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"Once a year, each Christmas, for a few days at least, we and millions of our neighbors turn aside from our preoccupations with life reduced to biology or economics or psychology and join together in a community of wonder." (Eugene Peterson)
I read this quote at our Christmas Eve service. It is found in a book of devotionals devoted to Dietrich Bonhoeffer entitled, God is in the Manger, pg 29. The phrase, "community of wonder," captured my imagination. We all need communities that strive to create a deep sense of wonder, awe, and mystery for us.
To try to live without some sense of wonder is like living in a world devoid of color and contrast, a bland and tasteless world. A world without wonder is a world that has lost the capacity for both joy and pain, celebration and grief, where laughter and groams are both silenced.
The surprise of wonder is that it infuses groans with joy and joy with groans. I don't know how wonder happens like that....I just know that it does.
In this new year, may all our hearts be infused with a spirit of wonder!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Dry Spells
I have just completed reading an article by Rodney Clapp in the November 15th issue of Christian Century. He writes about dry seasons, those times when God's presence is felt as absence, the "sterile patches in the life of faith" (St. John of the Cross), the dark nights of the soul.
I deeply appreciate Clapp's wise words. He identifies the following responses:
1. Dry seasons are not unique. They are not signs of a weak or faulty faith. Dry seasons are part and parcel of living faith.
2. Trust the momentum. Continue to practice faith, participate in worship and service as habits to ride the dry season out.
3 Recall the past experiences of God's faithful presence. Israel's history and practice inform us here. I find the Psalms are worthy resources here.
4. Especially for long dry seasons, consentrate on future hopes when "the Kingdom WILL come to completion. Trust in the ultimate victory of God's life-giving and redemptive work that lies in the future. In my mind , this is resurrection hope.
5. Lean on the community of others who do experience God's presence. "Participating in worship and church activities keeps us around people who do feel God's presence."
Clapp reminds me that by sticking with the journey of life and faith through the dry seasons teaches me about the bigness of faith and of God's care. "it is grace and our stubborn trust," Clapp says, "that keeps us going, keeps us in faith, during periods of unfeelingness."
Wise and good words for all of us at all time....especially in dry times.
I deeply appreciate Clapp's wise words. He identifies the following responses:
1. Dry seasons are not unique. They are not signs of a weak or faulty faith. Dry seasons are part and parcel of living faith.
2. Trust the momentum. Continue to practice faith, participate in worship and service as habits to ride the dry season out.
3 Recall the past experiences of God's faithful presence. Israel's history and practice inform us here. I find the Psalms are worthy resources here.
4. Especially for long dry seasons, consentrate on future hopes when "the Kingdom WILL come to completion. Trust in the ultimate victory of God's life-giving and redemptive work that lies in the future. In my mind , this is resurrection hope.
5. Lean on the community of others who do experience God's presence. "Participating in worship and church activities keeps us around people who do feel God's presence."
Clapp reminds me that by sticking with the journey of life and faith through the dry seasons teaches me about the bigness of faith and of God's care. "it is grace and our stubborn trust," Clapp says, "that keeps us going, keeps us in faith, during periods of unfeelingness."
Wise and good words for all of us at all time....especially in dry times.
Friday, October 21, 2011
What We Believe is Important
The man in the hospital bed was in his mid 40’s. He was recovering from an accident. As he said, “ I was hit by a city bus.” I was visiting him because I was one of the chaplains on duty and he was one of the patients on my floor.
In the course of the conversation he told me “God’s plan was that the bus hit me and I end up in the hospital.” “Oh really?” “How do you know God wanted you to be hit by a city bus?” “Well, chaplain, isn’t that how God works?” “If we are bad people, then God punishes us.”
Needless to say, there are lots of issues to discuss here: How God works, why he feels he’s a bad person, God’s responses to our sinfulness. Just to name a few.
Last month I invited you to ponder what difference being a Christian means for your life. What did you discover? You might even want to ponder the question again. What we believe makes a difference.
It makes a difference in how we life if we believe (use the word, “Trust”) that God is good and God’s will is directed toward our good (not our ill). It makes a difference whether we view God’s judgments, God’s “no”, not a punishment but as “appraisal” of our lives and our actions and as God’s means of restoring us to a healthier relationship with Christ.
