10/07/09 Still reflecting on Psalm 22, I am impressed by the number of times, the conjunction "yet" is used. There will be a litany of abandonements, distresses, pains, etc., interrupted by "yet" followed by an affirmation of faith. May that is what we believers are called to do: in the midst of much evidence to the contrary, "yet" we make sense of our exitence through God's saving actions in the past and we pray, in the future.
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
forsaken
10/06/09 My prayer verse for the day comes from the opening words of Psalm 22, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest."
You may recognize these words as some of the last words that Jesus said from the cross. Jesus certainly identifies with our feelings of abandonement. I am glad that our Bible contains the whole gamut of human emotions and experiences. Is there anyone who has not felt this sense of being deserted and alone?
In my prayer time walking this morning, I gave up to God some of those experiences in my life past and present. I also remembered that this Psalm ends with a strong affirmation of faith in God, in God's providence, and in God's promised future. May it be so.
Love,
Lynn
You may recognize these words as some of the last words that Jesus said from the cross. Jesus certainly identifies with our feelings of abandonement. I am glad that our Bible contains the whole gamut of human emotions and experiences. Is there anyone who has not felt this sense of being deserted and alone?
In my prayer time walking this morning, I gave up to God some of those experiences in my life past and present. I also remembered that this Psalm ends with a strong affirmation of faith in God, in God's providence, and in God's promised future. May it be so.
Love,
Lynn
Monday, October 5, 2009
the welcome table
on 10/4/09, World Communion Sunday, I told the story by Alice Walker, entitled "the Welcome Table," from her book of short stories, In Love and Trouble
I had a woman enact the part of the old black woman. Some men for the usher and husbands who finally threw her out. Here is a brief synopsis of the story:
This story is about an old, rundown black woman who staggers the necessary distance in the freezing cold to attend an all-white church. The white people are at a loss when they see her near the entrance of the church and do not know what to do. Some people take her in as she is, an old black woman with a mildewed dress that is missing buttons. She is lean and wrinkled with blue-brown eyes. Her appearance makes some of the white people think of black workers, maids, cooks; others think of black mistresses or jungle orgies. Still others think that she is a foreshadow of what is to come - black people invading the one place that it still considered the white person's sanctuary, their church. They see her and transfer their fear of blacks onto her.
The old woman makes her way inside the church. The reverend says something to the old woman, but no one knows what and the old woman does not respond. Inside the church, the old woman sits at the first bench in the back; she is shivering. Outside it is freezing and inside the church it is cold. The rest of the white people sit at the front of the church away from her.
The usher approaches the old woman and tells her to leave, but the old black woman shoos him with her hand and tells him to go away. The women of the church finally take the matter into their hands and dare or demand their hesitant husbands to throw the old colored woman out of the church. The white women look with contempt at the old woman in her bedraggled state and are insulted that their husbands expect them to sit in the same church as her. This sufficiently motivates the husbands to grab the old woman and physically throw her out of the church into the freezing cold. The white women feel vindicated and hateful toward the old black woman. No one at the church speaks of the incident afterward, and the church service begins.
The old lady is surprised to find herself outside, for she had been singing a song in her head. The old lady looks down the highway and sees something that makes her smile, laugh, sing, and jump up and down in joy and excitement: the old lady sees Jesus himself walking down the highway toward her. He looks exactly like a picture she stole out of a white woman's Bible.
When Jesus approaches her, he instructs that she follow him. The old woman happily obliges. They walk in silence for a while, and then the old woman tells Jesus the story of her life, how she has worked for, cleaned for, and nursed the white people. Jesus listens and looks at her with kindness. The old lady indignantly recounts to Jesus how she was just thrown out of the white people's church. Jesus smiles at her and she instantly feels better. She tells Jesus of how she has his picture hanging over her bed. She alternately sings for Jesus, talks to him, and walks in silence beside him. They pass her house and the old woman doesn't even notice. She doesn't know where they are going but knows it will be wonderful. She feels as if she can walk forever by His side.
The white people from the church never finds out what happened to the old black woman who tried to attend their church. The white people do hear of a black woman who died on the highway after having apparently walked herself to death. They think this woman is silly and do not connect the two black women as one and the same. Black families witnessed the old lady walking by herself down the highway, sometimes singing, talking, and walking in silence, smiling. No one knows where she was going all by herself; they just assume she was on her way to visit some relatives.
I had a woman enact the part of the old black woman. Some men for the usher and husbands who finally threw her out. Here is a brief synopsis of the story:
This story is about an old, rundown black woman who staggers the necessary distance in the freezing cold to attend an all-white church. The white people are at a loss when they see her near the entrance of the church and do not know what to do. Some people take her in as she is, an old black woman with a mildewed dress that is missing buttons. She is lean and wrinkled with blue-brown eyes. Her appearance makes some of the white people think of black workers, maids, cooks; others think of black mistresses or jungle orgies. Still others think that she is a foreshadow of what is to come - black people invading the one place that it still considered the white person's sanctuary, their church. They see her and transfer their fear of blacks onto her.
