11/23/10 Yesterday, I went to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary to teach the United Methodist Polity class for Dr. Paul Barton ( no immediate relation, but I did know his parents, Roy and Rosa from Perkins School of Theology). I serve on our Board of Ordained Ministry so I was to address the topic of ordination. I thought the class would be only an hour long, but it was to be an hour and a half. I didn't know if I had enough material, but the time flew by. Paul had to give me the signal to stop while I was still rolling. It was very energizing to dialogue with these who are just coming into the ordination process.
Today, I was back at APTS to talk to the loose group of UM students. They wanted to hear about the partnership we have formed with Parker Lane UMC on the east side of Austin. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed their questions and insights. In short, the last 2 days have reminded of why I attended seminary from 1976 to 1979.
Love,
Lynn
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Jesus remember me
Jesus remember me from my sermon on 11/21/10 from Luke 23:33-43
(we sing the Taize chorus, "Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom," as ushers pass out nails to the congregation.)
Warning: this message may contain material that some listeners will find offensive. You think I am kidding, but I am not. I would rather talk about football and other light matters, but the text is not headed that way. If you have been reading Luke's Gospel, it is no surprise that we find ourselves here today. Three times Jesus has said that he is going to Jerusalem, and there be rejected, crucified, and die. We have been on a journey with Jesus for months now in our worship services. Way back in the 9th chapter, Luke said that when the time came for him to be lifted up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
So we find ourselves today in this ominous place called the Skull. Is it a hill that is shaped like a skull? Is it because there have been so many crucifixions that there are many skulls lying around? We don't know. All we know is that we don't want to be here. It is ugly, gruesome, upsetting. We want to avoid this place, where Jesus is dying on a cross. Luke tells the story briefly, compactly, but compellingly.
Warning: you may find this material objectionable. I know my former congregation did. I was talking about Jesus dying on the cross. Rome had chosed this form of punishment because it brought public humiliation and maximum pain upon the criminal, and it discouraged others from similiar crimes. But we have santized the cross. Today, we wear the cross as jewelery--a bracelet, a necklace. We polish the cross and put it up in our sanctuaries. Our Roman Catholic friends still have Jesus on the cross in suffering and pain. We Protestants have Jesus resurrected, so our crosses are empty. It is a symbol of victory for us. But we may have lost the emotional impact , the shock value of the cross. Now here is the part that you won't like. In my former church, I said, "what if we put a modern day symbol of death in our sanctuaries? What if we put up front an electric chair? Or here in the state of Texas a gurney with leather straps and hoses with needles?"
After the service, a dear faithful woman came up to me with tears in her eyes and gripped me by my shoulders. Lana Kay said, "You can't do that without giving us some warning. Don't you remember what happened to my son?" Of course I had forgotten. Her son had worked as a clerk at a convenience store up over that big bridge in Corpus Christi. A robber had come in and demanded money. He was inept, scared, maybe high on drugs. He botched it. He got away with very little cash, but he murdered Lana Kay's son. The security camera caught it all on tape. The TV stations played it over and over again for days. The young man was caught, sentenced, sent to prison, and placed on death row. Lana Kay wrote him letters, formed a relationship with him, got on his visitors' list, and had even gone to see him in prison. His execution date had been scheduled. Lana Kay said to me, "You have to give us some warning before you tell us stuff like this." We will return to Lana Kay in a minute.
We don't like Jesus on a cross. We want a different kind of Messiah. Some people tell me that they follow Jesus because he is a good man; they want a moral example. Some say they like Jesus because he is sort of a guru full of wise teachings. But we don't get to pick what kind of Messiah Jesus is. God has chosen to show His love for us in Jesus on a cross.
This is Christ the King Sunday. We have a king. His throne is a cross. He wears a crown...of thorns. We don't get to choose this. God already has.
We shout "Save yourself!" Did you notice 3 times in the text people are shouting at Jesus to save himself? It sounds an awful lot like the opening scene of Jesus's ministry when he is out in the wilderness and the tempter comes to Him and says, "If you really are the Son of God....then change these stones into bread, .....worship me and all this world will be yours...., jump from the Temple pinnacle and you won't be hurt."
