6/30/09
I was at Brackenridge Hospital this morning about 6 a.m. Lizzie was having surgery....again. I asked Lizzie and her mom if they had kept count. "Yes," they replied, "this is the 25th. Of course that doen't count al of the MRI's, x-rays, other tests and procedures. That's just the surgeries where Lizzie has been under anasthesia."
Wow! Can you imagine 25 surgeries in the past 3 years or so? How does one do it?
I prayed with Lizzie and her mom. I let her know that she "counted", that she mattered to me and to God.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
He will be our guide forever
6/29/09
My prayer verse today comes from the very last line of Psalm 48, "He will be our guide forever." It was especially meaningful to me as I began my walk in the dark this morning, "Please God, show my your way, guide my feet, keep me from stumbling." I reflected on how my walks in the morning, often in the park behind our house, are like walking a labyrinth, trusting that god will reveal the path as I walk it.
I prayed for lots of people on my heart, asking that God would be their guide also. I like that the verse uses the plural pronoun "our." In our individualistic culture, how wonderful it is to know that we were made for community. God made us for one another, to walk together.
I like the last word, "forever." God's guiding never ends. "He will be our guide forever."
Love,
Pastor Lynn
My prayer verse today comes from the very last line of Psalm 48, "He will be our guide forever." It was especially meaningful to me as I began my walk in the dark this morning, "Please God, show my your way, guide my feet, keep me from stumbling." I reflected on how my walks in the morning, often in the park behind our house, are like walking a labyrinth, trusting that god will reveal the path as I walk it.
I prayed for lots of people on my heart, asking that God would be their guide also. I like that the verse uses the plural pronoun "our." In our individualistic culture, how wonderful it is to know that we were made for community. God made us for one another, to walk together.
I like the last word, "forever." God's guiding never ends. "He will be our guide forever."
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Sunday, June 28, 2009
How the Mighty Have Fallen
6/28/09 slightly editted version of my sermon from II Sam. 1:1, 17-27
If you are a pastor, one thing you really want to do well is doing funerals. People don't want sloppy theology or pious platitudes when it comes to death. They need healing. In our death-denying and death-defying culture, we as the faith community need to practice good grief.
David, for all his faults, does a masterful job of expressing grief in the passage today. He leads a lament for the whole community of Israel who grieve the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Three times in this song he has the refrain, "How the mighty have fallen."
I believe that David gives us a model for dealing with loss. Let's follow his lead as we go through grief today.
The first thing David does is remember.....and remember with celebration. No ill is spoken of the dead here. The word "eulogy" literally means "good word" or "beautiful word."
Glory might also be traslated as gazelle. Saul and Jonathan are considered to be the glory or gazelle of Israel. They are also considered to be as swift as eagles and powerful as lions. No matter what else happened in this life, David says they remain inseparable in death as father and son.
Today, who do you remember? Who is on your heart? What good word do you have for them as you lift them up this day?
Often when I am preparing for a funeral, I sit down with family and friends of the loved one who has died. I ask them to fill in the blank, "I remember...." What healing comes when we remember and give thanks for lives.
The second thing David does is pour out his feelings. He honestly acknowledges his loss. a book I recently read on grief said, "You have to feel it to heal it." Here David expresses sadness, anger, love, and much more.
One thng I have learned about grieving is that you can hold more than one feeling at the same time. In fact, you can hold seemingly contradictory feelings at the same time. You can laugh and cry, be angry and glad, all at the same time.
David's relationships with Saul and Jonathan were certainly complicated and so would carry complex feelings. Maybe you can relate to this. David was to Saul warrior for him, enemy against him, musician for him, one who flees from him, friend and threat. David was to Jonathan friend and rival for the throne.
Not all of these feelings come out in this passage. Not all feelings come out at the funeral. But at the appropriate time and place they can come out so that God can touch them with healing.
I remember doing a grief workshop one time. Everyone had shared except this one man. He had been silent. I was bringing the small group session to an end. At last he spoke, "I am glad the old bat died." Such honest feelings!
Last week was Father's Day. You saw me wearing my dad's gimme cap with Perfecto Construction Co. on it. Last week, I didn't talk much about my dad or dads in general. Today, I acknowledge how much I miss my dad. What I miss most is just talking on the phone. I would say, "the church is going well, our sons are doing fine, they got good jobs, Cathy and I are happy." You know nothing big, but the stuff of life.
And then he and I would remember. Do remember that time we were working outside of Yuma, AZ, in the summer of '76? How we went to eat supper at that truck stop in Wellton and the waitress came to the table carrying water glasses with her fingers stuck down inside the glasses? This is the stuff of grief to remember and to feel.
The third thing David does is to use words well. Words matter. Words can wound or words can heal. I was reading a book that we are going to be giving to those of you in grief from our caring and calling group. It had a list of phrases that we all have used, even I, that may not really help. You know what I am saying: I know just how you feel, he's in a better place, only the good die young, time heals all wounds, at least she didn't suffer, you can handle it, it's a blessing, you'll be fine...."
Sometimes, the best thing when we don't have the words is simply to listen to people. A rabbi said, "everyone cries in the same language."
Sometimes, when we don't have the words there are words waiting for us. Can you say this with me..."the Lord is my shepherd...."
What comfort we find in the old familiar words! That's why the church has a funeral. We have a liturgy, we have the words that take people through the grief. We need the order, we need the ritual, we need the healing.
Finally, David does this in community. We don't grieve alone. We experience corporate loss. Bombarded, and I use that word intentionally, we are "bombarded" by grief every day....how many killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq or Afghanistan.....workers forced to dig and die for damonds in Africa....poverty, hunger, disease....we have ingested so much grief before we even finish breakfast.
We need to turn and turn and turn to God for healing and hope. In this church, Pastor Jim is starting a grief group, beginning tomorrow, at 6:30 p.m. Did you see that in the bulletin? Our caring and calling group is going to be more intentional about following up on grief. Usually the phone calls and cards stop after 8 days. We have a plan to follow up for a year.
