It is a bit surreal knowing that this time next week I will be heading to the airport to get on a plane to go to India. I have prepared my part of the teachings. I have shopped for the trip's necessities. I have been reading local news (local to them) to get some contextual understanding. I have been meeting with my mentor/travel companion/friend. And now I am stuck in that hurry up and wait holding pattern that I seem to get into before all big trips.
Even with all of the preparations, there is still much that is unknown. Even with the knowledge that faithfulness and obedience are recognized and used by God, there are still some feelings of inadequacy. While not paralyzed by the fear and reality of these and other feelings that are coursing through me with the adrenaline and excitement for the adventure itself, they are my realities at the moment.
Things that I have heard all along my faith journey, I'm convinced are already taking on new meaning. While I have traveled to some other parts of the world before for missions and fun, this is the furthest I have ever traveled from home (more than 8800 miles). I imagine the thoughts and feelings that I am experiencing are not unique to me. Suddenly being a stranger in a foreign land is having a different impact on me. I have no idea what God is or will be doing in me...and I have no idea of what God is going to do thru me (praying it is something significant for the kingdom), I just know that I'm going and in that going is a certain amount of fear and uncertainty.
I am, however, an adventurer at heart. Perhaps that is why camping, hiking, geocaching, firefighting, and trips in general are so appealing to me. I am overwhelmed with curiosity and the anticipation of
new things and experiences. I am excited to see and speak with people that have literally a completely different world view and understanding. I am dying to see how faith is lived out in a part of the world where faithfulness has real life and death consequences. There are some things that you can read about all your life, but they just don't become real until you experience them. I am going to get to see what Mother Teresa saw. I am going to probably go right by the slums that were in the movie slum dog millionaire. I am going to feel and experience the vastness of disparity and look for and witness to real hope. So in all of these ways I am incredibly stoked and can't wait to get the trip started.
So here I sit, blogging about being caught between the avalanche of feelings and chemical reactions that are unleashed in my being at the moment involving my trip. I'm sure it's going to be one heck of a roller coaster ride and I can't wait (for the most part) for it to begin.
I will continue to pray and prepare the best way I know how. I would appreciate it if you would join me in that endeavor. Also, feel free to share your thoughts on long trips and how you cope and prepare in the comments section below.
Showing posts with label Life with God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life with God. Show all posts
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
You just don't know...
who you're going to help or how you're going to help them. Today I learned that several people have been touched by either actions I have done or words that I have spoken in the past few weeks. Instead of sharing the details of how God used me in these people's lives, I want to share a story of how God used someone else in my life.
Her name is Mrs. Seagler and she was my Spanish II teacher in high school. Mrs. S. had seen me at my worst, when I was in the throws of my drinking and drug addiction. She witnessed from the front row the devastation that those choices had as they rippled through my life.
During the Christmas season about 11 years ago, I ran into her while buying stockings and decorations at a Christmas store in Memorial City Mall. I had finished making my selections and was in line to pay for my goods. As I was standing there, I began to think that I recognized the back of this woman's head (her hairstyle hadn't changed in the passing years) and I began to attempt to get a view of her face. As my eyes met hers, there was that instant flash of recognition that we both experienced. I said her name and asked if she remembered me. She responded that she did and I began to tell her of how I had sobered up a few years earlier and how I was married and how my life had been completely turned around. As I related what had happened, she began to cry. I asked why she was crying, insisting that this was good news. She told me that from the time she had first met me and knew of the issues I was struggling with that she had included me daily in her rosary prayers.
Now my eyes were welling up with tears because I realized for the first time...during all those years of darkness...I hadn't been alone. She was encouraged to know that her prayers for more than 15 years had been answered.
I share this with you because up until that point, I didn't know that anyone else was for me. I had no idea that others were standing right there beside me fighting for me. It caused me to look back on my life and realize that there had been countless others whose words, prayers, and actions had blessed me in amazing ways.
Neither of us realized the work that God was doing in us and through us in those years. Sometimes you just don't know who you're going to help or how you're going to help them. So pray hard, speak kindly, and act in the ways of love and God can and will do amazing things in those places...even if you are unaware.
Her name is Mrs. Seagler and she was my Spanish II teacher in high school. Mrs. S. had seen me at my worst, when I was in the throws of my drinking and drug addiction. She witnessed from the front row the devastation that those choices had as they rippled through my life.
During the Christmas season about 11 years ago, I ran into her while buying stockings and decorations at a Christmas store in Memorial City Mall. I had finished making my selections and was in line to pay for my goods. As I was standing there, I began to think that I recognized the back of this woman's head (her hairstyle hadn't changed in the passing years) and I began to attempt to get a view of her face. As my eyes met hers, there was that instant flash of recognition that we both experienced. I said her name and asked if she remembered me. She responded that she did and I began to tell her of how I had sobered up a few years earlier and how I was married and how my life had been completely turned around. As I related what had happened, she began to cry. I asked why she was crying, insisting that this was good news. She told me that from the time she had first met me and knew of the issues I was struggling with that she had included me daily in her rosary prayers.
Now my eyes were welling up with tears because I realized for the first time...during all those years of darkness...I hadn't been alone. She was encouraged to know that her prayers for more than 15 years had been answered.
I share this with you because up until that point, I didn't know that anyone else was for me. I had no idea that others were standing right there beside me fighting for me. It caused me to look back on my life and realize that there had been countless others whose words, prayers, and actions had blessed me in amazing ways.
Neither of us realized the work that God was doing in us and through us in those years. Sometimes you just don't know who you're going to help or how you're going to help them. So pray hard, speak kindly, and act in the ways of love and God can and will do amazing things in those places...even if you are unaware.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Reflections on the Past 4 Years - Part III
When thinking about the past 4 years, school and church life are of course at the forefront of the remembrances. The truth is, however, that there are far more memories, relationships and blessings that have happened outside of these two contexts. Here are just a few more of my final reflections about the past 4 years:
First, it was almost 22 months ago that our daughter was born. As I think about our time here, my memories are filled with late night awakenings, mid-afternoon naps (with Bailey sleeping on my chest), and tons of fun with the people of Edom as Bailey's area of exploration has grown over the past 22 months. They had warned us that drinking the water at the parsonage has caused more than one preaching family to leave this place with a larger family than what they had arrived with!
One of my greatest joys the last two years we have spent here has been serving on the volunteer fire department. There is nothing like going into a burning building to get the adrenaline pumping. In the two years of service to the department I have had the privilege of working hundreds of calls from medical crisis to structure fires, grass fires to motor vehicle accidents, downed power lines to high moving water rescues. It has been a part of me becoming more entrenched in the community. It has been an extension of my ministry---there is simply nothing like showing up on an accident scene and having the person ask you "aren't you that Methodist preacher?" and then them asking you to pray with them. I will definitely miss going on calls in my new appointment.
Other ministry has included working with the teenagers at Sundown Ranch. Sundown is a residential treatment and recovery center about 20 miles away from home that has its own school (to where kids don't lose out on their education while working their programs). I have spent numerous afternoons with young men processing their 5th steps. It has served to ground my own recovery and to continually allow me to give back in an area that I am passionate about.
The friendships that have been made here have transcended denominational lines. As such, I have had the opportunity to work with other pastors in their ministry settings as well. There are many friendships from outside the church that I will take with me into future years.
I am grateful for the relationships that I have built with city and county officials. It is funny that the JP that was elected when I first got here, I met because of a speeding ticket I received on the way to school one morning. The current JP is a fellow hunter and sojourner in ministry and is an amazing man. He is a great example of how ministry happens with the laity in any job and any situation. The current mayor has also been a blessing to my time here...it has not gone unnoticed that when there is a city event (like the Christmas tree lightings) that in spite of her attending another church, she has continued to invite me to do the invocations (that has been a real blessing).
I had an experience once where I was standing between the county constable and the JP and I just busted out laughing. They looked at me and wondered what was so funny and I told them that this is only the second time in 12 years that I have stood between a cop and a judge and not been in handcuffs (they both know about my past struggles with addiction). They laughed heartily...after all, it is the little things in life that are important!
A couple of years ago, I did something I hadn't done since high school...I performed a lead in a play at the community center. The play was A Sanders Family Christmas and was a hoot to do. Later that year, I received two awards for my performance (best actor and best newcomer)...I am still not sure that they were deserved, but I welcome them as it is probably as close as I will ever get to winning any other awards for my acting and singing (thank goodness the lead wasn't supposed to be able to carry a tune in a bucket...that was right up my alley!)
