RE-formed

In the past three months you have provided me the opportunity to participate in some really very good seminars. And each one allowed me to consider the church in the 21st century. In September I attended a 3 day music seminar. Each time we worshiped it was in a different setting and with a different style. The first evening worship – was held in a modern state of the art space and our familiar Presbyterian hymns were transformed into state of the art jazz. Our next worship service was held in the chapel and more traditional with a mixture of liturgy, music and a sermon that was interactive. Scripture was not only read – it was acted out. Our last worship service together was filled with Scripture readings as well as music and hymns from around the world. It is the 21st century…and the church is changing. In October the seminar I attended was entitled Strategic planning in an Uncertain World. Asking the 35 pastors present – how can we stand with the church through this transitional period – and how can we move our church into the future without splintering and fracturing the faithful membership. Understanding that in these quickly changing times – a strategic plan can only look ahead about 6 months – and maybe not even a year. It is the 21st century and the church is changing. And just last week I sat with 50 pastors from Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and Texas and we looked at how ministry has changed. Every pastor there lamented a noticeable decline in church attendance over the past year – and though we all had our ideas about why – there was no consensus as to the cause. All of us were struggling to figure out a way to offer Sunday school or learning opportunities, but with little luck. It was agreed that we are at a tipping point – in a little more time, small member churches will out-number large member churches. In the not so distant future, - and already - churches are and will call part time pastors – because of rising costs and declining membership. Pastors will have to be bi-vocational – serving a church and holding down a regular job on the outside – leaving the leadership of the church mostly in the hands of the members. Organists are harder and harder to find – our music will have to be different. Technology has changed how we worship – screens have replaced paper bulletins, newsletters, and hymnals; Bibles are now apps on Smart phones; there are apps for daily devotionals, daily scripture readings. Church is on-line, sermons are podcasts, theological discussions are held in coffee shops or are held on blogs and replace Sunday school and Bible studies. Those who are under 50, are less interested in sitting in pews, but are drawn to hands-on mission in the community and outside of the church doors. And those gathered pastors pondered many things --as the church most of us knew-- is changing. While at seminary, I spent time with one of the professors. As one who stands on the front lines – she sees that in this 21st century, the church is already changing – and the ministers that seminaries are graduating are a new breed – their leadership style is far different - they won’t look like or serve or have the same ideas as the pastors who are over 50. And this past weekend – Patrick and Ethan, Judy Jones and I – attended a high school and college student conference at Massanetta Springs – where we spent time with over 100 other youth and adult leaders. And without a doubt – the church is changing. The music is different– there is more clapping, more laughter, more easy conversations between the pulpit and the pews, there is a renewed passion and there is great energy about the movement of the Holy Spirit in the people and in the church- some youth were so inspired they danced in their spots. They believe they are called to do great things in the church, and they are volunteers and leaders in their congregations. In this presbytery our youth are placed in leadership roles – at presbytery meetings; Bluestone, and mission trips. They sit on youth councils and planning teams….and through their service the church is changing. In every seminar and again at the youth conference there was an optimistic encouragement that the church will survive. A whole lot of what we know about church will remain – but some of what we know about church will not. I think in 20 years we will shed many of our expensive buildings – and I think we will meet in other places – to talk Scripture and how to live out the gospels. Sermons will become more like two-way conversations – and there will be a hunger to dig deep into the word of God – so that those conversations can happen. Because – especially us Presbyterians – have kept our faith in our heads and found it difficult to express that faith in words -- there will be more art in sanctuaries. People will express their faith in drawing, journaling, in poetry and in dance. I think our young people will lead all of us who want to join them out into the streets and I think together we will confess and live out our faith in places other than the sanctuary. And as I watched these young people greet each other and welcome and include the newcomers – and observed their interest in sharing their thoughts in our classes – I walked away half believing and half hoping that they will bring to the church a renewed sense of richness to the idea of Christian community. We are the Abraham’s who was asked to leave all he knew, and all that was familiar – to venture into places unknown. We are the Noah’s who heard a call, watched the destruction of what was, and lived to see a new creation. We are Moses – who walked a rocky path up a steep and dangerous mountain to hear what the Lord was calling His people to do – and came down – transformed - a new and different being. We are the Jacobs who wrestle with God’s will for our lives and for the life of the church - only to be renamed and set on a new path. And like Christ – it may be that the Body of Christ – the church as we know it -- will have to die in order to be resurrected into new life. A new life that shapes our present and our future. We are all those who believe that at all costs, the church must remain standing – even if that means our standing will look and feel very different. We are what was, and what is, and what is yet to be. And the church – as it has done over the last 2000 years, will be transformed. Or in language from the 16th century – when the church was really transformed by the likes of Luther and Knox; Zwingli and Calvin - the church reformed and always being re-formed by the word of God and the call of the Holy Spirit.

