holiday musings november 26 07

It's been awhile since I posted. Got a little compulsive about blogging there for a time, so I took a holiday from blogging. Got a little political from time to time too - sorry. But as a former seminary professor told me once, "everything's political," so guess I can't avoid that. Faith and conscience and church and work and life - all meshed together in a politically religious experience...(?)

Anyway, I actually feel some kind of cyber-connection in the process of posting that I've missed. My son has begun a PhD at University of Texas on how the Internet and electronic communication has influenced rhetoric and relationships. At least that's what I think he's doing. He'll have to comment more about it...How 'bout it, Will?

I stopped sending lectionary thoughts for a time, not because I'm not reading scripture, but because I'm deferring to the leaders in our covenant groups to do that. We have over half of our congregation in small groups, reading the Bible together every week. I'm preaching each week on one of the week's passages. The leaders are sending their own messages and thoughts out every week, and I don't want to influence the groups' discernment. Isn't a preacher's job, in large part, to excite people to read all about it themselves, to wrestle with meaning and application and grow personally as well as corporately? So, I've stepped back - but I do miss everyone. The word connects us no matter the media.

Amazing things are happening in these groups. The older folks amaze me the most. 90 year olds who have been in church all their lives but NEVER talked about their faith, or questioned the Bible - they're talking and asking and weeping and loving it, thanks to 2 compassionate leaders who are coaxing them out of a frozen chosen state of faith. We have 6-8 black teens in a group and the leaders tell me, they're getting real with each other about their fears and brokenness. The missional spirit is bubbling up and is mostly spontaneous. One of our praise band members showed up at 97 year old Elsie's home to do some repairs. The men's group have begun quarterly "Undie Sundays" to solicit new underwear donations for a men's rescue mission. Another adopted a family for Christmas and still another will be selling fair trade coffee and other items to raise money for missions and new windows in the church. Black and white, young and old, are engaged together in the word. I could go on.

What I see in these groups is the church being the church. When all hell is breaking loose in the institutions (there I go being political again), the fruit of the Spirit is evident in the very diverse believers at South-Broadland PC. It's evident in the worship every single Sunday. And it is such an encouragement to this pastor to see how they are learning to love each other more and more, and are finding ways to love others. It's real, it's simple, and it's possible, if we leaders would just let the church be the church, however the Spirit leads them. For the Spirit is blowing outside the doors of our properties and writing new pages in our rule book. It's simple - they will know we are Christians by our love. They are teaching me a lot.

Stewardship Sermon October 28, 2007

For those interested, this is the sermon I preached yesterday on stewardship. The text was from Luke about the destitute widow. I began the sermon with a narrative of the story. God's blessings on your hearts and your stewardship efforts.

All or Nothing…and Everything in Between October 28, 2007

Rev. Lyn Olson

South-Broadland Presbyterian Church

Luke 20:45-21:4

The woman looks around for something to eat, but there is nothing in her cupboard. The dingy room she’s been renting since she her husband died is cold, and her lamp is dark – there is no more oil. Clutching a small, dirty cloth purse, the woman rises and draws her ragged cloak around her in preparation for her long walk to the Temple. She makes her way alone.

Entering the Temple, she shuffles past the wealthy men into the Court of Women, where the temple treasury is. She’s early, but there are already lots of people there to make their offerings. Knowing part of this offering is for the poor, she self-consciously pushes a lock of hair back under her head scarf, and smoothing her rumpled skirt, she finds her seat among the other widows.

Her eyes follow a large commotion and she sees the Jewish teachers enter, long white robes flowing with fringes grazing the floor. They await their share of the offerings too, payment for their teaching. She recognizes them from the marketplace, where they walk past her, to meet with important people there. These men do not notice her – they haven’t since she lost her house and went on the dole. But she notices them now – sitting front and center on the bench by the ark that contains the sacred scrolls.

From the shadows of her place, she also sees another man in the Temple– dressed modestly, gathered with other common men. They don’t see her either, for they’re all staring at the religious teachers, while the man is talking in earnest. She overhears him say, “Beware…” but she can’t make out the rest. “I think that man talking is called Jesus,” she ponders. She’s seen him too in the marketplace, teaching about the Kingdom of God. She remembers her children flocked to him one day. He’s the one who turned over the money tables in the temple. She remembers, “I’ve seen the other teachers glare at him and raise their fists at him.”

Soon, it’s time to do what she had come to do. She carefully fingers the 2 small copper coins in her hand. She rises and goes to one of the trumpet-shaped collection boxes, and gets in line behind some people in fancy clothes. The rich ones drop fists full of money in the box. And then, she drops in her last 2 coins. They barely make a sound as they land in the money box.

As she scurries back to the women’s section, she feels Jesus staring at her. She comes close enough to hear him tell his disciples, “Look here – this poor widow has given MORE than the rest – for they have given a gift out of their wealth and she, destitute, has given all she has to live on.”

This is a true story, recorded in both Mark12:41-44 and here in Luke. It’s an important story for Christians. If it wasn’t important it wouldn’t be in the Bible and Jesus wouldn’t be telling it. It teaches us this stewardship season, that all of us – rich and poor and everyone in between – are to come to this Temple to give money to God.

And the age old issue is – how much do each of us give? Well, for some of you, the issue is, will you pledge at all? I’ll be honest with you. I don’t like to beg for money. I don’t want to tell you how much to give. The finance team doesn’t either. We can come up with catchy slogans. We can lay guilt trips on you to counteract all the valid excuses we hear about your money, and tithing and your opinions about how to run the church. Truth is, I don’t like to talk about money anymore than you do.

But let me tell you something. Jesus had NO problem talking about money. He had no problem getting angry over the misuse of temple funds. He made it a point that day in the Temple that his disciples pay attention to this issue of money. He also told the disciples that day, punishment would come for those who robbed God and others (verse 47).

And so as I commit to follow Jesus, as my Lord and Savior and as your pastor, I too will talk about money today. Not just because God needs it – which he does since God has called us to partner in Kingdom purposes with our time and talents AND OUR MONEY. But we shall talk about money also because God loves us and wants us to become like Him - generous people.

This stewardship system is an enterprise that is biblical. And it is an enterprise that God is watching very closely.

First, let’s take a look at our enterprise at SBPC. Like the Old Testament Temple system, and into the early church, there are salaries to pay: your Pastor, Family Ministry and youth leaders, and scribes (secretary). Like the Temple leaders rebuilt and maintained the stones and mortar, we must maintain this 33,000 square feet of building and 11 acres of land. There are programs costs for Christian education and congregational fellowship and care – Bibles, hymnals, Sunday School lessons for over 35 kids and 15+ youth, and now 90 adults in Covenant groups. There are 200 members to care for. There are worship costs: 3 paid musicians, instruments, candles and communion cups, music and sound equipment.

And God’s enterprise requires we give a portion of our offerings to the poor and needy. Deuteronomy 15:10-11: 10 Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.11 There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.

Jesus in the gospels, especially Luke, was greatly concerned with the poor. “Blessed be the poor, for they shall inherit the Kingdom.” This poor widow depended on the Temple for her livelihood. But apparently the system missed her and others, as her home was “swallowed up” (Greek word) by a self-serving system that neglected her in favor of other priorities.