The religious leaders, the Roman soldiers, and one thief all yell at Jesus to save himself. One thief gives a minority report. He says, "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom." He gets what no one else gets. The disciples don't get it. The crowds don't get it. The religious leaders don't get it. The Roman soldiers don't get it. The other thief doesn't get it. Only this one thief gets it while hanging on the cross beside Jesus. He sees Jesus as King, as Messiah, as Savior. He gets it because he is totally helpless. He has no other hope. It is before the resurrection. It is the first Christian sermon. He sees Jesus as Messiah because he is desperate.
There is no one beyond hope. Even a thief on a cross. There is always time till the very last breath to be forgiven. No one is beyond God's grace.
I wonder if we don't avoid the ugliness of the cross because we think we don't need it. Let me put it another way. I went to workshop recently where I heard a really great preacher. He asked his congregation this question: "Are you a sinner or just a mistaker?"
I ask you, do you just say as a mistaker, "Oops, my bad?" Or do you acknowledge that you are a sinner and have offended God? Are you a mistaker who just bends the rules? Or are you a sinner who has broken God's heart?
I wonder if we miss the power of the cross because we think we are just mistakers, not sinners. We don't like to be helpless.
Back to Lana Kay, I am not breaking any confidences here, on the day the young man was executed for killing her son, she went on the Today show on NBC, and she said, "I forgive him." When you are helpless, when you turn to Jesus in desperation, and are welcomed, that forgiveness can flow through you and into others.
Remember what Jesus says earlier in the passage, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The Greek verb tense is one of continuing action. Jesus is literally saying over and over again, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
There is incredible good news in this passage. To the ones who are helpless, hopeless, and cry out, "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom," Jesus says, "Today, you will be with me in paradise."
I want you to go to the ugly cross now, holding that nail in your hand. I know that nail is dirty and oily; it marks you. I want you to mediate on that nail as we sing once more. I want you to answer the question: "Are you a sinner or just a mistaker?"
(We sing, Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom.)
(we sing the Taize chorus, "Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom," as ushers pass out nails to the congregation.)
Warning: this message may contain material that some listeners will find offensive. You think I am kidding, but I am not. I would rather talk about football and other light matters, but the text is not headed that way. If you have been reading Luke's Gospel, it is no surprise that we find ourselves here today. Three times Jesus has said that he is going to Jerusalem, and there be rejected, crucified, and die. We have been on a journey with Jesus for months now in our worship services. Way back in the 9th chapter, Luke said that when the time came for him to be lifted up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
So we find ourselves today in this ominous place called the Skull. Is it a hill that is shaped like a skull? Is it because there have been so many crucifixions that there are many skulls lying around? We don't know. All we know is that we don't want to be here. It is ugly, gruesome, upsetting. We want to avoid this place, where Jesus is dying on a cross. Luke tells the story briefly, compactly, but compellingly.
Warning: you may find this material objectionable. I know my former congregation did. I was talking about Jesus dying on the cross. Rome had chosed this form of punishment because it brought public humiliation and maximum pain upon the criminal, and it discouraged others from similiar crimes. But we have santized the cross. Today, we wear the cross as jewelery--a bracelet, a necklace. We polish the cross and put it up in our sanctuaries. Our Roman Catholic friends still have Jesus on the cross in suffering and pain. We Protestants have Jesus resurrected, so our crosses are empty. It is a symbol of victory for us. But we may have lost the emotional impact , the shock value of the cross. Now here is the part that you won't like. In my former church, I said, "what if we put a modern day symbol of death in our sanctuaries? What if we put up front an electric chair? Or here in the state of Texas a gurney with leather straps and hoses with needles?"
After the service, a dear faithful woman came up to me with tears in her eyes and gripped me by my shoulders. Lana Kay said, "You can't do that without giving us some warning. Don't you remember what happened to my son?" Of course I had forgotten. Her son had worked as a clerk at a convenience store up over that big bridge in Corpus Christi. A robber had come in and demanded money. He was inept, scared, maybe high on drugs. He botched it. He got away with very little cash, but he murdered Lana Kay's son. The security camera caught it all on tape. The TV stations played it over and over again for days. The young man was caught, sentenced, sent to prison, and placed on death row. Lana Kay wrote him letters, formed a relationship with him, got on his visitors' list, and had even gone to see him in prison. His execution date had been scheduled. Lana Kay said to me, "You have to give us some warning before you tell us stuff like this." We will return to Lana Kay in a minute.
We don't like Jesus on a cross. We want a different kind of Messiah. Some people tell me that they follow Jesus because he is a good man; they want a moral example. Some say they like Jesus because he is sort of a guru full of wise teachings. But we don't get to pick what kind of Messiah Jesus is. God has chosen to show His love for us in Jesus on a cross.
