First come hate, then comes Division

You surely remember the old nursery rhyme... 

            Bobby and Mary, sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

            First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.

Kids to this day use that one to tease one another about the wonder of attraction, and we know that boys and girls are sometimes merciless when it comes to picking on one another.  Fortunately, we all grow up, and we (usually) have mature and healthy experiences with love and affection. 

The poem has a few merits to it.  The poem verbalizes the ideal.  Love should come first, and then marriage, and then in time comes a baby in a baby carriage, and when done in good order, those are wonderful experiences, worthy of joy and celebration.  Affection and attraction are good and proper, which can lead to relationship and commitment, and these traits form an essential part of our humanity. 

Sadly, our relationships frequently do not endure, our attractions are sometimes fleeting, and rather than fulfilling and rewarding relationships, we too often end up in heartache and battle.  And that applies to marriage, as well as to friendships, business partnerships, politics, and any relationship that involves humans.  Rather than affection that leads to relationship, we have animosity that leads to conflict.

As a nation, we are more divided than any point since the Civil War.  Politically and socially, we are polarized.  The gap and distance between genders, races, rich and poor, liberal and conservative continues to widen, the chasm ever deeper.  The weapons of warfare, usually words, grow ever sharper.  Too often, the words become fists, bullets, and even legislation.  There is a meanness, an anger in the debate and no one seems to want to find reason or middle ground in which we can treat one another with decency or dignity. 

Twenty four hour news and social media contribute to the problems.  A constant barrage of messages fan the flames of anxiety and polarization.  Us versus them.  The other side.  Either you are with me or against me.  You can clearly see the hostility and antagonism in our political leaders, in activists of every kind, even among religious leaders and those who claim to seek peace.   There is a hatred, that is manifested in actions, which leads to further division.  The result is not reconciliation, only more hate.

Humanity has a streak of merciless.  It is time for all of us to grow up and find a better way to treat one another. 

I have some friends that are as lefty liberal as you could imagine.  I do not agree with everything on their social or political agenda, but they are my friends.  I have some other friends that are so conservative they make the late Jerry Falwell look like a communist.  I do not agree with everything on their agenda either.  But they are still my friends.  And I do my best to treat all of my friends with respect, and dignity, even when I disagree with them. 

If I was inclined, I could argue with all the folks I know, criticize their opinions, and show them the error of their viewpoints, and the superiority of my own view.  I am a fairly educated guy, I can win most of the arguments.  But at what cost?  Destroyed friendships, hurt feelings, bitterness.   And none of the arguments will ever really change someone's mind.  They usually just reinforce the animosity and radicalize the opinions. 

Instead of arguing and trying to change the world through hate and division and emotional destruction, Jesus took the way of peace and grace.  He showed love when people were not very lovely.  He showed grace to the ungracious and undeserving.  He showed us the intrinsic value of all people, even when people were wrong.  Jesus took the way of peace, and he calls his followers to do the same.  Because peace, grace, and love are what will change the world. 

I firmly believe that our nation, our world is headed in bad direction.  And the direction has nothing to do with the politics or social concerns of the day.  The direction we are in has no bearing on gender or racial equality.  The bad direction that we are pursuing is simply one where attack, criticize, and demean are the primary tools of communication.   Where debate means only to argue and anger.  And as long as we continue on with this hatefest, we will continue to be ever more divided, more stressed, more fractured as a community, a region, and nation.

So rather than argue, rather than add fuel to an already raging fire, let us all step back.  Learn how to agree to disagree like ladies and gentlemen.  Accept the fact that opinions and experiences will vary, and let that be acceptable.  And start treating one another with decency and respect for all.  We can disagree, but must we be so disagreeable about it?

The heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne had a hit with a song called "Crazy Train."  One of the lyrics said, "Maybe, it's not too late, to learn how to love, and forget about hate."  Now, if someone wild and crazy as Ozzy can see the error of this way of humanity, surely reasonable people can as well. 

Blessings and Peace to you all,

Pastor Brian 

I Got Engaged!

One of the most exciting days in a person's life is when they happily announce that they have gotten engaged.  And they might show off a ring, or set a date, or make big plans for the upcoming day.  And of course, an engagement to be married is full of hope and promise and joy for the future, because it means a commitment has been made, a promise of loyalty has been spoken, and a bond is secured.

As a pastor, I speak with engaged couples frequently, and help them plan not only the wedding, but the marriage.  My words of advice at such a time is to worry less about the ceremony, and focus on the relationship.  The wedding is over in a day, but the marriage is designed to last a lifetime.  Engagement is the beginning of a lifelong trust and covenant.