We must not let that happen as we consider our budget and our giving. There are 2 ways: Presbyterian mission pledge to support the denomination’s local and global missions, where we can participate with thousands of congregations to leverage our giving, and a local benevolence fund that provides for our own members who are needy. People in this congregation have received monetary support, and all of them have also given to this church. But our giving to the poor and needy is small compared to our other expenses.

And so, we the rich and the poor, and the in between, come to time of year to make our pledge to support the cost of being the church: spreading the good news of Jesus, and serving the community. Our working budget for 2008 is $319,000, only slightly higher than last year. Last year 84 households pledged $248,000, and though we received some miscellaneous income, we had to dip into reserves to balance the budget. Truth is, we have for several years. For 2008 we are seeking 100 households to pledge $300,000 toward this budget so we do not have to depend on dwindling reserves. It’s a bold goal, but the Bible tells us how to reach it. I see three lessons in giving in today’s story.

First, our giving must be proportionate to what God has given us. How much we give is related to how much we have. Look around you. Not everyone here makes the same amount of money. Some don’t have a paycheck at all, or have very little, like our widow. Some of you are on fixed incomes. God has blessed some greater than others.

The Old Testament guideline is the first 10% of whatever one have goes to the Temple. Giving a tithe or 10% of whatever you have is proportionate giving. But the New Testament goes beyond the tithe. In our story today, Jesus notices the proportion of the gift, not the amount. This widow was destitute. Yet, she gave 100%. Her gift was proportionately greater than all of them. To us Jesus says, in Luke 12:48: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

Paul reiterates this principle to the Corinthian church: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." (1 Corinthians 16:2). That is proportionate giving.//

The second lesson in Christian giving is that it’s sacrificial.

I once had a pastor who told of playing golf with a wealthy parishioner who had never pledged to the church before. After some friendly discussion, at the 18^th hole, the pastor asked him to make a pledge. The man pulled his checkbook out of his golf bag, and wrote the church a check for $10,000, right on the spot, without blinking an eye. The Pastor looked at him and said, “That’s not enough.” The man bewildered, said, “Not enough? It’s more than you asked and I bet more than anyone else has given you!” The pastor said, “Maybe so, but as far as YOUR giving is concerned, how much did it hurt?”

Have you ever given until it hurt? I know I’m messing with you about this.// But, do we give until it disturbs our comforts? Are we making the hard decisions about the use of our money that allows us to be more generous with whatever we have?

Or are we just making excuses? "Someday when I have more time" or "When I’ve reached my goals" or “I have too much debt,” “I’m on a fixed income.” “I’ve already given my share.” “I don’t trust the church.” “It’s too hard…” “I’ve already made my will.” If we all thought like that, then what will we tell those in need? How would we keep these doors open, pay our people, minister to the sick and dying, gather here together, teach and preach about the love of Jesus, serve this community, if everyone thought like that?

Did Jesus withhold his love as he was dying? No. As a pauper, dying on the cross, he sacrificed everything, for you and for me. You will share in his inheritance for eternity! What is our response to that? An excuse?

This brings us to the 3^rd lesson in Christian giving from this text. Christian giving is faith-filled giving. Faith-filled giving has as its motive love and gratitude, not money. Not out of duty. Not for recognition. Not in guilt, or to leverage power and control. Faith-filled giving expects nothing in return.

Faith-filled giving requires a willingness to give the last dime, even though God might not demand it of you. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”

Faith-filled giving is not foolish – you have responsibilities to your family – and Jesus himself in Mark 7 reminded the disciples that one must not neglect the responsibilities of family for a religious vow. Curious, huh? But faith-filled giving recognizes God will take care of you, as no doubt the widow believed as she dropped her last coins in the box. Faith-filled giving means you believe your small gift DOES matter. Get this: If 100 households gave only 1% more of their income - and those of you who have never pledged, started there – this church would make it’s budget for the first time without using dwindling reserves. For a $40,000 household income, that’s only about $8 a week. Small gifts given in faith can matter!

But friends, we can crunch numbers all day long. I won’t tell you how much to give. I have rather let God’s word and God’s Spirit tell you today.

Yet, I will encourage you in your prayers as you consider the stewardship of your lives and to this church, knowing that the sacrifice you will be making in faith will be seen by the God who has given you everything. Pledging what you are able, no gift is too small, no gift is too large, when given proportionately, sacrificially, and in faith. For God is Lord in plenty and in want, and everything in between.

This next week, you will receive a pledge card in the mail. We are asking that you COMMIT. COMMIT to give in 2008 and we will make November 11 a celebration of faith and generosity in this Temple. Begin with a tithe of whatever you have, and guess what? You can keep the 90%!

To say Amen, Helen Bishop would like to share her testimony about why she gives to SBPC.

random thoughts about stewardship

You know what time it is? It's stewardship season at the church. The time of year when we preachers reluctantly climb into the pulpit and inspire the faithful to re-up their pledge for another year. I admit through the years as a lay person, I sat through many an appeal for money and responded sometimes with irritation, sometimes with guilt, often with duty.

There are many excuses we can make not to give to the church. I have too much debt. I already gave. I lost my pledge card. I have a family to raise. I've used them all myself. But at the end of the day, I remember Jesus gave no excuses for going to the cross. He did not hold out on me. He gave up his life for me. Why would I respond to him with an excuse? In this season of my life and faith, I can say I am now responding with gratitude. This year, I am preaching with joy about money, and giving with the same spirit.

Easy for me to say. I BELIEVE. I think at the root of poor stewardship, may be unbelief. At the core of abundant stewardship is belief. I mean the kind of belief that changes your life and your thoughts and your will and your priorities, in gratitude for what Jesus did for us. If people don't believe it, or understand it - how can giving to the Lord mean anything? And if they do not hear it, how can they come to believe? And if they don't believe how can they follow Jesus, and be changed? Classic Paul in Romans 10, who also asks, and who will preach it?

Perhaps we should do a better job as preachers and believers helping people get to know our generous God, and inviting them by faith into a relationship with Him through Jesus. To understand the risk involved in disobedience, but the grace that God offers so freely. God's entire enterprise has always been about stewardship of grace and provision as well as truth and discipline. And God's essential character is generous.

Stewardship then is an attitude of the heart and will and character molded around God's heart and will and character, that becomes a lifestyle, not just an annual campaign. For you preachers out there, preach the love and hope of Christ all year round! Offer an invitation to your flock to receive Jesus all year round. Pray for the Holy Spirit to have His way with God's Word and the hearts of the people all year round.

And turn our stewardship campaigns into celebrations of faith and gratitude and generosity.

a rambling thought when discipleship get weary

I have been restless these last few nights, thinking of my church - the people I love and the plans we're making, stewardship season, nominations, personnel changes, and budgets. In the mix are the broken hearts, minds and bodies I minister to in love.

I have also been thinking a lot about how we can be more missional in our attitudes and actions as we "do" church. I believe one way is simply to mention the name Jesus, as we come along side our friends and co-workers, family and neighbors. To muster the words "God lives," and "Jesus saves," with our words and deeds. To offer to pray with someone, simple prayers of love and care and joy, in the name of Jesus. It all sounds simple, but I see the terror in people's eyes as I encourage them to go for it.