This is Christ the King Sunday. We have a king. His throne is a cross. He wears a crown...of thorns. We don't get to choose this. God already has.
We shout "Save yourself!" Did you notice 3 times in the text people are shouting at Jesus to save himself? It sounds an awful lot like the opening scene of Jesus's ministry when he is out in the wilderness and the tempter comes to Him and says, "If you really are the Son of God....then change these stones into bread, .....worship me and all this world will be yours...., jump from the Temple pinnacle and you won't be hurt."
The religious leaders, the Roman soldiers, and one thief all yell at Jesus to save himself. One thief gives a minority report. He says, "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom." He gets what no one else gets. The disciples don't get it. The crowds don't get it. The religious leaders don't get it. The Roman soldiers don't get it. The other thief doesn't get it. Only this one thief gets it while hanging on the cross beside Jesus. He sees Jesus as King, as Messiah, as Savior. He gets it because he is totally helpless. He has no other hope. It is before the resurrection. It is the first Christian sermon. He sees Jesus as Messiah because he is desperate.
There is no one beyond hope. Even a thief on a cross. There is always time till the very last breath to be forgiven. No one is beyond God's grace.
I wonder if we don't avoid the ugliness of the cross because we think we don't need it. Let me put it another way. I went to workshop recently where I heard a really great preacher. He asked his congregation this question: "Are you a sinner or just a mistaker?"
I ask you, do you just say as a mistaker, "Oops, my bad?" Or do you acknowledge that you are a sinner and have offended God? Are you a mistaker who just bends the rules? Or are you a sinner who has broken God's heart?
I wonder if we miss the power of the cross because we think we are just mistakers, not sinners. We don't like to be helpless.
Back to Lana Kay, I am not breaking any confidences here, on the day the young man was executed for killing her son, she went on the Today show on NBC, and she said, "I forgive him." When you are helpless, when you turn to Jesus in desperation, and are welcomed, that forgiveness can flow through you and into others.
Remember what Jesus says earlier in the passage, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The Greek verb tense is one of continuing action. Jesus is literally saying over and over again, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
There is incredible good news in this passage. To the ones who are helpless, hopeless, and cry out, "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom," Jesus says, "Today, you will be with me in paradise."
I want you to go to the ugly cross now, holding that nail in your hand. I know that nail is dirty and oily; it marks you. I want you to mediate on that nail as we sing once more. I want you to answer the question: "Are you a sinner or just a mistaker?"
(We sing, Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom.)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
terry lord's testimony
here's what Terry Lord said for her testimony during 11/14/10 message:
Good morning. Excuse me I need some water.
Three years ago, Abby Parker, Kathy Langley, Kim Weidmann and I sat around my kitchen table and tried to brainstorm about a project to bring the Missions Committee and our Youth together. We were led to the idea of an Alternative Christmas Market where we could inspire others to think outside the Christmas box ... to have a paradigm shift ... to encourage all of us ... instead of giving more things, to give more meaning.
We were stunned by your response. That first year we raised over $11,000. Last year we raised over $13,000. We were shocked that our little mustard seed of an idea seemed to catch on. Pastor Lynn asked me to speak today about how lives might have been changed by our efforts through alternative holiday giving and that has led me to talk to you about water.
(Slides need to pop up here.)
There are two situations with children that are difficult for me to wrap my mind around. The first is that there are children living in Austin that don't know food security. The second is that there are children anywhere that do not have access to clean water. Can we really imagine that?
It is the responsibility of women and children in many parts of Africa to collect water for their families. This often means walking many miles to sites that are contaminated. With your help families in two communities (1 in Kenya; 1 in Uganda) are developing clean water resources through the use of shallow wells, tanks, and sub-surface sand dams. With clean water close at hand, young girls can attend school.
In Malawi, only 32% of the people have access to a safe water supply. Because of your efforts, people in one village are providing labor and locally available materials to drill one borehole well.
Now, I would like for you to meet Micah Lokorobee. He is from northern Uganda. He is 9 years old and he is blind. He had no clothes to wear, no place to bathe, and during raids he was often left behind when people ran away for safety and in search of water. Because of your donations, a sand dam has been constructed near Micah's village, which provides access to clean water even during the dry season. We helped provide the materials and Micah helped provide the stones and part of the labor.