Of all people, we Christians could do this well. Nearly every funeral that I have ever performed I have started with these words, "Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life..." We can deal with death because He has. We can live well because he does.
If you are a pastor, one thing you really want to do well is doing funerals. People don't want sloppy theology or pious platitudes when it comes to death. They need healing. In our death-denying and death-defying culture, we as the faith community need to practice good grief.
David, for all his faults, does a masterful job of expressing grief in the passage today. He leads a lament for the whole community of Israel who grieve the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Three times in this song he has the refrain, "How the mighty have fallen."
I believe that David gives us a model for dealing with loss. Let's follow his lead as we go through grief today.
The first thing David does is remember.....and remember with celebration. No ill is spoken of the dead here. The word "eulogy" literally means "good word" or "beautiful word."
Glory might also be traslated as gazelle. Saul and Jonathan are considered to be the glory or gazelle of Israel. They are also considered to be as swift as eagles and powerful as lions. No matter what else happened in this life, David says they remain inseparable in death as father and son.
Today, who do you remember? Who is on your heart? What good word do you have for them as you lift them up this day?
Often when I am preparing for a funeral, I sit down with family and friends of the loved one who has died. I ask them to fill in the blank, "I remember...." What healing comes when we remember and give thanks for lives.
The second thing David does is pour out his feelings. He honestly acknowledges his loss. a book I recently read on grief said, "You have to feel it to heal it." Here David expresses sadness, anger, love, and much more.
One thng I have learned about grieving is that you can hold more than one feeling at the same time. In fact, you can hold seemingly contradictory feelings at the same time. You can laugh and cry, be angry and glad, all at the same time.
David's relationships with Saul and Jonathan were certainly complicated and so would carry complex feelings. Maybe you can relate to this. David was to Saul warrior for him, enemy against him, musician for him, one who flees from him, friend and threat. David was to Jonathan friend and rival for the throne.
Not all of these feelings come out in this passage. Not all feelings come out at the funeral. But at the appropriate time and place they can come out so that God can touch them with healing.
I remember doing a grief workshop one time. Everyone had shared except this one man. He had been silent. I was bringing the small group session to an end. At last he spoke, "I am glad the old bat died." Such honest feelings!
Last week was Father's Day. You saw me wearing my dad's gimme cap with Perfecto Construction Co. on it. Last week, I didn't talk much about my dad or dads in general. Today, I acknowledge how much I miss my dad. What I miss most is just talking on the phone. I would say, "the church is going well, our sons are doing fine, they got good jobs, Cathy and I are happy." You know nothing big, but the stuff of life.
And then he and I would remember. Do remember that time we were working outside of Yuma, AZ, in the summer of '76? How we went to eat supper at that truck stop in Wellton and the waitress came to the table carrying water glasses with her fingers stuck down inside the glasses? This is the stuff of grief to remember and to feel.
The third thing David does is to use words well. Words matter. Words can wound or words can heal. I was reading a book that we are going to be giving to those of you in grief from our caring and calling group. It had a list of phrases that we all have used, even I, that may not really help. You know what I am saying: I know just how you feel, he's in a better place, only the good die young, time heals all wounds, at least she didn't suffer, you can handle it, it's a blessing, you'll be fine...."
Sometimes, the best thing when we don't have the words is simply to listen to people. A rabbi said, "everyone cries in the same language."
Sometimes, when we don't have the words there are words waiting for us. Can you say this with me..."the Lord is my shepherd...."
What comfort we find in the old familiar words! That's why the church has a funeral. We have a liturgy, we have the words that take people through the grief. We need the order, we need the ritual, we need the healing.
Finally, David does this in community. We don't grieve alone. We experience corporate loss. Bombarded, and I use that word intentionally, we are "bombarded" by grief every day....how many killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq or Afghanistan.....workers forced to dig and die for damonds in Africa....poverty, hunger, disease....we have ingested so much grief before we even finish breakfast.
We need to turn and turn and turn to God for healing and hope. In this church, Pastor Jim is starting a grief group, beginning tomorrow, at 6:30 p.m. Did you see that in the bulletin? Our caring and calling group is going to be more intentional about following up on grief. Usually the phone calls and cards stop after 8 days. We have a plan to follow up for a year.
Of all people, we Christians could do this well. Nearly every funeral that I have ever performed I have started with these words, "Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life..." We can deal with death because He has. We can live well because he does.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Rich & Poor
6/25/09
I have been using as a centering prayer today II Cor. 8:9, "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."
My prayers have led me to reflect on how I and the church I serve act. We are rich. We live in West Austin, Westlake Hills, a rich zip code if there ever was one. I think we want to help people, reach out to people, bless people. I am quite proud of us and all of our mission outreach, our generosity.
The one thing that came to me in my praying was this: is our giving an act of control, of "lording" it over others, a way of keeping distance? I hope we are not just being busy or giving out of guilt or keeping the "other" distant.
I know I have issues with this because I started to title this article, "Rich/Poor." It was only as I started to write that I changed it to "Rich & Poor."
I think this is what Christ is doing in the church whether in Corinth or Westlake Hills: helping us become community, finding Him in the "other" without labels of rich & poor.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
I have been using as a centering prayer today II Cor. 8:9, "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."
My prayers have led me to reflect on how I and the church I serve act. We are rich. We live in West Austin, Westlake Hills, a rich zip code if there ever was one. I think we want to help people, reach out to people, bless people. I am quite proud of us and all of our mission outreach, our generosity.
The one thing that came to me in my praying was this: is our giving an act of control, of "lording" it over others, a way of keeping distance? I hope we are not just being busy or giving out of guilt or keeping the "other" distant.
I know I have issues with this because I started to title this article, "Rich/Poor." It was only as I started to write that I changed it to "Rich & Poor."
