Year End

Here we are, another year almost in the books.

Some of us couldn’t be happier to turn the calendar.  The past year has been one of difficulty, derailment and bad diagnoses.  They have lost people, or jobs, or homes, or health, or something that meant a great deal to them, and they are grieving.

Others of us are sad to see 2012 end.  It has been a year filled with victories, happiness, joy and accomplishment.  If 2013 can only be half as good, we would still be happy.

Starting a new year lets us begin with a clean slate.  We turn the page and start anew.  Many of us set goals for achievement professionally, personally or for our families.  We have a vacation we want to take, a home we want to buy, an event we want to survive, a wedding we are planning, a decision about a school to attend, a car to purchase, a surgery or procedure we need to endure, a milestone we want to mark.  Some of what we will face in the new year is on our agenda.  Much of what will happen we do not know and cannot control.  That’s just the way life goes.

Which is why I embrace these words from David:

“…I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in your hands.”
 Psalm 31:14&15, NIV

I am a planner.  I like to know ahead what is going to happen, how it is going to happen, when it going to happen and what I have to do to make it happen.  I like to say, “The devil is in the details”.  It is the small things that can make the difference between success or failure, achievement or disappointment.  On the other hand, there is so much of life that is out of our control.  I can plan my route, leave on time, and drive carefully, but I can’t control traffic that is backed up because a dog has gotten loose on the Eisenhower expressway.  Who counts on that?

So, as I turn my calendar next Tuesday to 2013, I will pray that God will let me live into this piece of wisdom:

“I have concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it is going to be, always.  No addition, no subtraction.  God’s done it and that’s it.  That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.

Whatever was, is.

Whatever will be, is.

That’s how it always is with God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:14&15, The Message

We don’t get to choose whether or not a new year begins.  But we do get to decide the way we will embrace it!

Happy New Year! God Bless!
~Rev

Christmas

Our townhouse development has about 100 residences.  Like other developments this time of year many of the homes are adorned with Christmas decorations.

Several of our neighbors have replaced the everyday white light bulbs in the lights on their garages with one red and one green light.  Others have strung lights in trees, around the garage and over the entryway.

Last year Becky noticed that one of our neighbors had nothing up when she left the house in the morning, but their home and yard were elaborately decorated when she returned that evening.  It was beautiful.  I had to tell her that I had seen the truck of professionals pull up to do the job.  The same truck was there this year!

              

One of our neighbors is into inflatable yard art.  He has a Halloween piece, which is replaced by a turkey, which is replaced on Thanksgiving Day by a Frosty the Snowman.              

One home has a string of over-sized Christmas tree lights stuck in the ground bordering a patch of land where they plant flowers for the summer. 

Everyone seems to get into the Christmas spirit and whether they are purposeful about it or not, they are using the symbols that the bible uses to describe Jesus’ birth:

               “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”  John 1:5,9

              

However, there are some houses that have no decorations and no lights.  They are dark in many ways.  The man four doors down died this summer of a sudden heart attack.  His wife was overcome with grief.  She went back to her home country and their townhouse sits empty and dark, a monument to mourning.

              

The woman across the street has hung no décor.  She is fighting a battle against cancer, but has decided to take no treatments.  The disease will run its course and eventually kill her.  When Becky talks to her she always comes home filled with a sense of sadness.

              

There are stories in every home, well lit or dark, decorated, or left unadorned. 

My prayer is that “The Story” of the season, Emmanuel, God with Us, will visit every home and make Himself known in real and practical ways. 

I pray that “the true light that gives light to every man”, will break into whatever darkness people may be experiencing; illness, grief, anxiety, unemployment, estrangement, sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness. 

I pray that God will use worship services, special events, family gatherings, informal conversations, and people being present with other people, to draw people closer to him and to give life meaning.

And if God so chooses, may He use us!

May God bless us, everyone!

Merry Christmas!
~Rev                                                     

Waiting

Sometimes you have heard things 100 times and you know exactly what is being said, but for some reason (the Holy Spirit) this time when you hear it, you sit up and take notice. That happened to me a couple of weeks ago in worship.

It was the first Sunday of Advent, our journey in the church toward Christmas. My colleague, Gregg, was reminding us that one of themes of this time of year is “waiting”.  I learned this in seminary nearly 40 years ago and have said it myself many times during the advent season. I have preached on the theme of waiting and I have reminded people that our idea of waiting is unique. Waiting is not biding our time, or cooling our heels, or standing in line. Waiting is actively engaging in life and living out God’s desires, anticipating His fulfillment.  

For some reason, this particular Sunday, “waiting” made me sit up and take notice and begin to wrestle with waiting again.

Waiting is not something I do naturally. No one has ever referred to me as “Peter Patience”.  I don’t like lines at the gas station, the toll booth, the theater, the grocery store, or the concession stand.  Waiting for a doctor, a phone call, something I have ordered, a promise that has been made to be fulfilled, or for someone to take action, is excruciating for me. 

The Israelites waited 400 years to hear from God. 400 years!  Are any of us that patient? We pray and expect God to answer immediately, or at least within a reasonable time frame...like hours, or at the most a few days. 

Then, after 400 years of waiting, the Israelites didn’t yet understand. “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:9-11) 

I have waited; for dreams to be fulfilled, for difficulty to subside, for painful situations to be over, for grief to resolve, for kids to mature, for myself to be more patient. 

         

We all wait. 

But Christians wait differently. We actively wait, engaging in life and living out God’s desires until he fulfills his promises. Sometimes what we receive when our waiting concludes is not what we expected, like a king born without fanfare amidst animals, who brings about a kingdom that is not material but spiritual, who tells us to love our enemies, to serve and not be served, and to be humble so we can be exalted.

As we wait this Christmas season for God to deliver again, what are we really waiting for, and how we will know when the wait is over?

   

~Rev.

