Michael's Musings

Less Than Our Best (Part 2)

2012-02-25T10:32:00.001-08:00

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

--Mark 12:41-44

This past Sunday we talked about offering God our best. One prime example of this is the widow’s offering in the temple treasury. Defying logic, Jesus says that this little widow woman put more into the treasury than anybody else. No doubt, Jesus’ hearers were bumfuzzled. They heard her two pennies hit the offering plate. What can you do with two pennies? And, how can that possibly be more than the big checks that others were writing?

Jesus’ answer? Hers was more, because she gave her best...everything she had.

That kind of offering may seem a bit reckless. How will she buy groceries? We don’t know. We only know that Jesus held her up as an example of someone trusting her entire life to God and giving everything she has. She didn’t save her best for anyone or anything else.

This week, several people have asked me about a quote I used last week. Although I couldn’t track down where it originated, it was a great reflection on excellence. As we think together about “Raising The Bar in 2012,” I hope you will return to it again and again:

“Excellence can be obtained if you:
...care more than others think is wise;
...risk more than others think is safe;
...dream more than others think is practical;
...expect more than others think is possible.”

Are you offering God your best?

--Unknown

Trying to give my best,

Pastor Michael

Less Than Our Best

2012-02-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. "But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'7 "You place defiled food on my altar. "But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?' "By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. 8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty. 9 "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"--says the LORD Almighty. 10 "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "But you profane it by saying of the Lord's table, 'It is defiled,' and of its food, 'It is contemptible.'13 And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the LORD Almighty. "When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. 14 "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.

--Malachi 1:6-14

I will be so bold as to say, “I’ll bet that before this past Sunday you had never heard a sermon preached on Malachi 1:6-14.” Like many passages in the Old Testament, it sounds very foreign to our 21^st century ears. Nobody really practices animal sacrifice anymore, so the language of blemished and unblemished sacrifices can seem a bit strange.

But the point, here in Malachi, is every bit as relevant today as it was in 445 B.C. When it was written: God wants us to give him our best. God doesn’t want our rejects or our seconds; rather, God want us to offer him our very best.

On Sunday, I offered the following illustration of Malachi 1:

All my life, I have heard that, when it comes to giving gifts, “it’s the thought that counts.” Anybody else ever heard that? Well, I just want y’all to know that, on Valentine’s Day, I learned that that is a bunch of bull!

Valentine’s Day rolled around this last week, and I did what I normally do with holidays and gifts: I procrastinated. I knew that Valentine’s was coming up, but I couldn’t think of anything good to get Heather. So, I just kept putting it off. I goofed around so long, that on Monday afternoon, it hit me, “Oh shoot! I have to find something for Heather and fast.”

Just so happened that I had to go visit Newberry hospital on Monday, and when I drove down 76 and passed Sonic, I saw the solution to my problems. There was a guy camped out in front of Sonic selling bouquets of flowers.

I hadn’t really thought of flowers before that moment, because flowers on Valentine’s are so ridiculously expensive. But two things: 1) I was getting desperate, and 2) I could tell this was going to be kind of like the sort of deal you get when you buy a Rolex watch from somebody selling them from the inside of their jacket. In other words, these flowers weren’t going to be overly expensive. So, I risked my life quickly changing lanes and pulling into Sonic to buy my beautiful wife some flowers for Valentine’s Day.

The selection wasn’t great and the quality left a lot to be desired, but, then again, it was a floral shop in the back of a Chevrolet Impala. And, you can’t really have lofty expectations for a price range of five to ten bucks.

I settled on a dozen red (or at least kind of red) roses. I mean, most of them were red. Okay, about half of them were red, and the other half had started to wither and change colors a bit, but I figured it would be okay because “it’s the thought that counts,” right?

Wrong! That’s a lie! By the next day when I gave Heather her bouquet, the roses had taken a turn for the worst. Thankfully, I thought to pull the four completely dead ones out and throw them away, but I didn’t think to peel the $5.99 sticker off the plastic wrapping. Looking back on it, that might have been a mistake. I don’t know. All I know is that Heather took one look at them, and I could tell she was less than impressed. I could tell because I’ve been with her for 20 Valentine’s Days now, been married for 13, so I’ve developed a sixth sense about these things. Well, that and the fact that she tossed them down next to the sink in the kitchen and said, “Really? You bought me dead $5.99 flowers? Next time, don’t even bother,” which sort of blew me away because I’ve always been taught that it’s the thought that counts.

And, I need to tell you: There’s a serious double standard going on in our house, because I’ve seen our three year old, Drew, pick weeds from our yard, bring them to her and say, “Here, Mommy, I picked you some flowers,” and I’ve watched her ooooh and aaaahhh over a bouquet of weeds like it was a diamond necklace from Tiffany’s.

So, on Valentine’s Day, I’m thinking, “What’s the difference?” Okay, so maybe my roses weren’t the highest quality, but weeds certainly aren’t flowers, so what’s the difference?

Well, you know the difference, don’t you? The difference is that a bouquet of grass blades is a three-year-old’s best, but a $5.99 bouquet of dead roses is not my best.

Finally, on Sunday I let you off the hook. This story is not true. I made it up to illustrate the point of Malachi. God wants, God expects our best.

God doesn’t want our rejects.

We think that way sometimes, don’t we? I’ve heard this before: “Well, this couch is too ugly, too worn, too dirty to be in my house anymore. Let’s take it to the church and give it to the youth.”

Or, what about this one: “You know, I really should go home and prepare to teach my Sunday school lesson, but, oh well, they’re just children;” or, “It’s just Sunday school, it’s not like it’s real school or anything.”

Why is it that those kinds of things are so easy for us to justify? Why do they seem like no big deal? Why do we look over our flock, pick some blind, sickly, lame lamb, grab it up and say, “Oh well, it will do. It’s just for God?”

Well, here in Malachi, God is saying, “Uh uh. That ain’t gon’ cut it. Go hard or go home. Give me your best or get to stepping. I don’t need any lame lambs.”

In fact, it gets even more harsh. God says, “"Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.”

“Cursed is the cheat…” Did you know God could be so severe? Harsh words. But, God is not playing. I guess he doesn’t want us to be confused, so he is crystal clear. He doesn’t want our bouquets of $5.99 dead roses.

Are you offering God your best?

Trying to give my best,

Pastor Michael

Temple Tending

2012-01-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

--1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“You are the only you you’re ever going to have.” That phrase was a last minute addition to yesterday’s sermon. It wasn’t in any of my notes. I thought of it as I pondered how I would “tweet” the sermon if I was limited to a phrase or two.

It was surreal to read Facebook Sunday evening and see those words all over the place. I didn’t count, but I read several dozen statuses with that phrase. And, that was just the beginning of an amazing response.

