tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81974090800832630792024-03-05T21:27:39.333-09:00Caffeinated God-TalkPastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-31134289041706630322013-12-14T07:52:00.000-09:002013-12-14T07:52:26.142-09:00Don't Let Them Steal Your Christmas<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> So there I was eating lunch in front
of the TV – a few days after Halloween – trying to come up with worship themes
for Advent/Christmas – when what to my wondering ears should appear??? An expression – a campaign – a mindset – that
raises my blood pressure to dangerous levels each year at this time. The presentation of the thesis that nearly
had me throw what was left of my Subway sandwich at the screen went like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .7in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“If
you check out of a store and the clerk wishes you ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry
Christmas,’ refuse to pay them until they say, ‘Merry Christmas!’ Don’t let them steal your Christmas!”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Yikes. Really???
Someone can ‘steal’ your Christmas by NOT saying “Merry Christmas” to
you? If so, that seems to say volumes
more about your superficial understanding of the mystery of the divine
incarnation in human history than it does that clerk’s personal piety or the
impious state of society as a whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> The
fact that the phrase “Merry Christmas” as a popular/appropriate greeting dates
only back to the 1843 publication of Dickens’ <i>A Christmas Carol </i>notwithstanding, the phrase, in the minds of
some, has become a litmus test for a genuinely meaningful Christmas. Whether or not the greeting is made by a
person who is a Christian seems irrelevant.
This campaign seems to operate on the <i>a priori</i> assumption that it is everyone else’s responsibility to
greet me in a way that doesn’t either “steal” or somehow “declare war” on my
understanding of Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> It’s
not that I don’t care that Christians have lost control of their own story at
Christmas by allowing it to be overtaken by crass commercialism and
over-the-top gift-giving. I do. But, When an
economist explains that the size of the Christmas season shopping blitz
directly determines the financial health of the retail industry, and, by
extension, our whole economy, we Christians have willingly allowed the story to function as an
economic insurance policy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> As a follower of Jesus Christ myself, I am saddened
that the Body of Christ in the U.S. has, by and large, stood by idly while this
has happened. This sadness moves to a
combination of fear and anger when parts of the Body of Christ seem to imply
that the real meaning of Christmas is whether the cashiers – employees on the
lowest rung of the retail industrial ladder – can adequately verbalize the
appropriate greeting while the same believer is worshiping at the altar of
commercialism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As one who
has studied, taught and preached upon the Biblical Christmas narratives for
three decades, I can state with no reservation that the phrase “Merry Christmas”
cannot begin to carry the height and depth of that story. These two words cannot begin to carry the
theological freight found in the Biblical narrative. When you hear someone say, “Merry Christmas,”
are you immediately calling to mind some of these radical elements of the
Nativity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">the Incarnation – the Divine
becoming human – was itself an expectation that exilic and post-exilic prophets
foretold several centuries before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">the call for a young woman to fully
surrender her expectations of how her marriage and life would unfold; and her
response of an unconditional <i>YES;</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">the use of unlikely persons to
whom the message of the Divine Incarnation are entrusted: shepherds are given
the task of telling the world of the Nativity at a time/place in history when
that entire profession was not allowed to testify in court because they were
known to be such unrepentant liars; wise men/star gazers from Gentile lands
bring gifts recognizing a kingship Jesus’ own people eventually rejected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There are more, but I pray you get my
point. I further pray that no one “steals
YOUR Christmas” or, worse, declares war on it.
If, however, you do feel your Christmas was stolen by a misplaced, though well intentioned “Happy
Holidays,” may I suggest you no longer carry your Christmas with such <i>nonchalance </i>that it may be picked from
your pocket so easily. If your Christmas
is under a war-like attack, fear not, this story has survived much worse than
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Please allow me one more suggestion to
those whose Christmas is being victimized.
Try getting to a church on Christmas Eve. Sing the old carols. Gather around the table for Communion, if
that be your tradition. Watch the Light
of the World spread through the darkened room with the candle lighting. See
your neighbors faces lit by the Light of Christ. See the wonder in a child’s
eyes. Note the tear of a widow experiencing
her first Christmas Eve without a spouse. Greet the ill-dressed family that didn’t have
the opportunity to be offended by a cashier this Christmas because there are no
gifts – and little food – in their home. Watch the young couple struggling to care for
their first baby while attempting to be attentive and worshipful…maybe even
offer to help. And then, on Christmas
Day, take an hour to wander the halls of a care facility, a dementia unit or a
pediatric floor in a hospital and find someone who just wants to talk about
Christmas. I guarantee any feelings victimhood
will evaporate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">May the One born in Bethlehem so long
ago, be born again in you this Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Peace, Jon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-38103270714597606162012-03-22T13:58:00.000-08:002012-03-22T13:58:57.307-08:00A New Leaf<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was my day off and I was still in the process of moving into the parsonage in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state></st1:place>. My wife is still in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state></st1:place>, pastoring the two churches I left to come to Ottumwa First UMC. The thought of spending more time unpacking and arranging things that will only be rearranged when my better half arrives in July was depressing; I’ve done nothing but that on my days off for a month now. I needed a distraction. I needed something totally different. Nothing to do with church…nothing to do with unpacking…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Several months ago, I’d received one of those ancestry.com family tree programs as a gift. For whatever reason, I hadn’t taken the time to start that process. But, it did sound like the perfect distraction. I thought I’d give it an hour…90 minutes tops…before my short attention span would draw me to another shiny object with which to amuse myself…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FIVE HOURS LATER…I’m looking at digital pictures of gravestones in Truro, England with my mother’s last name on them. I’ve been captivated by digital photos of census records from 1830; bills of lading listing passengers from places like <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I’ve learned that one of my ancestors had a child whose place of death and burial is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Boston</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Another ancestor died while guiding logs down a river (<i>ala</i> “Axmen”) in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:place></st1:state>. My 9<sup>th</sup> Great-Grandfather, John Webster, was Governor of the Colony of Connecticut from 1657 to 1659. I even traced the itineration of my Great-Grand-Uncle the Rev. Frank E. Brush who was pastor of First United Methodist Church, Ottumwa (the church I now pastor) from 1895-1900. I’ve read census and burial records of distant relatives who’d had 8 or 9 children; only 4 of which lived to be adults. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I know none of these experiences are unique to my family; nevertheless, it is humbling. I expect to be a grandfather for the first time in the coming 7 to 10 days…a new leaf on the family tree…the first in a new generation. I know I will look at that new life with wonder and hope. I wonder about the world in which s/he will live as an adult…and I will do so with more than a little fear and, yet, a good measure of hope. I pray on the eve of his/her first grandchild’s birth decades from now this new leaf will be able to wonder with hope as well. As did my 9<sup>th</sup> Great-Grandfather Webster nearly 400 years ago. </span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-75272403006202327012012-02-23T15:40:00.000-09:002012-02-23T15:40:55.825-09:00Where Was I...?<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I apologize for the unannounced hiatus since Advent. So…where was I?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The question has a literal answer in my case. I WAS in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place></st1:state>. I am NOW in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state></st1:place>. The short version goes like this…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ol><li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were planning on returning to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state> in June, 2012 due to Leila’s position with the Alaska Conference being ended and a lack of appointments for a clergy couple. We filed our papers with the Iowa Cabinet on November 14. On November 16, I receive a call from a Superintendent in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><st1:placename w:st="on">First</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">United</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Methodist</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype> in <st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state> was in immediate need for pastoral leadership due to their pastor returning to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region> for a family emergency. The Bishop and Cabinet invited me to consider a mid-year appointment to Ottumwa First. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Within days, I flew to </span><st1:state style="text-indent: 0.5in;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> to meet with church members and was invited to consider beginning January 1, 2012.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I asked for February 1 so I wouldn’t spend Advent and Christmas packing (which I did anyway).</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My appointment to First UMC, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:place></st1:city> is announced. Filling my position will be my former co-pastor Leila (she’s also my wife…am I moving to fast for you here?). She and our dog Scout will remain in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place></st1:state> until June.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">January 4, 2012 nearly all our stuff is packed and crated to travel from <st1:city w:st="on">Anchorage</st1:city> to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city></st1:place>. My clothing is limited to what I can pack into a suitcase.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">January 30, I board a plane for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Des Moines</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">IA.</st1:state></st1:place></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">January 31, I arrive in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city></st1:place> and begin my pastorate the next day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The other shoe drops on February 12 when it is announced in <st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">Anchorage</st1:city> that the Rev. Leila Disburg will be appointed as pastor at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Willard</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Street</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">United</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Methodist</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:city></st1:place> beginning July 1, 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last but not least….February 14, the crates containing our belongings arrive in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ottumwa</st1:place></st1:city>. And, yes, all guitars arrived in the same condition they were when I packed them!</span></li>
</ol><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s amazing what God, a Bishop and a Cabinet of Superintendents can accomplish in about 85 days. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So…not much God-talk this week, but an update. I know in coming weeks I’ll share reflections on my 4 ½ years in <st1:state w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state> as well as thoughts about coming back home to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Iowa</st1:state></st1:place>. Perhaps, even a thought or two about the experience of being separated for 5 months from my wife of 34 years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, finally, this humbling note. My last blog was posted on December 5. Between December 5 and now…without any new blog entry…the “hits” on my site only dropped by 30%. It seems I’m nearly as popular when I don’t write as when I do! Undeterred, I promise to provide some freshly ground caffeinated God-talk very soon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Peace, Jon</span></div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-78228465592621652802011-12-05T15:29:00.000-09:002011-12-05T15:29:21.081-09:00Was Mary the First?Was Mary the first?<br />
Was she the first woman to whom Gabriel appeared?<br />
The first to be called to serve as the <i>theotokos</i> - the God-birther?<br />
The first to ponder the meaning of this kind of surrender;<br />
this kind of sacrifice?<br />
<br />
Was Mary the first?<br />
<br />
I think not.<br />
There may have been one whose sophistication exceeded<br />
those who may claim ability with angels.<br />
There may have been another too proud to yield<br />
to a <i>telos</i> demanding such time and selflessness;<br />
too goal-oriented to consider this inconvenient detour.<br />
There may have been another too busy, too important<br />
to surrender reputation to such inexplicable circumstances.<br />
<br />
Was Mary the first?<br />
Perhaps, not the first to be invited.<br />
But,...the first to say,<br />
"Let it be to me, according to thy will."<br />
<br />
Yet one more question, dear friends,<br />
begs for an answer.<br />
Yet one more question<br />
haunts our very soul:<br />
<br />
<i>Was Mary the last?</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Was she the last to whom an angel spoke<br />
of God's invitation to live out an inexplicable mystery?<br />
Was she the last called to set aside a time of life<br />
for the purpose of growing and nurturing...<br />
love within,<br />
grace within,<br />
peace within,<br />
hope within?<br />
Was her call to abandon goals, dreams and reputation<br />
to an unknown, yet God-filled <i>telos</i> the last ever offered?<br />
Was she the last to ever utter,<br />
"Let it be to me, according to thy will,"<br />
while not knowing fully where it led<br />
or what it ultimately would demand?<br />
<br />
Was Mary the last?<br />
<br />