I think this is what Christ is doing in the church whether in Corinth or Westlake Hills: helping us become community, finding Him in the "other" without labels of rich & poor.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Enough
6/24/09
My prayer verse today is from II Cor. 8:15, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
Our church has been getting some training lately from the Texas Methodist Foundation on stewardship. Like other churches, we have been dealing with the downturn of the economy. Actually, I am quite proud of our generosity in hard times. But always the question remains, "Will we have enough?"
I love this verse from Paul where the church members take care of each other, in abundance or want. In Christ, in community, we find that we have just enough.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
My prayer verse today is from II Cor. 8:15, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
Our church has been getting some training lately from the Texas Methodist Foundation on stewardship. Like other churches, we have been dealing with the downturn of the economy. Actually, I am quite proud of our generosity in hard times. But always the question remains, "Will we have enough?"
I love this verse from Paul where the church members take care of each other, in abundance or want. In Christ, in community, we find that we have just enough.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
David
6/23/09
I am still meditating on II Sam. 1:17-27, especially today on the friendship between Jonathan and David. David says in vs. 26 about Jonathan, "greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."
I have been praying today for my closest friends. I know that I am loved. I want them to know that they are loved.
I have a close friend named David. He and I married sisters, so now we are also brothers-in-law. I had a brother named David who has died, and and whom I miss.
The name David means "beloved."
Love,
Pastor Lynn
I am still meditating on II Sam. 1:17-27, especially today on the friendship between Jonathan and David. David says in vs. 26 about Jonathan, "greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."
I have been praying today for my closest friends. I know that I am loved. I want them to know that they are loved.
I have a close friend named David. He and I married sisters, so now we are also brothers-in-law. I had a brother named David who has died, and and whom I miss.
The name David means "beloved."
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Monday, June 22, 2009
How the Mighty Have Fallen
6/22/09
My prayer verse for the day comes from II Sam. 1:17-25. Three times in this lament, David says about Saul and Jonathan, "How the mighty have fallen." I know that I want to preach on this text on Sunday.
I didn't learn the word hubris until I went to seminary. A good definition for hubris is that it is the opposite of humility. When we puff ourselves up, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
Also people that we love will die, and we will miss them. We all sin. We all die.
How the mighty have fallen.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
My prayer verse for the day comes from II Sam. 1:17-25. Three times in this lament, David says about Saul and Jonathan, "How the mighty have fallen." I know that I want to preach on this text on Sunday.
I didn't learn the word hubris until I went to seminary. A good definition for hubris is that it is the opposite of humility. When we puff ourselves up, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.
Also people that we love will die, and we will miss them. We all sin. We all die.
How the mighty have fallen.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Facing the Giants
6/21/09 editted from my sermon on I Sam 17:1-49
We know the story so well. Imagine, "In this corner, standing 6'6" or 9'6" depending upon the Hebrew Masoretic text or the Greek Septuagint, dressed in the finest battle gear from head to toe, equipped with a sword, a spead, a javelin, and a shield, a seasoned veteran of many battles, the hero of the Philistines, Goliath the giant. And in this corner, uh...is a little boy, dressed in a plain tunic, carrying a shepherd's crook and slingshot, having just come from tending the sheep, and providing food service to his older brothers, is the representative of the Hebrews, David."
Could the contrast be any greater? We love this story because who wins? The underdog! The one who has no chance overcomes all the odds. The little boy faces the giant and wins!
The sports analogies are too numerous to mention....the United States ice hockey team beating the Russians at Lake Placid in the winter olympics....I wanted to show you a clip of the recent movie, Facing the Giants, but it was predictable, and I still cried my eyes out. We just love it when the little guy wins.
We love it in politics. Right now we are pulling for the underdog in Iran. Can this candidate from way behind defeat the clerics and Ahminidijad? We love it in business. Some of you in the high tech industry get all misty-eyed talking about a little garage near San Jose, California, and what became the start of Silicon Valley.
The story has enduring allure. Imagine being a Hebrew child, exiled in Babylon, without much hope, and saying, "tell me the story again of David and the giant Goliath." Surrounded by big, powerful enemies, you find hope in facing the giants in the old story. David is a "rock star."
What does David say when facing the giant. "The LORD will deliver." That's all some of you need to hear today. The living God, the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel will be with us to overcome anything--financial stress, medical problems, injustice, depression, gloom, addictions, failures, sins.
If that is all you get out of the sermon today, that is okay. But for me the story didn't end. I still had more to face.
What if we were also Saul in this story? How did we face the giant? Were we hiding in the baggage train? Safe, away from the battle? Do we want to dress David up in our battle gear? How many times have we said it, "YOu have to fight fire with fire. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."? How many times have we faced the giants on their own terms?
It is a funny scene in the text. David says, "I cannot walk in these. I am not used to them." I wonder if we have gotten comfortable walking in these clothes and gotten too used to them."
I wonder if the church has lost some power because the world cannot tell how we are any different from the world. You know what I mean? How we think our meaning is tied up in how much we do, how much we have, how much attention we get. Even preachers fall prey to it....we have pulpit envy. Bigger must be better. We dress up just like our enemy.
And then this is the part of the story I like the least. It must be from God because I didn't want to go this far. How are we like Goliath? How are we the giant? Can we face the giant within? I know we want to project out....we are the boisterous bully, the loud lout, challenging the other side, cutting them down, showing them where they are wrong. But I wonder if we are not the problem.
I would have you reflect as individuals....is what you find offensive in some one else really something that you can't stand about yourself? As a church, and Church, we have sometimes been better at shouting at others than dealing with our own stuff. Clergy sexual abuse....witch hunts.....apartheid.....slavery.....sweeping the native Americans off the continent......imperialism.....colonialism....blaming women, or persons of color, or persons of different sexual orientation...or....
I am not here to beat you up, but consider what Anne Lamott said, "When God hates all the same people that you hate, you can be absolutely sure that you have created God in your own image."
