I guess it's time to face my silence - both in the blogosphere and in life. It's been a while since I've posted, and I could offer a list of time-consuming things that prevented me from writing, but that wouldn't change the fact that I've been silent. In fact, the list of time-consuming things continues and more than likely will continue until the day I'm done on this planet. So my list of time-consuming things can become a hiding place (of sorts) if I'm not careful. The list, and everything on it, can become distractions and excuses and justifications for silence: I'm too busy; I'm too tired; I'm only one person; I need to take care of myself; How can I make a difference?; What do I say? And the list can go on and on.
So...what to do? And what do I mean: the cost of silence? For starters, I didn't grow up going to church. We didn't even go on Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day. Just wasn't in our vocabulary. And that's okay; there are a lot of us out there. But, if people in my life remained silent about God, I wouldn't be where I am today - a pastor, a believer, a disciple, and a man baffled by the unfailing love of God. But, along my journey through life, people spoke up. People invited me to know this God of love. People taught me about this God of love. And the people who taught me about this God of love are not all pastors, believers, disciples, and people baffled by the love of God. They are children, patients, prisoners, folks without homes, the voiceless of society, the super wealthy, the middle class, straight, gay, black, white, documented, undocumented, loved, hated, older, healthy, ill, prominent, and average.
And to me, this is who God is: diverse, complex, multi-layered, multi-faceted, colorful, beautiful, inclusive, accepting, inviting, passionate, creative, intense, and alive. And all this can be summed up as: love. And the kind of love God offers is sometimes incomprehensible. It's unconditional; it gives without any expectation of getting anything in return. But it has expectations. This love expects for us to share with others and not keep it to ourselves. This love expects for us not to decide who gets the love and who doesn't. This love expects that we will not keep silent about those who are excluded, misunderstood, and judged. But, if I speak up, especially for those who are excluded, misunderstood, and judged, this leaves me open for exclusion, being misunderstood, and judged. And honestly...that scares me. Sometimes it scares me into silence. And this is what I mean by the cost of silence.
But, perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4.18). So if I let fear keep me silent, I am not loving and I am not sharing the unconditional love of God. Yes, there is a cost for speaking up. I might be judged as a rebel, a trouble-maker, someone distorting the Gospel, a liberal, or a whole slew of other names. But hopefully the reward will be the betterment someone else's life because of love. All of us are created in God's image. And this blows my mind because we are so different and diverse in this world. That means that God is different and diverse - like the above-mentioned list. Too often I think we try to make God after our own short-sighted images. Because we tend to hang out with people who are like us. And if we're not careful, then we can think that God is just like us. We try to make God conform to us.
There are challenges in our lives - some thrust upon us and some we create. And there will be times when choices must be made: Do I remain silent, or do I speak up? Will I include or exclude? Will I judge someone, or will I listen to her/him? Will I give or take? Will I try to protect myself, or will I share this unfailing love of God? Will I help with healing and reconciliation, or will I promote the problem by remaining silent?
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. says, "In the end, we wil remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." May this inspire us to consider the cost of our silence, the cost of not receiving and sharing love, and the cost of a life that ends because hatred, injustice, and misunderstanding won out over love.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Why Do Bad Things Happen if God is All-Loving?
Have you ever had someone ask this to you? Have you ever asked this question yourself? I can answer "Yes" to both, and in both cases, answering the question is difficult. But I will do my best to offer a little insight I have picked up over the last few years. Again, I don't claim to be an expert. I'm just offering my take on the idea of evil/harm/bad things happening/etc.
The notion of evil existing in a world created by a loving God has baffled people for a long time, and I can imagine that countless arguments have tried to make sense of it. Some people blame God for allowing bad things to happen, believing that if God was really loving, God would have stopped evil from happening. Others feel that God allows bad things to happen so that we can learn from our experiences or so that we learn to rely solely on God. Some believe that God causes bad things to happen as punishment for wrongdoing or sin. Then there's the other side - the side that blames evil on the devil, Satan, or sin. From this standpoint, evil is something that 'gets a hold of us' and causes us to do things that are wrong.
But, I want to throw out the idea of our freedom of choice. God allows us to make choices - both for good and for ill. I can imagine that often times God's heart breaks because of the bad choices we make and the evil we cause in this world. Yet, God "allows" evil to continue, because God wants us to figure it out and imitate the character of our Creator - that of unconditional love.