If you weren’t at Wightman yesterday, we explored both the creation story from Genesis and the above passage from 1 Corinthians. Paul clearly declares that what we do to and with our bodies matters, because our bodies are temples, vessels of the Holy Spirit who is in us.

The larger context of that passage is sexual immorality, but yesterday we focused on tending our temples in different ways, mainly on eating right and exercise.

I shared my temple tending story. In August of last year, I had my annual physical. Here’s what my physician had to say to me that day:

“Here’s the deal: When you first started coming to us 4.5 years ago you weighed 178. Today you weighed 206. You have a very strong family history of high cholesterol and diabetes. Over the past 4.5 years your fasting blood sugar has slowly increased. Today it was 123. We consider 140 diabetic. Michael, you’re running around taking care of everybody else, but you’re not taking care of yourself, and if you don’t buckle down, change your habits, lose weight and exercise, you are going to be diabetic before you turn 40.” Then, he said, “Michael, you’re not taking very good care of your temple.”

He knew I’d immediately know that he was referring to 1 Corinthians 6. And, he was exactly right. I wasn’t tending my temple.

That was in August. As I write this, I’m cooling down from an hour on the treadmill tending my temple. Today I weigh 167. My cholesterol and serum insulin levels are still a work in progress, but I’m not giving up because this is a spiritual matter!

Apparently my story and this passage of Scripture motivated many of you. In addition to all the Facebook statuses, I’ve had many requests for my diet plan. People have asked me if we could start a Temple Tending support group, and several of you have shared with me that you are starting anew or redoubling your efforts to tend your temples.

Preachers love it when people listen and respond. And, I want to help you further. That’s why we have some things in the works to help you tend your temples.

First thing, mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 15^th at 6:30pm in the Christian Life Center for Temple Tending 101. Janie Benckert, a health educator in our church, along with several other medical professionals will be teaching on health, diet and fitness, sharing weight loss strategies, AND establishing baseline weight and blood pressure measurements for anybody wanting to begin the journey. In addition, they will work with small groups and individuals to help you set healthy goals for yourself.

At the end of the month, Wednesday, February 24^th we will have a Temple Tending potluck where you will be encouraged to bring a couple of your favorite HEALTHY dishes to share along with the recipes. We will have an area physician speak to us that night.

There will be more details forthcoming about these events, but don’t wait! Don’t procrastinate. Start tending your temple today!

Those of you reading this via email, please click on my blog page to view an eye-opening video created by a physician. It should supply you a little more motivation.

The Only Me I’ll Ever Have,

Pastor Michael

That'll Leave A Mark (Part 2)

2012-01-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

--Acts 8:34-39

On Sunday we had wonderful worship services remembering Jesus’ baptism and celebrating our own. It was powerful for me to see so many people (536 at Wightman on Sunday!) come forward to touch the water and renew their baptismal vows and commitment to Christ.

Yesterday, we we continued our reflection on baptism with a brief sermonic recap. Today we will move on to a few things I was unable to cover on Sunday.

As I mentioned on Sunday, there is a fair amount of uncertainty, confusion and even disagreement about baptism. What happens in baptism? Who should be baptized? And, how much water should be used? These are all questions about which faithful Christians have disagreed.

When it comes to how much water should be used, some of our Christian brothers and sisters from other denominations teach and practice only immersion, or some call it “submersion.” For these Christians, baptism is only baptism if it is by immersion. So, it takes a lot of water, because you literally have to go under the water and come back up. A little dab won’t do you. You need a lot.

In the United Methodist Church, we will actually baptize by any method. We will immerse--I have baptized folks in a swimming pool before--but we also baptize by pouring and by sprinkling. We hold that in common with Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Roman Catholics and Orthodox traditions. There are two reasons for this: 1) We believe that God is working in this sacrament of baptism regardless of the amount of water, and 2) It would not be feasible to immerse some people. For example, you don’t “dunk” a really elderly person, and you don’t “dunk” a baby, either.

That brings us to another big area where Christians disagree on baptism. Some of our Christian brothers and sisters practice only a believer’s baptism (these are the folks we talked about yesterday who consider baptism an ordinance as opposed to a sacrament). The way that they read and interpret Scripture leads them to contend that you should only be baptized after you place your faith and trust in Christ. That’s what believer’s baptism means--that you have already become a believer and baptism is just a public symbol of something that has happened already.

According to Christians who teach believer’s baptism, you shouldn’t be baptized until you intellectually understand salvation and baptism.

When we’re discussing this, I always like to ask my believer’s baptism friends: Well, what about the severely mentally handicapped? Should they never be baptized because they are intellectually unable to understand what’s going on with salvation and baptism? And, who among us completely understands what God has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord? Doesn’t that understanding evolve over time for all of us? At what point of that evolution should we be baptized?

As United Methodists, we believe that we’re always growing in our understanding of salvation and our life of faith. We have never arrived. If waiting until a certain level of understanding or faithfulness is achieved must be a prerequisite for baptism, then most of us would be waiting a very long time.

That’s why, in the United Methodist Church (along with Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Catholic and Orthodox), we baptize infants as well as adults. In the Book of Acts, we learn that when people would hear the good news of the Gospel, they would be baptized along with their entire households--including infants and small children.

So, we do baptize babies. In fact, we think that there’s not a better sign of our position before God. A baby is completely helpless, utterly dependent upon its parents to do everything for it. When it comes to our salvation, we are completely helpless to earn it. We are utterly dependent upon God. Salvation is a free gift of grace that we can do nothing to earn. We can only receive it.

Make no mistake: We always baptize people on faith. In the case of an infant, we baptize him or her on the faith of the parents and the faith of the local congregation promising to help raise the child in the faith. We claim the faith for the child until that time when the child grows up and can claim the faith for him or herself. Eventually, every person must profess the faith as his or her personal faith.

Was this new information for you? Do you have any new questions about baptism arising from the past few days? I’d love for you to share your thoughts and comments with everyone on my blog by clicking here and posting. However, if you are not comfortable doing that, please just hit reply to this email. Then, only I will see your comments.

Trying To Live As One Marked,

Pastor Michael

That'll Leave A Mark

2012-01-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

--Mark 1:4-11

Yesterday, we had the great privilege of baptizing two more people and, after taking a long hard look at what Scripture and The United Methodist Church teaches about baptism, we all had an opportunity to remember our baptisms and renew our baptismal vows.

As promised, I plan on sharing with you this week some teaching material on baptism that I had to cut from yesterday’s sermon, but for today a quick recap.

In The United Methodist Church--along with our Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic brothers and sisters--we refer to baptism as one of two sacraments (the other being Holy Communion). While other denominations might call baptism an ordinance, we insist that it is a sacrament. This is more than just semantics. At stake is what we believe happens in baptism.