I pray not...Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-45950789192835579382011-11-08T12:16:00.000-09:002011-11-08T12:16:10.082-09:00...In My Heart...<div class="MsoNormal">This video has crossed my computer desktop more than once recently and I’m just enough of a mystic to think that God may be trying to get my attention. It’s part of a presentation Francis Chan gave at the RightNow Pastors Conference. Here it is…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/A7MdYV8gRws?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I love the last analogy about telling your child to clean their room. How true! We take Jesus’ words. We parse them in Greek, then in English, in an effort to “mine the richness” as one professor used to tell us. But in doing so, don’t we also often find ways to ‘spiritualize’ the teaching rather than ‘physicalize’ (new word there, I think) it? We ponder, we meditate, we question, we delve, and when we’re sure we’ve cogitated the life out of it, we move on to more of Jesus’ words and begin again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We often sing, “Lord, I want to be a Christian….in my heart.” However, the unsung expectation held by many seems to be something like this: “Lord, I want to keep my Christianity…in my heart.” Instead of the seat of motivation, the heart has become a sealed receptacle of all things Christian for many of us. I include myself, a clergyperson, because who else can better spiritualize the Gospel than one trained in parsing Greek/Hebrew, de-contextualizing, de-mythologizing, etc.?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Moving it from heart to mouth, or hands, or feet is risky business. Proof? It is so risky, so fear-instilling, to let this Jesus move from my heart to my mouth that, according to Doug Anderson, executive director of the Bishop Rueben Job Center for Leadership Development, the average United Methodist member invites only one person to worship every 38 years (<a href="http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=5058">http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=5058</a>). To be fair, I’ve seen others say the figure is once every 15-17 years. Even so, we either are too afraid we’ll appear pushy or we don’t really believe what we say we believe about the possibility of a transformed life, transformed community or transformed world. In other words, what really is at stake when we fail to let Jesus out of our heart to become actual words and actions? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Though there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth over the seeming disinterest that the majority of the population under the age of 40 has in organized religion, it’s definitely not a disinterest in things related to faith or spirituality. Far from it. I’ve encountered many in that age category who are desperately seeking a way to incorporate a spirituality into their daily lives. However, the post-modern mindset in this seeking process is most often this<b>: Please show me a spirituality that is greater than something to merely think about.</b> The “middle road,” “I’m just going to think about a world where everyone cleans their room,” forms of spirituality and approaches to being the Body of Christ carry little persuasive power anymore.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Solutions? The solutions are easier to describe than managing the response they generate in the average mainline church. We know the litany of solutions: take seriously our membership vows, provide opportunities for real hands-on service, equip all to be able to tell their faith story, reorganize local church structures and infuse new leadership… This list is barely a beginning, and more complete listings can be found at most church vitality websites. The secret is learning to respond to and sometimes ignore those for whom this is a stretch and these expectations were not something they “signed up for.” I know when I feel stretched – and when I’m confronted with something I don’t remember signing up for – it is at those moments when I learn what is actually…in my heart…</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-80867672407722982062011-11-01T11:17:00.000-08:002011-11-01T11:17:08.023-08:00Crunky Questions - Redux<div class="MsoNormal">I want to thank you for your crunky prayers which were requested in my October 4 blog in which I shared my concerns for leading some studies that would certainly generate crunky questions (you can find that blog and the definition of ‘crunky’ <a href="http://www.jondisburg.com/2011/10/crunky-questions.html">here</a>).<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Briefly, I was concerned about the questions that might arise in the three small groups I led during our October small group immersion experience.<span> </span>The studies were <b><i>Christian Atheist</i></b> (Craig Groeschel), <b><i>The Reason for God</i></b> (Timothy Keller), and <b><i>Revelation – Unraveling God’s Message of Hope</i></b> (Ben Witherington).<span> </span>Some of the topics covered in one or more of these studies included: theodicy (the problem of evil), our relationship with money, heaven, hell, Christianity’s relationship with other world religions, hypocrisy, and the <i>parousia </i>(second advent of Christ), to name a few.<span> </span>To anyone who’s ever led a small group or Sunday School class, lay or clergy, this list sounds like a minefield of questions capable of blowing up with little warning. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Turns out, it wasn’t a minefield at all…just a mine.<span> </span>From this mine I have been gathering valuable ore in the form of observations concerning believers today.<span> </span>Here are a few…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Folks new to the Christian faith as well as those who have sat in our pews for decades are yearning for a place where it is safe to ask questions.<span> </span>Out of some of these conversations came the painful realization that questions have remained unasked for years because it was either directly or indirectly communicated that such questions revealed a lack of faith…or, salvation.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Many people are yearning for an informed, holistic study of scripture that is <i>done in community.</i><span> </span>Some have experienced real pain and borderline abuse generated by those whose individual, subjective view of scripture is wielded like a club.<span> </span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->People resent having their thinking done for them by any one person or institution.<span> </span>Folks want to be informed, equipped and then trusted to discern their faithful responses to the questions of the day.<span> </span>It’s like those math textbooks we had in high school where the answers to the odd numbered problems were found in the back.<span> </span>The reason <i>all</i> the answers weren’t given was to ensure the student was equipped and informed as to discern the answer on their own.<span> </span>Too many experience church as a place where the moral/ethical/theological answers are <i>all</i> predetermined and the average person cannot be trusted to work out the problem on their own.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>There are many people in our churches who highly desire and value opportunities to actually enact their Christian faith on a daily basis.<span> </span>Living in a day where schedules are already over-booked, belonging to a church for purely social reasons is senseless especially those who are under 45 and newer to the faith.<span> </span>In other words, the phrase ‘nominal Christian’ is an oxymoron to such folks.</blockquote><br />
<ul><li>Seekers and those new to the faith are first frustrated and then discouraged by long-time Christians and church members who openly confess an ignorance of the basics of the Christian faith, Scripture, and liturgical traditions as if they were 'extra-curricular' to the membership experience. </li>
</ul><br />
For most of you, there may be nothing new in this brief listing.<span> </span>I, like many clergy, have read about these dynamics as the harbingers of the post-modern age.<span> </span>But, to see them actually lived out in a context free enough to allow such post-modern questions, behaviors and expectations has been powerful to me.<span> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And, my mom may have been wrong.<span> </span>It’s not <i>always</i> impolite to answer a question with a question.<span> </span>To answer some questions too soon kills the inquisitive nature of our minds that leads us to deeper faith.<span> </span>To keep the question alive with another question<span> </span>is to venture deeper into the mine where the really precious ideas and insights can be found.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Peace, Jon</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-78799530239063702442011-10-25T11:34:00.000-08:002011-10-25T11:34:12.612-08:00Midwives & General ConferenceO God, they begged you for help when they were in trouble,<br />
when your discipline was so heavy<br />
they could barely whisper a prayer.<br />
Like a woman having a baby,<br />
writhing in distress, screaming her pain<br />
as the baby is being born,<br />
That's how we were because of you, O God.<br />
We were pregnant full-term.<br />
We writhed in labor but bore no baby.<br />
We gave birth to wind.<br />
Nothing came of our labor.<br />
We produced nothing living.<br />
We couldn't save the world.<br />
- Isaiah 26:16-18 <b><i>The Message</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b><br />
It's probably just me...or maybe it's just here in Anchorage...but it seems as if we're in the midst of some kind of baby boom. One of the churches I serve is blessed with several newborns with some still on the way. It seems as if everywhere I go, I see pregnant women! What's going on?<br />
<br />
It might be a real boom - or, more precisely, a Boomer echo, since most of these pregnant women would be children of the Baby Boom generation. Or, it might be that I am experiencing that psychological phenomena of a heightened optical awareness of certain things around me because they align with what I'm experiencing personally. My wife and I once purchased a certain red auto because we were sure it was the only one like it for miles around. We saw at least a dozen of them in the following week. More to the point, perhaps the reason I seem to notice more pregnant women is because our older daughter is now carrying our first grandchild. You see, all of that was just an excuse to tell you I'm going to be a grampa for the the first time.<br />
<br />
However, there is a reason for the Isaiah 26 quote at the beginning of this blog. Whether there really is a baby boom or my awareness is just a projection of my life on the world around me, I have been reflecting a lot on the birthing process in recent days. Wait...I already know that any man foolish enough to opine too much about the birthing process deserves whatever grief he gets from spouses, mothers, sisters, daughters, female colleagues and co-workers, and pretty much any woman who has given birth or soon will. I fully embrace the ancient notion that the reason God decided men could not give birth is because our pain threshold is entirely too low to endure it. I have nothing but awe and respect for all women who have given birth and immeasurably more so for those who choose to do it a second time or more.<br />
<br />
My reflection has more to do with my election to the 2012 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. General Conference is a quadrennial meeting gathering laity and clergy from around the world to discern, discuss and enact the rules and structures that will shape the future of the church. For most of the last 40 years, General Conference sessions have made news through their discerning and fussing over many of the socio-political hot topics of the day: abortion, homosexuality, capital punishment, war, economic justice, <i>et al</i>. <br />
<br />
In contrast, the 2008 General Conference spent much time and energy around issues of structure and, by its action, ensured the conversation would continue in 2012. That's not to say the topics that made headlines in previous years were totally ignored. They weren't. But, as an interested observer, it seemed to me that they were overshadowed by the institutional concerns for a sustainable structure for the future.<br />
<br />
In one of the many pre-General Conference online articles/blogs I've read, one metaphor has caught my attention. Of course, I'm never prescient enough to record who wrote what...but here's a rough estimate: We're living in a time when our denomination is experiencing the labor pains of birthing the church of the future, which will be much different than the church of the past.<br />
<br />
If true, and I believe it is, one question emerges: What role will the 2012 General Conference play in the birthing process? One choice is for the Conference to see itself as a collective midwife - coaching, coaxing, encouraging and comforting during this time of emerging new life. Or, another choice is to continue the role most bureaucracies play when confronted with significant change and/or downsizing; that is as the stereotypical expectant father of the 50's and 60's - not in the birthing room but pacing nervously in the waiting room, nearly panicked by the immensity of the meaning and impact of new life. Even more, all the energy spent by this father is so removed from the actual birthing process that it affects neither the pains of birth or the new life waiting to emerge. This nervous pacing only reveals a combination of helplessness and fear concerning the ramifications of all changes new life brings to any family or institution.<br />
<br />
So, to borrow Isaiah's metaphor, we will either engage the process by coaching, coaxing and encouraging or, by continued rhetorical pacing, we will give birth to the wind of our own words alone. My continuing prayer for myself and all General Conference delegates: Give us the courage to be midwives. Amen.Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-24517518686837507092011-10-11T13:16:00.000-08:002011-10-11T13:16:44.044-08:00Of Destinations and Foolish Consistencies<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Life is a journey, not a destination.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span>-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ralph Waldo Emerson<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The only teachings of Emerson that I remember from my American Literature studies years ago are the one quoted above and this gem from “Self Reliance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">adored by little statesmen, and philosophers and divines.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Earlier this year, I was laying out a sermon series for this fall.<span> </span>The goal of the series was to encourage and equip folks to more deeply experience the means of grace by challenging folks to move beyond their regular routines in prayer, service, and study of scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One evening, I was struggling to find a metaphor for the sermon series while walking my dog on Powerline Trail in Anchorage.<span> </span>My usual turn-around point, Volunteer Bridge, was approaching.<span> </span>Volunteer Bridge is about 2 ½ miles from the parking lot, making a 5-mile roundtrip hike; just right for my schedule.<span> </span>As I neared the bridge I noticed a sign Scout (my hiking companion Lab/Great Pyrenees) I walked by a sign I’d walked by dozens of times before.<span> </span>It read: Hidden Lake – 2 miles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OiDq6xSVmjP6J6I39j8YP74X463gjcCsaoSsbpCVI409d87sSvvvAE-NNJxyr93H0WcyobIXOQ6TIxkdirJ4DpPo4RlglbRNUVLGrqw6fETWw4UKPSeIqW64Gu5oQQ8iuyFobYCCyoE/s1600/hidden+lake+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OiDq6xSVmjP6J6I39j8YP74X463gjcCsaoSsbpCVI409d87sSvvvAE-NNJxyr93H0WcyobIXOQ6TIxkdirJ4DpPo4RlglbRNUVLGrqw6fETWw4UKPSeIqW64Gu5oQQ8iuyFobYCCyoE/s320/hidden+lake+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hidden Lake…folks had been telling me for several years about this lake located in a cirque just 2 miles beyond my usual turn-around point.<span> </span>Hmm…why hadn’t I gone up and discovered this little lake that can only be viewed when you’re nearly upon it?<span> </span>I’d talked to plenty of folks who’d made the hike.<span> </span>They had seen it…experienced it.<span> </span>But, it meant more time…more energy…some planning.<span> </span>There is a big difference between a 5-mile hike on a gentle slope verses a 9-mile hike, 4 miles of which are climbing/descending a steep mountain trail.<span> </span>For me to actually experience what others had, I had to make some changes: allot more time and maybe, no definitely, get in better shape were the first to pop into mind.