Not able to sleep past 4:30 this morning, I pulled up my emails. One was from a dear member who attached a commentary from Ben Stein, comedian, delivered on CBS Morning Show some years back. It struck me today as I considered why we don't talk about Jesus more "out there." Bear with me, as I post excerpts. Ben Stein writes:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.... I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica [or obsess over Britany's latest bad behavior] and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Bill y Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something lik e this Happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?" (She said the same thing when interviewed after 9-11).

Well, I say (Lyn now) God said he will leave us to ourselves. It's all over the biblical witness. And yes, God is slow to anger, but God is not tolerant when God's name and will is mocked or silenced, especially by God's people. Eventually, we who call Jesus Lord and believe God is the Creator of the Universe, and the Holy Spirit lives in us, will be held accountable for our political correctness about the God we profess.

As Christians when we have the courage to speak up as a believer in God, and as Jesus as Lord of all, we’ll be persecuted; that’s what Jesus and Paul meant by persecution and suffering. We WILL suffer for Jesus when we call out His name against the tide of political correctness. I wish more of us had that courage. Jesus has a difficult plan for us: to spread the good news in season and out, in good times and bad, at the risk of our lives and reputation and rejection.

But at the end of the day, our profession of faith will change the world. Because Jesus is the hope for the world. God so loved the word that He sent Him to the whole world.

Why wouldn’t we take the hit so the world can know? Are we too politically correct to be disciples at all?

daily readings first thoughts sept 24 2007

Morning: Psalm 57:1-11
2 Kings 5:1-19
1 Corinthians 4:8-21
Matthew 5:21-26
Evening: Psalm 85:1-13

We Christians can behave badly when we mean well. When I consider the diverse spiritual gifts God has given the church - discernment, wisdom, exhortation, faith, prayer, helps, knowledge, teaching, preaching, mercy to name a few, intended to build up the church - I've watched as we have abused the gifts God has given us. Sometimes we have exploited them for gain. Sometimes we have used them to intimidate. Sometimes we have arrogantly given one gift glory over another. Often we have neglected some all together.

We mean well, protecting the peace, unity and purity of the church, and then we sometimes turn these gifts on each other in the process. I believe Paul was reminding us we are to exercise these gifts with love, patience, gentleness, kindness, forbearance, knowing the first may be last, and the strong may be weak, as we discipline and exhort and disagree. We have a higher calling than our institutions and our positions, our wealth, our power. It's as fools for Christ.

As it did in Corinth, we can forget why we exist. It is not for ourselves that God equips us. It is for the broken world, to serve as partners of the gospel OUT THERE, not just inside. Yes, we must read the Bible and pray together inside, learn to get along as the body of Christ. We must do our best to imitate Christ inside the doors and out, but also remember that God is the judge of all of our misunderstandings and wrong-doings. We leave judgment to Him (and he WILL judge us all), and keep our eye on the reason we exist. Have we forgotten that?

With all the divisions going on in our denomination - in the entire western church - and the heartbreak of some who are leaving us, I believe in the interest of the peace, unity and purity of the church, Jesus is telling us in today's gospel, and Paul too in his letter, when we all behave badly we must be reconciled to each other. Then settle disputes quickly, perhaps letting some go, encouraging others, so that we can get on with what God has gifted us to do. I see judgment for all of us if we do not: Jesus said, ²But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.

Let's be fools for Christ together, as we seek God's will for the church universal, and for our place in it as a denomination. And to those to whom I have behaved badly, let's do lunch. I am paying.

daily scriptures first thoughts sept 19 2007

Morning: Psalm 15:1-5
1 Kings 22:1-28
1 Corinthians 2:1-13
Matthew 4:18-25
Evening: Psalm 48:1-14

Good old Paul. A fellow-preacher he was. I would have liked to hear him preach. I know his message was sound - but I often wonder about the delivery. Did he mumble, punctuating his phrases with "uh"...? Did he have an irritating, squeaky voice? Did he wander around or stay put? Did he use a manuscript, or preach off the top of his head? Did he get the butterflies every time he preached? Seems like he wasn't that great of a preacher, to hear him tell it. He was a smart guy, loved God, yet Paul says abut his ministry of the gospel, ³And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling...without lofty words or wisdom.

Even with all that training. Even with preaching classes I imagine, and homiletics courses. Even though he was top in his class, aced his ordinations exams, was well-known by all the religious big wigs...he preached the gospel in weakness, with fear and trembling.

I relate. Whenever the doors were open I was at church. I made lots of money telling people things - selling stuff, running a business, marrying well. I did well at Princeton seminary, and was affirmed in my pastoral instincts and worship. I'm not the smartest in the pack, but I have always held my own.

But every time I read, prepare and preach the word, I am overwhelmed how much I do not completely understand. I am compelled to seek deeper truth than I can muster on my own. Then, during the reading and then preparation, and yes, in the preaching moment, I am stunned by the power of the Holy Spirit, Who comes though me. I realize Paul is absolutely right when he says:

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. ¹³And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

How humbling it is to remember that like Paul, we do not preach ourselves, but Christ crucified. For me, it means setting aside a claim or position that would assure me of my power and influence, and with fear and trembling, preach what God has given me through His Spirit. I am definitely learning the difference between my wisdom, the world's wisdom, the institution's wisdom and the Spirit's wisdom. Sometimes they are in synche; many times they are not. And often I'm caught in the middle of "the wisdom of this age," and God's eternal Wisdom, "secret and hidden."

Thanks to God His Spirit is in me to preach it - greater than he who is in the world. And out of my mumbling mouth, from the depths of God's Spirit in me, comes His truth, in spite of my weaknesses and ignorance, and even misspoken words. May all of us who preach and teach the word of God be able to say:

My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

And may all who hear the word, come to see the hidden and secret, eternal wisdom of God.

daily scriptures first thoughts september 14 2007

Morning: Psalm 51:1-12
1 Kings 18:20-40
Philippians 3:1-16
Matthew 3:1-12
Evening: Psalm 142:1-7

I am grateful that God gives us a new day, and a perspective of time. To look back and remember. To live in the present. To hope for the future. If I were stuck in only one dimension of time, I would despair, or at the very least be like a hamster on a wheel. As it is, God has created us with a past, a present and future - God has created us for eternity, and has always been with us. The peace I have about all this is that this eternity is with Jesus, who redeemed me and made things in all time, right with God. My past is cleansed, my present is purposeful, and my future is assured to be with God forever. Life doesn't get much better than that. The psalmist prays in Psalm 51:

⁸Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. ⁹Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

And so God has.

Still, we live "in the flesh" in the "not yet." Memories of the old me living within the new me, bring sadness and regret, and humility. Paul revisited his past in his letter to the Philippians, and also in I Timothy:

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.

He is more remorseful in his rehearsal of his past in I Timothy, calling himself, formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But he tells us in everything, we stand pardoned in our new humanity, sins forgotten, ready to meet the day as a servant of Christ, awaiting our future reunion with our redeemer.