For those who use the language of ordinance, baptism is merely a symbol of something that has already taken place. The person has already given his or her life over to the Lordship of Christ and baptism is the symbolic action publicly declaring that. Nothing really happens at baptism that hasn’t already happened in the person’s life. The primary actor is the person who is coming by faith to be baptized.

For those who use the language of sacrament, however, baptism is more than simply a symbol of something that has already taken place. We believe that God is really doing something through water and the Holy Spirit, that God is marking us, claiming us as God’s own. Baptism is a sign and seal of a covenant between us and God whereby God washes, cleanses, and marks us as we, in turn, pledge our lives to God. The primary actor is God. The action is what God does for us.

The Greek word used by the earliest Christians for baptism and Holy Communion was mysterium, which means mystery. They believed that God was busy in baptism and Communion, conveying grace, and transforming lives, but exactly how and what God was doing remained a mystery.

When it came time to translate the Greek into Latin, though, the earliest Christians had a very difficult time with the word mysterium. There was no Latin word that corresponded to it. Eventually, they started using the Latin word sacramentum, to translate mysterium, but where did they get that word and why did they choose it? The answer is: They borrowed it from the Roman Army. A civilian recruit for the Roman army became a soldier by undergoing a sacramentum. The sacramentum was a process of transformation that had two parts: 1) the soldier took an oath of office, and 2) the Army branded him behind the ear with the number of his legion.

Branding, obviously, leaves a mark. The sacramentum for Roman soldiers involved their promises and oaths to the army and involved them being marked. A Roman soldier was different than a civilian recruit. Once they went through the sacramentum, transformation happened. They were branded. Marked. They were no longer free to do whatever they wanted. Their lives didn’t belong to them any more. They belonged to the Army. They had new responsibilities and duties. They had a whole new life.

It is easy to see why the early Christians would have latched onto that word to describe what happens to us in baptism. In baptism we are branded, we are marked by God as his own. We are no longer free to do whatever we want. Our lives don’t belong to us anymore. We belong to God. We have new responsibilities and duties. We have a whole new life! We have been marked!

Baptism definitely leaves a mark! It’s the mark of God on our lives.

I’m curious. Were these ideas--and the others from the sermon yesterday--a review of things you already knew, or did you learn things about baptism that you never knew before? Was there any one thing that spoke to you more than anything else?

I’d love for you to share your thoughts and comments with everyone on my blog by clicking here and posting. However, if you are not comfortable doing that, please just hit reply to this email. Then, only I will see your comments.

Trying To Live As One Marked,

Pastor Michael

Being Church

2012-01-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

--1 Peter 2:9-12

On Sunday we explored Peter’s declaration (here in 1 Peter 2) that we are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, belonging to God…” against the backdrop of our congregation’s WARM Project. I know that pride can be a bad thing, but I am still beaming with pride over what we accomplished and the ways in which our entire congregation responded to the call to reach out with God’s love to our community. Not only did 300 people turn out to make repairs on 25 homes, but we also collected a great number of coats for the homeless ministry in Finley Park, and gathered quite a bit of clothing for the family in Silverstreet whose house burned down. In short, it was easy to see how we were being church.

As I shared with those who were present on Sunday, I received word from one of our members that, while he was taking another load of trash and debris to the landfill from his WARM house, he engaged in conversation with the woman who works the scales at the gate of the landfill. She informed him that the WARM Project dumped over 20 tons of trash and debris in just those three days. That doesn’t count the many trips where our trucks weren’t weighed OR the homes within the Newberry City and Prosperity Town limits where the municipalities collected the trash for us. The woman at the landfill was so curious about WARM and our church that she promised that she would worship with us soon.

I just thought, if God can use the amount of trash we took to the landfill to shine the light of God’s love in our community, what else might God do?

Far beyond the home repairs and even the few days of our WARM Christmas blitz, though, I am so proud to be a part of a church that is busy BEING church. It is very life-giving to see that, unlike some churches, we have not turned inward and become insular, only looking after our own. Instead, we are outwardly focused, keeping our eyes on the mission given to us by Jesus to “make disciples of all nations,” or as Peter phrases it in the above passage, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

On Wednesday I came down from the roof of my WARM home, taking a quick break from shingling. During that break, I engaged in conversation with our homeowner and got to hear her story. For a number of years, she was on dialysis after her kidneys failed. Finally, she received a transplant, for which she was very grateful, but shortly afterward her husband left her. Several months ago, she lost the job that had been helping her make ends meet, her sons are away at college, and she’s just been down and depressed.

She asked me, “Do you have anybody at your church who could, maybe, come by and visit and pray with me from time to time?” Again, beaming with pride, I said, “Yes m’am. We sure do. They are called Stephen Ministers and I’ll set things in motion to have one contact you.”

Stephen Ministry is yet another way our congregation is busy “being Church.” Extensively trained, Stephen Ministers give of their time, talents, and energy on a weekly basis to minister to their care receivers. They use their own resources to travel, making visits, and investing in peoples’ lives. At last count, we had 24 Stephen Ministers, and more are being trained even now. So, it is easy to see how they exponentially multiply the pastoral care that is offered from our congregation. Their ministry of care and compassion certainly “declare[s] the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, you can view a brief snippet of our WARM Project video by clicking on this link. Share it with your friends. Or, click here to go to my blog and view it from there.

Striving to BE Church,

Pastor Michael

Paying Homage

2011-12-01T21:39:00.000-08:00

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 "And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

--Matthew 2:1-12

This past Sunday we began the Season of Advent with an unconventional Scripture passage. Normally, Advent begins with prophetic words from the Old and New Testaments about the Second Coming of the Son of Man. It’s a good reminder that Advent is not merely about preparing to celebrate the First Coming of Jesus, but also his Second.

Instead of the traditional texts for the First Sunday of Advent, we looked at the story of the wise men in Matthew. This story is traditionally offered as an explanation for our modern-day Christmas gift-giving. So, all the “viewmongous, spectacularge,” 80” LCD TVs, Xbox 360s, iPads, iPhones, iPods, Lugz boots, and whatever else is selling like hotcakes have their origins in the Magi’s gifts?

On Sunday, I tried to point out a couple of differences between the wise men’s gifts and the ones that will be given this Christmas. The first difference may seem rather obvious, but the Magi gave their gifts to Jesus. It’s always been curious to me, even as a little kid, that we give each other gifts for “Jesus’ birthday.” In the words of Pastor Mike Slaughter, “we treat Christmas like it’s our birthday.”

The second difference with the wise men’s gift giving is that, before they gave Jesus gifts, they “paid him homage.”

The Greek word translated “homage” is proskuneo (pros-kuh-neh’-o.) It is akin to our word “prostrate.” Here’s what my word study turned up: That especially among people from the far east (Where were the wise men from?) it meant “to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.” Some translations use the word “worship” instead of homage. The wise men got down on their faces and worshiped Jesus.

