God alone is our Rock
I’m reading a book called, “Transforming Congregational Culture,” by Anthony Robinson. It was recommended to me after reading and discussing a few other books on church ministry and addressing the changing culture while on my sabbatical. So the learning and growing goes on. As I read through this book, I will be posting some thoughts, reflections, and questions to ponder as we continue to address the need to change and be changed by God for the sake of our souls and of the world.
We don’t need anyone to tell us that the mainline churches in America are facing many challenges and changes from without and from within. This shouldn’t be new or surprising to folks, although how these changes and challenges are manifesting themselves may be new and surprising, if not disconcerting. Nor should it be surprising that there continues to be steady change in how Americans think and behave where religion is concerned. This is not just a mainline issue!
In times such as these, and we are not alone in the story of God’s people on earth of having “times such as these,” I am reminded of the church camp song, “The Rock!” The words come right out of Psalm 18: 46 - The Lord Lives! Blessed be my ROCK, and exalted be the God of my salvation!” I need a rock to stand on, a firm foundation when life is so shakey and uncertain. If it feels like you are on ever shifting sands, perhaps what you are relying on for stability is not God, but something else that has become a substitute for God. Power, possessions, and prestige in one form or another often are the substitutes we go to instead of seeking God. God wants to take away any and all substitutes that we have put in place of God, so that God can be our Rock, our center, our very life.
Change is actually the point. God wants to change us, save us, and transform our lives. So, I end with the beginning of Robinson’s book on transforming congregations, it begins with a question: what is our God given purpose? Who is God calling us and changing us to be, and from that, what is God calling us to do? This is not a one time question, but the guiding question for us as Christians in community, keeping us focused on God our Rock!
Daily Baptism and Tipping Points
Baptism is both a one time washing by water and the Word, a Sacrament (means of God’s grace), and, a life long process. As Martin Luther wrote in his “Large Catechism,”
Thus a Christian life is nothing else than a daily Baptism, once begun and ever continued. For we must keep at it incessantly, always purging out whatever pertains to the old Adam, so that whatever belongs to the new man may come forth. LC, pg. 89
So, the Baptismal or Christian life is an on going process of change, of transformation. It is first, what God has done and is doing in our lives in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is followed by what we do, how we respond and participate in the process of change and transformation of our own lives and souls. The frustrating and sad paradox for me, especially because I am a Christian of the Lutheran persuasion, is that we Lutherans hate and resist change with a passion!
How many Lutherans does it take to change a lightblulb?
“CHANGE?! We don’t change!”
This brings me to a thought on Tipping Points. A tipping point is when the benefit of change outweighs the benefit of staying the same. Something needs to happen to overcome the power of inertia and the status quo. I believe that “something” is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we receive a new vision of reality (Jesus called this the reign of God), a new mission or passion (when we see a great need or injustice in the world), or a new clarity of purpose and direction in life (when our gifts and talents intersect with the needs of the world). Now that sounds all fine and dandy, but how does that happen in our lives? I know that new visions, passions, mission, and clarity come from God, but how?
How? From an encounter with the Living God. In men’s work this encounter is sometimes called the necessary spiritual “whomp” on the side of the head, that wakes us up to our deep need and desire to be changed and to change. In my reading of scripture, church history, and listening to the lives of Christians of all ages and backgrounds, God doesn’t work in just one particular way. But somehow we do need to “wake up,” listen, pay attention, be opened by, or be open to God.
Christians have always had a set of practices, or maybe better said, “disciplines for disciples,” to create a space, an opening, an opportunity in our hearts, minds, and souls for the Holy Spirit to get into our lives. This is what Daily Baptism is all about, and what brings about the many needed tipping points for transformation and change in our lives. Maybe if Dan Brown were to write a book about these Christian practices and come up with some mysterious name like, “The Secret God Code,” or, “The Hidden Path,” then people would get really interested! On the other hand most of us want a quick fix and easy answers, so we’d respond to “7 Easy Steps in under 5 Minutes a Day to Perfect Unity with God.” The point being that there isn’t a secret to living the Christian life and Daily Baptism, nor is it easy or quick, it is a life-long process, a journey, and it requires our discipline and commitment.
OK, you already know about these practices, and you’re probably doing some of them already. The question is, what will it take for you to do them daily, weekly, and regularly? Which of these practices might God be calling you to commit to that would be worth your time, energy, and resources, or dare we say it, a change in our priorities, schedules, and attitudes?