Making A Difference

As the Christmas season gets into full swing, everyone jumps on the bandwagon.  Retailers, civic groups, politicians, educational institutions, promoters of the arts, dance troupes, athletes and teams, Metra, the CTA, and every one and thing in between.  Every one wants to walk in the wake of Jesus’ birthday. 

         

And as predictable as commercials, new Christmas albums and sweets appearing regularly in the coffee room, are Christians bemoaning the fact that the “reason for the season” has been lost, or at least buried, under all the other reasons for promoting the season.  My Facebook page has been peppered with messages that remind me to “Keep Christ in Christmas” and to say “Merry Christmas” and not “Happy Holidays”.  It only takes a few before I start to either ignore the warnings, or resent them!

All the handwringing, shouting and cajoling will not change retailers, or commercial interests.  In fact, too often it reinforces the culture’s opinion that Christ-followers are a bunch of angry, critical, scowling, buzz kill, whiners.   

If we want to make a difference and keep the focus on the true meaning of Christmas, perhaps we should follow Jesus’ example.  Jesus spent very little time being critical and when He was it was usually with those who were representing God’s interests.

Jesus’ way of making a difference was one individual at a time.  He healed those who were blind or crippled and, in turn, those people told everyone they met about the transformation that had come about because of their encounter with Jesus.  He met the Samaritan woman at the well, and she, in turn, went to tell her village about her encounter with him. 

 As for me and my household, we will keep Christ in Christmas.  We will wish people a “Merry Christmas”, rather than “Happy Holidays”.  (When someone wishes me a “Happy Holiday”, I usually respond with “Merry Christmas” and a smile, not a scowl.)  We will remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.  We will extend the peace, joy and love of Christ to everyone we meet.

I can’t change the cultural trends by myself, or by writing something, or by insisting others view the season differently.  All I can do is my part as an individual to represent Christ during this Holy season and let the Holy Spirit do the rest!

God's Blessing

On Thanksgiving we sat at tables piled with food and shared stories with our families and our friends.  Part of our conversation may have included recounting the blessings God has given us.  After all isn’t that the foundation of Thanksgiving?  

Over the subsequent days I was wrestling with the idea of God’s blessings.  I receive emails, letters, read articles and Facebook posts about God’s blessings.  They usually have a context of an illness being healed, a treatment being successful, a job being found, a marriage being restored, a child being successful, something positive that has taken place in life. 

 

Certainly those are signs of God’s activities and blessings.  But what do we say or think when the treatment is unsuccessful, or the surgery fails, or the marriage falls apart, or we remain unemployed, or our kids don’t make the team? 

The Old Testament character, Job, experienced the best of life and significant times of pain, sorrow and loss.  He wrote:

            Naked I came from my mother's womb,

            and naked I will depart.

            The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

            may the name of the LORD be praised. (Job 1:21)

Whether we experience goodness in life or difficulty, God’s name deserves to be honored and praised.  The above verses were the inspiration for contemporary Christian songwriter Matt Redman and his wife, Beth, to pen the song, “Blessed be Your Name”.  The verses express this sentiment:

            BLESSED BE YOUR NAME

            In the land that is plentiful,

            Where Your streams of abundance flow,

            Blessed be Your name.

            And blessed be Your name

            When I'm found in the desert place,

            Though I walk through the wilderness,

            Blessed be Your name.

           

            Blessed be Your name

            When the sun's shining down on me,

            When the world's 'all as it should be',

            Blessed be Your name.

            And blessed be Your name

            On the road marked with suffering,

            Though there's pain in the offering,

            Blessed be Your name.

My clergy colleague, Bob Brouwer, from Faith Reformed Church in Dyer, Indiana, lost his brother-in-law at a young age this week.  Bob posted this quote from commentator Michael Wilcock which captures a unique and difficult perspective.

"We may be lost, trapped, diseased, or overwhelmed. It may be our own fault or it may not. The Lord may seem to us kind or cruel. Good things happen and bad things happen. But ultimately God is good." Michael Wilcock, Commentary on Psalm 107

That’s a tough truth for me to embrace in the midst of difficulty, but it is the truth!

           

Blessed be the Lord!     ~ Rev

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year because it has maintained its dignity and purpose. A time set aside to give thanks for God’s many blessings to us has its origin in the agricultural culture of Old Testament where God’s people were encouraged to have a celebration after the harvest to give God thanks for His provision.

Those of us who believe in God and His overwhelming grace continue that tradition. Whether in worship services, or around our own family tables or both, we will acknowledge that all we have and all we are is a gift from God.

So, spend some time thinking about God’s gifts to you and expressing your gratitude. Following is my list of things for which I am thankful, which is not exhaustive, but for some reason are in my heart and mind today.

Family: Becky and I both have our mothers alive at age 85+. They both have some challenges, but they are both relatively healthy compared to their peer group. We will gather with a portion of Becky’s family at her mom’s house on Thanksgiving. My mom will celebrate with my niece and other extended family in Michigan. We don’t anticipate any family drama or tension, which apparently is unusual!

Christian Community: We are surrounded by a wonderful community of people on a journey with us to be God’s presence in this world. I have been able to reconnect with some long-time Christian brothers. We get together to laugh, solve the world’s problems and share life regularly. They are a blessing in my life. We are part of a congregation that has welcomed us and enveloped us with the love of Christ.

Colleagues: I am grateful that I work with some very talented and deeply committed people who bless my life regularly with their gifts and talents. I learn something from them every day as they share insights, challenge my perceptions, and cheer each other on in the work we do.

Prosperity: We live in the land of plenty. When we step back and reflect on our place in the world, we have been blessed beyond comparison. Our nation is not perfect. However, I thank God for this place where I live, for the freedoms I am afforded, for stores with an abundance of food, for transportation systems that enable travel, for recreational opportunities that abound and for technology that enhances life.

Choices: I am grateful that I get to make choices. There is a lot of whining about stores opening on Thanksgiving for shopping. People believe it interrupts family time and rest. My perspective is: “just because a store is open, doesn’t mean I have to go!” I get to make a choice as to how I will spend my holiday. My choice will be worship, family, food and football! Other people can make other choices and God bless them as they do!