Another sense of that word, proskuneo, is “to make yourself a servant.” So, in this act of paying homage, of worshiping, of getting down on their faces before Jesus, they were also making themselves servants of Jesus.

This Advent season, I hope you will consider how this Christmas could be different for you and your family and how you can pay Jesus “homage.” Sunday, I invited you to consider three practical tips for paying homage: 1) Spend less, 2) Give more, 3) Serve in hands-on ways.

Since Sunday, I’ve spoken with several of you who have shared with me things that you plan to do with your family to pay homage to Jesus this Christmas. Many of those things, rightly, involve serving those closest to Jesus’ heart--the least, the last, and the lost. Some of you have told me that you’ve already checked into taking your children to serve at a Columbia soup kitchen. Some are shopping for children at Epworth Children’s Home. Some are participating in the WARM Project and the Christmas Eve “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself Offering.”

I’d love to hear any other things you’re thinking about doing in order to pay Jesus homage this Advent and Christmas. Please share your ideas with everyone reading by clicking here to visit my blog and posting your ideas under the comments section.

Paying Homage,

Pastor Michael

Practical Atheist

2011-11-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

6 [Jesus] replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”

--Mark 7:6-7

It’s late as I write this and my brain is mush after a long week in Leawood, Kansas at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection with the Young Pastors’ Network learning from two of The United Methodist Church’s most effective church leaders. Still, I wanted to follow up a bit on this past Sunday’s sermon.

On Sunday, we began our Practical Atheist series. Although he certainly didn’t coin the term, in his book, The Christian Atheist, Craig Groeschel defines a practical atheist as: “Someone who says they believe in God but lives as if God doesn’t exist.” Another way to say this is that a practical atheist’s belief in God makes no difference in the way they live their life day to day.

According to the latest Gallup Poll, 94% of the population in the United States say that they believe in God. That number was astonishing to me. As I mentioned on Sunday, I’m sure that 94% of all Americans were not worshiping God in some corporate gathering every weekend. I also seriously doubt that 94% of all Americans pray daily, read Scripture regularly, or serve the poor following the example of Jesus. Our actions don’t mesh with our professed beliefs.

The word Jesus used for this was “hypocrite.” Hypocrite is from a Greek word that means “an actor, stage player, pretender.” The etymology of the word goes back to Greek theater where the actors would play more than one part. To differentiate which character they were playing at a particular moment, they would wear different masks. A hypocrite was an actor wearing a mask, pretending, playing a part.

Does that describe your faith life? Are you wearing a Sunday faith mask, only to pull it off the rest of the week?

Let’s ponder some other questions: If you decided today to tell everybody that you were an atheist--you no longer believe in God--what would you have to change in your life in order to convince them? Would you have to change anything? What do you do, on a daily basis as a Christian, that would make no sense for someone who doesn’t believe in God?

Let’s flip the question: Are some parts of your life that don’t really mesh with a life of faith? Are there some parts of your life that you still need to die to, in order for God to raise you to new life?

This Sunday we will continue our reflections on practical atheism. I look forward to seeing you!

To share your thoughts, please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Trying to Remove My Masks,

Pastor Michael

Love Boat (Part 5) Engine Room Continued

2011-11-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

--Luke 6:43-45

Yesterday, we reviewed the idea that what is inside you will sooner or later come out. What’s in your heart will surface. As Jesus says it, “For out of the overflow of [the] heart [the] mouth speaks.”

It’s important to be aware of the baggage that we bring into a marriage (or any other relationship for that matter). This is true for several different reasons:

If we’re not aware of it, then we can easily fall back into the trap of thinking that marriage is about finding the right person. And, Mr. Mug can divorce Mrs. Mug because she pushes his buttons and makes these blue beads come out. He can move on to Mrs. Mug #2, and the first time they bump into each other, what’s going to come out? Blue beads. Why? Because that’s what’s in there. And then after four different wives Mr. Mug is going to say, “All my wives have had some serious issues. They have all just pushed my buttons…”

The second reason it’s important to be aware of the “stuff” insider our hearts is because there will be times when we react to things, and we don’t even know why we react to them the way we do. It is our tendency to blame our spouses for making us react the way we do, or for pushing our buttons, but a lot of times we react the way we do because the situation touches some nerve way down deep in our hearts--some deep fear or insecurity or embarrassment.

Andy Stanley says, “Most of the time, it’s not that people have marriage problems. It’s that two people with problems got married.”

I have found that to be true over and over again, because the “stuff” that is inside your heart is bound to come out.

One more thought on our hearts, the engine room of the Love Boat: Oftentimes people walk into marriage thinking that they are going to get joy, peace and contentment from this marriage relationship, that their marriage is going to be thing that will bring them happiness for the rest of their lives.

That’s far too much pressure to put on a marriage. If you are waiting on your marriage to bring you joy, peace, contentment and happiness, you are going to be waiting for a very long time and you’re going to be sorely disappointed. You’re not going to have joy, peace and contentment come out, unless that’s what’s already in there.

And, the only way you can have those already inside you is a well-nurtured relationship with God. Without that, there is a void in every heart. A God-relationship is the only thing that can fill the void. No matter how great your marriage is, it can’t fill that void. So, if you walk into marriage expecting that relationship to fulfill your needs for love, acceptance, and belonging when your heart’s not filled already with the love of God, then it’s a recipe for great disappointment.

BUT, when we finally realize that only our relationship with God can fulfill our greatest needs, and our hearts are filled to overflowing, then when we bump into each other, the love of God is what will come out.

Final thought on the heart as a place for change and the engine of the Love Boat: Sunday we had a wonderful, Christian counselor with us for worship. You heard his name, Dan Murdaugh, mentioned in the video testimony. Never have I had more confidence in a counselor than I do in Dan. I refer to him often, and it was great to see him with us at Wightman.

I sent him a message thanking him for worshiping with us. He wrote this in reply, and I thought it worthy of sharing:

“We thoroughly enjoyed worshipping with you on Sunday. It blessed my wife and me very much to see what God is doing at Wightman. I especially enjoyed your message focusing on the heart in marriage struggles--I wish that would be the focus more, more than strategies and techniques, because the heart is where real and lasting change happens.”

(Incidentally, if, during the course of the Love Boat, things have been stirred in you and you think you might need to talk to a counselor, I highly recommend Dan. You can access his practice’s web page by clicking here.)

To share your thoughts, please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Pulling Out The Degreaser and Heading to the Engine Room,

Pastor Michael

Love Boat (Part 4) The Engine Room

2011-11-03T09:48:00.001-07:00

--Luke 6:43-45

This past Sunday I had planned to preach on Jesus‘ teaching about divorce and remarriage, thus the title Titanic. However, after a chaotic few weeks, I simply didn’t have time adequately to prepare that message. I feared it preaching it without sufficient preparation would be a little like pulling the pin on a hand grenade, tossing it into the sanctuary, and wishing you the best of luck.

