Mary & Joe's Trip South

Erica asked me earlier today how long it took Mary and Joseph to reach Bethlehem.  So I looked it up.  It's somewhere around 100 miles, meaning you or I could drive it (roadblocks not withstanding) in a couple of hours.

However, Mary & Joe didn't have a car and probably hitched a ride on a caravan.  Caravans, like wagon trains, move pretty slowly, but they were a safe and effective way to travel.  Plus, riding on an oxcart beats walking the whole way. 

At around 20 miles per day, it probably took the Holy Family 4-6 days to reach Bethlehem for Caesar Agustus' Census.  This census was carried out in A.D. 6-7 because Syria and Judea had just become a taxable part of the Roman Empire.

Why did Mary & Joe have to head to Bethlehem for the census?  The Bible tells us because that's what Rome told them to do.  Rome generally did not order everyone to return to their ancestral homes, but they also worked with the traditions of their constituents, so maybe when Quirinius, the newly minted Legate of Syria, asked Herod Antipas how they counted people, Antipas said, "By tribes."  And when the Legate asked how they know who belongs to what tribe, Antipas said, "Oh, they each have their own area of land.  Tell everyone to go to the home of their tribe and you'll be able to count them better."  To which Quirinius probably said 'Thank you' and then had Herod flogged.  Because that's how the Romans roll.

Shine Your Light!

I was reminded today of this quote by Marianne Williamson, a minister in the Unity Church: 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

What a great thought as we approach the dawning of the celebration of Christ's light in our world!

Total non sequitur -- How in the world did She get http://marianne.com/ as her website?!?

Christmas Cantata 2011

If you missed it, or want to relive a fun song from it, here you are:

"damnable and pestilent heresies"

For Advent this year we are going to use an adaptation from the Scot's Confession (A.D. 1560) for the 'Affirmation of Faith' in worship.  Here is my adaptation, and below that is the original.  The title of this blog post is the best phrase that didn't make the cut.  Enjoy some good Presbyterian theology this Advent season!

When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, God's eternal wisdom, the substance of God's own glory, into this world. Jesus took the nature of humanity from the substance of a woman, a virgin, by means of the Holy Spirit. And so was born the Messiah promised, whom we know to be Emmanuel, true God and true man, two perfect natures united in one person. We acknowledge that this wonderful union between the Godhead and humanity in Christ arose from God's eternal decree that we should be saved.

Further, the Messiah underwent punishment for our transgressions, suffered for our disobedience, and died to overcome death. In his death, the infinite and invincible power of God, has purchased for us life, liberty, and perpetual victory. So we confess, and most undoubtedly believe.

John Knox:  He wrote the original. And could beat me up.

The Original:

CHAPTER VI

The Incarnation of Christ Jesus

When the fullness of time came God sent his Son, his eternal wisdom,the substance of his own glory, into this world, who took the nature of humanity from the substance of a woman, a virgin, by means of the Holy Ghost. And so was born the “just seed of David,” the “Angel of the great counsel of God,” the very Messiah promised, whom we confess and acknowledge to be Emmanuel, true God and true man, two perfect natures united and joined in one person. So by our Confession we condemn the damnable and pestilent heresies of Arius, Marcion, Eutyches, Nestorius, and  such others as did either deny the eternity of his  Godhead, or the truth of his humanity, or confounded them, or else divided them.

CHAPTER VII

Why the Mediator Had to Be

True God and True Man

We acknowledge and confess that this wonderful union between the

Godhead and the humanity in Christ Jesus did arise from the eternal and

immutable decree of God from which all our salvation springs and

depends.

CHAPTER VIII

Election

That same eternal God and Father, who by grace alone chose us in his

Son Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world was laid, appointed

him to be our head, our brother, our pastor, and the great bishop of our

souls. But since the opposition between the justice of God and our sins

was such that no flesh by itself could or might have attained unto God, it

behooved the Son of God to descend unto us and take himself a body of

our body, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone, and so become the Mediator

