It Sounds Like a Joke

You never know who you are going to meet on the first tee.

At least that is true when you play at public courses and you show up by yourself. Some people don’t like having to play with strangers; I think it’s a great way to meet all kinds of people, like the guy I met last Friday.

The temperature was in the low 40’s, the sky was gray, dampness hung in the air and it was windy. It was a perfect day for golf!

I went into the pro shop and paid my fee. The lady behind the counter asked if I minded being paired with another single player who was only going to play nine holes. “No problem,” I said.

I made my way to the first tee and there he was. He was about my age, shorter, dressed warmly for the elements. He introduced himself and eagerly offered his hand. “My name is Majik,” he said with a Middle Eastern accent. “I’m Peter,” I said. The next words out of his mouth before we had even hit one shot were, “Peter, what do you do for a profession?”

It is a common question, especially for men. I always get a little lump in my throat because I find that when I disclose my profession it changes all the relational dynamics. Clergy people creep some people out!

“I am a pastor of a church,” I told Majik. Without hesitation, he said, “I am not a Catholic. I am a Muslim, but I am not a very good Muslim.”

“I am not Catholic, either,” I said, “I am a Protestant. And I am not a very good protestant either.”

So off we went, chasing our balls down the fairway. Our conversation covered lots of ground. Some of it was about golf. He doesn’t play very much and I was able to give him a few pointers. But the rest of it was a meandering conversation covering a vast array of topics from religion, to education, to The Hunger Games.

He is a doctor with who specializes in arthritis and has a practice in the Southern suburbs. He and his wife immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in the 1970s. He is an American citizen now and very proud of it.

He peppered me with questions about religion. He was genuinely curious. I was trying to explain to him about being Protestant, and denominations, and our denomination in particular. The more we talked the more I realized how crazy it all sounded, and how difficult it must be to grasp. One faith, Christianity, divided up into hundreds of groups from Catholic, to Orthodox, to Protestant and the hundreds of denominations.

I felt a little sheepish. Not because I was embarrassed about my faith, but because of how church history has unfolded and how we continue to divide ourselves over mostly inconsequential matters. I mean, let’s be honest, try to make sense out of why a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands need two, (or more) denominations. Try to explain to someone who knows little about Christianity, why there is a Reformed Church in America and a Christian Reformed Church.

Majik was curious and gracious. I am not sure he really understood all the nuances we have created within Christianity. I am not sure I really understand them all myself. The more I tried to explain, the more it sounded absurd. We have made a mess of what should be simple and easy.

SIMPLE VERSION:

“We are sinners, but God loves us anyway. He loves us so much he saved us from ourselves by sacrificing His Son on the cross      on our behalf that we might be one with Him through Jesus, who defeated death through His resurrection. Because He died, we can be one with God now and forever!”

 When we finished playing nine holes, Majik said, “Mind if I continue to play with you on the back nine. I am enjoying myself!”

We finished 18 holes, a Christian pastor and a Muslim doctor, who met on the first tee. (It sounds like the beginning of a joke.)

As we departed Majik said, “I really enjoyed playing with you today. But I enjoyed your company and our conversation more. You are a nice man! Where is your church again?”

I told Majik where our church was located and invited him to stop in some Sunday. “I might do that,” he said. “I told you I wasn’t a very good Muslim.”

You never know who you are going to meet on the first tee.

Unintended Consequences

“For every sermon that you preach, there are three or four you have to choose not to preach.” So goes an old preaching adage. The point being that many scripture passages lend themselves to all sorts of teaching we could do, but you should focus on one topic with a laser beam focus and save the rest for another day.

         

It is an adage too many of those of us in the trade ignore. We feel it is our responsibility to give everyone a drink from a fire hose every Sunday. However, if you know you are ADD, like me, it is better to focus on one topic because you will create enough of your own rabbit trails as it is!

         

So it was last Sunday when I was teaching from I Corinthians 11:17-34 where Paul critiques the church in Corinth about their worship services and in particular their celebration of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s major concern is that a dichotomy in the church has been developed between rich and poor. The rich were getting to house church early and eating all the food and over serving themselves on the wine, and when the poor showed up there was nothing left. Boorish behavior by any social standards; but in the church, it served to create second class citizens and divisions, an “us against them” mentality, which Paul found completely unacceptable.

