Saturday, December 31, 2005
Endings...Beginnings
As I sit here, the end of 2005 is about 8 hours away. Tonight, I will not be up and watching the year end and welcoming in the New Year. Tomorrow is a Sunday and it will be the first Sunday of the new year, in about 13or 14 years, that I have actually been in town to lead a service. I have chosen John Wesley’s Covenant Service as the format for our first service in the New Year. If you have never attended one of these services, then you should be in for a spiritual challenge. It is a challenge because it asks you to move from you ho hum way of thinking and get down to business and take seriously your relationship with God.
I hope that you will be able to be present for this service.
Friday, December 09, 2005
You Can't Please Everyone
Matthew 11:16-19 Jesus spoke to the crowds, "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
As I read this passage, its message became clear to me. You can't please all the people all of the time. What matters is that you know what you are supposed to be doing and to go about doing it. As a minister, one of the things that I quickly learned was that I could not please all the people even part of the time. In some churches and over some matters, it is just impossible to make everyone happy.
Once I realized this. I stopped trying to make everyone happy. I decided that my goal as pastor was to lead and that sometimes meant that people will not understand or be angry at me. However, as long as I know I am leading in the direction that God wants us to go, I will not get twisted into a corner trying to please everyone. (I know this sounds good in writing, but it is much harder to put into action!)
Jesus made the point in this passage that John, who refused to celebrate with the people was disliked and that Jesus who ate and drank was also disliked. Its the last verse that ties it all together: "Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." It didn't matter what they did as long as they were true to what God had called them to do.
Perhaps its time for Christians to do likewise. Stop worrying about what people will think when you reach out in mission and ministry--just do it. The act of doing a kind deed will far outweigh the words of discontent that might come about because some folks may not like the way that you did it!
As I read this passage, its message became clear to me. You can't please all the people all of the time. What matters is that you know what you are supposed to be doing and to go about doing it. As a minister, one of the things that I quickly learned was that I could not please all the people even part of the time. In some churches and over some matters, it is just impossible to make everyone happy.
Once I realized this. I stopped trying to make everyone happy. I decided that my goal as pastor was to lead and that sometimes meant that people will not understand or be angry at me. However, as long as I know I am leading in the direction that God wants us to go, I will not get twisted into a corner trying to please everyone. (I know this sounds good in writing, but it is much harder to put into action!)
Jesus made the point in this passage that John, who refused to celebrate with the people was disliked and that Jesus who ate and drank was also disliked. Its the last verse that ties it all together: "Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." It didn't matter what they did as long as they were true to what God had called them to do.
Perhaps its time for Christians to do likewise. Stop worrying about what people will think when you reach out in mission and ministry--just do it. The act of doing a kind deed will far outweigh the words of discontent that might come about because some folks may not like the way that you did it!
Holding Baby Jesus
One of the best parts about being a parent is the opportunities you get to simply sit in a big comfortable chair with a sleeping infant in your arms. I know that when Daivd was born, Debbie had to work on Saturdays. Every Saturday, I would get a big comfy pillow and place it on my lap and then sit for most of the day with David on my lap. He’s too big for those kinds of cozy times now, but I still remember the moments.
Just yesterday, I was holding Daniel. He had fallen asleep and he was snoring with his head snuggled into the crook of my neck. No amount of money in the world. No amount of prestige could replace such a precious moment. I savor them all the more now that I realize that even Daniel is growing up—just like David, Jacob and Andrew.
As I thought about these precious moments with my children, I realized something about God. He never really got to hold Jesus the way that mothers and fathers hold their precious children. He never got to snuggle with Jesus on a cold winter morning in a warm bed. He never got to carry him and put him in bed when he fell asleep in his arms. He never got to do any of the things that we take for granted as parents. He never got to do any of those things.
Yet, he did get to watch him die in humiliation and pain on a cross. He watched in agony as his only Son died for the sins of the entire world. He watched, and I think that he wept.
Have you wrapped your arms around Jesus and accepted what he did on your behalf?
Just yesterday, I was holding Daniel. He had fallen asleep and he was snoring with his head snuggled into the crook of my neck. No amount of money in the world. No amount of prestige could replace such a precious moment. I savor them all the more now that I realize that even Daniel is growing up—just like David, Jacob and Andrew.
As I thought about these precious moments with my children, I realized something about God. He never really got to hold Jesus the way that mothers and fathers hold their precious children. He never got to snuggle with Jesus on a cold winter morning in a warm bed. He never got to carry him and put him in bed when he fell asleep in his arms. He never got to do any of the things that we take for granted as parents. He never got to do any of those things.
Yet, he did get to watch him die in humiliation and pain on a cross. He watched in agony as his only Son died for the sins of the entire world. He watched, and I think that he wept.
Have you wrapped your arms around Jesus and accepted what he did on your behalf?
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Commentary on the times....
As this holiday season has been revving up to full swing I have noticed, heard, and read some things that I think we need to think about.