There will be another time for the Titanic.

Instead, this past Sunday we concluded the tour of the Love Boat that The Reverend Elise Barrett started. Elise skillfully guided us to the Fitness Room, the Chapel, and the Observation Deck. Then, Sunday our tour ended in the engine room.

The engine room, of course, houses the engine--the thing that drives the ship. And, as we learned, the engine of our marriage relationships is our hearts. Borrowing an illustration from Andy Stanley, I introduced you to my friends, Mr. And Mrs. Mug. After they had been married a couple of months, we learned that Mr. Mug (filled with blue beads) and Mrs. Mug (filled with pink beads), like all married couples, bumped into each other. When they did, “stuff” came out! Voices were raised, tones were taken, harsh words exchanged, and hostilities surfaced. Sound familiar?

When we bump into each other in marriage and “stuff” comes out, the temptation is to blame our spouse for making that happen. “I wouldn’t have anger, frustration, bitterness, etc. come out if she wouldn’t push my buttons.”

The reality is, though, that “stuff” comes out because it’s already in us. As I said Sunday, “It wasn’t his lack of affection or appreciation that caused you to cheat. Unfaithfulness was what was already in you. It wasn’t her nagging that caused you to blow your top. Anger and lack of self control was what was already in you.”

I think that’s what Jesus means when he says, “43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” What’s inside you will come out.

That’s why it’s so important to be aware of what’s inside you, to know it, confess it, allow God to work on it. Tomorrow, we will explore three reasons it’s important to be aware of this truth about our hearts. Until then, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Sunday’s message and what difference it might make in your lives and marriages.

To share your thoughts, please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Pulling Out The Degreaser and Heading to the Engine Room,

Pastor Michael

Love Boat Part 3

2011-10-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

--2 Corinthians 5:16-21

This weekend The Reverend Elise Barrett did an excellent job taking us into our third week of the Love Boat Series. Before I get into a brief recap of Elise’s points, let me dispel a rumor: I did not put her up to this quote: “The Love Boat is a fishing boat.” I can see why you might have thought that, since a very wise preacher recently said, “Our mission is fishin’,” :) but I did not plant that seed.

In fact, that statement, “The Love Boat is a fishing boat,” flows naturally from the passage about where Paul says that we are “Christ’s ambassadors.” That is our vocation, our calling. We are to be mirrors, reflecting the light and love of God to the world. We are to be that individually, and that is the purpose of Christian marriage.

Elise rightly pointed out that part of what that means is that our marriages (our Love Boat) would the “home-base” of our ministry, that as a couple we could encourage each other and serve God and the world together.

Her comments made me think of a couple of the prayers that are in The United Methodist wedding service in our hymnal. I want to share them with you:

Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all life,

Author of salvation, Giver of all grace:

Bless and sanctify with your Holy Spirit

Name and Name, who come now to join in marriage.

Grant that they may give their vows to each other

in the strength of your steadfast love.

Enable them to grow in love and peace

with you and with one another all their days,

that they may reach out

in concern and service to the world;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (United Methodist Hymnal)

O God,

you have so consecrated

the covenant of Christian marriage

that in it is represented

the covenant between Christ and his Church.

Send therefore your blessing upon Name and Name,

that they may surely keep their marriage covenant,

and so grow in love and godliness together

that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (United Methodist Hymnal)

I’ll share more details of this recap later in the week, but for now invite you to reflect on these two prayers, along with Elise’s message today. What new insights do you have about Christian marriage? What had you never thought of before?

I always love to hear your responses. To share your thoughts, please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Going to the Fitness Center,

Pastor Michael

Love Boat (Continued)

2011-10-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

--John 13:24-25

A while back I was watching a little TV and saw a commercial that piqued my interest. It claimed that you could use your cell phone to “find your one true love.” No joke. That’s what the commercial said. I was so amused I even jotted down the claim: “Just text your name and birthday to ‘Your 1 True Love 52 52 52.’ Your 1 True Love uses both horoscopes and numerology to predict, right down to their name, your one true love. Your one true love may be just a phone call away.”

I laughed out loud. Then, I thought, “How sad.” It’s sad that there will be thousands of people desperate enough to spend money to call that number under the illusion that they will find their “one true love.”

Call me a curmudgeon, but I don’t believe in anything like a “one true love.” In fact, I think the quest for that “one true love” leads many people astray and straight into heartache. Soulmates, like fairies and unicorns, are nice fantasies, but, in the real world...I don’t think so.

I had a professor at Duke, Stanley Hauerwas, who said that he had discovered a new law of the universe not unlike Newton’s Laws of motion or the Law of Thermodynamics. Here is “Hauerwas’ Irrefutable Law: You always marry the wrong person.”

Now, before you get all up in arms, he says that the inverse is also true: “You always marry the RIGHT person.”

The reason that both of these statements can be true—or according to Hauerwas are always true—is that there is no such thing as Mr. Right. There is no such thing as the “wrong person.” Marriage is about commitment and work.

This past Saturday I officiated at another wedding. As a part of the service, I pointed out to the congregation and the couple that in the wedding service the Church never asks the couple, “Husband, DO you love wife?” or “Wife, DO you love husband?” Instead our question is “Husband, WILL you love?” It’s a promise for the future—as uncertain as that future might be. It’s about dedication and work.

Over the past eleven years, I have counseled with countless couples. They certainly haven’t always turned out the way I would have liked, but I haven’t found any exceptions to Hauerwas’ Law. In those cases when both husband and wife were committed to their vows, when they wanted to work it out, they did—with God’s help. There is always hope.

You absolutely will not want to miss this Sunday’s sermon, “The Love Boat,” and the rest of the service, for that matter. We will have a video testimony that will demonstrate the power of God to heal and restore any relationship.

In the meantime, I’d like to invite you to reflect on how Jesus’ commandment to love one another might change your marriage relationship. If Jesus commanded us to love strangers, how much more should we practice love as a verb, love in action, with our spouses?

I always love to hear your responses. To share your thoughts, please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Trying to Love as Jesus Did,

Pastor Michael

Fireproof and Love Boat

2011-10-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. –Ephesians 5:21-33

This week has been CRAZY, so I reached back into the E-Series archives and found something that I wrote a couple of years ago. It certainly connects to the Love Boat series, and I hope that it will be beneficial.

Several people have asked me lately, “Have you seen Fireproof?” Heather and I watched it a couple of nights ago, so I can finally say yes.

Since I know that there was more to many of your questions than mere curiosity about whether or not I have seen it, I thought I would depart for one day from the Time to Shine theme (though maybe not entirely) and present a very brief movie review.