While marriage is one common context, the word "engagement" applies in a variety areas of life.  Automobiles (used to) have a clutch that is disengaged to change gears or stop, and engaged to make the car move.  When children are engaged at school, they are attentive, learn more, and happier students.  Engagement is connection and involvement, engagement is the source of progress.

Christians are more spiritually healthy when they are engaged in the life and work of the church.  Attending the worship services is important, but to sit and listen and leave without connecting to other people does not describe engagement.  Commitment, participation, and service describe engagement.  And the Kingdom is advanced by those who are engaged. 

Using the illustration of a wedding engagement, the couple is focused in the goal of becoming husband and wife.  And while work and family and grocery shopping still continues during the period of being engaged, the focus of life is in planning and preparing for the day in which the marriage is made.  The engagement is the subtext to all the activity and events of life. 

Engaged Christians live in a similar way.  The mission of Christ, in all of its facets, becomes the baseline and subtext for life.  Building community, serving one another, and growing in grace permeates and filters into all of life.  Church is not merely a Sunday Morning event, but an central part of one's identity, each and every day.  Attendance at the worship service is more than an occasion to be spiritually fed, but seeks an opportunity to serve and contribute to the lives of others.  As engaged Christians, we live all of our lives with an awareness of our mission, and we seek to reflect the light of Christ however we can.

This sense of engagement gets taken one step further when we consider that the Scripture continually refers to the church as the "Bride of Christ."  We are betrothed to the Savior.  We are engaged.  And our loyalty to the Lord is reflected and exercised in our relationships to one another.  Just as we cannot imagine being partially or half way kind of - sort of engaged to be married, neither can we be partially committed to the Savior.  The Lord requires our whole self, and expects our fidelity and loyalty. 

Consider your engagement to Christ and His church.  Ask yourself - Is your devotion to the Lord is reflected in your personal relationships?  Is your love for God evidenced in your service to His Kingdom?   And of you find the answers are not reflective of what you would want them to be, then take a few steps to strengthen your sense of engagement and loyalty to the One who loves you immensely. 

Reflections on a Sunday

Sometimes it works smoothly, sometimes not so much. And then comes the time when you are again surprised at the goodness of God.

As I wrote up my sermon notes early in the week, I had my doubts. It was a particularly hard passage of Scripture to preach. It was a simple story with very specific application, and not a wide appeal. I thought about skipping it and moving on to something better, but my heart and my soul and the Spirit kept me there.

I struggled to make it interesting. I felt like it was flat and kind of boring. But I stuck with it, and figured I would do the best I could, and let it be. If the Lord wanted that Scripture preached, He would have to bring the zing. In my mind, it was destined to be a dud. But what do I know?

Amazing what happens when you get yourself out of the way and let God be God. When Sunday came, I let it loose, and - if I am permitted to say so - it was pretty terrific. People smiled. They said Amen. At one point, they burst into spontaneous applause. There were some wet eyes. God moved in our midst.

I think that I am going to let God be in charge all the time. It will be better that way.

Thanks to all my Charles Town Baptist friends. I love you, and I am humbled to be your pastor.

Why Church Still Matters

A well known columnist that comments on contemporary life in these United States has identified our culture as postmodern and post-Christian America. That may be so. We are postmodern, certainly. Modernism did not save us, our technology has made our world more comfortable, but it has not made human nature any better. We still fight and struggle with ourselves and one another as much or more as any time in human history.

Post-Christian America? Perhaps. I am confident that church and Christian faith are not as central to our society than they were fifty or a hundred years ago. On the whole, we are more inclusive and accepting of other religious expressions, cultures, and worldviews. The percentage of Americans that attend church services on a regular basis is far less than it was even twenty years ago. The trends of morality (ooh, controversy!) are drifting further from a biblical picture, and more to a humanistic expression.

But does Church still matter in America? Does the Church as an establishment of culture still have something to say? I believe it does. And I am optimistic enough to believe that the best days of Christian faith and Church in America are ahead of us, rather than behind us.

Church still matters because we need some balance to the violence and animosity that pervades our society. As if there is not enough violence in the streets and homes of our nation, we make up more violence and call it entertainment. In a world where people pay money to watch dramatized hatred and murder, someone needs to talk about peace and forgiveness. The world needs to be reminded on a regular basis that love is a better option than bitterness, and that talking about our differences is better than throwing stones. Or fists or bullets.

Church still matters because we are made for community. Humans are social creatures, and as easy as it is to connect though Facebook, Twitter, email, and the rest, there is no substitute for personal contact, face-to-face, in which we build healthy and abiding relationships. Church provides a ready-made setting for honest and constructive social interaction that adds value to our lives. And, no church people are not perfect, either. But most of us are well-intentioned, decent people doing the best we can to deal with our own dysfunctions.