This LIttle Light of Mine

There are people who shop for Christmas all through the year, some of them start shopping for next year the day after the Christmas just past. They do this so that they are ready. There are people who retire and begin down-sizing. They move to smaller, one-story homes, have garage sales, get rid of all the extra stuff from the old house, and make sure their yard is manageable. They do all this to get ready – for the inevitable day when they can’t do what they used to do. And there are people who work on papers, homework, and projects well in advance. They prepare ahead in case something unexpected turns up. They prepare ahead to make sure that paper, that homework, or that project will be ready. And so it was for 5 of the 10 bridesmaids. The wise five were prepared and ready. The wise five brought a whole bunch of oil for their lamps – maybe they did this in case the bridegroom – who maybe had a reputation for being late –was true to that reputation. And according to the parable – he was…late. Late enough so that all 10 of the bridesmaids fell asleep and did not awake until midnight when the bridegroom finally showed up. And the wise five who thought ahead; the wise five who were prepared for unforeseeable possibilities, were ready to escort the bridegroom to the wedding banquet. The foolish five were just plain out of luck. They asked their bridesmaid friends if they could borrow a little bit of oil but were told – No – we’re gonna keep all of our oil for ourselves – and if you were as wise as us you would have brought more of your own – – you’re out of luck – why don’t you see if a store is open at this late hour and go buy your own. But the oil store was closed and by the time the foolish five found oil, it was too late – the wedding banquet door was shut and they were not allowed in. This may not be a favorite parable – because it doesn’t sound very Christ-like or very Christian-like. Someone goofs up – miscalculates, makes a mistake, doesn’t bring enough oil – and it’s just too bad. Supposed friends --those bridesmaids - don’t back you up, don’t help, don’t even care – just left the other 5 out there hanging. And then they kind of mocked them for not being wise, sent them on a wild goose chase for oil, and when they did their best to make it right – it was still too bad – they were locked out. Nothing like how we think of Jesus there was No understanding, no forgiveness, no second chance, no nothing. New Testament theologians don’t even like this parable – and for the same reasons we don’t --it sounds neither Christ nor Christian like. But you see Matthew had an agenda: it was important for Matthew and his congregation to remain faithful – important to remain diligent in their faith, prepared and ready for the 2nd coming. Because if they weren’t on top of their faith at all times – they might not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. And since Christ’s 2nd coming was delayed and delayed and delayed….this parable was to make sure the people didn’t get discouraged while they waited and waited …..and still--- here we are ---waiting. So while we wait, while we prepare for Christ’s return, and while we may think we are ready for that day – Have we checked our oil lamps lately? I ask this question because we are called to be a light to the world- no matter what – Jesus told us we are a light to the world. And so it is important that we keep an eye on our oil. Do you work too much – burning your oil day and night? Are you over your head with appointments and commitments – finding that you are running on less than a flicker – leaving not even a flicker for God? Have you put your lamp down; forgotten where you put it; packed it away; maybe all the oil in you lamp is gone – and your feeling burned out in the faith department – maybe you’re tired of carrying that ol’ faith lamp and assume it’s someone else’s job now, perhaps you have a lamp filled with oil but can’t seem to get it re-lit? A Columbia seminary professor writes: Maybe this parable is not so much about how much oil you have, but about the oil you carry with you and what you do with it. We all have gifts, we all have a call on our lives to share those gifts through our worship and our study, through our service and our work. God in his wisdom has given each of us enough oil to do what we are asked and to do what we are required to do in his name. Keeping the faith is not easy – not easy when we see the horrors that human beings inflict on other human beings; not easy to keep the faith when the world changes so fast it feels like we are being left behind; not easy when life disappoints, when family’s come up short, when church doesn’t feel like the church we used to know. Keeping the oil lamps of our faith lit and burning brightly is not easy in this 21st century. But Christ will come – and what he has told us will have to be enough to keep us going until he comes again. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Amen - So Be It

We are a people divided. Black and white, native and immigrant, old and young, rich and poor, gay and straight, city and rural, ghetto and gated community, fat and thin, educated and ignorant, right and wrong, liberal and conservative, married and single, graduate and drop-out, north and south, in crowd and out crowd, winners and losers, us and them. And we have always been a people divided. Hebrews and Canaanites, tribe against tribe, King Saul and young David, Jacob and Esau, Jesus -the new kid on the block in conflict with the Pharisee’s long-standing authority, Paul and Peter, Greek and Jew, slave and free, male and female, the Good News of Jesus Christ vs. doctrine written by men. We label, we judge, we make assumptions, pigeonhole, and refuse to let go of our stereo-type beliefs. We make sure that everyone falls into their very own - very neat categories – because it is more comfortable that way. And the minute we hear these categories – we have an opinion – Strong opinions - about the other – strong opinions depending on whether you live above or below the Mason Dixon line; strong opinions depending upon the numbers of SAT score; or the numbers accumulated in a retirement portfiolio, or the numbers on the bathroom scale. Strong opinions are held about the other -- when we talk about lifestyle, years of education; skin color, the neighborhoods or the countries in which we live. And then we call one better than the other, and then we include or reject. We remember Scripture - that the people were fighting with one another about meat and eating that meat – some didn’t eat meat, some did – some ate meat that was sacrificed and others refused. The people were fighting about one day being better than the other – Jews celebrating the Sabbath on Saturday, Christians on Sunday. There were arguments over who was the greatest among them…an argument over the Old Testament requirement of circumcision vs. being saved by faith and grace alone. And they fought over whether Gentiles should even be offered the good news of Jesus Christ, a messiah who came only for the Jews – if Gentiles were even worthy to receive it – or if they should be accepted into the faith or rejected. Listen to this list…So far in Mark’s gospel Jesus has…healed two men and one boy possessed by unclean spirits – healed a whole crowd who were ill or possessed by demons – healed a paralytic…healed a leper by touching him. Jesus has called and shared a meal with a tax collector – and then ate with a whole bunch of tax collectors and various other sinners…allowed a bleeding woman to touch him...healed a deaf man, a blind man, and healed another with a withered hand on the Sabbath and picked a few pieces of grain and ate them on the Sabbath..driven out a demon in a foreign woman’s daughter – but not before he spoke with her in public. Every single one of these things that Jesus did were forbidden in the Old Testament – forbidden in the Jewish faith – because all of these people were unclean outcasts who – because they were different - were to be ignored, and rejected. Words in this morning’s passage read something like this: Lord, this guy isn’t with us – Lord this guy is healing and casting out demons – just like you do – and Lord this man is doing this in your name…and Lord…this man is not following you, he is not following us, he is not in our group, he is not one of us…Lord, he is not one of us…and so Lord – silence him, Lord, he’s bothering us…make him stop Lord. Make him go away. All of these controversies in the early churches, threatened that there would be a split in the church. Paul’s advice was not to be side-tracked – but put your efforts into your worship, and your service, and your relationship with the Lord. And this morning, when those disciples insisted on drawing a line between them and us and making sure the division was sanctioned by Jesus and made known – Jesus said: Do not stop him for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able to speak evil of me. All that matters is that they believe in me and are for us and not against us. Furthermore, whoever gives you a cup of water – a helping hand – a moment of their time…whoever serves me and serves others – will by no means lose his reward. Today is world communion Sunday. A day when all churches – regardless of denomination, regardless of doctrine, regardless of beliefs, regardless of personalities, regardless of Black and white, native and immigrant, old and young, rich and poor, gay and straight, city and rural, ghetto and gated community, fat and thin, educated and ignorant, liberal and conservative, married and single, graduate and drop-out, north and south, in crowd and out crowd, winners and losers, us and them…on this day all of us do one thing…together. Proclaim our unity in Jesus Christ and come to table with one another – come to table with the whole communion of saints – those who ate and drank in that upper room on that fated night of Jesus’ arrest- to all of those who have not yet been born, but who will one day share this meal. ON this communion Sunday every church will come to Christ’s table and at Christ’s invitation – They will come from east and west, north and south – and lift up prayers for the wonder of God and the grace of Jesus Christ…and we will eat and drink, and we will proclaim our oneness in Him…and we will be joined with him and with one another – and we will envision the Kingdom of God – where all are welcome at the table…and then finally, silently, and with a heart’s whisper -- in one voice we will say Amen – so be it.