The storyline of Fireproof is that a couple, Caleb and Catherine Holt—played by Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea—is in trouble. Their marriage is on the rocks. They’ve drifted apart and come to the point of bitterness, resentment, and maybe even hatred of each other. Basically, they are roommates, rather than husband and wife. When things reach their breaking point, Caleb’s father shares his new found faith in Jesus with him and gives him a journal called Love Dare. The Love Dare is a forty day plan of action designed to reignite his love for his wife and her love for him.

It takes a while, but the Love Dare works. Not Caleb’s love, but God’s love shining through Caleb, melts away the bitterness and resentment. Their marriage is saved.

Now, for my assessment. Let me begin by getting the negative out of the way. Like 99% of movies, things work out a little too easily and conveniently for Caleb and Catherine. Real life is always messier and more difficult than in films. It’s just like that in movies. Superman always finds a way around the kryptonite and defeats Lex Luther. Against all odds, Happy Gilmore beats Shooter McGavin to win the PGA Tour (Hey, it was on TV last night). It’s Hollywood. I guess I should get used to it.

The other thing that bothered me somewhat about Fireproof is that, even after Caleb decides to become a follower of Jesus, there is no visible faith community, other than his parents and one guy at work. We don’t see Caleb worshiping with other Christians or receiving their support. It’s a little individualistic for my taste (although there is one scene at the end where it looks like Caleb and Catherine are leaving home to go to worship together, and they renew their marriage vows with a community present.)

With that out of the way, let me tell you some of the things that I really did like. I love the fact that the entire movie calls into question the lie that our society engrains in us from birth. If you listen to our culture, you will believe that love is primarily a feeling. Love is the flutter of butterflies in your stomach, or a raging fire, or some other such nonsense. The problem with thinking of love as an emotion is that emotions can be quite fickle. So, according to many, if you don’t feel “in love” anymore, then it must be time to move on, call it quits, look for that emotion in some other person or other circumstances. As one country song puts it, “If it don’t come easy, you better let it go.”

These are lies straight from the Father of Lies. Jesus never said, “Love one another, if you feel like it.” When he was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying so hard that sweat and blood poured from his brow, he didn’t say, “Father, I thought I loved these people enough to die for them, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think I’m in love with them anymore.” Thankfully, neither did he pray, “Father, this looks like it’s going to be a lot harder than I bargained for. I think I’ll cut my losses now and get out.”

Instead Jesus loved us all the way to the cross. So, don’t pay attention to the people who write Valentine’s Day cards for Hallmark. Pay attention to Jesus as he willingly, lovingly marches to the cross for people who don’t even come close to deserving his love. Listen to the Apostle Paul in the passage above when he says that Jesus’ love for the Church is the example for the love of husband and wife.

I could say more, but I’ll get back to the movie. Caleb accepted his father’s Love Dare. Daily he added tasks like, “Today don’t say anything negative to your spouse, only positive. If the situation arises and negative thoughts come to mind, don’t say anything.” Then there was, “Today contact your spouse at work with no other agenda than to ask how he or she is doing.” Forty days. Forty ways to act lovingly.

For over forty days, Caleb is rejected at every turn. Many times he wants to give up. But over time, his actions change his heart. He loves his wife through his actions until his feelings follow. See that’s the thing about feelings. They are fickle. They are not to be trusted. In the words of Caleb’s coworker, “Don’t follow your heart. Your heart can be deceived. You’ve got to lead your heart.” It’s the genius of our marriage service. During the Declaration of Intention to be married, we don’t ask a couple, “Name, do you love name?” Instead the Church asks, “Name, will you love name?” It’s a promise for the future. It’s why, when people tell me, “I just don’t love my spouse anymore,” I can say, “But, wait; you promised to.”

Caleb and Catherine rekindle the fire of their love. Despite the hurts and pains of the past, they live into their marriage vows. At the height of their conflict Catherine and Caleb might have said that it would take a miracle to save their marriage. Of course, as Christians, we believe in miracles. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. God’s resurrection power has been loosed on the world. And, that resurrection power can raise even the deadest of marriages from the grave, provided that the couple wants to work to work on their relationship. This movie is a small reminder of that.

Fireproof is a very good movie. I recommend it. I also think that it’s remarkable that a church in Georgia wrote, produced, and filled most of the acting parts. But, here are my warnings: 1) Things don’t always turn out right no matter what we do. We are a broken people living in a broken world. But, we are called to give our all. And, 2) while the Love Dare (you can actually by the book that was referenced in the movie at any Christian bookstore) might be a great enrichment tool for marriages that are fairing okay, it is no substitute for professional marriage counseling for couples dealing with difficult issues like Caleb and Catherine.

Pastor Michael

Restored Again

2011-10-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ —by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

--Ephesians 2:1-10

Yesterday was an incredible conclusion to our Restored sermon series. God moved powerfully in both services, and then we had the wonderful opportunity to come to the “restoration” Table with millions of Christians of all denominations, all around the world for World Communion Sunday. Then, the party continued with the car and tractor show, which was a great hit for the whole community.

The three weeks of the Restored series were very intentional. We got back to the basics of God’s salvific work in our lives. First of all, the Church (world really) is God’s salvage yard. A quick survey of the salvage yard might cause some to conclude there is nothing there but junk. But, not from God’s perspective. Instead, it is full of what could be, potential...full of broken and dinged up people whom God is dying (died) to salvage.

God wants to do that. God wants to salvage us. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, called this stage of God’s work, justification. God wants to justify us, save us, salvage us.

The thing is: God doesn’t want to stop there. No car restorer salvages a car from the junk heap only to take it home and leave all broken down and rusty. Rather, he or she will then begin the sometimes slow and always painstaking process of restoration. The car has to be overhauled from the ground up and from the inside out.

The same is true for us. When God salvages us, he begins changing our heart, but the restoration process continues. As we discussed in week two, this is sanctification. God doesn’t stop at our being salvaged, but continues working on us, making us new.

So, God salvages us in order to restore us. But, restoration isn’t the end of the process either. While we are being restored, God wants to take things a step further. God wants to use us to serve God in the world. As the Apostle Paul says above, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works...to be our way of life.” (More on this later.)

Sunday’s service culminated with Holy Communion, God’s restoration meal, but another highlight was the heart-wrenching testimony of one of our members. If you didn’t make it to worship yesterday, you must see this video. (If you are reading this by email, click the link below to go to my blog and watch.)

I’d love to hear how God is moving in your life, restoring you, and using you for service in the world. Please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Waiting for Another Coat of Paint,

Pastor Michael

God's Salvage Yard

2011-09-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

--Luke 5:27-32

It’s very easy for us, Christians, to get self-righteous. Most of the time, I don’t think we mean to. It just happens. We, rightfully, want to surround ourselves with good--good people, good influences, good music...good. That’s a good thing, but sometimes we start to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.

That certainly happened with the Pharisees with whom Jesus came into constant contact in the Gospels. They are high and mighty. But, Jesus has a way of bringing them down to earth.