O Happy Days! Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thanks be to God.

daily scripture first thoughts september 11 2007

Morning: Psalm 42:1-11
1 Kings 16:23-34
Philippians 1:12-30
Mark 16:1-8 (9-20)
Evening: Psalm 102:1-28

On this anniversary of 9/11, my husband has just landed at London's Heathrow airport for a business trip. I am anxious a bit, as I remember that we were separated 6 years ago on this day, on 9/11/01. I was at Princeton seminary and he was back in Overland Park, Kansas at work, when we watched the towers go down miles apart from each other. How I missed him and my children on that day, and the days that followed. Psalm 42 was on my heart back then - and it rises up from within me whenever I think of being separated from those I love and feel distant from God. When I heard and watched the terrorist world attack my country and my faith. When I listened to the explanations from some ambitious politicians and more than a few Christians explain the evil as God's wrath on America that made it even worse, while the world watched how we responded. And today, the evil is still with us, even though some of those voices are not. The grief is remembered.

As I kissed my husband goodbye yesterday, I was prompted by the Spirit to tell him to remember we are one in the Spirit, even though we are absent in the flesh, in the back of my mind thinking, "what if I never see him again?" But today, the Lord blessed me with Paul's letter to the Philippians, a letter of encouragement to those he was separated from, while in prison for the gospel.

The psalmist also reminds us that our hope is in the Lord alone, that he is the true source of our longing and our peace. No matter what happens to us - or those we love - peace and comfort, hope comes from God. God is the only One we can count on now and for eternity because of Jesus. Many I know this day are suffering for the gospel, with decisions of conscience; others face family struggles, poverty, depression, separation from loved ones, aging. I miss my husband this morning, and my 2 children who live in other cities. And I feel like Paul sometimes, risking to preach the grainy truth of the gospel, shedding light on the evil that is within us and that pursues us, knowing that I will sometimes be struck down, ridiculed. And sometimes, I will behave badly in it all while others are watching.

But Paul also assures me when he writes of the sovereignty of God and the power of God's word in all things: ¹⁸What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice...²⁷...live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel...

May the love of God and the peace of Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit be yours today as we remember 9/11 and proclaim the gospel in season and out.

daily scriptures first thoughts august 23 2007

Morning: Psalm 36:1-12
2 Samuel 19:1-23
Acts 24:1-23
Mark 12:28-34
Evening: Psalm 80:1-19

Jesus lived out the Law publicly and defended His faith in the one true God. Paul and all disciples since have done the same, as they followed Jesus. Jesus reminds us today in Mark's gospel that the first commandment for Christians of all stripes is to the one true God, to love God with heart, mind, soul strength - FIRST. To love and linger there before we love others. Learn from God about God and what matters to God. When I focus on loving God first, I realize there is only so much time and energy and strength for what else matters to God, which is to love my neighbor as my self. Should I say, as God loves me. Other things fall under this, flow from these 2 commandments.

And this I know as well. That when I give God the first fruits of all I am and have - time, talent, heart, mind, will, desires, and my attention, I see the world differently. I see my neighbor differently. I see my struggles differently. And I find my courage to love with justice and action and compassion and humility. Loving my neighbor looks differently many time,s depending upon how God has shed light light on the situation, and I am careful to discern how God wants me to love my neighbor. Do I give? Do I withhold? Do I flee? Do I defend? Do I speak? Do I listen? Do I rebuild? Do I let go? Do I engage? Do I detach? Do I confront? Do I accept confrontation? Love has many expressions and God gives us the rules of love and faith. This was the way Jesus loved.

May we look to God in Jesus first for the way of love.

daily scriptures first thoughts august 20 2007

Psalm 135:1-21
2 Samuel 17:24-18:8
Acts 22:30-23:11
Mark 11:12-26
Psalm 97:1-12

In Mark's gospel Jesus makes the fig tree wither - from the inside out, from its root. The fig tree people have depended upon for fruit and nourishment. "It's not the season for figs," he says, and Jesus kills it. Next, he turns the robbers out of the temple, killing the enterprise of their religious institution. Then he calls the people of God to "have faith in God," and pray for all the nations. And he promises these prayers will be answered if there is no doubt about God's power. God's power alone.

I spent the last 5 days with over 1,000 PC(USA) Presbyterians at back-to-back conferences. One about reforming the denomination, from the inside out. The second fleshing out what it means to be missional, from the inside out. Many of the same people were at both.

I was lifted up at the second put on by a new movement called Presbyterian Global Fellowship. I attended last year at the first conference they held. I was renewed and restored there, for as some of you know, I have been hurt and discouraged by some of the actions in our Presbytery, and the responses to them, from all sides. It was a joy to be with pastors, elders from other Presbyteries, and Christians from all over the globe, who are joyful. Who are working together putting their prayers, energy and time in bringing the Kingdom to bear over all the nations, rather than wrangle about dominion. We spoke little about matters PC(USA), and heard about the fruit of missional hearts and minds in other places and Christian fellowships and ministries: Australia, the middle east, inner cities and suburbs, China, Mexico, Africa. How much bigger is the Kingdom than one Presbytery, or USA denomination! I know that, but I needed a witness, Amen!

In the context of mission to the world, Jesus says whatever we pray for, it will come to be, by faith in God, the Misseo Dei, the God who goes out and calls us out of what binds us. Sex slaves will be freed, their oppressors brought to justice, fresh water will reach thirsty people in Africa, India, there will be peace in the Gaza, the Chinese Christian church will continue to grow, the crack addicts will find hope, and fatherless children will be loved. It will happen by faith in God alone, not faith in any institution, no matter how much fruit it has born in the past. Perhaps it is no longer the season for denominations as we know them. I think God is providing new fruit for the missionaries of the gospel to feed upon, and it tastes sweet to me.

I was excited to be affirmed in many of the things we're doing at SBPC: small groups, covenanting to read the Bible, and fostering new partnerships in mission. What struck me more than anything was to be reminded that mission happens through investment in authentic relationships, reaching out to bless and eat with strangers, leaving the comfort zone, and letting the Lord kill what is no longer bearing fruit in ministry and in hearts. It happens by loving each other and the world, and loving and forgiving each other.

I gathered with Presbyterians who repented of our ignorance and arrogance, who are willing to let the Lord kill the roots of institutionalism, risk dying from the inside out, and trust God alone. I needed that and thank God for His grace and encouragement in the midst of my angst.

On another note, I know many, many people are reading this now from my blog stats. This blog is indeed a public forum, of sorts, and a kind of personal journal of the heart. It is not intended to be always rational, always correct, and always agreeable, because it is human. It is intended to be a place I can be honest about my pain and anger, as well as my joys and love of Jesus, and what I discern to be happening around me. Personal honesty is not always kind, as we see from Jesus' actions many times. As well as the disciples, who got it wrong more than once too. One of you suggested after I disclosed my feelings, that I wait and write my blog when I'm not so discouraged or tired and angry when I can misconstrue motives. I'm sorry if I have miscontrued anyone's motives who love Jesus. And I do write when I'm uplifted and filled with hope and joy and peace. I commend that reading to you as well.

But I will continue also to share my heart - misguided as some of you might believe it is. I regret deeply that the only time I ever hear from most of you is on my blog, mostly through anonymous comments when I'm being controversial, or perceived as divisive or wrong. You are attacking each other anonymously too on my blog. Meanwhile, there is no real reaching out going on to each other.

