What's Your One Word?

If God asked you to tattoo one word on you about God's story of love that changes everything, what would that one word be?  For you, what word best reveals something about God, you, and your place in God's story?

Hurry Up and Wait

We have entered the season of Advent, the four-week period prior to Christmas. The word "Advent" comes from a Latin word which means "arrival" or "coming." And, yes, we wait for Christmas to arrive because we have been waiting to open presents! But, more importantly, we wait for Christmas to arrive, because we wait for the birth of Jesus. Wait a minute! (No pun intended) Wasn't Jesus born over 2000 years ago? Why are we waiting for his birth if it already happened. Advent is an odd time in that it captures past, present, and future. Yes, Jesus was born a long time ago. But, we wait to celebrate his birth as our reminder that God fulfills promises! God promised to send a redeemer to resurrect the earth and all its people. And God did! And, the word "Advent" also comes from a Greek word that refers to Jesus' second coming. So, while we live in the present and remember the past, we also wait for Jesus' second coming to make God's Kingdom complete - on earth as it is in heaven. 

What is it you are you waiting for? A broken heart to mend, a job opportunity, your bills to be paid, a relationship to be restored? Whatever you wait for, Advent is a time to slow down and listen for God's voice. God is speaking and letting us know that all will be well, peace is coming, and all of us are loved! May we wait with hope, peace, love, and joy for the coming of the One who resurrects all our hopes, dreams, and lives! 

Who We Are

Someone at church invited me to attend a volleyball game that his 12 year-old daughter's team was playing. They would be playing a rival team. I watched in awe of the talent of some of these 12 year-old girls, with their wicked, perfectly-arcing serves, incredible digging, and their attention to their teammates. It also took me back to my school days, where I was not very athletic. It was a little painful trip down memory lane of wanting to be good at sports, like many of my friends. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be cool. But, I am not a 12 year-old girl; thus, I am not cool. You get the idea.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote that we are who we are because of others. I mentioned this in church this past Sunday. We are who we are because of others. That doesn't mean we are who we are by comparing ourselves to others. It means I am who I am because you are who you are. A little difficult to comprehend, but here's one take (mine) on this notion. This past Sunday I also told the story of a friend of ours who struggled with an addiction to alcohol. I sat with this friend one afternoon as she was in the throes of her addiction, telling me about the really bad things that happened to her when she was a child. As I listened, I thought to myself: I don't know if I could have gotten through all she went through. Then I verbalized it to her: "Maybe we all go through the things we do in life for the sake of others. I don't know that I could have been strong enough to come out on the other side of childhood trauma. But there are people who do, and I think you're one of them." She smiled at me, with a look of peace in her eyes and said, "I don't know how you can be a pastor, and have to listen to so many people's problems. I could never do that!"

Maybe I am a pastor because of the cool 12 year-old girls who can serve a volleyball better than I ever could. I was not given the talent to play volleyball well; and I love to play volleyball - especially beach volleyball. But it was a beach volleyball incident that knocked my back out of whack many years ago. And it still bothers me to this day - almost as if it is telling me, "This isn't who you are." And it's true. I am not a volleyball player. And I am also not my back pain. I am someone lucky enough to have been woken up by the Spirit. I am someone fortunate enough to have been transformed by love. I am someone blessed by my life's experiences; they have taught me to look beyond myself to others and to God.

I am who I am because of who you are. And whoever you are, I thank you for being who you are. I will do my best to live the rest of my life as me so that you can be who you are, and we can be who we are - together. As God intended.

Poppin' the Clutch

How many of you out there learned to drive in a manual-transmission car?  Maybe you had an old standby VW Beetle.  There is a finesse that is required to smoothly operate a stick - whether 4, 5, 6, or more gears.  I've always loved cars and driving, but I remember those first few attempts at trying to get the car going with out the engine cutting out, or jerking the car so badly the radio popped out of the dashboard. Being new with a clutch meant I needed to practice - over and over - in order to work out the kinks (usually the kinks in the riders' necks!). Fortunately, the more I drove, the smoother the experience was.  

Recently, I offered a 'first' sermon at my new church appointment - Spruce Pine United Methodist Church. And although I got great feedback from the folks there (who, by the way are wonderful), my first Sunday felt like I was poppin' the clutch of a 1972 Bug.  I wasn't quite sure where to stand or sit, when to stand or sit, and I wasn't familiar with the nuances of the order of service.  Thus, it felt like a clunky ride that morning.  

Fortunately, the people of the church are very understanding.  They know the feeling of being the new kid, or being in an unfamiliar situation.  All of us have our 'first' days - all throughout life.  They assured me all is well, and all will continue to be well.  

So I embark ever-deeper into this next chapter in our lives.  And I know the more I drive - the more I get to know the area, the people, and the nuances of the church services - the smoother the ride will be. In the meantime, here's to enjoying the clutch-poppin' experiences that make life fun and shape us into who we are!  