They didn’t like the fact that Jesus and his disciples were hanging out with “sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes.” Apparently, they are afraid some of that sinfulness is going to rub off on Jesus. They are far too holy to be seen fraternizing with the likes of such. If Jesus were a true rabbi, he would know that he’s too holy for that as well.

Do you know any Christians today with that attitude? Just a little holier than thou?

The number one criticism of the Church by outsiders is that it is comprised of hypocrites. Maybe we’ve earned that reputation, by acting like the Church is some sort of museum for saints to be put on display, rather than a salvage yard where God salvages “projects” like us and begins to work on us, to restore us.

Before last Sunday, had you ever thought of the Church as God’s Salvage Yard? What do you think of that image?

We learned, last week, that none of us are junk, but we are “projects.” We all stand in need of restoration. If we just cooperate, God wants to sand off the rough edges, the rust, mend the brokenness and restore us to the classics he created us to be in the first place.

As we prepare for part two in this series, I’d love to hear from you. How has God been busy recently restoring you?

Please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Praying the Spirit will Keep Sanding,

Pastor Michael

Past Why?

2011-09-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.”

--John 11:32-38

The above snippet from the Gospel of John is a part of a larger passage where Jesus’ good friend Lazarus dies. Jesus had already received word that Lazarus was sick. Martha and Mary wanted Jesus to come quickly. He didn’t. The result of the delay was that Lazarus’ funeral was already said and done before Jesus arrived.

When Mary saw Jesus, she broke down, “Why? Why didn’t you come right away? If you had just been here, he wouldn’t have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, John tells us that he was “deeply moved in spirit.” It’s not just that Jesus is sad. The Greek word (embrimaomai) indicates that he is also angry. It’s a word that literally means, “to snort with anger.” Jesus is angry at the chaos and pain that death has caused his friends. And then John tells us, “Jesus wept.” God-in-the-flesh wept. I think he always does, when his children suffer and grieve.

But, then, foreshadowing what God would do at Jesus’ tomb, Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb. Even though he had been in there for four days, even though his body had started to decompose and stink, at the command of Jesus, Lazarus walked out of the tomb.

As we have talked about this month, Jesus took the bad and brought from it good. Jesus stared death in the eyes and brought forth life. That’s just what he does.

This week, I was talking with a friend of mine who shared with me a quote from Frederick Beuchner: “Resurrection means that the worst thing will never be the last thing.” No matter what happens in our lives, God will go to work on it, bend it, shape it, and bring good from it.

Last thing on Why?: I have said several times over the past three weeks that it is perfectly natural to ask Why? It’s normal, sometimes, to be angry at God. I noted that 75% of the Psalms are prayers of lament or complaint. But, I also want to note that even in those Psalms the Psalmist always pushes past the pain and why question and praises God in the midst of of pain and grief. That is our goal--to be thankful and praise God no matter what. Then, we can truly see how God is bringing order out of our chaos.

Please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Pushing Past Why,

Pastor Michael

Why Ask Why? (Part Three)

2011-09-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

--Romans 8:28-39

This coming Sunday, the tenth anniversary of September 11^th, we will be exploring what the above passage from Romans might add to our contemplation of the question, Why? In preparation for Sunday, please read and reflect on this passage. What is God saying to you from these words?

As you contemplate this Scripture passage, I also want to share with you two more powerful responses that I have received to the E-Series messages/blog posts this week.

Melonie, an E-Series subscriber from Orangeburg, gave me permission to share her story with you. In her own words:

I was raped in 1981 and struggled for a few years with this question[Why?], but then came to a conclusion: There is no point in asking a question for which I’ll probably never know the answer this side of eternity. Having said that, I have discovered a purpose for my experience and, like an education, it doesn’t go to waste. I am a State Trooper in Orangeburg and this has put me in a very unique position to do some public speaking, something I have discovered I’m pretty good at. I have developed a “Common Sense Self Defense” class which I have taught literally around the state. I have also worked in conjunction with a psychiatrist in our church to counsel with some of his patients who are victims of sexual assault on their self esteem and self worth issues. These things may not have been possible without my experience. Did God cause the rape to happen? Most definitely not. Has He used the experience to the benefit of others (once He got me off my duff to do something with it), absolutely! A current Wightman member was instrumental in all of this and I have much for which to thank her. In the long run, has the rape brought me closer to Him? You’d better believe it! Only He can heal the hurting heart and make it whole again.

What Melonie went through was horrible, but her willingness to use that horrific experience, allow God to bring good out of it, and help other people through it is truly awesome.

Then, another response that came in today:

I want to share with you an irony that has not escaped me since Sunday. The image of you counseling the mother while holding her deceased baby has been with me, but not an image associated with sadness, as I expected. On the contrary, it leaves me with an expression of hope. The circle, or path, that our lives take is not entirely up to us, but what we must never forget is the impact we have on others, whether we are ever recognized for that or whether we even know if such an influence ever takes place. I am relatively certain that this mother you consoled years ago has no idea that, just a few days ago, she landed in your sermon while you were preaching on "Does Everything Happen For a Reason?". But her story is one that is gently tucked away in my heart. Years after her tragedy, she unknowingly touched lives and served as a beacon of hope and love to strangers.

I believe that we must have faith in things unseen and unrecognized in order to fully put our lives in His hands. Our sufferings and sorrows may serve a greater purpose than we can fully understand, and we should pray for the endurance and the strength to rely on that faith.

One of my favorite quotes comes to my mind: "Change is inevitable; growth is optional..."

What wonderful insights! I couldn’t agree more.

In closing, let me just say that I have really been blessed to read these and the many other comments and responses that you have sent in. Thank you very much for sharing. Please continue to do so.

Please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Waiting On Sunday,

Pastor Michael

Does Everything Happen For A Reason? (Part Two)

2011-09-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

--Romans 8:18,28

Does everything really happen for a reason? Last week I put that question to you, and many of you responded (thank you!). In fact, the responses were split right down the middle with half saying yes and half saying no.

I want to share with you two representative answers that I received (I will remove any details that might identify the person who sent it).

First:

Michael, this is a question I know we have all asked about so many happenings & events in our lives. A time in my life when the "why" almost drove me crazy was in 1974 when my infant son died - I remember so many people came to me and made the comment "Well... it happened for a reason" or "You are young you can always have another one" (I know they meant well) but... I detested those comments for quite a while only because I didn't want to hear them - I didn't want a "reason" and I didn't want "another baby" I wanted that one!! I was convinced that I was being punished for things in my life that I was not proud of. I did not have a personal relationship with God at that time in my life. It took a long time but I truly do believe that everything happens for a reason - including the death of my baby boy. When my daughter was born I wanted to believe that was "the reason" - maybe it was?? I believe I may know the reason one day - I also believe that was a new beginning for me - a renewed faith and a strong desire to understand WHY. If it's meant for me to know why - that's fine - if not - then that's OK to. But I do strongly believe there is a reason & a purpose for all things. Thanks for listening to my heart.