I'd love this to be a forum for sharing the love and hope of Christ together, and caring for each other once in awhile in the middle of cosmic change in our world, as we all wait the final coming of the Kingdom. Then we'll learn how much we all really missed the mark.

daily readings first thoughts august 10 2007

Morning: Psalm 84:1-12
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Acts 19:21-41
Mark 9:14-29
Evening: Psalm 25:1-22

I commend Acts reading to you all today. Paul and his companions are preaching the Way of Jesus in Macedonia, against other gods, and business is way down for all the makers of the silver idols of Artemis, a pagan god. And they're not happy. Diverting customers to Jesus away from the worship of Artemis, they've seen their long-standing business go down the tubes. There's a motive for them propping up this religion: money, power and a comfy lifestyle. They take action, hauling the Jesus believers into the consul, and not just a little commotion ensues. The city is "in confusion," over the conflict. "... some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together." (v.32).

I'm sorry, at the risk of getting into the state of affairs in the PC(USA) again, and my own standing in it, this reminds me of the very public wrangling in our denomination, when Presbytery assemblies are thrown into confusion over the issue of business in our denomination. I see this issue rooted in idolatry.

In our presbytery, there are some congregations among us are trying to follow "The Way," a narrow path unencumbered by bureaucracy, religious pluralism, and crumbling standards, to be accused of everything under the sun and outshouted in the assembly by those who are trying to protect the "business" of the denomination. It's all being done under the guise of protecting the peace, unity and purity of the church. Face it, business in the PC(USA) is way down: shrinking numbers and treasuries are a threat to those who have been part of this long-standing business. I'm not saying the business of the PC(USA) is to promote worship of other gods - we are rooted in Christ alone - but other gods seem to have crept into our practices. Property, rules, tradition, polity, positions, the PUP report...are these hand-hewn idols for some?

My congregation could care less about this confusion, as we are a bunch of joyfully undisciplined, disordered, big hearted lovers of Jesus, who are connected with the people Jesus loves and came to serve. They are not connected to the PC(USA) in spirit or heart, which is probably a big disappointment to the denomination's officials, and certainly a threat to me. For I have been told I am to try and make good Presbyterians out of them, and engage them in the Presbytery's assembly, so that they will also come to understand and protect the denomination's peace, unity and purity. But they are indifferent to arguing, and too busy praying, doing ministry, surviving, spreading the good news, doing Bible study, building Habitat houses, finding our missional identity in the greater church. Frankly, I do not want to be part of the diversion away from the "business" of the Spirit's move on us right now. I'm sure I will take some flack for that in the assembly, but I'm tired, and have only so much energy to carry on in my call to follow Jesus at SBPC.

In the meantime, no one from the presbytery has volunteered to come to pray with us, to worship with us, or share Christ with us. To discover the brokenness that exists in our neighborhoods, and ask how can we help you do ministry better? If someone comes, we do not want to talk about the condition of the PC(USA) right now or learn ways to save the business. We will pray and we're open to ways we can truly reach out to the lost in the name of Jesus Christ alone.

As Jesus told the disciples in the gospel today, some evil spirits can only come out through prayer. Let us pray.

daily scriptures frist thoughts august 7 2007

Morning: Psalm 12:1-8
2 Samuel 7:18-29
Acts 18:12-28
Mark 8:22-33
Evening: Psalm 36:1-12

Works in progress, we are in Christ. Good old Apollos was a work in progress indeed. A bold, eloquent preacher, a charismatic personality it seems. Well meaning, zealous and sincere, effective. But under-informed about Jesus. A work in progress, who was stopped from speaking until he was set straight about the fullness of Christ by companions Priscilla and Aquila about the baptism by the Holy Spirit. "There's more to this gospel than you're preaching, Apollos." He was pulled aside for a time for continuing education, and then off he went again, bolder, more informed. But first he was silenced.

So was Paul. In Acts, Paul was silenced before he could speak before the tribunal (Acts 18:14). In Mark's gospel today, after he healed the blind man, Jesus silenced him, sent him home instead of back out to the village as a witness. He silenced the disciples from talking about him as Messiah. Instead he told them whole truth about himself: suffering and death would follow him - Peter wanted to silence Jesus over that - but Jesus silenced him.

Though it is comforting to know that we still have a witness like they all did in spite of our incomplete knowledge of God, and Jesus, and the power of the Spirit, in spite of the fact that we prefer to avoid the suffering we do for Jesus, in spite of how we charge off willy nilly in our work, there is a time to be silent, and listen. A time to be silent and learn. A time to be silent and let wounds heal. A time to be silent and begin to let our lives be changed. A time to be silent and let the Lord tell us when and where and how we should go with the good news. When to speak and what to say. For the good news is bad news to those who "plot mischief while on their beds;they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil." (Psalm 36:4). We need to be silent sometimes and let the Lord do battle, and pray.

The church is a work in progress, ever since the Spirit came upon the tiny band of under-informed disciples. Today there are so many voices telling us how to be church. I'm quite sure today, Jesus is telling this preacher, and possible to my small band of believers at my church, shut up and go home, rest awhile. Stay out of the public for a time and let me do the work. Let me teach you more and strengthen you and give you wisdom, and I'll move you out when it's time.

The psalmist says it like this: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

⁸They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

⁹For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light we see light.

Go home, be still and know that God is with you.

daily scriptures first thoughts august 6 2007

Morning: Psalm 62:1-12
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Acts 18:1-11
Mark 8:11-21
Evening: Psalm 73:1-28

As I read Psalm 62, I remember the 15 minutes we took to be alone with God at Wyld Life camp last week with middle schoolers. It happened after all the high energy - ropes course, blobbing, tubing, relays swimming, biking, screaming girls and mischievous boys seeking their attention - you name it. These middle schoolers came to camp full of energy looking for a good time, but many with every sort of trouble, simple and not so simple burdens about identity, belonging, abandonment, full of shame, anger, fear. They couldn't speak it, but they came looking for a sign that there was a God, for a refuge from the pain and craziness of their young lives. To have fun and also find out that they were loved and forgiven. Many had no father, or discipline in their lives.

During the week, many took huge risks doing something they never thought they could do - like going for the trapeze at the end of the rope course, hooked up so they would not fall, but scared to death anyway. Then, on that last night, all of us went into the darkness alone to talk and listen to God. It's just what we needed after a jam packed week of bone-chilling adventure and never knowing what was next. The speaker had told us all week that God loved us, that Jesus was the way to connect to God. I believed it before I went into the night, but in the dark I heard Jesus tell me again, personally. Heard him call me home to quiet and peace and safety. In the quiet came the truth again I need to hear every day as I grab for the bar and hope I won't fall. The psalmist writes:

For God alone my soul waits in silence,

for my hope is from him.

⁶He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

⁷On God rests my deliverance and my honor;

my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

⁸Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

Camp was a refuge.

The Pharisees were looking for signs that Jesus was divine, so they could nail him for blasphemy. He refused to give them a sign. But he did give signs to the disciples. Yet it took awhile for them to see and hear and remember. Sound familiar? Loaves and fishes, the feeding of thousands with a little, and they still did not understand everything God is, his power to make a way when there is no way. How soon we all forget.

