Articles

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Add Salt

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Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. --Colossians 4:6 In a Discipleship Journal article entitled "A Vessel of Grace," Robert Hager tells about a father who received a letter in the mail explaining that his son had failed a class during his senior year.  It had been the father's hope that his son would be attending a prestigious university, so he was obviously upset. But rather than express his disappointment to his son, the father chose to focus his wrath on the school and its representatives.  He stormed into the teacher's classroom after school the next day and demanded that the grade be changed.  The teacher, believing the grade to be the right one, refused.  The father threatened to have the teacher fired and marched from there to the principal's office. Once he was in the principal's office, the father launched into a tirade.  Already familiar with the situation, the principal told the father that the grade was fair and that there was nothing he could do.  The father was livid.  He screamed loud enough for everyone in the school office to hear that his next visit would be with the superintendant of schools. At this point the principal could have done several things.  He could have met anger with anger.  He could have called school security and had the man removed from campus.  Instead he said something that instantly took the wind from the father's sails.  He looked him in the eye and said, "You must love your son very much." The father was taken aback.  From there he went on to explain how important it was to him that his son do well and how worried he was that the grade would adversely affect his son's future.  When he left the principal's office that day, he was no less disappointed or worried about his son.  But he had decided that he would no longer look seek to punish the school system for his son's actions. What the principal did was introduce a little bit of grace into the situation.  Without compromising his integrity or undermining his teacher, he was able to show sympathy to a worried father.  And because of that, he was able to call the father to a higher standard. Paul's command at the end of Colossians (see above) is a great encouragement for us.  It's also quite a challenge.  Life is much easier when you don't have to ask yourself, "What is the graceful thing to do here?"  But don't we also benefit when we can show others grace?  After all, if we can be graceful to others, we can also be graceful to ourselves.

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Watch Your Step

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Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. --Colossians 4:5 There's being smart and there's being wise.  I'm fine with smart.  I can do smart.  Smart comes naturally to me.  My head just retains information.  I like to think. I like to ponder.  I like to read things that are difficult to understand.  Book learning has always come naturally to me.  But that's smart, not wise.  I don't feel like I always do so well with being wise.  Most of the time, when I get into trouble, it's not because I wasn't smart, it's because I was unwise.  I don't think I'm alone in that. Take, for instance, the case of Steffi Krause, age 17.  Krause and a friend were serving time in a juvenile detention center in Germany for theft when the time came for her 19 year old friend to be released.  Krause could not tolerate the idea of being incarcerated one moment longer.  So she hatched a plan (a very smart plan) to leave detention with her friend.  She hid in her friend's suitcase and rolled through the doors right behind her.  The guards later recalled that they had noticed how heavy her suitcase was, but it had never occurred to them to investigate.  Krause and her unnamed accomplice are both still at large. This is a prime example of smart but not wise.  Both of these young women have exchanged a brief prison sentence for the fugitive life.  They must now either run or be caught.  And if/when they are caught they will serve a great deal more time.  By the way, the remainder of the sentence that Krause just couldn't bear to serve?  Two weeks. When I think about the grief that I cause for myself and for others, I realize that it's because I've not been wise.  Lack of wisdom is always a factor when I can look back at something I have done or said and ask myself, "What was I thinking?"  Or, "How could I have thought that was a good idea?"  The maddening thing, of course, is that no amount of book-learning has cured me of my propensity to make unwise decisions. That's why Paul's words to the Colossians can be pretty daunting.  He's not challenging me to be smart; he's challenging me to be wise.  This morning we'll talk about what it means to be wise in the way that we act.  What does it look like?  Where can we find wisdom?  And how can we "make the most of every opportunity" to act with wisdom.  May God grant us the wisdom that we can find in being smart.

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Devotional Prayer

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One of the best books that I've read recently is Thomas Merton's autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain.  Merton recounts a childhood spent traveling about Europe in the early 20th century and his American education at prestigious Columbia University.  But it is mostly a story about his journey to faith.  In 1941, on the cusp of an exceptional literary career, Merton entered a Trappist Monastery in Kentucky and embarked on a life of meditation and writing.  He became one of the most renowned Christian writers of his era.  (I was actually given an extra copy for Christmas a couple of years ago.  If anyone wants it, it's yours.) I just wanted you to have some context before I shared one of his prayers with you.  This is from his book, Thoughts in Solitude: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Let me tell you what I absolutely love about this prayer: its unflinching honesty.  This prayer hasn't the slightest bit of pretense.  Merton has no need to act like he has all the answers or that he's Super Christian.  This is the modern day equivalent of the tax collector's prayer in Luke 18: "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." This morning we'll be looking at a verse in Colossians in which Paul encourages his audience to "devote (themselves) to prayer (4:2)."  I've been trying to figure out why this is so difficult a challenge for me.  I pray semi-regularly.  But to say that I'm devoted to prayer, I don't know about that. I think that there are a variety of reasons.  But one of them is that I still have a hard time being this honest with God.  When I can be this transparent, devotion to God isn't a difficulty, it's a privilege.  I hope you will devote yourselves to prayer this morning and that you will experience God's blessings because of it.