On the Road Again!

Well...once again, Suzanne and I find ourselves packing to move.  Being a United Methodist pastor, I operate in a system that appoints me to serve in specific communities at specific times.  We are about to move from Asheville, NC, where we have spent the last 6 years, to Spruce Pine, NC, a beautiful mountain town about 60 miles northeast of Asheville.

We are moving in stages.  The U-Haul pictured holds the contents of my new church office.  I am following an incredible pastor, husband, father, and friend.  He has led this church for the last 6 years, and I am honored to be following him.  As I write this, he and several from the church are on a mission trip in Honduras.  As if moving wasn't stressful enough, he thought he'd add an out-of-the-country trip to his to-do list.  Thanks for the setting the bar really high, my friend!  :-)

We have begun the moving process.  We've dropped off furniture and decorations, and we have begun to paint the walls with a lovely TarDevil blue - a fusion of light and dark blues to represent my history!  I will officially be "on the clock" on July 1.  My first day in the office is July 8 - hopefully fully decorated and ready for business.  I greatly anticipate my first message, which will be on Sunday, July 14.

In the meantime, I will keep you updated with the moving progress.  From the bottom our our hearts, we say thank you. We are genuinely excited to start this next chapter with everyone at Spruce Pine UMC and the community!

Change and Transformation

Over the past year or so, I have been experiencing much change and transformation in my life - because of the people who have crossed my path.  I've been fortunate to be able to spend time with lots of folks in the generation before me, and learn from their priceless life stories.  In particular, I've been in the presence of folks who are retired, but in name only.  See...I have a certain picture in mind of what I would like to experience - if I am blessed to live long enough and am able to retire.  I see a time when I can casually face each day.  Start out with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.  Eat a late breakfast.  Read some more.  Maybe write some music.  Travel.  Visit with family and friends.  Wash a car or two.  All the above.  None of the above.

But many of the retired people I've encountered over this past year or so are living a retirement that doesn't look much like what I would consider retirement (until now).  See...these people are busier than ever.  And they're not busy for busyness sake.  They're busy giving, serving, teaching, sharing compassion, and sacrificing their time - all for the sake of making someone else's life a little better.  I've often joked with these good folks, saying things like, "I sure don't want to retire like that!  That doesn't seem like retirement to me."  I'll admit, I had a hard time wrapping my nugget around this.  I guess I had bought into the idea that life was about working hard for many years, and then slowing down and taking it easy in my golden years.  Not that there's anything wrong with working hard, and taking some time for self in retirement.

I got caught up in a vision that I created.  But God has been showing me a vision that He's Created.  And God's picture scared me and threatened me.  It threatened my way of thinking and acting.  But after spending lots of time with people, and listening to their stories, and serving with them, and seeing the changes and transformations that occur because of genuine selfless giving, I got inspired.  I realized that God is never done with any of us.  We're never too young or old to make a difference in people's lives.  And being involved with people - living in relationship - is how God works miracles, change, and transformation.

Every day, I see the gap between those who are rich and those who struggle to survive.  And I continue to be surrounded by folks who give of their time, effort, energy, money, and love in order to help usher in change and transformation.  I still hope to retire someday.  But now, I hope I can retire in a way that allows me to offer the relentless, self-giving love of God in fabulously crazy ways.  And when I do, I believe that people will see how close God is to us, and will experience how real God is in this world.

I've Got A New Beatitude

Our small group continues to examine the power our language has to create or destroy. Last time, we looked at the Ten Commandments. When I posted my translation under the title of "New Ten Commandments," I realized afterwards that this wasn't meant to be new or different. The post was supposed to reflect how I like to live into the Ten Commandments. So, the same goes for this post. This is not a re-write of part of the Beatitudes, but is my attempt to put into my own words what this passage means to me. Jesus' words are often hard to understand, and even harder to put into practice. How do we make sense of statements telling us that we can be happy when we grieve or seem hopeless? 

The Scripture text is Matthew 5.3-11. I'm posting the Common English Bible (CEB) translation, then my own life translation. 

CEB...

Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.

Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.

Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.

Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.

Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.

Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.

Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.

Here's mine...

When all seems lost, pay attention, because God is close.

If you are grieving, you can be thankful, for it means that you have had love in your life.

If your way is a quiet, gentle wisdom, the whole world will listen to you.

If you passionately and consistently do the right things, you will be fed because you feed others. 

When you offer forgiveness, you will turn an adversary into a ally.

When you live with integrity, people see God's character.

When you seek a higher and better way, chaos subsides.

When someone gives you a hard time for doing what's right, God feels the pain, too.

Sometimes, life will be hard, and people won't understand why you do the things you do. we humans tend to kill the brightest and the best among us. But God believes in us. And God knows that love is the best way. And Jesus showed it to us. 