Of course we can't forget about all of the outdoor activities available here in the country. I have been no more than 10 minutes away from my hunting spots for the past 4 years. Trust me when I say that this will be incredibly missed. Some of my new best friends are hunters here in Edom. That reminds me, how many Edomites does it take to track down and pull a deer out of the woods? Apparently 3...the JP, the plumber and the preacher! One night I shot a deer with my bow and arrow and it was a good shot, but she ran 40 yards into the deep thicket of woods off of the hunting trail. It took us some time to track and find her and since it was after dark, my buddy Boyd and I (I had called him to help me out) called the JP to drive up to the road with his lights on so we could find our way back to the main trail...absolutely hilarious! I have been able to play golf on a couple of different courses. I have also been able to fish some of the local fishing holes. I have been blessed.
I am leaving here probably knowing as many people outside the church as I do inside the church. They have all touched my life in meaningful ways...and I pray in some small way, that I have been a blessing to their lives.
Thank you Edom. Thank you Sexton Chapel. Thank you Mt. Sylvan. Thank you for all the friendships, blessings and memories that are now a part of the fabric of my life.
First, it was almost 22 months ago that our daughter was born. As I think about our time here, my memories are filled with late night awakenings, mid-afternoon naps (with Bailey sleeping on my chest), and tons of fun with the people of Edom as Bailey's area of exploration has grown over the past 22 months. They had warned us that drinking the water at the parsonage has caused more than one preaching family to leave this place with a larger family than what they had arrived with!
One of my greatest joys the last two years we have spent here has been serving on the volunteer fire department. There is nothing like going into a burning building to get the adrenaline pumping. In the two years of service to the department I have had the privilege of working hundreds of calls from medical crisis to structure fires, grass fires to motor vehicle accidents, downed power lines to high moving water rescues. It has been a part of me becoming more entrenched in the community. It has been an extension of my ministry---there is simply nothing like showing up on an accident scene and having the person ask you "aren't you that Methodist preacher?" and then them asking you to pray with them. I will definitely miss going on calls in my new appointment.
Other ministry has included working with the teenagers at Sundown Ranch. Sundown is a residential treatment and recovery center about 20 miles away from home that has its own school (to where kids don't lose out on their education while working their programs). I have spent numerous afternoons with young men processing their 5th steps. It has served to ground my own recovery and to continually allow me to give back in an area that I am passionate about.
The friendships that have been made here have transcended denominational lines. As such, I have had the opportunity to work with other pastors in their ministry settings as well. There are many friendships from outside the church that I will take with me into future years.
I am grateful for the relationships that I have built with city and county officials. It is funny that the JP that was elected when I first got here, I met because of a speeding ticket I received on the way to school one morning. The current JP is a fellow hunter and sojourner in ministry and is an amazing man. He is a great example of how ministry happens with the laity in any job and any situation. The current mayor has also been a blessing to my time here...it has not gone unnoticed that when there is a city event (like the Christmas tree lightings) that in spite of her attending another church, she has continued to invite me to do the invocations (that has been a real blessing).
I had an experience once where I was standing between the county constable and the JP and I just busted out laughing. They looked at me and wondered what was so funny and I told them that this is only the second time in 12 years that I have stood between a cop and a judge and not been in handcuffs (they both know about my past struggles with addiction). They laughed heartily...after all, it is the little things in life that are important!
A couple of years ago, I did something I hadn't done since high school...I performed a lead in a play at the community center. The play was A Sanders Family Christmas and was a hoot to do. Later that year, I received two awards for my performance (best actor and best newcomer)...I am still not sure that they were deserved, but I welcome them as it is probably as close as I will ever get to winning any other awards for my acting and singing (thank goodness the lead wasn't supposed to be able to carry a tune in a bucket...that was right up my alley!)
Of course we can't forget about all of the outdoor activities available here in the country. I have been no more than 10 minutes away from my hunting spots for the past 4 years. Trust me when I say that this will be incredibly missed. Some of my new best friends are hunters here in Edom. That reminds me, how many Edomites does it take to track down and pull a deer out of the woods? Apparently 3...the JP, the plumber and the preacher! One night I shot a deer with my bow and arrow and it was a good shot, but she ran 40 yards into the deep thicket of woods off of the hunting trail. It took us some time to track and find her and since it was after dark, my buddy Boyd and I (I had called him to help me out) called the JP to drive up to the road with his lights on so we could find our way back to the main trail...absolutely hilarious! I have been able to play golf on a couple of different courses. I have also been able to fish some of the local fishing holes. I have been blessed.
I am leaving here probably knowing as many people outside the church as I do inside the church. They have all touched my life in meaningful ways...and I pray in some small way, that I have been a blessing to their lives.
Thank you Edom. Thank you Sexton Chapel. Thank you Mt. Sylvan. Thank you for all the friendships, blessings and memories that are now a part of the fabric of my life.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Reflections on the Past 4 Years - Part II
Much of my time in Edom over the past four years has been related to school and ordination.
During this time I have been working on (and completing) my MDiv at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. That means that I logged about 624 hours (that is 26 days folks!) on the road between Edom and Dallas for classes. That does not count the hours to Longview for internship or any of the hours on the road to Houston or Lakeview for conference related work. Add to the travel time the amount of time that it took to write all of those papers, complete all the projects, do all the reading (and I am still not done with all the reading...are you?), etc., and you will begin to get some sense of the insanity that has been my life these past four years.
I have been frequently asked about my choice for seminaries and what I thought of others. My seminary choice had a lot to do with family relationships and having enough money to go to seminary. Needless to say, the package that Perkins/SMU offered me was the best deal. It allowed me to stay and serve in my current conference and kept me close to family ties that we have here in Texas. Although I would say that I am more conservative than many folks at Perkins, I faired well with my grades and studies. My experience with seminaries is that no one school has it all. Some have phenomenal preaching teachers, while others are noted for their biblical scholarship. I have learned in my seminary career to temper everything. I have spent a great deal of time reading from authors and professors of other seminaries to keep my education as balanced as possible (or as unbalanced as possible...depending on how you want to look at it); and this has served my own spiritual growth and education quite well.
While there are areas of disagreement that I have with some professors at Perkins, I have been blessed to learn from some folks that I truly consider great in their fields. Some of those include Dr. Bassler, Dr. Howard, Dr. Heller, Dr. Abraham and Dr. McKenzie; just to name a few. I have been well served by the works of others outside of Perkins including Dr. Ray Anderson (Fuller Theological Seminary), Dr. Joel Green (Asbury Theological Seminary), and Dr. Darrell Bock (Dallas Theological Seminary). So the point of all of this, I guess, is to say that your education is quite literally what you make of it (regardless of who is at the head of the class teaching it).
Perhaps the best feature of Perkins was the mix of students that were there. Because of that mix, I have been able to have meaningful and thoughtful debates and conversations with ministers (and future ministers) in the Catholic, United Methodist, Anglican, Episcopalian, Greek Orthodox, Nazarene, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, African Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and many other denominationally affiliated and independent churches. Add to that the ability to worship and study with folks from all over the globe (Iran, Russia, Africa, Australia, and many other places), I have been blessed with a deeper look into the cultures and practices of Christians everywhere. This has been, by far, the deepest blessing.
One of the realizations that I have had, now with more than 8 years of recent schooling, is that I am a student. I love to explore and to learn. And I love to share those explorations and lessons with others. While I am planning on returning to school to get my Doctorate of Ministry (DMin) degree in a couple of years, I realize that learning and education are just a deep part of who I am and how I am wired.
On the ordination side of things, I reached a milestone during my time here in Edom. At this last Annual Conference, I was commissioned as a probationary elder in the United Methodist Church. This process has taken 9 years to accomplish...and if all goes well, in a couple of years (the Annual Conference of 2011) I will be fully ordained as an elder in the church. There are/have been a lot of hoops to jump through and it has been an excruciating process at times. I am, however, better and stronger for having stayed the course. I look forward to the opportunities that I will have in the years to come to work with others to revise and improve upon this process for those that will follow me into ordained ministry.
I do want to say, that by and large, the commissioning interview (the big board) was one of the most affirming experiences to date in my process towards ordination. I have had several of the members of the Board of Ordained Ministry come along side me in the past few weeks and speak encouragement and blessing into my life. It is as if I have finally made it out of the wilderness and am truly becoming a part of something that is much larger than I could ever be on my own.