Church still matters because there really is more going on here than meets the eye. While science and technology refuses to acknowledge anything beyond the empirically measurable, most of us have an innate knowledge that we humans are than a collection of molecules or a system of biology. We are made with a soul and despite the science, we all experience love, fear, compassion, anxiety, and desire. We long to know the bigger questions of meaning and purpose and what really happens when we die. Church exists to help us find some answers to the really big mysteries of life.

When I look around this world, and I see the beauty and wonder of it, and at the same time see the tragedy and pain, I am reminded that we are in fact the product of a wonderful Creator who cares for us deeply, but something has gone terribly wrong. The train has jumped the track, and we are need of restoration. Church helps me understand how and why these things work. Church helps me reconcile my own brokenness, find some bits of peace to cultivate in my own dark heart, and be a better person than I would be otherwise.
Churches come in all different kinds and shapes and styles. Find one that you can live with and be a part of something good. Find a minister that has something to say worth hearing. You don't have to agree with everything. Neither do you have to leave your sanity at the door and be a fanatic. But if you walk in the door with an open mind and a smile, I am confident that you will be welcome, you will find a friend or two, and you might even enjoy yourself. Church matters still, because people matter most.

We can disagree, but why must we be so disagreeable about it?

I have some friends who are staunch biblical conservatives, apply a very literal interpretation of the Bible, and take a conservative stand on all the hot button issues of today regarding morality and behavior. I understand where they are coming from, I respect their right to their position, and I sometimes cringe at the words that come out of their mouths.

I have some other friends who are proudly liberal. They are progressive in their theology, inclusive in their practices, and proclaim grace above all else. Except, of course, to those who are staunch conservatives and disagree with them. As with my other friends, I understand their position, and I sometimes cringe at their words, too.

We Christians seem to make a sport out of bashing one another. Within the wide spectrum of those who claim to be followers of Jesus of Nazareth, there is diversity, dissension, and a lot of finger pointing. We seem to have arranged ourselves into the camps of liberal, moderate, conservative, with the intention of proclaiming the superiority of our own position, that that my ideas are more "Godly" than the others, and apparently, Jesus likes me best.

Oddly enough, in the Bible, I have found an entirely different story. When Jesus encountered the broken people of his day, the social outcasts, the poor and needy, the sick and grieving, He simply loved them for who they were, expressed compassion and healing to them, and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Jesus never condoned or excused sin, but he always loved people in spite of their sin. As far as I can tell, the only people that Jesus ever got really mad at were the religious experts who thought they knew better than everyone else.

At the heart of all sin is a core of self importance, self righteousness, and self promotion (You can look up the verses in Isaiah 14:12-15). In the bickering and finger pointing over the social concerns of today, with each camp shouting the benefit and blessedness of his own opinion, there is a foundation of self justification and self righteousness that seems mighty far away from anything that Jesus was ever talking about.

In today's changing world, the political, social, and moral issues about which we tend to argue over are essentially spiritual in nature. And as spiritual people, they are important to us and are expressed as an extension of our faith. And yes, we disagree. But my disagreements do not mean I hate those I disagree with, nor does it justify my behavior to be mean spirited or condescending to those who have another opinion.

A rather wise colleague of mine once said, "In the world of 24 hour news, the one who shouts the loudest decides what the truth is." And in the journalistic entertainment world, we see the wisdom of those words. But when churches and so-called spiritually wise people attempt the same technique, the result is a shouting match with no winners, only losers. Meanwhile, the non-religious folks watch and wonder what is wrong with us.

For all my liberal and conservative friends, if I have any left, let's try some civil discourse, respect for one another, and rather than point a finger, maybe we could talk over a cup of coffee. And at least act a little bit like Jesus in our disagreements.

forgotten neglected and renewed

Several interesting conversations recently with a friend who is involved in social media, marketing, and strategic outreach. She is willing to help me get this bloggering thing down. Video blog, facebook, web page, personal blog, and Youtube, all synchronized and linked together, all with the intent of a message getting to an audience.

I think I have some work ahead of me.

Storm stories

During my tenure in Louisiana, we endured five hurricanes in eight years. Lili, Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. They are etched into my memories, and certain aspects of each are unforgettable. I thought that I would be retired from hurricanes when I moved to the Mid Atlantic region. I guess not.

Despite the warnings of the meteorologists, we have fared well in Charles Town, with no major damage that I am aware of. To the east and north of us, that is not the case and many folks are in bad shape. To the west and south of us, they are digging out from a foot of snow. And with early warning, reasonable precautions for preparedness, and the resources of the federal government standing by, people still endure the storm, suffer damage, and slowly recover. We just cannot escape the storm.