         

There is a verse in this teaching which is usually ignored. “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” (I Cor. 11:29-30)

         

An unintended consequence of the poor worship habits of the church in Corinth was physical illness and death. Huh?

         

My guess is the Corinthians hadn’t given the consequences of their behavior any thought whatsoever. In fact, apparently, until Paul pointed it out, they didn’t think their divisive attitudes in worship were anything to be concerned about at all.

         

We have a hard time with these consequences. Really, God would allow some people to be ill and others die because of disobedience in the church? Apparently, yes!

         

All parents teach their kids about consequences out of love. “Don’t play in the street, the consequence might be horrible injury.” “Don’t touch the stove, you’ll burn yourself.” “Be careful what you post on Facebook, it could really hurt your reputation or relationships.”

         

The Bible is clear about disobedience having consequences. Wandering in the wilderness for 40 years was a consequence of Israel’s lack of faith. Being held captive by foreign nations as slaves was a consequence of their turning their back on God.

         

In Corinth, people were ill and some died because of their lack of unity. It makes you wonder how individual disobedience is negatively impacting church life in our congregations. Is my failure to tithe the reason we are not successful at evangelism? Is my hostility to others in our congregation the cause of our church financial plight? Is my grumbling and complaining the reason our spiritual vitality is lacking?

         

We live in such an individualized culture that we rarely think about how our disobedience may impact the lives of an entire congregation. But, it is clear that disobedience has consequences, individually and corporately.

I better spend some time doing some soul searching not just for my sake, but for the sake of the body of Christ.

Post Easter Malaise

There is a dramatic shift.

Last week there was a bevy of activity. Extra services, numerous rehearsals and preparations, groups in and out all week long. This week everything has gone back to normal, only with a little less energy than usual. Those in vocational ministry and volunteers are dragging a little. Holy Week was a heavy burden, ending with spectacularly beautiful and joyful services on Easter Sunday.

         

The extra activity and the huge buildup and excitement that come with Easter, leave us a bit sluggish the next week. We are drained, weary, and a bit spent.

         

For people outside of vocational ministry, Monday meant the return to our regular routine of school, or work, or whatever our regular routine might be. Holy Week and Easter are in the rear view mirror. It is time to press on.

         

It makes me wonder; did any of it make any difference? Did all the effort, the creativity, the rehearsal of the events of the last week of Jesus’ life, the decorations, the fanfare...did any of it make any difference, or were they just traditions that we follow, rituals we perform, nods to the holiday, and then we return to normal.

         

In some ways, our post Holy Week activities and attitudes mirror those of the first post-Easter week. Some followers left Jerusalem and headed for home on the first Easter distressed and depressed over what had taken place. They were returning to their homes full of despair because their hopes had been crushed and their dreams trampled.

         

Other faithful followers of Jesus huddled in a secret room with the door locked because they were afraid. Their leader had been crucified, and if the Jews would do that to Him, there was a possibility it could happen to them.

         

Some grieved their loss and were completely consumed with mourning. The week after Easter, they were exhausted, depressed, and faced a return to normal.

         

Some of them had heard about the possibility of a resurrection, but they were skeptical; they needed proof. And it came.

         

The resurrected Jesus appeared to the two who were on the road to Emmaus.

         

The resurrected Jesus broke into the room where the disciples were locked in fear.

         

The resurrected Jesus eventually took away the depression, grief and mourning.

         

It didn’t happen immediately. It took some time.

         

As the week has progressed our spirits have picked up at church. Our energy has returned, our excitement for the next opportunity to acknowledge and worship a risen Savior is building for Sunday, and our enthusiasm for ministry is being rejuvenated.

         

Some people who have returned to their regular schedule can testify to “God Moments”; situations and circumstances where we have seen the work of God and His Spirit.

         

Some people have experienced a glimmer of hope in very dark circumstances.

         

I will be officiating at a funeral on Saturday morning. A long time acquaintance passed away on Easter Sunday. I have spent some time grieving with the family and I have spent some time living in the hope and comfort that the resurrection brings them.

         

Hopefully you have been reminded of God’s mercy, grace and love that we celebrated last week in your living this week!

