When Mary found out she was going to have a baby, the angel greeted her as favored by God. What a blessing to know that we are all favored by God--that is God looks on us favorably despite ourselves. This is a great gift! Each of through the grace of Jesus Christ is loved for who we are. We all have frailties, but God invites us to try our hardest and do our best in loving God and others. And God accepts our efforts as faithful. May doing our best for God and others be our gift to God this Christmas season.
plou
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Small Groups
Last night was the second study in our "Faith-Sharing" series. We had two new members. We had a wonderful conversation about each of our faith stories and how we might use our stories to connect with others for God's purposes. I am excited as I wake up this morning to know that at least five of us from CUMC are investing ourselves in the work of understanding better how to share our faith. If twelve disciples in the first century maintained and shared the gospel so it could spread through out the world, imagine what five modern day Christians could do with all the modern communication tools we have at our disposal.
...But the truth is that the most effective tool remains--regular personal invitations to others to join the journey of faith in God through Jesus Christ.
plou
...But the truth is that the most effective tool remains--regular personal invitations to others to join the journey of faith in God through Jesus Christ.
plou
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
The Call
A few Sundays ago, we studied Moses and the burning bush--a story of Moses' call to go to Egypt and confront the Pharaoh.
My most recent call began last Monday when two Jennifers from our church ganged up on me--saying, "Why don't you dance for the "Swingshift Dancing with the Stars for Charity" events? I thought about it for a moment, and said,"I don't think so." The story was that two consecutive dancers had backed out and Safe Harbor Homeless Ministries might be unrepresented at the event.
Then another call came from someone else in our congregation. You should do this, I'll call the coordinator. Before I knew it, I was on the phone with the coordinator and saying, "Yes, I guess I could do that." Nobody had told me the first competition was just three days away. So, Saturday night I danced the Zeut Suit Riot to honor my God. That was a first!
What have I learned so far, other than a few dance steps?
1. God's call often comes through others.
2. Too often our first answer is "No."
3. Faith challenges are usually not in the status quo--our comfort zone.
4. Wonderful experiences happen and spiritual doors are opened when we say yes to God's call and leave the comfort of the status quo behind.
plou
My most recent call began last Monday when two Jennifers from our church ganged up on me--saying, "Why don't you dance for the "Swingshift Dancing with the Stars for Charity" events? I thought about it for a moment, and said,"I don't think so." The story was that two consecutive dancers had backed out and Safe Harbor Homeless Ministries might be unrepresented at the event.
Then another call came from someone else in our congregation. You should do this, I'll call the coordinator. Before I knew it, I was on the phone with the coordinator and saying, "Yes, I guess I could do that." Nobody had told me the first competition was just three days away. So, Saturday night I danced the Zeut Suit Riot to honor my God. That was a first!
What have I learned so far, other than a few dance steps?
1. God's call often comes through others.
2. Too often our first answer is "No."
3. Faith challenges are usually not in the status quo--our comfort zone.
4. Wonderful experiences happen and spiritual doors are opened when we say yes to God's call and leave the comfort of the status quo behind.
plou
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thoughts from another teacher on believing
I am reprinting this from a blog post I made several years ago...still compelling to me.
"...the God-life is not about believing all the right things about Jesus. It’s not about being able to recite the creed without crossing your fingers or believing that Jonah was swallowed by a big fish or having an instant, now-you’re-saved, “born again” experience. It is about being willing to let go of everything you think you know and allowing yourself to be drawn into the mystery that is God.
“Believing,” as John uses this word, does not refer to some intellectual process that happens in your head. To “believe” in something is to give your heart to it. The God-life then is about giving your heart to God. Your broken heart. Your disbelieving heart. Your divided, angry, fearful heart. Your hard heart. You do not, of course, have the power to transform your own heart, but you do have the power to offer it, no matter what condition it is in, to the God who is able to make all things new.
My wish, my hope, my most earnest prayer, is that church could be a place, the very place, the best place, for our children and our youth to bring their questions. And for us to bring ours. And then, as we wrestle with the questions of how we are to live and work and worship, as we grow in trust of God and each other—slowly, gradually, over our lifetimes—a new spaciousness would emerge allowing new things to be born in us and in the world.
