News Flash... WE ALL DIE!!!!

This week, I have been reaching out to a family in their time of need.  My connect with the family is through one of the daughters-in-law.   The father fell in a local nursing home, broke his hip, had surgery, got pneumonia and an antibiotic resistant infection and then took a turn for the worse and the family had to enact the living will.   On Monday, when I visited, he was fading.  By Tuesday, at 1 p.m. it was evident to all that his time was very short (infact, I stayed with them because I thought it would come at any moment - and it was about 4 hours).   That is all background to the story I want to share.

Yesterday, as we were keeping vigil by the bedside, one family member ( a child of the man's) came in and declared that they didn't understand why the staff couldn't just feed him... after all he needed to get stronger.  Then this person proceeded to announce to all of us - "I AM NOT DYING!!! IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO ME, YOU ALL BETTER JUST HOOK ME UP TO AS MANY MACHINES AS YOU CAN BECAUSE I AM NOT DYING!!!!"

And immeditately the family member I had the most connection with asked me to pray with them.  And when she invited this person to join us, they declared that they didn't pray!   But we prayed anyway.  And I am still praying for this person.   Because the reality is... WE ALL DIE!   No one will escape this earth without dying!   And the sooner we realize that the better we can live our lives and the closer we can become to God, who will sustain us for the journey!

More thoughts on prayer...

Prayer is a powerful tool that God makes available to us and makes us available to God.

I have so enjoyed reading Mark Batterson's book on prayer... "Draw the Circle".   Here are a few more quotes from this book.

"If we want to see God move, we need to make a move."

"We'll never see God part the Jordan River is our feet are firmly planted on dry ground."

"Prayer is the difference between the best you can do and the best God can do.  And that's a big difference!"

Seeking Opportunity....

Read this powerful statement in Mark Batterson's new book, Draw the Circle - a 40 day devotional on prayer.    "You don't need to seek opportunity.  All you have to do is seek God.  And if you seek God, opportunity will seek you."

Do not conform to the patterns of this world...

One day last week while I was in Tampa, FL with my Advanced Foundations of Church Leadership Cohort, we experienced Lectio Divina in the morning on the passage Romans 12:2.  For me the phrase that jumped out at me was "Do not conform to the patterns of this world..."  Later in the day, we had 2.5 hours to spend in total silence out in the beauty of nature on the 90 acres of land that is the DaySpring Retreat Center.   It was a rich experience to walk around, sit in different spots being prayerful and reflecting on the phrase from Romans 12:2.

I was struck by all the patterns that exist in our world.  God creates in patterns, yet there is incredible variety and beauty in both the patterns and the variety!

 

If we are to break free of conforming to the patterns of this world, we must find new patterns of living that push us beyond the conforming and norming that happens when we live life in the fast lane, not taking time to spend with God.

 

For me, it was a rich time to set an alarm on my cell phone, trust the alarm and leave the phone in my pocket until the alarm sounded signaling the conclusion of my time.   In the world I live in the phone is one way of conforming and to have 2.5 hours without needing to check the time or a text or answer a call was refreshing!   It allowed me the refreshing ability to spend time in each of the above places taking in both the natural and man made beauty of God's world.  

 

I find that even today, I am still basking in the refreshment of that time (now over a week ago)!  And that challenges me to find ways to break free more often from the patterns of this world!

Multi-Voiced Church

A few weeks ago, I ordered a new book that caught my attention... by a writer that I appreciate..."The POWER of ALL:  Building a Multivoiced Church" by Stuart Murry Williams and his wife Sian.   I was excited to find it waiting for me on Friday when I returned home from Tampa.   Today I was elated to find a facebook notice from a friend and leader in the Church of the Brethren announcing a webinar today with Stuart on the topic of Multivoiced Learning.   I quickly figured out that I could make the times work for me in my schedule and am delighted that I did.  A second part Webinar is scheduled for next week as well and it is on my schedule.

Stuart was exploring the move from monologue to dialouge in preaching.   Or really a shift from performance by the preacher to learning by and from all!   I really like the idea and actually have employed it some (one facet of it anyways) at Community of Joy over the years.   And I find it a rich time when we have a talk back time after the sermon.  

Another aspect of this mutlivoiced learning that Stuart lifted up today was preparing sermons in a group.  I have employed that facet too but far less frequently and find that it is rich as well.  In fact this week I plan to do just that as I will be using the same passage that our guest speaker used last week because as we particpated in a sermon analysis focus group with her last week (as part of a preaching seminary class she is doing and we are the listening body for her) a wealth of ideas emerged from the group interaction that I thought would be fun to explore this week.

I am anxious now to read this book and have elevated it to the top of my "To Read" pile.   In addition to multivoiced learning it explores, multivoiced worship, multivoiced community, multivoiced discernment and multivoiced church.

Taking a break

I am taking a break from blogging this week.  Check back on Monday the 21st for the next installment.

Take Heart....

Mark Batterson is one of my favorite authors.  I have read all of his books and just got his latest, "Draw the Circle" and will break into it shortly.   Mark is a pastor in the DC area and has a way with short sayings.

One saying that he crafted and I like alot is... "Work like it all depends on you and pray like everything depends on God."