<span> </span>But…seeing Hidden Lake became a sort of obsession. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And…a metaphor was born.<span> </span>We hike these spiritual trails of prayer, worship, service, stewardship, scripture and others.<span> </span>But, over time, we develop safe turn-around points.<span> </span>To travel beyond these points means change…re-allotment of time and levels of commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By the end of the summer I was ready to take the hike to Hidden Lake.<span> </span>After waiting a week for a break in our August rains, I was blessed with a sunny morning to take the hike.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I wish I could tell you that my first sight of Hidden Lake was life altering, inspiring and held meaning beyond words.<span> </span>I wish I could tell you that.<span> </span>I can’t.<span> </span>After 4 ½ miles of hiking – 2 of which were quite steep and muddy – I arrived at the cloudy, rainy cirque containing Hidden Lake.<span> </span>Alaska has some views which both take your breath away and leave you wordless.<span> </span>This, in my opinion, was not one of them.<span> </span>I was breathless only because of the climb and the words I came up with weren’t necessarily the ones you hear when someone views Denali for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpyRVxA9bQLzpHv-jh8FOF1I92J8aa2kNFdugM4vjc0wT1UGSIDVPFcp5fBXKIQJKZAQooOIP4r78PXxuDgYXbnTI_W6ogKQ1_ejMOiC26ICfPi4wkotNzmnWKhvvP2YRwnB7khNpfic/s1600/hidden+lake+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpyRVxA9bQLzpHv-jh8FOF1I92J8aa2kNFdugM4vjc0wT1UGSIDVPFcp5fBXKIQJKZAQooOIP4r78PXxuDgYXbnTI_W6ogKQ1_ejMOiC26ICfPi4wkotNzmnWKhvvP2YRwnB7khNpfic/s320/hidden+lake+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So, I expressed my disappointment to Scout, took a few pictures and headed down the mountain.<span> </span>Thinking that I’d not only wasted my time preparing for the hike, but I’d also blown my primary metaphor for the sermon series to pieces with only 3 weeks to spare, I was let down.<span> </span>When I got home and started sharing the story with my wife I realized she was more interested in the journey than the destination.<span> </span>I told her about the time we encountered a flooded bog where the trail disappeared and how Scout found the most efficient alternate route.<span> </span>And, when he refused to cross a creek at a point I considered logical and ran a few hundred yards showing me a place where I could both stay dry and cross it.<span> </span>In other words, I was so fixated on the destination, the real blessing of the journey had escaped me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve known people who have read the Bible focused on the destination: Revelation 22:21 – the last verse.<span> </span>Those folks rarely, if ever, do it again.<span> </span>I’ve known folks who have read the Bible focused on the journey – those with whom they read – how these stories parallel stories in our own lives – and, how these words seem to ‘come to life’ from time to time.<span> </span>These spiritual hikers keep climbing.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I’ve come to the conclusion that “bottom-line-the-meaning-is-in-the-destination” thinking is a foolish consistency.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is a hobgoblin making trouble in our hearts and our churches by robbing us of the joy of lives woven together on spiritual paths of service, prayer and witness. However, bottom line figures and destination-thinking make for easy statistical reporting. Journeys and their meanings, on the other hand, are not easily quantifiable. I fear that in the part of the Body of Christ I call home, the United Methodist Church, we may be sacrificing journey for destination for that very reason: it is quantifiable. We seem obsessed with numbers while journey-stories and journey-questions arising from those with whom we hike are lost in the process. A foolish consistency, indeed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-14249301324837168612011-10-04T11:00:00.000-08:002011-10-04T11:00:55.389-08:00Crunky Questions<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">October is a month for a “small group immersion” for the two churches I serve.<span> </span>It is the second time this year we’ve had this kind of experience.<span> </span>As many who read this already know too well, it is difficult to get folks to commit to the 30+ week studies that were more common in years past.<span> </span>Today, it seems the magic number is 6 as the majority of small group studies and resources are published in 6-lesson units.<span> </span>What this says about our society and collective attention span is for another day…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My caffeinated God-talk that I generally have with folks in small groups is going to need a few extra shots of espresso this month because I somehow managed to find myself facilitating 3 small groups over the next 5 weeks.<span> </span>More challenging is the divergent <span> </span>nature of the three studies: <b><i>Christian Atheist</i></b> by Craig Groeschel; <b><i>The Reason for God</i></b> by Timothy Keller; and, <b><i>Revelation – Unraveling God’s Message of Hope</i></b> by Ben Witherington.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I began my prep work on the studies in August…more than once asking how in the world I got myself into this.<span> </span>The answer was simple: I love getting to know folks in small group settings and it is especially rewarding to see people’s lives changed – sometimes drastically – by the experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the past several weeks as I’ve read and re-read the materials, I realized the largest part of my prep work was preparing myself for the crunky questions that studies about nominal Christianity, doubts and objections to Christianity and the Book of the Revelation will always generate.<span> </span>You know them…we’ve all asked them (though, maybe not out loud):<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What does it mean to have a <i>relationship</i> <i>with </i>God or Jesus?<span> </span>I’ve always thought knowing about them was enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If God is so good, why does God allow such bad things to happen?<span> </span>Especially to the faithful?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isn’t the Bible mostly myth?<span> </span>Why should I pay attention to a piece of literature written by people who believed the heavens were a dome of fabric stretched<span> </span>from horizon to horizon, holding back waters on the other side? [Genesis 1:6-7]<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What does it mean when we say, “Christ has died.<span> </span>Christ is risen.<span> </span><i>Christ will come again.”?<span> </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are many more crunky questions, but these give you an idea.<span> </span>In the event you may not have ‘crunky’ in your lexicon, I like one of the definitions in the online <b><i>Urban Dictionary.</i></b><span> </span><span> </span>According to that source, ‘crunky’ is a combination of grungy, clunky, and funky.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These questions are grungy in that there are rarely any nice, neat answers.<span> </span>The answers tend to have sharp edges and rough surfaces.<span> </span>They are clunky because they are also often oversized, awkward to explain, and difficult to transport from one person to another.<span> </span>Finally, they are funky because they can do funky things to relationships, teachings received much earlier in life, and<span> </span>all unquestioned assumptions regarding faith, life, death, scripture, etc.<span> </span>Crunky.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, I’ve observed many mainline Christians (including pastors), given the choice, will avoid crunky questions at all costs.<span> </span>Usually this is because their previous experience with such questions included inadequate and/or dysfunctional conversations and answers.<span> </span>Sadly, when we avoid these crunky questions, we don’t allow ourselves to wander into the spiritual territory that is most likely to grow our faith and transform our lives assuring ourselves that faith need not grow and our lives need not change.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s the problem…or, at least, my problem…I sometimes forget crunky questions have crunky answers.<span> </span>I occasionally fall into the trap of thinking my job is to come up with a concise, comforting, non-abrasive, salve-like answer. <span> </span>Experience has shown me, time and time again, that those kinds of answers only further <i>crunk-ify</i> the original question and, perhaps, my relationship with the questioner.<span> </span><span> </span>And so, as I prepped for these studies, I developed a new mantra: <i>Embrace the crunk…lean into the crunk…become the crunk!</i><span> </span>Never run away from the crunky…you only rob yourself and others of opportunities to grow and change into the likeness of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Your crunky prayers for me in the coming weeks, as always, are appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peace, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-57415554321539185082011-09-27T12:06:00.000-08:002011-09-27T12:06:47.571-08:00Res Ipsa Loquitur<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Years ago I was in a group of clergy who met weekly to share our experiences, our woes, our joys, and, in general, how it was with our soul.<span> </span>One of our members was a second career pastor whose first career was as a lawyer.<span> </span>I’ve never forgotten his assessment of the causes of dis-ease and decline found in many local congregations.<span> </span>“Res ipsa loquitur,” he said.<span> </span>Waiting for us to admit we had no idea what he was saying, he finally explained, “The thing speaks for itself…many local churches are, themselves, the reason for their decline.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I went home and did some research on the legal principle of <i>res ipsa loquitur</i> and found most of the explanations used a situation similar to this:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><blockquote><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Imagine you’ve<span> </span>recently had abdominal surgery.<span> </span>A few days after the surgery, you develop a pain in the site of the surgery.<span> </span>This is followed by signs of infection.<span> </span>You go to the doctor and an X-ray reveals a piece of metal in your abdomen which is exactly the size and shape of a surgical scalpel.<span> </span>More than likely, your malpractice suit will be based upon the legal premise of <span> </span>“res ipsa loquitur.”<span> </span>The presence of a metal, scalpel shaped object in your abdomen speaks for itself and to how it got there.</span></i></blockquote><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I have played with this analogy off and on for several years.<span> </span>The condition of the church speaks for itself.<span> </span>The cause of whatever “infection” that is afflicting and weakening many of our bodies, is within us.<span> </span>Like many clergy, I’ve done my share of blaming realities outside of the church building.<span> </span><span> </span>I’ve belly-ached about sports leagues on Sunday morning, the explosion of child and youth activities, and the overall dismissive tone the “world” and the “media” use in describing organized religion in general and the Christian faith specifically.<span> </span>But, though true, are these factors <i>really</i> the cause of our dis-ease and decline?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To go back to the analogy of a medical lawsuit, many of us (I include myself) not only suffer from some spiritual infection that tends to weaken us and make us susceptible to a plethora of other spiritual conditions which only hasten this weakening, but also we are the ones who performed the surgery!<span> </span>Our own lack of spiritual purpose and increasing unwillingness to address the reality of our dis-ease are, themselves, the cause.<span> </span><i>Res ipsa loquitur.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My wife is also an ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church and experiences this dis-ease as well.<span> </span>She is also quick to add that she hates blogs, articles, sermons and speeches like this one because all it does is describe the dis-ease, it doesn’t offer any solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In an effort to keep things relatively quiet on the homefront, I do have some modest suggestions which, I believe, may heal our self-inflicted infections.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We need to rediscover the wonder of bending over and seeing an empty tomb.<span> </span>If the contemporary church was a journalist, it would be fired for “burying the lead.”<span> </span>We find it easier to tell stories about ourselves, our structures, our activities, our programs, our positions and our traditions than it is to talk about <i>the</i> story which gives purpose to all we do.<span> </span>The stories we tell shape us.<span> </span>If our story is mostly about us, then we shouldn’t be surprised that most folks outside our churches think we only care about ourselves.<span> </span>Can we tell a story in which we aren’t the main character but Christ is?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We need to quit worshiping the scalpel which we have planted in ourselves.<span> </span>Many church consultants will tell you that even when told a certain congregational tradition or behavior is off-putting to some members and most visitors, they will continue to do them because they are “sacred traditions.”<span> </span>Though the scalpel was necessary at one point to do the surgery, there is a point where it is no longer needed and its presence causes more harm than good.<span> </span>Can you say, “Let’s have all the visitors stand up and tell us about yourself while we slam this glow-in-the-dark ribbon on your chest identifying you as a VISITOR!”<span> </span>I admit, that was an easy one.<span> </span>But there are others: “We’re a hugging church!” (usually said after an unwelcomed hug), or keeping the front doors locked because <i>everyone</i> knows we use the side door on Sundays, or making visitors and newer members wait for a bulletin or assistance because we’re a friendly church whose ushers and long-time members speak in closed huddles until the service begins.<span> </span>Are we able to name and address the causes of our dis-ease?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span>3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We need to move away from all forms of rhetoric, leadership or structure which equate being a disciple with being a customer.<span> </span>Clergy and denominational leaders have become so fearful of losing more “customers,” that many churches operate out of a customer satisfaction mode and mindset.<span> </span>Can you do that and still faithfully proclaim the message of One who calls us to “take up our cross and follow?”<span> </span>Our call to discipleship is a call to serve, not be served.<span> </span>Ironically, obsession with customer satisfaction has led us to lower expectations and demands and instilled a certain level of distrust of an entity whose founder expected servanthood and self-denial but whose current management seeks success and self-fulfillment.<span> </span>Such a mindset has, according to Stanley Hauerwas, reduced the office of clergy to a “quivering mass of availability” (sorry, I do not have a direct source on this, but have heard Bishop Willimon quote him on several occasions). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you have other suggestions that address this dis-ease, I’d love to hear from you.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-38764486612529577352011-09-20T11:04:00.000-08:002011-09-20T11:04:10.864-08:00Ruts, Graves and Routines<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><i>“The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions.”<o:p></o:p></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ellen Glasgow<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">How many of us actually enjoy detours?<span> </span>I know there are some; there always are.