I recently defined evil as anything that keeps us at a distance from God and each other. Thus, evil arises when we fail to realize the boundaries of our humanness. It arises out of an imbalance of will and desire, and stems from unreasonableness. Yet, in the midst of our brokenness, it is through the unexpected conduit of our humanity that God’s justice will be materialized in the world. God wants us to figure it out!!! Justice involves the equal distribution of both benefits and burdens (See Acts 4.32), and is not merely a response to the ‘fall’ of humanity. And, justice should not be viewed from a default setting of scarcity, but should represent the overabundance of God and the distribution of God’s superabundant blessings. In other words, justice should highlight God’s ‘too much’ rather than humanity’s ‘too little.’ When we ‘live’ justice, we honor the image of God and others, as well as foster it in ourselves. We need to be just because God is just.
However, as humans, we are destined to make mistakes and hurt others. Yet, our failures can become opportunities for God’s transformational grace. God’s grace not only allows us to forgive, but also reveals the need for restitution as part of the healing process. Evil has a hard time standing in the face of forgiveness, and its power (that we give to it) is lessened when we focus upon God’s ways rather than on revenge. The Torah shows us that restitution is an essential element in maintaining social justice (Exodus 22), and the story about Zacchaeus in the Gospel of Luke notes that after one’s heart is changed (after forgiveness), one makes amends for the wrongs (evil) committed.
Furthermore, when we ‘live’ justice, we recognize that no ‘givens’ exist in the world. When we acknowledge that everything is a gift and that God is the giver of all gifts, we are better able to appreciate who we are and what we have. In other words, when we receive God’s gifts through the superabundance of God rather than through the allocation of limited worldly givens, we are less likely to focus upon that which we deem we lack. This approach allows us to paint our circumstances and situations into God's whole story, so that we do not completely accept nor reject certain conditions, circumstances, or stories. Instead, if we place them into God’s life of abundance, renewal springs forth.
No entirely human method can adequately reconcile the contrasting issues of evil and God’s justice. We must allow God to inject divine realities into our human condition so that we can better understand evil in the light of God’s justice. If we choose to develop virtues and habits that shape our decisions, we are offered glimpses of God’s justice in the midst of a wounded world. God sees the big picture and does not wish for evil to occur. But when it does, God works through evil and weaves it into the overall story of love and grace.
Until next time...
The notion of evil existing in a world created by a loving God has baffled people for a long time, and I can imagine that countless arguments have tried to make sense of it. Some people blame God for allowing bad things to happen, believing that if God was really loving, God would have stopped evil from happening. Others feel that God allows bad things to happen so that we can learn from our experiences or so that we learn to rely solely on God. Some believe that God causes bad things to happen as punishment for wrongdoing or sin. Then there's the other side - the side that blames evil on the devil, Satan, or sin. From this standpoint, evil is something that 'gets a hold of us' and causes us to do things that are wrong.
But, I want to throw out the idea of our freedom of choice. God allows us to make choices - both for good and for ill. I can imagine that often times God's heart breaks because of the bad choices we make and the evil we cause in this world. Yet, God "allows" evil to continue, because God wants us to figure it out and imitate the character of our Creator - that of unconditional love.
I recently defined evil as anything that keeps us at a distance from God and each other. Thus, evil arises when we fail to realize the boundaries of our humanness. It arises out of an imbalance of will and desire, and stems from unreasonableness. Yet, in the midst of our brokenness, it is through the unexpected conduit of our humanity that God’s justice will be materialized in the world. God wants us to figure it out!!! Justice involves the equal distribution of both benefits and burdens (See Acts 4.32), and is not merely a response to the ‘fall’ of humanity. And, justice should not be viewed from a default setting of scarcity, but should represent the overabundance of God and the distribution of God’s superabundant blessings. In other words, justice should highlight God’s ‘too much’ rather than humanity’s ‘too little.’ When we ‘live’ justice, we honor the image of God and others, as well as foster it in ourselves. We need to be just because God is just.
