The emotions you feel when you are preparing to go on a trip may vary greatly depending on whom you are traveling with. There are some people who are fun to travel with. They seem to know all of the best places to find a special treat, where to go for the best views, and even seem to happen upon the most peaceful spots at just the time you need to take a break.
Then there are other folks who seem especially adept at raising the anxiety of everyone who travels with them. They are constantly reminding their fellow travelers how many calories are in everything they eat. They notice and point out the flaws—a broken window, a piece of trash, or a dead tree—as the group stands before a magnificent vista. Perhaps most annoying, they never seem to know when to stop talking.
If you have made a few trips with a poor traveling companion, you may be tempted to think that it is best to travel alone. It is true that you can cover more distance when you are unencumbered by the companionship of others; but you miss so much when you experience things alone.
As you continue to prepare for this journey through Lent, let me encourage you to befriend someone. Invite them to join you on this journey to hope. Ask them to be your traveling companion. You may want to make a point of speaking to them each Sunday before or after worship. You may send them notes or e-mails of encouragement along the way. This can be a wonderful opportunity to deepen your spiritual relationship with one another and with Christ.
Your journey through life is not supposed to be a solo experience. As God has adopted you as his child and invited you to join his family, God has given you brothers and sisters to travel alongside you. The people with whom we travel can make good times better and hard times less difficult. You can do the same thing for others.
Let me encourage you to consider who is with you on your journey to hope. How are you helping one another discover the blessings God has prepared for you along the way? Let no one get in the way of anyone experiencing the life-giving power of Jesus.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Journey to Hope
A journey can be a long and difficult trip if you make it alone. When you travel with others it may still call for a large measure of perseverance and resolve; but the whole experience can be much more rich and meaningful.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday—February 22. It marks the beginning of a time when the followers of Christ consider the journey Jesus took as he traveled to Jerusalem and the cross. It is a journey Jesus invites you to take with him. If it were a journey that ended with the death of an innocent man, it might seem to be a journey of despair. As a community of believers shaped by the resurrection, we claim it as a journey of hope.
Beginning with the Service of the Imposition of Ashes (7:00 pm, Wednesday, February 22) you are invited to join with the other members of this congregation as we travel with Jesus to the cross and discover the hope that can be found in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances.
Our Journey to Hope will inspire you to reflect in new ways on Jesus’ experiences on the path to the cross. It will encourage you to see real life situations with fresh eyes. It will challenge you to interact with God with integrity—no matter what “mile marker” you have reached in life. By addressing some of commonplace issues that tend to trip us up—like relationships, self-esteem, work, temptation, money problems, suffering and death—travelers on the journey will discover how faith in Christ is relevant to everyday life and how having a faith community can make all the difference.
Let me encourage you to be intentional about going on this journey. God has the power to turn even your most hopeless situation into a story of new life and rebirth—and Christ is at work in the midst of the community of faith. That is the good news of the resurrection.
Open a new door this Lent and find the hope that changes everything.
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday—February 22. It marks the beginning of a time when the followers of Christ consider the journey Jesus took as he traveled to Jerusalem and the cross. It is a journey Jesus invites you to take with him. If it were a journey that ended with the death of an innocent man, it might seem to be a journey of despair. As a community of believers shaped by the resurrection, we claim it as a journey of hope.
Beginning with the Service of the Imposition of Ashes (7:00 pm, Wednesday, February 22) you are invited to join with the other members of this congregation as we travel with Jesus to the cross and discover the hope that can be found in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances.
Our Journey to Hope will inspire you to reflect in new ways on Jesus’ experiences on the path to the cross. It will encourage you to see real life situations with fresh eyes. It will challenge you to interact with God with integrity—no matter what “mile marker” you have reached in life. By addressing some of commonplace issues that tend to trip us up—like relationships, self-esteem, work, temptation, money problems, suffering and death—travelers on the journey will discover how faith in Christ is relevant to everyday life and how having a faith community can make all the difference.
Let me encourage you to be intentional about going on this journey. God has the power to turn even your most hopeless situation into a story of new life and rebirth—and Christ is at work in the midst of the community of faith. That is the good news of the resurrection.