On this holiday weekend, remember the author of all we have and all we are and give Him His props!

God bless!

It Could Happen to Anyone

My first response was one of indignation. More immoral behavior by people in the public sphere. It was another sign of decay in our cultural mores.

As more information leaked, I felt like I was watching a Junior High romantic triangle unfold before my eyes. Although it was more complicated than things are in Junior High. Paula Broadwell, a married, 40 year old West Point graduate with an advanced degree from Harvard and who is working on a PhD from King’s College in London, England, had an extra marital affair with General David Petraeus, Director of the CIA. She suspected that Jill Kelley, a socialite from Tampa, Florida, was doing the same and Broadwell had written numerous emails accusing Kelley of being inappropriate with General Petraeus. I am not sure exactly what the content of the emails may have been. Maybe something like, “Keep away from my man. I was having an affair with him first!” Reports of the content of the emails was “cat fight kind of stuff.”

Seriously? Grown, mature women in a Junior High like cat-fight over a married man?

If it wasn’t so sad, it would be laughable.

Much of the reporting has been over the concern whether or not the security of the United States had been compromised.

After a while, I began to reflect differently. A 60 year old highly educated, highly decorated and highly respected career military leader had an inappropriate relationship with a 40 year old highly educated, high achieving, respected woman, who in turn wrote threatening emails to another woman. How does this happen?

Television programs began trotting out psychologists and counselors all offering their theories of what leads to this kind of thing. Power, invincibility, ego needs, and thrill seeking are all offered as reasons. I listened with interest.

Then I began to personalize the whole situation. Am I sure I would never do anything like this? I bet David Petraeus thought that was the case before it happened to him. Intelligence, education, achievement and high moral standards are not assurances against lapses in judgment and immorality. The bible is full of people who engaged in similar behavior. David is the most obvious example. His personal byline in scripture is that he had a “heart for God.” He still failed morally.

We all need to be aware that we are vulnerable to this kind of behavior and should never be naive enough to believe “this could never happen to me.”

Once I got over my “moral outrage” and my cynicism about “Junior High” behavior by mature, educated and successful people, I had to look in the mirror and say, “God help me. Protect me, O Lord, from walking down that path, and deliver me from the illusion that I might be immune.”

It could happen to anyone, including us!

Embarrassment

They were in the church lobby when I arrived at 7:45 a.m. to prepare for our 8:55 service. They had been picked up about 7:00 a.m. to make the trip to our church. As I walked in they greeted me with warm smiles and great enthusiasm. Apparently they were all morning people. They were excited about being here.
   
They were going to assist in leading in our worship service. They would be helping to lead singing, and in prayer. They would participate in both of our morning services which means they would be with us until 12:15 p.m. None of them complained about the amount of time, about how they would participate, about sitting through two complete services, or about the hour gap between services. They were models of “unbridled joy.”

As they appeared on the platform there was nothing conformist about their attire. It ranged from suits and ties to jeans and a tee shirt for men. From dresses to jeans and a tee shirt for women. They were not professional singers. As a matter of fact they had a hard time keeping the rhythm of the songs and many sang off key. But they all sang with enthusiasm and loudly. They were “making a joyful noise”, and that’s all they seemed to care about.
   
When they returned to their seats in the midst of our congregants for the rest of the service they paid rapt attention. They applauded with enthusiasm during certain elements. When my colleague, Gregg, delivered the message they listened to every word, shouted “Amen” appropriately, and answered questions he posed to them as he spoke. They were fully engaged and locked in during both services. Gregg was inspired and encouraged by their interaction.
   
Their enthusiasm and participation were contagious. They inspired our congregation. At the close of the service they led a song where we were encouraged to hold hands with people and lift them to the heavens at a certain point. No one balked at participating.
   
Our guest leaders that day in worship were from Elim Christian Services. They were adults with a variety of special needs, some severe and profound. They love God and they love to worship. They were not concerned with what anyone else thought about how they dressed, or how they sang, or what they said during the service. The whole experience was delightful and instructive.
   
Too often I, and others, worry too much about what others will think of me, even in worship. What will they think if I raise my hands during a song, or shout amen, or applaud enthusiastically for God? Periodically over the years I have had the opportunity to sit with my family during a worship service and my kids were always a little embarrassed by my loud singing and participation. I let their embarrassment dampen my enthusiasm.
   
I have had people say to me, “I wanted to shout ‘Amen,’ when you made this point in your message, but I didn’t because I was afraid of what others might think.”
   
The Psalms encourage us to “shout to the Lord,” “clap our hands,” and to “lift our hands.”

     “Praise him with the sounding trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” (Psalm 150:3-5)

I am embarrassed by my embarrassment. I learned a lot from my friends at Elim Christian Services. But the most important thing I was reminded of was to care less about what other people think and worship with “unbridled joy.”

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Current Events

This week two current events weigh on my heart and on my mind.

THE HURRICANE

All of us have been stunned by the pictures and video that have been published of the damage from Hurricane Sandy. The satellite images helped me to understand the widespread nature of the storm. We felt some minor effects in Chicago.
   
The images of entire towns wiped out, fires burning, waist high water in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, water cascading down the stairs that lead to subways and trains, terminals flooded, and airport runways completely covered with water, were astounding.    
Water damage is horrible. We had two water damage issues in our house in Traverse City. Getting rid of the water and dampness, assessing the extent of the damage and concern about future mold weighed on our mind. But our water issues were trivial. As I looked at the pictures of the damage out east I wondered, “Where do you start?”
   
In moments like these we are reminded that we are part of a nation of people. We are connected to others. When one suffers, we all suffer. Relief efforts began immediately. People who work on infrastructure in Illinois have gone east, the Red Cross was on site promptly, and other organizations began to take action. However, there is a sense in which we feel helpless individually to be able to offer any assistance.
   