However, as humans, we are destined to make mistakes and hurt others. Yet, our failures can become opportunities for God’s transformational grace. God’s grace not only allows us to forgive, but also reveals the need for restitution as part of the healing process. Evil has a hard time standing in the face of forgiveness, and its power (that we give to it) is lessened when we focus upon God’s ways rather than on revenge. The Torah shows us that restitution is an essential element in maintaining social justice (Exodus 22), and the story about Zacchaeus in the Gospel of Luke notes that after one’s heart is changed (after forgiveness), one makes amends for the wrongs (evil) committed.
Furthermore, when we ‘live’ justice, we recognize that no ‘givens’ exist in the world. When we acknowledge that everything is a gift and that God is the giver of all gifts, we are better able to appreciate who we are and what we have. In other words, when we receive God’s gifts through the superabundance of God rather than through the allocation of limited worldly givens, we are less likely to focus upon that which we deem we lack. This approach allows us to paint our circumstances and situations into God's whole story, so that we do not completely accept nor reject certain conditions, circumstances, or stories. Instead, if we place them into God’s life of abundance, renewal springs forth.
No entirely human method can adequately reconcile the contrasting issues of evil and God’s justice. We must allow God to inject divine realities into our human condition so that we can better understand evil in the light of God’s justice. If we choose to develop virtues and habits that shape our decisions, we are offered glimpses of God’s justice in the midst of a wounded world. God sees the big picture and does not wish for evil to occur. But when it does, God works through evil and weaves it into the overall story of love and grace.
Until next time...
Friday, February 3, 2012
What We Believe
Why do we believe what we do? From experience? Empirical evidence (i.e. proof)? Faith? Because? Combination of all the above? I think a mixture of factors inform our beliefs, and at different moments, we draw from different knowledge pools to explain our beliefs. For example, when a 4 year old asks, "Why?" over and over, we might have a tendency to respond with, "Because!" And in that instance, that surface-level response might be enough to satisfy. But when we are faced with deeper challenges to our beliefs, a simple 'ol "Because" usually won't satisfy most critics. This holds very true for those who consider themselves God-followers when we ask, or are asked, some of the tough questions about God and about life. For example, if someone asks you why bad things happen to good people, a simple 'ol "Because" more than likely is not going to calm any troubled spirits and will not be an accurate reflection of God. That's why it's important for us to understand our faith to the best of our ability so that we can help people better understand God in the midst of struggles and questions.
So for the next several entries, I'm going to address some of the tough questions about God and life. I don't claim to be an expert, just one who has been extremely fortunate to have had the time to study, and question, and ponder, and search out, and write, and rewrite. For this blog, I want to address the question, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?"
This question has been asked ever since Jesus actually died on the cross, and the early church grappled with many theories of atonement (our reconciliation back to God) while establishing church doctrine. For the most part, the church has traditionally gravitated toward two main understandings of atonement – propitiation (preventing or appeasing God’s anger or wrath toward humanity) and expiation (humankind’s liberation and purification from the stain of sin). Although these are big fancy words that most of us (myself included) won't spout off in daily conversation, most of us have heard explanations that support both understandings. Like - Jesus died to pay for our sins because we can't. That would be propriation. Or maybe you've heard that we become justified (not guilty) in God's sight because of Jesus' voluntary sacrifice. That's expiation.
Whether propriation or expiation, this is still a tough subject to understand. Most of us with soft hearts still ponder with a four-year-old, "Why?" Why did Jesus have to die? Couldn't there have been another way? Couldn't God just make it so none of this was necessary? So...what's a good "on the ground" explanation as to why Jesus had to die on the cross?
Out of undying love for us, God made us so that we can make choices throughout our lives. Because of having the freedom to make choices, we oftentimes choose to be separated from God. We run to every possible person or thing to find our justification and validation. And I can imagine that this hurts God's heart, but still God chooses to let us try to figure things out without being told what to do. God says, "I am the way, but I want you to figure it out without me coercing you." Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't. And God is so committed to this undying love that God came to us in our human condition through the person of Jesus, so that when we don't always get things right, we'll still be okay. We still have a chance to (re)connect with God.
If you're still having trouble wrapping your nugget around all this, here is what I think is the simplest and most beautiful explanation of atonement - why Jesus had to die. It's the parable of the lost sheep found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15 verses 3 - 7.
So for the next several entries, I'm going to address some of the tough questions about God and life. I don't claim to be an expert, just one who has been extremely fortunate to have had the time to study, and question, and ponder, and search out, and write, and rewrite. For this blog, I want to address the question, "Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?"