<span> </span>Just as some actually enjoy Brussels Sprouts, there are some who enjoy detours.<span> </span>With regard to both, I am not one.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I can understand the necessity of detours.<span> </span>Put up with them for a few weeks and you’re rewarded with newer, wider and, hopefully, safer roads.<span> </span>I appreciate why we have them (the same is not true of Brussels Sprouts, however). </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">It’s just that I’m a creature of habit.<span> </span>I like routines.<span> </span>Though some of my parishioners over the years, once they learned my Sunday pre-worship routine, have compared it to the pre-game superstitions of baseball players, I find these routines center my spirit and give life.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Imagine my discomfort when I find myself preaching a sermon series in which my colleague Pastor Jenny Smith and I are challenging people to blast themselves out of their spiritual ruts and discover the blessings of the roads not taken.<span> </span>I even used Ellen Glasgow’s famous quote (seen above) describing the difference between a rut and a grave.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">So, I’ve been wondering what <b><i>is</i></b> the difference between a rut and a routine?<span> </span>From the outside, they can appear frighteningly similar.<span> </span>For me (as I sit here trying to justify my current routines), I experience routines as patterns that open me up to life, to God and to those with whom I’m in community.<span> </span>Ruts, on the other hand, are patterns whose mindless and unexamined repetitions keep me from experiencing life, God and community.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Pastor Jenny Smith shared with our congregations an excellent example of the difference between a rut and a routine this week.<span> </span>She confessed to being addicted to checking her email dozens of times each day and how it was robbing her of time with family (rut).<span> </span>Over a period of 21 days she developed a new pattern in which she was in control rather than the behavior controlling her; in other words, she developed a routine.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">In doing so, she also taught us about a relatively new online tool which provides the two most important ingredients for changing behavior: a community of folks seeking to make changes in their lives and accountability.<span> </span>You can lean all about this at <a href="http://www.loopchange.com/">www.loopchange.com</a> where, over a period of 21 days, you can be encouraged to make significant changes of your own design.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Whenever I’m challenged to make some serious changes in my life – whether it’s concerning my health, my relationships, or my spirituality – it feels like I’m being forced to take a detour.<span> </span>It’s inconvenient.<span> </span>It’s taking me somewhere I don’t usually go.<span> </span>It feels like I’m taking the long way around (ruts can be very efficient in the ways they rob us of life). </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">One day, however, I wake up and this new pattern no longer feels like a detour.<span> </span>Instead, I experience <span> </span>it as a new way being and I wonder what in the world made me think the previous pattern was life-giving.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I think this is one of those posts where I’d like to challenge you to write your own ending.<span> </span>Do you have ruts and routines?<span> </span>Can you tell the difference?<span> </span>How would life for you be richer if God were to blast you <span> </span>out of a life-robbing, relationship-killing, spirit-breaking rut of your own making and replaced it with life-giving patterns of servanthood?</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-81409538318329259212011-09-13T10:46:00.000-08:002011-09-13T10:46:27.009-08:00Lies My Preacher Told Me…but with good intentions<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>[Warning: A fascinating summer read has drawn me back into the confessional...bear with me.]</i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">My summer reading began with <span> </span><u>Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook God Wrong</u> by James Loewen.<span> </span>The basic purpose of the book is to describe the reason why the average American knows so little about our own history.<span> </span>He argues it is because, in an effort to idealize the Republic and its key historic figures, we have edited out information which clouds the preferred ideal narrative of American history.<span> </span>In doing so, we have defined competence in the subject of American History to three areas.<span> </span>First, we must learn and respect a series of dates (October 12, 1492; 1620; July 4, 1776; 1860-65; December 7, 1941; September 11, 2001).<span> </span>Second, it is deemed imperative to learn the oversimplified biographies of several key historic figures (most can describe Helen Keller’s childhood stories, but few know she was a radical Communist her entire adult life; and, many can describe President Woodrow Wilson as the progressive thinker behind the League of Nations, but few know he was a white supremacist).<span> </span>Finally, the student must appreciate the way events and figures in world history have been used by the larger sense of America’s destiny; even if this “history” is outright fabrication (for example, pretty much everything you think you know about Christopher Columbus).</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Loewen argues that the visible agenda of teaching history in such a manner is to ensure that all high school<span> </span>graduates <span> </span>have an ability to name certain key figures, maybe recite a few tales about them and to describe their place and role in the creation of the American Dream.<span> </span>The hidden agenda is to ensure the preservation of a narrative written by and to the glorification of those who have benefitted the most from history.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">He begins by saying that History is one of the few academic subjects which, at certain key junctures, the student is pretty much told that everything they’ve learned up to that point is idealized and simplified tripe.<span> </span>College freshman taking American History 101 are shocked when a professor portrays Lincoln, the martyred, log-cabin-raised/country lawyer become savior of the Republic, as an emotionally haunted person who dug up his dead son’s body more than once and was married to a woman who may have been insane much of her adult life.<span> </span>Franklin, the inventor-statesman, is recast as a lewd, womanizing manipulator.<span> </span>Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, is also a slave owner who fathered children with a slave.<span> </span>At what point did we decide that learning the less-than-ideal, though true, side of historical events and personas was not essential to learning our history?<span> </span>Those who have never read <span> </span>or learned about such primary source documentation of the other side of history experience such information as an effort to undermine truth, justice and the American way.<span> </span>So, purposely ignorant of the whole of our history, we are doomed to repeat it.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">The process Loewen describes is also a fair description of how the Christian faith transmits – or, rather, fails to transmit - its message.<span> </span>We begin with idealized Sunday School descriptions of key figures: Abraham, Jacob, David, the prophets, the disciples, and, even, Jesus.<span> </span>But most American Christians’ historical and theological education end at about 8<sup>th</sup> grade where Scripture is largely still taught to what Piaget called the concrete operational mind, thereby reducing all Scripture to the preferred narrative of a morality play; that is, good things happen to good people.<span> </span>However, these characters and their stories begin to take on entirely new meanings when engaged with critical thinking methods learned in late adolescence and adulthood.<span> </span>Sadly, the majority of folks never get – or take advantage of – an opportunity to do so.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I have led a couple dozen Disciple Bible Study groups over the past 16 years.<span> </span>This intense and lengthy study pulls few punches and challenges lay persons and clergy to delve beneath the superficially idealized understandings of Scripture they’ve harbored since childhood.<span> </span>Watching an adult begin to struggle with the moral realities of David and Bathsheba – a story not typically taught in elementary or even junior high Sunday School – is rewarding, but somewhat scary as well.<span> </span>For most life-long United Methodists, the wheels nearly always come off the wagon when reading Paul as an adult.<span> </span>Most remember the Sunday School stories about a brave Paul preaching and being persecuted; writing from prison cells and being happy about it.<span> </span>But, to allow oneself to read Romans and Ephesians 2 and be confronted by the full implication of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone is to realize Scripture is <i>not</i> merely a morality play, salvation is <i>not</i> about achieving a passing grade in the deportment category of one’s spiritual report card, and discipleship is neither a spare-time volunteer activity nor does it have anything to do with seniority within the church or living a pain-free life.<span> </span>In short, the predominant preferred narrative implodes.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Thousands of hours in Disciple Bible small groups has also shown me that, like those confronted with the realities of the fullness of American history tend to blame the messenger rather than deal with the cognitive dissonance of a learning opportunity, Christians with arrested faith development can get angry, even ugly, when confronted with a less-than-simplistic Scriptural teaching. <span> </span><span> </span>Even after actually showing them where it is that Jesus says, “Think not that I have come to bring peace; I have come not to bring peace but a sword,” or other such shocking expressions we rarely quote in Sunday School, I’ve seen folks view me askance and say in doubt-filled tones: “If you say so” as if my saying so created those red letter words ex nihilo.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">As a preacher, I pray I haven’t lied to my congregations. <span> But</span>, if I have, I have done so with good intentions.<span> </span>Further, I’m pretty sure I’ve passed on some gigantic fabrications. [The difference between these two, dear readers, I’ll leave to you; this is me dealing with my own cognitive dissonance.]<span> </span>Most often, I’ve just avoided challenging the predominant preferred narrative.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Seriously, it’s so much easier to preach a morality play. </span></span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-39917594385700381442011-08-30T11:30:00.000-08:002011-08-30T11:30:16.245-08:00Mean Christians<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I was doing some research for a sermon series the other day when I stumbled upon a website that automatically linked to a podcast.<span> </span>The purpose of the podcast was a “Christian rant” against Rick Warren, the renowned author and pastor of Saddleback Church.<span> </span>The question at stake was: Is Rick Warren a true Calvinist? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The speaker proceeded to examine Warren’s writing and preaching against the T-U-L-I-P doctrinal acronym (an explanation can be found <a href="http://calvinistcorner.com/tulip">here</a>).<span> </span>Failing that test, according to the speaker, automatically made Warren a disciple of Pelagius, that ancient heretic.<span> </span>And, as such, it seemingly gave the podcaster permission to rant without limit against his absent opponent, finally condemning him and anyone who agreed with him to eternal damnation.<span> </span>Most troubling was the glee with which he seemed to do it.<span> </span>[In the interest of full disclosure, I am ordained in a tradition whose founder pretty much rejected the “U” and “L” in T-U-L-I-P; so, I may be overly defensive.]</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve observed a growing trend toward meanness in Christianity in recent years.<span> </span>It looks/sounds like this: Because I’m right and the Bible, church doctrine and Jesus himself all agree with me (and, rightfully so), I have permission to get as angry, ugly, and judgmental as I can.<span> </span>And, if that’s not off-putting enough, I’ll do so with a great big sarcastic smile on my face.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Talk radio has turned this behavior into a form of entertainment over the past 20 years, but the behavior predates the rise of that genre.<span> </span>Many of us remember the age of “bullhorn guy” – the guy who would stand at busy street corners and spew out words of warning and judgment that sounded more like threats than invitations to discipleship (for more on “bullhorn guy,” see Rob Bell’s classic <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-825273137571541112">here</a>).<span> </span>There’s always been this tendency among some to proclaim a Christ-like love for the world as expressed in John 3:16, but to reserve the right to still hate people.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I recently had an up-close-and-personal reminder of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of such mean Christianity.<span> </span>While waiting in a church hallway to take a visiting ecclesial dignitary to the airport, a member of that church decided to aim their disappointment in particular clergypersons at me.<span> </span>Now, I’ve been a pastor for nearly 30 years and have heard words of disappointment before, but they’re always from people who are members of the churches I’ve served.<span> </span>But, this vitriol was from a person who doesn’t even attend the churches I currently serve.<span> </span>In her mind, the correctness of her opinion gave her permission to spray her words on anyone even close to the category of person with whom she was upset.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Just what is the Christ-like response to such behavior?<span> </span>Debating the issue just throws gas on the fire.<span> </span>Becoming defensive merely confirms what the mean Christian already believes to be true about “those people” – of which you are now one.<span> </span>A holistic reading of Jesus’ life reminds us that He wasn’t always in the “forgive-them-for-they-know-not-what-they-do” mode.<span> </span>Especially when dealing with those <i><u>within</u></i> the faith, Jesus would also question motive of those who used their faith as a weapon.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe the more productive response is to ask why they are so passionate; what event was it that led them to discern this particular opinion?<span> </span>On one level, I know this is a preferred response; but, on another, I know that doing so runs the risk of actually entering into conversation and potential relationship with this person who has triggered my “fight or flee” mechanism.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, what <i><b>do</b></i> I do?<span> </span>Isn’t the answer obvious?<span> </span>I blog.</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-19926360990113655692011-08-23T16:00:00.000-08:002011-08-23T16:00:41.950-08:00Credit Where Credit Is Due?<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For several years I, along with other Alaskan clergy colleagues, have been wearing a pedometer which measures how many steps I take in a day.<span> </span>Our denomination’s wellness plan has a website where I can download my step count each day.<span> </span>From time to time, there are contests where the spirit of competition motivates some to take even more steps than usual.<span> </span>Throughout the time I’ve worn the pedometer, I’ve learned a lot about myself.