between God and man, giving power to as many as believe in him

to be the sons of God; as he himself says, “I ascend to my Father and to

your Father, to my God and to your God.” By this most holy brotherhood

whatever we have lost in Adam is restored to us again. Therefore we are

not afraid to call God our Father, not so much because he has created us,

which we have in common with the reprobate, as because he has given

unto us his only Son to be our brother, and given us grace to acknowledge

and embrace him as our only Mediator. Further, it behooved the

Messiah and Redeemer to be true God and true man, because he was able

to undergo the punishment of our transgressions and to present himself

in the presence of his Father’s judgment, as in our stead, to suffer for our

transgression and disobedience, and by death to overcome him that was

the author of death. But because the Godhead alone could not suffer

death, and neither could manhood overcome death, he joined both together

in one person, that the weakness of one should suffer and be subject

to death—which we had deserved—and the infinite and invincible

power of the other, that is, of the Godhead, should triumph, and purchase

for us life, liberty, and perpetual victory. So we confess, and most undoubtedly

believe.

Sheep Go To Heaven, Goats Go to Hell

"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, "Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those "sheep' are going to say, "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.'

"Then he will turn to the "goats,' the ones on his left, and say, "Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because--

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

"Then those "goats' are going to say, "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

"He will answer them, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me--you failed to do it to me.'

"Then those "goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the "sheep' to their eternal reward."

                                                                                      [Matthew 25:31-46, The Message.]

I have no idea what is going on in this video, but I have loved this song forever.  Enjoy some Cake, ladies and gentlemen.

Communion Questions

I got this message from my friend AnnaLisa the other day:

I've got questions for Pastor Ben. Today it struck me that every Presbyterian communion I've participated in, the pastor says "...proclaim the death of the Lord, until He comes again." That feels weird to me. I'd want to word it something like "...proclaim our faith in the risen Lord, until He comes again. I mean, isn't that essentially what makes Christians Christians--faith in the resurrection?

Or am I being too big-picture literal, and it's stated that way because the communion is modeled after the Last Supper, at which time resurrection hasn't happened yet?

And, a more mundane question. Is this the standard Communion wording in the Book of Order (or whichever guide it is...I get them confused), or are there a several models--kind of like the many versions of the Apostles Creed--and I just happen to have known five pastors who all chose the same one?

I don't mean to be a smarty-pants, just curious to hear the REAL answers. That is, not my partly made-up "I'm not sure whether I'm a real Presbyterian or just an uninformed, generic Christian" ones!"

 So, AnnaLisa, and anyone else who is wondering, here's the skinny on Communion.

The reason for the "proclaim his death until he comes again..." is because we take the "Words of Institution" directly from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Theologically, however, you are correct. The resurrection of Christ is what makes us unique as Christians. However, the significance of Jesus is summed up in his life, teaching, death, and resurrection, which must all be taken together for the most complete understanding of who Jesus is and what Jesus accomplished. But saying all that every time just gets wordy.

There is a standard communion service contained in the Book of Common Worship. The BOCW is not an actual "you have to do it this way" book, but it contains language and services that are deemed to be in keeping with our reformed tradition and theology. Most pastors are too lazy/uncreative to use anything else. I fink there might actually be a couple of service options in there, but again the lazy/creativity factor comes in.

I actually use more of a free-form style in my communion liturgies. The only "have tos" for Presbyterians are the words of institution (bread = body, juice = blood) done by an ordained minister or other duly designated person (ie. commissioned lay pastor). I've also adapted a couple communion liturgies from the Wild Goose peeps in Scotland and one or two from some random Episcopalians and Lutherans. Or I just make up the invite and the prayers.

5 Years

I was home with my sick two year old on Tuesday and so had to miss our Presbytery meeting.  That's unfortunate, because apparently it was a doozy!  Both committees I am on were on the receiving end of the kind of crazy you only see in the church.  I'm glad to know I can still cause mayhem even when I'm not present!  :)

The other thing I missed at Presbytery, however, was acknowledgement of my 5 year ordination anniversary.  Bummer!  But it got me to thinking, on November 26 I will have been ordained for 5 whole years!  At times it seems like the shortest amount of time ever, and other times it seems like all of eternity has come and gone and I'm still here.

A brief recap, then, to give myself some perspective.