In Michah's home culture a blind child is considered a curse to his family. But because of Micah's work on the dam, he was given the opportunity to go to a school for the blind in Kenya. As he put it, "The sand dam has made me to be recognized."
So, yes, our little Alternative Gifts market has changed lives. It has changed mine ... I don't take the gift of clean water for granted. And I am trying really hard to remind myself not to buy things my friends and family don't really want or need. (Hold up sweater and tell story). I am trying to give gifts in their honor that actually do have meaning to someone ... like good, clean water.
Good morning. Excuse me I need some water.
Three years ago, Abby Parker, Kathy Langley, Kim Weidmann and I sat around my kitchen table and tried to brainstorm about a project to bring the Missions Committee and our Youth together. We were led to the idea of an Alternative Christmas Market where we could inspire others to think outside the Christmas box ... to have a paradigm shift ... to encourage all of us ... instead of giving more things, to give more meaning.
We were stunned by your response. That first year we raised over $11,000. Last year we raised over $13,000. We were shocked that our little mustard seed of an idea seemed to catch on. Pastor Lynn asked me to speak today about how lives might have been changed by our efforts through alternative holiday giving and that has led me to talk to you about water.
(Slides need to pop up here.)
There are two situations with children that are difficult for me to wrap my mind around. The first is that there are children living in Austin that don't know food security. The second is that there are children anywhere that do not have access to clean water. Can we really imagine that?
It is the responsibility of women and children in many parts of Africa to collect water for their families. This often means walking many miles to sites that are contaminated. With your help families in two communities (1 in Kenya; 1 in Uganda) are developing clean water resources through the use of shallow wells, tanks, and sub-surface sand dams. With clean water close at hand, young girls can attend school.
In Malawi, only 32% of the people have access to a safe water supply. Because of your efforts, people in one village are providing labor and locally available materials to drill one borehole well.
Now, I would like for you to meet Micah Lokorobee. He is from northern Uganda. He is 9 years old and he is blind. He had no clothes to wear, no place to bathe, and during raids he was often left behind when people ran away for safety and in search of water. Because of your donations, a sand dam has been constructed near Micah's village, which provides access to clean water even during the dry season. We helped provide the materials and Micah helped provide the stones and part of the labor.
In Michah's home culture a blind child is considered a curse to his family. But because of Micah's work on the dam, he was given the opportunity to go to a school for the blind in Kenya. As he put it, "The sand dam has made me to be recognized."
So, yes, our little Alternative Gifts market has changed lives. It has changed mine ... I don't take the gift of clean water for granted. And I am trying really hard to remind myself not to buy things my friends and family don't really want or need. (Hold up sweater and tell story). I am trying to give gifts in their honor that actually do have meaning to someone ... like good, clean water.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
armadillo express
11/16/10 Usually I write about serious stuff--what is going on in my soul, a breath prayer that sparks deep reflection, justice issues, etc. Today's posting will be lighter fare.
I have been working hard, too hard the last few days. Church conference is coming up, which means I have lots of details to attend to, lots of meetings to get at some of those details. I found myself this morning out walking, as usual, but my face set in a frown, not usual. It means I was expressing bodily how I was under stress.
I took one of my favorite walks, leaving our house, walking across Searight park, crossing Slaughter Creek by way of the dam. In the greenbelt on the other side of the creek, I was on a path that parallels the water. I could hear a noise growing louder, coming closer. Now, there are many leaves on the ground so that even a tiny squirrel can make quite a racket. The noise was coming from behind me. I turned around and looked. There was an armadillo moving at maximum speed like a runaway armored army tank. It was coming right up the path I was on. I stepped off the path. It did too. I finally jumped at the last instant and it went into the brush. The only thing I could do was laugh. I was not frowning any more.
Love,
Lynn
I have been working hard, too hard the last few days. Church conference is coming up, which means I have lots of details to attend to, lots of meetings to get at some of those details. I found myself this morning out walking, as usual, but my face set in a frown, not usual. It means I was expressing bodily how I was under stress.
I took one of my favorite walks, leaving our house, walking across Searight park, crossing Slaughter Creek by way of the dam. In the greenbelt on the other side of the creek, I was on a path that parallels the water. I could hear a noise growing louder, coming closer. Now, there are many leaves on the ground so that even a tiny squirrel can make quite a racket. The noise was coming from behind me. I turned around and looked. There was an armadillo moving at maximum speed like a runaway armored army tank. It was coming right up the path I was on. I stepped off the path. It did too. I finally jumped at the last instant and it went into the brush. The only thing I could do was laugh. I was not frowning any more.