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Ambassadors

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When Rachel was at Lipscomb University she twice went to Bucharest, Romania with a group of students and faculty. After we were married I went there with her for a month. While there, we worked with a church to teach English to and study the Bible with interested Romanians. We volunteered in local orphanages-things like that. I remember her talking about what it was like to travel the streets of Bucharest with a large group of American students. When I was there with her, I got to witness it first hand. Let's just say that the Americans didn't blend in very well. I'm sure it was obvious to everyone at first sight that we weren't Romanian. The way we dressed, the way we walked and our overstuffed backpacks, everything about us made us stand out. I remember sitting in an Ice Cream parlor in downtown Bucharest. This was not a filthy place. (It was a Baskin Robbins, for Pete's sake.) But you can imagine the funny looks we got from the locals when two team members reached into their voluminous packs and commenced to bathe their arms up to the elbows in disinfectant. And then we would start talking. Rather loudly it turns out. On the Metro, we filled a third of a car with our conversation. And on top of that someone had the idea to start singing devotional songs. Romanians began to edge toward the opposite side of the car as their normally subdued commute became a symphony. Let me be clear. There's nothing wrong with singing. Singing is good. I like devotional songs. And I'm all for people talking to one another. And there's nothing wrong with a little personal hygiene. And these students were giving up there summer to serve others and tell them about Jesus. And people got to see God's mercy in them. I really respect that. But the challenging question for us is this: "If we were representing Jesus, what kind of picture were the citizens of Bucharest getting?" The ones who saw us on the street would probably say that Jesus is a nicely dressed, outspoken young person who is preoccupied with infection and who is prone to burst into spontaneous song. The question should at least give us pause. Because we have to ask the same question of ourselves this morning. When people see us every day, do they get a good idea of who Jesus is? Does our behavior represent him well? That's certainly a sobering thought. Sometimes I think I've done okay. Sometimes I've failed miserably. Either way I need the reminder that Paul gives us this morning: ...And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17).

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Norfolk Military Ministry

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The Norfolk Church of Christ is unlike any other church I've ever been a part of. That's partially due to geographical differences. Congregations in Tennessee (a CofC "motherland") are older, more established and more easily populated. But it's also a result of NCOC's military composition. In Tennessee, most churches have a large percentage of multigenerational families in their membership. I've heard some people say that, in those churches, you're a "new member" until you've been there for a decade or more. Clearly that's not the case here. If we waited that long, no one would ever become a part of our family. Like everything else, this is a mixed blessing. It's not always easy getting to know people, watching them become an important part of the church family, and then saying goodbye to them in such a short time. At the same time, one of the things I love about this church is that most people don't waste any time jumping in and getting involved. Never a dull moment. I also love the fact that this congregation's nature provides a unique opportunity-one that our elder's have wisely recognized. If you think solely in terms of what is happening in Norfolk our range of influence is certainly not as great as other churches (not that I would encourage comparisons of that nature). But if you think about our ability to have an impact on a larger sphere, it looks like God has given us a tremendous opportunity. Let me remind you of something I don't talk about often enough. The hope of the Norfolk Military Ministry is to: • Serve: Welcome all of those whom the military brings are way and share God's love with them. • Save: Bring them into a saving relationship with Jesus, one that will change lives. • Strengthen: Equip them to serve others. • Send: Watch them go to their next duty station knowing that they will make a difference in the name of Jesus. I'm out of town this weekend. In my absence, Bill Hromada is going to be sharing his vision for his work with the Norfolk Military Ministry. I'm excited about Bill's ability to help us achieve this fourfold mission. I'll miss worshiping with you, and I look forward to seeing you next week.

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Can You Spare a Dime?