<span> </span>For instance…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I can go to work and have a “normal” day and still only take 3,000 steps;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Most Sundays I can have over 7,000 steps by noon (I must wander physically as well as homiletically as I preach); <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Contests do not bring the best out of me…I take far too much glee in out-stepping younger, skinnier colleagues;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With my current work situation and home life, to maintain an average of 12,000 steps per day requires more than two or three exercise sessions per week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn877HlyZdRL-ryEZfD9DEgZ97hmfc4KfbOkD3vHDzvJmGcHkyD4bhNh-vQxxXDrOfsmJdPd4lBPZfNzXvCgorMeg9z21tYTsDmXp-9-gcrC6kQny0s7NS9hbF2vA4Idxfq4XcdZLB7CU/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn877HlyZdRL-ryEZfD9DEgZ97hmfc4KfbOkD3vHDzvJmGcHkyD4bhNh-vQxxXDrOfsmJdPd4lBPZfNzXvCgorMeg9z21tYTsDmXp-9-gcrC6kQny0s7NS9hbF2vA4Idxfq4XcdZLB7CU/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, most surprising to me is that I’ve learned how important it is to me to have those steps entered, recorded, and credited to my wellness website.<span> </span>Last weekend I took a 9-mile hike in the Chugach mountains.<span> </span>That was the longest hike I’ve taken in some time.<span> </span>I was looking forward to seeing how many steps I ran up on the pedometer.<span> </span>After 5 hours of hiking, I finally got back to my car and eagerly pulled out the pedometer.<span> </span>I’d already done some ‘guesstimating.’<span> </span>I was sure it was going to show at least 30,000 steps.<span> </span>Imagine my disappointment when it was frozen on 15,000 and the low battery warning was on.<span> </span>Worse was how devastated I felt when I later tried to download even those few steps only to have the website credit me for 0 steps that day.<span> </span>Zero…zip…nada.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsWXsp71t0ELDdPK-dmNwxH4qEWLo_qnMRvHCWkeAd5d3EpFGxYawqiMO9IYxg9dvBz0CFeVmeWMFP3wnOFJDz-CP0De5OUq9e_NXPQf4cfU6Q5Dda8UCe1FEU-k0llc7DGKVu91honM/s1600/Bike+Ride+%2526+Little+O%2527Malley+Climb+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsWXsp71t0ELDdPK-dmNwxH4qEWLo_qnMRvHCWkeAd5d3EpFGxYawqiMO9IYxg9dvBz0CFeVmeWMFP3wnOFJDz-CP0De5OUq9e_NXPQf4cfU6Q5Dda8UCe1FEU-k0llc7DGKVu91honM/s320/Bike+Ride+%2526+Little+O%2527Malley+Climb+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I felt as if the entire hike was a waste of time.<span> </span>Five hours climbing up to a cirque to see a hidden lake were gone.<span> </span>Five hours of enjoying scenery which some travel thousands of miles to experience were meaningless.<span> </span>Five hours of walking with my canine companion Scout and enjoying his boundless enthusiasm and benefitting from his ability to find alternate routes when the trail seemed to peter out were without value.<span> </span>None of that mattered, it seemed, because I could not see those steps on my wellness site bar graph where all my other steps were counted and neatly piled on their respective days.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What is up with that?<span> </span>Surrounded by the God’s gracious gift of beauty, I still want some form of credit; something to show how much it cost me to enjoy God’s grace in creation.<span> </span>I’ll go ahead and admit it…there’s something seriously wrong with that picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Perhaps, on some deep spiritual/psychological level, I am so overwhelmed by God’s grace that I must compensate through some pitiful effort in telling the world (or, at least that website) how many steps it took for me to experience something for which I can take absolutely no credit.<span> </span>My Midwestern-work-ethic-inspired values demand “credit where credit is due.”<span> </span>My relationship with a Creator whose Son died for me reminds me I have no such claim.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maybe this is one elaborate form of “pay back” for some thoughts I had a few weeks ago when a colleague had the very same thing happen to him.<span> </span>He told of how he emailed the website and asked to be credited for his lost steps. <span> </span>And, within a day or two, he got them credited to his wellness page.<span> </span>His bar graph had no gaps.<span> </span>I remember thinking, “Wow…get over it…a few thousand steps…get a life!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yup…you guessed it.<span> </span>I sent the email requesting steps last night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pray for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-70772453764677395852011-08-16T11:44:00.000-08:002011-08-16T11:44:15.216-08:00Almost or Altogether?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">Earlier this year, I posted a couple of entries concerning “Jesus Deficit Disorder” (<a href="http://www.jondisburg.com/2011/01/jdd-jesus-deficit-disorder.html">here</a>) and “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” (<a href="http://www.jondisburg.com/2011/02/moralistic-therapeutic-deism-jdd-part-2.html">here</a>).<span> </span>To me, both phrases capture what seminaries described as “nominal Christianity” 25 years ago.<span> </span>In those blog posts, I confessed my need for affirmation and a tendency to sometimes settle for superficiality in faith and preaching.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">It was shortly after writing those posts that I committed myself to addressing this “in-name-only-therapeutic-assuaging-vague-theism.”<span> </span>Itseems to have infected many clergy and laity with a spiritual disease whose main symptom is ennui – a restless boredom.<span> </span>We know something is wrong, but can’t quite work up the will to either discern the problem or address it.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">As I write this, I find myself just weeks away from preaching about this condition.<span> </span>I have spent my summer immersed in some of the best post-modern description of this disease: Craig Groeschel’s <b><u>The Christian Atheist</u></b>, Kyle Idleman’s <b><u>Not a Fan</u></b>, and Kenda Creasy Dean’s <b><u>Almost Christian</u></b>.<span> </span>As I read these books, I heard their descriptions of the disease more loudly and with more detail than I did their suggested cures.<span> </span>I began to lose both hope and direction…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">But, one day, the title of Dean’s book reminded me of a sermon preached by John Wesley in 1741 by the same title (almost always the second sermon in any collection of Wesley’s sermons; you can find it <a href="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/2/">here</a>). <span> </span>I first read this sermon nearly 30 years ago during a Lenten study in which I participated while, at the same time, discerning my call into the ordained ministry.<span> </span>I remember my pastor, Don Johnson, telling our group that the church can’t “make” Christians;<span> </span>rather , the best the church can do is to make people “appear” to be Christian…what Wesley calls an “almost Christian.”<span> </span>He went on to teach us that the “altogether Christian” Wesley describes is not the product of a study, retreat, program or worship service.<span> </span>It is the product of a very personal experience of surrender and acceptance which may or may not take place in a study, retreat, program or worship service.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Shortly after this study, this same pastor introduced us to Tillich’s “You Are Accepted.”<span> </span>The words from that message changed my life, confirmed my call and helped me <b><i>experience</i></b> real grace for the first time in my life.<span> </span>Here they are: </div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><blockquote><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">Do we know what it means to be struck by grace? It does <i>not </i></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">mean that we suddenly believe that God exists, or that Jesus is the Saviour, or that the Bible contains the truth. To believe that something</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">is,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">is almost contrary to the meaning of grace. Furthermore, grace does not mean simply that we are making progress in our moral self-control, in our fight against special faults, and in our relationships to men and to society. Moral progress may be a fruit of grace; but it is not grace itself, and it can even prevent us from receiving grace. For there is too often a graceless acceptance of Christian doctrines and a graceless battle against the structures of evil in our personalities.</span></span> </blockquote><blockquote><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"><b>Such a graceless relation to God may lead us by necessity either to arrogance or to despair.</b> It would be better to refuse God and the Christ and the Bible than to accept them without grace. For if we accept without grace, we do so in the state of separation, and can only succeed in deepening the separation. <b>We cannot transform our lives, unless we allow them to be transformed by that stroke of grace.</b> It happens; or it does not happen. And certainly it does</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">not</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">happen if we try to force it upon ourselves, just as it shall not happen so long as we think, in our self-complacency, that we have no need of it.</span></span> </blockquote><blockquote><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when we feel that our separation is deeper than usual, because we have violated another life, a life which we loved, or from which we were estranged. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying:</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">"You are accepted.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">You are accepted,</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;">accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now; perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Simply accept the fact that you are accepted!"</i> [The complete text is <a href="http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=378&C=84">here</a>; emphasis mine.]</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></blockquote><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Those words seemed to both pierce and heal my heart at the same time.<span> </span>With those words, I discerned my call to ordained ministry.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I wonder if the institutional church, in its current self-absorbed, survival-oriented mindset, isn’t trying to “manufacture” an experience of grace and, in so doing, is creating that which it seeks to transform.<span> </span>No wonder we’re restlessly bored.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">I wonder if it isn’t time for us to get out of the manufacturing business (which, let’s face it, keeps Zondervan and Cokesbury in business) focused on filling our ‘toolboxes’ and get into the surrendering business focused on dropping all our defenses and yielding to a love that seeks to transform us and invite us into a new way of living and being in the world.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">At one point a few weeks ago, I began to fear that addressing the difference between Wesley’s “almost Christian” and his “altogether Christian” may be a fool’s errand.<span> </span>But, as I continue to run this errand, I have remembered and re-experienced the power of self-surrender and self-acceptance.<span> </span>But in so doing, I have also realized that I cannot – indeed, should not – manufacture it for anyone else.<span> </span>The best I can do is to create a space which is spiritually safe enough for others to surrender.</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-76609905193917219702011-08-09T13:28:00.000-08:002011-08-09T13:28:42.368-08:00Too High? Too Low? Just Right?<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My wife is a first-born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is goal-driven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we’re scheduled to arrive somewhere at 7:30 and we arrive at 7:30, we are “almost late.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a different label for that event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call it “on time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I’m a middle child…an appeaser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the goal-driven, being on time for a 7:30 event means arriving at 7:20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the appeaser the goal becomes whatever the rest of the family seems to want.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tonight I’m delivering an update on the goals our church leadership team adopted for 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is with mixed feelings that I will report that of the 26 goals established for the year, 19 have been or are being accomplished, 3 have yet to happen, 3 will not happen, and 1 has been discontinued as a goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The perfectionist in me wants all 26 to be done already.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The pessimist in me says, “I can’t believe we even got to 19!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The pragmatist in me says, “The denomination already has a goal for the church: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we need more?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The exhaustion in me says, “19 out of 26 is a passing grade…enough already.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The appeaser in me still has some questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were these goals too high?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens to our self-image if we keep establishing goals too high for us to attain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, were these goals too low?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did we really just establish a series of goals each one of which could be attained without much of a stretch on our part?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, were they just right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The year is 2/3 over and we are 2/3 of the way through our goals!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is a difficult time in which to be a leader – clergy or lay – in a mainline denomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We look to the methods of our glory years in the 1950’s and 1960’s and are tempted to re-establish the same goals and methods of that time…all the while knowing that at some point (I believe it was 1984 if for no other reason than the literary irony) those goals/methods/mindsets became instruments of decline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse, our initial reaction to the signs of impending doom were to do the same old things only with much more intensity and sincerity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is much like realizing you are driving east instead of west on the interstate and solving the issue by flooring it without first turning around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I like goals in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are benchmarks providing an organization a sense of both accomplishment and accountability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, they are also always open to interpretation by each person within the organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were we “on time” or “almost late?”</span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-92048187202452499802011-08-02T12:53:00.000-08:002011-08-02T12:53:40.328-08:00Where in the World...?I currently live in a very transient community within a very transient state. One of my clergy colleagues estimates that, between the military bases and the petroleum industry, the annual turnover of population is nearly one in five. As I begin my fifth year in pastoral ministry in Alaska, I can affirm his observation and would add that some years I consider it conservative. About three and a half years ago, one of the churches I served lost 9 very active families to relocation to the lower 48. For a church with just over 100 families, that was a blow.<br />
<br />