We are looking at the "salt and light" verses (Matthew 5.13-16) this week.  Until then... 

The "New" Ten Commandments

Our small group is meeting tonight, and we are discussing how important our words are. We have the power to create life and tear life down with our words. We thought we'd look at the Ten Commandments and "rewrite" them - based on positive language. Many of you are familiar with the "Thou Shalt Not" language; we thought it would be interesting to express what we believe. I think many Christians are good at telling people what they're against: don't drink, don't smoke, don't date folks who do. And I believe we need to do a better job of letting people know what we stand for, what we believe. So, this is my stab at the "New" Ten Commandments - written in positive language. I hope you enjoy. 

God made sure these words got out to the people – through YouTube, Twitter, blogs, Facebook, and other conventional and nontraditional means:

Hi, I’m God. I made everything you enjoy: air, water, mountains, good food, laughter, friendship.  I bring you out of the house of forgetfulness when you lose your focus.

Do your best to get to know me, believe me, and trust me.  Make me the biggest part of your life. 

There are a lot of things out there that will try to pull your attention away from me.  But I believe in you; I know you can resist all the bright, shiny things that promise something better than my love.  Stay on guard.  I do; I’m faithful and will continue to look out for you and reach out to you.  Pay attention. 

Use my name as much as you like; but make sure you use it to bring about life.  You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you respect my name, and the names of your neighbors.

Take time for yourself, and for your family and friends.  In fact, I created a day just for you – the Sabbath.  This is a day for you to enjoy yourself, to rest, eat, pray, sleep, worship, watch Netflix, take a walk, or play with your dog.  You get the idea.  I made this day for you.  Enjoy the gift, and help others enjoy this gift, too. 

Family is important to me – no matter how it’s constructed: mom and dad, mom and mom, dad and dad, mom by herself, dad by himself.  Family is important to me.  Whoever you consider your parents to be, remember they’re not perfect.  Love them.  Forgive them.  Help them when they get old.  Do your best to stay connected. 

Encourage each other, cheer for each other, believe in each other.  Give life in all you say and do. 

The love between two people is powerful.  Honor that.  Respect that.  Be humble in its presence.  Learn from it – and each other.  Get through the tough times together.  Laugh together.  Cry together.  Be truthful with each other.  Make loving choices. 

You need less than you think you do to live.  You are blessed in countless ways.  But, try to count them.  You’ll be amazed at how much you truly have. 

Be truthful and respectful in all situations.  Your words have the power to create life.  Remember…mine do. 

Work together in building relationships and community.  Offer yourself, your household, and your gifts to your neighbor.  In turn, they will open themselves, their households, and their gifts to you.  When you do this, you will bring the Kingdom of God to your neighborhood.  

A Balanced Life

The season of Lent is once again upon us. It is the 40-day period prior to Easter that mirrors Jesus' 40-day wilderness journey of fasting and temptation - prior to beginning His earthly ministry. We usually "fast" from something essential or meaningful as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice. Or, we might add something to our life - like a daily time of prayer and study; or we might add intentional service to others. During Lent, we do spiritual inventories to see what bad habits we need to break, and what good habits we need to (re)establish. We, too, travel into the wilderness of doubt, pain, and struggles.

Recently, I have been studying the Celtic cross, and how it can be a reminder for us to have balance in our lives. The circle in the cross shows the intersection of 4 'quadrants' of the cross - the fusion of all areas in our lives. While I understand the need for balance in life, and the need to both fill up (receive) and pour out (give), for some reason, I'm not completely convinced about a balanced life - at least from an individual standpoint. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be concerned with self-care. It is important for us to take care of ourselves, so that we can care for others. I get it. Yes, even Jesus got hungry, tired, and angry. And he needed to retreat in solitude, at times. But even when he pulled away, there are times where he prayed all night long. That doesn't sound too balanced to me. To me, the cross is a reminder that we are to give all we can - all the time. In fact, the cross tells me that we are to give until it kills us. That's what Jesus did. But, again, it's not about thinking individually; it's about the collective good.

I think the reason we are to give until it kills us is because, for some, life seems to keep taking from them. I have a friend who hangs out with me in the church office when I work. He is very good for my spirit. I've mentioned him before. The world would say he has "special needs," but I say he has special gifts. He has a lot of strikes against him, and so does his family. He lives in a very small house - too small for the 6 people who live there. And all 6 people who live there have multiple issues and concerns: Multiple Sclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, asthma, special needs, and now, I learn my friend, who is so good for my soul, is going blind. This is not a balanced existence. I think, for this family, balance is a luxury - something seemingly incomprehensible. Their life is all about just making it from one moment to the next because of the numerous needs that need to be addressed all the time, every day. I know that there's only so much I can do to help my friend and his family. I'm not called to be The Great Fixer. There's only one with that job title. But I call myself a follower of The Great Fixer. And as a follower, I must imitate the ways of my teacher. And in doing so, I give all I can to help them. I give until it kills my self-pity and self-doubts. I give until it kills my selfishness in self-interests. I can live more simply, so that they can simply live. This is what I think a balanced life is supposed to look like. It might not be balanced for my friend and his family; and it might not be balanced for me. But together we offer balance. And in this, we find God's grace, love, and mercy. Maybe this is the type of balance God intends for us.

