I love the fall! When we lived in Kentucky I came to appreciate this season so much. Growing up in the panhandle of Texas, the seasons don't always follow the calendar. It's not unusual to have a blistering day followed by a severe cold front the next. It's also not unusual to have spring in the summer, fall in the winter, or even winter in the winter. Usually the weather changes on a regular basis...but you're just not certain which season will come next.
But that wasn't the case in Kentucky. Their weather followed a fairly predictable pattern. The months of September and October would steal the heat and humidity of summer and we would be left with warm days and cool nights. The green leaves of the growing season would change to bright reds and brilliant golds. In fact, we would have enough leaves fall to the ground that we would rake them up and the girls would play in the piles.
But I've learned to love fall for other reasons too. As a teacher, fall always brought the challenges and excitement of a new school year. Learning new faces, names, and routines always helped make life richer and fuller. Watching my kids get excited about school and getting involved in various activities brings a smile to my face. When they come home from school and tell me about what they have learned, I understand their satisfaction of learning and growing up.
As a pastor I've come to appreciate fall for other reasons. After a summer of so many people traveling, it is nice to see our pews filling up again. But, it's more than just having fuller worship services. I genuinely miss seeing people when they are gone. I miss having interaction and sharing life with them. I understand that we all like to travel and to visit family and friends in other places, but I also like to have my faith community gathered together each week. So fall is turning into a great re-gathering of my brothers and sisters in Christ. While there may be several people gone this Sunday due to the long week-end, I anticipate the coming weeks as our routines return.
In 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul is eager to see the church in Thessalonica. He writes to them "Brothers and sisters, we were separated from you for a while physically but not in our hearts. We made every effort in our desire to see you again face-to-face. We wanted to come to you--I, Paul, tried over and over again--and Satan stopped us. What is our hope, joy, or crown that we can brag about in front of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Isn't it all of you? You are our glory and joy!" (2:17-20). I understand his eagerness. I also desire to see those who have been gone throughout the summer. I have come to love the people of Haskell UMC and they are my glory and joy.
While its true that I look forward to changing leaves, cooler temperatures, and fall activities, the real joy I anticipate is the reunification of our local church. I look forward to laughing at their summer hijinks. I hope to hear about family reunions and exciting trips. But most of all, I can't wait to look out into my congregation and see all of the faces that were separated from us during the summer. Until next time...
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
It's funny to me how God works in our lives. What I used to think was coincidence I now realize is the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Let me give you an example.
Two weeks ago I was preparing a sermon for our congregation here in Haskell. Throughout the summer we have been looking at the fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5. Through my studies I ran across a section from 1 Thessalonians that went well with my sermon. In 4:3-5, St. Paul tells us "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God..." Since I was preaching about self-control, I incorporated these verses into my sermon and everything was fine.
But for some reason I couldn't quite let go of this verse. It continued to rattle around in my brain for the next several days. Myranda, the girls, and I took a few days off before school starts in order to have a time of rest. During that time we were away, the verse continued to come to mind periodically. At the time I wasn't sure why...
While we were gone, our lay leader here at Haskell UMC agreed to fill-in for me. Yesterday morning I took some time to listen to her sermon. She did a fantastic job. I always love to hear other people preach and this gave me an opportunity to hear someone I have come to respect greatly. Anyway, her sermon came from 1 Corinthians 12:12 where Paul discusses the importance of being the body of Christ. Cathy did a marvelous job of proclaiming the truth of this passage. In her sermon she reminded the congregation that it takes all of us to do what God has called us to. No one has the right to get lazy and allow someone else do the job. We are supposed to continue to work with one another and not become jealous of those who have gifts different than we do.
Well, after I listened to her sermon, I came back to mine in order to polish it up. While I was finishing up, the Spirit led me back to the passage from 1 Thessalonians. I noticed something I had never seen before. When St. Paul is writing about sanctification as the will of God, the "you" he uses is the plural form of the pronoun. In other words, as the Holy Spirit works in our lives he is doing so in the body of Christ. The entire community of believers should be growing in holiness together.