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In a 1997 awards dinner speech, then Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen told a story about a trip that Henry Ford made to his Father's homeland of County Cork, Ireland. By this time Ford was millionaire, so he received celebrity treatment. He was also given plenty of opportunities to give to local charities. One of those charities was the construction of a local hospital, for which Ford pulled out his checkbook and stroked a check for $5000. Imagine his surprise the next morning when he picked up the local newspaper and the headline read, "Ford Contributes $50,000 Dollars for Construction of Local Hospital." The local officials were equally distraught. Upon seeing the headline, they rushed to where Ford was staying, hoping to reassure him. "Mr. Ford," they said, "we're terribly sorry. It wasn't our fault. It must have been a typographical error. We'll be happy to see to it that a retraction is printed in tomorrow's paper." Of course, Ford knew that it would be a PR disaster if the next day's headline were to read, "Ford Withdraws Donation." So he made them an offer. He said, "If you'll give me one wish, I'll give you the balance of $45,000. When the hospital is finished, I want to place a quote of my choice at the entrance." The townspeople agreed. A check was written, and when construction was completed a quote from the KJV translation of Matthew 25:25 was placed above the entrance-"I came to you as a stranger and you took me in." This morning we promise not to "take you in." But we will be reminding you that we want your donations for "At My Gate"-our effort to work with a local church in Uyo, Nigeria to provide aid to widows, orphans and the needy. I promise that we won't be adding any zeroes to your contribution. We will be happy for whatever you can give. This morning you'll get an update from one of our deacons, Inemesit Ekanem on what our funds are helping to accomplish in Nigeria. And I'm going to be sharing some scripture that, I hope, will help us get the bigger picture when it comes to our money and our giving. But that's not the only reason we're here. We're also gathering to celebrate how much God has given to us. We are incredibly blessed today. I hope you'll join men in offering up songs of praise and prayers of thanks to the One who has given us everything.

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Jump In

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--"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16). In his book, In the Eye of the Storm, Max Lucado tells of a groundbreaking operation that occurred on February 15, 1921. In many ways, he says, it was a routine procedure. The patient was complaining of abdominal pain of a type that clearly indicated his appendix would soon rupture. An appendectomy was needed. The surgeon, Dr. Evan O'Neil Kane had performed this procedure countless times in his long career. But, because of two circumstances, this was to be a unique procedure. First, local anesthetic was used rather than general anesthetic. In other words, the patient was awake during the entire operation. Believing it to be a great risk with potentially harmful side effects, Dr. Kane was a vocal opponent of anesthesia that put the patient to sleep. And, on this occasion, he had finally found a volunteer who would allow him to test his belief that such an operation could be performed without it. The second thing that made this operation so remarkable was this: the volunteer was also the operating physician. In an effort to prove his own theory, Dr. Kane went under his own scalpel. Using only local anesthetic, he performed an appendectomy on himself. This surgeon was so dedicated to his convictions he underwent considerable risk to prove them. Time magazine reports that, 11 years later, Kane performed another operation on himself. He repaired an inguinal hernia. During the nearly two hour operation, Kane joked with assisting hospital staff. The only part of the surgery he couldn't perform for himself was the final two stitches. The local anesthesia had made him too drowsy, so he asked a colleague to finish. Today at the Norfolk Church of Christ, we won't ask you to do anything so drastic. But we do want you to play a part. We want you to be dedicated. We want your worship to be active. If you are a guest with us, feel free to hang back and watch. We would love for you to be a part, too, but no one will force you. But, if you're a member, we want you to be actively engaged in worship by participating in the service and by recommitting yourself to serve God as you leave. We don't say it enough, but our church is best experienced by being involved. We don't want spectators, we want players. We want you to be actively involved in following Jesus. We'll see that Paul expects the same thing. He gives a picture of life in Christ that is active and involved and affects our entire lives.

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LIFE Groups

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Welcome to LIFEgroup Sunday.  Today you'll get to hear about the different small groups that meet throughout Hampton Roads.  If you're looking to get to know others or study the Bible in a small group setting, I encourage to check one out. I'll be talking a lot less this morning (no really, I mean it), so you can have a chance to visit with leaders from as many LIFEgroups as you like.  Here is some info and the location of each LIFEgroup's table throughout the building: Fellowship Hall
  • Crescita
    • When: Sunday Nights
    • Who: Anyone
    • Where: Portsmouth
  • Waterview
    • When: Friday Nights
    • Who: Anyone
    • Where: Portsmouth
  • Oasis
    • When: Sunday Nights
    • Who: Young Families
    • Where: Portsmouth, Western Branch, Va. Beach
Auditorium
  • Young Marrieds
    • When: Sunday Nights
    • Who: Young Couples
    • Where: Norfolk
  • Young Professionals (Still forming)
    • When: Sunday Nights
    • Who: Young Singles
    • Where: Norfolk
Welcome Center
  • Lighthouse
    • When: Sunday Nights
    • Who: Families
    • Where: Va. Beach
Front Porch
  • Teens
    • When: Sunday Nights
    • Who: 7-12th Grade
    • Where: Norfolk Church of Christ

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Who Are You?