The highlight of Annual Conference for me this year, was the moment that Bishop Huie placed her hands on my shoulder, smiled, said my name, and spoke those historical words of the commissioning liturgy over me and prayed. It is a moment that I don't think will soon be forgotten.
So while at times, my journey has seemed tenuous and tedious, I am grateful to have completed these two huge milestones in my life and career as a minister within the United Methodist Church.
During this time I have been working on (and completing) my MDiv at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. That means that I logged about 624 hours (that is 26 days folks!) on the road between Edom and Dallas for classes. That does not count the hours to Longview for internship or any of the hours on the road to Houston or Lakeview for conference related work. Add to the travel time the amount of time that it took to write all of those papers, complete all the projects, do all the reading (and I am still not done with all the reading...are you?), etc., and you will begin to get some sense of the insanity that has been my life these past four years.
I have been frequently asked about my choice for seminaries and what I thought of others. My seminary choice had a lot to do with family relationships and having enough money to go to seminary. Needless to say, the package that Perkins/SMU offered me was the best deal. It allowed me to stay and serve in my current conference and kept me close to family ties that we have here in Texas. Although I would say that I am more conservative than many folks at Perkins, I faired well with my grades and studies. My experience with seminaries is that no one school has it all. Some have phenomenal preaching teachers, while others are noted for their biblical scholarship. I have learned in my seminary career to temper everything. I have spent a great deal of time reading from authors and professors of other seminaries to keep my education as balanced as possible (or as unbalanced as possible...depending on how you want to look at it); and this has served my own spiritual growth and education quite well.
While there are areas of disagreement that I have with some professors at Perkins, I have been blessed to learn from some folks that I truly consider great in their fields. Some of those include Dr. Bassler, Dr. Howard, Dr. Heller, Dr. Abraham and Dr. McKenzie; just to name a few. I have been well served by the works of others outside of Perkins including Dr. Ray Anderson (Fuller Theological Seminary), Dr. Joel Green (Asbury Theological Seminary), and Dr. Darrell Bock (Dallas Theological Seminary). So the point of all of this, I guess, is to say that your education is quite literally what you make of it (regardless of who is at the head of the class teaching it).
Perhaps the best feature of Perkins was the mix of students that were there. Because of that mix, I have been able to have meaningful and thoughtful debates and conversations with ministers (and future ministers) in the Catholic, United Methodist, Anglican, Episcopalian, Greek Orthodox, Nazarene, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, African Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and many other denominationally affiliated and independent churches. Add to that the ability to worship and study with folks from all over the globe (Iran, Russia, Africa, Australia, and many other places), I have been blessed with a deeper look into the cultures and practices of Christians everywhere. This has been, by far, the deepest blessing.
One of the realizations that I have had, now with more than 8 years of recent schooling, is that I am a student. I love to explore and to learn. And I love to share those explorations and lessons with others. While I am planning on returning to school to get my Doctorate of Ministry (DMin) degree in a couple of years, I realize that learning and education are just a deep part of who I am and how I am wired.
On the ordination side of things, I reached a milestone during my time here in Edom. At this last Annual Conference, I was commissioned as a probationary elder in the United Methodist Church. This process has taken 9 years to accomplish...and if all goes well, in a couple of years (the Annual Conference of 2011) I will be fully ordained as an elder in the church. There are/have been a lot of hoops to jump through and it has been an excruciating process at times. I am, however, better and stronger for having stayed the course. I look forward to the opportunities that I will have in the years to come to work with others to revise and improve upon this process for those that will follow me into ordained ministry.
I do want to say, that by and large, the commissioning interview (the big board) was one of the most affirming experiences to date in my process towards ordination. I have had several of the members of the Board of Ordained Ministry come along side me in the past few weeks and speak encouragement and blessing into my life. It is as if I have finally made it out of the wilderness and am truly becoming a part of something that is much larger than I could ever be on my own.
The highlight of Annual Conference for me this year, was the moment that Bishop Huie placed her hands on my shoulder, smiled, said my name, and spoke those historical words of the commissioning liturgy over me and prayed. It is a moment that I don't think will soon be forgotten.
So while at times, my journey has seemed tenuous and tedious, I am grateful to have completed these two huge milestones in my life and career as a minister within the United Methodist Church.
Reflections on the Past 4 Years - Part I
With only 11 days left until the movers arrive, I am finding myself doing a lot of reflecting.
Some of my reflecting has been around ministry these past four years in Edom. There have been good times and there have been challenging times.
Some of the challenges have been related to staff changes, people transferring their memberships to other churches, the church's implementation of the Transformation process, balancing everything (family, school, more than 250 members across multiple churches), restructuring the leadership, merging two churches, selling property, and so on. Change is stressful no matter what the result. Some of these changes have already born much fruit, while others are still getting off the ground. While not every change during my time in ministry has succeeded, I am stronger because of the journey. Valuable lessons have been learned...lessons I hope to carry forward into my ministry for years to come.
Many of the good times involve some miraculous work that God has done in our midst over these past four years. Here are just a few of the ways that God has blessed our time in Edom:
-during the three and a half years that Sexton Chapel UMC remained open, we witnessed 4 new members join...2 of which were professions of faith (not transfers from other churches)
-during the 6 months that Mt. Sylvan UMC has been a part of my charge, we have witnessed 2 new members join...1 of which was a profession of faith
-during the 4 years that I have pastored Edom UMC we have witnessed 30 new members join our church family...9 of which were professions of faith
-There have been 7 baptisms at Edom...including the baptism of my daughter
-I have officiated at 6 weddings during my time in Edom
-I have had the honor and privilege of ministering to 17 families during times of death. Often, I have been in the room when our friends and loved ones have gone home to be with their Lord. It is a rich blessing indeed to preach the funerals of these precious friends. These times have strengthened my ministry and relationships, perhaps like no other.
There is no doubt that God has been active during our stay here in Edom, Texas; but these numbers don't reflect the depth of work that God has been fully about:
-These numbers don't capture the teenage girl's blog posting after a mission trip that describe how deeply that trip moved her and changed her.
-These numbers don't capture the depth that people have served others in the world (how 6 have given so much of their time to facilitate needed heart surgeries for 11 others from the other side of the globe, or how the youth have built over 600 health kits in my time here, or how the lay shepherds have cared for the flock, or how our kids have helped kids in the Line Islands by sending $1,100 worth the school supplies and hundreds-if not thousands- more in books and toys, the list could go on ad infinitum)
-These numbers don't capture the increased depth of prayer life that prayer vigils, prayer triads, and other lessons and practices of prayer have accomplished in the life of this community
-These numbers don't capture the level of commitment to studying the scriptures or the transformation that can only come in the narrative of a person coming up to you explaining how they feel reconnected to the gospel after decades of not reading their Bibles.
-These numbers don't capture the way we came together with 6 other United Methodist Churches to reach out to those in our community last Advent season
-These numbers don't show how dozens of people rallied around a single mom and her four children in her greatest time of need (giving her housing, food, clothing, and love)
And there is so much more.
I give thanks to God for the work that has been done here during my time in Edom. I look forward to seeing what God will continue to do through the lives of those serving here. It has been a rich, rich blessing. And while the numbers may not fully show the magnitude of God's work here, the relationships and narratives that I carry with me bear witness to the plethora of fruit that God is harvesting in this little east Texas town.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow...Praise God!
Some of my reflecting has been around ministry these past four years in Edom. There have been good times and there have been challenging times.
Some of the challenges have been related to staff changes, people transferring their memberships to other churches, the church's implementation of the Transformation process, balancing everything (family, school, more than 250 members across multiple churches), restructuring the leadership, merging two churches, selling property, and so on. Change is stressful no matter what the result. Some of these changes have already born much fruit, while others are still getting off the ground. While not every change during my time in ministry has succeeded, I am stronger because of the journey. Valuable lessons have been learned...lessons I hope to carry forward into my ministry for years to come.
