It's Me O Lord

I cannot live without reading this each day.  The world is often so harsh and I find myself becoming like it.  The news media keeps us hyper-cynical and entertainment tries to relax all sense of civility and values.  When I find myself speaking, thinking and talking as the world this little sign jolts me back.  The essence of compassion reminds us we are all in need of grace, over and over.  Let's remember Jesus said "love your neighbor as yourself" Can't we all just get along?  Peace and love.

Silver Parachutes

Like so many I have been lured into the "Hunger Games" following.  One of the things most fascinating to me is the "silver parachutes" or gifts to the contestants from their sponsors.  Literally fighting for their lives the time comes when a particular thing is needed to continue to survive.  The arrival of a "silver parachute" is dependent upon your relationship with those who sponsor you and how appealing your story is to the viewers.  In other words if you don't excite and capture the audience you are unlikely to receive much support from a sponsor.  It's curious to see how and when contestants garner the favor and receive a gift. 

The twist comes when you receive a silver parachute out of pure grace.  You did not ask and yet you receive.  You might even receive the gift from an unknown source.  A loaf of freshly baked bread could come from some act of kindness you have bestowed on another contestant whom you are supposed to be  ready to destroy.  The story includes the reluctance to befriend knowing in the end only one will remain standing.  However the heart pushes some to relent into a giving nature rather than a taking one. 

What if we saw our lives as those who were commissioned to do acts of kindness, sending silver parachutes to some we do not know,  or even giving away to one who appears unworthy.  Is there not one among us who has not  longed for some act of grace and kindness thinking surely we are not worthy but want it just the same?  And how do we accept a silver parachute from  a stranger?

Of course we are not fighting for our lives.  Or are we?  We follow a God who does not care about ratings or even how we appear on the field.  A God whom lovingly accepts us as we are and sends us gifts of grace which surprise us and delight us.  We are only asked to love one another the same way.  Silver parachutes...how many have you sent lately?

De-Greet

Marketing has always fascinated me.  The way minds are manipulated into thinking we should have, look like, and desire a product amazes me.  Of course promoting any product or lifestyle changes with the culture and so today's approach differs greatly from when most of us grew up.  It doesn't take long for us to become "loyalists" to whatever is the most current and appealing approach.  We actually set aside our doubts and cynicism and begin to buy into the lines of losing 30 pounds in 30 days; a green line will lead you to financial peace and prosperity; or you are in "good hands" with insurance even if it sounds like a duck!  We can say we are a thinking discerning people until we realize there is a part of us that wants to believe what we are doing or buying is good for us.

Our son-in-law who builds a popular restaurant chain in the St. Louis area recently brought to my attention that not only is it necessary for the customer to be greeted at the door, have an outstanding server for your meal, but as you are leaving you should receive a "De-Greet".  This is when as you are walking past the host/seating area one or more employees needs to thank you for  coming and initiate an invitation to come again.  Anyone who has ever been in QT knows the line is "thank you, see you next time".  Subtlety we are being programmed to want to return.  We leave feeling as if we were wanted and needed and who doesn't get a little euphoria out of that sensation?

All of this has made me rethink how we promote our product of "Good News?" in the church.  For today's world we certainly spend an enormous amount of time tethered to responsibility and demand by our work, family and even chosen obligations.  Technology can reach us at every turn and good news is just not at a premium.  We are greeted (perhaps) when we enter our churches.  If per chance however we are a guest probably over greeted. and by the time we sit at the table (pew or chair) waiting for that friendly server, all we usually get is an opportunity to give money.  Depending on the church the guest may or may not know how to participate in all the rituals and so they wait to be fed.  When the meal of church is over they may get the "De-greet" or  simply be left to leave with their own thoughts and impressions. 

I wonder if as believers of the Good News we might adopt the attitude that everyone who enters our place of worship needs a genuine welcome, deserves a great meal with the best server (Jesus like), and leaves feeling as if it has been the churches honor to  have you as a  guest and they truly want you to come again.  Every time someone feels the love of Christ offered it makes it easier to  want to be a part of that place (body) . Every time we share the love of Christ, another heart readies itself for  the best gift of all, adoption into the kingdom of God.  Pretty simple huh?