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I've always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific. --Lily Tomlin It's good to be back.  As I write this on Thursday, I'm assuming that I've continued to feel better and that, on Sunday morning, I'm actually with you again.  I have no specific reason to think that this won't be the case.  I'm not sick as I write this.  But then again, I didn't write last week's article thinking I would be so "indisposed" when Sunday actually rolled around (I hear Keith had a more colorful description of my status).  Thanks, by the way, to Keith for stepping in.  It's nice to have somebody like him around-someone who thinks enough and who thinks well enough to have something worth saying at a moment's notice. So here we all are once again, whoever "we" is.  If you're reading this, then you are among the "we."  If you're not reading this, then...why am I even talking to you?  I guess I'm actually not.  That made my brain hurt a little bit. It's really amazing how much I assume.  I am typing this out on Thursday assuming that there will be a Sunday in a few days.  I am also assuming that, on that Sunday, I will be at Norfolk Church of Christ.  I am assuming that I won't be the only one there.  I am assuming that some of you will be joining me.  As I type it, I can imagine the specific people who will be here and reading this on Sunday morning.  In doing that, I am making two assumptions: that you have actually made it, and that you, the one I'm picturing, are actually reading this.  I'm not exactly crazy for making these assumptions.  If the past is any indicator (and it usually is), I can make some reasonable assumptions.  But, still, I could be wrong on all of these counts. I guess what I'm saying is that we all have to make assumptions-a lot of them.  We have to make them in order to keep from going crazy, in order to have some sense of reality and security.  Can you imagine how scary the world would be if we couldn't reasonably expect some things to happen?  If all of life were chaotic and random? This includes my identity.  I have reason to believe that I am still me.  Every morning I wake up and the person in the mirror, although he has changed over time, is still me.  But even though I've known myself as long as anyone, my knowledge is still limited.  You might even say that every day I have to rediscover who I am. And sometimes I lose sight of who I am.  I forget.  The same problem is happening with the church in Colosse.  One of the reasons that Paul is writing is in order to remind them about who they really are, that they "have been raised with Christ" (Colossians 3:1).  My hope is to remind those of you who are followers of Christ that the same is true of you.

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Good Advice

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Back in 1991, author H. Jackson Brown published a book entitled Life's Little Instruction Book: 511 Suggestions, Observations, and Reminders on How to Live a Happy and Rewarding Life.  It was a small book, each page containing a single nugget of wisdom.  They were written by Brown to his son upon graduating from school.  So you can imagine that, when I graduated high school in 1992, Life's Little Instruction Book was a hot little graduation gift.  I received multiple copies. Interestingly, the other day I looked everywhere and couldn't find a single copy in my house.  Fortunately I was able to find quite a few samples on the internet.  Here are some of my favorites, taken from the website http://www.flatrock.org.nz.
  • Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one.
  • In disagreements, fight fairly.  No name calling.
  • Accept the fact that regardless of how many times you're right, you will sometimes be wrong.
  • Don't confuse comfort with happiness.
  • Check for toilet paper before sitting down.
  • Marry a woman you love to talk to.  As you get older, her conversational skills will be as important as any other.
  • Never say anything uncomplimentary about your wife or children in the presence of others.
  • Every once in a while ask yourself the question, If money weren't a consideration, what would I like to be doing?
  • Never eat a sugared doughnut when wearing a dark suit.
  • Love someone who doesn't deserve it.
Today we're beginning a new series of messages from Paul's letter to the church in Colosse (In your bible it's just called Colossians).  And there's a lot of great advice to be found in there on how to live out our Christian faith.   I'm going to be sharing some of it with you. But this morning we're going to get an introduction.  Paul's advice doesn't just materialize out of thin air.  It grows out of a certain type of soil-the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  It's because of what God has done for us that Paul can turn around and dispense advice.  I'll explain more later. In the meantime, let me encourage you to be reading Colossians on your own.  It's a short book, only four chapters.  And it's a good one for personal devotional time.  And then send me an email with your thoughts and questions.  I want to hear what stands out for you.

