sickness comes to everyone. We just have to endure it, make plans to get better and move on. But patience is not one of my virtues when it comes to being unable to do my work. However, I am reminded every time that the pain returns that I am human and that I am loved. My wife looks after me as best that she can. My co-workers on the Mission Trip looked after me as much as I let them. Members of the church have been praying for me and have sent cards and made calls. All-in-all I am aware of what love and support comes from a community of faith. I still don't like being sick but I know I am not going through this discomfort alone. They are even so kind as to say that the beard I have grown to cover up the spots on my face looks good. ( Some of these people need glasses!) Well, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Well, given my nature, I'd rather be well. But perhaps being sick has its up side too. I have had some more time for a nap on occasion and I have had some time to think about my life and my work. If you have been sick and need to talk about it, why not come by the church. We meet every week and would love to share what God has done in our lives and who knows, you might get to share too. Have a beautiful week. Allen

Wonders

2006-06-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have spent the past few days with some of God's special people. I am on a Mission Trip and have seen the hand of God move among teenagers, adults who work with teenagers, a community and the churches who are working together. We are in Coweta, OK and are participating in the Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission Senior High Mission trip. As Center Director, I get to work with all of the adults and youth who have come to serve Christ. I have seen youth give up a week of their precious summer time to come to a strange place to dig holes, build porches, cut hedges, paint walls and help those who could not help themselves. Then we also got to experience the presence of Christ through an elderly widower who needed a porch repaired and a disabled single woman trying to adopt four children. We met two young men, members of our host church who gave up their time off to make sure we were cared for as we served others. Wow! I'm not sure what you might expect on a blog site. I don't have anything controversial to discuss or any great revelations. I don't even have any provocative questions this week. All of us miss our families, some of us are sick, others are missing work,but each of us is experiencing the real meaning of serving where we are sent.
No great revelations, just a deep and abiding awareness of the grace of God. Look around and I'll just bet you will see the same thing around you too. I am grateful for the chance to serve our Lord. Amen.

Let Them Pray

2006-06-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I watched a television worship service and then listened as the Pastor of the church explained about a problem he was aware of regarding US Chaplains. It seems that recently the Christian Chaplains had been instructed not to end their prayers "in Jesus' name." Apparently someone in the higher ranks was afraid that praying in Jesus' name might offend some other religions. Seems strange but the Christian Chaplains were told to pray Jewish prayers. Now the US military service has all sorts of chaplains, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and probably some other varieties. Each of them conducts services and ministers to all of their charges without trying to proselyte members. They simply offer pastoral care in their own tradition for persons who are hurting.

This article got my attention on a couple of levels. First, of course, is what would rankle most people's nerves, the singling out of Christian Chaplains for the wording of their prayers. Would not a Jewish prayer potentially offend a Christian? Or a Muslim prayer offend a Jew? The answer is obvious, of course that could happen. So why single out the Christian Chaplains? That wasn't made clear in the article. The Pastor was simply pointing out a new problem in our Military system and a new way of persecuting Christian ministers for doing their job.

On another level, I wondered if our prayers, to be in Jesus' name, needed to have those words at the end. I mean, doesn't prayer in Jesus' name have more to do with one's attitude and commitment than with the words at the end? Can a person who doesn't ever serve Jesus or pretend to have a relationship with Jesus, get further with God if he or she uses the "magic" words at the end of a prayer?

So, yes, I am concerned that someone would be so picky as to fire a US Navy Chaplain, who is a Christian, for praying "in Jesus' name." But I am also concerned by those who claim the name of Christian and never live as Jesus lived. What about you? Do you think being a Christian is about saying certain words or is it more about living as a disciple? I'd love to talk with you about it. Allen

Da Vinci Code

2006-05-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week someone asked me why a Christian would want to see a movie or read a book like "The Da Vinci Code" when it is so obviously anti-Christian. I thought about that question and why anyone might want to see or read something so contrary to what we believe.

My answer is that these works, the book and the movie, are first and foremost fiction. They are interesting stories that hold a person's attention. Basically the book is a good read. It is intriguing and sometimes thrilling. But, if you believe the theories behind the book, then you are believing something based on bad theology, bad history, and some literature that was just plain a hoax.

So why should I read it? Well, I can't tell you what you should do, but I read the book so I could intelligently talk with folks about what the world now thinks is important. Already, I have had several opportunities to discuss church history, theology, Christology and several other topics with some folks that otherwise would not have even asked me a question.

Mr. Brown may have an agenda against the church in general and the Catholic Church in particular, I don't know. What I do know is that even extra-biblical evidence points to the fact that the early church thought Jesus was divine long before the Council of Nicea. And, there has been no legitimate evidence found to corraborate any of the allegations that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married.

So here's the deal the way I see it. For two thousand years, the church has worked hard to open its books to the world and point to both the humanity and the divinity of Jesus. It doesn't make good sense for anyone to think that the church has worked so hard to bring people to the faith, only to then keep the "real" truth from them.

Well, that's my thoughts. What about yours? I'd love to talk with you about it. Why not come to church sometime and let's talk. We are a people who believe all are welcome and that the open discussion of ideas is important. What have you got to lose?
Allen

It's a Start

2006-05-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

Well, today, I am entering the world of Internet publishing. I hope that this blog site becomes useful for somebody. Like my friend Steve has said, if you already know everything, then you can stop reading now and do something useful, like take a nap.

But if you are like me then that has already been done since it's Saturday. Well, I ramble sometimes.

I was thinking about cutting my lawn. Acutally Darlene got up this morning and cut it while I worked on some other household projects. It always seems to amaze me how frustrated I get seeing grass grow so quickly here in Texas. I am sure it grew just as quick in Tennessee when I lived there but it seems to grow faster now that I am a bit older, having just celebrated the 29th anniversary of my 29th birthday.

I'm not sure why I get so frustrated with grass because grass is just like other parts of life. Life goes on, people get older, sometimes wiser and sometimes not. Life changes and we must adapt to those changes, like adapting to the taller grass and the change of the seasons.

Every so often I make some hospital visits and watch the heart monitor. When I have been with families, it seems that most of us want to watch that little line go up and down. That's the way we want to see it. We don't want to straight line because that really isn't good. Yet, we watch, helpless to do anything about it if the line goes straight or slows down. I suppose that I'm not very good at just watching life go by. I want to do something about it.

And yet, there are so many things that I cannot do anything about. Maybe that's why the Psalmist reminds us to "Commit our ways to the Lord and trust in Him..." Psalm 37:5 NRSV.

I just think that sometimes I don't trust God enough. How about you? I'd love to talk with you about it sometimes. Allen