Worship, Prayer, Learning, Serving, Giving, Real Relationships, Sharing your faith
These seven, and the greatest of these is love.
Can music help us “see”?
My spiritual director sent me this link to Youtube. A song by Wendy Francisco, called “God and Dog.” Whether you are a dog lover or not, this song helps me “see” God’s love all around me.
Sometimes I get so bogged down in the words and phrases of the scriptures, I just don’t get it. But when a musician takes those same words, phrases, or ideas and turns them into a song, somehow that helps me “get it.” I can ”see” better what God is trying to show me about God’s self, and maybe something about myself too. One of the reasons I come up with, why this is so, is because music seems to connect with all different parts of our mind/body at the same time. Drama can do this. And the Sacraments do this too!
What helps you to “see” God better? Are there any particular songs that have helped you to “see” better?
Run Your Own Race (with thanks to Rev. Denita Williams)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12: -13
(Rev. Williams’ text for her sermon on the occasion of the 2nd Anniversary of Lilly of the Valley AME.)
As I sat in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday night, my soul and mind being moved by the grace and power filled words of Pastor Denita, the congregation responding with “amen” and “hallelujah” and claps of approval, I wondered about the connection and disconnection between “running our own race” as a church, and, “running our own race” as individual followers of Jesus Christ.
Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, we at Christus Victor are caught in the comparison game with the other Lutheran churches surrounding us. Easter in Eagan, Shepherd of the Valley in Apple Valley, Prince of Peace in Burnsville, and Hosanna in Lakeville, not to mention Grace and Community of Hope as well, and settled in the middle of our massive siblings is little old Christus Victor. Funny thing is, when compared with all of the churches across the ELCA, little old CV isn’t so small after all. We’re in the top 97% in terms of worship attendance and membership!!! We are not small!
Yet when we take our eyes off of following Jesus, running our own race of faith set for us by God, we get “thrown off” the course. Instead of focusing on the people and the ministry at hand, whether that be teaching Faith Trek, singing in a choir, serving on a committee, doing our part for Joyful Servants on Sunday mornings, or whatever the situation may be, we c0mpare ourselves to the other churches and worry about what we are not doing or can’t do that they are doing.
Take the garage sale as an example. Literally hundreds of people donated items and helped make the CV garage sale a great success! Over $16,300 was raised!!! Yippee, Hallelujah, and Praise the Lord!!! Right?
Well… A number of CV people and neighbors of CV just had to get into the comparison game. “Pastor, did you hear that Prince of Peace raised over $160,000 with their garage sale?” Yeah, of course I knew. And they had better make 10 times what CV made, because they are over 10 times larger than we are. If they didn’t they’re doing something wrong.
The point is we need to run our own race. What is God doing here at CV, do we have any reason to give thanks and praise to the Lord? Are our struggles God’s Call for us to change and grow instead of giving up and giving in? Where is the Spirit of God blowing us, and are we opening our souls and our sails to go where God wants us to go, what God wants us to do, and who God wants us to become?
Since Jesus Christ is the author and perfector of our faith, wouldn’t it be a good idea then, to keep our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts focused on Jesus instead of comparing ourselves and worrying about everybody else? Do other churches have things to teach us? Absolutely! Do we have a lot yet to learn, more to grow, and not only be open to change, but seek to be changed by God and with God’s help? Yep!
The issue for the church and for each of us as individuals is to identify both what is hindering and entangling us/you from keeping fixed on Jesus, then ask for help in dealing with that (yes, folks, that means prayer and the support of other Christians!). And then, do those things we know we need to do to help us stay fixed on Jesus, and continue to run our race of faith.
You know what I’m talking about: worship (coming with a worshipful attitude), daily prayer, daily devotions, lifelong education/learning, serving others, giving financially and growing in giving, inviting people to church/telling others about your faith (especially your family!), getting to know new people and welcoming them, use your gifts to help others. If any of this is new or strange to you, please let me know, I’d love to talk with you more, because I want to help you run your race of faith in Jesus Christ.
Being Open
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom their is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1: 17
I used to think everything was up to me. That all I had to do was to try harder, work harder, be more committed and obedient, then God would bless me and give me gifts of grace. Oh, God was always in the picture, but as a far off judge, accountant, and score keeper, whom I was trying to please and impress, as if God needed or wanted that from me.