First of all, you can’t even get through Halloween until you begin to see the holiday aisles going up in Wal-Mart. There’s just something about the juxtaposition of Santa Claus and Freddy Kruger that makes my skin crawl. Do we as a society have to begin the head long rush to Christmas with a daily countdown. This first countdown sign that I remember this year said we had only 64 shopping days until Christmas. 64 SHOPPING DAYS. It wouldn’t be so bad, if our culture had any remnant of what Christmas was all about.
The other thing that concerns me is the multicultural approach that our society seems to be taking. There is no denying that we live in a society with varied ethnic groups: Asian, African-American, Native American, White Europeans, Hispanics and many other smaller groups. There is denying that we live in a culture with many different religious beliefs. I am Christian. Others are Muslim. Others are Jewish. Others are (fill in the blank). Each of these ethnic and religious groups have their own traditions and their own holidays. I have no problem with this diversity of ideas and cultures. I do have a problem, however, when one or more of these sub-cultures decides that Christian references are not permissible in our society because they offend that particular sub-cultures sensitivities.
For instance, there is a movement across the country to no longer call the town Christmas tree a “Christmas tree” Christmas, after all, refers to the holiday that only Christians celebrate. Therefore, the most popular title seems now to be the Holiday Tree. The last time I checked, there is a holiday on December 25th called Christmas! Which brings to mind what is happening in Australia.
The Australian government has decided that it offensive to refer to the season as Christmas and is beginning a campaign to eradicate the term from secular use. They now want to refer to this time of the year as Winter Holiday (or for them Summer Holiday).
The cry goes up from near and far, “LET’S GET RID OF CHRISTMAS!” Our culture would love nothing more than to rid itself of the last vestiges of religion. Unless we do something, there’s a good chance that one day our children will look at us and ask, “What’s Christmas?” I don’t know about you, but I pray that day will never come, but the way things are going, I fear that it will.
Well, I’ve had my rant, now it’s your turn.
First of all, you can’t even get through Halloween until you begin to see the holiday aisles going up in Wal-Mart. There’s just something about the juxtaposition of Santa Claus and Freddy Kruger that makes my skin crawl. Do we as a society have to begin the head long rush to Christmas with a daily countdown. This first countdown sign that I remember this year said we had only 64 shopping days until Christmas. 64 SHOPPING DAYS. It wouldn’t be so bad, if our culture had any remnant of what Christmas was all about.
The other thing that concerns me is the multicultural approach that our society seems to be taking. There is no denying that we live in a society with varied ethnic groups: Asian, African-American, Native American, White Europeans, Hispanics and many other smaller groups. There is denying that we live in a culture with many different religious beliefs. I am Christian. Others are Muslim. Others are Jewish. Others are (fill in the blank). Each of these ethnic and religious groups have their own traditions and their own holidays. I have no problem with this diversity of ideas and cultures. I do have a problem, however, when one or more of these sub-cultures decides that Christian references are not permissible in our society because they offend that particular sub-cultures sensitivities.
For instance, there is a movement across the country to no longer call the town Christmas tree a “Christmas tree” Christmas, after all, refers to the holiday that only Christians celebrate. Therefore, the most popular title seems now to be the Holiday Tree. The last time I checked, there is a holiday on December 25th called Christmas! Which brings to mind what is happening in Australia.
The Australian government has decided that it offensive to refer to the season as Christmas and is beginning a campaign to eradicate the term from secular use. They now want to refer to this time of the year as Winter Holiday (or for them Summer Holiday).
The cry goes up from near and far, “LET’S GET RID OF CHRISTMAS!” Our culture would love nothing more than to rid itself of the last vestiges of religion. Unless we do something, there’s a good chance that one day our children will look at us and ask, “What’s Christmas?” I don’t know about you, but I pray that day will never come, but the way things are going, I fear that it will.
Well, I’ve had my rant, now it’s your turn.
Monday, December 05, 2005
The Desert is Blooming
Isaiah 35:1-4
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
I have never been to a desert. However, I have been to hot places with lots of sand. I have stood on top of the highest sand dune on the east coast. I have stood atop a sand dune that rose 400+ feet above Lake Michigan. I guess you could say I have seen my fair share of sand. However, to imagine miles and miles of sand with rocks rising out of it. To imagine no greenery. To imagine that there was no water. To imagine the heat and feel the thirst of a desert. That is all I can do—IMAGINE.
The writer of Isaiah wants us to imagine what will one day happen when the dry land of the desert will be transformed. He says, “…the desert shall rejoice and blossom.” He paints a picture that takes a lot of imagination. He then goes on to talk about God coming to save us. He wants us to understand that this is Messiah’s role. To be our savior. He will come and transform the world and transform our lives. The desert of our soul. The parched and weary feeling within will one day shout for joy and we shall rejoice.
Can you imagine?