I'm afraid that we in the United States have made Christianity too individual. We think that as long as I'm okay and growing spiritually then everything is fine. But the more I read Scripture the more I'm convinced this is a bad attitude to have. As children of God, we are called to self-sacrifice. We are called to serve one another. We are called to submit to each other. We are called to help one another in our Christian journey, not to run ahead for our own good. In the Disney movie "Lilo and Stitch" Lilo says something very similar to this. She says "Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind." That's a lot of wisdom coming from a cartoon character.
Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind.
So the Holy Spirit showed me some pretty amazing things the last couple of weeks. I realize more and more how important a community of faith is in our development and growth. I have come to appreciate all of my brothers and sisters more through this revelation. May each one of you continue to grow in holiness, not for yourself but for the community of faith you serve.
Until next time...Ohana!
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
This summer our congregation has been looking at the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-26. Each week, I have taken one of the Spiritual fruit and gone into it in more detail. We have explored why St. Paul chose this particular attribute of God to emphasize to the church in Galatia. Each Sunday, we have delved into this Scripture with great depth trying to come away with a stronger appreciation of what it is God is doing in our midst.
As I have prepared for each one of these sermons, I have grown in my own understanding of what Paul was up to when he composed this letter. Each week I have come away from my time of study with a greater appreciation for the immense changes taking place within the children of God as we pursue holiness. But it wasn't until this week that the series really clicked as a whole for me. As I was studying the last fruit, self control, I was led to 1 Thessalonians. Now what is really interesting is that I was already reading this book as a part of my personal spiritual discipline. I'm confident that the Holy Spirit was leading me through all of this for a reason.
In 1 Thessalonians 4, St. Paul is encouraging his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica to continue to pursue a life that is pleasing to God. He states, "...we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification...For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness."--4:1-3a,7
Our sanctification is God's will for us. What an amazing statement! When I re-read this verse this week all of the previous week's study about the fruit of the Spirit fell into place (I've told y'all I'm a slow learner). The fruit of the Spirit that God produces in our lives has one purpose...to bring about our sanctification. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control transform us from the way we were in our old flesh into the people God desires for us to be as his new creation.
God is continually calling each one of us higher and higher. He desires for us to be drawn more and more into him so that we have a wondrous family resemblance with our Father and our brother. But the most amazing part to all of this transformation is that it is not primarily done for us. Now don't get me wrong, we do benefit from it for ourselves, but the primary goal is not for us to be better people. The primary goal is for us to go into the world as changed people for the benefit of others. When we exhibit the Spiritual fruit we are honoring God by showing the world who God really is. When we practice these fruit in our lives, others are blessed through our relationship with the Father through the Spirit.
I am convinced that God continues to call all of his children to holiness. I have no doubt that as he continues to ripen the fruit of the Spirit in our lives that our communities will benefit. Our personal transformation will draw us out into the world around us as we obey God's desire. We are empowered for service for the benefit of the world. Until next time...
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
A few weeks ago my friend Bill Hogan (who I greatly admire) posted a quote on his Facebook page. He stated, "Don't be the best church in the community, be the best church for the community"--Eric Swanson. This quote summed up what I have been thinking for the last several months. It seems as though churches are no longer relevant within their communities. We try to do all kinds of things to draw people to us, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of life we prefer to step aside. We expect government social programs, educational institutions, or others to fill the gap so that people are able to have their needs met.
But I don't see that as the calling of the church community. I see that our calling is to be so enmeshed in the wider community around us that the city government, the local schools, and the welfare programs can count on us to be there even when government funding stops. I guess that's why this whole Chick-fil-a controversy makes me so angry.
Don't get me wrong; I fully understand both sides of the argument. I understand that there is a "freedom of speech" component. I understand that people have the right to boycott establishments if they so desire. I understand that not all Christians will be of the same opinion on every topic. I really do understand all of that.
However, what really bothers me about the whole thing is that Christians have become more passionate on both sides of this issue than they have about any number of other things. I see people proudly displaying Chick-fil-a sacks on their social networking sites. I see people bashing those who eat at the restaurant and calling them all kinds of horrible names. And to what avail? What's the outcome? Hate.
In St. John's gospel, Jesus gave his farewell discourse to the disciples. And in that discourse he stated all sorts of wonderful and amazing things. One thing he said was this, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."--13:34-35.