A Hope Fan

I’m a Hope fan.

         

For those of you who know me, even casually, you are probably going, “Duh!”

         

A graduate of Hope College, an employee for 8 years, a member of the Board of Trustees for 24 years. I am a Hope fan.

         

But that isn’t what I am writing about. I am a hope fan; the kind of hope that this week is built upon; the hope that we possess because of Easter; Christ’s resurrection.

         

We battle a lot of enemies in life: physical ailments, emotional turmoil, relational challenges, economic stress and personal demons that haunt us for a variety of reasons. It would be easy to be discouraged, to grow worried and to give up. But for those who claim Christ as Lord and Savior, there is always hope. Jesus defeated our most intimidating and feared enemy...death. If Jesus conquered death on our behalf, what is it that you and I cannot overcome?

         

I am a glass half full person; an optimist. I always think things can get better, that we will figure out a way, that whatever hurdle, or barrier, or momentary affliction we may encounter can be overcome.

         

Some people would say it is a personality trait. Others would attribute it to my competitive nature. I would say it stems from my firm belief that Christ can overcome anything!

         

I also know that there are situations and circumstances where hope is crushed. I have sat at the bedside of people who are dying and their relatives are grieving; I have been with parents who have lost a child; I have listened as people have described spouses who are impossible to live with; I have tried to comfort those who are despondent because they have lost their jobs, or because one of their children is addicted to drugs, or suffers from severe mental illness.

         

In these moments we are not ready to hear about hope; hope is a distant companion, pushed to the periphery of life. At the same time, we need to have hope in our arsenal. It needs to be something we can call on when we are ready, otherwise we give in to constant despair which turns into anger and bitterness.

         

The hope of Easter is the hope that puts things in perspective.

         

“...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

         

We are only visiting here. We have an eternal home. No matter what we face here, we do not lose heart. We do not get discouraged. We always have hope.

         

Robbie Seay expressed this truth in the lyrics of one of his songs, Song of Hope:

         

          All things bright and beautiful You are

          All things wise and wonderful You are

          In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies

          A song will rise

          I will sing a song of hope

          Sing along

          God of heaven come down

          Heaven come down

          Just to know that You are near is enough

          God of heaven come down, heaven come down

          All things new

          I can start again

          Creator, God

          Calling me your friend

          Sing praise, my soul

          To the maker of the skies

          A song will rise

         

Hopefully, Sunday you will find a place to worship the author of the hope within us and join me in being a Hope fan!

         

Happy Easter!

This Week

I had a teammate on a church staff I led who didn’t like the season of Lent. He had a particular distaste for acknowledging the events of Holy Week. It was too dark, too morbid, too unsettling and in his mind tended to ignore how the story ended...with a joyful resurrection.

             

I have worked with other church staff members who came from religious backgrounds where the historic church calendar wasn’t acknowledged. They had to learn what lent was, what it meant and why anyone would spend any time with the events of Holy Week.

             

This Sunday marks the beginning of what the historic Christian church has referred to as Holy Week. Holy is a great word. Its etymology has to do with “unique”, “special” and more literally “a cut above.” This week is unique among all other weeks because of God’s ultimate demonstration of love, the sacrifice of His only begotten son, Jesus.

             

Modern authors and screenwriters couldn’t match the drama, suspense and the complicated plot of Holy Week. Then again, their subject matter isn’t the pivotal event in all of human history!

             

One of my personal traditions during Holy Week is to watch Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of the Christ. It allows me to be intimately involved in this week and elicits a powerful reaction from me. When I finish the movie I am exhausted emotionally and spiritually and need to be alone to reflect for a while. Even though I know that will happen, I will watch it again this year.

At ECRC we will have a service on Thursday to relive the events of Jesus’ celebration of the Passover with His disciples, and a service on Good Friday to recall what took place that day. These services are not celebrations. They are not filled with joyful music or motivational messages. We are reminded of Jesus’ suffering and death and our part in it. We are also reminded that the events of these days are the ultimate demonstration of God’s unconditional love for us.

             

The reminder and rehearsal of these events aids us in embracing God’s love for us and enhances our celebration for Easter. As spiritually draining and emotionally painful these events are for us, without them we couldn’t celebrate Easter!