The old woman makes her way inside the church. The reverend says something to the old woman, but no one knows what and the old woman does not respond. Inside the church, the old woman sits at the first bench in the back; she is shivering. Outside it is freezing and inside the church it is cold. The rest of the white people sit at the front of the church away from her.
The usher approaches the old woman and tells her to leave, but the old black woman shoos him with her hand and tells him to go away. The women of the church finally take the matter into their hands and dare or demand their hesitant husbands to throw the old colored woman out of the church. The white women look with contempt at the old woman in her bedraggled state and are insulted that their husbands expect them to sit in the same church as her. This sufficiently motivates the husbands to grab the old woman and physically throw her out of the church into the freezing cold. The white women feel vindicated and hateful toward the old black woman. No one at the church speaks of the incident afterward, and the church service begins.
The old lady is surprised to find herself outside, for she had been singing a song in her head. The old lady looks down the highway and sees something that makes her smile, laugh, sing, and jump up and down in joy and excitement: the old lady sees Jesus himself walking down the highway toward her. He looks exactly like a picture she stole out of a white woman's Bible.
When Jesus approaches her, he instructs that she follow him. The old woman happily obliges. They walk in silence for a while, and then the old woman tells Jesus the story of her life, how she has worked for, cleaned for, and nursed the white people. Jesus listens and looks at her with kindness. The old lady indignantly recounts to Jesus how she was just thrown out of the white people's church. Jesus smiles at her and she instantly feels better. She tells Jesus of how she has his picture hanging over her bed. She alternately sings for Jesus, talks to him, and walks in silence beside him. They pass her house and the old woman doesn't even notice. She doesn't know where they are going but knows it will be wonderful. She feels as if she can walk forever by His side.
The white people from the church never finds out what happened to the old black woman who tried to attend their church. The white people do hear of a black woman who died on the highway after having apparently walked herself to death. They think this woman is silly and do not connect the two black women as one and the same. Black families witnessed the old lady walking by herself down the highway, sometimes singing, talking, and walking in silence, smiling. No one knows where she was going all by herself; they just assume she was on her way to visit some relatives.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
two shall become one
10/01/09 My breath prayer today has been from Jesus teaching about marriage and divorce as recorded in Mark 10:2-10, especially verse 8, "the two shall become one flesh." In my walk this morning and throughout the day, I have been praying for marriages. I have also been praying for those who are going through the pain of divorce. From the beginning God made us for each other. The intimacy between husband and wife is so great that two become one.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
one
9/30/09 My breath prayer today comes from Hebrews 2:11, "For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father." I have been giving thanks today that Jesus is not only the Son of God but our brother who makes us one in our Father. I am so glad to be part of this kind of family. Yes, I give thanks for my biological family, but my faith family has seen me through a lot. We may not always be happy together, but we are one big family.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Monday, September 28, 2009
steadfast love
9/28/09 My prayer verse for the day has been Psalm 26:3, "For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you." I know that steadfast love in Hebrewis "chesed." It is covenant love, God's love, love that does not fail. I have trying to keep that love before me all day, starting with my walk this morning out under the beautiful stars. I saw it at a meeting I led in San Antonio, how people worked so well together. I anticipate tonight as our church council meets.
In steadfast love,
Lynn
In steadfast love,
Lynn
Sunday, September 27, 2009
gifts
from my sermon on 9/27/09 from Mark 10:17-31
Today was supposed to be Consecration Sunday, the day we make our gifts to Christ and to His Church. It is a day that no matter how we dress it up, you know calling the card an estimate of giving card or a commitment card, still feels like I have to fill out a pledge card to support the budget of the church.
Today, and here I am expecting many amens, hallelujahs, much clapping, dancing in the aisles, and so on, there will be no pledge cards!
Why? Let me illustrate...because let us all say together our church's mission statement....oops, we don't know it. When I came for my introductory interview 2 1/2 years ago with the Staff Parish Committee, I asked them if the church had a mission statement. "Oh yes, " was the reply. "What is it?" "Oh, it's there on the front of the bulletin...it's on our newsletter." "OK, but do you know it...does it motivate you?"
Whatever else you may say about Jesus, know this: he was very clear about his mission. In this passage Jesus in on his way to Jerusalem. That's the context for his encounter with the rich man and his imperatives: go, sell, give, come, follow. WE have tried to soften them. There are 3 major ways we have blunted the words:
1. the early Christians expected Jesus to return soon...so yes, give away everything to the poor. But Jesus didn't come back, we take a more reasoned approach, we are in it for the long haul.