Many of the good times involve some miraculous work that God has done in our midst over these past four years. Here are just a few of the ways that God has blessed our time in Edom:
-during the three and a half years that Sexton Chapel UMC remained open, we witnessed 4 new members join...2 of which were professions of faith (not transfers from other churches)
-during the 6 months that Mt. Sylvan UMC has been a part of my charge, we have witnessed 2 new members join...1 of which was a profession of faith
-during the 4 years that I have pastored Edom UMC we have witnessed 30 new members join our church family...9 of which were professions of faith
-There have been 7 baptisms at Edom...including the baptism of my daughter
-I have officiated at 6 weddings during my time in Edom
-I have had the honor and privilege of ministering to 17 families during times of death. Often, I have been in the room when our friends and loved ones have gone home to be with their Lord. It is a rich blessing indeed to preach the funerals of these precious friends. These times have strengthened my ministry and relationships, perhaps like no other.
There is no doubt that God has been active during our stay here in Edom, Texas; but these numbers don't reflect the depth of work that God has been fully about:
-These numbers don't capture the teenage girl's blog posting after a mission trip that describe how deeply that trip moved her and changed her.
-These numbers don't capture the depth that people have served others in the world (how 6 have given so much of their time to facilitate needed heart surgeries for 11 others from the other side of the globe, or how the youth have built over 600 health kits in my time here, or how the lay shepherds have cared for the flock, or how our kids have helped kids in the Line Islands by sending $1,100 worth the school supplies and hundreds-if not thousands- more in books and toys, the list could go on ad infinitum)
-These numbers don't capture the increased depth of prayer life that prayer vigils, prayer triads, and other lessons and practices of prayer have accomplished in the life of this community
-These numbers don't capture the level of commitment to studying the scriptures or the transformation that can only come in the narrative of a person coming up to you explaining how they feel reconnected to the gospel after decades of not reading their Bibles.
-These numbers don't capture the way we came together with 6 other United Methodist Churches to reach out to those in our community last Advent season
-These numbers don't show how dozens of people rallied around a single mom and her four children in her greatest time of need (giving her housing, food, clothing, and love)
And there is so much more.
I give thanks to God for the work that has been done here during my time in Edom. I look forward to seeing what God will continue to do through the lives of those serving here. It has been a rich, rich blessing. And while the numbers may not fully show the magnitude of God's work here, the relationships and narratives that I carry with me bear witness to the plethora of fruit that God is harvesting in this little east Texas town.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow...Praise God!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Radically Altered - The Retreat
Today we will be loading up and driving from our vacation spot to the town of Trinity here in Texas. It is my honor and privilege to be the guest speaker at Chapelwood UMC's singles retreat.
This year we are going to be looking at the ways that we are radically altered by God's grace. Here is a breakdown of the sessions:
Tonight - introduction to the weekend and fun and games
Tomorrow - 3 sessions:
1) "I'm not who I was - and neither are you" - recognizing the work of grace that was begun in us when we accepted Christ
2) "Give me your eyes" - allowing our perspective to become God's perspective and stepping into mission and ministry in that place
3) "More radically altered" - recognizing that there are things that stand in the way of the work that God is doing in us and through us and letting that stuff go in creative ways to make more room for grace.
Sunday - "Remember your baptism" - a service of commitment and sending forth.
There is going to be great worship music (my friend Bobby Carr is leading the worship), lots of creative and interactive activities, a zip line, a camp fire, a catered BBQ dinner on Saturday evening, Communion, and so much more.
I will post pictures and share some of the wow moments of the retreat in a few days.
In the mean time, how is the grace of God at work in your life? Drop us a comment and let us know!
This year we are going to be looking at the ways that we are radically altered by God's grace. Here is a breakdown of the sessions:
Tonight - introduction to the weekend and fun and games
Tomorrow - 3 sessions:
1) "I'm not who I was - and neither are you" - recognizing the work of grace that was begun in us when we accepted Christ
2) "Give me your eyes" - allowing our perspective to become God's perspective and stepping into mission and ministry in that place
3) "More radically altered" - recognizing that there are things that stand in the way of the work that God is doing in us and through us and letting that stuff go in creative ways to make more room for grace.
Sunday - "Remember your baptism" - a service of commitment and sending forth.
There is going to be great worship music (my friend Bobby Carr is leading the worship), lots of creative and interactive activities, a zip line, a camp fire, a catered BBQ dinner on Saturday evening, Communion, and so much more.
I will post pictures and share some of the wow moments of the retreat in a few days.
In the mean time, how is the grace of God at work in your life? Drop us a comment and let us know!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Another Spiritual 2 X 4
I really love it when God slaps me upside the head with what I like to affectionately call the good old spiritual 2x4!
On Sunday morning I was simply exhausted. I had traveled 1200 miles in less than 6 days, found out about a new move, passed my commissioning interviews, encountered some negativity in some other meetings (and some tremendous affirmations to boot) and had been reflecting on the last 4 years of ministry. I asked myself questions regarding what is left to do prior to my move, what should have I done differently, etc. At the end of my time of reflection, I simply asked God to be present in worship that morning and to use me as a vessel of his mercy and grace.
On my way to the early service at the smaller of the two churches I serve, I was listening to praise and worship music on the radio (its what I do...both services at the churches I serve are traditional and I miss some of the more contemporary stuff from time to time) and heard Mighty to Save.
I was singing along to the song (yes, I'm that dorky...I am that guy)....Savior, he can move mountains, my God is mighty to save...He is mighty to save...forever, author of salvation...He rose and conquered the grave...yes Jesus conquered the grave...He is mighty to save...
The song resonated with me for the 22 minute drive from Edom to Mt. Sylvan...it was water to a thirsty soul.
We worshipped, I preached, and at the end of the service with only 22 people present, I almost opted not to have an invitation to discipleship...I paused and shared that Jesus said that those who are thirsty should come and they will receive a drink of living water, those who are weary they will receive rest, and so on. We began singing our hymn of invitation and I got lost in the singing. As I opened my eyes and looked up at the beginning of the fourth and final verse, I saw a couple standing at the front of the sanctuary.
The long and the short of it was that one transferred their membership from another church and the other joined by profession of faith restored after a long separation from the church (and after the spouse saying that they would never come to church!).
I thought about the events that had happened in the previous hour as I was returning to Edom for the second service. As I arrived I noticed that the parking lot was more full than it had been in a number of weeks...we had more than a dozen people above our normal church attendance that morning. I reflected again on the song from earlier in the morning: Everyone needs compassion...the love that's never failing...let mercy fall on me...everyone needs forgiveness...the kindness of a Savior...the hope of the nations...my God, he can move mountains....
I went home a little more tired and a little more refreshed than I had been when the day began.
Yesterday I was hanging out after Bible study and someone that had been wrestling with membership in our church (whether to join or not) for a while came up to me after the study to let me know that they and their spouse would be joining this coming weekend!
Again I heard the words: you're my Savior...you can move the mountains...you are mighty to save.
In months that have been lean when it comes to church growth in these two rural churches; in times that seem like we have gone through a lot of administration that seemed to have nothing to do at times with ministry; in times when we feel like nothing is happening...it is in these times that God continues to move.
It may not happen on our time table, but God is in our midst and is faithful to his Word. And that is my spiritual 2x4 this Lenten season (for those of you in my Bible study class this is just another classic duh-sciple moment!)...God is mighty to save!
So here's my question for the readers: What mountain is the Savior moving in your midst?
On Sunday morning I was simply exhausted. I had traveled 1200 miles in less than 6 days, found out about a new move, passed my commissioning interviews, encountered some negativity in some other meetings (and some tremendous affirmations to boot) and had been reflecting on the last 4 years of ministry. I asked myself questions regarding what is left to do prior to my move, what should have I done differently, etc. At the end of my time of reflection, I simply asked God to be present in worship that morning and to use me as a vessel of his mercy and grace.
On my way to the early service at the smaller of the two churches I serve, I was listening to praise and worship music on the radio (its what I do...both services at the churches I serve are traditional and I miss some of the more contemporary stuff from time to time) and heard Mighty to Save.
I was singing along to the song (yes, I'm that dorky...I am that guy)....Savior, he can move mountains, my God is mighty to save...He is mighty to save...forever, author of salvation...He rose and conquered the grave...yes Jesus conquered the grave...He is mighty to save...
The song resonated with me for the 22 minute drive from Edom to Mt. Sylvan...it was water to a thirsty soul.
We worshipped, I preached, and at the end of the service with only 22 people present, I almost opted not to have an invitation to discipleship...I paused and shared that Jesus said that those who are thirsty should come and they will receive a drink of living water, those who are weary they will receive rest, and so on. We began singing our hymn of invitation and I got lost in the singing. As I opened my eyes and looked up at the beginning of the fourth and final verse, I saw a couple standing at the front of the sanctuary.