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Testify

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Perhaps you've been following the story of the two former Navy SEAL's who are currently serving a life sentence for committing murder back in 1995.  Billy Joe Brown and Dustin Turner were both convicted of the murder of Jennifer Evans outside of a bar in Virginia Beach. At the time of their arrest, the two defendants accused each other while proclaiming their own innocence.  Turner did, however, admit to helping his former SEAL "swim buddy" dispose of Evans' body and cover up the crime. The story has been in the news again recently because Brown is now testifying that Turner is telling the truth.  Back in may, Brown appeared in court and gave testimony saying that he alone was responsible for the murder and that Turner was only responsible for helping him cover up the crime after the fact. The hearing was convened to determine Brown's credibility.  Of course the big question that everyone wanted to ask was, "Why change your story now?"  Brown testified that it was because he had become a Christian.  He told the court room that he was "here to glorify Jesus Christ by telling the truth."  Later he said that he "knew immediately in (his) heart (he) had to tell..."[*] Just recently, the circuit court judge found Brown's testimony to be credible.  Turner is petitioning for release from jail based on the time he's already served for his part in covering up the crime. This is still a tragic story.  Brown and Turner both committed a terrible crime.  The Virginian-Pilot article included a picture of Janet Evans' mother wiping away a tear at the hearing.  Brown's confession can only do so much good. But it's compelling to hear Brown talk about how his relationship with Christ has changed him.  Part of me is cynical about this sudden conversion.  But it's hard to tell how Brown has anything to gain.  At the end of the day he went back to the jail where he'll spend the rest of his life. In court, Brown was asked what he expects to happen next.  Brown replied: "Whatever the good Lord wills.  I'm not worried...because I have a clean heart before God." God's grace can bring people to offer up pretty powerful testimonies.  When God changes a life, it's hard for that person not to talk about it.  The question for us this morning is: "What would our testimony be?  What do you have to say about how God has changed your life?"  I hope you'll think about it this morning.
[*] All of the quotes from this story come from Bill Sizemore's article in the 5/29/08 issue of The Virginian Pilot.

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Harvest

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22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22-23) As you probably know, this church chooses a theme for each year.  This year's is "Changing Lives Through Jesus."  One of our previous themes was "Let the little children come to me..."  Throughout that year we focused on the many ways we are called to minister to the children among us.  We reminded each other how much Jesus loves children.  We reminded ourselves that this congregation has A LOT of children and how it seems that God is calling on us to focus on our ministry to children.  We highlighted all of the different ways this church cares for kids. Sometimes I feel like it's our theme every year.  I love this year's theme and mission, but I look around and it's clear to me that our mission to care for children hasn't changed.  And I'm so thankful that there are so many in this congregation who haven't forgotten that either.  Long before we ever had a theme that highlighted our ministry to kids, there were people who worked tirelessly to care for the many children that God brings our way.  And, even though that theme has come and gone, the ministry continues. Last week reminded me of that.  If you look around the auditorium you'll see evidence of it.  You'll see the stage is decorated to look like a farm.  You'll see kids covered in fading tattoos that remind them to "Chews Love" and "Jump for Joy." It was all a part of VBS 2008-a week where over 50 kids came here every day to have fun and learn about Jesus.  They made crafts.  They played games.  They had snacks.  They sang, REALLY LOUDLY.  And they learned about Jesus. All week, the kids learned about how God grows fruit in our lives.  The fruit you can see talked about in the quote above.  But, more than learning about it, they saw it.  They saw it in all of the people who took care of them-the people who showed love, the people who exhibited patience, the people who filled their lives with joy. This morning, we're going to look at that those same fruits.  It's a pretty great way to talk about how God changes lives.  And showing those fruits is a pretty great way to teach our kids about them.  I'll say more about that later on.  For now, let me just say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  To those who have already demonstrated the fruits of the spirit this week.  God Bless you.

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Son Harvest County Fair

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Welcome to Vacation Bible School week at Norfolk Church of Christ. Countless hours have been put in organizing, preparing and decorating for the grand opening tomorrow morning. This year's theme will allow the children to focus on the fruits of the spirit while participating in crafting projects, Bible stories, skits, and fun outside activities. We hope that all our children will come and bring a friend to share God's word. Vacation Bible School stands alone as one of the greatest outreach tools we have for young children. We encourage you to take advantage of it. Here's what you need to know about VBS this week. It starts tomorrow at 9 a.m. sharp. Pre-registration is not required, but it is helpful. Vacation Bible School is available for all children Kindergarten through 6th grade. If you are helping with the program, a nursery and a preschool class will be available for your child. VBS is Monday through Friday. On Friday at noon all parents are invited back to see their children in a special program. The kids will be learning songs and stories. They will help retell everything they've learned during the week. The program will be followed by a light lunch in the fellowship hall. See Deborah Cuthrell to find out what to bring. Vacation Bible School is an exciting program for everyone who participates. If you need further information or want to know how you can help see Jill Lowell after the services this morning. We'll see you at the fair!