What the What?!?!?!

Several weeks ago, there was a scuttlebutt in the news about Starbucks red cups. Personally, I didn't see what the big deal about red cups was all about. I mean, there are plenty of other red cups out there, and no one seemed to mind those red cups. Then, at the end of that same red cup week, the tragic events in Paris unfolded. Hundreds of people died while enjoying a concert.

And this got me thinking about how easy it is for us to get distracted and focus on the wrong things. Why is it that we can become so upset about a company using red cups at Christmastime, but we don't get upset enough to reach across cultural or religious lines to understand each other? Maybe, if we listened to each other, and offered our best selves, our sisters and brothers from Paris would still be with us. Why is it that we get so upset over red cups that we fail to pay attention to the hurts deep inside of people's spirits? Pains that are so intense, that those hurting feel that violence is an "okay" outlet. Have we really allowed ourselves to get too busy, too self-centered, or so full of a feeling of entitlement that we stop caring about human lives? And, when did it become okay for a "Christian" school leader to encourage students to arm themselves and teach "those" people a lesson? All this goes against the teachings of our Rabbi - Jesus.

We are in the season of Advent, a time where we focus upon our faith and pay particular attention to hope, peace, joy, and love.  These aren't luxuries in life; they're necessities.  And Jesus knew this. That's why he took the time to invest in relationships with people. And that's what God calls us to do - spend time with people, so that we can love them. And love isn't always easy; it takes intentional work. Love is about our choices and actions. Love, not fear, not retaliation, not "what's in it for me?" Instead, love is giving without any expectation of getting anything in return. And oftentimes, we learn about hope, peace, joy, and love when we slow down and pay attention. That's what Advent encourages us to do.

So I'll leave you with this... today I am busy finishing up preparations for Christmas - our Christmas Eve service, the upcoming Sunday service, our church's newsletter, wrapping personal gifts, etc. While in the church's office, my friend John sits with me. The world defines John as "special needs," but I describe him as one who truly offers special gifts. He's taught me a lot. He makes fun of me when I'm so busy that I'm pinging off the walls. He helps me slow down and listen. Today, while I am busy typing away at the computer, John is in "his" office blasting the radio.  He's listening to a young Michael Jackson singing, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and singing along - at the top of his lungs. It's beautiful. It's hope-filled. It's peace-filled. It's joy-filled. It's love-filled. When I look at John, I see Jesus. And I see Christmas. John is what's important in life. He's who we should pay attention to. Sing on, brother!

Following Jesus

For the past year, there has been a theme running through our church: it is much easier to believe in Jesus than it is to follow Jesus.  Following takes commitment - duh!  And if you break down that statement, or meditate on it or pray about it, you'd probably come to a 'scare the crap out of you' realization that Jesus is serious.  Like the picture notes, Jesus doesn't want us to be a Twitter follower of Jesus - although the thought of that is pretty cool.  Tweets from Jesus:  "Just wanna say you can do better."  But I digress. 

It's serious stuff when Jesus says, "Say no to yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me."  Taking up one's cross isn't just trudging through life with a good attitude when things aren't going our way.  Jesus was telling his followers to be ready to walk with your cross to your death - in order to show an oppressive regime that you really mean it when you say, "I forgive you. I will turn the other cheek. I will die in order to show you what life really is."  Taking up our crosses is also about us laying down the righteousness we have in our own eyes - pride, arrogance, illusion of control, etc.  It is easy to hear the Word.  It is harder to let the Word guide us.  So, yes...I am waking up to a missional God.  I am waking up to a God who wants me to forsake my shell of introversion in order to go, make, baptize, and teach.  I am waking up to a God who knows that if I follow through with my commitment, the world will experience healing, restoration, peace, and will see glimpses of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.  And the more Christ-followers follow through with their commitment, the closer we'll get to heaven on earth.  This isn't easy.  God never said it would be.  In fact (spoiler alert), we know the ending of all in the Bible who stick to their commitment.  But death isn't the ultimate end.  It's just an end of one chapter, one story.  God's story continues.  And it's a story of going, seeking, reaching, loving, and resurrection.  True presence.  

So...believe Jesus or follow Jesus?  May we have the chutzpah to walk the steps Jesus does.  

Are We REALLY Paying Attention

The recent tragic events at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC have caused me to stop for a moment and ask, "Are we really paying attention?"  My heart breaks for the family and friends of those who lost their lives, as well as, the congregation, and we as a people.  I wish I didn't have to write in 2015 about how people are still judged by the color of their skin and not by the content of their spirits, souls, minds, and character.  But the harsh reality is that we as a people still are dealing with hatred and violence - on many levels.