Where's the good news? The LORD will deliver.....even from the giants within...Christ has faced the giants for us....not with a stone but with a cross. We are saved not by our own might, but by turning to Him who saves, delivers, rescues. The truth is that we are all of the persons in this story. The truth is that the underdog wins, Christ faces the giants on His terms, saying from the cross, "Father forgive them."
We know the story so well. Imagine, "In this corner, standing 6'6" or 9'6" depending upon the Hebrew Masoretic text or the Greek Septuagint, dressed in the finest battle gear from head to toe, equipped with a sword, a spead, a javelin, and a shield, a seasoned veteran of many battles, the hero of the Philistines, Goliath the giant. And in this corner, uh...is a little boy, dressed in a plain tunic, carrying a shepherd's crook and slingshot, having just come from tending the sheep, and providing food service to his older brothers, is the representative of the Hebrews, David."
Could the contrast be any greater? We love this story because who wins? The underdog! The one who has no chance overcomes all the odds. The little boy faces the giant and wins!
The sports analogies are too numerous to mention....the United States ice hockey team beating the Russians at Lake Placid in the winter olympics....I wanted to show you a clip of the recent movie, Facing the Giants, but it was predictable, and I still cried my eyes out. We just love it when the little guy wins.
We love it in politics. Right now we are pulling for the underdog in Iran. Can this candidate from way behind defeat the clerics and Ahminidijad? We love it in business. Some of you in the high tech industry get all misty-eyed talking about a little garage near San Jose, California, and what became the start of Silicon Valley.
The story has enduring allure. Imagine being a Hebrew child, exiled in Babylon, without much hope, and saying, "tell me the story again of David and the giant Goliath." Surrounded by big, powerful enemies, you find hope in facing the giants in the old story. David is a "rock star."
What does David say when facing the giant. "The LORD will deliver." That's all some of you need to hear today. The living God, the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel will be with us to overcome anything--financial stress, medical problems, injustice, depression, gloom, addictions, failures, sins.
If that is all you get out of the sermon today, that is okay. But for me the story didn't end. I still had more to face.
What if we were also Saul in this story? How did we face the giant? Were we hiding in the baggage train? Safe, away from the battle? Do we want to dress David up in our battle gear? How many times have we said it, "YOu have to fight fire with fire. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."? How many times have we faced the giants on their own terms?
It is a funny scene in the text. David says, "I cannot walk in these. I am not used to them." I wonder if we have gotten comfortable walking in these clothes and gotten too used to them."
I wonder if the church has lost some power because the world cannot tell how we are any different from the world. You know what I mean? How we think our meaning is tied up in how much we do, how much we have, how much attention we get. Even preachers fall prey to it....we have pulpit envy. Bigger must be better. We dress up just like our enemy.
And then this is the part of the story I like the least. It must be from God because I didn't want to go this far. How are we like Goliath? How are we the giant? Can we face the giant within? I know we want to project out....we are the boisterous bully, the loud lout, challenging the other side, cutting them down, showing them where they are wrong. But I wonder if we are not the problem.
I would have you reflect as individuals....is what you find offensive in some one else really something that you can't stand about yourself? As a church, and Church, we have sometimes been better at shouting at others than dealing with our own stuff. Clergy sexual abuse....witch hunts.....apartheid.....slavery.....sweeping the native Americans off the continent......imperialism.....colonialism....blaming women, or persons of color, or persons of different sexual orientation...or....
I am not here to beat you up, but consider what Anne Lamott said, "When God hates all the same people that you hate, you can be absolutely sure that you have created God in your own image."
Where's the good news? The LORD will deliver.....even from the giants within...Christ has faced the giants for us....not with a stone but with a cross. We are saved not by our own might, but by turning to Him who saves, delivers, rescues. The truth is that we are all of the persons in this story. The truth is that the underdog wins, Christ faces the giants on His terms, saying from the cross, "Father forgive them."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Lord will deliver
6/18/09
Still meditating on the David and Goliath story from I Sam. 17, my breath prayer has been part of verse 37, "the LORD will deliver." The verb is used several times in this passage as David has remembered how the LORD has saved him in times past. David counts on the LORD to save him as he meets Goliath. It is same verb that is used when the Hebrews are released from Egypt and cross the Red Sea in the Exodu. The LORD delivers, saves, rescues.
In my praying today, especially over those situations that seem overwhelming, it was good for me to remember that I didn't have to rescue any of those persons or situations. I simply turned them over to God. The LORD will deliver.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Still meditating on the David and Goliath story from I Sam. 17, my breath prayer has been part of verse 37, "the LORD will deliver." The verb is used several times in this passage as David has remembered how the LORD has saved him in times past. David counts on the LORD to save him as he meets Goliath. It is same verb that is used when the Hebrews are released from Egypt and cross the Red Sea in the Exodu. The LORD delivers, saves, rescues.
In my praying today, especially over those situations that seem overwhelming, it was good for me to remember that I didn't have to rescue any of those persons or situations. I simply turned them over to God. The LORD will deliver.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Facing the Giants
6/17/09
The scripture lesson for this Sunday is about David and Goliath. I know what I am supposed to say, the safe thing that with God's help we can overcome all the giant problems of this world. My prayer and study have been leading me in a disturbing direction. What if, in the story, we aren't David? What if we are Saul? What if we are the giant Goliath? I am being led to confession as I face the fact of perhaps being the giant.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
The scripture lesson for this Sunday is about David and Goliath. I know what I am supposed to say, the safe thing that with God's help we can overcome all the giant problems of this world. My prayer and study have been leading me in a disturbing direction. What if, in the story, we aren't David? What if we are Saul? What if we are the giant Goliath? I am being led to confession as I face the fact of perhaps being the giant.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Anawim
6/16/09
My breath prayer for the day comes from Psalm 9:18, "For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever." In Hebrew, the poor are called the anawim. In the Jewish faith, the height of generosity was to show kindness to the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner in the land. You can tell the most about us by how we treat the least among us.