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
I have never been to a desert. However, I have been to hot places with lots of sand. I have stood on top of the highest sand dune on the east coast. I have stood atop a sand dune that rose 400+ feet above Lake Michigan. I guess you could say I have seen my fair share of sand. However, to imagine miles and miles of sand with rocks rising out of it. To imagine no greenery. To imagine that there was no water. To imagine the heat and feel the thirst of a desert. That is all I can do—IMAGINE.
The writer of Isaiah wants us to imagine what will one day happen when the dry land of the desert will be transformed. He says, “…the desert shall rejoice and blossom.” He paints a picture that takes a lot of imagination. He then goes on to talk about God coming to save us. He wants us to understand that this is Messiah’s role. To be our savior. He will come and transform the world and transform our lives. The desert of our soul. The parched and weary feeling within will one day shout for joy and we shall rejoice.
Can you imagine?
True Freedom
I used the online prayer space found at Sacred Space. It is run by the Jesuits in Ireland. It provides a series of guided thoughts and mediations. One section of the prayer site is called Freedom. This morning, something clicked. In this section there is often suggestions that we need to let God shape us. Today, it said “I ask for the grace to let myself be shaped by my loving Creator.”
The serendipity occurred when I connected freedom with shaping. One wouldn’t normally think of being free if someone else was in control of shaping. This morning, I began to wonder. How can I be free and be shaped by God’s hand?
One way that I can be shaped and still be free is that if I give myself to God and let God begin His work, then there is a lot I will not have to decide. If I am firmly in God’s grasp then I can be free to know that wherever God wants me to be, that is where I should be. Whatever God wants me to do—that is what I should do. There is freedom in such a way of thinking.
In order for this to occur, however, there also needs to be Faith. I don’t just blindly trust God. I must have faith to believe that God loves and cares for me. That God wants the best for me. That God sent his Son to die for me. If I can believe these things, then I can let the Creator continue to shape me. This is freedom.
The serendipity occurred when I connected freedom with shaping. One wouldn’t normally think of being free if someone else was in control of shaping. This morning, I began to wonder. How can I be free and be shaped by God’s hand?
One way that I can be shaped and still be free is that if I give myself to God and let God begin His work, then there is a lot I will not have to decide. If I am firmly in God’s grasp then I can be free to know that wherever God wants me to be, that is where I should be. Whatever God wants me to do—that is what I should do. There is freedom in such a way of thinking.
In order for this to occur, however, there also needs to be Faith. I don’t just blindly trust God. I must have faith to believe that God loves and cares for me. That God wants the best for me. That God sent his Son to die for me. If I can believe these things, then I can let the Creator continue to shape me. This is freedom.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
In the Process of Becoming
Luke 1, 57-66:
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
As a parent, I find great joy in hearing my sons tell me what they will be when they finally grow up. Among the things I have heard: fireman, policeman, doctor, garbage truck driver, astronaut, teacher, singer, chef, dancer, artist. At their age, only their imagination limits what they can become. I tell them when the come to me with a new life career: “That’s fine. If that is what God wants you to be, then you will be the best (fill in the profession) ever.”
When I read this passage today from Luke, I was struck by the last sentence: "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. Here we find the baby John already with the Lord’s hand upon him. Even at eight days old, God was preparing and guiding him so that he would do precisely what the Lord intended for him to do. He would be the voice of one crying in the wilderness telling the world that Messiah was near.
The Good News that I find from this text is that if God can work such a plan in the life of an 8 day old baby, I think God can also work such a plan in the life of 44 year old pastor. I am continually amazed by the fact that God isn’t done with me yet. Like John, I am still trying to discern what this child of God is to become. I know that I haven’t arrived yet, but I know that, if I am patient and allow God access to my life, then I will make it exactly to where God wants me to be.
Pray for me, as I seek that path. I’ll be praying the same for you.
What do you think about this?
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
As a parent, I find great joy in hearing my sons tell me what they will be when they finally grow up. Among the things I have heard: fireman, policeman, doctor, garbage truck driver, astronaut, teacher, singer, chef, dancer, artist. At their age, only their imagination limits what they can become. I tell them when the come to me with a new life career: “That’s fine. If that is what God wants you to be, then you will be the best (fill in the profession) ever.”
When I read this passage today from Luke, I was struck by the last sentence: "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. Here we find the baby John already with the Lord’s hand upon him. Even at eight days old, God was preparing and guiding him so that he would do precisely what the Lord intended for him to do. He would be the voice of one crying in the wilderness telling the world that Messiah was near.
The Good News that I find from this text is that if God can work such a plan in the life of an 8 day old baby, I think God can also work such a plan in the life of 44 year old pastor. I am continually amazed by the fact that God isn’t done with me yet. Like John, I am still trying to discern what this child of God is to become. I know that I haven’t arrived yet, but I know that, if I am patient and allow God access to my life, then I will make it exactly to where God wants me to be.
Pray for me, as I seek that path. I’ll be praying the same for you.
What do you think about this?
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