My time on the Gulf Coast taught me to take hurricanes seriously. Get the emergency kit ready before hand, store up some drinking water, make sure you have batteries and milk. Kim and I did those things, and when our power went out for a couple of hours on Monday night, we had no panic or stress, but rather enjoyed a candlelight dinner and quiet conversation. With the wind and the rain outside, it was almost relaxing. Because we had prepared for it.

The whole things stands as a metaphor for life. I know that it is an old cliché to describe the storms of life, but it still holds true. Families face storms of illness, financial pressure, the loss of a loved one. Marriages face the storms of disagreement, confrontation, and sometimes betrayal. Businesses face the storms of competition, technology, and uncertainty in the market. We cannot escape the storms; we cannot totally evade the difficulties and challenges that life throws our way. But we can be prepared for them, and we can certainly survive and even thrive in the midst of them.

Proverbs 6 describes the wisdom of the ant, who plans ahead to ensure that supplies are laid up and life is prepared for the lean times to come. We use the same wisdom when we go to Wal-mart early and stock up on flashlights and soup. But even more significantly, we can be mentally and emotionally prepared for the storms of life.

By building a life of integrity and a reputation of character, you are well prepared from the day that people rise up to accuse you. If you have lived with honesty in your business and personal life, those who seek to ambush you will have little ground for their attack. By building a healthy marriage of mutual trust, faithfulness, and companionship, you are well prepared from the normal temptations and difficulties that will someday come your way.

If you fail to prepare for a hurricane, you are certain to be left in dire straits. No water, no lights, no relief in sight. It is a desolate place to be. Likewise, if you fail to prepare your life for mental or emotional conflict, you can easily be ruined and stranded.

Certainly, God is always with us as we face the difficulties of life, He is our ever present help in time of need. He will not abandon nor forsake His people, and we are well confident in his protection and grace as we face conflict. No doubt, no question. But it seems to me that he has given us a number of gifts to use for our own selves, that we would be well prepared for times of trial. He has given us a brain, to think ahead. He has given us experiences that we can use to shape our judgment with. He has given us His Word, to guide our relationships and decisions. He has given us the ability to choose well for ourselves. Ought we not use these gifts for our own well being?

On the news Tuesday, a woman from Atlantic City was being interviewed. She ignored the evacuation order of the governor, remained in her home, got flooded, had no food or power, and then was furious that she had not been rescued. Seemed odd to me. But in truth, we do the same sort of things when we blame God for the consequences of our own bad choices. Better that we would choose to prepare our lives by living well and thinking ahead. Then we can rejoice and enjoy peace in the midst of all the messes.

I am shattered. Crushed. Disappointed.

One of my heroes has apparently been exposed as a fraud and a cheat. I was inspired by Lance Armstrong. His story of surviving serious cancer, and not only surviving, but recovering to compete in the most demanding sporting event ever imagined. And not only to compete, but to win, and win seven times over. He was amazing.

But maybe not. I do not know him personally, and I confess to having no knowledge of the facts of his case. I am just saddened by it all, mostly by the man-crush that I carried for so long.

Integrity matters more than victories.
Character counts more than money.
Honesty in one's own soul is better than all fame in the world.

Rainy Monday

I have Mark Knopfler on Pandora. I have Al Mohler in print. I have a headache, and it is raining. Mondays are great.

On Monday, I can reflect on the previous Sunday, consider the ups and downs of the day, the church activities, the staff and the people, but mostly I reflect on my own soul. I can look ahead to the upcoming days, plan a few things, ponder a sermon or idea or six, and get the week moving. Sometimes Monday is extremely productive. Today, it is only in the way of getting to Tuesday.

In my life, and likely in yours, some days and weeks are better than other days and weeks. The last week has been as difficult as I have had in several years. Multiple issues, multiple conflicts, some of them my own, some that I am simply a spectator for, all of them emotionally challenging. Some minor illness, a tinge of continual physical pain. Some semi-significant financial decisions. Mother's Day and my wife's birthday coming up.

In the face of a rainy Monday, and all the piles of life that are surrounding me, and my own failures and victories, I am content. I have found a peace and joy that supercedes hardship. I am loved by the God of the Universe in spite of myself. I have a few constant and reliable friends that will stick with me, encourage me, forgive me when I am less than my best. I have a wife who is incredible in so many ways. I have two dollars in my pocket, I can eat today, I will sleep in my own bed, in my own house.

