That's Incredible

With our surprise inspection at work I couldn't help but think of a Bible verse that was a source of many lost hours of sleep when I was younger; "for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." (I Thessalonians 5:2) I was always convinced there was a burglar under my bed anyway with a knife poised to murder me, but having the Bible verify that fact was a little disconcerting! I realize I'm citing commentary from an imaginative youth, but you have to agree that verse is equal to "Rock A Bye Baby's" breaking bough as one of the most uncomfortable bedtime writings.... the thief verse still gives me the heebie-geebies...

Wait! After 30 years, instead of stopping at the verse that gives me such discomfort, I decided to read the entire fifth chapter of Thessalonians. And tonight I found the words that have come to anchor my weekly transition from Sunday worship to the start of a new week. It's incredible that the author included in the very same chapter, just a few thoughts away, what is now one of my most loved and affirming passages. Our Charge to the Congregation is based on the following verses from I Thessalonians and has become more than words printed on a page for our community. It's a united declaration of our stated intentions of how we will conduct ourselves throughout the week. Incredible. I've been robbed of my sentiment!

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (12-28)

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, As we study your word, let us be mindful of how young ears will interpret our stories of faith and that at times our illustrations may need to be carefully crafted to portray the enduring messages of grace, hope and persevering love. As we study your word, let us be mindful of including entire passages in place of individual verses. As we study your word again, let us be mindful of new words that touch our spirit even though we've heard the story a hundred times. Let us live the words that we claim as our tenet. Amen

Go forth into the world in peace, have courage, hold onto what is good,
return to no person evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted,
support the weak, help the suffering,
honor all persons, love and serve the Lord,
Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ready or Not

As I was driving to work on Monday I received an automated phone alert that THE accreditation inspection team for healthcare providers was already on campus and would be reviewing our facility the entire week. The span of their standards, which touches upon minute aspects of the profession, seems infinite and the scope of their inspections is massive. The inspection process used to occur every three years with an appointed date known well in advance. Starting this year, the visits are unannounced encouraging a state of "constant readiness." It makes perfect sense when its definitive mission is to ensure that the public receives quality health care that is safe and consistent. We all tend to hustle and polish a little harder when we know company is about to arrive, and then we feel we are owed a chance to relax once they leave. With their new policy, there is no advance warning and there is no release of being safe for another three years. We have frequent mock surveys to find weaknesses and possible infractions so that any errors reported can be remedied before the real Joint Commission survey. If a system has too many violations, it could be devastating to their credibility and can force a closure. Even with so much at risk, on Monday the employees almost seemed relieved to have the official inspection in progress. Progress: a movement towards a goal, to grow or develop.

My prayer for the congregation?

Sovereign God, we do not know when Jesus will return and we are asked to remain on watch, to remain in a constant state of readiness. We have no ability to schedule or plan the great revival to conform to our convenience, but we can be his hands and his feet while we wait, serving those whom Jesus would seek. We can study the Bible and examine the vast span of its teachings as it permeates with our daily life. We can develop a commitment to pray for our family, our community, our nation, our allies, for our enemies, and for those who need to experience your love. We can tell others of the peace that we know. We feel the relief of progress. Amen.

Small Revelations

Passion is feeling in motion
Compassion is standing still
This isn't just a vocation
Hearing is letting it happen
But to listen's a work of will
Beware of cheap imitations
Thankful for small revelations.
- Small Revelations, performed by Chris Smither

I keep reading the lines to this song, finding new ways to read it, new things to appreciate, and new meanings to interpret. These beautiful words are sung with the blues and unexpected chords. I don't know if anyone likes songs in minor keys any more than I do, which seems a little surprising since I'm a sunny Pollyanna, finding the glass 3/4-full and offering to top it off. If the Bible were sung as a musical, which stories of the bible would be sung in the minors? The journey of Exodus? The road to Egypt? The walk of the Good Samaritan? God searching for Adam and Eve in the Garden? Solomon's songs of love? My vocation is usually one of quiet "compassion is standing still" but these minor chords allow me to touch passion, a "feeling in motion." We can find small, and large, revelations in each, if we take the time to hear.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You fill our days with revelations! You divulge your passion as you sweep through as a mighty wind, yielding the Spirit's course as it encircles those with willing hearts and ears. You impart your compassion as the still small voice yielding a listening ear for those who call your name. Let us follow Jesus, the genuine model of passion and compassion, who offers energetic, unrestrained actions of love and passion yet also, provides calming acts of inclusion and compassion. There is so much revealed about boundless love in each. May we find new ways to listen to your call in our lives and in the life of our congregation. We are indeed thankful for small revelations of your majesty. Amen.

My Own Private Wars

We were challenged by Sunday's sermon series to review our relationship with our enemies, two of which I am now ready to expose. It's true. I'm at war! I've been having a two-front battle for several years and what makes the strategies so complex is that neither of the parties has a clue they are even my adversaries! One is our ice-maker and the second is a revered public institution - the public library. >:-(

The ice-maker is erratic and undependable. It flares during inopportune times like family gatherings refusing to dispense ice at all, only to counter attack with overflowing water the next day causing a stalactite to form in the ice bin. I probably get more violent with the ice-maker than anything else I own. It does not bring out the best in me.

What is my conflict with the library? They charged me for books that were turned in on-time (which I recall very well because that act was its own major conquest) but the books showed still outstanding in their database. I found the books on the shelf myself, only to be accused of bringing the books into the library at that moment, and charged $10 each for the occasion of doing their job! As often happens in my life, during those rare opportunities when I experience the upper hand in righteous indignation, it all crumbles. I was lured back to the library by the volumes of books and information, but this time, I was in fact guilty of not returning the books on time. I was really late. But I still had not let go of the resentment of being unfairly charged, so I never paid the fees. Now I'm stalemated in a quagmire of fines owed against fines wrongly charged. The results? I can't use the library. Some victory party!