• I was ordained at Bayside Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach, VA on 11/26/06.  Unfortunately I didn't get much say in the ordination service timing or content.  I mean, really, who would pick the Sunday after Thanksgiving?!  
• I have served with 5 pastors whose total ministerial experience comes close to 200 years.  They are:  Dick Keever, Guy Delaney, Harry Daniel, Dan Dickenson, and a few months with George Fitzgerald.  I definitely had my favorites.
• While in Virginia Beach, I ruffled some feathers, started a contemporary service, decided that I look good in a clergy collar, helped organize a public stations of the cross, sat on the PEVA vision taskforce, studied the lectionary weekly with Philip Oehler and Fred McCall, and ministered alongside many amazing men and women both inside and outside the church. 
• Along with Erica and Jack, I followed God's leading to Chattanooga where I have found the joy of my calling:  Northside Presbyterian.  We have a lot of fun ministering and growing and doing life together. 

• I hesitate to post any 'accomplishments' at Northside, because it hasn't been that long and many projects are still in process.  Needless to say, there is excitement, enthusiasm, new people,  experienced people, new bulletins, dynamic programs, and I can't take credit for even half of all that. 
• I am currently serving on the Committee for Preparation for Ministry and the New Church Development Team for Presbytery of East Tennessee.
• I have great colleagues and friends here and throughout the US who are truly wonderful
• Erica and I now have two sons:  Jack and Dylan, who are the greatest boys in the world.

By the numbers:

• 24 Funerals
• 22 Couples Married
• 18 ish Baptisms (I don't have an exact count of baptisms, but I believe it is close to 18), 5 of whom were adults, 1 of which was by immersion!
• 183 Sunday Sermons

I can think of hundreds of people I've left off this post who have influenced my life and ministry. You who you are, and I know who you are.  All I can say is this:  Thank you!

I'm not sure what other milestones or figures I can put up here.  If there's a glaring omission, or you're curious about something, please leave a comment.

Spiritual But Not Religious?

My mom subscribed to the Christian Century magazine, and after her death, all her mail comes to me.  Out of bored curiosity, I flipped through September's issue and found this article.  It really spoke to me, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. 

I hope you read it and find something of value.  Please share your thoughts and opinions on the subject of 'spiritual but not religious' and what limitations there are when it comes to our own private and unique experience of God. 


http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2011-08/you-can-t-make

Pastoral Care

I've ministered to dozens of families as they have said goodbye to a loved one, and to persons who know their time is drawing to an end.  But this is the first time I've lived that experience.  It is encouraging that I'm feeling the same things many of the people I've ministered to said they felt.

OK, seriously, what's up with that dude's eyes?

The juxtaposition of so many different feelings -- sadness, unbelief, shock, hope, gratitude, anger, and others -- is difficult to describe.  I guess it is a burden, in the most literal sense: a load that is carried. 

I am grateful to God for all the people who have offered support during this time.  They cannot take the burden, it is mine to carry, but they can certainly make the journey better.  So thank you, God, for all these kind and supportive folks.  They remind me of what Job's friends should have been doing.  Thank you, also, to each one of you, you know who you are. 

Cancer

Most of you probably already know the reason my posts have been missing for the last couple of weeks: My mom has cancer and has come to Chattanooga for treatment. The thing is, they are still trying to figure out what kind of cancer it is and where it started. Honestly, things are not looking good. However, her faith is strong and she's surrounded by friends and family that love her and are praying for her.

It might not be easy, but either way, this ends up good for her.

As her doctor said: "The Good Lord never said bad things wouldn't happen, he just promised to send us help when they do."

Walking on Water

Our text this week is from Matthew 14, where Jesus sticks around on shore to pray and the disciples all head out into the Sea of Galilee in a boat.  A huge storm comes up, everyone freaks out, and Jesus walks on water to rescue them.  Although it has been done to death, I think there are still valuable things to learn from this incident -- which is why I'm going to preach on it Sunday.

However, I don't know how to blog on it without either retyping my sermon, being cheesy and lame, or referencing someone else's (John Ortberg) much more eloquent and marketable work.

That leaves me with little else to do other than to give you some pictures and challenge you to consider the context of Matthew's boat story.  It's right after Jesus feeds 5000 people with a couple fish and several slices of bread.  It's right after Jesus tells everyone that the Kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a huge bush.  What does this have to do with walking on water?  You tell me.