Our denomination, the Christian Reformed Church of North American, is combining efforts with the Reformed Church World Service and assisting in relief efforts. Our Deacons have initiated a special offering for these efforts which will be collected over the next week. It doesn’t seem like much, but it is something, combined with prayer that can make a difference.
   
As Christ followers we want to respond to those who are in need.
   
THE ELECTION

On Tuesday, November 6, we will have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. I would encourage everyone to participate. In years in which there is a presidential election, just over 50% of the voting age population participates in the election. That is disturbing, but it is also an indicator of what happens in a democratic society where we take elections for granted. It has been a part of our nation for so long we become apathetic.
   
The most common comment that I hear about this year’s election is, “I can’t wait until it’s over.” People are tired of political ads, candidate accusations, and mud-slinging.
   
But we get to vote. It is an honor, a privilege and a responsibility.
   
As Christ followers we have a responsibility to be informed, to vote for candidates who will best serve our nation and God’s broad vision for life, and to participate.
   
Celebrate the end of campaign season by voting.

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Hero

I was a hero this week!

Well, at least that is what she said.

It poured rain for about 15 minutes and a section of our street was flooded with water moving up people’s driveways near their garage doors. I arrived at home at the same time the mother of my neighbor was arriving for a visit. She parked in the parking spot across the street and several doors down from her daughter’s townhouse because the flooding was deepest in front of her daughter’s home and up to her garage door.

Making casual conversation, I made some genius comment like, “Wow, it looks like we’re flooded.”

The woman said, “My daughter already called the city about it.”

“I think I know what’s wrong. I think I can fix it,” I said.

“You’ll be her hero,” she replied.

I went inside, put on some shorts and some sandals, grabbed a rake and waded into the water toward the street. I arrived at my destination and began moving the leaves away from the drain with my rake. Instantaneously the water rushed into the drain from both sides. Within minutes the street was free of water and all the driveways were clear as well. And, apparently, I was a hero!. Had I known it was so easy, I would have done this earlier in my life!

God’s heroes are a strange lot.

There is Rahab, the prostitute, who struck a deal with Israelite spies and hid them after they promised to spare her family when the Israelites took over Jericho.

There is the spoiled brat of a little brother, Joseph, who was sold into slavery, imprisoned on trumped up sexual assault charges, and eventually served as the Head of State in Egypt. He saved his brothers and the future nation of Israel from starvation by providing food and protection for them.

The prophetess and judge, Deborah, led Israel to triumph over enemies that threatened their extinction.

In the New Testament, the book of Acts is filled with heroes who stood valiantly for their faith in the midst of persecution and some lost their lives.

These are heroes. People who are so convinced of God’s love and purpose for life that they are willing to give up anything for God’s cause.

I am often too self-centered to give up my time, or an event I want to be a part of, or an opportunity that I have longed for, or an evening home, to represent God somewhere or with someone. Inconvenience and sacrifice are the paths to being a hero for God. Paths I don’t always want to travel.

If only being a hero for God was as easy as raking leaves away from a drain!

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Neighborhoods

Sometimes Chicago is referred to as the “city of neighborhoods.” Ethnic groups cluster together. We have Chinatown and Greektown. There is a section of Chicago where many of the store names and advertising copy is in Spanish. Another section is in Polish. In fact, Chicago has the largest number of Polish people of any city in the world outside of Warsaw, Poland. I once went to assist a church in the city where most of the people in the neighborhood were recent immigrants from Africa.

We tend to gather near people who are like us. It makes sense when you think about it. If you move here from a foreign country, wouldn’t you try to find people who looked like you, spoke your language, understood your customs and honored your culture?

Churches reflect the same human tendency. When people move to a new city they often try to find a church of the same denomination, or similar style as the one they attended in their previous home.

We like to hang out with people like us; people who share our interests, our values, our culture, our perspectives. It makes us comfortable, and we like being comfortable.

Interestingly, the founder of our faith, Jesus, did just the opposite. He sought out people who were unlike him. He befriended the friendless. He loved the unlovely. He embraced the outcast. He purposely engaged people He wasn’t supposed to engage.

John records a story in his 4th chapter of Jesus taking his disciples through Samaria and stopping for water at a well there. So? Well, Jews didn’t mix with Samaritans. In fact, even though going through Samaria could cut a day or two out of your travel, Jews refused to even walk through Samaria. Not Jesus.

He stopped at a watering hole and engaged a Samaritan woman in conversation. She had two strikes against her that were obvious. She was a Samaritan and a woman. Jewish religious leaders didn’t talk to Samaritans and men didn’t talk to strange women, or women at all for that matter.

It gets worse than that. German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way:

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work.”

Jesus intentionally sought out people who were unlike Him and even befriended His enemies! This is not my natural tendency. We distance ourselves from people we perceive as enemies.  Evangelicals from “mainline”, conservative from liberals, Protestants from Catholics, Cubs fans from White Sox fans!

I want to be like Jesus. Which means that I have to fight my natural tendencies and intentionally embrace people who are unlike me.

That’s hard to do in the city of neighborhoods.

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Trust Issues

I had a conversation the other day with a young man whose girlfriend had dumped him after 18 months. He was understandably saddened and distraught over this development. He told me the story through his tears and sobs and at one point concluded, “I don’t know what I am going to do. I’ll never meet anyone I care about as much as her.”

 

There was a response I wanted to give, and there was an appropriate response. The appropriate response was to listen, empathize and care for him without offering any advice that I thought would “fix” his problem. He wasn’t looking for a fix at the time, just caring.

He also wasn’t looking, at the moment, for any philosophical advice that I could have offered based on my advanced age and experience. But that was the response I wanted to give. In 35 years of ministry I have heard this story, or a version of it, many times. My prediction would be that he would be sad and distraught for a period of time, but before long he would be introducing me to the new “love of his life.” His sadness would dissipate and would be replaced with joy and a sense that he was very glad he didn’t stay with his former girlfriend.