The long and the short of it was that one transferred their membership from another church and the other joined by profession of faith restored after a long separation from the church (and after the spouse saying that they would never come to church!).
I thought about the events that had happened in the previous hour as I was returning to Edom for the second service. As I arrived I noticed that the parking lot was more full than it had been in a number of weeks...we had more than a dozen people above our normal church attendance that morning. I reflected again on the song from earlier in the morning: Everyone needs compassion...the love that's never failing...let mercy fall on me...everyone needs forgiveness...the kindness of a Savior...the hope of the nations...my God, he can move mountains....
I went home a little more tired and a little more refreshed than I had been when the day began.
Yesterday I was hanging out after Bible study and someone that had been wrestling with membership in our church (whether to join or not) for a while came up to me after the study to let me know that they and their spouse would be joining this coming weekend!
Again I heard the words: you're my Savior...you can move the mountains...you are mighty to save.
In months that have been lean when it comes to church growth in these two rural churches; in times that seem like we have gone through a lot of administration that seemed to have nothing to do at times with ministry; in times when we feel like nothing is happening...it is in these times that God continues to move.
It may not happen on our time table, but God is in our midst and is faithful to his Word. And that is my spiritual 2x4 this Lenten season (for those of you in my Bible study class this is just another classic duh-sciple moment!)...God is mighty to save!
So here's my question for the readers: What mountain is the Savior moving in your midst?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Asking Different Questions
A buddy and I have been having a long distance theological discussion...one that I thought I would share a little bit about with you all here on Radically Altered.
There is a question that comes up quite frequently in the circles that I run in. The basis of the question regards what God's will is for each of our lives. It comes to me in many different forms from what am I supposed to be doing with my life to what if I get it wrong. These questions often revolve around what we are (or are doing), where we are at or going, when we are supposed to this or that, or why this or that is or is not occurring in our lives.
It seems to me that we get wrapped up in determining and micromanaging the details and outcomes before we even give ourselves an opportunity to take the journey. I propose that the solution to this is to ask different questions. Instead of asking the what, when, where, and why type of questions that seem to permeate the pull ourselves up by the boot straps/do it ourselves mentality, perhaps we should begin by asking the who and the how questions first.
The who questions are all about who we are. It is not about the fact that I am a male in my late 30's of anglo descent. It is not about being an American or a Texan or anything else. At the heart of the who question is the realization that I am God's. It involves a regrounding of my identity not in worldly or cultural things, but rather it involves a firm grounding of my identity in God (the one who created me). The who I am questions can only be authentically answered in a community of sojourners seeking to understand, receive, and reflect the grace of God that forms their very identity (and we must remember that God is a member of that sojourning community). Deeply understanding who we are as sons and daughters, co-heirs of the kingdom of God (co-laborers too), brothers and sisters, a royal priesthood, a body, etc will radically alter the way that we perceive ourselves and others...and if we allow it to, it can dramatically open us to the person that God has called us to be. In this sacred space our priorities can be reordered and our wills can be brought into line with God's will.
The how questions have to do with the very core of our being. Having discovered who we are (our identities in Christ), how we are speaks to our spiritual fitness. These are the questions that ask about our relationship with God and with each other. They are tough questions. They are the places in my experience where the Holy Spirit shines a light and says, "Russell, let's take a look over here." They are places of work and transformation. These are the places where God has promised to meet us, but they are also the places that God refuses to leave us.
Another aspect of both of these lines of questions, a fruit from endeavoring down these paths, is that while these questions are about us, they are about us in relation to God and to others. As such, a journey down these paths requires that we develop skills of listening that are often under developed. If you are like me, then perhaps you have approached God and said in some way that this is who I am and this is how I see things and this is what I would like to do. It is so easy for us to think that we know ourselves and what's best for us and to just ask God to bless our efforts. It is much more difficult to travel the roads that these questions may take us down, to actually listen for and to God, and to move where God is moving in our lives rather than where we think we should be moving.
Additionally, to attempt to discern answers to the other questions (where, what, why, when) without first having answered these questions is kind of like putting the cart before the horse. When we realize that we are God's and our relationships with God and with others have been transformed, we begin to find that as long as these are maintained, the rest is relative and seems to have less of a choke hold on our lives. Does it matter if I am a teacher or a waiter? Does it matter if I make a lot of money or a little? Does it matter if I am known by many or by a few? I think that if we get these two lines of questioning right, then the rest is of little consequence. If we fully understand whose we are and how we are to be with one another and God, then we can be who we are and how we are supposed to be in any context.
This last thought does something dramatic...it takes God out of the either/or box. So many times we think that God either wants us to do one thing or the other. It is like God has placed his will for our lives in one hand and left the other hand empty. If we pick the correct hand, then we are living in God's will. This seems to limit God to an either/or entity. Really, I believe that with God, there are many times (but not all) when God is more likely both/and (otherwise, what's the point of free will---ah, but that's another post). We can be who we are and how we are called to be in any career (teacher, factory worker, accountant, public official, etc), any economic context, any situation whatsoever. At the end of our time here, I believe God is going to be more interested in who we were and how we were. If we live lives that reflect who we are called to be and how we are called to be, the choices we make about the what, when, where, and why will reflect our identities and our heart, no matter what those choices were. So in the end the what, when, where, why are of lesser significance than the who and the how.
When seeking God's will, it seems to me that Scripture makes some valuable statements about what the will of God might entail. Micah reminds us that "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (6:8)." When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus says, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matt 22:37-40)" In the end, who we are and how we are shapes what we do, when we do it, where we do it and why we do it. To attempt to answer these latter questions without the foundation of who and how we are called to be, seems to risk making choices and acting in ways that are inconsistent with the will of God.
So in the end, I think it is about asking different questions in our journey towards God. If we are capable of asking better questions, perhaps we will be able to better discern what God wills for our lives.
I think that this covers one of our conversations in a nutshell (all be it a rather large nut shell!). I would be interested in continuing this dialog with you...please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts about aligning our wills with the will of God.
There is a question that comes up quite frequently in the circles that I run in. The basis of the question regards what God's will is for each of our lives. It comes to me in many different forms from what am I supposed to be doing with my life to what if I get it wrong. These questions often revolve around what we are (or are doing), where we are at or going, when we are supposed to this or that, or why this or that is or is not occurring in our lives.
It seems to me that we get wrapped up in determining and micromanaging the details and outcomes before we even give ourselves an opportunity to take the journey. I propose that the solution to this is to ask different questions. Instead of asking the what, when, where, and why type of questions that seem to permeate the pull ourselves up by the boot straps/do it ourselves mentality, perhaps we should begin by asking the who and the how questions first.
The who questions are all about who we are. It is not about the fact that I am a male in my late 30's of anglo descent. It is not about being an American or a Texan or anything else. At the heart of the who question is the realization that I am God's. It involves a regrounding of my identity not in worldly or cultural things, but rather it involves a firm grounding of my identity in God (the one who created me). The who I am questions can only be authentically answered in a community of sojourners seeking to understand, receive, and reflect the grace of God that forms their very identity (and we must remember that God is a member of that sojourning community). Deeply understanding who we are as sons and daughters, co-heirs of the kingdom of God (co-laborers too), brothers and sisters, a royal priesthood, a body, etc will radically alter the way that we perceive ourselves and others...and if we allow it to, it can dramatically open us to the person that God has called us to be. In this sacred space our priorities can be reordered and our wills can be brought into line with God's will.
The how questions have to do with the very core of our being. Having discovered who we are (our identities in Christ), how we are speaks to our spiritual fitness. These are the questions that ask about our relationship with God and with each other. They are tough questions. They are the places in my experience where the Holy Spirit shines a light and says, "Russell, let's take a look over here." They are places of work and transformation. These are the places where God has promised to meet us, but they are also the places that God refuses to leave us.
Another aspect of both of these lines of questions, a fruit from endeavoring down these paths, is that while these questions are about us, they are about us in relation to God and to others. As such, a journey down these paths requires that we develop skills of listening that are often under developed. If you are like me, then perhaps you have approached God and said in some way that this is who I am and this is how I see things and this is what I would like to do. It is so easy for us to think that we know ourselves and what's best for us and to just ask God to bless our efforts. It is much more difficult to travel the roads that these questions may take us down, to actually listen for and to God, and to move where God is moving in our lives rather than where we think we should be moving.