This question has been asked ever since Jesus actually died on the cross, and the early church grappled with many theories of atonement (our reconciliation back to God) while establishing church doctrine. For the most part, the church has traditionally gravitated toward two main understandings of atonement – propitiation (preventing or appeasing God’s anger or wrath toward humanity) and expiation (humankind’s liberation and purification from the stain of sin). Although these are big fancy words that most of us (myself included) won't spout off in daily conversation, most of us have heard explanations that support both understandings. Like - Jesus died to pay for our sins because we can't. That would be propriation. Or maybe you've heard that we become justified (not guilty) in God's sight because of Jesus' voluntary sacrifice. That's expiation.
Whether propriation or expiation, this is still a tough subject to understand. Most of us with soft hearts still ponder with a four-year-old, "Why?" Why did Jesus have to die? Couldn't there have been another way? Couldn't God just make it so none of this was necessary? So...what's a good "on the ground" explanation as to why Jesus had to die on the cross?
Out of undying love for us, God made us so that we can make choices throughout our lives. Because of having the freedom to make choices, we oftentimes choose to be separated from God. We run to every possible person or thing to find our justification and validation. And I can imagine that this hurts God's heart, but still God chooses to let us try to figure things out without being told what to do. God says, "I am the way, but I want you to figure it out without me coercing you." Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't. And God is so committed to this undying love that God came to us in our human condition through the person of Jesus, so that when we don't always get things right, we'll still be okay. We still have a chance to (re)connect with God.
If you're still having trouble wrapping your nugget around all this, here is what I think is the simplest and most beautiful explanation of atonement - why Jesus had to die. It's the parable of the lost sheep found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15 verses 3 - 7.
3 So he told them this parable: 4‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
Jesus died on the cross because He cares for all of us. Even if 99 of us are best buds with Him, Jesus seeks out the 1 who doesn't yet know Him. God desires a relationship with ALL of us and comes to us when we are lost, lonely, down and out, grieving, self-indulgent, happy, proud, self-righteous, humble, arrogant - you name it. And this is why Jesus came and why Jesus died on the cross for us - out of undying love for all of us. Because all of us at one time or another are the one lost sheep.
I hope this helps. Until next time...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
We Are Not Meant To Do Life Alone
Greetings to all in the blogosphere, and Happy New Year to you as well. Seems that it's been a while since I've posted, and I sincerely hope that an extended period of silence will not occur anytime soon.
It is with very good reason that it has been 'dark' on the blog site. I have been diligently working on the paperwork and projects that encompass my commissioning process in the United Methodist Church. The best way I feel I can describe the process is to compare it to a dissertation process. Granted, I have not been through a dissertation process, but I sure feel like I have with this one! I had to answer about 24 questions - some with multiple sections - with various theological, cultural, and personal twists. It really is quite an endeavor, but I have to say that I appreciate the level of accountability to which UMC ministers are held.
And as I was proofing (and re-proofing, and re-proofing) into the wee hours of the morning, it dawned on me how many people crossed my path (and/or I crossed theirs) in order for me to able to accomplish this task. I truly cannot mention them all, because there are so many! And I realize the many gifts - visible signs of God's love - that I have been blessed with over the last 6+ years. The amount of family, friends, professors, colleagues, pastors, mentors, etc., etc., etc. that were involved along my journey is mind boggling.
And this is how God intends for all of us to live - in community. I recently read something that I found profound and beautiful: Companionship gives human form to the movement of the Spirit
(Paraphrased from Craig Rennebohm with David Paul, Souls in the Hands of a Tender God: Stories of the Search for Home and Healing on the Streets (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2008), 46.)
Companionship. This word finds its root in the Latin cum panis, which literally means 'with bread.' And for those of you who know me, I believe one of the best ways to make friends is to break bread with each other. Because we get to know one another's stories when we eat together. We often let down our guards at the dinner table, open up a little more, share food, and we share ourselves. This is how companionships start and how they are maintained.
Thinking back on the amount of people involved in my commissioning process, I see that I have broken bread with nearly every person. And I think about the stories, the laughs, the tears, the frustrations, the food, and the company we shared. This is companionship; this is not living life alone; this is giving up the illusion that I am strong enough not to need anyone else. If I think that I can live this life alone, I fool myself. But not only that, I rob myself of the gift of other people. And, I rob other people of the gift of me. Sometimes I have a hard time thinking of myself as a gift. But I realize that I am part of God's mysterious creation. And the fact that I can't find the On/Off switch on me highlights that I am a unique gift - one that is not meant to be hidden, but shared with all the other unique gifts in this world.