Then, here’s a completely different take on the same question:

“It makes me upset and even angry when I hear this statement, because I can't see any "reason" in the horrible things that happen in our world. I don't see any reason why I should have a sister that I love so much and can't even see. I don't think it was God's plan that my father choose drugs over keeping his family together. I don't think it was God's plan that we lose so much and suffer so much. He gave us free will and unfortunately other people's choices don't just affect them, they affect those around them. It frightens me when I think of how much different my life could be. I don't see how people can make it through situations like mine without God. If I hadn't felt Him with me throughout my life I honestly don't know where I would be now, but I'm sure it wouldn't be a good place. That's how I know that although these things weren't a part of His intentions, He will work good out of everything. I think you have to do your part though; by looking for Him in the dark places. By keeping faith and hope, and believing, even when it feels like there is nothing left to believe in. It's certainly not easy, but when we put our faith in Him, we find out it's all worth it...Like with Mandy's situation [from the video testimony the previous Sunday]; she found that through her experience she is now able to help other families who suffer with the loss of their children. But, in my opinion, God didn't cause her to lose her boys. I do believe that through her trust in Him she has come to a place where she can share with others and by doing so help to strengthen them. There again though, she didn't have to do that. Just because you are called to something doesn't mean that you will follow, but because she followed Him, He was able to work good out of a terrible situation and bring healing.

Sunday, I revealed which way I lean in answering the question: Does everything happen for a reason? I think that when most people say that they mean, “Everything happens for a divine reason,” in other words, that God caused it. Therefore, I have to say, “No, I don’t think everything happens for a reason. I think some things happen as a result of our free will and sinful choices, and some things happen that are not God’s will. But, I believe that, even in those cases, God takes the chaos (tohu wabohu) that he didn’t cause or create, and brings good from it.

I write this on the fourth anniversary of my dad’s death. Obviously, death is a natural part of life in this fallen world that we live in, but I refuse to believe that God wills it. He didn’t create it. We did with our sinful rebellion against God in the Garden. Neither do I think that God wanted my dad to suffer with Multiple Myeloma. But, with everything I have, I believe that God has and is redeeming my dad’s suffering and bringing healing, wholeness and good from it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Trusting in God’s Goodness,

Pastor Michael

Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason?

2011-09-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

--Genesis 2:15-17

“Everything happens for a reason.” You hear those words a lot: while visiting a hospital room, standing in line at the funeral home, all sorts of places and contexts. Maybe you’ve even said it a time or two. Maybe, you say it often.

But, what does it mean? Perhaps, when some people make this declaration, they mean nothing more than this: “Sometimes bad stuff just happens, but eventually God will bring good out of it.”

Perhaps. But, when I hear someone say, “Everything happens for a reason,” here is how I interpret it: “God causes everything that happens to happen--good and bad. Whether or not you can see it now, God caused this event (cancer, or car accident, child’s death, murder, natural disaster, etc.) to happen for some larger purpose (to teach you a lesson, etc.).” Under this rationale, God planned Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden, which means their freedom to obey or disobey was an illusion. Even worse, God set them up for failure. Also under this rationale, September 11^th, the massacre in Norway, heart attacks, alzheimer’s, strokes, etc. are all part of God’s master plan. You might not be able to see the reasons for your tragedy now, but you will one day. God caused it, because God causes everything.

This Sunday we will continue our Why? series by taking up the question: Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason? My intention is to accurately represent opposing views on this topic that faithful Christians have taken throughout history. But, in the mean time, I’m interested in hearing from you?

How do you interpret/hear the statement, “Everything happens for a reason”? Do you believe that statement is true?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Please reply to this email, or--even better--visit my blog by clicking here and share your comments with everybody.

Looking forward to this Sunday,

Pastor Michael

Why Ask Why?

2011-08-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.

--Psalm 22:1-2; 14-16

Sunday we began our Why? series. I sensed--both by the number of people and by the heaviness in the room--that Why? is a question on many people’s minds. Why? God, why? Why this? Why now? Why me? Why my children? Why cancer? Why an earthquake? Why a car accident? Why an innocent baby? Why so much suffering? Why so much pain? Why? God, why?

Just this morning I learned of a nearby two year old little boy who was struck and killed by a falling limb from a tree. Why?

Growing up, I often heard that you shouldn’t ask why, that “questioning God” was somehow off limits. You know what I wondered when I was taught that? Why? Can God not handle our questions? Does the God of the Universe not understand when we get angry and want to know why?

On Sunday, part of what we did was look at some reasons, I think, it’s okay to ask why. So, let’s review. Why Ask Why?

People of faith always have--All throughout Scripture are stories of people who suffered terrible tragedies and pain. Time and again, they asked why. The Psalmist in Psalm 22, prays, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Did you know that 70% of the psalms are psalms of lament? The Book of Psalms is Israel’s prayer book, and 70% of them are psalms of lament where the psalmist prays to God, “God, where are you? It feels like I’m all alone down here. God, why are staying so far from me? God, why?” If Israel’s prayer book is composed of prayers like that, I think it’s okay to question, and cry out to God that way too. There is an entire book in the Bible called Lamentations. Guess what’s in that? That’s right. Laments. Complaints to God. Honest, authentic relationship with God requires honest, authentic prayer. Job and his friends questioned why Job’s fate had befallen him. He was a good and upright man, yet he suffered tremendously. Why? That was the question they repeatedly asked. Jesus, even asked why. From the cross, he quoted Psalm 22, “My God, my God why?” See, God desires an authentic relationship with us. God doesn’t want us to hide stuff from him, why to keep from hurting his feelings?
That brings me to the second thing: God is big enough to handle our little questions--This is the God of the universe we’re talking about here. He created everything there is. He spoke this world into existence. He just said, “Let there be light,” and there was. He’s not going to be threatened by our questions.
Third, God’s not going to be threatened by our anger, either. And, let’s face it: Why is a question we generally ask out of anger and a place of deep pain and grief. It’s not often you hear somebody say, “God, why did you let me land this great job? I don’t deserve it. God, why would you let this happen to me?” Just doesn’t happen. Why is a question we ask in the midst of our anger. And that’s okay.
Since Sunday I thought of a fourth reason: “Why?” is a faith question. You don’t bother asking why unless you believe there is some sort of an answer. You don’t bother asking, “Why God?” unless you believe in God. So, at its core, “why?” is a question asked in faith.

So, the overwhelming weight of Scripture suggests that “Why?” is a perfectly natural question to ask, especially in times of pain, sorrow, and grief.

The answer? Well, that’s a good bit tougher.

Looking forward to this Sunday,

Pastor Michael