“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart,” wrote Ranier Maria Rilke,
and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. "
--credit given to The Rev. Deacon Eyleen
"...the God-life is not about believing all the right things about Jesus. It’s not about being able to recite the creed without crossing your fingers or believing that Jonah was swallowed by a big fish or having an instant, now-you’re-saved, “born again” experience. It is about being willing to let go of everything you think you know and allowing yourself to be drawn into the mystery that is God.
“Believing,” as John uses this word, does not refer to some intellectual process that happens in your head. To “believe” in something is to give your heart to it. The God-life then is about giving your heart to God. Your broken heart. Your disbelieving heart. Your divided, angry, fearful heart. Your hard heart. You do not, of course, have the power to transform your own heart, but you do have the power to offer it, no matter what condition it is in, to the God who is able to make all things new.
My wish, my hope, my most earnest prayer, is that church could be a place, the very place, the best place, for our children and our youth to bring their questions. And for us to bring ours. And then, as we wrestle with the questions of how we are to live and work and worship, as we grow in trust of God and each other—slowly, gradually, over our lifetimes—a new spaciousness would emerge allowing new things to be born in us and in the world.
“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart,” wrote Ranier Maria Rilke,
and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. "
--credit given to The Rev. Deacon Eyleen
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
measurement of success in a simple congregation
In my last entry I gave you an idea of what a simple church might look like. The next question is how to "get 'er done." Here are a few key concepts:
Clarity is "the ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people." The church must have a clear blueprint for the making of disciples and everyone who attends or comes in contact with your congregation should be able to see how it all works--how a person becomes and grows as a disciple through your congregation.
Movement is "the sequential steps in the process that causes people to move to greater areas of commitment." It is never enough to move into the church. We must move through the process of becoming more what God would like us to be. It is the work of the church to assist us in this process.
Alignment is "the arrangement of all the ministries and staff around the same simple process." The church must be organized fully around its discipleship purpose/process. The team must rally around the what and the how.
Focus is the ability to eliminate ministries/activities outside the process/purpose and only add those ministries/activities that fit your church's process/purpose.
Here's to learning how to become a simple church.
plou
Clarity is "the ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people." The church must have a clear blueprint for the making of disciples and everyone who attends or comes in contact with your congregation should be able to see how it all works--how a person becomes and grows as a disciple through your congregation.
Movement is "the sequential steps in the process that causes people to move to greater areas of commitment." It is never enough to move into the church. We must move through the process of becoming more what God would like us to be. It is the work of the church to assist us in this process.
Alignment is "the arrangement of all the ministries and staff around the same simple process." The church must be organized fully around its discipleship purpose/process. The team must rally around the what and the how.
Focus is the ability to eliminate ministries/activities outside the process/purpose and only add those ministries/activities that fit your church's process/purpose.
Here's to learning how to become a simple church.
plou
Monday, May 12, 2008
simple church
In an age of quick fixes, perfect programs, new and improved products, we make an assumption that one of these may apply to the church. Some may help for a time, but usually peter out.
I read a refreshingly simple book recently called just that, "Simple Church," by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. The book's premise is simple. After evaluation of many growing churches across the country the common denominator was an obvious discipleship process that any member or even visitor could quickly identify and begin to live. The way it was presented was different from congregation to congregation, but basically the discipleship process always helped a person connect to the congregation and Christ, grow in faith over time, and find a way to serve. Then each congregation developed a unique way to communicate the discipleship process simply and regularly to the congregation and those interested in the congregation.
In this way spiritual development (making disciples) moves from the sideline to the center line of each church's ministry--right where Jesus wants it to be.
I invite you to consider becoming a simple church--a church that loves God and others enough to develop a plan to help people connect to God.
I read a refreshingly simple book recently called just that, "Simple Church," by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. The book's premise is simple. After evaluation of many growing churches across the country the common denominator was an obvious discipleship process that any member or even visitor could quickly identify and begin to live. The way it was presented was different from congregation to congregation, but basically the discipleship process always helped a person connect to the congregation and Christ, grow in faith over time, and find a way to serve. Then each congregation developed a unique way to communicate the discipleship process simply and regularly to the congregation and those interested in the congregation.
In this way spiritual development (making disciples) moves from the sideline to the center line of each church's ministry--right where Jesus wants it to be.