Oh yeah, your pictures.  Here they are:

The Sea of Galilee -- not just a puddle in the desert.

The view from the Disciples' position.

The single most awesome picture I could find showing the incident.

VBS Pics and Video

2011 Northside VBS

View the VBS Online Album Here

Combatting Biblical Illiteracy

I don't know how many times I've heard people say, "I wish I knew my Bible better," or "I know I should know what's in the Bible," or even "Now where is Isaiah again?"  Well here you go!  Two simple steps to combat biblical illiteracy!

Solution:  Read & Study the Bible
Step 1:  Get a good study bible that you enjoy reading (put down the KJV if you don't like wading thru Ye Olde English). I recommend the NRSV New Oxford Annotated Study Bible -- you can pick it up hardcover for around $30, or leatherbound for $75, or the NIV Study Bible  is really good and will run you about $30.  Between the two, the NRSV is a better translation, but the NIV has excellent notes and historical information.

Step 2:  Start somewhere you can learn something
Want to know more about Jesus?  Start in the Gospel of Luke.  Why Luke?  Because he takes a very orderly approach the the life and ministry of Jesus.  Luke was a physician (in the 1st Century that basically meant less people died after he helped them), and so he investigated everything he could about this Jesus fellow.  He has a particular emphasis on Jesus' ministry to the outsiders and unworthy.

Looking for a better grasp of what it means to be a Christian and what the church is?  Start in Romans.  I'm not even going to spoil it for you.  Enjoy yourself.

Are you just searching for a deeper connection with God?  Turn to the book of Psalms.  Unlike most of the other books in the Bible, Psalms is a collection of 150 works of song and poetry and they don't need to be read in order.  Sip a cup of coffee and sit in God's presence. 

Is the Old Testament daunting?  Did the little piggy cry 'wee, wee, wee, all the way home?'  Read Exodus.  It's the basic history of the people of God under Moses' leadership.  You get all the exciting stuff in context -- plagues of Egypt, parting of the red sea, 10 commandments, manna in the wilderness, all the food laws, the golden calf, and the ark of the covenant (yes, that ark!).

Farming

Sowing oats the old-school way.  Quaint and time consuming.

I had a great conversation today with a real-life farmer.  He's a corporate suit by day (although I doubt he wears suits that often), and moonlights on his farm up in the Knoxville area.  His kids think it's cool, and so does his wife, except when he's up there for several weeks straight.

I both envy and understand his need to get away and get his hands dirty.  I also like getting my hands dirty, but doubt I could be productive enough at it to actually consider making a living from it.  I'm more of the 'play in the dirt' type.

The one thing I appreciated was when my farmer buddy, Scott, told me that after drilling the seeds in and covering them up, you fertilize and pray for rain and sun.  Even though he uses a 3.5 ton tractor to plant rather than an ox and sack of seed, much has not changed about farming in the last two millennia.

Jesus' parable of the sower from Matthew 13 uses the agricultural metaphor of sowing seeds and waiting for growth.  It's also a good reminder that, "neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Cor 3:7).

I say this not as a cop out to ministry, just as farmers do not use it as a cop out to doing the work of farming.  The reality is that we can only control what we say and do, and who we interact with.  And even those are limited by things beyond our control.  We must trust that God's ministry through us will be the grace-filled work of Jesus Christ, and that the Holy Spirit will accomplish God's purpose.

Modern sowing.  Still hard agricultural work, but you get to ride a tractor.

It's also a reminder that we can only do so much.  We have no more control over the soil of people's hearts than the farmer does over the composition of a new field.  We do have control over our own hearts, however, and should carefully cultivate within ourselves an openness and receptivity to God's way.

It is not our job to 'make people believe' -- it's our job to love them and tell them about Jesus.  Not brow beat them with threats of hell.  Not offer nice but meaningless platitudes.  It is time to invest in ministry to others like farmers invest in farming:  ALL IN!