We all have “trust issues.” We profess faith in God’s goodness and His desire to give us good things. We profess that we look to God to direct and guide our lives and to take care of us when things get difficult. We trust God to be involved in our lives and to reveal his plan for us. However, too often God’s plan looks a lot like the plan we have for our lives; and when things don’t go according to our plan, we are disappointed, discouraged, saddened and distraught. We wonder why God failed us, or how we failed.

Well, we can’t have it both ways. We can’t say that God has a plan for our lives and that we trust him, and then wonder what happened when things don’t go the way we thought had been planned.

Now, I am not saying that we are not going to feel disappointed, or sad, or even distraught when plans fail. I am saddened and distraught periodically. That is only natural and normal. However, I keep this question of the Apostle Paul nearby:

“Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

(Romans 11:34)

No one has understood God, and no one has ever helped him out with advice.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,

declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

Oftentimes the journey to embracing God’s plan is filled with sadness, disappointment and pain. Isn’t that the story of Jesus’ last week of life? Suffering, pain, and difficulty, all of which He expressed very openly, on His way to embracing God’s plan of our salvation through the cross and the power of Hope which comes through the resurrection.

It is difficult to trust God in the midst of difficulty and pain, but at the same time we know we can trust Him for our future regardless of the present.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?”

But I will trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:1,5)

We’re all working through our “trust issues.”

 

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Shaking our Head

At first glance I shook my head in disbelief.

In 2007 an 18 year girl had turned her SUV into the path of a motorcycle and the cyclist had died. She had been drinking prior to the accident and had pleaded guilty to DUI. The case was just settled in court. That’s right, five years later. With a plea bargain. Her punishment was probation.

Are you shaking your head?

So many things made me shake my head; an underage drinker; driving under the influence; the tragedy of those two factors leading to the death of an innocent motorcyclist; the fact that it took five years to reach any kind of conclusion; and the punishment....probation. Really? Probation?

Are you shaking your head?

Well, the rest of the story will really make you shake your head.

The mother of the deceased motorcyclist was in the courtroom for the conclusion of this long, difficulty saga. Following the verdict and announcement of the punishment, the mother of the victim waited for the young woman outside the courtroom. When the woman who had caused her son’s death appeared, she walked up to her and gave her a big hug.

Are you shaking your head?

For the mother, it was the culmination of a journey that began in anger at the young woman whom she blamed for her son’s death. It ended in sympathy.

“You can never forget. But you can forgive,” she said.

The mother originally wanted the young woman to be harshly punished. But in court she sensed her remorse. Forgiving her and embracing her were the right things to do. “My son was the type who would forgive,” she said.

Are you shaking your head?

For most of us forgiveness is an intellectual concept. Or something that we have practiced in relationships where the price has not been the taking of an innocent life. To read about this kind of forgiveness makes us shake our heads. It is hard to imagine.

Of all the things Jesus taught, forgiveness may be the most powerful and at the same time most difficult for us. It was a revolutionary concept in Jesus’ day. German political theorist Hannah Arendt, the first woman appointed to a full professorship at Princeton University, claimed that forgiveness and love of enemies is a distinctively Christian contribution to the human race: “the discoverer of the role of forgiveness in the realm of human affairs was Jesus of Nazareth.”

We are very happy to receive God’s forgiveness for all our bungling, but we tend to not be so good at distributing it to others; especially those we consider our “enemies”.           

I am reminded of this when I hear how we talk about people who represent political parties and stances we oppose. Or when I listen to people talk about ex-spouses. Or when I hear followers of Jesus talk about other followers of Jesus who have a different view of His love, grace and mercy. Certainly they are the enemy and are not to be affiliated with, let alone embraced.

I hear it in the way we talk about people, or churches in our same denomination who are viewed as the enemy; too liberal or conservative, not holding true to “our teachings,” seemingly compromising standards.  

It is most painful when I hear myself, or others, talk about people in our own congregation as if they are the enemy.

That’s when God is shaking His head.

“Forgive us our (debts, trespasses, sins),

As we forgive those who are our (debtors, trespassers, sinners).”

Those words are easy to pray, but when we try to put them into practice it will make us shake our heads.

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No Immunity

They were “high-fliers”, “on the fast track.” By all appearances they were very successful. Nice cars, big homes, and country club memberships were all a part of their lives. By all appearances they had healthy marriages, great kids, and a solid family foundation. They were all Christians, dedicated to Jesus and active in their churches. The husbands and wives often spent time together socially and in other contexts.

This is not to say that everything was perfect. None of them would have said that. The husbands all worked very hard, putting in long hours in their various businesses. They had to deal with the some of the same challenges that other families had to deal with--aging parents, serious illnesses, challenges with their children, and living with the pressure of maintaining the lifestyles to which they had grown accustomed.

For the most part, they were living lives that many would admire and covet. However nothing, absolutely nothing, can make you bullet proof.

When the economy began its downward descent in 2008 and didn’t recover immediately, they all took a hit: a big hit. Two of them lost their businesses. One is still hanging on by his fingernails. One of them had to declare bankruptcy. Their lives were, and still are, under unbelievable pressure. Two of them had marriages disintegrate. Sometimes even solid foundations can crumble under pressure.

There are a lot of lessons here, not the least of which is that “our times are in your hands.” None of us can control everything. Being a “victim of circumstances” is never the whole truth. By their own admission they each had made some mistakes. Perhaps the biggest was that they believed they were on a constant, unwavering upward ascent; that there would never be a dip, let alone a plunge, in their economic well being. They had gotten their head out over their skis too far and were tumbling.

Another lesson that deserves a constant reminder is that being a faithful follower of Jesus doesn’t make us immune from difficulty. Prosperity, well being, success, and good health are not guaranteed to us because we are one with Jesus.

Certainly that isn’t the case in the Bible. God’s people suffer. And, not unlike us, they suffer because of circumstances, situations, and others, as well as their own missteps.