At camp it could be some missed seeing and hearing the divine in the dark, or on the ropes course, bike trail, or basketball court, around the dining tables. But the signs of the divine were everywhere as after a time we saw smiles break out on the tough guy's face. When after 45 minutes of encouragement from new friends, the small, scared 7th grader finally jumped off the blob. The divine was there as a hug and a kind word from a leader reconciled feuding girls. In this place, they got to hang out with leaders who love Jesus and loved them like Jesus loved. Like Paul loved all the people wherever he went, hanging out with them, making tents and sharing stories about life and God and hope. As they hung out, they were changed. Leaders were modeling God's faithfulness and direction, and embodying God's words we read in 2 Samuel today: I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings. ¹⁵But I will not take my steadfast love from him...In the darkness they heard God tell them, "I love you." With their leaders they experienced God's care and protection, and guidance. And sometimes, time out!

The divine was present during cabin time, when tears rolled down faces of campers and leaders alike, as they got real with God and each other. Signs were all over the place as the hills and lakes and stars shouted out to city kids who had never been out of the smoky hood. Signs and wonders came as we heard 5 of our young campers share their testimonies on Sunday. "I overcame my fear at camp," said one. "I learned I don't have to please anyone but God," says another. "I grew closer to God," said them all.

If you need a sign - look into the lives of kids who have just said "yes" to Jesus. Then go out into the dark, and listen.

daily readings first thoughts july 20 2007

Psalm 51:1-19
1 Samuel 21:1-15
Acts 13:13-25
Mark 3:7-19a
Psalm 142:1-7

Psalm 51 ends with the plea from the psalmist to the Lord that the Lord open his lips so he can proclaim praise (v.15). That he give a sacrifice of praise, offered boldly by the broken, humble person before God. Humbled by his own fear and dependence upon God, broken by his sin, the psalmist is a pray-er seeking cleansing after God's own heart. And God heals him and restores him, protects him. And then gives him the voice of praise.

As I see it, the voice of praise is to be heard by a broken world. Heard by the enemies within our circle of relationships and certainly without. Praise when times get rough and pain and suffering lap at our heels, search for us when we try to flee. Even as David ran from his enemies, he praised the Lord. This was always God's purpose, to use those who have had a real experience with God to spread the good news. He uses those with little hope or power - to bring his own to bear on the world.

As Paul tells the whole story in Acts in this scripture today - he tells us how this happened, and in this amazing story to the curious and to the dangerous, he is praising the mighty works of God, who through this David, came a Savior to save us, to change our broken selves into a witness for his glory, a pure sacrifice, redeemed by Jesus. Our messy, fearful lives are made whole, perfect - for God's purposes in the world.

And so Jesus, continuing in God's plan, calls us restored but frail people, like he did the first 12, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, ¹⁵and to have authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:14-15). He calls us to take him to the streets.

I took Jesus to the streets this week - I asked a tiny, tatooed waitress at breakfast if I could pray for her as we prayed for our meal. She immediately responded with surprise, this wee bit of a girl, who had not seen the inside of my church or any for that matter anytime recently or at all for all I know, and she asked for prayer for her partner and her partner's father, who was as we spoke being prepped for brain surgery. My companion and I prayed their names. About an hour later she came back to the table, stunned by our boldness, telling us in the 6 yeas she had worked there and watched people pray over their meals, no one had EVER asked how they could pray for HER. She then testified to the peace she and her partner had experienced since we prayed. She had called her to share what had happened, and Jesus had come alongside all of them in a way I would never had imagined. But of course, I shouldn't have been surprised, for Jesus gave me this authority - to proclaim and cast out fearful demons, and bring peace where there is no peace. To the least of these. Duh.

I was to only be obedient with the gift of grace and voice of praise, and the new heart God had given me. In return he gave me the gift of a glimpse of a new heaven and a new earth.

I can't wait to see where he sends me next.

Daily readings first thoughts July 17 2007

"We have never seen anything like this!"

Mark's gospel reading tells of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof of Jesus' crowded house by 4 friends who believed Jesus could heal him - and Jesus, seeing the effort they went to for their friend's cause, because of their faith, forgave his sins, which outraged the Pharisee scribes, and then healed his body, which caused those gathered to exclaim: "We have never seen anything like this!" Some said it in wonder, but the scribes did not. As my grandmother might have said when she was appalled by something, "Well, I never...!"

The scribes were upset; how disruptive this was! How messy all the roofing must have been falling on every one's heads. How chaotic and unorthodox Jesus was being! Everyone knows you come to church though the front door, and sit quietly, sing hymns and pray and confess, decently and in order, do not talk out or come and go, listen quietly, and then leave by the same way you came. I hear them in the pews of my Presbyterian church, when our service gets out of control with laughter and chatter, crying babies, and spontaneous altar calls, when people off the street wander in, drunk, or broke. When we share communion and coffee together in the sanctuary. When the Praise team really "brings it." I hear some say, "Well, I've never seen anything like this!"

In matters of faith, God sees the heart - as Jesus read the spirit of the scribes, who were missing the real action. God sees the heart of the true worshipper, of those seeking hope and salvation and purpose, and then who bust with love and compassion that they would bring others to Jesus wherever he can be found. And Jesus goes to the most unlikely places and does the most unorthodox things. Loving God and loving others is messy and dangerous. You could fall off the roof. Grace could fall on you. Your life can change. That's risky business, when we have everything in order the way we like it.

May we see the love and grace of God when it happens before our very eyes, and may we say, in adoration and praise, "We have never seen anything like this." Indeed, without the Spirit in us, we shall not have eyes to see Jesus as he really is, nor the willingness to bring others to him wherever his goes. That's discipleship with heart and action.

daily readings first thoughts july 10 2007

1 Samuel 15:24-35

In this story, Saul had received instructions from the Lord through Samuel to wait 7 days for God's next commandment in his battle against the Amalekites. As 7 days come and go, he has become impatient waiting on God, and fearing he'd look foolish and weak to the people, he took matters into his own hands. He moves against them, messing with the Lord's instructions to completely destroy them and all their possessions, saving some for himself. He gets busted by Samuel, who tells him "to obey is better than sacrifice, to heed is better than the fat of the rams, for rebellion is sin... and arrogance, like idolatry." Saul confesses he has sinned and asks Samuel to stick with him, and restore him to the people so he can worship the Lord. But there is a self-serving motive for his "confession." He's about to lose his crown, and he needs Samuel to keep a good word for him with the Lord and the people. Samuel eventually leads Saul back to worship the Lord, but leaves him there, never to see him again. Saul is rejected by God as King, and Samuel as his friend.

Consequences to disobedience are grave, maybe not experienced in the moment but eventually levied. Though grace a bounds for us in Christ when we confess our waywardness, all of us are accountable to the Lord for how we keep faith with God's commandments. The ones that don't make sense, and seem irrelevant for our times. The commandments that are politically incorrect, or appear hard-nosed. The commandments that call for discipline and confrontation of wrongdoing that would render us unpopular. Commandments not to accept false teaching in the church, or mingle with other gods of our age. Commandments to be just and kind and fair to the weaker among us. Whenever our own motives are given higher standing than God's, God will hold us accountable.