I know at times that all of us are the anawim. We are the vulnerable ones, the hurt ones, the powerless ones, the sick ones, the poor ones. I pray that in those times we find comfort from Psalm 9 which says we are not forgotten and our hope does not die. I pray that in those times when we are strong, rich, powerful, well, and rich that we may not forget what it was like to be the anawim and may reach out to those who currently are the poor and needy. Then we will live out this verse by not forgetting them and offering them hope.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
My breath prayer for the day comes from Psalm 9:18, "For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever." In Hebrew, the poor are called the anawim. In the Jewish faith, the height of generosity was to show kindness to the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner in the land. You can tell the most about us by how we treat the least among us.
I know at times that all of us are the anawim. We are the vulnerable ones, the hurt ones, the powerless ones, the sick ones, the poor ones. I pray that in those times we find comfort from Psalm 9 which says we are not forgotten and our hope does not die. I pray that in those times when we are strong, rich, powerful, well, and rich that we may not forget what it was like to be the anawim and may reach out to those who currently are the poor and needy. Then we will live out this verse by not forgetting them and offering them hope.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Monday, June 15, 2009
Trust
6/15/09
Psalm 9:10a is my breath prayer for the day, "Those who know your name put their trust in you."
I marvel at the mystery of God's name. Our Jewish friends revere the name of God so much that they will substitute another word in place of the divine name. I also know that I don't know the full name of God. I am at peace with that. I know that God is Lover, Saviour, Sustainer, Friend, Interrupter, Comforter, Challenger, Forgiver........I put my trust in this God.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Psalm 9:10a is my breath prayer for the day, "Those who know your name put their trust in you."
I marvel at the mystery of God's name. Our Jewish friends revere the name of God so much that they will substitute another word in place of the divine name. I also know that I don't know the full name of God. I am at peace with that. I know that God is Lover, Saviour, Sustainer, Friend, Interrupter, Comforter, Challenger, Forgiver........I put my trust in this God.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Lord Looks on the Heart
6/14/09 slightly edited version of my sermon on I Sam. 15:34-16:13
"O say can you see?" That is the question. How well do you see? What do you see in others? Samuel, a prophet, literally, a "seer," is tasked with finding the new king. What do you look for?
Maybe it is the eldest. That's what makes a person more valuable, their age. But no, the Lord looks on the heart.
Maybe it is the tallest. As one who is vertically challenged, I take offense at this. And thankfully, the Lord looks on the heart.
Maybe it is the smartest...or the most handsome....or the wealthiest....or most powerful....or the most famous. No, the Lord looks on the heart.
Seven sons pass before Samuel. They do not pass muster. Is there anyone else? Only the youngest, but he's nothing, he's out tending the sheep. But the Lord looks on the heart.
I love children. I love what children are able to see. Last week as I was serving communion, a boy planted himself in front of me. You may remember that we were going to show the movie, "One Peace at a Time" that night for $10 a person. He said, "Hey, why don't you have children's tickets for that movie." I told him, if he came, that I would cover his ticket. What I love about that story is how free he felt to talk to me right there in front of worship. He was striking a blow for justice for all children. He got to the heart of the matter.
I have been with children all week as we have hosted Vacation Bible School. We have been with Paul and the early church in Rome in the first century. Again I love what children see. One child asked his dad at the end of the week, "So, you can do God more than one day a week, huh?" It gets to our hearts.
And you children what did you learn this past week. That God loves us. That God loves not just us but everyone....even Brutus, Paul's guard. Did he become a Christian? How do we know? We are baptized.
Today, we have the baptism of 2 children. Maybe God only loves adults. NO!? Remember in the gospels, how they were bringing little children to Jesus for him to bless them. But his disciples tried to prevent it. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." The Lord looks upon the heart.
So the youngest son, the eighth son, the one overlooked, is the one whom Samuel is directed to anoint as the new king. Maybe we can forgive Samuel for not having such great vision. After all he was old, in retirement. He was afraid, for he was anointing a new king while the old king was still alive, an act of treason. It was a rush job. But at last he saw as the Lord saw, upon the heart, and David was chosen by God.
David follows a long line of least likely to lead people in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah...too old to have kids and to go to land unknown...but the Lord looks upon the heart.
Moses, a murderer and runaway from the law....one who is hesitant to speak....but the Lord looks upon the heart.
Deborah...female judge, prophet, military leader....you know the refrain.
Gideon....of small tribe...afraid..
Jeremiah....too young...
Mary....too young...not married..
Saul...persecutor of the church....
The most important thing is what the Lord sees. The Lord does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.
It is true for communities as well as individuals. Is this the oldest church? Is it the largest? Is it the richest? Is it the smartest? Is it the most beautiful? None of that really matters. The Lord looks on the heart.
What does the Lord see in us? What do we see in others? The Lord looks on the heart. Amen.
"O say can you see?" That is the question. How well do you see? What do you see in others? Samuel, a prophet, literally, a "seer," is tasked with finding the new king. What do you look for?
Maybe it is the eldest. That's what makes a person more valuable, their age. But no, the Lord looks on the heart.
Maybe it is the tallest. As one who is vertically challenged, I take offense at this. And thankfully, the Lord looks on the heart.
Maybe it is the smartest...or the most handsome....or the wealthiest....or most powerful....or the most famous. No, the Lord looks on the heart.
Seven sons pass before Samuel. They do not pass muster. Is there anyone else? Only the youngest, but he's nothing, he's out tending the sheep. But the Lord looks on the heart.
I love children. I love what children are able to see. Last week as I was serving communion, a boy planted himself in front of me. You may remember that we were going to show the movie, "One Peace at a Time" that night for $10 a person. He said, "Hey, why don't you have children's tickets for that movie." I told him, if he came, that I would cover his ticket. What I love about that story is how free he felt to talk to me right there in front of worship. He was striking a blow for justice for all children. He got to the heart of the matter.