Open a new door this Lent and find the hope that changes everything.
Friday, February 10, 2012
A Compassionate Heart
If you haven’t noticed the increased frequency of jewelry ads on the television, perhaps you have observed the growing prevalence of pink and red everywhere you go. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and there are lots of people who are trying to suggest ways you might touch the heart of someone special to you. If it’s not a new necklace, perhaps it’s a bouquet of flowers. If it’s not a box of chocolates, maybe it’s a new pair of pajamas. Then again, it could be a stuffed animal or a romantic, candlelit dinner.
Lots of people have been—and will be—searching for just the right gesture to show someone else that they care about them. In some ways it is a commendable endeavor. It is good to let others know you care for them. It is good to express your hope that they know how much they mean to you. It is right to profess your undying love and earnest devotion—to give them your heart.
It is also worth remembering that the person for whom this holiday is named did not only want his “sweetheart” to know about his love. While the practice of Christianity was illegal during the Roman Empire, Valentine persisted in performing Christian marriages for couples who came to him. After he was arrested, he sent notes from prison to the Emperor Claudius II telling him about God’s great love that had been shown to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Even after beatings and other abuses, Valentine persisted in showing the love of Christ to his jailers and the officials who ordered his torture. Tradition holds that the Emperor ordered his execution on February 14.
It is good to remember that Jesus called his followers to a different kind of love than they expected:
Let me encourage you to let at least one of your “enemies” know how much you love them—because you know the love of God. Find a way to touch their heart.
Lots of people have been—and will be—searching for just the right gesture to show someone else that they care about them. In some ways it is a commendable endeavor. It is good to let others know you care for them. It is good to express your hope that they know how much they mean to you. It is right to profess your undying love and earnest devotion—to give them your heart.
It is also worth remembering that the person for whom this holiday is named did not only want his “sweetheart” to know about his love. While the practice of Christianity was illegal during the Roman Empire, Valentine persisted in performing Christian marriages for couples who came to him. After he was arrested, he sent notes from prison to the Emperor Claudius II telling him about God’s great love that had been shown to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Even after beatings and other abuses, Valentine persisted in showing the love of Christ to his jailers and the officials who ordered his torture. Tradition holds that the Emperor ordered his execution on February 14.
It is good to remember that Jesus called his followers to a different kind of love than they expected:
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate”
(Luke 6:32-36).
Let me encourage you to let at least one of your “enemies” know how much you love them—because you know the love of God. Find a way to touch their heart.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Fixing What’s Broken
A friend of mine shared this story last week. He was planning on going for a bike ride. He got dressed, put on his helmet, and headed out the door. When he pulled his bike off the rack, he noticed that one of the tires needed some air. He keeps his pump nearby. “No problem,” he thought. Unfortunately, after a few pumps he realized his pump was not working. It was broken. No pump…flat tire…no ride. He went back inside, plopped down on the couch and stewed while he watched another rerun.
There are very few people who have not had a similar experience. You had your heart set on accomplishing some task, making some trip, or preparing some meal; only to discover that something essential to your endeavor was not up for the task. It was broken.
Sometimes it seems brokenness is everywhere you look. Cars on the side of the road on your way to work. Computer equipment piled up in a corner of the supply closet. A drawer full of dead cell phones. It’s so bad that most people are not surprised when a new device doesn’t work when they first pull it out of the box.
There is another brokenness that is much more troubling—it’s the growing number of people who are broken. Children who are labeled as problems. Youth who have abandoned their dreams. Young adults who have been betrayed. Young couples who have been ensnared in deceptive schemes. Adults who have been cast aside by employers who accept no responsibility for their own bad choices. Older adults who feel abandoned by their families as they face their challenges alone. There is brokenness everywhere you look.
As Jesus begins his ministry, you should notice that he spends much of his time with broken people. You should also notice his response. He doesn’t spend much time analyzing the conditions that have led to their brokenness. He doesn’t try to identify who is to blame for their brokenness. He doesn’t make excuses for them and ask others to give them the benefit of the doubt. What Jesus does is act decisively to restore them to wholeness. Jesus heals the sick. Jesus casts out demons. Jesus teaches the truth. And Jesus does it everywhere he goes.