So...my sincere thanks goes out to all the unique gifts who have shared their lives with me. I cannot express how grateful I am to include you as my companions. I owe each of you more than I can repay, but I also know that you're not keeping score. Well...some of you might be :-).
I'll keep you informed as to how this all plays out. Everything has been mailed out, and the next step is the face-to-face interviews with the Board of Ordained Ministry. That'll be in March.
Till then...I'll keep bloggin.
It is with very good reason that it has been 'dark' on the blog site. I have been diligently working on the paperwork and projects that encompass my commissioning process in the United Methodist Church. The best way I feel I can describe the process is to compare it to a dissertation process. Granted, I have not been through a dissertation process, but I sure feel like I have with this one! I had to answer about 24 questions - some with multiple sections - with various theological, cultural, and personal twists. It really is quite an endeavor, but I have to say that I appreciate the level of accountability to which UMC ministers are held.
And as I was proofing (and re-proofing, and re-proofing) into the wee hours of the morning, it dawned on me how many people crossed my path (and/or I crossed theirs) in order for me to able to accomplish this task. I truly cannot mention them all, because there are so many! And I realize the many gifts - visible signs of God's love - that I have been blessed with over the last 6+ years. The amount of family, friends, professors, colleagues, pastors, mentors, etc., etc., etc. that were involved along my journey is mind boggling.
And this is how God intends for all of us to live - in community. I recently read something that I found profound and beautiful: Companionship gives human form to the movement of the Spirit
(Paraphrased from Craig Rennebohm with David Paul, Souls in the Hands of a Tender God: Stories of the Search for Home and Healing on the Streets (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2008), 46.)
Companionship. This word finds its root in the Latin cum panis, which literally means 'with bread.' And for those of you who know me, I believe one of the best ways to make friends is to break bread with each other. Because we get to know one another's stories when we eat together. We often let down our guards at the dinner table, open up a little more, share food, and we share ourselves. This is how companionships start and how they are maintained.
Thinking back on the amount of people involved in my commissioning process, I see that I have broken bread with nearly every person. And I think about the stories, the laughs, the tears, the frustrations, the food, and the company we shared. This is companionship; this is not living life alone; this is giving up the illusion that I am strong enough not to need anyone else. If I think that I can live this life alone, I fool myself. But not only that, I rob myself of the gift of other people. And, I rob other people of the gift of me. Sometimes I have a hard time thinking of myself as a gift. But I realize that I am part of God's mysterious creation. And the fact that I can't find the On/Off switch on me highlights that I am a unique gift - one that is not meant to be hidden, but shared with all the other unique gifts in this world.
So...my sincere thanks goes out to all the unique gifts who have shared their lives with me. I cannot express how grateful I am to include you as my companions. I owe each of you more than I can repay, but I also know that you're not keeping score. Well...some of you might be :-).
I'll keep you informed as to how this all plays out. Everything has been mailed out, and the next step is the face-to-face interviews with the Board of Ordained Ministry. That'll be in March.
Till then...I'll keep bloggin.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Confessions of a Slackard - Part 2...or Discipleship (Whichever You Prefer)
The reason I title my post "Confessions of a Slackard - Part 2" is because I haven't posted for a while. Too long, in fact. And I haven't actually been a slackard; I have been up to my elbows doing lots of things in the church and in the community. Still...bad pastor, bad pastor. No chips for you.
Anyway, I have recently been teaching the 6th graders in our church in the Confirmation class. Now, if you're like me and didn't grow up in church, you might not know what Confirmation is. In a nutshell, in United Methodism, most kids are baptized as babies and obviously don't remember their baptisms (on a side note, the subject of baptism could and should be another whole post). So when they reach the sixth grade, they are given the opportunity to learn about the church, their faith, and their beliefs. After the whole process is completed, they make professions of faith and are Confirmed into the church. Pretty cool!