As I look back on my own life, I made many of the same mistakes my friends had made, but dodged a bullet on paying such a high price. Too often my family came in second to my profession. I was not always aware that part of my drive to succeed was fueled by ego needs disguised as ministry. I have had moments when I have questioned difficulty in my life when I have pledged to serve God professionally, as if my service was to make me immune from life itself. The whole time God has been patient with me. God has confronted me with my shortcomings and has walked alongside of me when I have been paying the price for my own failings.

My friends continue on. Because they are talented and hard working, they are all in various degrees of recovery. They have learned lessons, changed habits, and refocused their lives and try to pass that on to others. They have a deeper appreciation for God’s grace, mercy and love than ever before.   

Embarrassing

This is the season when I am mildly embarrassed by my college major.

Well, actually my college major was a little complicated. I wanted to be a teacher which back in ancient history meant you had to have a major and a minor as well as all of your education classes and student teaching. My parents made it clear that this was a four year deal, so there was some cramming involved, along with some summer school credits that helped things along.

         

My major was kinesiology (physical education) and my minor was political science. However, I had more than enough credits in political science for a major, so technically I was a double major.

         

I love political science: the history, the development, the nuances. I took a class on the politics of third world nations and another on the politics of Latin America. My first teaching job assigned me to teach five sessions of U.S. Government to High School Seniors every day! I loved it.

         

Chicago is a great place to live if you like politics. The recent teacher’s strike was a lot more about politics and power than it was about education. (O.K., so that’s my opinion.)

         

It doesn’t hurt to know about political systems when you work in churches!

         

But this is the season of the year when being a political science major can be embarrassing. Presidential politicking has become mostly “trashing” the other candidate and their personal and political histories. An embarrassing video of a Romney speech is made public. An embarrassing video of Obama needs to be found and distributed. A sound bite of one candidate can be made to look controversial and the other candidate’s camp needs to find one with which to counter-punch.

         

We have to look past the newspaper headlines and the television coverage to find out what each candidate wants to accomplish. In fact, you really have to dig to find out what one party or the other would actually do because so much is focused on how bad the other is.

         

Facebook doesn’t help. One posting after another “trashes” either candidate. It makes me cringe a little when devout Christians engage in this. The bible gives these instructions:

         

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:1,7)

         

Much of what is written and said is disrespectful and doesn’t honor anyone. We need to find ways that we can differentiate our political beliefs without demonizing those who hold different beliefs. What qualifies as respectful disagreement?

         

I do know this from history.

         

No party, or candidate, has been perfect.

         

Both political parties have contributed to the betterment of our nation throughout history.

         

Neither party can claim to be more “christian” than the other. There are thoughtful, evangelical believers who are members of both parties.

         

Jesus was “apolitical”. He was only concerned about one Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, which was spiritual and not material.

         

Personal attacks, in the long run, are counter-productive. When we keep focusing on how bad another person is, rather than on what they will contribute that will result in positive change, it often has the opposite impact we hope for.

         

Ultimately, Christians are not even citizens of this world. We are aliens, here only for a short visit to share God’s love, grace and mercy before we go to our true Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.

         

That’s not embarrassing.

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The Rest of the Story

My first reaction was to identify her as a spoiled rich kid who had gone sideways and was so desperate for a high she resorted to “huffing” (inhaling ingredients of an aerosol). It ended tragically. She lost control of her car (a Lexus sport coupe) and ran into a family who was walking down the sidewalk injuring several of them and killing a five year old girl.

 

Senseless. Tragic. Horrible.

The late Paul Harvey was famous for his story telling. One of his techniques was to tell a story and then move on to something else, or a commercial break and then come back with his signature line: “And now, the rest of the story”.

As the days progressed “the rest of the story” came out piece by piece. Three years ago the teenage driver had been attacked by a dog and her face had been torn apart. She has suffered from nightmares and trauma ever since. She has been under psychological care. Kids in her high school teased her because of the scars on her face. She changed schools to avoid their cruelty. She had turned to drugs and alcohol to ease her pain and then later had been part of a 12 step rehabilitation program. She still suffered greatly and apparently the huffing was another way of coping.

The “rest of the story” made me more sympathetic. I could only imagine how painful and difficult this must be for her. I felt badly for her parents who, no doubt, were scrambling to figure out how to help their daughter, had done all they knew how, and were feeling at a loss of what to do next.

The “rest of the story” didn’t excuse her from what she had done. Her means of coping with her own pain had tragically impacted another family. An innocent life had been lost. A domino that was tipped over three years earlier was still tipping over others in even more tragic ways. My heart broke for everyone.

Jesus said, “Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

The book of Proverbs says:

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” (Proverbs 1:5)

Every person we meet has a back story. Everything we do or say is a product of our past. Some of it good, and some of it bad. I have learned that behind every smiling face and seemingly perfect person, marriage or family, there is probably some pain and difficulty because none of us is perfect. I have discovered that many people that I have admired had flaws that I didn’t know existed when I heard “the rest of the story.” Troubled teens or young adults have a story: dysfunction at home, some tragic event, perhaps a well hidden disability, or some kind of pain they are trying to mask.

I know that is true of me.

Jesus took the time to listen to people’s stories. He didn’t necessarily let their stories excuse their moral or ethical failures, but He did understand the road they traveled to get there. He was empathetic, which is how He communicated His love and acceptance of the person without finding everything they did acceptable.

I am praying I will remember to do the same. 

I am also praying for the family of the five year old girl who was killed and for the driver and her family, who now have one more tragedy in their lives heaped on others.

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On the Bike Path

Several mornings a week I leave our house early on my bike for a one hour ride. It is a great way for me to get the blood flowing, the mind working and to get exercise out of the way before hundreds of things get in the way of me doing it in the afternoon. It helps that I am a morning person!