I have been with children all week as we have hosted Vacation Bible School. We have been with Paul and the early church in Rome in the first century. Again I love what children see. One child asked his dad at the end of the week, "So, you can do God more than one day a week, huh?" It gets to our hearts.
And you children what did you learn this past week. That God loves us. That God loves not just us but everyone....even Brutus, Paul's guard. Did he become a Christian? How do we know? We are baptized.
Today, we have the baptism of 2 children. Maybe God only loves adults. NO!? Remember in the gospels, how they were bringing little children to Jesus for him to bless them. But his disciples tried to prevent it. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." The Lord looks upon the heart.
So the youngest son, the eighth son, the one overlooked, is the one whom Samuel is directed to anoint as the new king. Maybe we can forgive Samuel for not having such great vision. After all he was old, in retirement. He was afraid, for he was anointing a new king while the old king was still alive, an act of treason. It was a rush job. But at last he saw as the Lord saw, upon the heart, and David was chosen by God.
David follows a long line of least likely to lead people in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah...too old to have kids and to go to land unknown...but the Lord looks upon the heart.
Moses, a murderer and runaway from the law....one who is hesitant to speak....but the Lord looks upon the heart.
Deborah...female judge, prophet, military leader....you know the refrain.
Gideon....of small tribe...afraid..
Jeremiah....too young...
Mary....too young...not married..
Saul...persecutor of the church....
The most important thing is what the Lord sees. The Lord does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.
It is true for communities as well as individuals. Is this the oldest church? Is it the largest? Is it the richest? Is it the smartest? Is it the most beautiful? None of that really matters. The Lord looks on the heart.
What does the Lord see in us? What do we see in others? The Lord looks on the heart. Amen.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
We Walk by Faith
6/11/09
II Cor. 5:7 says, "We walk by faith, not by sight." This verse was especially relevant for me as I began my walk/prayer time in the dark this morning. I owned its meaning in another way: I pray for people that I don't see before me, but I trust that God does. I pray for people who have died, whom I see no longer, but God does. I pray for situations where I can't see any good coming at all, but maybe God does. I keep walking by faith, not by sight.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
II Cor. 5:7 says, "We walk by faith, not by sight." This verse was especially relevant for me as I began my walk/prayer time in the dark this morning. I owned its meaning in another way: I pray for people that I don't see before me, but I trust that God does. I pray for people who have died, whom I see no longer, but God does. I pray for situations where I can't see any good coming at all, but maybe God does. I keep walking by faith, not by sight.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Your Heart's Desire
6/10/09
My centering text for today is Psalm 20, which has the inviting phrase, "May he grant you your heart's desire." When I first read that, I thought, "How wonderful!" But upon deeper reflection, I came to the truth, I don't even know my heart's desire. So as I was walking and praying this morning, my prayer got transformed to, "God, what is your heart's desire?"
As I brought various persons and situations into my prayers, I left behind what I wanted for them, and asked, "God, give them your heart's desire for them."
At Boston College several summers ago, I learned from the Jesuits that God only wants for us our deepest happiness. May that also be our heart's desire.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
My centering text for today is Psalm 20, which has the inviting phrase, "May he grant you your heart's desire." When I first read that, I thought, "How wonderful!" But upon deeper reflection, I came to the truth, I don't even know my heart's desire. So as I was walking and praying this morning, my prayer got transformed to, "God, what is your heart's desire?"
As I brought various persons and situations into my prayers, I left behind what I wanted for them, and asked, "God, give them your heart's desire for them."
At Boston College several summers ago, I learned from the Jesuits that God only wants for us our deepest happiness. May that also be our heart's desire.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Lord Looks on the Heart
6/9/09
I am drawn to this phrase, "the LORD looks on the heart," from I Sam. 16:1-13. We judge people all the time by outward appearances--their height, their clothes, their cleanliness, their race, their gender. We judge by the size and location of a house, what kind of car they drive, and what office they hold.
Samuel was tasked with finding the new king for Israel. He started with the eldest of Jesse's sons and went through all seven of the oldest boys. But none of them were the one that God chose. The youngest wasn't even considered. He was out in the fields tending the sheep. He was the one that Samuel anointed to be king, because the LORD doesn't look like we humans look, "the LORD looks upon the heart." His name was David. He became the paradigm for what Israel's king should be like. The messiah was to be a Son of David.
How do we look at people? "The LORD looks upon the heart."
Love,
Pastor Lynn
I am drawn to this phrase, "the LORD looks on the heart," from I Sam. 16:1-13. We judge people all the time by outward appearances--their height, their clothes, their cleanliness, their race, their gender. We judge by the size and location of a house, what kind of car they drive, and what office they hold.
Samuel was tasked with finding the new king for Israel. He started with the eldest of Jesse's sons and went through all seven of the oldest boys. But none of them were the one that God chose. The youngest wasn't even considered. He was out in the fields tending the sheep. He was the one that Samuel anointed to be king, because the LORD doesn't look like we humans look, "the LORD looks upon the heart." His name was David. He became the paradigm for what Israel's king should be like. The messiah was to be a Son of David.
How do we look at people? "The LORD looks upon the heart."
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Monday, June 8, 2009
VBS
6/8/09
The church has its own jargon and acronymns. One of the most enduring is VBS, which stands for Vacation Bible School. Ours started this morning with about 107 children. You can imagine that the energy and noise levels around here have ramped up just a wee bit.
I love this week actually. In fact, I asked to help lead the music. I like the children to see me in this role. I like to see the children learn about Jesus in a relaxed, unhurried way.
We really do ministry with children well at this church. They are divided up into family groups, with about 8-10 children per group with 2 adult leaders. The children are of mixed ages, so it is like a family, with the older ones taking on responsibilities, and everyone learning to work together.