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New Perspective

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So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view... (2 Cor. 5:16) A while back we took the kids to Nauticus to look around and to see the USS Wisconsin. At the time, Nauticus was featuring an exhibit on mapmaking. I was especially intrigued by an ancient map called the T and O map. The T and O map (see picture) is a representation of the world as described by a 7th Century bishop named Isidore of Seville. The map gets its name from the basic layout of the map. It is essentially an O representing the known world divided by a T representing the seas and rivers that divide Europe and Africa from Asia. I find a couple of things very interesting about this map. First, you'll notice that the center is Jerusalem (i.e. The Holy Land), which is not surprising when you remember that it's based on the descriptions of a Catholic Bishop. Second, on this map, north is not up; east is up (and north is to the left, west points downward, etc.). By the way, this may be where we get the idea of "orienting ourselves". Orient is another way of referring to the East. What I love about this map is that it forces me to look at the world in a different way, or (I can't help it) reorient myself. It's just widely accepted now that North is always up and south is always down, etc. So it's strange to think that there's another way of looking at things. (If you really want a head trip, go Google "Reversed Map.") Today's scripture is one that forces us to readjust our perspective when it comes to other people. Paul says that Jesus has changed the way that he looks at people: the value he places on them, the potential he sees in them. All of that is changed by his relationship with Jesus. As Jesus followers we are called to look at others with his perspective. We'll talk more about it today.

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Extreme Makeover

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"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
1 John 3:2 It's always interesting to me when it happens. And, since I've spent most of my life living in the suburbs, it has happened quite a number of times. Maybe an old building will sit on the corner of an intersection, unnoticed and uninhabited. Then one day it will just be gone. Or maybe a plot of land that was, just yesterday, part of a cow pasture is now a tilled-up square lot. As you drive by, you are startled by the jarring change to something that you have known for years. Then the construction vehicles show up: excavators and bulldozers, scrapers and dump trucks, cranes and cement trucks. Every day the lot is a flurry of activity. Hills are flattened or created. Holes are drilled. PVC piping shoots upward from the dirt like reeds in a pond. Little orange flags begin to mark out the dimensions of whatever is coming. And that's the question that's on everyone's mind. As we drive by we all say to ourselves or the person in the car with us, "I wonder what they're putting in right there." And our passenger will just shrug and make that universal "I don't know" grunt. Meanwhile, progress continues. What everyone's waiting for is a sign. We're waiting for one of those big signs with three, four, or maybe five words. The first two words are always the same: "COMING SOON..." Finally we get to know what all of the hubbub is about. It is revealed to us what business is taking shape right before our eyes. Hopefully, it's not just another Walgreens. Hopefully, it's something I'll like. But the exciting part is waiting to see what it's going to be. (Reading this, it strikes me that we're hurting for entertainment out there in the suburbs.) Today, I want to suggest that everyone has a sign. Not the kind of sign that that redneck comedian is always talking about, but a different one. A sign that says "coming soon..." Which is just another way of saying that we're all works in progress. We're all changing from what we are now to something else. The apostle Paul says we are all "new creations." And we can put the same question to ourselves as the one that ask about those corner lots under construction: "What do you think is going in there?" What is coming soon? That's the question for all of us today. What are we becoming? What kind of building are we being made into? God wants to turn you and me into a building that brings glory to him-one that saves our lives in the process. We'll get a better idea of that from scripture this morning.

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Love Your Neighbor

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"The question of bread for myself is a material question, but the question of bread for my neighbor is a spiritual question" --Nikolai Bordyaev "It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbor" --Eric Hoffer There is a legendary story told about Catherine Booth--wife of Salvation Army founder William Booth and preacher in her own right. While on a speaking tour of the States she drew enormous crowds of people coming from every level of American Society. It's said that, after a particular engagement, she was received in the home of a local aristocrat. At one point Mrs. Booth's hostess remarked to her, "My dear Mrs. Booth, that meeting was dreadful." "What do you mean, Dearie?" asked Mrs. Booth. "Oh, when you were speaking, I was looking at those people opposite to me. Their faces were so terrible, many of them. I don't think I shall sleep tonight!" "Why, dearie, don't you know them?" Mrs. Booth asked; and the hostess replied, "Certainly not!" "Well, that is interesting," Mrs. Booth said. "I did not bring them with me from London; they are your neighbors!" This particular woman wasn't much different from the rich man in Jesus' parable about the Rich Man and Lazarus. She was able to live her life oblivious to the suffering of those around her. So she was shocked when she came to a place that she couldn't look away. She was confronted by the plight of her neighbors. Jesus' call to love our neighbors is unmerciful and unrelenting, because he does the same thing with it that he does with all of his other instructions. He refuses to limit in some way that will make it easier on us. He says, "Don't just avoid committing murder; don't hate others." He says, "Don't just avoid revenge, love your enemies." He does the same thing with our definition of neighbors. According to Jesus, our neighbor is basically anyone we see who is in need. Neighbor is not a matter of proximity or status or shared values. Our neighbor can be anyone, and we are called to love them. It's the second greatest command. I can't help but wonder if it's not the hardest one, though. We'll take a closer look at loving our neighbor today. Glad you're here.