I hope in the next year at Community of Joy, we can take that to heart and live it!

She Didn't Listen!

Before Caroline went to LA she was so excited that she would be turning 21 out there and had big plans to celebrate with her roommate and other friends.  Her roommate turned 21 in December and she has been out with others who have also turned 21.  It seems that when a girl turns 21 now, they do alot to call attention to that fact... like wear a tiarra and a sash telling the world it is their 21st birthday.

 

Well, I was concerned about Caroline doing that out there in LA.  So, I gave her some fatherly advice.  I told her DO NOT CALL ATTENTION TO YOURSELF.   BLEND IN!

 

But she didn't listen!  

 

She called attention to herself in a BIG way!   She was the opening act on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.   She had about a 3 minute experience on the main stage with Craig.  Then Craig gave her a gift certificate for dinner at an upscale eatery called The Ivy.  The gift was for 4 people for up to $85 each.   She told us that the meal cost the 4 of them $325 dollars!   WOW!  What a birthday! 

 

Caroline will never forget her 21st birthday!  And for once, I am glad she didn't listen to me!

 

I love you Caroline!

 

 

 



 

Caroline and her roommate Brea!

 



Caroline Turns 21 Today!

I can hardly believe that my firstborn child - Caroline Elizabeth is 21 today!  It seems like only a few short years ago that we made our way to the JC Blair Hospital in Huntingdon, PA to start the process of brining her into the world.  

And now a few blinks later, she is 21 and in LA on a class trip with Bridgewater College.   I am very proud of who she has become and am excited to see where she goes in life in the coming years!


Sorry the quality isn't better... the photo was taken with my phone from the album Sharon made of Caroline's infant years.  This is her great grandmother Grove admiring her first great grand child.

Really???

Last night on my way home from hunting with my nephew Ben in Cordova, I drove by a church (that shall remain nameless) that had in gigantic letters on their lighted sign ... "Come Visit   All Are Welcome".

That is a great message and one that we certainly want to communicate as a church!  However, I seriously question the truthfulness of their message.   And not for reasons that you might think.    You see, no where was it evident what time their gatherings are.   So they are telling me I am welcome but they aren't telling me the time they want me to come!

Now to be fair, their times are on the sign but they are like 2 point size and unreadable even if you stopped on the shoulder of the road to find out.   The welcome message was big... like 70 point size. 

This sign got me to thinking... how much do we try to do all we can to make it easy for people to join us?   Sadly and I think unintentionally, we express welcome, but then we don't do all that is necessary to help people come.  So, in the end, our welcome really isn't very welcoming!

How welcome are new people to your church?

Who are you?

I have been having an interesting conversation with a friend about what defines who we are.  

My friend was saying that his life is a pyramid and the base of that pyramid on which everything is built, including his relationship with Christ, is his work or career.  Interesting perspective, but not what I think.

I think if our life is a pyramid, then our relationship with Christ is the base of the pyramid and everything else is built on that relationship with Christ, including your career, your other relationships, your interests and hobbies.

It is really a question of what defines who you are?  Is it your work or is it your relationship with Christ?   For me, seeking first the kingdom of God means that my relationship with Christ is the base and is what defines who I am.  Everything else is part of that relationship.   And it it can't be part of that relationship, then I need to cut it out of my life.

What do you think?  Who are you?   What defines who you are?

Great Way to Ring in the New Year!

I realize that I have been negligent in posting on my blog in the last few months of 2012.  So, I begin this new year with a desire to do better.

Sharon and I had no real plans for what we would do last night to see the new year in.  So, we went out to dinner at one of our favorite places to eat in Salisbury - Cactus Taverna!  After a delicious meal, we went across the highway to the Regal Cinemas to see Les Miserables.

Now, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I am not a big fan of plays and had no idea what the story line on this play made movie was but was hearing good reviews.  It was an incredible movie.  Very intense.  Very meaningful.  Very moving.   A great way to ring in the new year!

The thing that stands out to me the most from the movie (and likely also the play) was the power of grace!   It was vividly illustrated from begining to end of the movie.  And it is an important reminder that one experience of grace in our lives can drastically change the trajectory of our lives if we allow it to. 

Jean Val Jean was an escaped parolee and was hungry and desparate when he stumbled into the church.  After a hearty meal and some fine hospitality, in the middle of the night he decided to steal much of the silver that was in the church.  But sometime the next day, he was caught and returned to the church to be punished.  It was then that he first encountered grace and that encounter impacted his life and the lives of many after that!   As the officer was turning him over for punishment, the priest, told the officer that he had given the silver to Jean val Jean.  And then got the silver candle sticks and gave them to him saying, "you forgot to take these!"    Then put them in his pack and set him free.   That act of grace - unmerited favor - forever changed him.  All through out the movie - again and again, Jean val Jean had opportunity to extend grace to others, even his pursuer... and it impacted their lives as well.

As I reflect on that power... I can't help but feel that if we who follow Christ - God's gift of grace to the world, would allow that grace to change our lives in the same way Jean val Jean did... the world would be a drastically different place in which to live... it might even be what Jesus prayed for in his prayer taught to his followers... "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."