I invite you to consider becoming a simple church--a church that loves God and others enough to develop a plan to help people connect to God.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Daily Devotional from Upper Room
The Door of Hospitality
Read Matthew 25:31-46
These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
-Revelation 3:7 (NRSV)
FOR many years I worked in a large city. During my lunch breaks, I often would take walks through the surrounding streets. My walks took me past an empty building that had once been a manufacturing plant. On one side of the building was a locked, rusting metal door. Above the door was a sign that read: "this door open only during times of hiring." Eventually the door was removed and the entrance sealed up with bricks. For years the sign beckoned job seekers to a door that no longer existed.
I was reminded of that sealed door when my wife and I joined other members of our church in a ministry of hospitality for the homeless. The complexities, joys, and possibilities of hospitality require intentional acts of care for the door of hospitality to open. We are learning that hospitality requires the force of the gospel to become a way of life, an expression of God's love for those in need. (See Matt. 25:31-46.) By God's grace we will grow more eager to open the door of hospitality to a stranger.
--Aaron Pulhamus (Maryland, U.S.A.)
A Prayer
Gracious God, help us to see beyond the fears that keep us from opening the door to a stranger. Grant us the courage to be intentional in making space for those in need. Amen.
Where can you open a door of hospitality for someone in need?
Read Matthew 25:31-46
These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
-Revelation 3:7 (NRSV)
FOR many years I worked in a large city. During my lunch breaks, I often would take walks through the surrounding streets. My walks took me past an empty building that had once been a manufacturing plant. On one side of the building was a locked, rusting metal door. Above the door was a sign that read: "this door open only during times of hiring." Eventually the door was removed and the entrance sealed up with bricks. For years the sign beckoned job seekers to a door that no longer existed.
I was reminded of that sealed door when my wife and I joined other members of our church in a ministry of hospitality for the homeless. The complexities, joys, and possibilities of hospitality require intentional acts of care for the door of hospitality to open. We are learning that hospitality requires the force of the gospel to become a way of life, an expression of God's love for those in need. (See Matt. 25:31-46.) By God's grace we will grow more eager to open the door of hospitality to a stranger.
--Aaron Pulhamus (Maryland, U.S.A.)
A Prayer
Gracious God, help us to see beyond the fears that keep us from opening the door to a stranger. Grant us the courage to be intentional in making space for those in need. Amen.
Where can you open a door of hospitality for someone in need?
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
basics
In our Sunday evening "Back to the Basics" class, we have been talking about the basic beliefs of Christians by reading a definition of a term or phrase, reading some related scriptures, and discussing the concept in relation to those scriptures. One of my fellow Bible students asked how long the class was going to last. At first I wasn't sure, then it came to me. This study lasts forever. We take our basic beliefs, interpret them in light of scripture, and then work to accomplish what we have learned. This is a neverending process. Each circle through the process brings us new insight and spiritual growth--deepening our understanding and commitment to God in Christ Jesus.
I hope you will engage this simple task of spiritual growth by joining an existing growth group or starting a new one. There's always so much more to learn.
plou
I hope you will engage this simple task of spiritual growth by joining an existing growth group or starting a new one. There's always so much more to learn.
plou
Friday, March 28, 2008
connecting to the world
It seemed like such a simple proposition when my friend Rick said, "Why don't we post your sermons to the world wide web. I can't even remember when the project began. Rick purchased a piece of equipment a year or so ago that could record audio directly to CD's. This technology allowed us to burn cd's, thus leaving us with an audio file that was in digital instead of analog format. That file could then be loaded into any computer. Next Rick figured out how to download a free file to edit this information. This digital language conversion and track formatting made it possible for our computer to communicate with the rest of the computers in the world.
For a long time neither of us could figure out how to post this information to our website, even though we now had a website, thanks to our resourceful volunteer Lisa. When I finally communicated to the people who host our website, they indicated that we had already purchased the resources to make it possible for us to post audio files. We were simply not using the resources we had available.
For the next 24 hours, I worked to get the proper codes, links, programs, etc. until I finally was able to make audios of our Sunday messages available on the web. Yea! Check it out at tcchrist.com.
So, here I am thinking about what just happened. We wanted to get the message of Christ out to the world. We needed to convert our message into the language of the world. We had to work together. We had to realize that many of the road blocks that we thought were there to successfully accomplishing our work didn't even exist. And finally, we had to be persistent if we cared about sharing the gospel. Wow! I guess I (we) learned more than how to post an audio file.
plou (trying to connect to the world)
For a long time neither of us could figure out how to post this information to our website, even though we now had a website, thanks to our resourceful volunteer Lisa. When I finally communicated to the people who host our website, they indicated that we had already purchased the resources to make it possible for us to post audio files. We were simply not using the resources we had available.