One interesting thing I noted however in this reading, was about God's desire for our worship, no matter what. I think the author of Samuel was trying to say even as Samuel was banished from being King, that as we remember God's covenant, and the miracles of dead people coming to life and the terminally ill made well, and devils exorcised by Jesus and his followers, Saul was still allowed to return to worship the Lord. Warts and all, scarred and shamed, powerless, paranoid and pitiful before the people. But God is faithful and promised he would never break covenant with us weak in faith and slow to come to our senses. God always seeks our confession and our praise.

Carrying the consequences of my life, I enter in to worship the One who has forgiven everything I ever did. Praise to you, O Lord, for knowing the real me and loving me anyway. For redeeming me to live with you forever.

daily scriptures first thoughts july 9 2007

Morning: Psalm 62:1-12
1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23
Acts 9:19b-31
Luke 23:44-56a
Evening: Psalm 73:1-28

As I read today's texts, my prayers go out to the persecuted church, where "the wicked have no pain" (Ps. 73), when in pride and arrogance, they inflict violence and oppression on those who hold steadfastly to Jesus as Lord. The church has always been fraught with oppression. We read today in Acts about Paul's narrow escapes at the hand of just a few and constant danger from the many powerful Jews and Greeks who opposed the gospel for disrupting the religious order and control.

Jesus is not spared death, as the remaining disciples' courage and power wane against the zealous crowds, and Jesus is laid to rest, dead and buried on the Jewish Sabbath.

And we watch and we wait and we pray from a safe distance, where it's easy to shake our heads and pray, or rant and rave in disgust, and it is quite another to take on the bullies ourselves. For that would cost us something, like fellowship with our neighbors who have joined the enemy, or reputation for being trouble-makers ourselves, or worse. How easy we are to be manipulated, when we too can turn on the weak with our apathy, so as to protect our fragile selves and own interests. Soon, like the crowds in the psalm, we can begin praising the oppressors, finding no fault in them, as long as they leave us alone. That's what bullies can do to good people.

It happens with our children who are too afraid to defend their little buddies on the playground. It happens when a whistle blower in the marketplace is threatened with losing their job. It happens when the media silences conservative Christians, portraying them as ignorant and judgmental. It's happening in the church to evangelicals and conservatives who proclaim Jesus as the only way to salvation in a pluralist world, who preach sexual purity, and uphold biblical standards for life and faith, who try to speak out only to be labeled rebellious schismatics. Sadly, many of them back down, or remain silent as they watch from the bleachers the few sisters and brothers battle falsehoods, over property rights and standing in their particular corner of the playground.

And then I read Luke's encouragement to the church in Acts, after Paul's harrowing oppression: ³¹Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

And for the disciples who in grief, had laid Jesus to rest, amidst their pain before the resurrection, received the gift of the Sabbath with God. Even as Jesus himself, commended his broken body and tormented spirit into the hands of the Father (Luke). And the psalmist's cry becomes ours when he says, Whom have I in heaven but You, God; nothing on earth I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my heart and my portion forever. For me it is good to be near God - I have made the Lord my refuge." (Ps.73). For God alone my soul waits in silence. From him comes my salvation.(Ps 63).

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with you all this day.

Spread the Word!

I noticed my readership went up over 500% after my June 18 blog about the Heartland's action at Presbytery. My blog sitemeter stats showed the blogs went coast to coast like wildfire. I read the many, many comments from people I did not know. It seems sometimes we are all more interested in discord than Jesus. I think you who read this blog might consider also spreading the "good news" like wild fire, commenting on God's amazing grace and creativity and hope - even as you pass along and comment upon my opinions about the affairs of the denomination. Believe me, I think there's more to my heart and yours than that. There's Jesus and his heart for the WHOLE world.

I want to spread the good news of Jesus - Jesus, who heals all sins and reconciles all to God. The world is watching and waiting for something, Someone, to transcend all the brokenness we create, and the suffering and pain of this life.

Can we do that? Can we spread the Word? I'd like to hear it from y'all.

Sunday Thoughts July 1 2007

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

After all that has been going on in my Presbytery, I daresay, the denomination, I needed a vacation. I took a week this past week, when we hosted my husband's three 1/2 brothers from Florida and California, whom he met for the first time 6 months ago. Their father , Roy Hampton, who died in 1996, was an artist and they found each other on the Internet through his art. This was a miracle of reconciliation that only God could have arranged. For 58 years my husband did not know he had these brothers, born after his mother and father divorced and both remarried. He was raised by a wonderful step-father who adopted him. We learned from these brothers that their father yearned to know what had happened to his first-born little boy. They had been looking for him for over 35 years. And now they are together as family, marveling at the Hampton traits they all share.

God was present in this reunion, and I was very aware of Him the whole week in simple ways. We shared Kansas City Jazz and blues, barbecue, art galleries, and gallons of coffee. Curious about my vocation, I had occasion to share the hope that lies within me to three men and a nephew who had never talked to a minister this long, let alone stay with one! We talked about Jesus with them - seekers at best, polite listeners at the very least. Our marriage witnessed God's covenant love to all of these single men. And the reunion testified that God will use anything to reconcile what is broken and lost. They set aside their lifelong tendencies to wrestle and compete, and deferred to good behavior and keeping peace and sharing their lives and hopes. We laughed and remembered and marveled.

But they taught me more than we could ever teach them about unconditional love and grace. They had no concerns really about what we believed, our politics or religion, really. Their eyes glazed over when I shared what was going on at our presbytery, and I felt foolish for the energy I had directed to the fray. It did not matter. What mattered was that what was lost had been found. And the fatted calf and broken bread we shared together were the sweetest I had ever tasted. I needed this at such a time in the life of our denomination, where quarrels and factions were the food I was consuming, and I was starving for real peace and unity. To have my heart engaged in REAL reconciliation was a balm for my soul, that has been battling the flesh. They were forthright about their lifelong battles as well, but we were bound by the grace of God - all of us. God was present and we have all been transformed. Paul sums it up for me in today's lectionary:
²By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

The Spirit blows where it will and it has blown through this family to show me what real love and commitment and connectedness feel like. They rose above their past and entered the future whole and intact, as new people. In their way, the Hampton boys understand the fruit of the Spirit even if they don't know Jesus, or Paul or polity or PUP. I thank God for His miracle of reconciliation, the wisdom to know the real thing when it comes along, and the courage to let go of everything else.

Word gets Around!

I got a call last night late from a colleague I serve with on CPM (who voted for the amendment at Presbytery that I opposed). As a friend, which he is to me as well, he informed me that excerpts from my blog of June 18 were quoted in "The Layman." Someone had sent them the site, and it went from there.

I do not read the Layman - I do not like the, shall I say, "tone" of its rhetoric. No one from the Layman contacted me - I don't appreciate being represented as a spokesperson for them - though they quoted me correctly.

Such it is with blogs - you put it out there and you risk a publication like the Layman picking it up. But the blog is a way for me to say what I wanted without a 3 minute timer, or parliamentary procedure interrupting my train of thought. it might get me on some list, or in some "camp," but it was worth the risk to air my conscience.

By the way - hello back to all my classmates who have connected through this latest event in our Presbytery. Keep reading. Life and faith go on, thanks be to God.