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Called Up

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Our tradition doesn't talk a whole lot about being "called" to ministry. Other traditions seem to use this language more prominently. I've heard questions like: "When did you receive your call to the ministry?" I'm still not sure what they mean. Should I have a "call" story? Was I supposed to get a memo or an invitation or some kind of acceptance letter from God? Am I supposed to have one of those stories like in the Bible? There are some pretty famous call stories in the Bible of course. Abraham is living in the land of Ur before Yahweh calls him to leave the gods of his ancestors with the promise that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Moses is looking after his father-in-law's sheep in the land of Midian when the angel of the Lord appears to him in a bush that is burning but doesn't burn up. Samuel is just a boy living as a temple-servant when he keeps hearing God's voice in the middle of the night. David the smallest of all the sons of Jesse is summoned from the fields only after Samuel asks if Jesse doesn't have any other sons whom God could possibly choose to be King of Israel. Then there are the call stories of all the prophets where, over and over again, scripture tells us that "The word of the LORD came to _______." And in turn each prophet was commissioned to take that word to the people. An angel appears to Zechariah in the temple and tells him that his wife will soon bear a son (we call him John the Baptist) who will turn the hearts of the people back to God. Shortly afterward an angel appears to the young girl, Mary, and tells her that the son she will bear will have a Kingdom without end. When I look at all those stories (and that's not even close to all of the ones in scripture), I can understand why people have this expectation of a call to ministry. And yet I have no such story. I'm not aware of any burning bushes or visits from angels in the middle of the night or hearing the voice of God. Of course, knowing me, I could have just missed it. Right as I drove by the burning bush, I was probably messing with the car stereo. And God would have had to scream pretty loud to be heard over the sound of my snoring (just ask my poor wife). But that doesn't mean I've completely given up on this idea of being called to ministry. If anything I feel it more strongly now than ever before. I just feel that my call has been more generic in nature. It's the kind of call that Paul speaks of numerous times in his writings. I have been called to be a child of God. I have been called for his purposes. I have been called to serve the Lord. Only this call has happened numerous times and all along the way. I'm kind of glad for that. Instead of one giant invitation I have benefited from a consistent flow of gentle reminders that I am called God's child and I am called to serve others. This morning we're going to be talking about how God calls all of us to serve. We're going to be looking on as Jesus invites his disciples to come and follow him. We'll be listening for that invitation in our lives as well. I believe that, whoever you are, Jesus is calling you to follow him. I hope you can hear that Gospel/Good News this morning.

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Follow the Leader

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Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29). Anyone with multiple kids knows that it's not unusual for a second or third child to do something earlier than their older sibling did. It's not always the case, but it does occur. One of the reasons this happens is probably because younger siblings have a shorter learning curve. They can usually learn how to do something by watching. I've noticed it in our two boys. Micah (2) is attempting things that Asher (6) didn't try until much later. Micah seems to be more adventurous. Case in point: One day recently Micah started calling out to me from the boys' room. I walked in to find Micah perched like a gargoyle on the top bunk of his and Asher's bed. As soon as he saw me, Micah started barking out orders, "You move that chair over here." At this point, a smarter person might have anticipated what chain of events was being set in motion. I didn't. Instead, I asked Micah why as I slid the overstuffed red chair toward the bed. Micah didn't bother to tell me. Instead, as soon as the chair was in range, he simply turned and let himself go into a free fall. I yelped. Micah went into a midair seated position, and executed a flawless landing in the chair. Later that day I was telling Rachel about it. She wasn't surprised by Micah's acrobatics. Apparently, he's been watching his older brother, who, instead of just falling, flings himself off the top bunk like a flying squirrel and lands with a "thunk" in one of the chairs half way across the room. I think it's safe to say that Asher never would have tried that at age two. I also won't be surprised if Micah is our first trip to the ER. Who knows what Ruthie will be trying by the time she's two. All of our lives, we will learn by watching. If you explain something to me, I might eventually get it. But I'll learn much more quickly if I watch you do it. And that right there is what it means to be a disciple. A disciple is someone who learns by watching. We see it in those who follow Jesus throughout his 3 year ministry. They learn by watching him, and then they try it themselves. That's why Jesus' primary call to His followers has less to do with belief and more to do with following. (See that verse on the top of this article.) This morning we're going to start learning from Jesus. We're going to be changed by watching him and, hopefully by learning to act as he acts. We're going to learn what it means to "love God" by watching Jesus' relationship with "the Father." I hope that you learn something today. I hope that it helps you go a little deeper in your relationship with a God who loves you very much.