For the next 24 hours, I worked to get the proper codes, links, programs, etc. until I finally was able to make audios of our Sunday messages available on the web. Yea! Check it out at tcchrist.com.
So, here I am thinking about what just happened. We wanted to get the message of Christ out to the world. We needed to convert our message into the language of the world. We had to work together. We had to realize that many of the road blocks that we thought were there to successfully accomplishing our work didn't even exist. And finally, we had to be persistent if we cared about sharing the gospel. Wow! I guess I (we) learned more than how to post an audio file.
plou (trying to connect to the world)
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Western Church Dating of Easter
Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar the Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:
1. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
2. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!
Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:
1. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
2. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Hospitality
In his book, The Celtic Way of Evangelism (Copyright 2000 by Abingdon Press), George Hunter compares and contrasts the Roman Church traditions of the first four centuries of the church with St. Patrick’s effort to bring the gospel to the Celts. One way Hunter begins to unpack the differences is to describe the respective monastic communities. The Roman monastic communities were generally removed from the center of the community and culture for purposes of renunciation of the world and to allow time to meditate on the divine. The Celtic monasteries on the other hand were planted in the center of the culture and community as an outpost to the community and a veritable lifesaving station for passersby.
Hospitality was a hallmark of these faith communities. What might you find if you stopped at one of these monasteries? When you arrived a porter would meet you, welcome you and introduce you to other members of the community. The abbot would inquire about your life situation and what brought you to their community, and then offer you a prayer, a scripture and a kiss of peace. The abbot’s time with you would conclude as he washed your feet and instructed his staff to make you a comfortable place to sleep. If the abbot was in a period of fasting, he would break fast in order to serve your needs.
These monks took seriously Benedictine Rule #53 that “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” Over time, visitors would be invited to join in the work and spiritual life of the community—sharing concern and joy, work and recreation. Some visitors would eventually become residents, and many “barbarians” became Christian disciples. It’s amazing how a little hospitality can move an outsider first to belonging and in time to believing.
We at CUMC must take seriously Benedictine Rule #53 and respond to the echo of Christ’s voice, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” What can we learn from St. Patrick and his Celtic followers who took hospitality to a whole new level?
Hospitality was a hallmark of these faith communities. What might you find if you stopped at one of these monasteries? When you arrived a porter would meet you, welcome you and introduce you to other members of the community. The abbot would inquire about your life situation and what brought you to their community, and then offer you a prayer, a scripture and a kiss of peace. The abbot’s time with you would conclude as he washed your feet and instructed his staff to make you a comfortable place to sleep. If the abbot was in a period of fasting, he would break fast in order to serve your needs.
These monks took seriously Benedictine Rule #53 that “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” Over time, visitors would be invited to join in the work and spiritual life of the community—sharing concern and joy, work and recreation. Some visitors would eventually become residents, and many “barbarians” became Christian disciples. It’s amazing how a little hospitality can move an outsider first to belonging and in time to believing.
We at CUMC must take seriously Benedictine Rule #53 and respond to the echo of Christ’s voice, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” What can we learn from St. Patrick and his Celtic followers who took hospitality to a whole new level?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
blizzard
With the snow falling sideways today, I reflected in church about how grateful I was that we all had a place to be--inside, safe, secure, loving, sanctuary. I remember as I get ready, for bed with the snow still falling, how many people around the world have no sanctuary--no walls and roof to separate inside from outside, no safe place to hide, no place to remember the goodness of God and humanity, no sanctuary. I'm still grateful, but I won't be satisfied until each person on this green and blue orb have those those necessities. I'm going to keep fighting for peace, justice and sanctuary for all God's children.
plou
plou
Friday, February 08, 2008
Lenten Fast
Every year people ask me, "What are you giving up for Lent?" And usually my answer is, "Nothing." This year, however, I decided to try not eating from dinner until bedtime. Yesterday, was day two and that was the second day that I considered throwing in the towel. I thought this would be easy, but it's not. I can't tell you how many times between 7 p.m. and midnight I open the snack cupboard or frig. The question as I enter day three is, "Why?" I've eaten three square meals. It is certainly not because my body is starving to death.