Love,
Lynn
Monday, November 15, 2010
opportunity to witness
from the message on 11/14/10 from Luke 21:5-19, 3 laypersons offer testimonies as part of the message
This message will be out of the ordinary. It begins with a song I heard when went to the Holy Land for the first time in 1987. We saw lots of ruins, including the place where the Temple used to be, before it was destroyed in AD 70 just like Jesus said. Our pilgrimmage included going to a huge Roman ampitheater at Caesarea, an ancient port on the Mediterrean. Imagine this: huge semicircles of stone benches in tiers rising up...the large stage down below with massive stone columns...and stretching out into infinity that particular blue that is the Mediterrean Sea.
A woman on our bus was the music director at her church. She was walking across the stage, getting a feel for the place. Several from our tour group shouted down to her, "Cynthia, sing something!" "No, I couldn't." "Yes, sing something." "Ok," she said. She was a black woman, steeped in the Gospel music tradition. When she began to sing, pilgrims from all over the world who had been speaking in French, Japanese, Spanish, and German, stopped and grew instantly silent.
She sang, "Who'll be a witness for my Lord?......I'll be a witness for my Lord." (I will sing, Terry can move to microphone as I finish)
We have our first witness today...Terry Lord
She talked about the Alternate Gift Market where we have helped supply clean drinking water to villages in Africa.
Luke writes this account many years after Jesus spoke the words. The Temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed. The emotional, spiritual impact of that event is hard to measure. Think back to 9/11.....a few radical terrorists fly airplanes into the Twin Towers in NYC...that can't possibly happen...it's unthinkable...that's what the people were feeling when Luke wrote. The words that Jesus spoke about all of the terrors...nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom....have seemed to fit every generation...including today. He talks about earthquakes, famines, and plagues...sounds a lot like what has happened in Haiti.
(I sing again)...who'll be a witness.....(Tom moves to microphone)
Our next witness is Tom Rioux
I was 1 of 10 Central Texans that went on a Southwest Texas Conference sponsored United Methodist Volunteers in Mission trip to Haiti on October 6-14, 2010, to help rebuild housing. Please see the insert in your bulletin for a more detailed discussion of my trip and the latest church newsletter for the full story.
It took all of the first and last day to fly to and from Austin and Port-au-Prince. We stayed at the Methodist Guest House in Petion-Ville (a suburb of Port-au-Prince about 5 miles east of the palace) and worked at Carrefour (a suburb of Port-au-Prince about 5 miles west of the palace). The daily commute took 1 hour. We worked 5 days removing debris using pick axe, shovels, 5 gallon buckets, and a wheelbarrow. We drank only bottled water the entire time.
One day our Haitian interpreter Joseph said
You really don’t understand why I am so thankful to God for your team… for all the teams. I am grateful because it is hard to live in Haiti, even before the earthquake. It is hard to walk the streets and see the people hungry and searching for something to eat; to see children playing in trash, and water running down the road from the houses. It is hard to live in a place that you love, but that breaks your heart and makes your spirit sink. Since we won our freedom, each election we vote hoping that the new leaders will help the people, but it has not happened. It gets harder and harder to convince friends and family members to vote because nothing ever changes. The powerful take the money and do not improve the lives of the people. I vote because I am a Haitian, but then I feel bad when someone I voted for disappoints the people again. And then there was the earthquake, and everything became much worse. When we watch television, we see pictures of other places in the world, and it is easy to believe that Haiti is forgotten. Or that maybe God has made Haiti the world’s trashcan and its people don’t matter. I know that isn’t true, but sometimes it is easy to think that. I know that Jesus came for all people, for me and for you; that God loves all people, me and you, and everybody in the world. But it is easy to be discouraged by what you see around you. Sometimes you have to work hard to hold on to hope and to live what your faith tells you. I am thankful for your team and others because by coming you remind us that we matter. When you work with us and talk with us and worship with us, you are saying that it is true – Christ’s love is for EVERYONE.
A very close friend of mine asked “Why didn’t you just write a check for $2,000 and send it?”. As Joseph expressed, money could not have done what our presence in Haiti accomplished.