I am not discouraged on a rainy Monday. In fact I am reminded that God is Good, even when I am not. Rain is necessary and vital, it causes the grass and flowers and crops to thrive, and reminds us to enjoy the sunny days. Just as stress and challenge is necessary and vital, it refines us in the heart, causes us to consider our own motives and actions, and reminds us that there will be days and weeks that are less troublesome.

Let it rain all day.

Gravity at Work

As one whose calling and vocation involve the use of words on a regular basis, you would think that snapping out a regular bog post would be among the least of my challenges. In fact, it is among the most stressful for me. Perhaps that is why I avoid and neglect it. There is so much that needs to be said,and I feel a pressing need to get it right. There is so much at stake, there is an urgency in the Gospel, and we cannot waste our efforts with trivia.

I was reminded this week, by some wonderful and gracious friends, that as a man of God, my words are loaded with meaning and intent. Because of my unique role in the community and in society, people tend to believe what I have to say and take me seriously. I have had some moments in the recent past in which I was careless about these matters, and I occasionally speak first and think about it later. I was reminded that I do not have the luxury of foolishness in my words, deeds, or actions. And for those occasions in which I neglect the seriousness and gravity of my calling, I humbly ask your forgiveness and understanding that I am merely human as well.

As a church, we ought to be developing a ministry mindset that derives around purpose and intention, with an understanding of the magnitude of what we are about. The God of all creation has spoken, the Redeemer has called to His people. He has work for us to accomplish, a mission and a obligation to go forth and live in grace and love and reveal His majesty and magnitude to a world that needs Him so desperately. We cannot afford to lose a minute, and we cannot waste our chances.

There is a scientific term called specific gravity, that has something to do with the density of matter in relation to volume. Air has a specific gravity of .0012, and lead has a specific gravity of 11.35, and that is why we understand lead to be heavier than air. In a sense, churches have a specific gravity. The matters that we deal with here are weighty and significant. As we relate the truths of God to a world that is twisted with sin and degradation, we deal with matters of eternity and life. There is gravity in God's Word and the ways we live it out and relate it those around us.

I can't speak for you, but I remember every church that I have ever set foot in, even from a child. Some of the impressions left in me by those churches have been good, some not so much. But all of them linger in my life and heart. We represent the Living Lord of the Universe in a dying world, and every action we take reflects on Him. That is heavy. We should never have just a regular Sunday, or just another worship service. Each and every time the church gathers, the presence of God is to be acknowledged and experienced. Every opportunity we have to speak to those around us is an opportunity to speak words of grace and kindness and life. We must be deliberate in our actions and words as we seek to fulfill our mission and purpose on earth. There is much at stake.

I was reminded this week of all these truths because I sometimes fall short, sometimes I am casual and careless as I interact with people I care about. And sometimes my words in conversation do not match my heart or intent. I am blessed to among gracious and forgiving people, and I thank you for the gentle corrections and accountability that you provide for me. I ask that you continue to help me to be at my best every day, so that I can be refined and purified for service in this community and Kingdom. And if we will all be aware of the gravity and emotional significance of who we are and what we do, I firmly believe that God will be honored and revealed in the life of His people.

Many Blessings to you all.

Vroooom

When does it end?

Perplexed

There are more people, everywhere, than ever before. Like 7 billion.
Developing nations have fallen in love with internal combustion.
Rain forests are diminishing and the cost of living is rising.

I am not one of those grumpy old guys that say, "What the heck is the world coming to anyway..." and I am not going to blame rock and roll, or the Illuminati, or the computers taking over. But I am a bit concerned about the future that my grandchildren may face.

There is more demand, and less supply, of food, fuel, finances, and all the other things that we think we need to survive and thrive. We have more possessions, more gizmos, more communications, more medicines, more of everything that we can count and touch and look at.

And we have less community, less freedom, less love. But those are harder to count. And I cannot sell or buy them. And no one has found a way to make money off of them. yet.

The world is a complicated place, no doubt. I don't think the politicians have the answers, even if they tell you they do. I don't think American Idol is going to save us. But we will watch anyway.

I wonder if there are still places in the world where people like you and I can experience truth, love, and hope. Where we can deal in total honesty with one another and love each other in spite of all the garbage that we wade through day in and day out. I wonder.

News from the Dungeon

So yesterday, I was doing my Sunday thing, trying to tell the world some Good News. I love doing that, I love my church, my friends, and I love to find the nuggets of truth in the Bible and relate them to the wacky world in which we live. God knows we need some good news, and I love to tell it.

So I was talking about how easy it is to blame the world, the ex, the boss, the whomever for all my problems, and what a cop-out it is, and we really need to learn how to take responsibility for our own hurts and scars and start dealing with them, and quit blaming everyone else for my mess. It is called growing up.