I think much of our lives are lived on automatic pilot. We simply do things a certain way because we always have or usually do. We don't think. We simply act. We become puppets in our own game of life. I'm learning that we need to be master's of our impulses if we are to be subject to God's will, but I have 38 days more to learn how to get off automatic pilot and learn to let God be my pilot. I suspect after 38 days, I will still have lots to learn, but every journey starts with one step!
plou
I think much of our lives are lived on automatic pilot. We simply do things a certain way because we always have or usually do. We don't think. We simply act. We become puppets in our own game of life. I'm learning that we need to be master's of our impulses if we are to be subject to God's will, but I have 38 days more to learn how to get off automatic pilot and learn to let God be my pilot. I suspect after 38 days, I will still have lots to learn, but every journey starts with one step!
plou
Monday, February 04, 2008
Fat Tuesday
Lent starts on Wednesday. Wow! It came so fast this year--hardly enough time to celebrate Christmas, start sinning and have something to confess. Just kidding. Apparently it's no problem at all for me as I tip the scales 15 pounds heavier than 6 weeks ago. I don't know how it happened--a cookie here, a scoop of ice cream there and "Voila!" Fat Tuesday came early this year.
The truth is that sin usually works that way. A little here, a little there, until sin's weight (pardon the play on words) finally overwhelms us. Most of us don't fall in huge ways, we wander away a little bit at a time from the One who loves us. Those little wanderings eventually take us a long way from home.
I am turning now toward Home. I am hoping that over the course of Lent I will make my way little by little toward Home. It's good to know that Jesus is up the path ahead of me--the Pioneer of my faith, guarding, guiding all the way.
The truth is that sin usually works that way. A little here, a little there, until sin's weight (pardon the play on words) finally overwhelms us. Most of us don't fall in huge ways, we wander away a little bit at a time from the One who loves us. Those little wanderings eventually take us a long way from home.
I am turning now toward Home. I am hoping that over the course of Lent I will make my way little by little toward Home. It's good to know that Jesus is up the path ahead of me--the Pioneer of my faith, guarding, guiding all the way.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Foggy Days
The fog rolled in this morning. With all the rain and snow melting the air was permeated with moisture. In the dark of early morning it was not possible to see more than a few feet in front of my car as I drove down Three Mile Road. I went up and down, until I crested the final hill and there it was, a light in the distance--it wasn't a star--but it was a welcome sign none-the-less. There it was shining brightly, the cross and flame of our church--a welcome beacon marking the end of my journey.
I thought how many times when our life gets foggy a little light can make all the difference. I wondered if I had ever been a little light to someone. I prayed that God would be able to help me bring a little light into someone else's foggy day.
plou
I thought how many times when our life gets foggy a little light can make all the difference. I wondered if I had ever been a little light to someone. I prayed that God would be able to help me bring a little light into someone else's foggy day.
plou
Keep Christmas Going
Pastor's Thoughts
When I was little Christmas definitely didn't end on Christmas day. My parent' five year stint as missionaries forever colored our traditions. In Argentina, the place of my birth, it was twelfth night that every boy and girl look forward . This was the night of the commemoration of the coming of the wiseman/kings to visit Jesus. On that holiest of nights for the little ones of Argentina, the kings made an annual return to each home to put an item or two in the shoes people left out by the door. For most of us Americans, after all the hub-bub of Christmas, this simple tradition was a welcome relief. I looked forward to this one small gift nearly as much as I did Christmas. I remember one year I received one green race car--it was the highlight of my Christmas.
How hard it is to remember that the most special gifts of the Christmas may come long after the day, as we live out the love and receive over and over again the gift of the Christ child. Epiphany reminds us that the light of Christ must keep shining long after the babe has left the manger, and that light is you.
plou
When I was little Christmas definitely didn't end on Christmas day. My parent' five year stint as missionaries forever colored our traditions. In Argentina, the place of my birth, it was twelfth night that every boy and girl look forward . This was the night of the commemoration of the coming of the wiseman/kings to visit Jesus. On that holiest of nights for the little ones of Argentina, the kings made an annual return to each home to put an item or two in the shoes people left out by the door. For most of us Americans, after all the hub-bub of Christmas, this simple tradition was a welcome relief. I looked forward to this one small gift nearly as much as I did Christmas. I remember one year I received one green race car--it was the highlight of my Christmas.
How hard it is to remember that the most special gifts of the Christmas may come long after the day, as we live out the love and receive over and over again the gift of the Christ child. Epiphany reminds us that the light of Christ must keep shining long after the babe has left the manger, and that light is you.
plou
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