On February 7-16, 2011, I will lead a Westlake United Methodist Church Haiti Mission Trip. The trip is limited to 10 people. Next Sunday at the Alternate Christmas Market, I will have a booth where you can express your interest in going on this mission trip, your financial support (American Airlines Frequent Flyer Miles and/or money), and your spiritual support (the Prayer Team).
Thanks.
As I read Luke's gospel, I thought about how every age represents the last days. The signs of evil and destruction and fear are evident. Jesus words still ring true. Whatever the hardship, we as believers have the opportunity to witness. Even when there are wars and insurrections.
(I sing again)..who'll be a witness...(Dugie moves to microphone)
Our next witness is Dugie Graham
May I tell you a story? About one year ago, a faithful and humble servant who loves the Lord with all she has and is, started on a project for a group of soldiers preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. As the soldiers were preparing for their work for the US Army, this servant who is a dear friend of mine, was preparing a little bit of comfort for these men who will live out the winter in a very cold area of Afghanistan. She started knitting 85 helmet caps for the 85 soldiers in a company led by my son-in-law and she prayed for them as she knitted. Well, we all know that our God has a sense of humor. The Captain, my son-in-law, was promoted to a new job within his battalion and with just a few months before their deployment, this servant was told that his new company had 245 men in it. Her commitment to this Captain and his soldiers didn’t change. So she started to knit faster and for many more hours each day and then felt God’s nudge to ask for help with her project. She needed other knitters. So in a loaves and fishes sort of way, her project of helmet caps, prayers, and concern for a group of soldiers grew. Earlier this week, 245 helmet caps were shipped to Afghanistan to warm the heads and hearts of some of our soldiers.
But there’s more to this story. I was one of her blessed helpers and on a recent international flight, I knitted my last cap with the yarn I had for this project. When I was finished, I put it away. A little while later, I guess I got a nudge too, and I asked the young man sitting next to me if he was a soldier. He introduced himself as Adrian and told me he is serving his 4th deployment in Iraq. He was traveling home on sympathy leave to attend his dad’s funeral. We chatted then about his service and his family and then I dug into my bag and pulled out that last cap. I gave Adrian that cap. He thanked me warmly and then after a few moments he, being a gentleman, asked me if he could give me a hug. With that one small gesture, Adrian hugged all the knitters everywhere for all the soldiers everywhere. God used my friend to teach many that His Love can be shown in countless ways and that it GROWS! Even in the midst of war, we can show God’s love through warm heads and hearts. “My God, How Great Thou Art!”
Who'll be a witness? I think it may be harder to witness today than it ever has been. We are not persecuted; we are counted as irrelevant; We are not thrown in jail; we are faced with apathy and cynicism. The evils we face may be consumerism and comfortablity. I read a great quote this past week, "We live in classy suburbs with too much freedom and too few limits."
God, Jesus, Spirit, Bible, Church....what difference do they make?
Who'll be a witness? Now is the time. We are the people. It makes all the difference in the world...as you have heard these three testify. It made a difference to the Petreski family. We have shown Christ’s love to Igor after his accident. His mom, Sonja has been after me for weeks to be baptized. She grew up in communist Yugoslavia; her father was in the military. God, Jesus, Spirit, Bible, Church...they were not done. Why today I asked her? Why do you want to be baptized now? She said, "I want to say thank you to God."
(I sing again) Who'll be a witness.....(Petreski's come forward as I sing) I'll be a witness for my Lord..
This message will be out of the ordinary. It begins with a song I heard when went to the Holy Land for the first time in 1987. We saw lots of ruins, including the place where the Temple used to be, before it was destroyed in AD 70 just like Jesus said. Our pilgrimmage included going to a huge Roman ampitheater at Caesarea, an ancient port on the Mediterrean. Imagine this: huge semicircles of stone benches in tiers rising up...the large stage down below with massive stone columns...and stretching out into infinity that particular blue that is the Mediterrean Sea.
A woman on our bus was the music director at her church. She was walking across the stage, getting a feel for the place. Several from our tour group shouted down to her, "Cynthia, sing something!" "No, I couldn't." "Yes, sing something." "Ok," she said. She was a black woman, steeped in the Gospel music tradition. When she began to sing, pilgrims from all over the world who had been speaking in French, Japanese, Spanish, and German, stopped and grew instantly silent.
She sang, "Who'll be a witness for my Lord?......I'll be a witness for my Lord." (I will sing, Terry can move to microphone as I finish)
We have our first witness today...Terry Lord
She talked about the Alternate Gift Market where we have helped supply clean drinking water to villages in Africa.