Now I know that it’s not about me at all, it’s about what God is doing, and being open to whatever gifts of light God sends from above. It’s about being open and paying attention, receiving and giving thanks… then flows the doing, the living, the serving, the commitment, the grace out pouring, and the light shining through the cracks of my life.
Lord, help me to listen, pay attention, be open to receive, that I might serve You by serving others with whatever gifts you may give. Amen.
A Witness to the Vastness of the Body of Christ
On Sunday, August 30, 2009, Claire (Wang Yiran) from Beijing, China, was Baptized into the Body of Christ at Christus Victor Lutheran Church.
Up until one year ago, Claire did not know about or believe in Jesus Christ. A year ago Claire heard the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, she experienced the love of God in her heart, and became a follower of Jesus. A year later, while on an internship at the Minnesota Zoo, to improve her English language skills, half a world away from her home she found a group of Christians gathered together for worship and Christian fellowship near the apartment where she was living. These Christians called themselves Lutherans, which she had never heard of before. But that didn’t matter to her so much because a number of these Lutheran-Christians greeted her and made her feel welcome and at home, and through their worship, praise, words, and actions she knew these people loved Jesus Christ. So she asked them a question…
“I have never been Baptized. I want to be Baptized, and want to be Baptized in this church, among these Christian people, before I go back to China.” Through emails and in the conversations that followed, it became clear how much Claire knew and loved Jesus, and how much she desired to be Baptized into the life of God, into the forgiveness of her Sin, into the Family of God, which is the Body of Christ, the Church Universal. Her passion and commitment to continue to learn and grow in her knowledge, understanding, and spiritual life in Christ, was deeply moving. And she is so excited to share her faith in God with her friends and classmates in China, most of whom have never heard the story of Jesus Christ, and the love God given to every person on earth.
Claire had never heard about Martin Luther or the Reformation. She knew very little about Church History, the development of the creeds and doctrines of the Church, nor the long process of determining the Canon of Scripture known as the New Testament, let alone all that is contained within those scriptures and the various interpretations thereof. She had no idea what the differences might be between her church in China and our church in America (At one point she asked, “what’s a denomination?”), but she did know that we believed in and followed Jesus Christ and had the love of God in our hearts. And I saw the same in her! What a witness to the vastness of the Body of Christ (Beijing, China – Apple Valley, USA – Mlowa, Tanzania – Dominican Republic), and to the power of the Holy Spirit to work through very different people from very different places, to build each up in faith!!
The Body of Christ is bigger than any ethnic group, culture, country, or denomination. God’s intention, revealed throughout the Bible, is to gather all the people of the world together into the love of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit (this gives you the jist of churchy words like redemption, salvation, and sanctification).
In the midst of denominational rivalries and struggles, in the midst of the conflicts and divisions within the ELCA, in the midst of our own struggles and challenges, both large and small, within our own congregation, to experience first-hand that God’s love and work is more wonderful, powerful, and beyond any of our comprehension or control gives me great hope and comfort. To see the Holy Spirit overcoming and transcending any and all barriers to bring people to faith, strengthen people in faith, and bring people of faith together is to know that all we really can do, or need to do, is give witness in our own lives to the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ that has been given to us. ”Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4: 7
Blessing of the Bags (for college and university students)
For those who cannot attend the Sept. 13 “Blessing of the Backpacks” for the children and youth of CV.
First, load up your backpack or book bag, or whatever you use to carry your books, computers, and classroom materials. Second, invite some friends to join you and bring their backpacks/book bags, etc. Third, pile them all together, then say/pray this blessing together (or if you’re really creative, turn it into a responsive reading). After you are done, maybe pin or tie something to your bags as a reminder that God goes with you wherever you go.
Lord God Almighty, creator of the universe, source of all Truth, Wisdom, and Knowledge, thank you for the precious gift of education. Bless this bag that I haul around, for it holds within tools for learning. Bless these tools for learning, sources of facts and figures, dates, names, and places, ideas, theories, equations, theorums, and questions yet to be answered, information about the cosmos and all that is within it. Bless those that use these tools to teach, to impart knowledge, skill, and understanding - the professors, teachers, and assistants charged with my education. And bless the one who carries the bag, who uses the tools, and learns from the teachers, for being a student is no easy job. Bless me, dear Lord, for I am a student in need of your help and guidance. May my education not only lead to fulfilling employment, may I also find my calling in life, where my knowledge, skills, talents and gifts intersect with the needs of the world. In Jesus name, amen.