Even though it's summertime, I am reminded of the Christmas message.  This isn't usually the time of year we think about Christmas.  In fact, we are about as far away from Christmas as we can get - both in the calendar year and in our solar system.  At the summer solstice, our earth is the farthest away from the sun that it gets.  Because we are so far away from Christmas, it's easy to forget about the unexpected message of new life and new hope that God brings us.  God hasn't abandoned us to the hopelessness that's so often found in this world.  God came up close and personal in the person of Jesus to teach us to seek higher ground, not just common ground, in the midst of our disagreements.  Jesus modeled real love for us, not just love the feeling.  Jesus showed us that love is about our choices and our actions.  Love gets involved.  Love speaks up for those who aren't heard.  Love lets go of self-focused agendas.  

For those who follow Jesus, not just believe in Jesus, let us remember that our faith is a faith of remembrance.  Since we can be easily distracted, God wants us to remember.  Remember the Christmas story, remember our baptisms, remember the resurrection promise, remember that God works through people.  

Let us remember to be more concerned with God's compassion instead of our agendas.  Let us remember to be more focused on who God loves, not who we dislike.  Let us remember to be more aware of others' concerns, fears, and plights instead of our own convenience.  Let us remember that we follow Jesus and need to be covered in the dust of our rabbi.  

May we always pay attention to what really matters.  And, may we have the courage to do what is right.  In the words of The Rev. Hon. Clementa Pinckney, the pastor of Emanuel AME who lost his life last week, "[to be] involved in the life of the community; [to change] lives and laws; [to help] people live better; freedom from sin, freedom to be full, [and] what God intends us to be; [to] have a quality in the sight of God...sometimes you gotta make some noise to do that...sometimes you have to march, struggle, and be unpopular to do that; sometimes you have to die..."

May we remember to die to self, like our rabbi did.  May we never forget! 

Presence

No, no! I'm talking about presence, not presents. However...most of us do like getting presents. There's just something about giving and receiving presents. Presents are magical and usually meaningful - with the exception of those that get regifted.

But there's also something magical and meaningful about presence. When we spend time with others, we help create magical and meaningful moments and memories.

There are two examples of presence that have stuck with me throughout my life. They aren't anything exciting to the outside world, but they are part of my story. And they have helped make my life full and complete. When I was a boy, we lived in a rural area, outside of a small town. On occasion, I remember taking "road trips" with my dad. I put road trips in quotations, because they are far from that. But as an 8 or 10 year old boy, a 15 mile ride in the car with my dad was pretty amazing. It was magical and meaningful. One of these road trips was to a farm that was only about 15 miles from our house. But in order to get there, we crossed over the county line and we even had to go over a "large" river on an old bridge. Brrrr...scary. But this also added to the magic and meaning. The other part of the trip that stuck with me was the farmer's 38 tractors! As a boy, I was enthralled by cars, trucks, tractors - pretty much anything with an engine and wheels. My dad knew this. So being able to see so many tractors in one place and sharing this moment with my dad was magical and meaningful.

Speaking of loving all things with engines and wheels, the other moment of presence that has stayed with me was the time I got to spend several hours with an aunt - driving her way-too-cool Mazda. It had a hand-crank sunroof and I think it had manual transmission. The details are getting a little fuzzy, but the moment has stuck with me for several reasons. First, she let me drive her way-too-cool Mazda. And "B," we got to talk for several hours as we scoped out the countryside of our rural area. We even ventured into the larger city near us - into some pretty swanky neighborhoods. It was a glorious afternoon. And if I remember correctly, I think my aunt got in trouble with her mother - for being gone so long and not letting her know where we were. This was in the pre-cell phone days.

These moments transformed me. They allowed me to drink in more of life and store away some memories that, to this day, still make me smile. They still touch my heart. The Alternate Routes have a song Nothing More. I think the chorus poignantly sums up the idea of presence:

We are Love
We are One
We are how we treat each other when the day is done
We are Peace
We are War
We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

So...when you spend time with someone doing something that seems boring, pointless, or insignificant, just remember, you might not ever know how magical and meaningful the presence will be to the person/people you're with!

Making a Difference

I want to do something of great importance.  Epic.  I'd like to make a difference in this world - leave it a better place than when I arrived.  Something big, something memorable, something that people will remember...and talk about years after I'm gone.  Like Mother Teresa, or the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or W.E.B. DuBois, or Anne Lamott.

Recently, I watched "Argo," a movie about the Iranian hostage crisis from the late 70s - early 80s.  Hopefully I won't give anything away in case you haven't seen the movie yet, but it's an amazing story.  Of courage, and creativeness, and hope, and fear, and the height of humanity's best, and the depths of our disconnection.  And it's a story about making a difference in the world.  I found myself wrapped up in this story, complete with my heart pounding, shoulders tense, and adrenalin running through me.  When the end credits rolled, it was hard to come back to today.  But I did.