2. This was meant for a few spiritual elite...like nuns and monks and ascetics....not for the ordinary masses.
3. Jesus used symbolic language. We are to get rid of anything that would keep us from following him, not just money.
Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. What does that mean? Just after this passage, he says for the 3rd time in Mark's Gospel that when he gets to Jerusalem, he will be reviled, spit upon, and killed. Much to the chagrin of those who preach a prosperity Gospel, all health and wealth, Jesus goes to the cross. Peter and company, say, We've left everything to follow you. And Jesus says that they will be rewarded with land, and houses, and families.....and persecutions. Ouch! We don't like to see that it costs us something to follow Jesus.
Jesus was clear about his mission, and somehow a group of followers was engerized by that vision and was willing to endure the cost.
I have an idea...no money till we get clear on our mission. No pledge till we get clear on our purpose. No talk about budget until we are sure we are following Jesus.
We get to do this, participate in Christ mission for the world. You may remember we are in a sermon series on what UM believe. I am going through our vows; prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. We get to do all of these things.
The rich man missed this. He thought they were "have-to's". His question was, "What do I have to do....and get this next phrase in all of its financial glory...to inherit eternal life?" He had kept all the rules but he missed the relationship. Jesus said: go, sell, give, come, follow. But the man could not. Jesus looked at him with love. The man kept all the laws but he missed the love.
Jesus in teaching the disciple uses reiteration...twice he says it, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. He uses humor and hyperbole. How big is a camel? How small is an eye of a needle? How hard is it for a camel to go through? The disciples say, as we do, "Then who can be saved?" It's impossible for mortals. But all things are possible for God. It is gift. We are saved by what God has done not by what we do.
I need to tell you a story. A pastor friend from the Metroplex area told of a family that visited his worship service. Like I do, Eric would call guests on Sunday afternoon. This particular family of husband, wife and middle school daughter sounded like they needed something. Eric says I usually don't visit in the home until after several times people come to worship, but I asked them if it was alright for me to visit. Yes, they said. Eric when to the nice neighborhood with large houses. He rang the doorbell. The man opened the door, revealing a full size olympic pool inside the house! The man was gracious taking Eric back to a den with coffee service. He got to know the family over several visits. Along the way, the wife called Eric one day, asking him to visit her husband in the hospital. Of course Eric went. As he entered the room, he noticed things from his prior training as a hospital chaplain. There were no flowers, no cards, no other visitors but the wife. Eric returned a couple of days later. Same script. He was bold enough to inquire, "I notice that you have no cards or flowers, and only your wife as a visitor. You do have friends, don't you?" "Besides you, you mean?" Eric said, I am your only friend? The man said, "I got so rich so fast that I couldn't trust anybody." Eric thought to himself, "He has everything....he has nothing that really matters." Eric continued to work with the man and his family. He invited him to the United Methodist Men, you know our cholesterol club. The man could tolerate the older men who still fought the wars on land of old and the wars of today in papers. He cooked for them and washed dishes. He took Disiciple Bible Study and found out that God loved him and had a community for him. He went on medical mission teams. He got involved in meals on wheels. In short, he found his mission. He was saved and turned on to helping others.
Today, you have a gifts sheet. I would love for you to fill this out and put it in the offering plate. What mission or cause or purpose has Christ place on your heart? What grabs you so deeply that you must invest in it? I have prejudiced you with my preaching, talking about us becoming a 50/50 church where we spend 50% on us and 50% on others. I have talked about us unbinding our hearts, about becoming credible witnesses in the world. I know you say that we have to pay the light bills, but can we do that in order to share the light of Christ in the world. I know we have to pay staff, but can we do that so tha t staff can empower others to be in ministry?
I am hoping we can come up with our mission phrase. The United Methodist Church has one: making disciples for the transformation of the world. Our Southwest Texas Conference, these 78 counties and 120,000 Methodists have one: Offering Christ to all. That's what I want something we can remember and get behind.
Yes, we will come up with a budget...but it might not be until January or February. This year we didn't adopt a budget until March and the world didn't stop turning.
Mission comes before money. We represent the One who befriends those who don't know they have a friend. Amen.
Today was supposed to be Consecration Sunday, the day we make our gifts to Christ and to His Church. It is a day that no matter how we dress it up, you know calling the card an estimate of giving card or a commitment card, still feels like I have to fill out a pledge card to support the budget of the church.
Today, and here I am expecting many amens, hallelujahs, much clapping, dancing in the aisles, and so on, there will be no pledge cards!