Jesus vs. John the Baptist

John was about 6 months older than Jesus

John wore itchy camel hair

Jesus wore a sturdy linen robe

John ate grasshoppers and wild honey alone in the wilderness
Jesus shared meals with any two-bit scam artist or tramp that had the time

John wasn't allowed to drink wine (he was under a Nazarite vow)
Jesus turned water to wine when the party ran out

John was a strict fire and brimstone type of guy
Jesus was a bit more of the go with the flow sort

John was always so serious
Jesus laughed and had fun with his buddies

John was arrested and killed because he ended up on king Herod's bad side
Jesus was arrested and killed because he refused to give up on God's plan for us


John told everyone they were going to hell if they didn't straighten up
Jesus told everyone God loved them and would help them straighten up

John announced that the Kingdom of God was about to happen
Jesus said, "Look around!  God's doing things right now!"

John is 'bad cop'
Jesus is 'good cop'

John is accused of being demon posessed
Jesus is accused of being a drunk

Although they came from different places, and went about things in quite different styles, John and Jesus both listened to God and helped lead others into a new understanding of God's love.

If you've got some comparisons (biblical or inferred) between these two, please share!

A Copy of Sunday's Sermon

Here is the result of 5 years of intentionally working on getting away from a manuscript in my preaching. Some weeks I do better than others, but this is the reason why I cannot provide a copy of my sermon for you.


Yes, it is a one-sided 4x6 index card.  Yes, those are my actual preaching notes from Sunday.  Sometimes I print the date on the top as well--just for kicks, you know.


If you think a copy would be helpful, invest in new sound equipment for the Sanctuary so we can record my sermons and post them online/burn them to CD.

Mission Work

When I was in college I really felt led to do mission work. Yes, the overseas, living in mud huts type of mission work. That's what led me to take a 'cross-cultural ministry' minor as well as spend a summer in Shanghai, China. I discovered two things 1) I was still passionate about missions, and 2) God was not calling me to do it overseas right now.

I also felt very affirmed in my call to be a parish pastor here in the US. And in a country where, at best, only 50% of folks are engaged in the life of a church on a regular basis, I believe that qualifies as mission work.

I fully support the PC(USA)'s stance that education, justice, and healthcare as a means to the end of furthering the Kingdom of God, however, I think we have neglected the saving of souls as part of the mission given to the Church.

Perhaps all of us need to reconsider what it means to be a missionary. Maybe it doesn't mean being called to a mud hut overseas, but to the job you currently hold; to the relationships you are currently in; and to your very own community. There are men and women and children out there who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. These are the ones for whom Christ died, to ensure that they could live to the fullest extent God intended. They need forgiveness, they need purpose, they need love.

And you are the one called to show them that.

Mike Rowe on Work

This video is awesome.  Not only is it Mike Rowe, one of my personal heroes, but it is Mike raising several important issues for us to consider.  (also, heads-up, he talks about sheep castration in a very graphic manner, so be prepared.)  The video is 20 minutes, so make sure you've got a little bit of time.  I promise it will be worth your while.

The first:  When have you had that 'ah-ha!' moment?  As he calls it, the "Sixth Sense" or "Neo in the Matrix" moment.  I think of it as the Kaiser Söze moment.  When has it happened for you?  When has your reality shifted in a major way?  What impact has your relationship with Jesus Christ had on this shift?  If you've never experienced this, why not?

The second:  Consider how you think about 'white collar' and 'blue collar' jobs.  Does Mike's monologue strike any chords?  What does he give you to ponder?  How does his take on 'follow your passion' (@ the 13 minute mark) play out for you?  For your kids?  For your employees?  Reconsidering some decisions?  (Yeah, I know this is tough!!).

The third:  Has God used this video to show or teach you something?  What?

A Response to Bin Laden's Death

Other than the destruction and chaos of the storms in Chattanooga, Georgia, and Alabama, and the birth of my second son, Dylan, the big news this weekend was the death of Osama bin Laden.

People seem to have many reactions to the news.  You probably have your own opinion and are dealing with your own feelings.  I thought it would be helpful to theologically frame a Christian response to this news.

We should not rejoice in death -- no matter whose death it is.  We should always see death as the enemy of life, and an indicator that God's kingdom is not yet complete on earth.  To clarify:  Christians should not celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden.  To celebrate death is to celebrate the very evil that fueled his terrorism.