Perhaps the greater victory will be, that upon having openly named these trivial, but ongoing distractions to peace, that I can begin to yield my private war to a stance of détente.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We burrow in and defend so many battlefronts. We have perceived injustices, paralyzing pride, uncompromising attitudes, harsh reactions and preservation of grudges. Sadly, some must cope with genuine harm; please heal their bodies and their spirit. Mighty God, give us the desire to surrender our battles, our egotism, and our pain. Help us suppress hurtful words and refuse the weapon of spiteful silence; block actions of impulse and retard our feats of regret. Be with us for the realization that often our fiercest opponent can be seen in the mirror; steer us towards a more perfect reflection of your love. Amen.

For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know,even as also I am known. And now abide faith,hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - I Corinthians 13:12-13

Maladjusted

I would say about individuals, an individual dies when he ceases to be surprised. I am surprised every morning that I see the sunshine again. When I see an act evil I'm not accommodated. I don't accommodate myself to the violence that goes on everywhere; I'm still surprised. That's why I'm against it, why I can hope against it. We must learn how to be surprised. Not to adjust ourselves.
I am the most maladjusted person in society.
- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, quoted on Speaking of Faith

There are plenty of opportunities in our digital age to not only be surprised by acts of violence, disrespect, and blatant arrogance, but stunned into a state of shock. With each story we wonder if things can get worse. Rabbi Heschel suggests that we don't allow the initial acts of wrongdoing to become trivial when compared to the rapidly advancing degree of corruption upon our sensibilities. We try so hard when raising our children to make sure they are well adjusted. They are graded at school on their ability to bend with change and revise their expectations to meet the common end.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, There is nothing common about your kingdom, your love, and your peace. We are surprised when we encounter examples of random kindness and spectacles of deliberate harm; demonstrations of love and patterns of rejection. Jesus was maladjusted to many of his contemporaries. He refused to vary his ideals for the sake of getting along with those who sought to manipulate laws and situations to deliver their venom. We seek your strength as we combat a daily barrage of news clips and printed horrors and that we not become adjusted to its tenor. We ask for continued disbelief for injustices and surprise in the sunshine. Amen

Color Chips

I don't know which is more intimidating, choosing carpeting or exterior paint. You can use the theory of choosing colors that are neutral and that appeal to a wider range of buyers in case you ever needed to sell your house. Then there's the theory of adding color to your daily palette by adding more distinct colors that appeal to you as a family actively living in the space. It is one thing to paint an accent interior wall red, compared to another level of commitment to choose costly and labor-intensive carpet or exterior paint. A few years ago we took the bold step of using ceramic tile rather than carpeting in the majority of our house and we've been so happy even though it may not be the wisest re-sell decision. The majority of homes in Dallas are brick, so choosing an exterior paint color will be more of an accent for the brick rather than the main color of the house. We brought home about 25 different color card chips this weekend and I narrowed the choices down to 10 and taped them next to the brick. My eye kept going back to one color chip and the verdict is (drum roll) that we are going to add some color to our exterior! As an added step of research I drove around reviewing other homes with the intent of finding other homes of color, but beige wins by a huge landslide! I can envision the change, but I guess one concern is that our decision will also add a daily dose of color for our neighbors as well. If nothing else, our house can be used as a landmark!?!?!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We have the luxury of reviewing, questioning, envisioning, dreaming and researching the different ways our congregation worships, studies, shares in fellowship and commits to mission; and concurrently, we have the mandate to pray without ceasing. Our church reflects the choices entrusted to our leadership, the fresh suggestions and observations of visitors and new members, the practiced eye of experienced parishioners, and the guidance of all those in prayer for our congregation. We do not seek change for the sake of change, but we also do not discount change as a viable answer to prayer. We struggle to include improbable, unlikely alternatives when safer options are still our first choice. O God, as we falter through unknown exploration or bypass opportunities for the sake of stableness, we may make choices that do not lead us closer to your vision. Grant us humility and wisdom to examine our process of judgments and our failings of intention so that we can ultimately become a landmark known because of our dedication to you. Amen.

Born to Play

One of our son’s life-long friends told his parents when he was only three that he was "born to play." I understand that feeling. Perhaps you've been asked the psychological question, "If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose?" It's supposed to give insight into your personality and usually people choose to be a tiger, bear, deer, dog, or cat. Me? An otter! No brainer! They do have natural predators that see them as dinner, but for the most part you would think their life was one big playground - sliding down embankments, jetting around under the water to the next escapade, or floating on their back with dinner on their belly. That sounds ideal especially knowing that I'll be starting a new work week in just a few hours. Last week when our church had an ordination service, the charge given to the newly ordained minister was to "pastor, pursue, and play." Play is as vital to a balanced life as rest and nourishment. Relaxing, rejuvenating play could also be considered another way to observe a Sabbath. After being with a 9-month old puppy, two 7-month old kittens, and a 4-year-old for a few hours, the traditional resting Sabbath may seem like a better course of action next Sunday, but for today, this otter got to fulfill what it was born to do - play!

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, In the course of our daily works, in the sweat of our missions, and in the serious study of your Word, also let us set aside time to play, to laugh, and to become light in spirit as a child. Recreation gives us the chance to re-create, to become something new. In our reformation, let us become closer aligned to the loving model of Christ, and distanced from the worried, harried, and anxious model of our former selves. We pray that our congregation finds time to laugh, to add joy to the lives of our children, and to play well with one another. We can accomplish so much more when we are gracious, companionable, and eager to share. Let us play near your watchful gaze, with enthusiasm and affection. Amen