home

5/4/10 I heard a great sermon today from one of our younger clergy, Eric, who preached at our Austin District professionals meeting and worship service. He talked about the concept of home. He is trying to reach out with the gospel of Christ to young adults. One of his working definitions of who is a young adult is not about age, but about home. They have left their parents's house, but they have not year established their own home: career, committed relationship, a house. I know that our two sons certainly fall into this definition. They still are in transition.

The good news is that God makes a home with us. God won't be tied down. God camps out with us. Like the Ark of the Covenant traveling in a tent across the wilderness, like the Word made flesh in Jesus who literally "tents" with us , God makes a home wherever we are. God and the journey, not a place, is our home.

Love,
Lynn

Macedonia

5/3/10 One of the lessons for the week comes from Acts 16:9-15, where Paul has a vision of a man pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." What got to me was the timing of this passage with what was going on in my life. On Saturday night I performed a marriage in which the bride was from Macedonia (think just north of Greece in the former Yugoslavia). Stefanija had her parents come over to join in the festivities. The father of the groom had found 2 Univerisity of Texas students who spoke Serbian to serve as translators for the weekend. In the book of Acts, Paul's going to Macedonia is the start of the spread of the gospel to Europe. Stefanija is Greek Orthodox. The faith continues in Macedonia.

Love,
Lynn

all things new

4/29/10 My breath prayer for the day comes from the Revelation to John 21:5, "And the one who was seated on the throne, said, 'See, I am making all things new.'" As I went walking this morning and was reflecting on this verse, I took heart that it was not I who makes all things new. The Lord Jesus has that job. I was encouraged that it was a process--making-- the passage says. All things means all things, not just the things I think can be changed, but there is nothing beyond Christ's touch. Even the most helpless, hopeless person or situation can be made new. New is often used in the promotion of products. "New and improved" the ads promise. Jesus fulfills His promise. He makes all things new.

Love,
Lynn

Joe

4/28/10 Two and and a third years ago, Joe nearly died. He had a massive stroke. In the interim, he has improved and fallen back, nearly dying several more times. Thanks to excellent care by a number of health providers and the sheer determination of his wife Ann, Joe continues to plug along. This past Sunday, when we were discovering what in means to Rethink Church by going out into the community to do service projects instead of gathering in our sanctuary for a worship service, Joe and Ann went to help with the Church under the Bridge. They brought some 500 pairs of socks with them to give to the homeless folks who came to worship there. Many of our church members said it was a powerful witness to see Joe and Ann handing out socks to others. Joe will keep on plugging along.

Love,
Lynn

the shirt off his back

4/26/10 Yesterday, we had a wonderful time when we were challenged to Rethink Church. We went out into the community to do local mission projects instead of gathering for worship and Sunday School. Then we gathered for lunch and a brief worship service at a nearby elementary school cafeteria. For the sermon, I invited person to share how they met Christ in those whom they served that morning. One story came from the group that went to be with the homeless persons who worship at something called Church Under the Bridge. Our congregation took clothes that they handed out to the mostly men who came to worship. When asked what kind of shirt he wanted, one man pointed to one of our church member's bright red t-shirt that had the Rethink Church logo on it. He said, "I want one like that." Our church member gave him the shirt off of his back!

Love,
Lynn

1600 Sundays

4/22/10 I have had some anxiety about this coming Sunday when we are calling off Sunday School and worship and are going out into the world to be the church, to Rething Church. There has been a little push-back to the idea, some confusion, some miscommunication, etc. I was afraid that the idea might be a total flop.

So the math major in me (B.S. degree from Texas A & M in 1976) invaded my prayer life. I got to thinking: I have been a pastor for 32 years at 52 Sundays per year that makes 1600 Sundays. So if things don't go well on just 1 Sunday out of 1600, that's not too bad.

Actually, I keep hearing great stories about how people are responding to the challenge of being the church in the world, in ways that I could not have engineered or predicted. I believe that God is in this Rethink Church project, and that God will be glorified, and that God's people will be blessed.

Love,
Lynn

ask and you shall receive

4/21/10 We are calling off worship and Sunday School at our usual church site this Sunday, and we are going out into the world to be the church. We are gathering for lunch and brief worship service at a nearby school cafeteria. All of this I have been doing on faith. I have had no idea how many people will be out in mission and coinge to lunch. Actually, we are getting some rough estimates of how many people are doing what projects, and we even have rough count of about 250 meals at this point. I didn't know how I would pay for the meals or rental of the school until last night. I was visiting with one of our church members who said that they gave to worthy causes and not just to the budget. I mentioned that I had this meal coming up. This person said how many lunches. I said 250 at $5/lunch. After a bit of reflection, this person said that they would pay for all of them!

I feel awkward asking people for help, especially financial help. I need to learn to get over this feeling, because people like to give. They just need to be asked.

Love,
Lynn