But then, and I planned it this way, I told some of my own horror stories, because if anyone wanted to play the blame game and bail out on taking responsibility for life, I could nominate myself. I am the poster child for dysfunctional. And except by the grace of God, I would be in jail. or rehab. or dead. So I told some of those stories to remind people that they have no excuses. If I can let go of pain, and overcome, and find peace in the soul, they can, too.

What I did not expect was this alarming feeling of being totally exposed by showing off my own scars. I would have rather been naked.

I am grateful for my church, who loves me, and lets me be who I am. You guys are awesome.

Rave reviews

I spent most of the weekend reading. The golden haired beauty was spending a couple days with her sister and some friends, so I had the place to myself. Hours of uninterrupted solitude to indulge my pleasures of reading, football, and cooking for myself. Pretty boring that.

I read two books and started a third. Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond. Interesting, witty, painful, pompous, and quite brilliantly written. For those not in the know, these three are the presenters (hosts in America) of a BBC television programme called Top Gear. It is the best thing on TV for anyone that enjoys cars and a masculine sense of humor.

Turns out that these three motor heads, whose job is to create havoc and have fun at the expense of Ferrari, Porsche, and Kia, also write regular columns for well known British newspapers and car magazines. Hammond wrote a book about crashing a jet powered dragster at 240 mph, and his subsequent recovery. May wrote about cars he had loved and hated over the years, and why cars matter. Clarkson wrote a book about how much smarter he is than you.

I drove down our own interstate highway last week. And I must admit that there are bad drivers everywhere. And a few good drivers as well. Likewise there are bad and good cars. And there are the multiple configurations of good, bad and average cars and drivers teamed up at random. With my newly found driver's insight from the UK, and the Prius driving 63 in the left lane, and the scalding hot coffee I spilled, it was a miserable trip.

It is a wonder that anyone gets anywhere without a crash.

Books, blogs, and term papers

So it is the beginning of the fall semester. The summer reading list has had a dent made and is put away. I am back to academics. Again. I am going to be up to my neck in essays, book reviews, term papers, creative thoughts, personal introspection, and a whole bunch of other fun things.

I like to learn, study, stretch my mind in new directions. But I must be a glutton for punishment. Because this doctoral work is demanding. At this level there is no room for anything less than excellent. No squeaking by, no half-effort. Its all in or nothing. These professors pass out 25 page assignments like bubble gum.

But that is a good way to go. The all-in attitude is the best because you are not allowed the option of quit, slack off, or procrastinate. Scrape something together at the last minute, cram it in for an exam is not the method. Like Yoda said to Luke Skywalker, "There is no try. There is do or not do."

Its gonna be great. I'll keep you posted.

Hey, How could I forget that?

My ancestor was a fellow named Conraad Martense Hooghteeling. He came on a boat from the Netherlands in about 1635. He was (we think) an indentured servant that worked for the land owner Kiliaen Van Rensselaer in the New Netherlands settlements. He married a woman named Maria Hendrikse Marselis and they had eight children, thus starting the Hotaling clan in the New World. He was my ninth great grandfather.

Alex Haley's novel Roots was published in 1976, and the subsequent television mini-series aired a year later to rave reviews. One of the results of Roots was a surge in the interest and research of geneology and ancestry. We discovered culturally that we have a need to know where we came from, who are people were, and by knowing about the lives of our ancestors, we know more about our own lives. Our roots matter.

I had lunch the other day with a friend who has spent most of his life in Ranson and Charles Town. His people have been in Jefferson County for generations. My friend is integrated into his community, and he willingly shares his life with that community. His roots are here. He knows who he is, and he is comfortable with that.

I confess to a small amount of envy to those who are deeply rooted in community, who are content with a sense of place. My life has been more of a tumbleweed existence, a rolling stone. I have enjoyed the adventure of seeing new places and learning new cultures, and I cherish the memories and friends of the many places I have lived. But I cannot say that I am deeply rooted in place.

That is beginning to change. Charles Town is beginning to feel like home, and our community of faith is beginning to feel like family. I feel like my roots are taking hold and growing in, and I believe I will stay a while. My wife and I have finally bought a home in Charles Town, and we are planning to be here for as long as we are able.

Regardless of the depth of our roots in this place, no matter where we or our people came from originally, the word family truly describes the church and community of faith. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and, spiritually speaking, we come from common stock. We are adopted into the family of God, we are given a new place in a new family, and we belong to one another by common faith in an uncommon God. Our heritage comes from a brave and courageous Man who revolutionized the world's understanding of God and His love.