But Confirmation is just the beginning; sorry about that confirmands. You thought you'd be done after the Confirmation process. But in reality...it's only a part of the process of being a disciple. As I mentioned to the confirmands this past Sunday, discipleship is more than just knowing a story or two about Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus, a disciple, we have to learn in depth about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. We must be intentional about our daily devotions, our worship times, the compassion we share, and our working toward justice for everyone.
And know that what we do as a disciple isn't easy. In fact...it's downright difficult - seemingly impossible - at times. Consider these words from Jesus (from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 14):
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Now I don't know about you, but last I checked, I haven't given up (gulp) everything. These are some tough words from Jesus. Jesus is letting us know that the cost of discipleship is HIGH! These words allude to the fact that being a disciple is not easy. And I'll have to say, being a disciple isn't easy, but it is rewarding. Granted, we don't become disciples for an "attaboy or attagirl." We become disciples because God gets our attention, speaks to our spirits, and puts the desire in our hearts to reconnect with God. Discipleship allows us the chance to regain the image of God we lost. Remember - we were made in the image of God, but some of the things I think and do...I can tell you...are not reflecting God's image. But as a disciple, I look to the One who teaches me to turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, love my enemies as well as my friends, and be willing to get my hands dirty building community.
Discipleship isn't easy, but neither is life. But God does not leave us alone. God is committed to our human condition and is willing to walk with us along the journey, and teach us higher and better ways so that we can truly be called disciples.
Anyway, I have recently been teaching the 6th graders in our church in the Confirmation class. Now, if you're like me and didn't grow up in church, you might not know what Confirmation is. In a nutshell, in United Methodism, most kids are baptized as babies and obviously don't remember their baptisms (on a side note, the subject of baptism could and should be another whole post). So when they reach the sixth grade, they are given the opportunity to learn about the church, their faith, and their beliefs. After the whole process is completed, they make professions of faith and are Confirmed into the church. Pretty cool!
But Confirmation is just the beginning; sorry about that confirmands. You thought you'd be done after the Confirmation process. But in reality...it's only a part of the process of being a disciple. As I mentioned to the confirmands this past Sunday, discipleship is more than just knowing a story or two about Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus, a disciple, we have to learn in depth about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. We must be intentional about our daily devotions, our worship times, the compassion we share, and our working toward justice for everyone.
And know that what we do as a disciple isn't easy. In fact...it's downright difficult - seemingly impossible - at times. Consider these words from Jesus (from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 14):
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Now I don't know about you, but last I checked, I haven't given up (gulp) everything. These are some tough words from Jesus. Jesus is letting us know that the cost of discipleship is HIGH! These words allude to the fact that being a disciple is not easy. And I'll have to say, being a disciple isn't easy, but it is rewarding. Granted, we don't become disciples for an "attaboy or attagirl." We become disciples because God gets our attention, speaks to our spirits, and puts the desire in our hearts to reconnect with God. Discipleship allows us the chance to regain the image of God we lost. Remember - we were made in the image of God, but some of the things I think and do...I can tell you...are not reflecting God's image. But as a disciple, I look to the One who teaches me to turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, love my enemies as well as my friends, and be willing to get my hands dirty building community.
Discipleship isn't easy, but neither is life. But God does not leave us alone. God is committed to our human condition and is willing to walk with us along the journey, and teach us higher and better ways so that we can truly be called disciples.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Confessions of a Slackard
Although it's been a while since I've posted a blog, despite the title of this one, I actually have not been slacking off. I've just allowed myself to believe that I've been too busy to write. Granted, I have been very busy over the last few weeks. I'm still working on my commissioning papers for my ordination process. I have to answer a lot of questions, write and present a sermon, write and present a Sunday school class, and other stuff. It feels kinda like what I think a dissertation defense would feel like. And I've been teaching Sunday school classes, and visiting folks in the hospital and at their houses, and working on this coming Sunday's services (because I have to film this one for my ordination process), blah, blah, blah, etc., etc., etc.
I'm not complaining at all. Nor am I trying to gain sympathy. I'm just explaining to myself the reasons I haven't carved out time to write...or run much...or work out...or have quiet time to listen to God. So right now this is my quiet time - on a rainy Friday afternoon while I'm in my office. As I look out my windows I can see how beautiful the leaves are on the trees. I think the bright orange ones are my favorites this year. And there's a chill in the air today. Today's the perfect rainy fall day where you just want to curl up on the couch with a big 'ol blanket ( or three) and read a huge book while drinking lots of hot coffee (or tea) and eating lots of soup. I think nature is reminding me today to slow down, breathe, enjoy the journey, and be still and know that God is God. Thanks nature.