I come across a lot of things on my various routes: squirrels love to dart across in front of my bike; walkers or joggers who cannot hear you when you want to pass them because their ear buds are preventing anything other than their music from entering their mind; cars that pass you and then turn right in front of you. But mostly I come across people.

Last week I was half way through my ride. The most challenging hill was behind me, but there would be a few more in the offing. I turned onto the bike bath and another rider was in front of me. The rider had a BMX style bike and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, black jeans, high top Converse All Stars, and had a full backpack on. It registered with me that school had started and this route was near a Junior High. I had come across a Junior High School student in full Junior High uniform on the way to school.

They rode their bike down the middle of the path oblivious to the fact that someone may come up behind them. I was going to ask to pass when I noticed a white cord snaking out of the pocket of their hoody toward their ears. They pulled out their device with the white cord attached and adjusted the volume. I patiently rode behind them (which for me took immense effort), knowing that I would only be on this section of the path for a short time before I would turn in another direction.

After following them for a short time my nose registered a scent. It took a minute for me to realize it was cigarette smoke. My Junior High friend was smoking a cigarette while riding his bike to school.

My active mind started going a hundred miles an hour.

Isn’t there something ironic about smoking a cigarette while riding a bike?

Seriously, smoking in Junior High? Not that it’s unheard of, but it makes me wonder about their future.

It was 80 degrees outside and they were riding their bike with long black jeans and a hoody. It is an unofficial “uniform,” making a statement, fitting in with their crowd at school.

         

Do they play sports? Are they a good student? What is life like at their home?

          What life path are they on? Where will it lead them?

         

I wonder if they know Jesus, or have any kind of religious affiliation.

         

You may have noticed that I have used non gender specific pronouns to describe my bike path companion. I realized that my knee jerk instinct was to think it was a guy, but it was hard to tell from my vantage point. It could have been a girl.  

         

All of the above ran through my mind in a matter of a minute as I continued to ride.     

I soon turned off the path to finish my route. They continued on their way to school.

         

Periodically, the image of my bike path companion will flash into my mind. I wonder what has happened. I throw a quick prayer up to my boss that they would be safe, prosper, and discover their purpose in life.

         

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

         

Oh, and I hope the smoking thing was just a phase!

Fully Present

I would not call myself technologically savvy, but I do alright for an old guy. I’ve got the smart phone synched to my desktop, synched to my iPad, synched to my laptop, and therefore all my email, appointments on my calendar, music, photos, etc. are all shared. I live on a cloud!

I like the technology that is made available to me. In many ways it makes my life easier. In fact I am writing this reflection on a laptop in the waiting room of the car dealer who is working on my car and I will send it via email using the car dealer’s free wi-fi.

I said to Becky the other day that I would have had a lot more time for socialization in college if we would have had computers rather than typewriters. Pages, margins, footnotes...they drove me crazy. Besides I would have saved a fortune on gallons of “white-out” (those of you younger than 40 will have to look that up in the history books.) She reminded me that I squeezed in plenty of socialization.

That being said, and at the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, some people’s use of technology has run amuck.  Like so many things, something that was created to help us and make our lives easier, can go sideways. Back in the mid 1980’s James Naisbett wrote a book entitled mega-trends. One of the things he noted in his book is that we were going to become more and more of a “high tech” society. Certainly his observation has been realized. He noted that in such a “high tech” society, there would be a need for more “high touch” opportunities because we are created for face to face relationships, not technological relationships. I remember thinking at the time that that trend would bode well for churches in that we are in the “high touch”, creating community, business. I believe that is true today more than ever.

Last week when we were on vacation we made our not quite daily, but “regular,” pilgrimage to get an ice cream cone. We sat out on the picnic tables and enjoyed the great weather. Sitting at the next table was a young woman with four little girls approximately 3-8 years of age. They were eating their cones, chatting, laughing, and being kids. The entire time, their mom was staring at her cell phone, her thumbs moving rapidly over the keyboard, while she feigned interest and nodded occasionally to the girls as if she were listening.

The four little girls went inside the store which is a paradise for kids. It has all sorts of “treasures” they would like. They were very excited and super cute. I smiled as I watched them. They ran out of the store to their mom to share their discoveries, but she couldn’t look up from her phone to acknowledge them. Then she began to resemble a rope in a tug-of-war, her girls pulling her by one arm, the other tethered to her cell phone which had most of her attention.

I did a slow burn inside. In my mind I said, “Seriously, put your phone away and pay attention to your kids. You will never get these moments back. My guess is that whatever is happening on your phone is not a personal or national crisis. The message you are sending your children, no doubt unintentionally, is that whatever is happening on your phone is more important than them. Believe it or not your kids are listening to that message.”

This is not isolated to an age group, a gender, or a profession. I see it across the board, every day, everywhere. We are addicted to our devices. In meetings with people, if their phone vibrates (assuming they remember to put it on vibrate) they can’t ignore it. If a text or a message appears, they must immediately respond. I have been in meetings with some people where more of their time is spent checking their phone than in conversation. Some leaders require people to leave their phones and computers in their offices during meetings so that people won’t be distracted.

As one who is afflicted with ADD, I would argue that I can multi-task and keep track of several things at once, which is true. However, what message does it send to anyone who is speaking, or presenting, when I signal that I am not fully present with them? I am saying, with my behavior, that they are not important enough for me to give my full attention.

We need one another. People are important. When we are with one another, we need to be “fully present” at all times. Lately, I have been leaving my “smart phone” in my office during meetings to remove the temptation, heeding Jesus’ advice that if you hand is causing you to sin, cut it off!

I like my technology, but I love people. I want to be fully present. I hope that is what I communicate!

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In the Presence of Greatness

One of my passions is leadership. I have shelves full of books on the subject, listen to speakers, and try to surround myself with good leaders from whom I can learn. 1996 was the first Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit I attended. I drove from Palos Heights to Barrington two days in a row for some inspiration, information and to open myself to God, and to stretch me as a person. Since that time, I have not attended every year, but over the past several years I have attended via live feed video at remote sites in Michigan. Last week I did the same thing.       