As one Christian has observed that what the Cross says about God is NOT that God thinks human kind is so wretched that it deserves death and hell. Rather, God thinks human kind is so beautiful, so good, so precious and valuable that its salvation and redemption are worth dying for.
The Cross of Jesus is God’s NO to sin, evil, destruction, death and anything that would destroy the goodness of human kind and creation. The Cross is also God’s YES to everything that brings life and light, hope and healing, restoration and renewal of human kind and the whole of creation.
I’m for making a difference in this world of ours……How ‘bout you?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Musings on Psalm 1
I have often wondered why Psalm 1 begins with describing all the places a blessed/happy person avoids: advice of the wicked, where the wicked travel, and where they settle (sit). I wonder about this because I am troubled when I get caught up in pointing fingers and dividing folks into opposing camps of righteous and wicked. If i do this with Psalm 1, I will have missed its wisdom.
The passage, however, reminds me that I am/we are shaped and formed by what we connect ourselves to, where we spend our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical time. What I give my mind, heart, soul, and strength to become those influences that make and shape me.
In short, this Psalm challenges me to consider those places and environments where I spend the most time. It is hard to taste blessing when I am consuming bitterness and sour wisdom. Thus, the wisdom gleaned from tasting God's instructions should be more than a bittler pill to swallow. Rather, they are teachings that breathe life!
The passage, however, reminds me that I am/we are shaped and formed by what we connect ourselves to, where we spend our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical time. What I give my mind, heart, soul, and strength to become those influences that make and shape me.
In short, this Psalm challenges me to consider those places and environments where I spend the most time. It is hard to taste blessing when I am consuming bitterness and sour wisdom. Thus, the wisdom gleaned from tasting God's instructions should be more than a bittler pill to swallow. Rather, they are teachings that breathe life!
Christianity's Difference
The following was first printed in the newsletter of the church I am presently serving. If you read this blog and practice a different faith tradition, I hope you find it helpful in gaining a perspective on the Christian experience of faith.
I have recently joined a study group of ministers that has raised some challenging questions for me about my life and about my love for the United Methodist Church.
While I grew up in a Methodist family, I grew up with friends in various churches and often we would “swap” out going to each other’s youth groups or churches. I have grown up thinking that most denominations have more in common than we like to talk about; but I am still a Methodist in heart and spirit down to my bones and toe nails. But I am not a Methodist first. I am a Christian who happens to be Methodist by choice. I am a Christian Methodist or a Christian who happens to be Methodist.
So this group I am now part of is challenging me to ask of myself this question: What difference does it make in your life that you are a Christian? Another way to come to terms with this question is to ponder: If I stopped being a Christian today, what about me would change?
Here are a few differences being a Christian makes for me:
· I am held by a love that will never turn me loose. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus we meet the depth of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and life changing power.
· When life gets scary, my hope is anchored with a God who chooses to go with me and go before me into whatever life holds for me. I can trust the one who holds the present and the future in grace.
· When all is said and done, what Jesus teaches me to pray is true: God will bring his kingdom; God’s gracious Will will be done on earth as in heaven. Jesus’ death and resurrection make this clear to me.
· The Christian life sets before me a way of life, with values, choices, and priorities that shape how I need to treat and relate to others. “Treating others as I want to be treated” gives me a way to life well and continually challenges me to live better and be a better person.
These differences are not fully exhaustive of what difference being a Christian makes. I share them with you to encourage you and challenge you to seriously ponder what difference being a Christian makes for you.
Friday, October 7, 2011
The Norm of Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a word that gets mixed reviews from folks. Especially in our times, sacrifice evokes unease and displeasure. Maybe self-giving would be more appealing to our spiritual, ethical pallets. Yet we are confronted by a God who chooses sacrificial self-giving as a way of reaching out to us.
I like what Thomas Merton writes in Life and Holiness: The norm of sacrifice is not the amount of pain it inflicts, but its power to break down walls of division, to heal wounds, to restore order and unity in the Body of Christ. (p. 41)
Merton notes that "what matters then is not precisely what the sacrifice costs us, but what it will contribute to the good of others and of the Church." (p.40)
Perspectives for our journeys worth pondering.
I like what Thomas Merton writes in Life and Holiness: The norm of sacrifice is not the amount of pain it inflicts, but its power to break down walls of division, to heal wounds, to restore order and unity in the Body of Christ. (p. 41)
Merton notes that "what matters then is not precisely what the sacrifice costs us, but what it will contribute to the good of others and of the Church." (p.40)
Perspectives for our journeys worth pondering.