What we can celebrate is justice.  Not the eye-for-an-eye justice that gives us a sense of self-satisfaction, nor the 'he got what he deserved' justice of hatred.  It is the justice seen in Jesus' words to Peter, "Put away your sword!  All who take up the sword will die by the sword." (Mt 26:52)  It is the justice we read about in the Old Testament:  carried out in right relationship to others.  In killing thousands of innocents, Bin Laden violated his relationship with them and with the world at large. So the justice done is of a relational manner, between the one harming, those harmed, and God.

We do not rejoice in Osama bin Laden's death.

We struggle, even, to correctly celebrate justice done.

What we can unequivocally celebrate is that evil will not triumph in our world!  Evil people and evil deeds will not have the final say!  Even if the lesson is taught in the horror of death (the death of an evil person, who, nonetheless was still created in God's image), the lesson stands as a powerful testimony to the hope and renewal of all things.

Northside Easter Anthem

You'll have to forgive the camera work, but the organ, choir, bells, tympani, and brass sound amazing! Also forgive the pastor for singing along as instructed.

Holy Week

I know, it has been late coming, but hey, check it out, the blog looks all fresh and new!
For you Northsiders, remember tonight is our Maundy Thursday service at 6:30.

Tomorrow we are doing Stations of the Cross at Coolidge Park.  Rev. Laura Becker and the folks from Northminster are co-sponsoring this public witness to Jesus Christ along with us.  We will begin at noon, and it is open to anyone in the community who wishes to journey with Christ on his final day. 

Sunday morning we will have our Easter Sunrise service (the longest running sunrise service in Chattanooga) at the Duck Pond at 7:30am, and then our normal Easter celebration at the church at 11:00.

Here's a fun Resurrection video for you. Oddly, resurrection is harder to find on the internet than crucifixion. Go figure.

What makes NPC worship so special?

Our Wednesday Night Program last night was sponsored by our worship ministry.  The goal was to get people to focus on the most positive and meaningful parts of worship so shared meaning might be found and feedback gleaned so we can focus on our strengths as we seek to make worship better.

People were asked where in our worship service they had experienced any of these things.  The first, and most common response was how meaningful the prayers of the people were.  Everyone loved different parts of the service for different reasons (they felt peace and comfort from the Apostle's Creed, blessed by the prelude, hopeful from hearing the 'good news', grace upon entering the sanctuary, joy during the children's time, forgiveness from the assurance of pardon, just to name a few).

I was a bit taken aback by the significance of the prayer time for so many.  Our church members said they felt a great connection to one another and to God during the prayers.  One person said they have an overwhelming sense of peace during our prayers; another that it is comforting to share like that.  Someone also shared that it was inspiring how many people participated in offering their prayers of thanksgiving and concern.

I don't mean I was freaked out that people find such meaning in prayer, only that I was surprised.  So many churches focus on the music or the sermon as being the real take away, but here people are moved and transformed by praying together (not that our music or preaching are bad).  Maybe this is a strength we can play to--keep praying together and watch what God does with us!  What a novel idea!

Thank you, Northside.  You are blessed and a blessing!

Borrowed Wisdom

This is not original to me, but I think it is well worth sharing.  I hope you find it as spiritually edifying as it was for me today.

First, from Dr. Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary.  His full blog can be found here:  http://www.netbloghost.com/mouw/?m=201103

I owe the “generous-stingy” distinction to the late Kosuke Koyama, who said in a speech I once heard him give, that in approaching the Bible we need to decide whether the God of the Scriptures is a generous God or a stingy one. I like that way of putting things. But I like it because it is a way of focusing on the conception of the divine attributes that we bring to our theological discussions.

Although this is not the major point of Mouw's article, I believe this attitude is foundational not only to how we read about God in the Scriptures, but how we view all of life.  If we decide we don't like something, we will undoubtedly see all the things wrong with it (the same also goes for people).

Put another way:  we see what we believe.  We do not see and then believe.  As in the gospels, we believe and then we see.  It is true with the Kingdom of God.  It is true with goodness.  It is true with all of life.  Believe in what you are looking for, and you'll begin to see it in the most unlikely of places.

St. Patrick's Day Chapel

We just had preschool chapel, and given that it is St. Patty's Day, we talked about St. Patrick.  All of the preschoolers knew he was from Ireland (even though he was born in Roman Britan), and that he lived a long time ago.  I also shared with them that we remember St. Patrick because he did lots of good things and told all the Irish people about Jesus. 