Additionally, to attempt to discern answers to the other questions (where, what, why, when) without first having answered these questions is kind of like putting the cart before the horse. When we realize that we are God's and our relationships with God and with others have been transformed, we begin to find that as long as these are maintained, the rest is relative and seems to have less of a choke hold on our lives. Does it matter if I am a teacher or a waiter? Does it matter if I make a lot of money or a little? Does it matter if I am known by many or by a few? I think that if we get these two lines of questioning right, then the rest is of little consequence. If we fully understand whose we are and how we are to be with one another and God, then we can be who we are and how we are supposed to be in any context.
This last thought does something dramatic...it takes God out of the either/or box. So many times we think that God either wants us to do one thing or the other. It is like God has placed his will for our lives in one hand and left the other hand empty. If we pick the correct hand, then we are living in God's will. This seems to limit God to an either/or entity. Really, I believe that with God, there are many times (but not all) when God is more likely both/and (otherwise, what's the point of free will---ah, but that's another post). We can be who we are and how we are called to be in any career (teacher, factory worker, accountant, public official, etc), any economic context, any situation whatsoever. At the end of our time here, I believe God is going to be more interested in who we were and how we were. If we live lives that reflect who we are called to be and how we are called to be, the choices we make about the what, when, where, and why will reflect our identities and our heart, no matter what those choices were. So in the end the what, when, where, why are of lesser significance than the who and the how.
When seeking God's will, it seems to me that Scripture makes some valuable statements about what the will of God might entail. Micah reminds us that "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (6:8)." When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus says, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matt 22:37-40)" In the end, who we are and how we are shapes what we do, when we do it, where we do it and why we do it. To attempt to answer these latter questions without the foundation of who and how we are called to be, seems to risk making choices and acting in ways that are inconsistent with the will of God.
So in the end, I think it is about asking different questions in our journey towards God. If we are capable of asking better questions, perhaps we will be able to better discern what God wills for our lives.
I think that this covers one of our conversations in a nutshell (all be it a rather large nut shell!). I would be interested in continuing this dialog with you...please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts about aligning our wills with the will of God.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Time with God - A Growing Concern
There are more than 100 blogs in my RSS feed. They run the gamut from theological to family update oriented. Some are political, some are religious, some are for fun, and some revolve around some pretty serious issues for our world. In each of the blogging genres that I follow (except the family and friend general updates), I have selected some to follow that usually flow with my own beliefs, some that are at the opposite end of the spectrum, and others that fall at varying places along the spectrum. This creates a really interesting tapestry in which to explore, question, debate, and discuss my own understandings and beliefs. This also helps me to recognize patterns within my own perspectives and the perspectives of others.
In the realm of Christian faith within the blogosphere, I am beginning to notice a pattern that is disturbing to me. Many of our theological reflectors, our seminarians, church planters, church leaders, and lay people keep bringing up the same issue on their blogs regarding spending time with God. These folks often say that as ministry, school, and life demands increase, personal time with God (in prayer, studying the Bible, worshiping, etc) dramatically decreases. As a solution to this problem, we are encouraged to get back to spending more time with God (specifically in the aforementioned ways).
At the outer level, there is nothing seemingly wrong with spending more time in prayer, Bible study, worship, etc. These things are definitively a part of our journey as Christians...they can feed and nurture our relationships with God and with others...but they are not the only "parts" of our journey. This is where the disturbing part comes in...it seems to me that many are describing spending time in two distinct ways.
Let me back up just a moment and say that my understanding of the Christian faith revolves around relationships. What Christ has done through his life, death, and resurrection was to reconcile the relationship between humanity and God. You want to know about community, look at God. You want to be in relationship with others and the world around you, turn to God. After all, isn't it Scripture that reminds us that we are to love God and love our neighbors as we love ourselves...it is about relationships.
So (returning to our previous discussion) to delineate spiritual disciplines (under the guise of 'spending more time with God') as partial requirements of the Christian faith seems to do two things(in their most extreme presentations):
First, it seems to create a false compartmentalization between faith and the rest of our lives. For example, time with God can certainly mean time in prayer and time in the study of Scripture, but is time with God's children, in service, or with family any less time with God? With such effort in the world to compartmentalize our lives (our work lives, our home lives, our school lives, our family lives, our spiritual lives, etc) it appears to me that the Gospel speaks of a faith in God/a relationship with God that permeates the entirety of our lives. As such, faith isn't a single part of our lives, but rather is something that permeates the entirety of our lives. By keeping (or attempting to keep) God at bay in any area of our lives is merely to reify the compartments that are familiar to and comfortable for us.
The second extreme often presented is the use of spending time with God (referencing again the aforementioned spiritual disciplines) as rules for being Christian. Sadly, things like studying the Scriptures, worship, and prayer are relegated to requirements of what it truly means to be Christian...if you don't do them, in a particular way and with a particular frequency; then maybe you aren't particularly Christian. Isn't this part of the problem when Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment (almost as if those asking might be saying if we can't keep all of them, which one or ones should we pay particularly close attention to)? Didn't a segment of humanity take 10 simple rules and create more than 600 rules (like not wearing shoes heavier than a certain weight on the Sabbath because that might be considered work)...did not Jesus' response to the aforementioned question simplify things for us? In this perspective, we have to be very careful in discerning how the disciplines fall into Christ's discourse on the greatest commandments.
At these extremes, it seems to me that the gospel is distorted. As disciplines, yes they (the ways of spending time with God) can be means of grace that draw us closer to God and to each other. But if the transformation that is occurring in and through us in our study, worship, prayer times, etc is not reflected in our everyday walking around, breathing, eating, waking lives; then is it really transformation? We can't be truly altered/changed/transformed in our faith without there being fruit in the rest of our lives...our faith cannot be relegated to a compartment that only takes up part of our day or part of our week...and to present it as such, does nothing to speak to the truth of the wholeness and fullness of salvation that the gospel proclaims. At the other end of the spectrum, we have never been good at following rules. If my prayer, worship and study don't look like someone else's, it doesn't mean that it is not authentic or less fruitful. To say that spending time with God must look a particular way (frequency, presentation, etc) seems to squelch what the Spirit may be doing in a group of people or an individual. When we broach this extreme, we essentially set up a new law that becomes impossible to fulfill.
In the end, it seems to me that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, in and through us, that draws us closer to God and to one another. It is the overflow of love from God that drives us to know more about that love and pursue growth in that relationship. It is an ongoing desire to know God more that calls us to prayer, worship, study, etc. And it is in these places in more, that God continues the work he began in us. As we learn to love God more (out of the loving relationship that God has for us) we learn to love others. In our loving others we can still be present with God even in service to those others. In the end, it returns to our relationship with God and with each other. Our very lives, not just the faith parts, are radically altered by the saving and sanctifying grace of God.
I hope that my thoughts on this are clear, but if you want to do more reading on the subject, one of the resources that has had the most significant impact on my life regarding the disciplines and spending time with God is the work of Richard Foster entitled "Celebration of Discipline."
Am I the only one that has noticed this? What do you think about compartmentalizing God or turning the disciplines into rules? What resources have helped you come to an understanding about these things?
In the realm of Christian faith within the blogosphere, I am beginning to notice a pattern that is disturbing to me. Many of our theological reflectors, our seminarians, church planters, church leaders, and lay people keep bringing up the same issue on their blogs regarding spending time with God. These folks often say that as ministry, school, and life demands increase, personal time with God (in prayer, studying the Bible, worshiping, etc) dramatically decreases. As a solution to this problem, we are encouraged to get back to spending more time with God (specifically in the aforementioned ways).
At the outer level, there is nothing seemingly wrong with spending more time in prayer, Bible study, worship, etc. These things are definitively a part of our journey as Christians...they can feed and nurture our relationships with God and with others...but they are not the only "parts" of our journey. This is where the disturbing part comes in...it seems to me that many are describing spending time in two distinct ways.
Let me back up just a moment and say that my understanding of the Christian faith revolves around relationships. What Christ has done through his life, death, and resurrection was to reconcile the relationship between humanity and God. You want to know about community, look at God. You want to be in relationship with others and the world around you, turn to God. After all, isn't it Scripture that reminds us that we are to love God and love our neighbors as we love ourselves...it is about relationships.