Romans 8:14-17 tells us For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ...

We belong to God, and we belong to one another. We have a rich and glorious heritage in this family, and our future is bright. Just as knowing the heritage and ancestry of our people gives us a sense of identity in community, knowing who we belong to as Christians helps us understand who we are in Christ. It grounds our faith and gives us depth as the people of God. As we identify with Christ and His people, our own identities are formed and strengthened.

John writes But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

May you be deeply rooted in Christ. And may you walk boldly as a child of the King.

Living Within the Limits

For an hour, I have sat at my computer desk and stared at the blank page of Microsoft Windows, pondering what witty and insightful words I might share with you. My secretary Dawn has put me on a deadline. The clock is ticking, and I have not an idea, not a thought in my head.

This forum is one of those areas in which I have pretty free reign. I can write here just about whatever I chose to, nearly any thoughts on just about any topic, and most of you are too polite to disagree or criticize. There is no formula, no handbook of topics, no professor to give me an assignment to fulfill. Beyond common sense and fundamental morality, I have no limits, no rules, and no guidelines. And therein lies the problem.

The millions of topics and ideas that I could broach here, the countless number of combinations of letters, words, sentences and paragraphs, the absolute freedom from any kind of restraint serves as an obstacle, a hindrance of its own kind. All this liberty is too overwhelming, and I just don't always know what to do with it. With an unlimited number of choices, I know not which to choose first. I want to choose them all at the same time. And because the choices often hide their consequences, I hesitate to choose anything, for fear of choosing poorly. (Don't worry, this will make sense soon.) All this ambiguity is too much for me to deal with.

If there were some parameters, if there were someone to look over my shoulder and give me a direction, well, that would be wonderful right about now. If there was a handbook published for pastors that need to write for a monthly newsletter, then I would have no problem. Last week when I was in Atlanta for seminary, I was brilliant. The professor gave us the assignment, I knocked out four pages of sheer awesomeness, and came home happy. There were some parameters, some instruction there. There were limits and direction. Back home on a Tuesday morning with no rules, I feel like a blithering idiot in my absolute freedom.

When I drive up Flowing Springs Road, I always stay in the right hand lane. I always stop at the red light and go when it turns green. I always wear my seat belt and occasionally I abide by the speed limits. These are the simple rules for good driving. We know the rules, and when all the drivers abide by the rules and limits, everybody gets home safely. Sometimes we break the rules and get away with it, sometimes we break the rules and tragedy hits. But we still have some rules and we know what they are. And the traffic laws are necessary for us. If we had no rules, we wreck our cars weekly. And hurt ourselves and one another.

In a world of no rules, no limits, no restraint, we have uncertainty, ambiguity and danger. A large part of the Bible gives us instruction in how to live well, and I am grateful for it. Can you imagine of God never gave us any direction about how to live in light of His love and grace. It would be like in the days of the Judges, when everyone did what was right in his own sight. With some limits and guidelines, we have direction and clarity.

So when Jesus says, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself, (paraphrase Mark 12:29, 31) that gives us a simple direction about how to live this Christian life. It is good for us. When Paul says, Put away all your bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice, but instead be kind to one another, tenderhearted and forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you, (paraphrase Eph 4:31-32) that is clearly some instruction that limits our behavior and gives us a good direction to move in. A few simple rules, limits, parameters for our behavior and attitudes.

Our faith is clearly much more than a bunch of rules for moral living. But we do have some limits to what behavior is appropriate and acceptable, and what is not good for us. And the limits are good for us, and help us to abide in His love and grace, and to live peaceably with one another.

I heard a story a few years back about a new elementary school that had been built. The playground was bordered on two sides by a busy street, and as the children went out for recess, the traffic would go zipping by. Because the school year began before everything was completed, there was no fence around the playground. The children were uncertain about how close to the road they should be, so they all stayed huddled close to the building. Recess was not much fun.

Within a few weeks, a chain link fence was installed around the schoolyard. The chain link fence made boundaries for the children, limited the distance they could get to the street, and kept strangers off the property. And all the children were able to roam and run and play throughout the playground, safely and within the limits, and have a tremendous fun time at recess.

Blessings to you

Fun in the Sun

A weekend of rest and recreation. Just what the doctor ordered. Hanging out in the Adirondacks with the family, water sports and good food and a lot of laughs.

The old proverb said that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And I find that to be true. It is a good thing to take a break, get some rest and have a little bit of fun. It restores the soul and reminds us that our lives do not consist of our productivity.