Maybe It's About Us

Well this explains it all now, doesn’t it? Jesus just confirmed what we already know! We already know that there are some people who get it and other people who just don’t get it, or don’t want to get it, or don’t care to get it. And we are all pretty sure that we are the ones who’ve got it. And a lot of the time, we feel compelled to make sure people know that we’re the ones who’ve got it. Face it, there are just some people who lose out. They hear the word, get all hepped up, attend church for a while, get all involved in programs…and then….gone….back to their couches, their sports, their ‘too busy’ mindsets. They are the rocky ground ones who hear the word; receive it with joy; but when it feels like too much of a commitment, or asks too much of them …they just fall away. Then there are those others who are way too invested in what the world thinks, unable to decide between man and manna…and even when they hear the word just as clearly as you and me - the thorns of the world choke out the good news – and well, nothing takes root. And last but not least there are those who even though the word was sown in their hearts, - maybe in their childhood – or at a tough time in their lives – but they never take the time to study and learn and understand it – and the word that was given to them…is just lost. And then there’s us, right…we are the ones who have not only heard the word but we understand it, and not only do understand but we bear fruit because of it…and the yield, in some cases is thirty, or sixty, or a hundred fold. Yep, that’s us. Or so we like to think. But if we take just a minute to reconsider this parable – a parable that tends to put us in an US AND THEM mode… It may be that this parable hits closer to home than we first thought…and maybe it’s about us. Granted we should all be fertile ground – so that the seed of God’s word takes a good hold of us; so that its roots grow deep in our hearts; so that the word sprouts from us growing tall and green, and the world sees the fruit of our Christian spirit. Yes, we should all be fertile ground. But the reality is – we may not always be that fertile ground. Sometimes right next to that fertile ground are some rocks and over here and a little over there thorns can be found growing – not only growing but thriving. The truth about us is even if we think we are always fertile ground – receptive to God’s words and Christ’s teachings = being human --- we are not. There are times in our lives when we feel God’s presence in the most profound way. When our communion with God seems to be right on. When we dive into Scripture like thirsty man gulps down a bottle of water. And find in the words – exactly what we need – be it courage or comfort; help or hope. And then there are those times when the search falls flat on its face. God seems to have taken a temporary leave of absence. Nothing in Scripture seems to apply, no words can be found to describe what and how we are feeling. Life is empty, we are empty, we’ve got nothing more to give and can’t find what we need to replenish us…and the only words that come to our minds when life hits hard are Lord, why have your forsaken me? And what may prove most frustrating to us more than any other is when we know but don’t do. When we come to this realization…. I know that I feel better when I spend intentional time with God. I know that I feel stronger when I take maybe just 10 -15 minutes to begin and end my day with Scripture. I know that I cope with life’s ups and down when I keep close to the Lord. So why do I do only do these things in spirts…why do I start these disciplines = get all revved up, make these commitments during Lent or Advent or as a New Year’s resolution and then let them slide? Each of us possesses fertile ground – as one Episcopal priest* wrote: Jesus is asking us to come into his presence with our best dirt. And I find that image fascinating. Jesus is not asking us to till or hoe, not asking us to fertilize or water, not asking us to root out the moles or spray for aphids or squash bugs. All Jesus wants us to do is to bring him our best – ears ready to hear, eyes ready to see, minds open and longing for the spirit’s breeze to inform us, refresh us; minds hungry to learn and understand; hearts vulnerable enough to embrace his word and internalize his message. All Jesus wants us to do is bring him the best dirt we have, to be the fertile ground – ready to receive his word, his teachings and his call to discipleship. If it might be that this parable is about us – then all the Lord is asking is that we bring him our very best selves – as best as we are able - and lay ourselves open to the workings of the Holy Spirit so that Christ’s word can be made manifest in us, and we in turn can be adequately equipped to take Christ’s message out into the world.