Jumping out of the wardrobe and into the rapids
OK, I am mixing my metaphors, but I don’t really care, I’m pretty mixed up this week as it is.
I got to church early Monday morning before anyone else had arrived. The tent from the garage sale was still up, with odds and ends lying around. There was new tile in the entry way (great job Bob and Mike!), and a wonderful “welcome back” banner covering my office door, with streamers and balloons to boot! (Oh, and thanks for the star shaped glitter, that’s still popping up in unexpected places.) It felt as if I had hardly been away, like stepping out of the wardrobe in the Chronicles of Narnia; after being gone for a long time, finding out that you had never really left. Yeah, kind of like a time-warp, Twilight Zone kind of feeling.
Yet, I have been gone for over 2 1/2 months, so it was inevitable and expected, that when I stepped out of my sabbatical “wardrobe” I’d step right into the rapids. It has been like one minute walking through a peaceful meadow, under gently swaying trees, and then plunging into a raging river, trying to catch your breath while being swept along by the rapids downstream.
I’m not complaining at all. It was time to get back to work. Kind of like looking forward to school starting in the doldrums of summer, not for the classes, but to reconnect with your friends. OK, I was and am a geek, I looked forward to the classes too, and I still do!
My wondering is about why we sometimes avoid taking time off, getting away from it all, or even weekly observing the Sabbath. Could it be that the jolt and juxtaposition is too great for us, and not worth the pain and effort? There is always a price to pay, isn’t there? Tons of email, phone messages, mail to open, too many things to catch up with. Why try to get out of the rat race for a time, if it is only going to hurt worse trying to get back in? Or, could it be that we don’t want to face the dissonance of the world of God’s Sabbath with the “real world”?
When you really listen to Jesus’ teachings, especially in the Sermon on the Mount and in the parables, you realize he his hitting head on the clash between the “real world” we all live in, which apostle Paul calls “the world of the flesh,” and the world that Jesus calls “the Kingdom of God.” It’s the same world, the difference is in how we see, think, and live in the world as God made it and wants it yet to become.
Are we living as children of the light, or children of the dark? I have to be honest with myself, and admit I’m caught in between. It makes me sad and makes me worried, however, when we get the two confused, and we only live in the dark. I hope I don’t too quickly forget this sabbatical time that was spent for the most part walking in the light of God’s grace, peace, and renewal. I am so very grateful for that gift. Now to hold onto it, keep my eyes open, and live each day walking in the light and along the Way.
Of Swamps, Bayous, and Gators
Fishing and Hunting Shack in the Honey Island Swamp.
Living in a Swamp
When I heard my friends had moved to New Orleans with their three girls and were living in a community ten miles from the Gulf Coast, in an area still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, surrounded by swamp and bayou, my media-formed imagination thought of something like this shack I saw while down visiting in mid-August. My imagination also assumed swarms of mosquitoes thicker and hungrier than their northern siblings in Minnesota, gators crawling in every watery mud hole, and hurricane ravaged wildlife and communities. My bias was wrong on those counts and more.
I was pleasantly surprised at the beauty and peacefulness of the swamp, that though hot and muggy (it was mid-August), there was a cool breeze off of the water and few mosquitoes buzzing in my ear. The trees, plants, and flowers were an exotic backdrop for the many egrets, herons, and birds we saw while on our boat tour, just ten minutes from my friends’ beautiful new house. Truly, they do live in a swamp. But unless this was brought to your attention you really wouldn’t know. That is until, after a particularly hard rain, seeing the water standing in all of the ditches and people’s yards, with no where to go, you really knew you were near a swamp in a low lying area, which pretty much sums up the entire area, and helps you understand how the devastating waters of the hurricane could have gone so far inland to reck havoc.
Of ‘Gators and Real Danger
Alligator swimming to our boat.