Bringing the House Down

I have always wanted to say I was able the "bring the house down" with my preaching.  Actually that is my ego talking and in my heart of hearts I know it's what God has to say that is important.  However, still there is a small voice which whispers wouldn't be great if just once....  Well, it finally happened I brought the house down while preaching.  But true to God's sense of humor not exactly as I had hoped.  Preaching away my peripheral vision caught.sight of something flying toward my head.  Without thinking I quickly stepped aside just in time to miss a flying piece of ceiling tile.  The congregation gasped and began to shout "what is God trying to tell you?!"  I thought to myself what is God trying to tell YOU (the listeners).  Instead I gathered myself together, picked up my stand and notes and said, "I'm going to move down with you (the congregation) which I did.  Later I quipped that perhaps next week I would bring a "hard hat" just in case.  We all had a good laugh, even God I suspect.

The Lord has a way of bringing me in. Not that God is in the "tile" business but I think situations sometimes cause us to rethink about who is in charge of this thing we call "life".  While preaching a funeral sermon I thought I have to "keep up with the young pastors" so I pulled out my phone to read the Old Testament reading.  The scripture was there and just as I opened my mouth to begin sure enough someone called.  There I was with the choice to ANSWER or DECLINE the call, thankfully the phone was on vibrate.  My mind raced as I tapped the decline side and continued reading.  No one knew but my bell had been rung.  Romans 12:3 and James 4:6 are good reminders. 

 Prayer: Let us humble ourselves before you O God.  Let our pride melt away with the morning sun as we give thanks for another day in your kingdom. May I accept your gifts of grace.  And may I always seek to serve you with love and life. And oh yes, thank you for your gentle and often humorous reminders.

U Turn Ahead

It is my job to bring about change.  To open hearts and minds to commit to a new way of following Christ.  It is a struggle to change the way we have always done things, to move out of our comfort zone, to reach out to those who do not yet know "the Story".  It is especially difficult when you ask someone of several decades of faithful living to move out of pew, in order to sit in a chair; let go of the traditional worship look of paraments and staid altars in exchange for a stage with instruments, (yes, more than one) microphones and funky lighting. How do you give up the "family friendly" style of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries in order to be more welcoming to a generation who would rather listen to a relevant message akin to their everyday experience of technology and sound bytes. A generation who wants to live out loud by faith in action and listen to music which rocks the very foundation of a building.  This is the task set before me as a pastor, this is my commitment to bring new souls into the kingdom.

In the midst of  leading change, my own home life suddenly made some things very clear.  You see my mom  decided to uproot 27 years of living in her home and completely change directions.   She is making one gigantic U Turn! She is showing all of her family how to be grace-filled when it comes to giving up the "things" she loved and move into a new way of doing life.  First went the car and now the house.  She decided her "driving days" were over for the safety of others. And she is tired of being in charge of all the dealings of a house and lawn, so the house is on the market.  The family has been called in to claim anything  we want or need.  Hundreds of sacks of papers, books, and things are being thrown away, given away or sold for a pittance in a garage sale.  Every time a special memory is handed to her to decide what to do she looks at it and says,  "now that was a wonderful time,"  kisses it and throws it away.  She is letting go so she can move forward.  She is hoping another family will enjoy and love her home in "their way".  She is ready to move into a retirement home where she can form new relationships and never have to eat alone again.  And she is 90!

This has made me take a close look at what holds me back from moving forward.  How can I be a faithful servant of Christ and stay clutching to what is comfortable, a good memory or is just the way I like to do it?  Where would we be if the disciples had simply gone back to Galilee with broken hearts and returned to their former lives?  Where would we be if Paul had stayed in only one town? Where would we be if Wesley had never ventured out into the fields?  No where I think.

Oh my, I see a U Turn coming.