Jesus is In the Boat

We are comfortable with the idea of Christianity – after all it’s been around for close to 2000 years. And in this country-- and for us – Christianity has become a part of our tradition, and our heritage. We are used to what sociologists call our Judeo-Christian foundations and ethics. So used to it that sometimes maybe we forget that Christianity was not always around… so used to it that maybe we forget that when Christianity hit – it hit like an 10-on-the-Richter-scale-earthquake – maybe we forget that Christianity was a monumental change that rocked the world and shook up a whole lot of people. We are living in a time of monumental rapid change that seems constant. Sometimes things change before we are able to get used to the previous change – sometimes we lag behind numerous changes. Change can make us feel really good…and then again, change can make us miserable and uncomfortable. However, from the day Jesus was born and from the day he showed up at the Jordan River – his mission was about challenge and change. Jesus challenged every known belief of his time. He chipped away at the patriarchal system by speaking to and associating with women in public – and by including them among his disciples. He broke the sacred cleanliness laws when he touched a leper and let a bleeding woman touch him. He broke natural law when he turned a few fish and loaves of bread into a feast for 5,000. He broke Jewish Law when he worked and healed on the Sabbath. He stood in the synagogue, and in the Temple, and in the streets and he challenged the way things had always been done - challenged the authorities – both religious and civil – challenged people and their way of living and their way of thinking. He inserted himself into societal norms; political thought; cultural beliefs; and religious doctrine. He made waves, pushed the envelope, caused problems, infuriated people and scared people. He had the audacity to question the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures //// and thousands of years of religious teaching; the audacity to reinterpret Scripture: You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, but I say…..and he said an awful lot that changed what it meant to murder, to divorce, to commit adultery, to swear falsely, to turn the other cheek..to love and pray for your enemies. And to fly further into the face of every authority he added the 11th commandment: love one another --just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. And to add insult to injury he told people he was God’s son and the fulfillment of the law. And he lost followers –we know this because it’s recorded: From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. And he caused families to break up; and he caused schism in the Temple and in the synogogue. And some considered his ideas and his proclamations crazy – even his family said so... And some said he was evil – that he came from the devil and was the leader of demons. And he was hated, considered a blasphemer, made so many enemies that there was a plot to kill him…a plot based on lies and conjecture and opinion – all of which fueled the hatred of the crowds – that plot to kill Jesus succeeded. We know that sometimes his disciples didn’t understand why he did what he did or why he said what he said. We know that his disciples were not happy every time Jesus upset the traditional applecart – when they tried to shoo the children away from him – and when they found him talking to that woman at a well – and how many times did they try to get him to stop talking about all that betrayal and dying stuff. But he didn’t stop any of it – he forged ahead – taking the people into a future they could not yet imagine. And we know that when the Holy Spirit came upon them = and when the disciples --now apostles left that house and began to preach and teach and heal…the authorities plotted to kill them too = because they were afraid of what was happening to their faith --- and they said – these are a people who are turning the world upside down. Right now the PCUSA has turned many a world upside down. Some in a good way – and others in a very bad way. Some in this denomination are – like Miriam and David - dancing --and others – like Job -have put on ashes and sackcloth. Some believe their prayers have been answered, and other prayers are filled with questions. But we have been here before – with Luther and Calvin. Been here before when we allowed divorcees to become elders, when we allowed African Americans to leave the balcony and join us on the main floor, when we invited women to take on leadership positions as elders, deacons, and yes, ministers. And..When we said yes to the gifts a person brought to ordination. Oddly enough we had a combination of happy, sad, joyful, and despairing even when the divided northern and southern churches came back together and we once again became one church – the PCUSA. A thought from our book study struck me as I considered this sermon. The author wrote that when the disciples dropped everything to follow Jesus, they had no idea what they were in for..no idea what would happen..no idea about the end game. After I thought about it for a while, I thought Well, neither did they ask. When they became members of Christ’s mission - They didn’t ask for an agenda or an itinerary, didn’t ask for a promise or a guarantee that it would be smooth sailing from then until whenever. But – in this faith journey - they witnessed the good, bad, and the ugly…and miracles --and helped establish a diverse community made one in Christ – this thing called the church. The thing called the church is always symbolized by a ship - tossed periodically on the sea of disbelief, worldliness, and persecution but finally reaching safe harbor with its cargo of human souls. This morning we heard of a great windstorm that suddenly arose on the sea of galilee. And as the boat that carried Jesus and the disciples began to pitch and sway – as the waves began to sweep higher and crash into the boat – the disciples became scared and unnerved and cried out Lord save us – we are perishing. But Jesus who was in that boat – and Jesus who is in this boat with us right now as I speak…said: Why are you afraid – you of little faith. And like he did then -- now today Jesus will get up, rebuke the wind, and in his loving mercy and grace he will show HIS church how to be calm…and how to reach safe harbor. Today we are reminded that no matter what we humans think or do or say – no matter if we agree or disagree -- Jesus is in charge of this ship called the church.