I haven't done anything of great importance.  Epic.  But I'd like to think that I've made a difference in this world, and that I've made it a better place.  Simply because I'm here.  Because God created me and placed me in a particular time and place.  Sure, I've made some mistakes and some bad choices in my life.  But that doesn't take away from the big picture of life.

Life is full of variety.  Some of us will do epic things - things that will be remembered for a long time.  Some of us will make epic mistakes - mistakes that become the learning curves and slang of tomorrow.  But all of us are here on purpose.  God wants us here.  And that is pretty epic.  I don't need to seek notoriety, because I'm already known.  By the One who matters most.

And the One who matters most knows my gifts and talents, and simply asks me to participate.  To appreciate where I am, and do what I can do to make the world a better place.  And the One who matters most doesn't want me to define epic by human standards.  Because the One who matters most sees epic in the transformation of lives - when we put aside fear, hatred, segregation, and judgment.  When we stop disconnecting from ourselves, each other, and God.  When we realize that epic is found all throughout our daily lives - sunrises, breath, coffee, rain, friends, tears, seasons, potato chips.

Epic is all around us.  And God wants us to add to epic by loving ourselves, our neighbors, and God.  God wants us to add to epic by participating in daily life.  Add to epic by paying attention.  By living fully into the image after which we have been created.  By being who we are.  By being where we are.  Is this making a difference in an epic fashion?  Maybe not the way we define it.  But it's epic to the One who breathed creativity and greatness into our time and space.  We are epic creations, simply because...

How to Serve

So it's one of my favorite times of year.  It's early September, and autumn is just around the corner.  Here in Asheville, we're getting a taste of it this week.  The air is cool in the mornings, and the shadows are crisp and dark during the day, letting us know that the humidity is low.  And, the final tennis Grand Slam of the year is now taking place - The U.S. Open.  I sooooo enjoy watching the great plays, and even the frustrating ones - when my favorites aren't doing so well.  I guess I dream a little bit about being a player on the courts in Flushing Meadows serving at a blistering 22 miles per hour to my unsuspecting opponents.  Ahhhhhh...what a great life!

But, alas, 22 miles per hour won't get the job done at Flushing Meadows.  Because that's not how one serves in the world of tennis.  In order to serve effectively, one must imitate a master-server.  And that got me thinking about how we as Christ-followers are to serve in this world.  Are we imitating our master-server?  Jesus truly showed us the way by becoming one of us, by humbling himself, by being concerned about our interests, by spending time with us, and not seeking recognition or fame.

And although service is something we do, it really is about a way of life.  We're not to view serving as something we do for or to people, but rather, we serve with people.  We serve with those in need, because all of us are in need of something.  None of us are better or worse than anyone else - even though we do our best to label people.  Humility, like Jesus.  We look out for what's good for everyone, not just our self-interests.  That also means we serve without expecting to get anything in return - like a thank you.  Because, if we expect to get a thank you for something "good" we did, that means we really are more concerned about ourselves than others.  It means that we're not quite willing to meet people where they are, but expect them to meet us on our level.  That's not what Jesus did.  He meets us where we are, but helps us get to where he is.  And he does this by serving us.  Wow!

And serving others comes in countless packages.  We church folk sometimes get tunnel-vision, and view serving others as a project, or an outreach, or a free meal.  Although these can be heartfelt areas of service, let's not limit what God wishes for this world.  What if serving others meant we take a Thursday afternoon to help create a community gathering space? (Thanks for this idea, Carly!)  Serving others comes from listening to each others' hopes, dreams, and concerns.  Serving others is something we do together, because we all need a helping hand every now and then.

So let's be creative in the ways we serve one another.  Because God is creative and cares about the diversity within Creation.  Let's imitate our master-server.

Being Present

It's easy for me to forget that I'm not here on this planet to please myself.  Even though there's a survival instinct that came with the package, I sometimes need to remind myself that survival isn't about being self-centered or trying to build an empire of power or wealth.  Survival also isn't about isolation or separation from others.  Sure, there are times that I need to be by myself.  We all need that from time to time.  We need to relax, pray, play, and recharge the body's systems so that, together, we can fully engage life.

It's easy for me to forget that ours is a shared experience because of the "To-Do" lists, the bills, the chores, the responsibilities, and the way I seem to run through time.  And I also have moments when, even though I am present with people, I'm really not there.  My mind is a million miles away whirling through all the things that I "have" to do.  And if I'm not careful, when my presence is needed most, I miss a moment of shared grace with someone.  All because I'm distracted.