This year's theme is "Extollo," which I think is Latin for "I praise." We are re-creating the experience of first century Christians in Rome, so the leaders are dressed in togas. A Roman soldier wanders around. There are shopkeepers that lead activities and a cave where the church worships in secret underground. Of course, there are snacks and crafts and music.
VBS could also stand for Very Blessed Students.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
The church has its own jargon and acronymns. One of the most enduring is VBS, which stands for Vacation Bible School. Ours started this morning with about 107 children. You can imagine that the energy and noise levels around here have ramped up just a wee bit.
I love this week actually. In fact, I asked to help lead the music. I like the children to see me in this role. I like to see the children learn about Jesus in a relaxed, unhurried way.
We really do ministry with children well at this church. They are divided up into family groups, with about 8-10 children per group with 2 adult leaders. The children are of mixed ages, so it is like a family, with the older ones taking on responsibilities, and everyone learning to work together.
This year's theme is "Extollo," which I think is Latin for "I praise." We are re-creating the experience of first century Christians in Rome, so the leaders are dressed in togas. A Roman soldier wanders around. There are shopkeepers that lead activities and a cave where the church worships in secret underground. Of course, there are snacks and crafts and music.
VBS could also stand for Very Blessed Students.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Worship
6/7/09 editted version of my sermon for today from Isaiah 6:1-8
(sing) This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe
Your holy presence, living in me
This is my daily bread, this is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
And I..I..I...I'm desperate for you
And I...I...I....I'm lost without you
This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe
We are desperate for worship. We human beings were made for worship. We need more than politics. Kings like Uzziah come and go. We need more than financial reports. Stock markets rise and fall. We need an encounter with the living God. We are desperate for what the world cannot give. We need worship.
Yet we avoid worship. True worship rocks our foundations like it does here with Isaiah. How awesome it is to come into the presence of the living God! I mean if we really came into the Lord's presence, the Lord might just show us who we really are, and that scares us. We would have to deal with the fact that we are people of unclean lips.
Remember when the Hebrew people encountered the LORD at Mt. Sinai. "That's alright Moses. You be the go-between. We are fine right where we are."
I know we come to church but how rarely do we really worship. We have many ways to avoid an encounter with God, even in worship. We can get busy. At another church I served, there was an annual barbecue. The men really liked that time of year because they could stay up all night cooking and miss worship so that they could serve us a meal. Now that's a good thing--to serve a meal....but not at the expense of worship.
We have other ways to avoid worship. We can critique the pastor...or the sermon...or the music....or the worship space...anything to keep God at bay.
Maybe we need to pause once again right now in worship and confess how we are trying not to worship. How are our lips unclean? Take a moment and give that up.
Thank God that that is not the last act in worship. An angel comes with a hot coal and touches Isaiah's lips and cleanses him. We can be forgiven, cleansed, given a fresh start in worship. I wonder if we don't feel cleaner more often because we don't confess more often. I know deep down we really desire this because I have learned to ask the question, "Anything else." People will get to talking to me...and I will ask, "Anything else?" And the layers continue to get peeled back until we get to the bottom of things and get real.
We come to a table where all are welcome today. This is a table that we approach not because of our goodness but by God's grace. This is our table of new beginnings, of "do-overs," of forgiveness.
Then God comes with a word for us. God is still speaking to us. God is not silent. The Word of the LORD came to Isaiah; the Word still comes to us.
I have seen evidence this past week as I attend annual conference, where some 1300 United Methodists from the 78 counties in the Southwest part of Texas gathered to worship and do the business of the church. Our emphasis was on raising up younger clergy. And it is happening in our midst! God is calling! People are answering.
You know that God speaks not just to ordained people but to all believers, even you. Also this past week, I spent some time at Lebh Shomea, a Catholic retreat house for prayer and quiet. We don't speak at meals or on the property, except at worship. There we listen to the scriptures read, and then turn to a neighbor for just a minute to share in faith the word we heard for us. I'm wondering if we could do that now. Perhaps you have heard a word for you today from the scripture, or a song, or the quiet. Could you turn to a neighbor now and share what is the word for you?
You see, God is still speaking.
And finally, Isaiah is sent on a mission. "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'" I hope you know that worship doesn't stop here. I hope you know that Sunday has something to do with Monday. I hope you know that our mission field begins right outside these doors. Here we are the church gathered. We leave to become the church scattered. I hope you can say, "Here I am. Send me."
The good news I have to share with you today is that you were made for worship.
(sing) This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe
Your holy presence, living in me
This is my daily bread, this is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
And I..I..I...I'm desperate for you
And I...I...I....I'm lost without you
This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe
We are desperate for worship. We human beings were made for worship. We need more than politics. Kings like Uzziah come and go. We need more than financial reports. Stock markets rise and fall. We need an encounter with the living God. We are desperate for what the world cannot give. We need worship.
Yet we avoid worship. True worship rocks our foundations like it does here with Isaiah. How awesome it is to come into the presence of the living God! I mean if we really came into the Lord's presence, the Lord might just show us who we really are, and that scares us. We would have to deal with the fact that we are people of unclean lips.
Remember when the Hebrew people encountered the LORD at Mt. Sinai. "That's alright Moses. You be the go-between. We are fine right where we are."
I know we come to church but how rarely do we really worship. We have many ways to avoid an encounter with God, even in worship. We can get busy. At another church I served, there was an annual barbecue. The men really liked that time of year because they could stay up all night cooking and miss worship so that they could serve us a meal. Now that's a good thing--to serve a meal....but not at the expense of worship.
We have other ways to avoid worship. We can critique the pastor...or the sermon...or the music....or the worship space...anything to keep God at bay.
Maybe we need to pause once again right now in worship and confess how we are trying not to worship. How are our lips unclean? Take a moment and give that up.