Why? Let me illustrate...because let us all say together our church's mission statement....oops, we don't know it. When I came for my introductory interview 2 1/2 years ago with the Staff Parish Committee, I asked them if the church had a mission statement. "Oh yes, " was the reply. "What is it?" "Oh, it's there on the front of the bulletin...it's on our newsletter." "OK, but do you know it...does it motivate you?"
Whatever else you may say about Jesus, know this: he was very clear about his mission. In this passage Jesus in on his way to Jerusalem. That's the context for his encounter with the rich man and his imperatives: go, sell, give, come, follow. WE have tried to soften them. There are 3 major ways we have blunted the words:
1. the early Christians expected Jesus to return soon...so yes, give away everything to the poor. But Jesus didn't come back, we take a more reasoned approach, we are in it for the long haul.
2. This was meant for a few spiritual elite...like nuns and monks and ascetics....not for the ordinary masses.
3. Jesus used symbolic language. We are to get rid of anything that would keep us from following him, not just money.
Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. What does that mean? Just after this passage, he says for the 3rd time in Mark's Gospel that when he gets to Jerusalem, he will be reviled, spit upon, and killed. Much to the chagrin of those who preach a prosperity Gospel, all health and wealth, Jesus goes to the cross. Peter and company, say, We've left everything to follow you. And Jesus says that they will be rewarded with land, and houses, and families.....and persecutions. Ouch! We don't like to see that it costs us something to follow Jesus.
Jesus was clear about his mission, and somehow a group of followers was engerized by that vision and was willing to endure the cost.
I have an idea...no money till we get clear on our mission. No pledge till we get clear on our purpose. No talk about budget until we are sure we are following Jesus.
We get to do this, participate in Christ mission for the world. You may remember we are in a sermon series on what UM believe. I am going through our vows; prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. We get to do all of these things.
The rich man missed this. He thought they were "have-to's". His question was, "What do I have to do....and get this next phrase in all of its financial glory...to inherit eternal life?" He had kept all the rules but he missed the relationship. Jesus said: go, sell, give, come, follow. But the man could not. Jesus looked at him with love. The man kept all the laws but he missed the love.
Jesus in teaching the disciple uses reiteration...twice he says it, How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. He uses humor and hyperbole. How big is a camel? How small is an eye of a needle? How hard is it for a camel to go through? The disciples say, as we do, "Then who can be saved?" It's impossible for mortals. But all things are possible for God. It is gift. We are saved by what God has done not by what we do.
I need to tell you a story. A pastor friend from the Metroplex area told of a family that visited his worship service. Like I do, Eric would call guests on Sunday afternoon. This particular family of husband, wife and middle school daughter sounded like they needed something. Eric says I usually don't visit in the home until after several times people come to worship, but I asked them if it was alright for me to visit. Yes, they said. Eric when to the nice neighborhood with large houses. He rang the doorbell. The man opened the door, revealing a full size olympic pool inside the house! The man was gracious taking Eric back to a den with coffee service. He got to know the family over several visits. Along the way, the wife called Eric one day, asking him to visit her husband in the hospital. Of course Eric went. As he entered the room, he noticed things from his prior training as a hospital chaplain. There were no flowers, no cards, no other visitors but the wife. Eric returned a couple of days later. Same script. He was bold enough to inquire, "I notice that you have no cards or flowers, and only your wife as a visitor. You do have friends, don't you?" "Besides you, you mean?" Eric said, I am your only friend? The man said, "I got so rich so fast that I couldn't trust anybody." Eric thought to himself, "He has everything....he has nothing that really matters." Eric continued to work with the man and his family. He invited him to the United Methodist Men, you know our cholesterol club. The man could tolerate the older men who still fought the wars on land of old and the wars of today in papers. He cooked for them and washed dishes. He took Disiciple Bible Study and found out that God loved him and had a community for him. He went on medical mission teams. He got involved in meals on wheels. In short, he found his mission. He was saved and turned on to helping others.
Today, you have a gifts sheet. I would love for you to fill this out and put it in the offering plate. What mission or cause or purpose has Christ place on your heart? What grabs you so deeply that you must invest in it? I have prejudiced you with my preaching, talking about us becoming a 50/50 church where we spend 50% on us and 50% on others. I have talked about us unbinding our hearts, about becoming credible witnesses in the world. I know you say that we have to pay the light bills, but can we do that in order to share the light of Christ in the world. I know we have to pay staff, but can we do that so tha t staff can empower others to be in ministry?
I am hoping we can come up with our mission phrase. The United Methodist Church has one: making disciples for the transformation of the world. Our Southwest Texas Conference, these 78 counties and 120,000 Methodists have one: Offering Christ to all. That's what I want something we can remember and get behind.
Yes, we will come up with a budget...but it might not be until January or February. This year we didn't adopt a budget until March and the world didn't stop turning.
Mission comes before money. We represent the One who befriends those who don't know they have a friend. Amen.
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