I shared with them a section from St. Patrick's Breastplate, a prayer attributed to the 5th Century Saint.  As I said to the preschoolers, so now I say to you:  It is pretty cool that we can say the same prayer that St. Patrick said so long ago!

I bind unto myself today

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One, and One in Three,

I bind this day to me forever,

By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;

His baptism in the Jordan river;

His death on the cross for my salvation.

His bursting from the spiced tomb;

His riding up the heav'nly way;

His coming at the day of doom:

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

Of the great love of cherubim;

The sweet "well done" in judgment hour;

The service of the seraphim:

Confessors' faith, apostles' word,

The patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;

All good deeds done unto the Lord,

And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the starlit heav'n,

The glorious sun's life-giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea,

Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, his might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need;

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, his shield to ward;

The word of God to give me speech,

His heav'nly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me, 

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

The strong Name of the Trinity;

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One, and One in Three.

Of whom all nature hath creation;

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Amen.

Reversed Thinking

This is pretty sweet!
Enjoy.

My Lent

I've been wrestling with what to do for Lent this year.  Suggestions on my Facebook page ranged from 'give up giving things up' to 'making Lent a celebration of Christ'.  I finally settled on something that fits for me.

I need to be more grateful in my life.  God has richly and abundantly blessed me, and it is about time I take notice and intentionally say 'thank you.'  So, from now until Easter, I am going to start and end every day with three things I am thankful for.  I might even write them down so I end up with a huge list of things I am thankful for.  That might be aiming a little high, however!

I'll start with this morning:  I am grateful for the peacefulness of early morning, for my sleeping family, and for good friends--everywhere they happen to be.

Shelter From the Storm

We had a crazy storm today!  Trees are down all over North Chatt, Red Bank, and along the Hixson border.  I hope everyone is safe and warm, especially those without electricity tonight.

We lost power at the church instantly when the tornado-force winds hit.  We also headed downstairs quite briskly.  After the wind and rain subsided, it was evident why we lost power:  two trees took out the powerlines at Mississippi and Tremont.  (as a total aside, maybe a good infrastructure investment would be buried powerlines throughout the country...  but what do I know, I'm just a pastor...).

When we emerged from the basement, we were getting our bearings upstairs and marveling that the heavy iron patio furniture had been tossed around the church patio, when a slightly shaken looking couple came through the door.  Turns out they are from Wisconsin and they're house hunting because the husband is starting a new job with VW in a couple of weeks.  Apparently they were driving and then got hit with the rain and the wind and at the first available moment, made a dash into the safest place they could see:  Northside Church!  They said they needed shelter from the storm. 

What a wonderful role for our church building to fulfill!  I hope we continue to be a shelter, not just from the storm, but for all who need a safe place to be.

Now kick back and enjoy some Bob Dylan.

Bono Interview

A friend directed me to this interview with Bono, lead singer of U2, which is an excerpt from a new book about him. 

Here's a link to the excerpt:  http://www.thepoachedegg.net/the-poached-egg/2010/09/bono-interview-grace-over-karma.html

I was pleasantly surprised, because as much as I like U2, I've always thought of Bono as kind of a tool.  I stand corrected.  Here is one of my favorite lines from the interview:  "If only we could be a bit more like [Jesus], the world would be transformed."  Indeed it would!

Community vs. Members

This evening at our monthly Session meeting one of my elders raised a very thought provoking issue.  We had just approved the adult baptism of a guy who, along with his two children and his girlfriend, has become a wonderful part of our church over the past few months.  The issue she raised was if someone had to become a member of the church when they were baptized.  I explained that's how it works--you are baptized into the church, and therefore become a member.  Another elder pointed out that's why we don't do private baptisms; one cannot be a Christian outside of a Christian community.

Which makes me wonder:  Is the issue about semantics?  Does 'church member' carry negative connotations that 'part of this Christian community' doesn't?  Maybe 'church member' brings up images of an exclusive club, membership cards, joining fees, obligations, insiders and outsiders.

Maybe being a 'member' is passe.  Maybe no one cares about 'church membership.'