Luke writes this account many years after Jesus spoke the words. The Temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed. The emotional, spiritual impact of that event is hard to measure. Think back to 9/11.....a few radical terrorists fly airplanes into the Twin Towers in NYC...that can't possibly happen...it's unthinkable...that's what the people were feeling when Luke wrote. The words that Jesus spoke about all of the terrors...nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom....have seemed to fit every generation...including today. He talks about earthquakes, famines, and plagues...sounds a lot like what has happened in Haiti.
(I sing again)...who'll be a witness.....(Tom moves to microphone)
Our next witness is Tom Rioux
I was 1 of 10 Central Texans that went on a Southwest Texas Conference sponsored United Methodist Volunteers in Mission trip to Haiti on October 6-14, 2010, to help rebuild housing. Please see the insert in your bulletin for a more detailed discussion of my trip and the latest church newsletter for the full story.
It took all of the first and last day to fly to and from Austin and Port-au-Prince. We stayed at the Methodist Guest House in Petion-Ville (a suburb of Port-au-Prince about 5 miles east of the palace) and worked at Carrefour (a suburb of Port-au-Prince about 5 miles west of the palace). The daily commute took 1 hour. We worked 5 days removing debris using pick axe, shovels, 5 gallon buckets, and a wheelbarrow. We drank only bottled water the entire time.
One day our Haitian interpreter Joseph said
You really don’t understand why I am so thankful to God for your team… for all the teams. I am grateful because it is hard to live in Haiti, even before the earthquake. It is hard to walk the streets and see the people hungry and searching for something to eat; to see children playing in trash, and water running down the road from the houses. It is hard to live in a place that you love, but that breaks your heart and makes your spirit sink. Since we won our freedom, each election we vote hoping that the new leaders will help the people, but it has not happened. It gets harder and harder to convince friends and family members to vote because nothing ever changes. The powerful take the money and do not improve the lives of the people. I vote because I am a Haitian, but then I feel bad when someone I voted for disappoints the people again. And then there was the earthquake, and everything became much worse. When we watch television, we see pictures of other places in the world, and it is easy to believe that Haiti is forgotten. Or that maybe God has made Haiti the world’s trashcan and its people don’t matter. I know that isn’t true, but sometimes it is easy to think that. I know that Jesus came for all people, for me and for you; that God loves all people, me and you, and everybody in the world. But it is easy to be discouraged by what you see around you. Sometimes you have to work hard to hold on to hope and to live what your faith tells you. I am thankful for your team and others because by coming you remind us that we matter. When you work with us and talk with us and worship with us, you are saying that it is true – Christ’s love is for EVERYONE.
A very close friend of mine asked “Why didn’t you just write a check for $2,000 and send it?”. As Joseph expressed, money could not have done what our presence in Haiti accomplished.
On February 7-16, 2011, I will lead a Westlake United Methodist Church Haiti Mission Trip. The trip is limited to 10 people. Next Sunday at the Alternate Christmas Market, I will have a booth where you can express your interest in going on this mission trip, your financial support (American Airlines Frequent Flyer Miles and/or money), and your spiritual support (the Prayer Team).
Thanks.
As I read Luke's gospel, I thought about how every age represents the last days. The signs of evil and destruction and fear are evident. Jesus words still ring true. Whatever the hardship, we as believers have the opportunity to witness. Even when there are wars and insurrections.
(I sing again)..who'll be a witness...(Dugie moves to microphone)
Our next witness is Dugie Graham
May I tell you a story? About one year ago, a faithful and humble servant who loves the Lord with all she has and is, started on a project for a group of soldiers preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. As the soldiers were preparing for their work for the US Army, this servant who is a dear friend of mine, was preparing a little bit of comfort for these men who will live out the winter in a very cold area of Afghanistan. She started knitting 85 helmet caps for the 85 soldiers in a company led by my son-in-law and she prayed for them as she knitted. Well, we all know that our God has a sense of humor. The Captain, my son-in-law, was promoted to a new job within his battalion and with just a few months before their deployment, this servant was told that his new company had 245 men in it. Her commitment to this Captain and his soldiers didn’t change. So she started to knit faster and for many more hours each day and then felt God’s nudge to ask for help with her project. She needed other knitters. So in a loaves and fishes sort of way, her project of helmet caps, prayers, and concern for a group of soldiers grew. Earlier this week, 245 helmet caps were shipped to Afghanistan to warm the heads and hearts of some of our soldiers.