The Smallest of Gestures

There is a lot of ugliness in the world. And in this century it seems we are overwhelmed with it. There is no escaping the news – which insists on giving us every gory detail of every situation, circumstance, and event. And though it might be interesting to ponder our get away...what it would be like to unplug from the tv, radio, internet, ipads, laptops, and smart phones- move deeper into the woods, and live blissfully unaware of the world’s ugliness – it’s not very practical. It seems that no matter how many advances we make in – medicine, science, space exploration, technology –no matter how far we believe we have come from our early barbarian days…human beings continue to do ugly things to one another. But we don’t have to watch the news about North Korea, or Syria, or Nigeria, or hear about another American high school, or yet another amber alert – to know that there is ugliness in the world. We can see that anywhere. In homes and communities, in politics, governments and classrooms, in churches and in the places where we work. When it comes to ugliest side of evil in this world – I’m not sure we in this country are really able to relate. We don’t live under the thumb of an oppressive or suffocating government, or worry about the SS knocking on our door and hauling us away in the dead of night, we can pretty much live and worship the way we want to, pretty much travel where we want and say what’s on our mind without the fear of being thrown a labor camp or lined up and shot. So when we look at the real ugly evil in this world, it’s hard for us to comprehend how it got this way so fast, and with every news report or police report, or newspaper item - it seems to creep closer and closer. We say something must be done, but we have no idea where to begin or how to fix it. We feel powerless to change things or make much of a difference in this crazy brutal world. But maybe we could start with one line from Matthew’s scripture: And whoever gives even a cup of cold water…It is the simplest of gestures – to give another human being a single cup of cold water. How many fresh water systems are being constructed in how many places in this country and around the world. How many people here and around the world are sick from the lack of clean water? How many people in this state were affected by a chemical spill in the Kanawha River? How many here felt a sense of panic when just 2 years ago the derecho cut off power, fuel, and left us without water. Water is life – we cannot live without it. But there is more to this cup of cold water than just a cup of cold water. Because a cup of cold water can come in many a guise. A smile for someone having a tough day. Listening when you don’t want to. Helping out when you’d rather be taking a nap. Reaching out even when it makes you feel uncomfortable. Trying to understand even though it makes no sense to you at all. A cup of cold water can look like - Going the extra mile, saying yes instead of no, giving someone the benefit of the doubt or a second chance. This passage says much about hospitality. Not the kind of hospitality that welcomes people who are just like us into our newly cleaned house, with pleasant conversation spoken over the meal that took you all day. But the big word hospitality – the kind that we carry with us when we leave home – and take with us into our communities, churches, and classrooms, take with to work, and into our politics and our government. Not because we need to win the most wonderful person in the world award and not because we want to be noticed and acknowledged as the most wonderful Christian in the world, but because as a minister in Texas writes: Hospitality frees us to offer a cup of cold water to someone who might be in a situation completely foreign to our life experience; someone in a world that is outside our limited understanding. And when we are brought into relationship with one another by the bond that hospitality creates, there is no more host and guest, no more insider and outsider; no more us and them; no more I’m doing you a big favor --there is only a holy space in which we listen to and learn from one another, there is only a holy space in which two human beings – two of God’s children - can learn to value and honor one another until all the uneven ground on which we once stood becomes level, and the rough places that once separated us are made a plain. Discipleship does not have to be proven through any radical sacrificial or heroic act like in the Abraham and Isaac story – discipleship is made up of hundreds upon hundreds of the simplest of gestures. Our cups of cold water may seem as not much to us – but will loom large in the life of one in need. Hospitality – according to that Texas minister -- is crucial to the advancement of forgiveness and healing, of justice and mercy, of righteousness and hope. Where there is no hospitality, there is no gospel message; there is not Christ; there is no discipleship.

Only the Beginning

Today is Trinity Sunday. Always on the first Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the triune God – the Three in One – One in Three; Father Son and Holy Spirit – Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Some preachers – according to an article I read this week – will feel pressure to explain the doctrine of the Trinity. In an attempt to provide illustrations and legitimate arguments in favor of the Trinity, they will fail because no one can explain a mystery…the article continues – the results of your efforts - therefore will not be pretty – I beg you – do not even try. This sounded like good advice – advice I have gladly taken. So, instead of haggling over the Christian doctrine of the Trinity – this morning we will haggle over the Old Testament lectionary passage which is the creation story. Scholars, theologians, Reformed and not reformed, rabbis, and popes --- most would agree that the author of Genesis 1 gave us the most poetic majestic awesome joyful reflection on creation, on the nature of its creatures, and on the God who brought it all into being. Most of those who dedicate their lives to Biblical study would also agree that this first chapter of Genesis is not a factual history or a scientific treatise on how the universe came into being. What Genesis does ---is declare that yes the world was created by God – But perhaps more importantly the first chapter in Genesis establishes and sets forth the relationships between God and the universe; between God and human beings, and between human beings and the earth. In the beginning there was nothing but God – who spoke.. and the heavens and the earth came into being /// Light, blazing comets, and blue skies; Land –lush and green – fertile and fruitful; Water – fresh and salty and falling from the skies; Cool evening breezes and crickets; animals large and small – leaping and crawling, howling and croaking, flying and singing their own song. The first chapter of Genesis depicts a powerful God – who commands and accomplishes. A sovereign God – who brings order out of chaos. This is a God who creates with intentionality..with vision-- who creates with a purpose and purpose for the future. This God believes that his creation is very good. So very good in fact that God said, Let us make human kind in our image, according to our likeness. We are then – part and parcel of this created order – connected to it - bound to it - in ways we probably don’t yet fully understand. We are an extension of God, patterned after God, holy because God is holy, given traits so that we can mirror God to the world, wired so that we – over and above all other creatures - can commune with God. Heaven and earth and all that is in it - created by God’s hovering hand …and tamed by a mighty wind – this wind is the breath of God that gives everything – life. That spirit breath gave life to a child in a manger – from the Father to the Son. And though nowhere in Scripture will you find teachings about the Doctrine of the Trinity – It is in the very first chapter of the very first book of the Bible that we begin to receive knowledge of the Trinity. Father Son and Holy Spirit – Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer - Triune, Three in One – One in Three. Like the wise minister wrote – Because the mystery of the Trinity is bigger than any Sunday dedicated to it; bigger than any Christian Doctrine -- Any human attempt to explain it will fail. …and yet the Holy Trinity is certainly evident in the creation story. I remember well the first explanation of creation that I heard at seminary. It was in my Greek class – I don’t remember how we got on the subject – but the professor said this: The creation story is the beginning …it is the beginning of a bigger story about the chosen – sacred – and covenantal relationship between a people and their God, their Savior, and the Spirit that binds us one to another. Amen and Amen. Referenced article by Geoff McElroy on website Desert Scribblings Also referred to article by Debbie Thomas, OSU professor on website Journey with Jesus

Therefore...