Daily Readings First Thoughts June 22 2007

Daily Lectionary:
Morning: Psalm 51:1-19
1 Samuel 3:1-21
Acts 2:37-47
Luke 21:5-19
Evening: Psalm 142:1-7

Last night our congregation began a season of prayer, called for by a faithful member of our church several weeks ago. Over a dozen responded to the first call to gather in the beautiful sanctuary to seek God's mission for our church. It was a beautiful movement of the Holy Spirit on our diverse band of believers and seekers, none of whom know much, if anything, about the events of the past weekend at Presbytery. We prayed for guidance for us to reach out to the poor and needy with the good news of Jesus. Several prayed scripture, asking for forgiveness, humility and boldness in our witness. Others prayed for our community, and the lost around us. We prayed in thanksgiving for our salvation and the gifts God has granted us. We prayed for resources and partnerships with other churches. We marveled at the true goose-bump experience of the Holy Spirit present with us in worship, and we rejoiced that many in that place had found the Lord at SBPC. Then as Samuel did, we children responded, Speak Lord, for your servant is listening (I Sam 3:10). By affirmation, our elder doing our devotion at session the same night had selected this text for us. God began to speak to us about unity.

Not unity in "right believing", or Presbyterian polity, but unity in relationships, service, and worship in the name of Jesus, that the Acts church had. Simple unity of presence to one another and unity in our mission to the world. You see, SBPC is a band of diverse believers, with very different church backgrounds and experience with the one true God. Very few have been Presbyterians until they joined us this past 5 years. We have 2 services: the "old guard" at 11:00 and the new members at the 9:00. We heard the Spirit calling us to "be all together in one place," gathered around the table and the word, and discerning together our mission. And so we are combining our 2 Sunday services into one - old and new members, old and young, praise band and choir. The other thing we will do is focus on the one thing - reading the Bible together, as we begin covenant groups in the fall, and then we will discover in small groups how each might serve the Lord. Our theme is "Into the Word, Into the world".

As I read today's texts, I was encouraged that the same Spirit that came upon the Acts 2 church has brought us back to the real meaning of unity and mission: ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

SBPC is planning to focus on The One Thing - Jesus, and let God build up and destroy what He will, stone by stone (Luke 21:6). We will remember God's promises in his covenant to his people. In prayer, fellowship, worship, with humility and repentance, expectation and hope, we will seek only His face, and ask God to save us from this corrupt generation.(Acts 2:40). This is all this pastor and this extraordinary congregation can do, in such a time. Turn our eyes upon Jesus, and leave everything else up to God.

Daily Readings First Thoughts June 21 2007

Daily Lectionary:
Morning: Psalm 97:1-12
1 Samuel 2:27-36
Acts 2:22-36
Luke 20:41-21:4
Evening: Psalm 16:1-11

I promise this will be short. I put to the readers the challenge to read all the scriptures today, and then ask yourselves - you Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, and all members of Christian institutions, covenant communities, or whatever you might call your overseeing body - "Who do you say is Lord?"

Is it your governing bodies? is it the ones who speak for you as you assemble, and in the marketplaces, media? Is it your pastor, or your Sunday school teacher, your professor, your Senator, your boss, your spouse? Who do you say knows all there is to know about everything, that you can throw your life on his/her cause and be saved?

The scribes and priests of Madison Avenue, Hollywood, Wall Street, Washington, and I daresay, Louisville, are not Lord. They sound good and may sometimes mean well, but bottom line is to gain, not to lose. And none of them can save you from pain, suffering, sin, or deceit. Please - please - please - read the word, pray, and let God guide you in faith and life, wisdom and discernment, letting the Holy Spirit give you the boldness to know the truth in all things, rooted in the One Lord of all - Jesus Christ. And follow him alone.

Daily Readings first thoughts June 18 2007

Morning: Psalm 42:1-11
1 Samuel 1:21-2:11
Acts 1:15-26
Luke 20:19-26
Evening: Psalm 102:1-28

The Heartland Presbytery meeting this past weekend was a source of grief and anger for me - contentious and tedious in its spirit, tentative in grace, and seasoned with pain. Decently and in order, friends and colleagues deliberated whether to form an Advisory Committee of Committee on Ministry that would immediately assume unilateral power over all sessions and congregations "considering" leaving the PC(USA). This was an action initiated by Council, through COM sparked by the explicit desires of 2 congregations to transfer to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church later this month, and another church who is reviewing their bylaws. I disagree with these congregations and their leaders to leave, but I was outraged by how the body voted to handle their decision. The body voted Yes to the action.

No matter that this denomination is in correspondence with the EPC. No matter that our polity already allows for and has procedures for withdrawals by pastors and churches. No matter that one member of the proposed AC was a retired pastor and dissenter from one of the 2 churches. No matter that 10 days or so before the churches had showed hospitality and met with the executive presbyter, members of council and COM who presented this motion, and spoken openly and "gracefully" about their desires and the issues.No matter that one church assured them they were NOT leaving the PC(USA), and the COM members assured them they would work together.

The motion passed gives the new AC total power and control to discern what "considering leaving" means and which congregation and pastor were to be put on "the list" over which they would assume immediate and total control, on their timing and terms. The action now puts ALL churches potentially at risk for McCarthy-like seizures should they be only exploring the options, examining the church, speaking their mind, becoming informed of what is happening in our times. It breeds secrecy, and paranoia, when we are free in Christ.

I listened to the presenter of the primary motion "speak to it," and before any debate, he set the tone of schism, separation, and "threat" by these congregations and implied deceit and misconduct by one church, without substantiating proof to the body. His rhetoric was anything but graceful - it was arrogant and designed to influence the body before discussion, and was a 180 to the tone of the prior discussions with these churches. I was reminded of the scribes and priests trying to trick Jesus with feigned humility and rhetoric, while laying in wait for them all along.

A substitute motion was proposed to form an AC only after withdrawal was explicit and after all other means to reconcile had been exhausted with the denomination, COM and presbytery officials, and the decision by the local congregation was final. To me, this followed more the spirit of our polity and of the PUP report - bottom up power, connected in pain and suffering, prayerful discernment when we disagree, and allowing God to be the Lord of the conscience. To me, it allowed the Barnabases and Pauls to go on their own way, trusting that the "true church" would never die. But the body preferred to give the AC immediate power. By an overwhelming margin, the substitute motion failed. The PC(USA), some think, is the "true church" and now we have the AC to enforce and protect it.

But in today's OT text, Hannah had it right when she prayed:

²"There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. ³Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. ⁴The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. ⁵Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. ⁶The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. ⁷The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. ⁸He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.

⁹"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. ¹⁰The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."

The church was faced with electing another apostle when Judas the betrayer, fled and died. Who are the betrayers in our Presbytery? It seems the new "powers that be," have branded any church who is struggling with their conscience and their commitment to a human institution led by humans, as betrayers. At the heart of the so-called betrayal is the property issue - well, I believe any of us who are truly seeking to be the "true church" could care less about property and would render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to the Lord what is the Lord's. All the Lord desires of us is faithfulness to the gospel, and to Christ alone. if we can stay connected and do that - fine. if not, some may have to leave.

To the Presbytery, should my church end up on a list when we were "considering" the state of affairs in the PC(USA) today, that would be it for me. And I hope and pray I would have the courage to say to the denomination, keep your stuff and let us go.

Maybe now I'll end up on the list.