I wonder how God feels when wanting to share a moment of grace with us, and we miss the still, small voice - or loud, booming one?  Do you think God mopes when we sometimes don't pay attention?  Because we'd rather hunt through Home Depot for the most obscure item that we "have to" have, than sit outside in the sunshine and feel the presence of God in the wind or the silly squirrels?  I don't think God mopes, but I think God's heart breaks a little bit.  And I think it breaks for us, not for God.  See...God's nature is all about sharing love.  God just wants to give love.  So much so, that God spoke Creation into existence - as an act of love, and to continue to share love.

Yet, for some reason, we humans tend to hold onto stuff instead of sharing.  That hard-wired survival instinct kicks in, but goes a little haywire and tries to tell us that we can't give away our time, our love, our feelings, our money, or our coffee.  The more we have, the more we feel "safe."  But the reason God gives out love is so that we can stay connected to the One who helps us live fully awake.  Fully alive.

So here's my suggestion for today.  If you have windows you can open, open them.  Let God remind us of our connection with the world outside our home, office, or car.  We are connected to one another.  We share space with each other.  We need each other's presence - annoying at times and all.  Or better yet, get outside.  Listen.  Share.  Move.  Talk.  Listen.  Smell.  Laugh.  Cry.  Do all these, if you can, with someone else, or with a group of others.  I think when we're truly present with others, God's heart gets happier.  So much so that it spills even more love back into our lives.  And so on, and so on.  Here's to the Great And So On.

Prayer

This week at church, we're going to talk about prayer - what it is, and how we should pray.  And I'll admit, at times the topic of prayer gives me the "doe in the headlights" stare.  Meaning, sometimes I think I'm doing okay with prayer, and other times...well... not so good.  There are moments when the words flow without thought; they are natural, and authentic.  I also have moments of "prayer block."  What comes out is clunky, cold, and shallow.  Not that I ever want the words from deep within my soul to be clunky, cold, or shallow.  But that is what they are sometimes.  Even when my intentions are pure, and I am trying to shoulder someone else's grief or burdens by offering words to our Creator, sometimes the words get stuck.

So what is prayer?  Why do we pray?  What should we pray?  How do we pray?  Yes, prayer is something we do, but I've learned along my journey that prayer is more a way of life.  Something as simple as acknowledging my neighbors with a smile, a hello, or that man-head-bob that says, "'Sup?"  - that's prayer.  Prayer brings us into a sacred time and space, no matter where we are, and links us to God and each other in ways beyond mere words.  And as we go about our daily lives and interact with one another, there are numerous opportunities to be the answers to others' prayers.  Sharing space and time, a meal, a laugh, a hug, a caring hand of help, a voice for those who are overlooked, a moment of silence to listen for God's still, small voice - all this allows us to enter into prayer.  Time with God, and with others.

Jesus gives us insight about prayer when he's giving the Sermon on the Mount.  He says we shouldn't be showy and don't need to use big words and antics to get God's (or people's) attention.  He says we should go into a private space and give God our complete attention.  When we talk to God in prayer, first we acknowledge God - whoever God is for us.  Then, we confess whatever's on our hearts and mind - things where we feel we've fallen short.  Then, offer God thanks for all our daily provisions.  After all this, we bring our requests to God for others and ourselves.  It's simple in format, but as with anything meaningful, it takes a commitment of practice.

So here's to practicing today's prayers - in their countless shapes and forms.  Spoken.  Unspoken.  Doing.  Giving.  Love.  Dessert.  Forgiveness.  May our Creator inspire us, challenge us, and remind us who and whose we are today through prayer.

Love

Okay...I'll admit it.  It's been a tough week.  Lots of stuff going on at the moment that's vying for my attention, including the unexpected death of someone I recently met - and instantly loved.  It was a shock to me and definitely to family and friends.  As I spoke with friends and family in preparation for the funeral tomorrow, I heard the word love used a lot to both describe this person and how this person approached life.

And that got me thinking about the love in my life.  And once again, I am able to breathe a little easier and feel God's peace wash over me to calm the chaos in my spirit.  I am grateful that in the midst of noise and clamor this week, I was able to spend some time with my daughter and her BF.  I am glad that she makes good, loving choices in her life, and her BF is proof of that.  In fact, 99.9% of her friends are proof of that.  Hey...I can't say 100% because no one's perfect :-)

And I'm soulfully grateful for my wife.  She is without a doubt the best part of my life.  Because of her, I can see God's love in my life and in the lives of all she touches; I can feel God's presence in this world; I experience God smiling down upon Creation; and I am a better man because of her influence.  She believes in me.  Like God believes in me.  She challenges me.  Like God does.  She accepts me, warts and all.  Like God does.  Sometimes, she frustrates me.  Like God sometimes does.  She's not perfect, but she sure does live into the image after which she was created.