But there’s more to this story. I was one of her blessed helpers and on a recent international flight, I knitted my last cap with the yarn I had for this project. When I was finished, I put it away. A little while later, I guess I got a nudge too, and I asked the young man sitting next to me if he was a soldier. He introduced himself as Adrian and told me he is serving his 4th deployment in Iraq. He was traveling home on sympathy leave to attend his dad’s funeral. We chatted then about his service and his family and then I dug into my bag and pulled out that last cap. I gave Adrian that cap. He thanked me warmly and then after a few moments he, being a gentleman, asked me if he could give me a hug. With that one small gesture, Adrian hugged all the knitters everywhere for all the soldiers everywhere. God used my friend to teach many that His Love can be shown in countless ways and that it GROWS! Even in the midst of war, we can show God’s love through warm heads and hearts. “My God, How Great Thou Art!”
Who'll be a witness? I think it may be harder to witness today than it ever has been. We are not persecuted; we are counted as irrelevant; We are not thrown in jail; we are faced with apathy and cynicism. The evils we face may be consumerism and comfortablity. I read a great quote this past week, "We live in classy suburbs with too much freedom and too few limits."
God, Jesus, Spirit, Bible, Church....what difference do they make?
Who'll be a witness? Now is the time. We are the people. It makes all the difference in the world...as you have heard these three testify. It made a difference to the Petreski family. We have shown Christ’s love to Igor after his accident. His mom, Sonja has been after me for weeks to be baptized. She grew up in communist Yugoslavia; her father was in the military. God, Jesus, Spirit, Bible, Church...they were not done. Why today I asked her? Why do you want to be baptized now? She said, "I want to say thank you to God."
(I sing again) Who'll be a witness.....(Petreski's come forward as I sing) I'll be a witness for my Lord..
Thursday, November 11, 2010
hair
11/11/10 My breath prayer comes from Luke 21:18-19, "But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls." I had a full head of hair until my 40's. By age 50, the hair was thinning pretty fast. A few years ago, the church I was serving had a lot of people undergoing cancer treatments which meant that they lost their hair through chemotherapy. So to identify with them, I trimmed what little hair I had very short. Really, it wasn't that big a sacrifice. My nearly bald head is a good reminder though of all who are living with cancer every time I look in the mirror.
In this passage, Jesus says that not a hair of your head will perish. It reminds us of a similiar passage in Matthew where he says all the hairs of your head are numbered by God. In doing some research this past week, I found other hair references in the OT. They all seem to be imagery of God's intimate care for us. God knows us even down to our hair. God knows me even down to the little hair I have left.
Love,
Lynn
In this passage, Jesus says that not a hair of your head will perish. It reminds us of a similiar passage in Matthew where he says all the hairs of your head are numbered by God. In doing some research this past week, I found other hair references in the OT. They all seem to be imagery of God's intimate care for us. God knows us even down to our hair. God knows me even down to the little hair I have left.
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
thank you
11/10/10 This coming Sunday I get to perform a baptism of an adult. Her name is Sonja. She grew up in the former Yugoslavia where Tito ruled as dictator. Her father was a military man, and in that communist regime, his family could not be associated with the church or the Christian faith. So Sonja was never baptized.
Sonja's son Igor is the young man from Macedonia (one of the seven countries carved out of the former Yugoslavia), who was injured in a diving accident. Our congregation has adopted the whole Petreski family as Igor has gone through surgeries, ICU, rehab, and now outpatient care.
For months, Sonja has been asking me about baptism. Last Sunday she attended our baptism workshop. On Monday, I got to do a follow-up visit with her. I asked her why, now, at this point, did she want to be baptized. She said, with tears in her eyes, that she wanted to say thank you to God.
Love,
Lynn
Sonja's son Igor is the young man from Macedonia (one of the seven countries carved out of the former Yugoslavia), who was injured in a diving accident. Our congregation has adopted the whole Petreski family as Igor has gone through surgeries, ICU, rehab, and now outpatient care.
For months, Sonja has been asking me about baptism. Last Sunday she attended our baptism workshop. On Monday, I got to do a follow-up visit with her. I asked her why, now, at this point, did she want to be baptized. She said, with tears in her eyes, that she wanted to say thank you to God.
Love,
Lynn
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