So (returning to our previous discussion) to delineate spiritual disciplines (under the guise of 'spending more time with God') as partial requirements of the Christian faith seems to do two things(in their most extreme presentations):
First, it seems to create a false compartmentalization between faith and the rest of our lives. For example, time with God can certainly mean time in prayer and time in the study of Scripture, but is time with God's children, in service, or with family any less time with God? With such effort in the world to compartmentalize our lives (our work lives, our home lives, our school lives, our family lives, our spiritual lives, etc) it appears to me that the Gospel speaks of a faith in God/a relationship with God that permeates the entirety of our lives. As such, faith isn't a single part of our lives, but rather is something that permeates the entirety of our lives. By keeping (or attempting to keep) God at bay in any area of our lives is merely to reify the compartments that are familiar to and comfortable for us.
The second extreme often presented is the use of spending time with God (referencing again the aforementioned spiritual disciplines) as rules for being Christian. Sadly, things like studying the Scriptures, worship, and prayer are relegated to requirements of what it truly means to be Christian...if you don't do them, in a particular way and with a particular frequency; then maybe you aren't particularly Christian. Isn't this part of the problem when Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment (almost as if those asking might be saying if we can't keep all of them, which one or ones should we pay particularly close attention to)? Didn't a segment of humanity take 10 simple rules and create more than 600 rules (like not wearing shoes heavier than a certain weight on the Sabbath because that might be considered work)...did not Jesus' response to the aforementioned question simplify things for us? In this perspective, we have to be very careful in discerning how the disciplines fall into Christ's discourse on the greatest commandments.
At these extremes, it seems to me that the gospel is distorted. As disciplines, yes they (the ways of spending time with God) can be means of grace that draw us closer to God and to each other. But if the transformation that is occurring in and through us in our study, worship, prayer times, etc is not reflected in our everyday walking around, breathing, eating, waking lives; then is it really transformation? We can't be truly altered/changed/transformed in our faith without there being fruit in the rest of our lives...our faith cannot be relegated to a compartment that only takes up part of our day or part of our week...and to present it as such, does nothing to speak to the truth of the wholeness and fullness of salvation that the gospel proclaims. At the other end of the spectrum, we have never been good at following rules. If my prayer, worship and study don't look like someone else's, it doesn't mean that it is not authentic or less fruitful. To say that spending time with God must look a particular way (frequency, presentation, etc) seems to squelch what the Spirit may be doing in a group of people or an individual. When we broach this extreme, we essentially set up a new law that becomes impossible to fulfill.
In the end, it seems to me that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, in and through us, that draws us closer to God and to one another. It is the overflow of love from God that drives us to know more about that love and pursue growth in that relationship. It is an ongoing desire to know God more that calls us to prayer, worship, study, etc. And it is in these places in more, that God continues the work he began in us. As we learn to love God more (out of the loving relationship that God has for us) we learn to love others. In our loving others we can still be present with God even in service to those others. In the end, it returns to our relationship with God and with each other. Our very lives, not just the faith parts, are radically altered by the saving and sanctifying grace of God.
I hope that my thoughts on this are clear, but if you want to do more reading on the subject, one of the resources that has had the most significant impact on my life regarding the disciplines and spending time with God is the work of Richard Foster entitled "Celebration of Discipline."
Am I the only one that has noticed this? What do you think about compartmentalizing God or turning the disciplines into rules? What resources have helped you come to an understanding about these things?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Deacons and Sacramental Authority - Part I
The new Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church (2008) includes a new twist that allows a deacon to preside over the sacraments in very specific circumstances. The text reads as follows:
"For the sake of extending the mission and ministry of the church, a pastor-in-charge or district superintendent may request that the Bishop grant local sacramental authority to the deacon to administer the sacraments in the absence of an elder, within a deacon's primary appointment."
Bishop Huie sent pastors in the Texas Annual Conference a letter about this via email today. While I have not yet completed reading the document that was attached to the email (from the General Conference level), I was hoping to begin a dialog about your thoughts around who should preside over the sacraments and why?
I won't say much about the whole thing just yet, except that I am inclined to believe that the approach of our jurisdiction and our bishop to limit this authority is a good thing. Specifically, Bishop Huie says: "Thus, it is my intention to interpret the Book of Discipline in a way that grants sacramental authority to a deacon rarely."
Let me know what you think...and yes, people who aren't United Methodist, I want to hear from you too!
"For the sake of extending the mission and ministry of the church, a pastor-in-charge or district superintendent may request that the Bishop grant local sacramental authority to the deacon to administer the sacraments in the absence of an elder, within a deacon's primary appointment."
Bishop Huie sent pastors in the Texas Annual Conference a letter about this via email today. While I have not yet completed reading the document that was attached to the email (from the General Conference level), I was hoping to begin a dialog about your thoughts around who should preside over the sacraments and why?
I won't say much about the whole thing just yet, except that I am inclined to believe that the approach of our jurisdiction and our bishop to limit this authority is a good thing. Specifically, Bishop Huie says: "Thus, it is my intention to interpret the Book of Discipline in a way that grants sacramental authority to a deacon rarely."
Let me know what you think...and yes, people who aren't United Methodist, I want to hear from you too!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Exciting Times
It's true, these are exciting times.
I have spent so much time talking about the challenges of a church that is closing and merging with another, that I have failed to highlight some really cool things that are happening at the other church I serve and with my life in general.
At Edom UMC, the new year marked the beginning of a new leadership structure. This new structure has been designed to make decision making more efficient and to better support the missions and ministries of the church. There are challenges that will have to be faced and walked through as this is doing church like it has never been done before here at Edom UMC. I am really looking forward to less meetings, more efficient meetings, and some looking toward the future (proactivity vs. reactivity) that this new leadership structure will allow.
Along with the new leadership structure comes a slate of new folks involved with ministry. We have been extra intentional about the identifying and equipping of people the last couple of years and have chosen leaders based upon specific gifts and graces rather than just plugging people into slots on a list. Because of this, we are already bearing witness to what God is doing in this process. For example, the new Administrative team is already making progress in positioning the church for future growth and ministry. Likewise, numerous leaders are asking questions and making suggestions that have not surfaced in years past (more about this in later posts)...suffice it to say, the way we do ministry is changing. The head of our Christian Education team is already preparing to launch two new groups/studies this coming year that will reach people in places of their greatest needs (more about this in future posts as well). Our leadership development team is gearing up for their first gathering and I am simply stoked about the vision that the leader of this team brings to the table. These are indeed exciting times at Edom UMC.
Life in general is also exciting:
I am entering into my final semester of seminary and preparing to graduate in May.
I am in the final stages of work necessary to become a probationary member/commissioned elder in the United Methodist Church. I hope that this will culminate in commissioning at our Annual Conference in May.
Erica and I just celebrated 8 years together (7 year of marriage) and Bailey is now officially 17 moths old as of today.
We are excited at the possibilities of where we might be moved to this coming June...we can't wait to see what God has in store for us next on our journey.
I am probably about to have another church added to my charge, which opens up a whole other set of possibilities for mission and ministry while here in Edom.
Yes, these are exciting times.
So tell me (tell all of us here at Radically Altered), what's got you excited about this new year that is already underway?
I have spent so much time talking about the challenges of a church that is closing and merging with another, that I have failed to highlight some really cool things that are happening at the other church I serve and with my life in general.
At Edom UMC, the new year marked the beginning of a new leadership structure. This new structure has been designed to make decision making more efficient and to better support the missions and ministries of the church. There are challenges that will have to be faced and walked through as this is doing church like it has never been done before here at Edom UMC. I am really looking forward to less meetings, more efficient meetings, and some looking toward the future (proactivity vs. reactivity) that this new leadership structure will allow.
Along with the new leadership structure comes a slate of new folks involved with ministry. We have been extra intentional about the identifying and equipping of people the last couple of years and have chosen leaders based upon specific gifts and graces rather than just plugging people into slots on a list. Because of this, we are already bearing witness to what God is doing in this process. For example, the new Administrative team is already making progress in positioning the church for future growth and ministry. Likewise, numerous leaders are asking questions and making suggestions that have not surfaced in years past (more about this in later posts)...suffice it to say, the way we do ministry is changing. The head of our Christian Education team is already preparing to launch two new groups/studies this coming year that will reach people in places of their greatest needs (more about this in future posts as well). Our leadership development team is gearing up for their first gathering and I am simply stoked about the vision that the leader of this team brings to the table. These are indeed exciting times at Edom UMC.