Eleven of us from Elmhurst Church drove to Michigan to attend the conference at a video venue at a church in Holland. That may seem a bit odd. But attending a video venue is cheaper and actually, more convenient. Getting from Elmhurst to Barrington and returning home during rush hour is not relaxing, or fun...but it is time consuming! We enjoyed the presenters, the venue, and the opportunity for us to be together, to share the experience and to share our perspectives following. It was a good time of team building.

Attending the Leadership Summit is a mixed bag. I am always in awe of the speakers, their accomplishments and their insights. I learn a great deal and often feel terribly inadequate as a leader in comparison. This year’s lineup included Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, best selling business author Jim Collins, Pastor and innovator Craig Goeschel, management expert Patrick Lencioni, and Pastor John Ortberg. There were also some lesser known, but significant presenters who touched me with their work and leadership.

As I reflected on the two days I had been in the presence of world class leaders and in comparison I felt inadequate. At the same time, I gained great insights, learned about some new books that could help me, and was inspired to be a better leader in the future.

Isn’t that what happens when we are in the presence of God?

We are in the presence of perfection. God is holy (unique, set apart, a cut above). When we are in the presence of God, we feel unworthy and inadequate. In worship, we respond to His holiness by humbling ourselves in His presence. We are reminded that God loves us in spite of ourselves and through His word He teaches us who we can be through the power of His Spirit. We are informed, inspired and stretched.

In God’s presence we are transformed.

Moved to Tears

Another Olympics is drawing to a close. Because they only take place every four years I have some kind of amnesia about what happens when I watch. Last week as I watched the women’s gymnasts perform I found myself applauding their performances out loud in our family room and then feeling a sense of triumph when their scores were posted.

             

Then, they stood on the platform as recipients of the gold medal and the strains of the national anthem began to play. I became emotional and my eyes got “moist”. The same thing happened as I watched swimmers perform and win medals for our nation. Why do I react that way?

             

Is it knowing what it means to compete, doing your best, and achieving a goal?

             

Is it having a sense that the U.S. Olympians are “my” team?

             

Is it part of what it means to be an American citizen and having your nation being honored by the world?

             

Yes…yes, to all of them.

             

Apparently there is something that happens during the Olympics that touches a chord deep within me.

             

I have the same thing happen periodically on Sunday mornings. Unpredictable. Unexpected. Seemingly out of nowhere.

             

Last Sunday I sat in the sanctuary as our music leaders rehearsed songs that would be used in worship. I do this frequently on Sunday mornings. It is part of the way I prepare to be in God’s presence. It is my worship before worship.

             

As I listened to the music and sang the words to myself, tears flowed down my cheeks. I was overwhelmed by God’s love, grace and mercy. It doesn’t happen every Sunday, but for some reason the combination of where I was in my life, the music, and God’s Spirit touched a chord deep within me. It caught me by surprise.

             

God does that. As we move through life and interact with God and His people, God touches a chord deep within us.

             

There was a time when I would try to analyze what was taking place. Why was this happening? What was wrong with me? Was I falling apart?

             

I’ve learned to just accept it. This is what it means to be a child of God saved by grace, overwhelmed by unconditional love, and serving in a role for which you feel inadequate but called to.  

             

I can’t predict when God’s love is going to overwhelm me and move me to tears, but I am not embarrassed by it.

             

God’s love moves me to tears!

             

A Year

I will warn you...this may be the most disjointed and random piece of writing I have done. Think of it as a “stream of consciousness.” What would you expect from an individual suffering from Olympics overload?

O.K., so a year has gone by!

         

On August 3, 2011 the moving van pulled up in front of our townhouse in Westmont, Ill. and we officially began a new phase of life! Two people in their sixties learning a new culture, meeting new people, shopping at new stores, using new gas stations, eating at new restaurants, negotiating slightly more traffic, and serving God in a new location. Should old people be doing this? Apparently, God thought so.

         

You would think at our age we would be used to this kind of thing. This was the fourth time we had made this kind of move. Leaving a place where you had poured your heart, soul and mind into people and starting all over again. It is like ripping plants out of the ground roots and all, and transplanting them in a new locale, hoping they will not only survive, but thrive. There was a lot of uncertainty.

         

Ministry attaches you to people at the depths of their being. When you are in relationships with people centered on Christ, you are relating with them at the essence of who they are as individuals. You walk with people on the mountain tops and in their deepest valleys. You see people reflect the light of God and you experience the worst of our human darkness.

         

We were in Traverse City last week for a few days visiting with our daughter and some friends, as well as enjoying the natural beauty of the area and just chilling! We spent some time reflecting on the last year.

         

We have been adapting to a new culture, both in our living environment and at our church. Some things are familiar to us and some things still feel very new.

         

We have renewed friendships with some long-time friends from our previous 22 year stint in the Chicago area, and we have made some new friends, not only at church, but in the community at large.

         

The body of Christ where we currently serve is filled with many gifted, committed and faithful followers of Jesus.

         

The body of Christ where we currently serve is also filled with people who live in pain, difficulty, struggle and darkness. In other words, they are a pretty normal group.

         

I have never served in a solo pastorate. I have always worked in situations where there was a multiple staff. God doesn’t trust me out there by myself! The people I work with at ECRC are talented, committed, adventuresome, loving, serious about ministry, and a little goofy. I love working with them, building collegiality and collaboration...becoming a team.

         

Ministry...no matter where you serve...is filled with wonder, awe, and moments when you have to pinch yourself at how unbelievable it is that God would use me and others to accomplish His work!

         

Ministry can also be painful and lonely.

         

There are days I wonder why I do it.

         

There are more days that I wonder why I would ever do anything else.

         

Knowing that you are serving God in the place where He has called you is the most rewarding, life giving, and purpose providing position in which you could ever find yourself.

         

We’re looking forward to another year.