Well, I can honestly say that I haven't seen much love from either side. I see people purposefully trying to hurt, harm, and be nasty to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether we approve of a certain lifestyle or not, it does not make someone a Christian. There are many different life styles by many different people, who I know personally that I don't approve of, and yet they claim Christ too. Since that is the case, then according to Scripture, I must love them.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's time for this kind of non-sense to quit taking our focus from the reality of being the best church for the community. It's time we put as much time, energy, and enthusiasm for caring for the sick, visiting those in prison, and feeding the children as we have into this fight. It's time we become truly relevant within our community so that others will come to know the love of Jesus Christ too. Until next time...
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
In my final year of seminary, I took my proclamation courses. I was richly blessed to learn from a great preacher (Dr. Stacy Minger) the art of proclaiming God's Word. One of the things that she taught us was to always "think sermonically." In other words, she challenged us to live our lives with our ears and eyes wide open. We were continually to be on the look out for sermon illustrations, ideas, and ways that we could include contemporary issues and problems into our message. We were to allow Scripture to invade our society and set us on the path of making Christian teaching, doctrine, and life applicable to a 21st century Church.
This past week, society has placed itself in the midst of my thinking. Without even trying, thinking sermonically has integrated itself into my vision of what God is doing. I want to share with you two news reports that the Holy Spirit has led me to this week.
First, from USA Today there was an article this past week discussing that Americans are losing their faith. According to the article, there has been a rather large increase in the number of Americans (especially younger Americans) who choose the "none" category when it comes to religious affiliation. To see the entire article go here: USA Today Article
Second, on one of our local news stations, it was reported today that we have several children living below the poverty line in our area. What really surprised me was that our parish has the highest poverty rate in the area; hovering at approximately 39%. To see the entire article go here: KTXS Article
As I've been thinking about these two stories, several things have come to mind. Those of us who claim Christ need to do more than just talk. We need to quit worrying about political correctness, what others think about us, and our bank accounts. We need to reclaim our Christian identity as found in Scripture and Tradition. People no longer want to be associated with organizations of any kind that don't do anything. Meeting once a week, talking about the good ol' days, and feeling good about ourselves simply isn't enough. We need to be so ingrained in the community where we minister that if we don't show up then people notice.
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In the gospel of St. John, there is a marvelous story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well in Samaria. When the disciples discover Jesus has been talking to the Samaritan woman, they are flabbergasted. They can't believe that he would stoop so low. But he replies to them, "I am fed by doing the will of the one who sent me and by completing his work. Don't you have a saying, 'Four more months and then it's time for harvest'? Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest."-4:34-35
It seems to me that the harvest is getting larger every year. It also seems that there are fewer workers every year to harvest the fields. But when I read articles like these, I get really excited. I begin to think about ways that we can rise up as harvesters and get to work. I think about the children in poverty who surround my local church and I try to visualize what God is calling us into. Because when we work with these kids, it gives us the opportunity to love them and their families. It gives us the chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in a tangible way. It gives us a chance to live out our faith so that those who checked "none" on their cards take notice and wonder why we bother. And perhaps as we tackle the child poverty problem, the "none"s will decide to join us.
I have no doubt that God is in the midst of all these things. He is calling us to be "fed by doing the will of" our Father. He is giving us every opportunity to step out in faith and to follow his guidance. The question is, are we willing to open our eyes and notice the fields ripe for harvest? Until next time...
"Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them."--Mother Teresa
These are two words I will never hear again. At least, not in the way that Wallace Cox said them every Sunday morning for the past year at 9:30 on the dot. You see, Wallace passed away last week. He was a man much admired in our church community and within the wider community of Haskell. Wallace was one of those people who made you feel welcome, important, and loved. He was easy to visit with and always had time to let you bend his ear.
Wallace's passing gave me the opportunity to reflect back on the past few years. When I first received my calling into full time ministry I suppose I didn't really know what that would mean. If I had, I'm not sure I would have been emotionally ready for it. When my family and I moved from Muleshoe to Wilmore we had to leave many friends and family behind. We left a community that we knew and that knew us. We left people who have been important in my life for as long as I can remember. We left the comfort and security of the known for a new life that was foreign.