The apostle Paul gave his life to Christ; spent his life preaching and teaching, evangelizing and converting; establishing and nurturing the first churches. His letters were filled with encouragement, advice, instruction and sometimes scolding. His letters were written to congregations who were new to the Christian faith. The apostle Peter was different. His letters were written to people who had been Christians for a while. By the time Peter wrote (in the year 60 or so) – some of those who heard Peter’s letters read out loud – could have been 2nd generation Christians. Scholars agree that Peter’s letters were written to baptized members of churches, who were mostly secure in their Christian identity. We will remember that in Paul and Peter’s day, Easter was the day when – after weeks of study, reflection, and prayer – new believers were baptized. We will remember that then and now, baptism is not the end of road. Once we are sprinkled or dunked…once we are dead to the old and alive to all that is new – the expectation is that we baptized, will continue our biblical study, continue our personal reflection and move deeper into our prayer life. Our lifelong efforts are to be spent maturing in faith and growing more and more into the likeness of Christ. As we have experienced many Lenten seasons and Easter mornings, and as we are –according to the church calendar -- presently in the middle of Eastertide – the apostle Peter has sent us a letter that explores the consequences of that Easter morning for those of us who proclaim Christ’s resurrection. Peter’s instructions are for all of us who are baptized and mostly secure in our Christian identity. You see, for baptized Christians it is not enough to claim Jesus’ death and resurrection strictly as our avenue to forgiveness, heaven, and eternal life…it is not enough to restrict the Easter morning events to one day…not enough to restrict the Easter morning events to some kind of future hope for a world yet to come. Peter speaks to us here and now – encouraging us to live in such a way - that every day – our living reflects and witnesses to all that miraculous Easter morning encompasses. Peter makes it clear that the consequences of baptism, the consequences of a personal confession of faith, the consequences of proclaiming Christ as Messiah…is that …there must be some kind of action…some kind of response..on our part. If God is going to be our God – then in accordance with this covenant into which we have entered - we must be God’s people. If we are going to call Christ our Lord and Savior – that proclamation is replete with expectations and responsibilities. Expectations and responsibilities that are --to be sure – challenging. Expectations and responsibilities that are also a wonderfully rich vision of the privileged vocation we have been given as Christians. A wonderfully rich vision of who the church and her members could be --if we live by Jesus’ example. One commentary wrote that Peter’s letter is a reminder to those who have become a tad too comfortable in their Christian identity…another wrote that Peter’s letter is a bit like Christian Education – a way for us to continue to live into discipleship. The scripture passage this morning was the because part. Because you are Christians, because God is merciful, because Jesus died for our sins and was raised up, because we now have an inheritance and a salvation… Now comes the THEREFORE part - So let me run down a list of just a little bit of what Peter has written to us…what it is – to which we are called. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Keep loving one another earnestly; show hospitality to one another without grumbling; humble yourselves, be self-controlled and sober-minded. Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender hearts and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless for to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ..May it always be so. Amen.

The 3 "P's"

Soren Kierkegaard was a Christian, a philosopher, theologian, poet, writer, and a critic of almost everything. What Soren Kierkegaard did best was question our existence – question the meaning of our existence in a world that is confusing, often meaningless, and absurd. I have read some Kierkegaard and from what I can gather, his philosophy is something of like this: Humanity looks to things on the outside..looks to things in the world - for happiness, satisfaction, recognition, purpose – meaning - we spend lifetimes looking for everything and everyone else around us to validate us and define who we are. And what he wrote in the 1800’s - stands true in 2014. Your car or your truck define you; your neighborhood – the kind of house you live in defines you; the landscaping of your yard defines you; the label on your jeans, the cut of your suit, the leather of your shoes, the brand name of your watch; who you marry; where you work, who you know, your last name, your friends, who you hang out with, your grades, the amount of your paycheck – all define who we are – or who we think we are. We have let other people and other things define our worth. And we have found it wanting. And that is another thing Soren Kierkegaard said - there is more to this life than allowing the world and other people to define who we are – what should define us is our relationship with God – our relationship with Christ - how that relationship is played out – how that relationship generates love, faith, witness, and service – which are the things that should tell the world who we are. On the evening of the very day that Mary and the other Mary found the empty tomb..when they were told to give the disciples the message that he had risen and would go before them…– when fear of the Jews caused the disciples to lock themselves behind the doors of the house – Jesus came and stood among them. And in between the fear and the showing of wounds; in between the shock and surprise, the worry and the waiting, Jesus spoke. Giving those in the house – and through them – giving us - the 3 P’s. The 3 P’s that should define us. Peace, Purpose and Power. The disciples were stunned, afraid, worried, wondering how they were going to sneak out of Jerusalem and get themselves safely to Galilee. And can you imagine how all of those different personalities might be getting on each other’s nerves after all they had been through and now cooped up in a house together? But then, suddenly, Jesus was in their midst and said, Peace be with you. I imagine when we find our lives in turmoil, or when situations arise that cause us guilt or pain or regret…I imagine when we find ourselves scared for the future or worried over the business of the day ahead…and when like humans do – we disappoint or get on each other’s nerves. It is then – that we remember that Christ is always standing in our midst – and that his message to us when we are wringing our hands is Peace be with you. The disciples were clueless as to what to do with their lives now. Though they planned to go to Galilee as instructed – they had no idea why or to what end. Jesus was dead – what would be so special about traveling 70 miles to the region of Galilee – what would be so important that they should risk their very lives to go to the place where they first met Jesus? Were they to go back to fishing – go back to their families – do what they could to pick up the pieces of their lives – open themselves up to the ridicule of the locals – worse would they be pursued for the rest of their lives because they believed that Jesus was the Messiah? In a world that had turned confusing, meaningless, and absurd…when the disciples didn’t know which way to turn – Jesus said, As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. Jesus gave them purpose –(to glorify God and enjoy him forever…?) their purpose – now our purpose is to grow in Christ’s likeness, to live in community with one another, to establish and build up the church, and to serve others. When we feel at loose ends – perhaps feeling lost – not sure where we stand or what comes next = like the disciples in the locked up house – Jesus sends us out into the world to help others. When we get in those places –unable to figure out why we’re here on earth – Know that God has given you gifts to be used to build up God’s kingdom. When what you are doing no longer satisfies – perhaps a look toward the church would help – a book study, a Sunday school class, reading Scripture, sitting on a committee, sharing your thoughts and your vision for Clifton’s future – hey – sign up to host Fellowship, help the youth with Adopt-A-Highway, attend a Presbytery meeting. When we are lonely or need a little moral support – know that there is a church full of people who will listen. What to do with any extra time you might have on your hands - visit our shut-ins, the friends we love who are now in nursing homes – or if you can’t do that send a card. The disciples looked at each other incredulous – what? Jesus is sending us – to carry on his ministry? How in the world can we do that? We don’t know where to begin – and when we do begin – then what, and where, and who? We are not capable. And Jesus breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit – sustainer of life, comforter, sanctifies us, unites us, that which quickens our soul to faith. Holy Spirit, (according to the Brief Statement of Faith in our PCUSA Book of Confession ) the giver and renewer of life, the spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, courage to witness, courage to unmask idolatries, to hear the voices of people long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom and peace – empowered by the holy spirit we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks, and to live holy and joyful lives. Jesus gave his disciples then and gives his disciples now the power to do all that we are asked to do in His name. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us with his Peace, his Purpose and his Power.