So as I listen to God, I thank God for my family, my friends, my job, all the great people at the church and in my life, the change of seasons, for music and all creative expressions, for love, for coffee, for children, for overcoming obstacles, for togetherness, for the french horn, for the unknown experiences yet to discover along the journey, for those already lived, for Junior Mints, for ministry dogs, for past kittys, and for peace of mind, soul, body, and spirit knowing that I am not here to solve all the world's problems. I am here to walk with my fellow humans, remind us of our infinite worth and dignity, celebrate together, weep together, accept people for who they are and love, and try my darndest to imitate the radically loving character of my God.
I'm not complaining at all. Nor am I trying to gain sympathy. I'm just explaining to myself the reasons I haven't carved out time to write...or run much...or work out...or have quiet time to listen to God. So right now this is my quiet time - on a rainy Friday afternoon while I'm in my office. As I look out my windows I can see how beautiful the leaves are on the trees. I think the bright orange ones are my favorites this year. And there's a chill in the air today. Today's the perfect rainy fall day where you just want to curl up on the couch with a big 'ol blanket ( or three) and read a huge book while drinking lots of hot coffee (or tea) and eating lots of soup. I think nature is reminding me today to slow down, breathe, enjoy the journey, and be still and know that God is God. Thanks nature.
So as I listen to God, I thank God for my family, my friends, my job, all the great people at the church and in my life, the change of seasons, for music and all creative expressions, for love, for coffee, for children, for overcoming obstacles, for togetherness, for the french horn, for the unknown experiences yet to discover along the journey, for those already lived, for Junior Mints, for ministry dogs, for past kittys, and for peace of mind, soul, body, and spirit knowing that I am not here to solve all the world's problems. I am here to walk with my fellow humans, remind us of our infinite worth and dignity, celebrate together, weep together, accept people for who they are and love, and try my darndest to imitate the radically loving character of my God.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Dirty Laundry...
Well...with a title like this, you might be expecting some juicy tidbits of gossip, or some low-down on myself. Sorry to disappoint you on that front, but what I want to talk about is the amazing amount of "dirty laundry" that can be found when reading the Bible. Yes...the Bible.
I have been reading the book of Genesis again, and, although I have read the book numerous times, I am still amazed at some of the off-the-wall, strange, and downright boneheaded things that we humans sometimes do. For example - take Abraham and Isaac. No, I'm not talking about when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. That is a pretty amazing story of faith and courage. I can't even imagine being willing to offer my child as a sacrifice to God (though technically, I do everyday. She's not mine - but God's...but that's another blog post). I'm talking about BOTH Abraham and Isaac telling people that their wives were their sisters! I know that they were both scared of being killed by their enemies, but c'mon! They put their wives in serious danger. They compromised their dignity. Did they really not trust God enough? Guess not at the moment.
Then there's Lot's daughters who both slept with their father in order to get pregnant. They both thought the world had pretty much ended after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
And there's Jacob, later named Israel, and his momma Rebekah. She concocted a scheme to cheat her other twin son out of an inheritance so that her favorite son could get it all so that SHE would taken care of later in life. Hmmm...
Let's not forget Jacob (again) and his uncle Laban. Laban cheated Jacob 10 times in about 20 years on his wages. Laban also agreed to let his nephew Jacob marry his daughter Rachel, but then cunningly switched his other daughter Leah for Rachel. In today's terms, all I can say is Ewwwwww! Oh yeah, he eventually gave both of his daughters to his nephew!
But Jacob got Laban back, because he told him that he would only take the spotted, striped, and speckled animals as a parting payment (because they were considered unusual). Yet, somehow, Jacob was able to have mostly spotted, striped, and speckled animals born to him. Oh, that tricky trickster!
Then the battle over who's gonna have the most children - Leah or Rachel. Leah gets a head start...pulls ahead on the child count...so Rachel lets Jacob sleep with her servant in order to get a child...then Leah keeps birthing kids...then lets Jacob sleep with her servant for more kids...then Rachel has a son, then a daughter...AAAAAHHHHH.. I can't keep it all straight!
Jerry Springer's got nothing on the Bible!!!