I remember asking myself, my spouse (who was my co-pastor at the time), and God, <i>where in the world would new families come from?</i> Our response was to go back to the basics:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>hospitality - taking a hard look at what it felt like to walk into our church building for the first time; </li>
<li>outreach - advertising in local media, social networking and personal invitations;</li>
<li>relevance - worship services and studies gravitated toward the practical application of faith ('practical divinity' we Wesleyans like to say).</li>
</ul>Turns out, we were on to something. My friend and colleague, Scott Hibben, who is a Leadership Development Minister for Evangelism and New Ministry in Iowa, has recently written an article answering the question: "Where will your next 10 members come from?" He offers 6 answers to this question many of us in church leadership ask ourselves these days. Here is a condensed version of his answers and observations (with a few of my own observations thrown in):<br />
<br />
<ol><li><b>Folks will come to your church because someone invited them</b>. 82% of people who are invited by someone they know and trust will come to church if invited.</li>
<li><b>Folks will come to your church because there is something worth inviting them to.</b> Cleaning up the building, improving worship and training ushers not to stand in huddles and talk to each other while visitors and members wait for a bulletin <i>are all forms of evangelism.</i> The best advertising efforts, personal invitation campaigns and social network sites can all be undone in an instant by a smelly nursery, inept worship leader who's only doing it because it was "their turn" and not their calling, or uncaring usher.</li>
<li><b>Folks are more likely to come to church in certain seasons.</b> Missiologist Ed Stetzer says that 47% of adults say they are more likely to consider matters of faith during the Christmas season than any other. In many parts of our country, Christmas has surpassed Easter as the season in which most newcomers will visit churches. Further, unlike the liturgical approach to holidays in which members are urged to prepare themselves for the holiday (Advent and Lent), newcomers are more likely to begin their attendance on the holiday and the weeks following. Rather than the "low Sunday" mindset for the week following a holiday, the church needs to be ready to offer a journey using the holiday as the springboard.</li>
<li><b>Folks will come to your church and stay because there is something beyond an initial welcome.</b> New folks may enter your church because of an invitation or some kind of advertisement, but they will stay because of <i>relationships.</i> Are there groups or activities in which any newcomer can become active within a week or two of their first visit? Or, do they have to wait several months before they can get involved?</li>
<li><b>Folks will come to your church to hear your clear answers for the crucial questions of life, today.</b> In over 25 years of pastoral ministry, I've never had one person enter the church with a pressing need to know the difference between Proto-, Deutero-, and Trito-Isaiah. Nearly all, however, enter our churches with questions about meaning, significance, suffering, and self-worth. For these, the <i>message</i> of Deutero-Isaiah is far more important than <i>why</i> s/he's "deutero-." Scott observes that long established members stay out of loyalty, but not new members; and, that, more and more, this is not true of long established folks either.</li>
<li><b>Folks who come to your church will tell you what their most pressing spiritual needs are, if you listen.</b> Our churches must be safe places in which there is both authenticity and acceptance; where it is safe to ask questions and disagree without condemnation.</li>
</ol><div>I'm sure none of these six surprise you. But, once in awhile, it is very helpful for us to be reminded of the basics. Thanks, Scott, for sharing these recently...and, I hope my few commentaries align with your observations. If you'd like to read more of these <i>Stirrings</i> written by Scott Hibben and others in Iowa, you can find them<a href="http://www.iaumc.org/pages/detail/1300"> here.</a> </div><div><br />
</div><div>Peace,</div><div>Jon</div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-71471240547883539842011-07-26T11:08:00.000-08:002011-07-26T11:08:08.071-08:00For What It's WorthWhat the chirp of cicadas is to the Midwest, the topping out of the Fireweed plant is to Alaska: a harbinger of the end of summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzr75Ee_mczJ-MunHWUceKtZDv3Xi-4o_No4r5byDxwdr4jX9LbycM01PATUg2Upf1apLB_cSTuFEsA-KIZwTtf10XumMwxIPcLkhBM1Y89l5ZIvk2A73b5pbre0ZxsCf5LpvRcuDocg/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzr75Ee_mczJ-MunHWUceKtZDv3Xi-4o_No4r5byDxwdr4jX9LbycM01PATUg2Upf1apLB_cSTuFEsA-KIZwTtf10XumMwxIPcLkhBM1Y89l5ZIvk2A73b5pbre0ZxsCf5LpvRcuDocg/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I love these God-made signs of the inevitabile cycle of time and change. They bring to mind promises of God's providence and presence. They are God's ways of saying <i>"gather ye rosebuds (</i>or Fireweed<i>) while ye may..." </i>This God-authored drama of life and death is one in which we're privileged to have a front row seat.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
But, human-made signs of inevitability have a different message and effect entirely. They bring to mind threats of "my way or the highway," instead of promises of abiding presence. They speak not of a cycle of time, but of the end of time. We in the United States have a front row seat to such a human-authored drama. This drama whose main characters are Revenue and Spending seems to awaken the less-than-better angels of our nature. Regardless of which side one takes, it seems the financial well-being of our children and grandchildren demands a higher sense of self-sacrifice and service than we are currently witnessing and expressing at the current time.<br />
<br />
I am a fan of old time radio programs which, thanks to Internet radio stations, I listen to on a regular basis. I am especially fascinated by listening to the programs from the early years of World War II in which pleas for saving aluminum foil, eating less meat, rationing gas, collecting cooking fat, purchasing war bonds and sacrificing many creature comforts were woven into the plots of every show and their advertisements. I can't even imagine how such pleas would be heard today, nor can I feature any politician who still cherished her/his future uttering one. Of what is this a harbinger?<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Brothers and Sisters, may we turn to the gospel according to Buffalo Springfield? </span><br />
<blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">There's something happening here</span></span></i> </blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">What it is ain't exactly clear</span></span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">There's a man with a gun over there</span></span></i> </blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span>Telling me I got to beware...<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">There's battle lines being drawn</span></span></i> </blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Nobody's right if everybody's wrong</span></span></i> </blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Young people speaking their minds</span></span></i> </blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Getting so much resistance from behind...</span></span></i></blockquote> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For what it's worth...there may be better ways...more difficult ways...ways of denial and sacrifice...but better, nonetheless. </span>Didn't I hear of One who said something about gaining life comes in giving it up...the first being last? But, then again, He never had to be concerned about the next election cycle.<br />
<br />
For what it's worth...<br />
Peace,<br />
Jon<br />
<br />
<i>P.S. For the benefit of those not as chronologically blessed as this writer, here's the entire musical reference: </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bZP0pzDRtQw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><i><br />
</i>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-45816970405762636662011-07-18T16:29:00.000-08:002011-07-18T16:29:51.406-08:00Other Caffeinated Blogs<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When I began writing this blog, I wanted to offer ideas that, like a great cup of caffeinated coffee (which, in my opinion, is a redundant expression; decaf ain’t coffee), would sometimes energize and sometimes keep one up at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have since discovered several folks whose words and ideas<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>both energize and keep me awake to the ways in which God is at work in this crazy world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, let me introduce you to some I’ve discovered so far…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With a title like “49 and holding…” how can you walk by this one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deborah Coble Wise is a United Methodist Pastor in Iowa whose blog uses the same pre-fab template as mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She recently wrote a love letter to the state of Iowa that made this Iowan in diaspora homesick even for 90 degrees and 90% humidity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find it <a href="http://revdeborahcoblewise.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-think-im-falling-in-love.html">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While we’re in that neck of the woods, another Iowa United Methodist Pastor, Katie Z. Dawson, has a blog with a title I wish I’d thought of (“salvaged faith”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her reflection on postmodern holiness is a good read and includes one of the greatest funeral stories I’ve heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://salvagedfaith.blogspot.com/2011/06/postmodern-holiness.html">Here</a> it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A common interest in the writings of Leonard Sweet somehow led me to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Howard Carter’s “How in the World!!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Howard is a Presbyterian pastor in New Zealand whom I’ve never met, but I feel I know well because his writing is so open, honest and inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have a single favorite blog post of his…I recommend you browse and enjoy the reflections, the studies, the prayers…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Kiwi can write and the fruits of his faith and wisdom can be found <a href="http://howard-carter.blogspot.com/">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Years ago, someone offered me the advice that you actually learn more by reading folks with whom you sometime disagree than you can by reading only those who will stroke your current beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan R. Dick, currently the Director of Connectional Ministry in Wisconsin, falls under that category for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We share a passion for the church’s renewal, revitalization, reform, and any other “re”-words…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“United Methodeviations” can be found <a href="http://doroteos2.wordpress.com/">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Allan R. Bevere is an erudite U.M. preacher/teacher/author living in Ohio whose blog is “dedicated to the discussion of the Christian Faith and 21<sup>st</sup> Century life” and does not fail to deliver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s <a href="http://www.allanbevere.com/">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The blog associated with a ministry I mentioned last week, Darkwood Brew, can be found <a href="http://www.onfaithonline.tv/darkwoodbrew/blog/">here</a>. This blog has various contributors who seem to be able to balance the academic examination of the faith with its practical, real-world applications.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OK, just a few more…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife, Leila, who is also Director of Connectional Ministries here in Alaska, shares her glimpses of God at work <a href="http://ldisburgblog.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://methodistpreacher.blogspot.com/">Here’s</a> one written by a Methodist (not “united”) from the U.K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My colleague and associate, Jenny Smith, shares her reflections on her first year of ministry <a href="http://www.jenniferkaysmith.com/2011/07/first-year-in-books.html">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So…my apologies to friends and colleagues whose blogs I didn’t mention, but nevertheless read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would cherish hearing about other blogs read by any of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Peace, Jon<o:p></o:p></span></div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-39219877543116756622011-07-12T10:34:00.000-08:002011-07-12T10:34:36.188-08:00Worship as Jazz: Fake It ‘till You Make It<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Teaching the art of jazz improvisation is a skill that I do not have but can admire and appreciate because I know how difficult the art of improvisation is and because teaching such an art to another is just as difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When a young musician begins to learn jazz and, especially, improvisation, there is a certain amount of “un-learning” that needs to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfection in tonal and rhythmic accuracy has been the standard since the first day of band lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, when learning jazz and solo improvisation, some of those expectations are modified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes a player is urged to “play behind the beat” not on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attacking notes with a “scoop” or ending them with a “doit” or “fall” were embellishments shunned in band lessons but encouraged in jazz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accurate intonation perfected by hours of practice is replaced by an invitation to occasionally “play in the cracks” or to find the “blue note.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One of my daughters had the privilege of playing sax in one of the leading jazz programs in the Midwest. She had one great obstacle to overcome: she was/is a perfectionist. Breaking these rules, which had, heretofore, brought her recognition as an excellent band musician, did not come easily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her instructor had a mantra that was offered to fledgling jazz musicians who struggled with this relationship between improvisation and perfectionism: “Fake it ‘till you make it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In that one phrase was contained a plethora of wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the young musician fearful of a “wrong” note in the midst of an improvised riff, it was permission to keep going and not try to fix or even think about that “wrong” note.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the musician handcuffed by an addiction to perfect intonation and/or rhythmic alignment, it was permission to understand “imperfection” as musical expression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all, it was an invitation to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">experience</i> the instantaneous combination of musical creation and musical performance<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that is improvisation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As a parent and perennial audience member, it was rewarding to watch the young jazz musicians learn to let go and experience the music in the moment as they simultaneously experienced and expressed a musicality that inspired both other players and the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And though the best of these growing jazz musicians still retained the passion for and ability to perform with “perfection,” after months and years of hearing, “Fake it ‘till you make it,” they knew the perfection of “imperfection.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This past Sunday, the two congregations I serve with my colleague Jenny Smith, experienced, in a small way, what it was like to “fake it ‘till you make it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no printed worship bulletin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As pastors, we had no pre-set order of worship in our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I purposely limited our pre-worship conversations concerning the flow of the service so that there would be little opportunity for a subliminal order to the service to be implanted through conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