My First Prayer

I was six and in the first grade.  We had just moved from Louisiana to Missouri and few understand my southern drawl.  Of course being a "preacher's kid" I found myself in a new church with a new Sunday School teacher and being shy I wondered how all this was going to work out.  But there she was a small thin woman called Mrs.White who talked with a southern accent!  If I had been older I would have said "Praise God!"  but as a child all I knew was at least she would understand me.  Mrs. White not only taught our Sunday School class she led the Elementary Sunday School opening each Sunday.  One of her requirements was to learn the "Lord's Prayer".  Now this was WAY back when first graders were barely able to read anything other than Dick, Jane or Spot so learning a big long prayer meant listening and remembering. Each week we would repeat more and more of the prayer until we could finally say it along with the rest of the older kids in the Sunday morning opening. Now you are probably thinking kids are like sponges and can memorize easily.  After all there is little stuff to clutter their sweet minds. True, but Mrs.White made a big impression when she said this is something you will use for the rest of your life.  She didn't spend a lot of time telling us what it all meant.  It was Jesus' prayer and everyone just needed to know it.  THEN I discovered the same prayer the children were saying was said in church each Sunday by the adults.  I remember thinking Wow!, even they have to say it!

I am so thankful for Mrs. White; she loved me enough to teach me a life long prayer which has sustained me for all my life.  I wonder what I have taught that will last that long?  Maybe we all are supposed to keep teaching, praying and loving.  Sounds like someone I call Jesus.

Suffice it to say....

Suffice it to say we do not have visitors at our house very often. Seeing a truck parked at the end of the drive on Monday and coming home from a less than stellar day I was curious.  Barely able to get my car off the street I watched a young man hurry toward me.  "Ma'am, I think I have some really bad news."  My mind raced through thoughts of what in the world does this stranger know and what could possibly have happened?  The next thing he said was, " I think I hit your dog" He pointed to our house, "that's where you live isn't it?"  "Well yes, but our dog is never out without a leash"  Then as if time stood still I recalled another windy day like this one when the wind blew our front door open and Shadow slipped out only to meet a horrific end.  Quickly I reassured myself surely this would not happen again.  The young man spoke rapidly, "is your dog brown and white?"  A feeling of relief swept over me and then a second feeling of sadness that this was some one's pet.  The young man kept saying "I didn't know what to do, he just ran out so fast and I have my three year old daughter with me so I parked here so she wouldn't see. 

"Let's take a look, are you sure he is dead?" I asked.  We walked down the hill and I could see a half grown springer spaniel pup lying in the street.  The street is four lanes and always very busy with cars doing well over the 40mph speed limit.  I walked out into the street and asked the young man to watch for traffic.  I bent down and could see a sweet pup had made a serious mistake.  You see our property is surrounded by woods and no doubt the pup was out for a hunt on this windy day when he suddenly decided he better get home and ran into the street with no thought of the danger.  Now he laid still with just a red collar, no name, no way of knowing who might be his owners.

 What happened next was what causes me to share this. I reached down to pick the pup up, he was still warm.  I stroked him gently and then began to put my arms under him to lift him and place him  in the grass next to the sidewalk.  When I began to lift him I was not lifting him alone.  There was definitely something else helping me.  I felt a sense of peace  pulse through me and my mind filled with the thought this is a transition somewhere between life and death.  You might be thinking this was just an animal, but I believe the Creator God loves all living things.  And I am not here to say anything about where animals go when they die but I do believe I was there at the right time and had help beyond me.

I commend the young man for staying and caring.  He was devastated this happened and my husband and I tried to reassure him this was just an accident.  My husband moved the dog to the curb so anyone looking would see him.  He spoke quite awhile to the young man assuring him he did nothing wrong but thanking him for staying.   My husband lovingly said to me, "I think the pup was treated well in death" That made me feel good.  My day had oddly turned around, still sad about the pup but thankful I was the one (with a little help) who lifted him up and carried him to a place where he could lay in peace. 

Amazing how God can work you into His plan.

PS The pup was gone the next morning.  I grieve for the family but hope they somehow know "he was treated well in death".