Life in general is also exciting:
I am entering into my final semester of seminary and preparing to graduate in May.
I am in the final stages of work necessary to become a probationary member/commissioned elder in the United Methodist Church. I hope that this will culminate in commissioning at our Annual Conference in May.
Erica and I just celebrated 8 years together (7 year of marriage) and Bailey is now officially 17 moths old as of today.
We are excited at the possibilities of where we might be moved to this coming June...we can't wait to see what God has in store for us next on our journey.
I am probably about to have another church added to my charge, which opens up a whole other set of possibilities for mission and ministry while here in Edom.
Yes, these are exciting times.
So tell me (tell all of us here at Radically Altered), what's got you excited about this new year that is already underway?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
How much influence does media have on our Faith?
We were just sitting here flipping through the channels and discovered that a movie by the name of What Dreams May Come was on. I love this movie because of great acting, the heart wrenching love story that exists throughout the narrative, and because I think the cinematography is excellent.
There are numerous references to God and God's character, nature, etc. There is a non-Christian expression of heaven and reincarnation is alluded to as more than a possibility. Simply put, it would never pass as a movie representation of the Christian faith...in fact, it was never designed to be such a movie. So to judge it on those terms would be unfair...it is simply a fictional drama that alludes to something beyond this life.
I don't have a problem with any of this...but it does raise an interesting question for me. With the number of images that we are given on a daily basis (internet, social networks, movies, videos, etc), do those images affect our understanding of faith (specifically Christian faith)? Is it possible that due to the images of church and funerals, pastors, etc in these movies followed immediately by reflections of the screenwriters fictional heaven...is it possible that this convolution of images impacts the way that some people view the Christian faith (or even their Christian faith)? Are these impacts always negative?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, are movies like the Left Behind movie and Fireproof, and television shows like Seventh Heaven, etc. accurate/true/healthy expressions of what the Christian faith is?
I would like to think that with movies, television shows, and books like the ones mentioned above, people would realize what rings true to the Christian faith and what doesn't. I would like to think that they really understand the meaning of fiction and how large a role fiction plays in most of these portrayals. While good morals and ethics may be at the heart of many of the episodes/movies/books, etc, I wonder if it ever moves beyond simple morality and ethics.
When I reflect theologically on many of the aforementioned pieces, I often find that the portrayal in media is very different from what I find in Scripture and the Christian tradition.
It seems to me that we fall somewhere along a spectrum when it comes to these kinds of issues. We either find ourselves at the end that appreciates the artistry and imagination and thinks that connecting to the culture in this way allows us to better share the gospel; or, we find ourselves gravitating toward the end of the spectrum that avoids such encounters---encapsulating ourselves in a bubble that is designed to keep such things away from us.
I tend towards the appreciation and connection end of the spectrum. I think that if we are not engaged in the culture in which we live, we have little ground to speak to such things in our relationships with others. I tend to think that there is a lot of fiction out there that gives portrayals of Christianity that are more inaccurate than accurate. I tend to take these opportunities as teaching moments with those that I serve.
What do you think? How much influence does media have on our faith? Should media and culture be encountered or avoided? Why? I look forward to your thoughts and comments.
There are numerous references to God and God's character, nature, etc. There is a non-Christian expression of heaven and reincarnation is alluded to as more than a possibility. Simply put, it would never pass as a movie representation of the Christian faith...in fact, it was never designed to be such a movie. So to judge it on those terms would be unfair...it is simply a fictional drama that alludes to something beyond this life.
I don't have a problem with any of this...but it does raise an interesting question for me. With the number of images that we are given on a daily basis (internet, social networks, movies, videos, etc), do those images affect our understanding of faith (specifically Christian faith)? Is it possible that due to the images of church and funerals, pastors, etc in these movies followed immediately by reflections of the screenwriters fictional heaven...is it possible that this convolution of images impacts the way that some people view the Christian faith (or even their Christian faith)? Are these impacts always negative?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, are movies like the Left Behind movie and Fireproof, and television shows like Seventh Heaven, etc. accurate/true/healthy expressions of what the Christian faith is?
I would like to think that with movies, television shows, and books like the ones mentioned above, people would realize what rings true to the Christian faith and what doesn't. I would like to think that they really understand the meaning of fiction and how large a role fiction plays in most of these portrayals. While good morals and ethics may be at the heart of many of the episodes/movies/books, etc, I wonder if it ever moves beyond simple morality and ethics.
When I reflect theologically on many of the aforementioned pieces, I often find that the portrayal in media is very different from what I find in Scripture and the Christian tradition.
It seems to me that we fall somewhere along a spectrum when it comes to these kinds of issues. We either find ourselves at the end that appreciates the artistry and imagination and thinks that connecting to the culture in this way allows us to better share the gospel; or, we find ourselves gravitating toward the end of the spectrum that avoids such encounters---encapsulating ourselves in a bubble that is designed to keep such things away from us.
I tend towards the appreciation and connection end of the spectrum. I think that if we are not engaged in the culture in which we live, we have little ground to speak to such things in our relationships with others. I tend to think that there is a lot of fiction out there that gives portrayals of Christianity that are more inaccurate than accurate. I tend to take these opportunities as teaching moments with those that I serve.
What do you think? How much influence does media have on our faith? Should media and culture be encountered or avoided? Why? I look forward to your thoughts and comments.
Monday, December 15, 2008
A Reflection of Grace
For the past 6 months or so, it seems that my little girl has been pushing the boundaries and really becoming her own little person. She has learned how to throw temper tantrums and pitch fits (lovely things!) and she has stubbornly demanded that she get her own way on a number of occasions. This is not unusual for a child of her age (a ripe old 16 months).
What this means, however, is that the days of afternoon naps on my chest have been missing. Evenings of singing and rocking her to sleep have been missing. All the cute, fun, cuddly times of her newborn era were missing.
That was until this past week or so. It is as if she has rediscovered her daddy again. She comes home in the evenings from school and wants to have a book read to her, she is giving more hugs and kisses than before...the other night, at about 2 a.m., she even let me hold her, rock her, and sing her back to sleep.
I have been wondering, after reflecting on these recent moments, if this is anything close to the way that God feels. After all, we all run into times when we say, "that's alright God, I've got this one", or "I think I'll do it my way God." It is not unusual for this human being to even through temper tantrums with God (admit it, you've probably done it too!). Then there are those times that I come running back shouting daddy, daddy!
Maybe this is not making any sense to you, but for me it is just a reflection on God's grace from God's perspective. I see it as a real gift to get even a glimpse of how God might feel when we return to him and climb in his lap and open our arms with the expectation of great big hugs.
I know it sounds corny, but being a parent is giving new insights and perspectives as I think of God as my heavenly Father...it is yielding understanding that I am pretty sure didn't exist prior to parenthood...even if in these early moments of discernment those perspectives are difficult to articulate.
Do you have experiences that vividly alter the way that you perceive God? If so, what are they and how do they affect your understandings?
What this means, however, is that the days of afternoon naps on my chest have been missing. Evenings of singing and rocking her to sleep have been missing. All the cute, fun, cuddly times of her newborn era were missing.
That was until this past week or so. It is as if she has rediscovered her daddy again. She comes home in the evenings from school and wants to have a book read to her, she is giving more hugs and kisses than before...the other night, at about 2 a.m., she even let me hold her, rock her, and sing her back to sleep.
I have been wondering, after reflecting on these recent moments, if this is anything close to the way that God feels. After all, we all run into times when we say, "that's alright God, I've got this one", or "I think I'll do it my way God." It is not unusual for this human being to even through temper tantrums with God (admit it, you've probably done it too!). Then there are those times that I come running back shouting daddy, daddy!
Maybe this is not making any sense to you, but for me it is just a reflection on God's grace from God's perspective. I see it as a real gift to get even a glimpse of how God might feel when we return to him and climb in his lap and open our arms with the expectation of great big hugs.
I know it sounds corny, but being a parent is giving new insights and perspectives as I think of God as my heavenly Father...it is yielding understanding that I am pretty sure didn't exist prior to parenthood...even if in these early moments of discernment those perspectives are difficult to articulate.
Do you have experiences that vividly alter the way that you perceive God? If so, what are they and how do they affect your understandings?
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