As followers of Jesus we face the challenge of how to respond to the brokenness we encounter. God is working to restore all of creation. The question is whether the community of faith will accept its role in being the place where people experience the restoring power of God’s Holy Spirit.
May God work among the followers of Jesus that wherever they gather, it may be a place of restoration.
There are very few people who have not had a similar experience. You had your heart set on accomplishing some task, making some trip, or preparing some meal; only to discover that something essential to your endeavor was not up for the task. It was broken.
Sometimes it seems brokenness is everywhere you look. Cars on the side of the road on your way to work. Computer equipment piled up in a corner of the supply closet. A drawer full of dead cell phones. It’s so bad that most people are not surprised when a new device doesn’t work when they first pull it out of the box.
There is another brokenness that is much more troubling—it’s the growing number of people who are broken. Children who are labeled as problems. Youth who have abandoned their dreams. Young adults who have been betrayed. Young couples who have been ensnared in deceptive schemes. Adults who have been cast aside by employers who accept no responsibility for their own bad choices. Older adults who feel abandoned by their families as they face their challenges alone. There is brokenness everywhere you look.
As Jesus begins his ministry, you should notice that he spends much of his time with broken people. You should also notice his response. He doesn’t spend much time analyzing the conditions that have led to their brokenness. He doesn’t try to identify who is to blame for their brokenness. He doesn’t make excuses for them and ask others to give them the benefit of the doubt. What Jesus does is act decisively to restore them to wholeness. Jesus heals the sick. Jesus casts out demons. Jesus teaches the truth. And Jesus does it everywhere he goes.
As followers of Jesus we face the challenge of how to respond to the brokenness we encounter. God is working to restore all of creation. The question is whether the community of faith will accept its role in being the place where people experience the restoring power of God’s Holy Spirit.
May God work among the followers of Jesus that wherever they gather, it may be a place of restoration.
Monday, January 30, 2012
More than Words
While there may be a short supply of many commodities, one thing you can depend on is that there will never be a shortage of opinions. No matter where you are, the decision you are facing, or the choices you have already made; someone will be glad to let you know what they think about it. From what you are wearing, to your career choice, to how you are raising your children; it seems that there are always people who just can’t wait to let you know what they think about it.
These days not only can you count on a endless supply of opinions from your family, friends, and total strangers at the mall; you can turn on the television and anticipate an endless parade of personalities sharing their “expert” opinions on everything from the global economy to school lunches. And perhaps you have noticed that most of the news networks have adopted the policy these days of inviting at least two “experts” to share their opinions at the same time. When they are not talking at the same time, you learn they often have completely different opinions about the subject they been asked to comment on.
If that is not enough opinions for you, the steady stream turns into a torrent when you go to the internet. More than 800 million people are on Facebook, and about half of them log in everyday to share something about their life or comment on something one of their friends has posted. Many people regularly post their views about everything from recycling to fiscal policy on their blog. If you are wondering whether you should buy a particular automobile, appliance, or new electronic device; there may be dozens—if not hundreds—of reviews scattered across the web.
So many opinions may not be a problem for some people. In fact, some people seem to make a hobby of shopping around for opinions that support their own. It’s the way they choose their friends, decide which news programs to watch and which politicians they will support. Sometimes, it’s the way they decide where they will worship.
Let me admit that much of what you may hear in a church—even from the pulpit—is not much more than someone’s opinion. The truth is that has not changed much over time.
When the people came to the synagogue in Capernaum the day Jesus showed up, they were expecting to hear from one of their local teachers (see Mark 1:21-28). They had heard many of them speak before. They shared lots of interesting opinions. It gave the folks something to talk about for the rest of the week. This time Jesus spoke; but it was different. He spoke with authority, and then he acted with authority. It amazed the people then; and I believe that when the church puts its words into action, it will still amaze, excite, and transform those who witness it.
These days not only can you count on a endless supply of opinions from your family, friends, and total strangers at the mall; you can turn on the television and anticipate an endless parade of personalities sharing their “expert” opinions on everything from the global economy to school lunches. And perhaps you have noticed that most of the news networks have adopted the policy these days of inviting at least two “experts” to share their opinions at the same time. When they are not talking at the same time, you learn they often have completely different opinions about the subject they been asked to comment on.