The Norm of Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a word that gets mixed reviews from folks. Especially in our times, sacrifice evokes unease and displeasure. Maybe self-giving would be more appealing to our spiritual, ethical pallets. Yet we are confronted by a God who chooses sacrificial self-giving as a way of reaching out to us.
I like what Thomas Merton writes in Life and Holiness: The norm of sacrifice is not the amount of pain it inflicts, but its power to break down walls of division, to heal wounds, to restore order and unity in the Body of Christ. (p. 41)
Merton notes that "what matters then is not precisely what the sacrifice costs us, but what it will contribute to the good of others and of the Church." (p.40)
Perspectives for our journeys worth pondering.
I like what Thomas Merton writes in Life and Holiness: The norm of sacrifice is not the amount of pain it inflicts, but its power to break down walls of division, to heal wounds, to restore order and unity in the Body of Christ. (p. 41)
Merton notes that "what matters then is not precisely what the sacrifice costs us, but what it will contribute to the good of others and of the Church." (p.40)
Perspectives for our journeys worth pondering.
I have recently joined a study group of ministers that has raised some challenging questions for me about my life and about my love for the United Methodist Church.
While I grew up in a Methodist family, I grew up with friends in various churches and often we would “swap” out going to each other’s youth groups or churches. I have grown up thinking that most denominations have more in common than we like to talk about; but I am still a Methodist in heart and spirit down to my bones and toe nails. But I am not a Methodist first. I am a Christian who happens to be Methodist by choice. I am a Christian Methodist or a Christian who happens to be Methodist.
So this group I am now part of is challenging me to ask of myself this question: What difference does it make in your life that you are a Christian? Another way to come to terms with this question is to ponder: If I stopped being a Christian today, what about me would change?
Here are a few differences being a Christian makes for me:
· I am held by a love that will never turn me loose. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus we meet the depth of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and life changing power.
· When life gets scary, my hope is anchored with a God who chooses to go with me and go before me into whatever life holds for me. I can trust the one who holds the present and the future in grace.
· When all is said and done, what Jesus teaches me to pray is true: God will bring his kingdom; God’s gracious Will will be done on earth as in heaven. Jesus’ death and resurrection make this clear to me.
· The Christian life sets before me a way of life, with values, choices, and priorities that shape how I need to treat and relate to others. “Treating others as I want to be treated” gives me a way to life well and continually challenges me to live better and be a better person.
These differences are not fully exhaustive of what difference being a Christian makes. I share them with you to encourage you and challenge you to seriously ponder what difference being a Christian makes for you.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Living our Witness
In his book, Reading the Signs, From Empty nets to Full Lives, Dr. Ellsworth Kalas writes:
Most of our witnessing is likely to happen in passing moments of conversation
those occasions when we show, in relatively minor ways, who we are and
to whom we belong. I am thinking of a surburban woman who was playing
tennis with her good but quite secular friends. In a conversation break between
sets she began referring to something she had read that morning. It would
have been easy to say, "I read somthing this morning." Instead, with no attempt
at piosity, she simply introduced one word: "in my devotional reading this
morning." It was not a major soul-winning engagement. It was, however, a true
sowing of seed. By a word, she had opened the door for some future
conversation.
Dr. Kalas notes that our greatest hindrance in witnessing is that we are not sensitive and intentional enough to make use of the ordinary, small, seemingly insignificant occasions to witness in a natural, significant way. We don't have to say someting dramatic or life-shaking to make a difference in people's lives and faith journeys.
Dr. Kalas goes on to say that we are immersed in waters of human need and we dont seem to act like we know it. He writes:
The issue is not we should become more aggressive about sharing our faith.
It is that we should be more sensitive to the needs of the world around us,
and more sensitive to the subtle proddings of the Holy Spirit....To be sensitive to
the Holy Spirit must mean that we will be more sensitive to people and
their pain; to be more sensitive to people ought to make us more open to God
and his purposes.
I like how Dr. Kalas describes the work of witnessing. Sharing our faith is simple, profoundly ordinary ways encourages us to be authentic, open, and very human.
My journey could use the ordinary spice Dr. Kalas suggests. How about your's?