My points are twofold. First: our sacred text is not afraid to air people's dirty laundry. The Bible reminds us that we are humans. We err, we endanger, we trick, we steal, we kill, yada, yada, yada. Our text is not filled with perfect people with superhuman perfect lives. It's mostly full of people like you and me who trip and stumble along our paths of life.
Which brings me to my second point: how does God react to all this dirty laundry? What does God do in the midst of people trying to fulfill God's promise for God? God laughs. Really. You won't read this explicitly in the Bible. But God laughs at us...and with us, and cries, and hopes, and encourages, and guides, and directs, and loves us unconditionally, and never, ever, ever, leaves us alone. This is amazing! We have done everything possible to separate ourselves from God, but God never leaves us. God is always ready with arms open wide to accept us as we are! We don't have to come to God as perfect superhuman saints. God merely wants us to come, to trust, to accept, and to let go, so that we can live dynamic lives.
God takes us with our dirty laundry and wants us to take each other, complete with dirty laundry, not to exploit or make fun of one another. But instead, God wants us to accept one another, celebrate our differences, and help carry each others' burdens - just like God does with us.
Let's break out the washboards, my friends!
I have been reading the book of Genesis again, and, although I have read the book numerous times, I am still amazed at some of the off-the-wall, strange, and downright boneheaded things that we humans sometimes do. For example - take Abraham and Isaac. No, I'm not talking about when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. That is a pretty amazing story of faith and courage. I can't even imagine being willing to offer my child as a sacrifice to God (though technically, I do everyday. She's not mine - but God's...but that's another blog post). I'm talking about BOTH Abraham and Isaac telling people that their wives were their sisters! I know that they were both scared of being killed by their enemies, but c'mon! They put their wives in serious danger. They compromised their dignity. Did they really not trust God enough? Guess not at the moment.
Then there's Lot's daughters who both slept with their father in order to get pregnant. They both thought the world had pretty much ended after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
And there's Jacob, later named Israel, and his momma Rebekah. She concocted a scheme to cheat her other twin son out of an inheritance so that her favorite son could get it all so that SHE would taken care of later in life. Hmmm...
Let's not forget Jacob (again) and his uncle Laban. Laban cheated Jacob 10 times in about 20 years on his wages. Laban also agreed to let his nephew Jacob marry his daughter Rachel, but then cunningly switched his other daughter Leah for Rachel. In today's terms, all I can say is Ewwwwww! Oh yeah, he eventually gave both of his daughters to his nephew!
But Jacob got Laban back, because he told him that he would only take the spotted, striped, and speckled animals as a parting payment (because they were considered unusual). Yet, somehow, Jacob was able to have mostly spotted, striped, and speckled animals born to him. Oh, that tricky trickster!
Then the battle over who's gonna have the most children - Leah or Rachel. Leah gets a head start...pulls ahead on the child count...so Rachel lets Jacob sleep with her servant in order to get a child...then Leah keeps birthing kids...then lets Jacob sleep with her servant for more kids...then Rachel has a son, then a daughter...AAAAAHHHHH.. I can't keep it all straight!
Jerry Springer's got nothing on the Bible!!!
My points are twofold. First: our sacred text is not afraid to air people's dirty laundry. The Bible reminds us that we are humans. We err, we endanger, we trick, we steal, we kill, yada, yada, yada. Our text is not filled with perfect people with superhuman perfect lives. It's mostly full of people like you and me who trip and stumble along our paths of life.
Which brings me to my second point: how does God react to all this dirty laundry? What does God do in the midst of people trying to fulfill God's promise for God? God laughs. Really. You won't read this explicitly in the Bible. But God laughs at us...and with us, and cries, and hopes, and encourages, and guides, and directs, and loves us unconditionally, and never, ever, ever, leaves us alone. This is amazing! We have done everything possible to separate ourselves from God, but God never leaves us. God is always ready with arms open wide to accept us as we are! We don't have to come to God as perfect superhuman saints. God merely wants us to come, to trust, to accept, and to let go, so that we can live dynamic lives.
God takes us with our dirty laundry and wants us to take each other, complete with dirty laundry, not to exploit or make fun of one another. But instead, God wants us to accept one another, celebrate our differences, and help carry each others' burdens - just like God does with us.
Let's break out the washboards, my friends!
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