If that is not enough opinions for you, the steady stream turns into a torrent when you go to the internet. More than 800 million people are on Facebook, and about half of them log in everyday to share something about their life or comment on something one of their friends has posted. Many people regularly post their views about everything from recycling to fiscal policy on their blog. If you are wondering whether you should buy a particular automobile, appliance, or new electronic device; there may be dozens—if not hundreds—of reviews scattered across the web.
So many opinions may not be a problem for some people. In fact, some people seem to make a hobby of shopping around for opinions that support their own. It’s the way they choose their friends, decide which news programs to watch and which politicians they will support. Sometimes, it’s the way they decide where they will worship.
Let me admit that much of what you may hear in a church—even from the pulpit—is not much more than someone’s opinion. The truth is that has not changed much over time.
When the people came to the synagogue in Capernaum the day Jesus showed up, they were expecting to hear from one of their local teachers (see Mark 1:21-28). They had heard many of them speak before. They shared lots of interesting opinions. It gave the folks something to talk about for the rest of the week. This time Jesus spoke; but it was different. He spoke with authority, and then he acted with authority. It amazed the people then; and I believe that when the church puts its words into action, it will still amaze, excite, and transform those who witness it.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Now’s the Time
Thanks to the careful planning, clear direction, and hard work of a great group of folks, our congregation can celebrate the success of our chicken barbecue. It is so encouraging to see so many people willing to do their part to make a project like this a success. This is just one more reason I am pleased to serve as their pastor.
Things went pretty well last year, and overall the event was a success; but a few members of the team remember how embarrassing it was to have to tell people that their chicken was not ready. It was lunch time. They had purchased a ticket. They had shown up at the time they had been told we would have something for them to eat; but somewhere, somehow, we had miscalculated. It was tough to ask people to leave and come back later.
I have a bad habit of waiting until a deadline is closing in before I really get serious about some projects. I usually guess pretty well how much time it’s going to take; but every once in a while, something unexpected happens. It throws a monkey wrench into my schedule and leaves me scrambling. I usually get by, but I feel bad that I have not done my best. Sometimes I also find that I need to go back and apologize to someone who “got in the way” as I was sprinting toward the finish.
As Jesus began his ministry he announced, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom!” (Mark 1:15, CEB). A few men heard his call and responded to his invitation to follow him and learn from him. There were lots of other things they could have done. There were lots of reasons they could have put off their decision. Instead, they immediately left what they were doing—and who they were doing it with—and followed him.
The writers of the New Testament do relate a few occasions where Jesus invites someone to follow him and that person makes his apologies for why this is not a good time for him. Sometimes I wonder how many other people were also invited to follow Jesus and did not accept the invitation. We know Jesus spoke to some crowds that numbered over five thousand. It is left to our imagination to wonder how they felt when they realized the opportunity they had missed by failing to recognize that “now is the time!”
It is a privilege to thank everyone who responded “on time” to the invitation to help with the preparation of the meal we served on Friday. As you move into this new year, let me ask you to listen carefully for God’s invitation, and encourage you to be ready to respond immediately to the opportunity to be a part of the great project God has planned.
Things went pretty well last year, and overall the event was a success; but a few members of the team remember how embarrassing it was to have to tell people that their chicken was not ready. It was lunch time. They had purchased a ticket. They had shown up at the time they had been told we would have something for them to eat; but somewhere, somehow, we had miscalculated. It was tough to ask people to leave and come back later.
I have a bad habit of waiting until a deadline is closing in before I really get serious about some projects. I usually guess pretty well how much time it’s going to take; but every once in a while, something unexpected happens. It throws a monkey wrench into my schedule and leaves me scrambling. I usually get by, but I feel bad that I have not done my best. Sometimes I also find that I need to go back and apologize to someone who “got in the way” as I was sprinting toward the finish.
As Jesus began his ministry he announced, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom!” (Mark 1:15, CEB). A few men heard his call and responded to his invitation to follow him and learn from him. There were lots of other things they could have done. There were lots of reasons they could have put off their decision. Instead, they immediately left what they were doing—and who they were doing it with—and followed him.