             

So, I invite you to embrace Holy Week; a unique and special week; a week that is a “cut above” all others, knowing that as we rehearse Jesus’ ultimate acts of love, we will be more than ready to burst forth with joy on Easter!

Scenes From a Parking Lot

It is amazing what kind of life lessons you can learn if you pay attention to the parking lot. At one of the coffee shops I frequent, customers use parking spaces in the lot and have to go in to get their coffee. There is no drive through. People who visit this shop dutifully park their cars, walk to the door, get their coffee and return to their car. But not everyone.

         

I sat in the coffee shop one morning reading the paper and watched curiously as the gigantic black SUV pulled up along the sidewalk and parked at the curb. The windows were tinted so you couldn’t see inside, the chrome wheels were blinding, and the Mercedes logo gleamed in the sunlight from the hood. A young woman exited the SUV (How young? I’m not sure, but younger than me, which gives her a lot of room to be young.)

         

“Well, I guess she’s too good to park in the lot like the rest of us commoners”, I said to myself. “Typical wealthy person. They think the rules don’t apply to them. I guess she doesn’t care if she blocks traffic as long as she has to walk fewer steps to get her fancy coffee drink.”

         

Then it struck me. I don’t know this woman. I don’t know if it is her car. Maybe she has a good reason for parking at the curb. She may be very kind, gentle and loving. Why am I so quick to move to judgment and criticism?

         

During the season of Lent we are called to self-examination, reflection, and introspection. This scene from the parking lot exposed my propensity for judgment and criticism. Jesus warned us not to judge others, “...for the judgment we give is the judgment we will get.” (Matthew 7:1-2) I don’t want to be judged by the car I drive, or where I park, or how I carry myself. People should get to know me. Then why am I so quick to judge others?

         

The woman who parked at the curb needs to be loved not judged. How do I know that? Because we all need to be loved. Jesus loved people unconditionally and lavishly. He commanded us to love each other. “My command for you is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) We all need more love, acceptance, encouragement and support and a lot less judgment. I am glad Jesus loved me and didn’t give me the judgment I deserved.

         

During this season of Lent God used this scene in the parking lot to confront me with my quick judgments and criticism; with my jumping to conclusions and my biases.

         

What are you learning about yourself?

March Madness

I am a junky and this is my time!

I love basketball and March Madness feeds my addiction. Since selection Sunday, I have listened to the radio and television commentators, read a few articles and looked at my brackets on numerous occasions. The television is all set (Becky has made it clear that the basement is for basketball viewing). I have been working on using the jump feature to switch channels as well as perfecting picture in picture to keep track of several games at a time. I have a stack of magazines and a pile of books ready to feed my ADD. I can’t just sit and watch games, but if I am doing a couple of other things at the same time, it makes the day/night really enjoyable.

         

This year I am in a pool with some long-time Chicago friends. We take the winner out to dinner. I also compare my brackets with my son, Jesse, who may have inherited my addiction. He is actually hosting a final four party on March 31 to which he so graciously invited his dad!

         

March Madness has deep theological significance.

         

Little known schools, from unheralded conferences, can defeat highly favored perennial powers. It’s David and Goliath.

         

Teams fall behind by 20 or 30 points early in the game. You change the channel because that team is buried, only to discover that they mounted an unbelievable comeback for a victory. The dead were raised.

         

Ordinarily the teams that play well together and use each player’s gifts survive the tournament and finish victoriously, mirroring God’s design for the church.

         

The tournament progresses to the culmination with the crowning of a king (champion) at the beginning of Holy Week. We will celebrate the crowning triumph of our King, our resurrected Lord, on the first day of the next week!

         

I have my biases. I prefer college basketball to professional basketball. Too many players in the NBA play lazy defense, if at all. Professional games are too individualized. There is too much one-on-one play and very little teamwork, especially on offense. Too often defense is an afterthought in professional basketball. Professional basketball players make millions of dollars playing a game many of us would play for free, but some of them pout and whine too much about playing time, coaches, fans, the media and every other aspect of life. (That didn’t sound too pastoral!)

I am a basketball junky and this is my time!

I am writing this on Wednesday afternoon. Tonight I will finalize my brackets and get ready for three weeks of pure fun. 

Happy watching and good luck with your brackets.