There were several moments in the service in which I felt like a musician standing up to play a solo…I had an outline of the general “melody” and “chord progression” appropriate to the moment, but the exact way in which they would be expressed at that exact moment, was about to be experienced by all of us together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some reflections/observations from our “worship as jazz” experience:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There are some for whom a bulletin and the planning/control it represents is very important and "un-learning" the security of control is difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When a leader asks the congregation, with no warning, “Is there someone who would feel led to offer an opening prayer this morning?” someone <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>actually pray;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and, be prepared for an awesome prayer!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Contrary to what one worship professor told me years ago – “The phrase ‘creative liturgy’ is an oxymoronic phrase.” – creative improvisation in worship, as in jazz, is a collective experience that calls us all to a level of alertness rarely achieved when every “note” of worship is scripted and posted ahead of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is absolutely essential for the leaders of such a worship experience to listen to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like jazz musicians “trading fours” in a joint solo while building and expanding upon the ideas of the previous player, worship as jazz is best when the melody and rhythm of the previous “player” become the basis for the next solo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This final observation may, in the minds of some, undermine my whole argument…but hang with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In good jazz, the solo is an expression of the “head” (the main melody).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, the improvisation never leaves the overall melodic/harmonic structure of the tune itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A knowledge of and appreciation for the original un-improvised melody only heightens the meaning of the improvisation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meaning of worship as jazz improvisation is heightened by a certain knowledge of and appreciation for the original un-improvised elements of worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply put, I believe doing this weekly will transform worship from the creative interaction around an agreed key, melody and chord progression into a chaotic “jam session” where players rarely listen to or interact with one another, but merely do their own thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This may say more about me than it does about the reality of God…but, outside of worship, rarely do I encounter God working in the world with perfect intonation and rhythm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, God seems to play “behind the beat” a lot…allowing me a chance to step out in faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God seems to be in the “blue notes” as well…those notes, when sounded by themselves seem out of tune, but when taken in a larger context, bend a moment in such a way that speaks right to my soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps, once in awhile, our worship should reflect a God with such great improvisational skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">P.S. I can’t close without giving a tip of my porkpie hat to Darkwood Brew…jazz, theology and coffee are found <a href="http://www.onfaithonline.tv/darkwoodbrew/">here</a>.</span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-52455288965619799152011-07-05T11:50:00.000-08:002011-07-05T11:50:24.949-08:00Holy Boldness<blockquote><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Acts 4:31 (NRSV)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How often has the Christian community of which you are a member prayed for boldness to declare the Gospel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not very often since we don’t place great value in boldness to declare the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what if we did?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What difference would it make in our lives, our congregations, and the communities in which we live?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The early disciples found that praying for boldness gave them the wisdom, the faith, and the power to live faithful and effective lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are we praying for today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Rueben P. Job, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God</b>, p. 270.</span></i></div></blockquote> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The voice and words of Bishop Rueben Job have been a source for both comfort and challenge in my ministry for the past 28 years.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This quiet and gentle man with a voice that was rarely above a loud whisper could silence a room of shouting Methodists not with volume, but with the sheer power of his words.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I had the privilege of calling him my bishop for 8 years.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">He ordained me…twice (that’s how we United Methodists did it back then; evidence to the contrary, it was not an act to remediate my ministry).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I saw him silence an arena with nearly 2,000 fussin’ and fightin’ Annual Conference members; not only that, he got these 2,000 members to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">actually</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> kneel and pray.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Understand, we UM’s sing and talk about praying on our knees; but we rarely do it.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For these reasons and more, I am always keen to hear/read and consider his words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The quote above has challenged me over the past few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel convicted by the questions he asks…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How often do we pray for boldness?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What would happen if we did?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If we’re not praying for boldness to proclaim good news, what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i></b> we praying for?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think back on years worth of “celebrations and concerns” shared by my church families before the pastoral prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never – that I can remember – been asked to pray for boldness on behalf of the congregation’s ability to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through word and deed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly, we pray for people we know with problems and conditions that concern us (national and international tragedies/disasters being the exceptions).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly, we really are expressing our feelings of helplessness in light of those problems and conditions and camouflaging them in expressions of concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying this isn’t important. But, to limit our communal prayer time to individual requests and concerns robs us of an opportunity to pray, as a community, for a boldness of witness that can only be accomplished when Christians function as community.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think Bishop Job is correct in his observation that we place little value in boldness for the purpose of declaring the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We value boldness in declaring support at athletic events, political rallies and concerts, among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, expressing ourselves with boldness for the purpose of declaring unconditional love, immeasurable grace and the continual opportunity for transformation???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I dare you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week, if you’re in a worship service and the person up front asks for prayer requests, ask that God bless that church with holy boldness in proclaiming Good News in word and action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re the person who is up front asking for the prayer requests, then add your own petition for boldness (if no one else beats you to it). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seriously…I dare you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll double-dog dare you if that’s what it takes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know what happens…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Peace, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jon <o:p></o:p></span></div>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-68920051580726234542011-06-28T10:29:00.000-08:002011-06-28T10:29:23.792-08:00Redemptive Empowerment<div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the most rewarding parts of working with youth is watching them make those awkward steps from adolescence to adulthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly thirty years of working with tweens and teens has shown me the best and fastest acting tool for moving that process along is empowerment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even seemingly trivial forms of empowerment can actually transform how a person – especially an adolescent – sees themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adolescence is a tough time and youth experience its passage in fits and starts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the gauges I use to tell where a youth’s sense of self is at any given moment is the ease (or disease) with which they make eye contact with me.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For several years, my wife, Leila, and I led<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a youth group which adopted the habit of meeting once a month in one of the members’ homes as a break from meeting in the church. There was one young woman in our group who had been going through a difficult patch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not sure who she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew who she wasn’t…she wasn’t her older sister, to whom life and its opportunities seemed to come much more easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what she was probably experiencing as a sea of inadequacy, there was one beacon of good news: she’d passed her tests for a driver’s license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shortly after she’d received her license, our youth group was meeting at her house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point in the evening, her father needed to leave and my car was parked behind his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had his daughter find me (probably getting creamed in a video game by some of the guys in the youth group) and ask me to move my car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could tell by the look on her face that it pained her to have to ask her pastor to do such a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I handed her the keys and said, “Could you move it for me?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The room fell silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You want <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> to move <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your</i> car?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Yes…you have your license, don’t you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do know how to drive?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Yeah, but…”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Just back it out and park it on the street.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the corner of my eye I saw her mother, her jaw dropped nearly as much as her daughters.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">About 5 minutes later she came back in the room, smiling, and making eye contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tossed me the keys from several feet away and gave me the old line I first learned from my dad for those situations: “It pulls a little to the left when it hits 80.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s the point: there are people all around us – not just youth – who have never felt they’ve been trusted enough to be empowered. But, when they are, they are changed…transformed…redeemed. If you want to start a revolution of transformation in your church, community or workplace, look for someone who seems to be avoiding eye contact and has never been empowered…and toss them the keys.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-44141086619817631802011-06-20T12:08:00.000-08:002011-06-20T12:08:59.214-08:00Regional Weirdness<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve had the privilege of living in three very different regions of the United States and have discovered with each region comes its own form of human behavioral “weirdness” (for lack of a better term). The striking thing about this “regional weirdness” is that it is nearly invisible to those who have lived within a region for some time.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">F’rinstnace…I grew up and have spent much of my life in the Midwest (Iowa).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is perfectly natural to stand out in your yard and watch an approaching thunderstorm front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no mountains in the Midwest, but I’ll stack a 50,000 ft. storm cloud lit by the red rays of a setting sun up against a view of Denali from the Parks Highway any day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, when it’s 90 degrees with 90% humidity, that initial fresh blast from the cold front producing the storm is something no form of air conditioning can replicate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there’s some lightning…but it’s all in the risk/reward ratio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To outsiders and new Midwest residents, it’s just plain weird.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I went to graduate school, we had the unique opportunity to live on Cape Cod for four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One form of regional weirdness practiced by long-term Cape Codders was to scoop up and taste the ocean water when going to the beach for the first time after a long New England winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One woman who was a member of the church I served described the practice as a form of blessing for the coming summer season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This same woman later learned that regional weirdness doesn’t translate well into other regions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife, Leila, and I hosted a tour of the Holy Lands and, when visiting the Dead Sea, this member of my church walked right down to the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of the horrible tar-like stench, she scooped up two hands full of water and proceeded to drink it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a matter of milliseconds she was doing a spit-take that would have made any aspiring comedic actor jealous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What passes for regional weirdness in one place is just plain foolish in another.