Strong at the Broken Places

This well-known passage in Ezekiel is known as The Valley of Dry Bones. Hearing that, our imaginations go to work. Human bones – sun bleached white, some in a recognizable human shape, ,,,others loose, splintered, cracked and broken - laying in unfamiliar patterns. And there in that valley God set Ezekiel down. To ask him a question: Mortal – can these bones live again. And soon the noise rises up out of that valley – a rattling, a snapping into place, and we imagine Ezekiels astonishment – as he watched sinew binding knee joints and elbow joints together, veins and the tiniest capillaries beginning to pulse with life, flesh and skin -sculpting it all into human form. And then as God instructed, Ezekiel called the four winds into service – so that life came upon the slain. And the whole house of Israel stood upright in that valley with the promise that they would return to the land. A good news story for Israel – and today --a hope for us who believe in the resurrection of the body. This passage has been a great comfort to many over the years. And when looking for that comfort - our tendency may be to rush past the dry bones and get on with the rising up and the rebuilding of those ol’ bones. But since it is Lent, let us linger a bit longer with Ezekiel in the midst of those parched bones. From another minister we read: Written to the exiles = Ezekiel’s vision is given for a people who have lost heart, who are suffering a death of the spirit, a withering of their soul, a living death in exile in a foreign land. Admittedly---rather dramatic, but still, we can relate. Haven’t we all experienced a time when we lost heart? The loss of a dear parent, a life-long friend, a spouse – not necessarily to death, but perhaps to a debilitating disease or an accident or a move to another state, maybe you’ve lost a person to one or another addiction, to a disagreement that could never be mended. Perhaps we lost heart when a career careened off the road, or a dream fell flat on its face, or a future didn’t go as planned. And haven’t there been times when some ---or maybe many of us -suffered the death of our spirit. When circumstances seemed to suck the life out of us and when those circumstances made us wonder if we were in the right place, doing the right thing, ,,sometimes those circumstances made us wonder if we were even thinking right. Adults and children trapped in abusive relationships, unable to move past grief, a crisis in faith, struggling with what feels like an absent God……these are the things that wither one’s soul. /////// Perhaps you have been fortunate enough not to have found yourself in those horrible lonely lost wilderness places, perhaps you never will….but …there are millions – in this world, many in this community, maybe even in our families who have been.. and are right now -living in a valley of dry bones. Archeologists unearth ancient villages and the forensic scientists can analyze the bones determining the age, height, sex, general health, and the kind of injuries the person may have suffered when alive. Bones also hold clues about the diet, the kind of work the person did, and their living conditions. Lent can reveal much about the dry bones in our valleys, about our spiritual lives, our maturity of faith. Our dry bones can tell us how we have managed and navigated our personal struggles, setbacks, and sorrows. Ernest Hemingway wrote: The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. And so the question God asked Ezekiel, is the question we ask ourselves in this Lenten Season – Mortal, can these bones live again? A mortal would say no. Life has hurt too much, broken us in too many places. How can bones…How can anything so beyond dead have any hope to live again? A mortal would say no. God’s answer to Ezekiel – and to us - is yes. Most definitely yes. And the breath came into them, … God’s breath, Holy Spirit breath and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Easter is that breath. Easter is that hope. Easter is that mending. Easter is that promise. Easter is our raising up from life’s death and destruction. Easter is the day when = because of Jesus Christ - we say yes. Yes these bones can live again; yes we can stand again; yes, we have been made strong at our broken places. If we believe in it…if we cling to it…if we want it…then Easter can be our yes.