The writers of the New Testament do relate a few occasions where Jesus invites someone to follow him and that person makes his apologies for why this is not a good time for him. Sometimes I wonder how many other people were also invited to follow Jesus and did not accept the invitation. We know Jesus spoke to some crowds that numbered over five thousand. It is left to our imagination to wonder how they felt when they realized the opportunity they had missed by failing to recognize that “now is the time!”
It is a privilege to thank everyone who responded “on time” to the invitation to help with the preparation of the meal we served on Friday. As you move into this new year, let me ask you to listen carefully for God’s invitation, and encourage you to be ready to respond immediately to the opportunity to be a part of the great project God has planned.
Friday, January 6, 2012
In the Beginning
When a new movie is released, are you one of those people who line up for the midnight show on the opening weekend? If you received an invitation to a preview night at a new restaurant, would you feel special? Have you ever “preordered” a book so that it would be in your house the same day it went on the shelves at the bookstore?
There is something fascinating—even exciting—about being a part of the beginning of something new. I have to admit that one of the reasons I decided to run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Marathon was because it was the “inaugural” race. If it had already been going on, I might have made a different choice. Being able to say I was there when it all started is something that can never be taken away from me (and I was in Johnson Square for the public announcement that Savannah would be hosting the race. . . and months later at Fleet Feet for the unveiling of the course).
If you are one of those people who like to be there at the start of something new, then that is one thing you share in common with God. All four gospel writers agree that Jesus’ public ministry began with his baptism by John. Even more significantly, they all note that when Jesus was baptized God spoke and the Holy Spirit showed up.
If that sounds familiar, perhaps it is because you remember hearing the Genesis story about the creation of the heavens and the earth. As the story opens, nothing much is going on. It is chaos and darkness. But the Holy Spirit is there and God speaks and, well, as they say, “the rest is history.”
It is a history that is marked by the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a history that reveals God’s continuing conversation with the people he created. Through the Spirit’s presence and with God’s gentle voice, it is a history that is full of new beginnings and limitless possibilities. Furthermore, it is the history of every believer.
It is no accident that Jesus told his disciples to baptize those who believed in him. Baptism is a sign that God is present as a person begins their life as a member of the community of faith. Whether we see it or not, we affirm that each person receives the Holy Spirit even as the water is applied.
God wants to be a part of all of your new beginnings. As you continue to move into this new year, open your heart to him. Invite God to speak into your life. Listen for God’s voice. Recognize the Spirit’s presence. Prepare for great blessings.
There is something fascinating—even exciting—about being a part of the beginning of something new. I have to admit that one of the reasons I decided to run the Rock ‘n’ Roll Savannah Marathon was because it was the “inaugural” race. If it had already been going on, I might have made a different choice. Being able to say I was there when it all started is something that can never be taken away from me (and I was in Johnson Square for the public announcement that Savannah would be hosting the race. . . and months later at Fleet Feet for the unveiling of the course).
If you are one of those people who like to be there at the start of something new, then that is one thing you share in common with God. All four gospel writers agree that Jesus’ public ministry began with his baptism by John. Even more significantly, they all note that when Jesus was baptized God spoke and the Holy Spirit showed up.
If that sounds familiar, perhaps it is because you remember hearing the Genesis story about the creation of the heavens and the earth. As the story opens, nothing much is going on. It is chaos and darkness. But the Holy Spirit is there and God speaks and, well, as they say, “the rest is history.”
It is a history that is marked by the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a history that reveals God’s continuing conversation with the people he created. Through the Spirit’s presence and with God’s gentle voice, it is a history that is full of new beginnings and limitless possibilities. Furthermore, it is the history of every believer.
It is no accident that Jesus told his disciples to baptize those who believed in him. Baptism is a sign that God is present as a person begins their life as a member of the community of faith. Whether we see it or not, we affirm that each person receives the Holy Spirit even as the water is applied.
God wants to be a part of all of your new beginnings. As you continue to move into this new year, open your heart to him. Invite God to speak into your life. Listen for God’s voice. Recognize the Spirit’s presence. Prepare for great blessings.
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