And I am eternally thankful for all the family in my life.  They all have left their marks on me - some more than others.  But all have left a part of themselves with me.  And what would life be without friends?  This week we made 2 new good friends, and we will spend time with 2 good old friends.  Not old, as in chronologically superior, but old as in - we've known them a while.  And have been through a lot together.  And I look forward to catching up, and hearing what's going on in their world.

Life is often messy.  Sometimes broken.  Love helps clean up the messes and is the glue that holds us together.  And love is more than a squishy feeling inside.  Love consists of all the things we choose to do for those around us - whether they love (or even like) us in return.  This God-inspired type of love forgives, moves on, matures us, reconciles us, heals us, sustains us.  So whether you feel like you have love in your life or not, you do.  Turn to the One who created you.  Open your heart, mind, body, soul, and life to the One who is love, who is always with us, and always loves us!  May you feel love today!

Situational Pornography

The house...

The car....

The high-power job.  The perfect partner(s).  The look, clothes, computers, smart phones, boats, and all the other stuff that's supposed to make us feel larger than life.  I'm not here to 'dis' the cool stuff that exists in the world.  Quite frankly, I could see myself in a really sweet Donzi - the Porsche of powerboats.  What I'm talking about is where we place our focus and what we chase after.  In other words, do we chase after fantasy situations - unrealistic conditions, settings, relationships, jobs, body image, and status we believe will fulfill us and make us happy - life's situational pornography?

I recently heard a term "ministry pornography" used to portray a picture of a fantasy ministry setting that most pastors will never experience.  It describes the 'rock star' pastors who have stadium-sized congregations every Sunday, incredibly large campuses, and everything seems to be going their way.  This type of unrealistic image can distract us from the glorious realities of our ministerial settings.  This term isn't slamming mega-churches or their pastors.  It's a wake up call for the majority of pastors who lead smaller congregations to not forsake the settings we have been called to.

And that got me thinking not just about  ministry - but life in general.  I think back to when I was a teenager and an early 20-something.  I'll admit...I often fell into situational pornography thinking: "I'm gonna be a famous musician with lots of fans, a great beach house, lots of money, and I'll be really happy when I achieve it."  Reality check - last time I took inventory of myself I wasn't a famous musician with lots of fans, I don't have a beach house, and I'm not super rich.  But...I am happy.  And that's a big deal.  I'm happy with where I am in life, because where I am is where I am supposed to be.

I'm not saying we shouldn't try to better our lives, our communities, and our world.  And I'm not saying we should be content with poverty, unemployment, racism, or other injustices that affect our lives.  And I'm also not saying that we shouldn't dream.  But facing our realities as they are empowers us, guides us, directs our dreams, pushes us to do bigger, better, greater, God things that will have lasting impacts.

Sometimes life is good.  Sometimes it's not so good.  But God is with us every step of our journeys whether we feel it, know it, or acknowledge it.  And when we embrace God's peace and contentment, we do great things in our everyday rituals and interactions.  We don't need to escape through situational pornography thinking.  God wants us to participate in life! 

Who is God?

Wow, what a loaded question!  Most of us have some sort of understanding and description of God, but how do we really know who God is?  I mean, we can't see God, although we see evidence of God.  It's hard for us to put into human terms that which encompasses all we know and experience.

But I'll try my best.  If you asked me this question 20 years ago, my answer would have some similarities to how I would answer today, but there would be drastic differences as well.  See...I've been growing and maturing over these past 20 years (I hope, anyway), and everything I have experienced has shaped me as a person.  All these experiences have also shaped how I understand who God is.

Sometimes I think a good way for me to answer who God is, is to say who God isn't.  For instance, God isn't bound by our human thoughts, emotions, and limitations.  Yet God comes to us, up close and personal, on a daily basis.  And, God isn't Santa Claus.  In other words, if I ask God for a pony, God won't 'make good' on my prayer only if I'm good.

Also, God isn't boring.  In fact, God is downright exciting, challenging, and quite an interruption to our daily lives.  Yet, I think we humans often downplay God by the way we try to squeeze God into our human thinking.  In other words, do we allow God to shape our lives and guide our thinking and actions?  Or do we go about life and ask God to line up with our plans, prejudices, and agendas?  I'm often guilty of the latter because I'm human.  So I have to seek out God, study God, and listen for God.  This is done when I am present with people, when I listen to, and interact with my neighbors.  I learn who God is when I share a cup of coffee and a story, when I listen to the dreams of a child, when I walk or run and truly take in the awesome wonder of creation, and when I thank God for the gift of my wife and daughter.

God can be found everywhere, but we often are distracted - by work (or lack of), bills, sports, vacations (or lack of), social media, TVs, cars, clothes, relationships, and...you get the picture.  But...God is also present in all the things I just listed.  Because God is everywhere.  And God cares about all that we do and experience.  So, who is God?  Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.  Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Great One.  Abba.  I am. All That Is.  And on, and on, and on.  May we find out who God is today.  And, if we're here, may we start the process over again tomorrow.