Children of Light

The two biggest celebrations in the church year are Christmas and Easter. Both of these seasons have a focus on light. The Advent candles remind us of the darkness in the world and from week to week as each additional candle is lit, we symbolically move from the darkness into the light of Christ. During Lent we again acknowledge the darkness that is present in the world - the depth of that darkness confirmed by the events of Good Friday. On Easter morning we are greeted with the light of Christ’s victory over death. From the first page of Genesis we know the words well – And God said let there be light. Through psalms and proverbs we learn that truth is found in the light and that light is found in the Lord. To the prophets and the gospels and in most every letter we learn of the connection between God and light. And in Ephesians we are included in that light. In fact Paul echoes Jesus words from his Sermon on the Mount when we were told that we are the light of the world. Or as Paul has written: Once you were in darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Freed from the darkness, we are now to live as children of light. The Greek word translated as live is better rendered to mean to walk around. A literal translation then is an imperative sentence and would read: All of you - walk around as children of light. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells the church what it looks like to walk around as children of light. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving one another as Christ forgives you. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. Paul sums it up like this: Put off you old self and clothe yourself with the new self. As the congregation at Ephesus was encouraged to walk around as children of light – Paul also talked about the congregation being fruit of the light. Fruit, he described, that is good and right and true. One commentator wrote: Because Paul differentiates between dark and light – and writes that things exposed by the light become visible - The emphasis on the congregation exhibiting good fruit suggests that- in every place -a Christian’s general conduct is in plain view – and so as people meet us…as people watch us – we become their reference and their example of what a Christian looks like. Today, Lent has become a personal time of prayer, reflection, and repentance in preparation for Easter. But 1600 years ago - these 40 days were spent in intense study and concentrated prayer- and was meant to prepare new believers for baptism. The most interesting thing about those 40 days – was this: Since the newly baptized were being received into a congregation –as a sign of love and support, the entire congregation- together- participated in the same 40 days of intense and concentrated study and prayer. On Easter then – the whole congregation –together - committed or re-committed their lives to being children of light. It is not easy to be children of light. The writer of Ephesians knew this. He knew how difficult it would be for an individual to become a new creation – and how doubly difficult it would be for an individual to continue growing into that new self - if left out there on their own. Which is why every letter – including Ephesians is written to a congregation – a congregation who together – strive to be imitators of Christ and so live as children of light. As we move through this Lenten season, let us remember that Paul admonishes us to - be very careful - to be aware – to be mindful of how we live. And then let us close with Paul’s words – words that were used on Easter morning when new believers came splashing up out of the baptismal waters - and when the whole church committed and recommitted themselves to be children of light: Sleeper, Awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Somethin' Else Goin' On

When I was in elementary school I was never so amazed as when we had a fire drill. You might think that after 6 years of elementary school and a total of probably 25 or so of those fire drills..that the amazement would go away -- but it never ever did. We sat in school all day. Yes we walked home for lunch and yes we played in the playground for recess, but there was something different about a fire drill. After we stood up and lined up, quietly filed down the stairs - we walked outside and stood on the side walk across the street from the school. Now it may be that I have told you this story already, but I will tell it again. Standing on that sidewalk I felt like I had been transported into another world. Because you see at 9:30 or 11:15 or 1:45 - I was supposed to be sitting in that school. And when I wasn’t - the world seemed very strange to me - and surprising to realize that there was another world going on outside of my school room. The man trimming the bushes in the front of his house; the older woman sweeping her porch steps; the smell of bacon in the air, or bread baking; the cars driving by. When I stood on that sidewalk the greens of the trees seemed greener, the blue sky bluer - I was more keenly aware of sights and sounds and smells - like everything was somehow more intense, and somehow it felt like I was a stranger in a world that I thought I knew. It was hard for me to realize that every day for 9 months while I was sitting in my wooden desk - there was something else goin’ on. Today we read about Jesus’ baptism in the waters of the Jordan River. We have read it any number of times - each gospel version a bit different from the other - still and all the basics of the story are always the same. An odd man named John at the river, and Jesus showing up, explaining to John how he must be baptized, then the dunk, his rising back up and a voice from heaven, which in Matthew’s gospel is heard only by Jesus. And every time we baptize the basics are pretty much the same. I say a few words, you say a few words, the parents or the child says a few words. We sprinkle, and smile, and say a prayer. But like me standing in amazement on the sidewalk across from the school....we need to remember that in this thing we call baptism there’s something else -- something more goin’ on. It’s more than ritual - it’s a remembrance and a look into the future. It’s not something we just do - it’s something Christians have been doing for 2000 years. It’s not just a dunk or a sprinkle - it connects us with every other Christian living or dead for all of those 2000 years and the years to come. It’s not just some tap water in a bowl - it’s the symbol of the waters being parted for Moses, the waters of Noah’s flood, the river crossed over into the promised land, it’s the waters of creation. It’s adoption into a family, it’s being engrafted into Christ, it’s being in the presence of the Holy Spirit, it’s dying and living again. This thing we do around the font is an outward sign of an inward grace. Bestowed upon us by the Word made flesh, who came here to dwell among us. When Matthew recorded this account of Jesus at the Jordan River, he did not use the Greek word for baptism. He used another word which means turning or having a change of mind. And since Jewish thought tells us that the way we think reflects our heart, and our character, and our gut... tells us that mind, emotions, actions, words, ethics and morals are all connected...it means that with what we now call baptism - comes a change of a person’s whole inner nature - a transformation - a new person. There was definitely something else going on that day at the Jordan River -- more than is conveyed by the words we read in Scripture. That day Jesus’ life took a turn - a turn that marked the beginning of his earthly ministry. As the church has been looking inward for a while now, trying to determine how to go forward...I wonder if over the years, we have adopted an attitude that all that stuff back at the Jordan has little to do with us. You know - cuz after all Jesus was the one who heard the words from heaven - he was the one sent to do all the work - called to sacrifice and heal, to nurture and comfort...and it was Isaiah who told us that the one who received God’s spirit was to be a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, and bring forth justice in the world. Have we forgotten that the same spirit that descended upon Christ has descended upon each of us? Have we forgotten that the same empowering spirit that lived in Jesus now lives in us? Have we forgotten that we have been chosen, equipped and commissioned to carry on Christ’s earthly ministry? And if we have, let us take a moment to remember that - as it was with Christ, so it is with us. Being baptized in the spirit means that we have been transformed and marked for our earthly ministry.