What does matter is being part of a community where you are cared for, where you are safe, where you can grow and become the person God wants you to be.  That's what the church is (or should be!).  And what is baptism?  The rite of initiation into that community.  God's grace at work within an individual saying, "Hey, come here, this is where you belong."

People aren't into joining the church.  Can't blame them, actually.  With all the baggage 'joining' and 'church' bring along?  No thanks.  However, people are desperate for true community; desperate for a place to belong, where they can say, "Here.  This is it.  These are my peeps."

But when does someone move from not part of the community to part of the community?  It happens organically, sure.  It might be tough to place a date and time on it.  But it does happen, and that is a milestone for the individual and the community.  Everywhere else in life we mark important milestones--with gold rings or gold watches, ceremonies and certificates.  How do we do it in a meaningful, appropriate, and appealing way in the church?

So maybe we update the words.  One no longer 'joins the church,' one 'becomes a part of the local Christian community.'  Changing the way we talk about it is one thing.  Changing how we use our new words/concepts when interpreting our church polity, that takes a bit more effort, but can be done.


Bonus Content
What about children who are baptized and welcomed as members of God's family?  The answer is in the question:  They are members of God's family.  Because their parents are part of the church community, the children will be raised as part of the community.  They are not old enough to take personal responsibility for the community (that comes at Confirmation), but they are, nonetheless, members of the faith community.

Do Not Be Frightened or Dismayed

One of my favorite pieces of Scripture is God's assurance to Joshua as young Josh takes the mantle of Moses and prepares to lead the people into the Promised Land.  I'm sure Josh felt a lot of things, among them fear and dismay.  Yet in the first 9 verses of Joshua chapter 1, God tells him three times to be "strong and courageous" (vv6, 7, & 9).  The final time attaches the words from the title of this post as well as a promise of God's abiding presence. 

Frightened and dismayed.  If your life is anything like mine, it has a tendency to get both frightening and dismaying at times.  Closing on a house is the current dismay for me.  It'll pass, I know.  But frustration dragging out for 3 months weighs one down.  Of course, it could be much smaller and simpler:  the ocular celulitis Jack had last week.  It just looked like his eye was bruised, but apparently it's a very dangerous infection.  Jack was the personification of frightened and dismayed when he got antibiotic shots at the doctor's 2 days in a row.

You've got your own life and your own things that are frightening and dismaying.  You don't need to borrow mine.

God's commandment to "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed" could almost be rendered: "Don't let this crap overwhelm you."  God knows it's going to be tough, that's why this commandment is followed by "for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 

To you, to me, to anyone who struggles to be strong and courageous in the face of a life that can be scary and distressing, hear these words:  Don't let this crap overwhelm you.  You're not alone!  It's OK to ask for help; from God and from each other. 

The State of Preaching

I've spent the past two days in New York under the tutelage and coaching of Karen DeMauro and John Stapleton.  Karen possesses a deep understanding for how our spirituality affects our speaking and presence in the pulpit.  She also has a depth of experience and training that makes her coaching seem almost shamanistic.  John is a United Methodist minister who has taught preaching at several seminaries for more years than I've been alive.  Beyond knowing what makes a good sermon, he knows what it takes to unlock the greatness of our individual personality so that the Gospel may be powerfully proclaimed.

With me at this preaching workshop, entitled Delivering the Gospel, were ministers from a variety of denominations including 2 Catholic priests, 2 Methodists, 3 Lutherans, 2 UCC-ers, and an American Baptist clergy couple.  The caliber of preachers gathered this week was simply stunning!  The minds, personalities, and passions that composed our little group of 12 were already amazing.  Adding delivery coaching from Karen and John honed us (and will continue to hone us) into masterwork preachers.  The Holy Spirit's presence and shaping during these two days was palpable.

Yesterday, after two wonderfully full, intense, and exhausting days, we wrapped things up.  In closing, each of  us shared a couple items we had learned as well as any thanksgivings we had.  After hearing these fabulous preachers share their work and then receive the coaching that would take their proclamation to new and incredible heights, I am awestruck at what God is doing in our churches and in our pulpits. I learned, and am thankful for this.

What a cross-section of clergy; of denominations; of America (from Seattle, Ohio, GA, PA, NC, SC, and TN)!  When preachers like this, receive training like this, I rejoice that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed powerfully and effectively.