Even more important that getting the rest and recreation is having some people on the team to participate. People matter most, and spending time with the important people in your life contributes to the common cause. While solitude is sometimes required and beneficial, a solitary life seems somehow incomplete. We are social creatures, these humans. And we need one another.

And with all the fun and interaction and good things that happen on a weekend away, I have to say it is good to be home, back to the work, back to the growing list of honey-dos, back to the everyday. Because as good as it is to get away, it is better to come back to a life of contentment and peace.

I hope it is that way in your life, too.

Video, sexting, and stupidity

So Congressman Wiener took some pictures of his wiener. And now he is so ashamed and embarrassed. And the latest starlet is mortified that her sex tape was leaked to the Inquirer. And Senator Edwards is under indictment for lying about his extra-marital affair that he had while his wife was dying of cancer.

America, listen to me carefully. Everybody has a video phone in their pocket. Every Body. Whatever it is you are doing, plan for it to be on Facebook and YouTube before the sun goes down. Just Assume that someone is going to see what creepy thing you are up to. You will get a half million hits. You have no secrets, you will be found out, and "I guess I wasn't thinking about the consequences" is no longer an escape clause.

Here is a really radical thought- If you do not want to be considered a creep and a pervert, do not be a creep or a pervert. If you want people to think of you as a good and decent person, well then you kind of have to be a good and decent person.

If the thing that you are thinking about doing would embarrass you in front of the media, or Grandma... If the thing that you are thinking about doing would cause you to have to at least consider resigning from your job... If the think that you are thinking about doing might make the lead story on Entertainment Tonight, a Jay Leno punch line, or be a topic in the blogosphere, then maybe the smart move would be to do something else.

Something smarter.

It's Holistic

The word "holistic" is becoming more commonly used in our culture today. It describes a physiological theory developed in the 1920's by Dr. J. C. Smuts that the human experience (or any organism) is more than the sum of its parts; that our mind, body, soul, spirit, thoughts, emotions and volition are all interconnected in profound ways, and that each aspect of our condition impacts and affects the other.

For example, traditional medicine diagnoses me with high blood pressure, and prescribes me an appropriate high blood pressure medication. A more holistic approach diagnoses high blood pressure, and makes modifications to diet, exercise, stress management, spiritual well-being, emotional stability and daily choices about life. It examines the root causes of my motivations for unhealthy behavior, and forces me to examine the self and the soul in relation to the current conditions and desired outcomes. And while taking a pill might be simpler and produce faster results, a sound holistic approach is likely to bring a greater condition of overall health in both body and soul. A holistic approach to our personal health has merit and the medical community is beginning to recognize the value of it.

We have all heard the familiar advice these days to eat healthy, get some exercise, and ensure that you are getting enough sleep. These are some of the core components of maintaining our physical health, and if we develop the habit of doing these few simple things, we can generally avoid some much more serious problems.

Likewise, the bible gives us some important habits to develop that continually nurture that health of the spirit and soul. Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17), love your neighbors as yourself (Mark 12:31), worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), avoid selfishness and embrace generosity (Rom 13:12-14), keep your mind focused on what is good and right and pure (Php 4:8). Just like our physical habits, these spiritual disciplines are given to us to enable us to gain and maintain health and well being.

Churches are more organism than organization. We are composed not of bricks and mortar, traditions and habits, but a collection of people seeking to know and love God and one another. And people are constantly changing. As a church we are (or ought to be) a living, growing entity, continually becoming something new and different, deliberately changing for the better over the course of our life span. And a while we are not perfect or perfected, the church that we are currently a part of is generally in good health.

But, like most of us in terms of our personal health, as a church we have some issues that could be addressed to improve our overall condition. The solitary prescriptions of changing the preacher, the music, the decor, or the cover of the bulletins may have an impact in a small way, but when we take a holistic approach to our condition, we must recognize that one aspect of church affects all the others.

Certainly, the right leaders in the right places make an enormous difference and those key leaders impact and affect the well being of the congregation. Even more significantly, the collective power of our attitudes, and the combined and various condition of our personal spiritual health affect the health of our church. We must be willing to look deep inside ourselves to identify our own motivations, strengths and shortcomings. We must have an awareness of the combined strength of our desire for comfort in relation to our acceptance of challenge and risk. All of these have an impact on the health of the self and on the whole congregation. It is holistic. It is connected and intertwined. We are more than the sum of our parts, and the health of the community of faith is impacted by all of who we are and what we do.

In the same way that band-aids will not cure cancer, a new program or publication will not be the single factor that causes a church to grow and thrive. There is no magic fix or pill. A holistic approach to church recognizes the need for both the individual and collective desire to know God and the power of His abundant life, and the willingness to do whatever is required to experience it in our lives.