First United Methodist Church, Muleshoe, TX
After we arrived in Kentucky, we slowly settled in and made new friends. We adopted our Sunday school class as our new faith community where we could grow spiritually with brothers and sisters in Christ. We got used to the colder temperatures and the extra rainfall. We really fit in and we loved it. But, once again, we were called away from a place we had made home. It was time to leave and to move on with the mission that God had placed on our lives for his namesake.
Estes Chapel, Asbury Theological Seminary campus
So we have been here in Haskell right at a year. I have continued to learn and grow in my own spiritual life and we are doing everything we know to do to make Haskell our hometown. But honestly, it is getting harder to do that. Because I know that my family will not be in Haskell forever. A part of the Methodist system is that you agree to go where you are sent. I have a lot of respect for that and I continue to trust the leadership of our conference with those decisions.
First United Methodist Church, Haskell, TX
I know that no matter how long we stay in one place that God is with us. I know wherever we go that God is already there. I know wherever we are sent that there are men and women we will grow to love, just as we have here. I also know that even as hard as it is to say goodbye to people, for whatever reason, that the love and the joy I have gained from knowing these people far outweighs the pain.
At the end of 1 Corinthians 15, St. Paul makes this statement, "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." I strive to remember these words from St. Paul as I continue to walk the path that the LORD has placed before me. I seek to continue to labor for his glory, even if it means the painful reality of loving people only to move on again.
When we left Muleshoe, a good friend of mine dedicated this song to me and my family. It is a song I have come to cherish when it's time to say goodbye. And so now, as I finish my farewell to Wallace, I play this song for my brothers and sisters in the faith who I have had to leave. I am a better man and a better Christian for knowing each one of you. And even though I miss you, I also know that we continue our relationship through the Communion of the Saints empowered by the Holy Spirit.
"Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?"
"Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?"
"According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ's Holy Church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world?"
"As members of Christ's universal Church, will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?"
"As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?"
In just a few days the confirmation class 2012 of Haskell UMC will take the vows stated above in front of our local congregation. This is no small undertaking. These vows are important. They represent a commitment that is becoming less and less common in our self-centered culture.
It seems as though our society has forgotten what it means to save, to follow through, and to focus on the good of the community instead of personal gain. I saw this posted on Facebook the other day:
I found this to be an interesting commentary on our consumerist society. So many people today think that if it is easier on them individually then it doesn't matter what the cost is in the long run. But Christianity doesn't teach us to think this way. According to the teachings of Scripture we are to place others in front of ourselves. For example, in Ephesians St. Paul states that we should "submit to each other out of respect for Christ"(5:21) and he says in Galatians that we should "...be guided by the Spirit and you won't carry out your selfish desires. A person's selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one's selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn't do whatever you want to do."(5:16-17)
So as a counter cultural move and in response to their calling, our confirmands will have to agree to the vows of the church. My prayer is that they will do so with sincerity and conviction. My prayer is that they will do all they can to continue to build their faith in Jesus Christ. My prayer is that our local congregation will continue to commit to these young people and to one another out of devotion to God. And my prayer is that each person who claims Christ as his or her master will learn the lesson of putting others ahead of ourselves.
But the amazing thing about faith is that we are not left alone to uphold these vows. The phrase I love in these vows states "according to the grace given you..." Even in the midst of taking vows and making promises, God's grace abounds. Even when we do fail to be an obedient Church, God's grace flows through in order to convict us of wrongdoing, help us repent of our failures, and reinstates us as his sons and daughters.
God's grace is enough. It is wondrous, marvelous, and timely. It never ceases and continually calls us to be grace-filled so that we can extend grace to others as we have received. Even though God's grace is freely given, it cost him greatly. That's why it is so important to never cheapen grace...that's why we must cooperate with God in order to fulfill his calling in our own life.
This Sunday, as these young women and men take their vows, I will renew my own. I will continue to strive to fulfill the vows I have taken to the Church as both a member and as a pastor. But most of all, I will remember that without the grace given to me, none of my Christian life would be possible. And as I grow in God's grace, perhaps some day I will be mature enough to remember to wash the spoon. Until next time...
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.