Thank God that that is not the last act in worship. An angel comes with a hot coal and touches Isaiah's lips and cleanses him. We can be forgiven, cleansed, given a fresh start in worship. I wonder if we don't feel cleaner more often because we don't confess more often. I know deep down we really desire this because I have learned to ask the question, "Anything else." People will get to talking to me...and I will ask, "Anything else?" And the layers continue to get peeled back until we get to the bottom of things and get real.
We come to a table where all are welcome today. This is a table that we approach not because of our goodness but by God's grace. This is our table of new beginnings, of "do-overs," of forgiveness.
Then God comes with a word for us. God is still speaking to us. God is not silent. The Word of the LORD came to Isaiah; the Word still comes to us.
I have seen evidence this past week as I attend annual conference, where some 1300 United Methodists from the 78 counties in the Southwest part of Texas gathered to worship and do the business of the church. Our emphasis was on raising up younger clergy. And it is happening in our midst! God is calling! People are answering.
You know that God speaks not just to ordained people but to all believers, even you. Also this past week, I spent some time at Lebh Shomea, a Catholic retreat house for prayer and quiet. We don't speak at meals or on the property, except at worship. There we listen to the scriptures read, and then turn to a neighbor for just a minute to share in faith the word we heard for us. I'm wondering if we could do that now. Perhaps you have heard a word for you today from the scripture, or a song, or the quiet. Could you turn to a neighbor now and share what is the word for you?
You see, God is still speaking.
And finally, Isaiah is sent on a mission. "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'" I hope you know that worship doesn't stop here. I hope you know that Sunday has something to do with Monday. I hope you know that our mission field begins right outside these doors. Here we are the church gathered. We leave to become the church scattered. I hope you can say, "Here I am. Send me."
The good news I have to share with you today is that you were made for worship.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
connected
6/6/09
Last night our bishop preached from John 15:1-8 where Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches." This was to remind all of those being commissioned and ordained as well as all of us gathered there from whom we get our power. Jesus also says in this passage, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." Our identity, our strength, and our hope come only from being connected to the one who gives us life, our Lord, our Saviour, our Christ.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Last night our bishop preached from John 15:1-8 where Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches." This was to remind all of those being commissioned and ordained as well as all of us gathered there from whom we get our power. Jesus also says in this passage, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." Our identity, our strength, and our hope come only from being connected to the one who gives us life, our Lord, our Saviour, our Christ.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Well-fed
6/05/09
I was reflecting at Annual Conference today, sitting at the table, while reports were being offered, and I counted up that I had had the sacrament of communion 7 times in the last 5 days. On both Sunday and Wednesday, I had communion twice. Every other day I had it once.
John Wesley, who founded the Methodist movement, that later became today's United Methodist Church, believed in frequent communion. He believed that Christ showed up at the sacrament and changed people's lives. He believed that it was a "converting sacrament." That's why we Methodists practice an "open table," inviting anyone who is willing to receive whatever Christ has to offer at the table to partake.
I know that Christ continues to show up and continues to change people's lives, because he continues to change mine. I am hungry for what He provides. Today I am well-fed.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
I was reflecting at Annual Conference today, sitting at the table, while reports were being offered, and I counted up that I had had the sacrament of communion 7 times in the last 5 days. On both Sunday and Wednesday, I had communion twice. Every other day I had it once.
John Wesley, who founded the Methodist movement, that later became today's United Methodist Church, believed in frequent communion. He believed that Christ showed up at the sacrament and changed people's lives. He believed that it was a "converting sacrament." That's why we Methodists practice an "open table," inviting anyone who is willing to receive whatever Christ has to offer at the table to partake.
I know that Christ continues to show up and continues to change people's lives, because he continues to change mine. I am hungry for what He provides. Today I am well-fed.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Lebh Shomea
6/4/09
Lebh Shomea is a Catholic retreat house, a house of quiet and prayer, located near Sarita, Texas. The Hebrew word "Lebh" is translated as "heart". "Shomea" may be translated as "listening" or "understanding" or "discerning." It comes from I Kings 3:9, where Solomon is asked by the LORD what he wants. He asks for a lebh shomea.
That's what I want also. So I go to this retreat house once or twice a year, simply to be quiet, to be still, to wait on the Lord. I read a lot. I rest a lot. I walk in the woods a lot. I pray a lot. But we don't talk. Except at chapel each morning where we are asked to listen to the scripture lessons and share in faith with a neighbor the Word we heard for us.
One of the members of the core community will also deliver about a 3 minute homily. We will have the sacrament of communion.
I like to go to this retreat house right before annual conference in Corpus Christi. You must understand that annual conference is not necessarily quiet. It is full of motions, amendments, speeches for and against. Yes, there are worship services, and lots of reunions with old friends in the hall ways. But I find myself growing quickly tired of Robert's Rules of Order. So I try to enter conference with a lebh shomea.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
Lebh Shomea is a Catholic retreat house, a house of quiet and prayer, located near Sarita, Texas. The Hebrew word "Lebh" is translated as "heart". "Shomea" may be translated as "listening" or "understanding" or "discerning." It comes from I Kings 3:9, where Solomon is asked by the LORD what he wants. He asks for a lebh shomea.
That's what I want also. So I go to this retreat house once or twice a year, simply to be quiet, to be still, to wait on the Lord. I read a lot. I rest a lot. I walk in the woods a lot. I pray a lot. But we don't talk. Except at chapel each morning where we are asked to listen to the scripture lessons and share in faith with a neighbor the Word we heard for us.
One of the members of the core community will also deliver about a 3 minute homily. We will have the sacrament of communion.
I like to go to this retreat house right before annual conference in Corpus Christi. You must understand that annual conference is not necessarily quiet. It is full of motions, amendments, speeches for and against. Yes, there are worship services, and lots of reunions with old friends in the hall ways. But I find myself growing quickly tired of Robert's Rules of Order. So I try to enter conference with a lebh shomea.
Love,
Pastor Lynn
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