It was rather disconcerting to find alligators swimming around the swamp as we drove by in our tour boat. Most of which were rather small (4 or 5 feet long), but still seeing something that big, with large teeth, coming your way, touches a primal fear within you. From somewhere within comes the fearful voice, “that thing could eat me.” And of course, in the right (or wrong) situation and conditions, one could attack, but alligators usually stay clear of people and rarely attack. In fact, they only come close when there is promise of some tasty marshmallows or hot dogs on a stick. Still, seeing a 15 foot ‘gator lunge out of the water 3-4 feet just for a hot dog does make one weary and keep a respectful distance.
The two dangerous things you have to be careful about are the aggressive and poisonous water moccasins and falling out of a boat. Falling out of a boat and hitting your head on some submerged object and drowning is probably the most dangerous thing, and simply requires not acting stupid. Actually people usually don’t fall out of boats, they are usually jumping out of a boat or off a dock without knowing what’s below the water, that gets them in trouble. Again, the most dangerous thing in a swamp are people who do things without thinking. Snakes you can stay away from pretty easily.
Facing unexamined prejudices
I was not aware that I held such prejudices about the south. Only after the hurricane and our churches subsequent support of the relief and rebuilding efforts through our sister church in Mississippi, did I give any thought to what daily life might be like in the southern states along the Gulf Coast. My attitudes and prejudices have been formed from bits and pieces from the news, tv shows, movies, music, and through the stories of people who have lived or visited a particular place. It takes an open mind, a desire to learn and experience new things, and a willingness to change your beliefs and attitudes about people and places when what is really real clashes with your prejudices. It also takes good friends who will show you around, tell you some of the history of a place and people, and plan some new experiences for you.
The French Quarter in New Orleans.
Sabbatical is Over, Sabbath Keeping is Not
Sabbatical Close to Over
It truly seems only a short while ago that I closed and locked my office door to head to the cabin for Memorial Day weekend and the start of my sabbatical. What seemed like a long stretch of time has quickly come to a close, and I am incredibly grateful to the leaders and members of CV for their support and this gift of time away to refresh, renew, and recharge my mind, body, soul, and relationships for the sake of on-going ministry.
Sabbath does what it means, “Stop!”
Driving through the Rockies in Colorado, Melissa and Daniel wondered at the emergency braking sand pits for trucks. ”Why do the trucks need such long sandy stretches up the side of the mountain?” Because a fast moving, heavy vehicle takes a long time to slow down to a safe stop.
I have been putting the pedal to the metal myself for the last few years. OK, probably always, from the stories my high school friends tell. Just like those trucks without brakes hurtling down the mountain side, it took me a while to stop. By the end of June I had finally begun to slow down to a healthy level, both mentally and spiritually. It took me three weeks to totally decompress from my fast pace of ministry and life. Since starting at Christus Victor at the end of October 1998, I have slowed down only enough throughout each year to take a deep breath before plunging back into the fray.
Sabbath Keeping Needs to Continue
Like almost everyone I know, keeping the Sabbath Holy, is a quaint concept removed from the fast pace and demands on our lives. Yet if we continue to live without keeping the Sabbath, as a weekly gift of rest and renewal from God, the results are deadly. I don’t exactly know how yet, but finding weekly, even daily, Sabbath time will be an important priority in the months and years to come. For when we are too busy, too hurried, too “stressed-out” all of the time, we really cannot pay much attention to God, to Christ in our midst, or to the breath of the Holy Spirit, let alone the people God has placed in our lives to love and care for.
Stop, then Look, then Listen
My spiritual director, Jon Ackerman, has shared with our CV staff and leadership a simple method to help us pay attention to God. The three steps are STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN. Not surprisingly you cannot skip the first step to pay attention and listen to God. You must STOP, which is the literal meaning of Sabbath. Check out his link for more resources you can use yourself and with your family.
Lead Listener
One final connection between Stopping/Sabbath Keeping and what I’ve learned on this Sabbatical. One of the main responsibilities I have in my role as senior pastor is to be the Lead Listener. This is something I have not done as well as I should or could. In my busyness and the constant rush I tend to fall into being the Lead Problem Solver instead. (Not that solving problems isn’t important, it’s just not the most important). Listening to others and listening to God takes both time and intentionality. But even more is to help others learn to listen to God as well, because to be a follower of Jesus means we better be listening and paying attention to His voice, in Word and in Prayerful attentiveness. Keeping the Sabbath is a critical discipline to being able to listen to God. We’ll see how it goes.