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next week, I begin my 5<sup>th</sup> year in Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yes, Alaska has forms of regional weirdness; an annual example of which begins this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write this, we are on the eve of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere – the day in which there is the greatest number of daylight hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Anchorage on June 21, the sun will rise a bit after 4 am and set just a few minutes before midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the sun only dips a few degrees below the horizon this time of year, it never really reaches what I call “night.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From early June to late July, as close to dark as we get is about 4 hours of twilight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the further north you go in this great state, the shorter this length of twilight.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s the weirdness: long-time Alaskans begin mourning the loss of daylight hours beginning about noon on June 21. To listen to them, it’s as if by the end of the month we will be back to only the few hours of daylight we get in winter. Some are able to tell you exactly how many minutes of daylight we lose each day. The weirdness to me, as one new enough to this region to not be blind to it, is this – the days in July that are being mourned for the brevity of sunlight are identical in daylight hours to the days in May that were so celebrated as being refreshingly life-giving in their length of daylight. What, just a few weeks ago, was seen as blessing will be seen, in a few weeks, as curse. How weird…but, probably no more weird than standing outside watching an approaching thunderstorm.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-46678683772957569622011-06-14T09:44:00.000-08:002011-06-14T09:44:31.119-08:00Short Selling and Fashionable Cynicism<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Prior to answering God’s call to the ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, I was an investment/insurance/commodity broker for a major brokerage firm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my co-workers was a very successful broker who specialized in the world of short selling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In case you’re not familiar with the strategy, here’s how it works. You think a certain stock or commodity is going to go down in price and/or you’re pessimistic about the future of a certain industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you make money when a certain company or, perhaps, an entire industry is in decline??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By selling short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say you’re pessimistic about XYZ, Inc. which is now worth $50/share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You think it may be dropping down to the $30 range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, you remember the cardinal rule of investing: buy low, sell high. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short selling just reverses the order: sell high (now), buy low (later).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you sell an investment short, you sell it at today’s price and sign and IOU to buy it back later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re right and XYZ, Inc. does drop, you profit even when the company is in decline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if XYZ, Inc. and its leaders somehow turn things around, you are, as we used to say, ‘in a world of hurt.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, here’s what you learn at the “How-to-be-a-stockbroker-in-90-days” charm school: pessimism is addictive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason, those who specialize in short selling begin to adopt a pessimistic viewpoint of everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to my co-worker…in the early 1980’s the stock market, which had been in the doldrums for about 20 years, broke out of its slow decline and exploded to all time highs that were not curtailed until the shock waves of 9/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was painful to watch and listen to my co-worker explain away the optimism of a rising market as well has his clients’ losses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was reduced to the rhetoric of “Yeah, but-ery.” “Yeah, but this is just misplaced optimism.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, but even a broken clock is correct twice a day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[What this had to do with being wrong about the market I’ve never discerned.] When pessimism has been working for 20 years…when it has been very profitable to be pessimistic…the addiction to seeing everything in decline is tough to beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My former co-worker left the business a defeated man.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I firmly believe in what I call the “God’s economy of experience” theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes like this: there is no experience in life that God will not either redeem and/or use to our benefit at some point in our life, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if we’re open to it.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[Note: I always feel compelled to add that I believe God <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does not cause</i></b> all experiences, but is able to redeem/use all experiences…it’s the Wesleyan understanding of free will in me, I guess.]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is God’s economy of my experience of the pessimistic co-worker that keeps me from selling the church – the Body of Christ – short.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I admit that, by and large, selling the church in the U.S. short has been a ‘profitable’ mindset for just over 4 decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, it’s addictive…and can become self-fulfilling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse, it’s become fashionable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, when God blesses us with abundance that belies this trendy pessimism, some are reduced to “yeah, but-ery” in order to retain their long-held spiritual investment of selling God short.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So widespread is this pessimism that God’s blessings are interpreted by some as suspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and I were co-pastors of a small rural congregation in the poorest part of the state who had the audacity to plan and build an entirely new church building and pay off all debt within a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, but someone probably died and left enough for most of the building…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, but…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found myself almost apologizing for what God was able to do through that small gathering of folks who hadn’t yet caught on to the trend of fashionable cynicism.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A few years later when I was privileged to be pastor of a growing church who, in one year, accounted for 1 in 3 baptisms in a district of over 80 churches, again I found myself on the defensive at certain gatherings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, but I’ve heard you’ve got some evangelicals in your church.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Please don’t confuse and dismiss this all as some form of ‘positive thinking.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wonder why it comes so easy for us – and I include myself - to dismiss God’s blessings as “bullish” exceptions in what everyone knows is a “bearish” spiritual market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder why it’s easier to say, “Yeah, but…” than “Praise God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">It may be worth pondering…but, then again, even a broken clock is correct twice a day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Peace,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jon</span>Pastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197409080083263079.post-82184080143640549012011-06-07T12:22:00.000-08:002011-06-07T12:22:20.787-08:00Christ Is the Metric<i>When you measure anything, your resulting data are only as accurate as the standard by which you measure.</i><br />
<br />
Many years ago, I was in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at Iowa State University. As a Midshipman, I was expected to be able to run 5 miles in under X minutes (the number escapes me now; but not being a big fan of running, the number seemed unattainable). Consequently, I spent many hours on the various indoor and outdoor jogging tracks available at the University. I also knew, almost down to the second, how long it took to run a lap at each of these facilities (they were all different) in order to stay on pace for an X-minute 5-mile run.<br />
<br />
One day, at the State Gym track, I was feeling especially good. My stride seemed effortless, my rhythm consistent. I wished my high school football coach - who once described my running style as looking "like an empty garbage can rolling down a hill" - could see me now. In fact, I was so swift, I even was passing some old geezer professors (you know, in their 40's or 50's). After 5 laps or so, I glanced at the big clock at one end of the track and, if my mental math was correct, I was on pace to run just under a 5-minute mile! Immediately, my imagination began to run as swiftly as I was. Heck, if I can run a 5 minute mile without any serious training...who knows what I could do if I really applied myself?? Iowa State may have just found its knew middle distance runner....and the '76 Olympics were just 3 years away... <br />
<br />
About that time, I lapped a group of those "old geezer" professors. As I passed them with dreams of setting collegiate and Olympic running records dancing in my head, I heard one of them say, "I wish they'd fix that stupid clock." "Yeah," another somewhat winded voice said. "Yesterday I ran a 2-minute mile!"<br />
<br />
<i>When you measure anything, your resulting data are only as accurate as the standard by which you measure.</i><br />
<br />
What is the system of standards by which you measure yourself? This system of standards - or metric, to borrow a term from business and industry - provides some of the data by which we begin to imagine that which we are capable of achieving in this world. Bad metric = bad data. Bad data = bad understanding of capability. <br />
<br />
I am a part of a Christian organization that is in decline...and has been nearly my entire life. More than just a part of the system, I am an ordained leader within it. This organization - the United Methodist Church - is searching for two practices of "being church." First, it is searching for any and all practices that lead to greater vitality in the local church and its ministries that seek to fulfill our common mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The second set of practices for which my Church is searching is a metric that will generate data indicating the extent to which any local church is fulfilling a vital fulfillment of the first practice.<br />
<br />
<i>When you measure anything, your resulting data are only as accurate as the standard by which you measure.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
What is the metric whose generated data can given an honest appraisal as to the faithful fulfillment of a purpose statement like "making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world"? For years the metric was membership. But, as every church leader knows, membership is a funky category. There are some (especially in Alaska) who attend weekly and are very active but will never actually join for many reasons. There are others (especially in small, rural towns) that will never transfer their membership to the larger city in which they live because they believe retaining their membership in that little church will somehow keep it alive just a bit longer. Membership data is important; but, probably not as an indicator to vitality.<br />
<br />
In recent years, worship attendance has become the "be-all-and-end-all" metric for church vitality. But, some argue, emphasis upon this number as a vitality metric has created a consumerist approach to worship in which the church caters - or, some would say panders - to the tastes of the consumerist society in which we live. Parishioners are taught, implicitly if not explicity, that the measure of effective worship is what one "gets out of the service" rather than Whom one encounters and by Whom one is then transformed. Emphasis on the "take away" from the service or "value added" by the service is the ultimate surrender of the church's mission to the consumerist society.<br />
<br />
Others now offer that metrics for church vitality can be measured in terms of mission giving (both in money and people/hours), first-time professions of faith and/or baptisms, or any one of several other categories most churches measure annually. <br />
<br />
Lest we forget...<i>When you measure anything, your resulting data are only as accurate as the standard by which you measure.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
What if Christ is the metric? Here is a set of data that cannot be quantified easily. The process of truly encountering Jesus Christ and being transformed by and through an ongoing relationship with Christ is a process that generates sometimes conflicting data. The first shall be last...to preserve one's life, one must first give it away. Do we measure inclusivity or exclusivity?? Yes! This Kingdom Christ proclaimed is one of absolute, unconditional inclusivity; all (meaning all) are welcome at this banquet feast. However, the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world; we exclusively stand "over against" this world in which the Christian is understood to be a "resident alien." What is "success" in this Christ-like, paradoxical system of measurement?<br />
<br />
<i>When you measure anything, your resulting data are only as accurate as the standard by which you measure.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Several years ago, I heard a church leader of some renown say these refreshing words with respect to church vitality: "The United Methodist Church (and, I believe you can fill in any denomination at this point) must simply make Jesus Christ its first love again." This I have known and have witnessed: when members of a church openly fall in love with Jesus Christ to the extent that it changes who they are, everything else falls in place. First, this love becomes contagious; others experience it. Next - in no particular order - worship attendance rises, the number of people willing to serve in hands-on missions skyrockets, giving increases and, yes, even membership begins to rise. <br />
<br />
This, too, have I known and witnessed: when this begins to happen, not all will be happy campers and we will be sorely tempted to include their state of discomfort into our vitality metric. There are many in our midst who have been convinced or trained to understand that categories like risk, transformation or growth have little to do with their concept of "church." By giving into this temptation we corrupt our metric and the data it generates. <br />
<br />
Remember? <i>When you measure anything, your resulting data are only as accurate as the standard by which you measure.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
If this statement is true indeed, we have no choice but to pursue Christ-likeness with our entire lives. Though it is a metric rife with paradox, we ultimately have no other that will free us of our vain, self-centered imaginings and challenge us to encounter a God "whose power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20 NRSV).<br />
<br />
Peace,<br />
JonPastor Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091772758336109647noreply@blogger.com5