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Happy Mother's Day

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Later on, we'll be talking about how Jesus changes lives, but I had to stop and remember the importance of today. If you haven't done so already, call your mother! I recently rediscovered a poem by one-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins entitled "The Lanyard". The narrator of the poem remembers making a lanyard for his mother while at summer camp. Here is an excerpt: ...I had never seen anyone use a lanyard or wear one, if that's what you did with them, but that did not keep me from crossing strand over strand again and again until I had made a boxy red and white lanyard for my mother. She gave me life and milk from her breasts, and I gave her a lanyard. She nursed me in many a sick room, lifted spoons of medicine to my lips, laid cold face-cloths on my forehead, and then led me out into the airy light and taught me to walk and swim, and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard. Here are thousands of meals, she said, and here is clothing and a good education. And here is your lanyard, I replied, which I made with a little help from a counselor. Here is a breathing body and a beating heart, strong legs, bones and teeth, and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered, and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp... I love this poem, because it's such a fitting picture of the way things work. I love the contrast between the gifts of the mother and this one cheap, useless piece of plastic. Our mothers give so much. And nothing we give in return can measure up to the mountains of blessings they pour out onto us. So today, on Mother's Day, I hope you have been given something. I'm sure that whatever it is you were given in no way measures up to what you have given out. But I hope that it still reminds you just how important you moms are. May God bless you as you bless us.

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Aliens In America

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It's a sad time of year for me. Sure, the weather is getting warmer. Summer is just around the corner. Soon we will be going to the beach, Busch Gardens, Camp Idlewild (Woohoo!) and Tides games. And sure, the days have gotten longer, which means we can play outside with the kids after dinner. Everything is lush with color. When the wind blows, the leaves give off a green whisper instead of a brown crackle. So why do I have this vague sense that something is missing? What's with this creeping sensation that something's not quite right? It's as if I should be looking for something that I've lost but I'm not even sure what it is. And then I see the calendar and I remember. Football season is sooo far away. It ended back in February. But back then I could tell myself that there was the NFL draft to look forward to. That happened last weekend. College football is done with spring practice, and the scrimmages are over. We have now entered the football doldrums. I can now look forward to three more months of pigskinless weekends. And that's if I include the NFL preseason. We're actually four months away from "real" games. Oh well. I look at this way-at least I don't have to worry about missing SportsCenter. I mean, there aren't any other sports being played right now, right? (Can you tell I'm a little biased?) Ok. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. I'm not as bad as I used to be. I think Rachel would tell you I watch a lot less football than I did before (back me up here, honey). And when my teams lose, it doesn't ruin my day like it used to. This mania can all be explained by my Southern upbringing. In SEC country, football (particularly college football) just plain crosses the line into idolatry. I have actually heard of large numbers of people who didn't go to a close family member's wedding because it took place on the Saturday of the Auburn/Alabama game. You have to see it to believe it. People so identify with their particular team, it's all they can think about. They live for their team. The success of their life is determined by the success of their team. It is a classic example of groupthink in action. During football season people stop being individuals and start being fans. I'm sure there are some fascinating Psychological studies that could be done on the power of identifying with a sports team. This morning, we're going to continue looking at how Jesus changes lives. And we're going to be looking at how Jesus calls for pretty dramatic allegiance, as well. Jesus calls on us to pledge allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul says that, in Jesus, there are no Jews or Greeks, no males or females (Galatians 3:28). I would say there are no Vols or Gators, no Titans or Ravens. And where I'm from that's saying a lot. What about you? What affiliations do you think are really important? Which ones are important to your identity? Are they sports related, political, or maybe even religious? Whatever they are, Jesus will call you to a different kind of allegiance. The Good News is that we're invited to identify with an infinitely greater arena.

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