Most of our witnessing is likely to happen in passing moments of conversation
those occasions when we show, in relatively minor ways, who we are and
to whom we belong. I am thinking of a surburban woman who was playing
tennis with her good but quite secular friends. In a conversation break between
sets she began referring to something she had read that morning. It would
have been easy to say, "I read somthing this morning." Instead, with no attempt
at piosity, she simply introduced one word: "in my devotional reading this
morning." It was not a major soul-winning engagement. It was, however, a true
sowing of seed. By a word, she had opened the door for some future
conversation.
Dr. Kalas notes that our greatest hindrance in witnessing is that we are not sensitive and intentional enough to make use of the ordinary, small, seemingly insignificant occasions to witness in a natural, significant way. We don't have to say someting dramatic or life-shaking to make a difference in people's lives and faith journeys.
Dr. Kalas goes on to say that we are immersed in waters of human need and we dont seem to act like we know it. He writes:
The issue is not we should become more aggressive about sharing our faith.
It is that we should be more sensitive to the needs of the world around us,
and more sensitive to the subtle proddings of the Holy Spirit....To be sensitive to
the Holy Spirit must mean that we will be more sensitive to people and
their pain; to be more sensitive to people ought to make us more open to God
and his purposes.
I like how Dr. Kalas describes the work of witnessing. Sharing our faith is simple, profoundly ordinary ways encourages us to be authentic, open, and very human.
My journey could use the ordinary spice Dr. Kalas suggests. How about your's?
Sticking out like a sore thumb
I don’t remember where I first heard the phrase: Sticks out like a sore thumb.
I remember getting a cut infected and having a bandage on my thumb that looked like a watermelon. One of our children sucked thumbs, both thumbs.
There was a time when both thumbs were almost raw from the use they were given.
Most of my recollections of “sticking out like a sore thumb” were references to people who just didn’t seem to fit in. Like the time I went to a party wearing blue jeans and others showed up in shirts and ties. Yes, I felt really odd and out of place.
I also had other guys come up and say, “Wish I had worn jeans, Boone.” There may have been times you felt like you were sticking out like a sore thumb.
I think one of the callings for us as followers of Jesus our teacher, example, Master, Savior and Lord, is to stick out like a sore thumb. He calls us to march to a different drummer from the one playing the tunes our culture marches to. We are called to live a life that presents a clear and compelling vision of what compassion, truth, faithfulness and self-giving are like. Such a vision guides us all the days of our journey.
Sticking out like a sore thumb is not be easy. We are so into being relevant, user friendly reflections of the world around us. Standing up for what is healthy and right while expressing forgiveness and compassion for others who disagree with us is not a comfortable spot. To stand our ground with sensitivity to the positions of others, to be courageous and humble in the same breath are often times a stretch.
Sticking out like a sore thumb is not a comfortable image of following Jesus. We disciples of Jesus tend to become comfortably settled in our ways. But sticking out like a sore thumb as faithful disciples of Jesus is worth pondering. It is also worth forming intentional community to support, care for and guide us on the journey.
I remember getting a cut infected and having a bandage on my thumb that looked like a watermelon. One of our children sucked thumbs, both thumbs.
There was a time when both thumbs were almost raw from the use they were given.
Most of my recollections of “sticking out like a sore thumb” were references to people who just didn’t seem to fit in. Like the time I went to a party wearing blue jeans and others showed up in shirts and ties. Yes, I felt really odd and out of place.
I also had other guys come up and say, “Wish I had worn jeans, Boone.” There may have been times you felt like you were sticking out like a sore thumb.
I think one of the callings for us as followers of Jesus our teacher, example, Master, Savior and Lord, is to stick out like a sore thumb. He calls us to march to a different drummer from the one playing the tunes our culture marches to. We are called to live a life that presents a clear and compelling vision of what compassion, truth, faithfulness and self-giving are like. Such a vision guides us all the days of our journey.
Sticking out like a sore thumb is not be easy. We are so into being relevant, user friendly reflections of the world around us. Standing up for what is healthy and right while expressing forgiveness and compassion for others who disagree with us is not a comfortable spot. To stand our ground with sensitivity to the positions of others, to be courageous and humble in the same breath are often times a stretch.
Sticking out like a sore thumb is not a comfortable image of following Jesus. We disciples of Jesus tend to become comfortably settled in our ways. But sticking out like a sore thumb as faithful disciples of Jesus is worth pondering. It is also worth forming intentional community to support, care for and guide us on the journey.
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