Thought for the day

Everyone in the past -- EVERYONE -- who consumed Dihydrogen Oxide is now dead.

Caption Contest

Winner gets a furball.

Ministry as Knowledge Work

Knowledge workers in today's workforce are individuals who are valued for their ability to interpret information within a specific subject area. For the minister, these include such as church administration, biblical exegesis and theology. They will often advance the overall understanding of that subject through focused analysis (biblical exegesis, sermon writing, theology), design and/or development (bible studies, mission statements, visioning). They use research skills to define problems and to identify alternatives. Fueled by their expertise and insight, they work to solve those problems, in an effort to influence decisions, priorities and strategies.

From Wikipedia, adapted to ministry.

Pastoral Integrity

In order, in other words, as I
heard him, to be a person in Harlem, in order that my life and
work there should have integrity, I had to be and to remain
whoever I had become as a person before coming there. To be
accepted by others, I must first of all know myself and accept
myself and be myself wherever I happen to be. In that way,
others are also freed to be themselves.
- William Stringfellow, My People Is the Enemy, 1964

(Found at http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/c-or28-keeping.php)

New Planet -- New Theologies?

This last week, astronomers found a planet that could be seen as within the habitable zone. Close enough for liquid water and plenty of energy from it's sun. Also within the last couple of weeks was an announcement from the Pope's astronomer about the baptism of alien souls.

What interesting sychronicity! To find a planet a week or so after this announcement by the Pope's astronomer. Of course, I have watched Science Fiction TV programs all my life and I've read all sorts of speculative hard Science Fiction. I watched "Stargate Universe" just last night and they (yet again) gated to a habitable planet, complete with caves and a huge thunderstorm. I've also watched how many Science Fiction programs deal with faith and religion -- from the character Book on "Firefly" to the Ferangi Rules of Aquisition. I've also read "The Sparrow" and "Children of God" by Mary Doria Russell where the concepts of alien culture and religion crash together head on.

I suppose there are several areas for discussion: What makes a race sentient? What are their creation stories? How do they know of God? Is theirs a "fallen race" like humanity? Or (like the People in Zenna Henderson's works) have they always stayed close to the heart of God? If they are not a fallen race, what would baptism into covenant with Jesus Christ mean? Would a non-fallen race be capable of sin? Would we be able even to communicate with them?

It is interesting that so much of our pathos and ethos for new technology is approached in our Science Fiction long before the tech is actualized. Can we explore these concepts within our Sci Fi and get a grasp on them?

Musings on Weird Biblical Passages

Just for Andy Woodworth
"Where it gets confusing is that testis also meant testicle in Latin. The English word testicle comes from Latin testiculus, a diminutive of testis, and first appeared in the fifteenth century. If testis meaning 'witness' and testis meaning 'testicle' are indeed the same word, then the etymology could be that the testicles are 'witness' or evidence of virility."

This really makes some Biblical passages easier to understand. Really.

To wit:
In the book of Genesis there are several passages in which a man who is taking an oath puts his hand "under the thigh" of the man to whom he is swearing: "And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house...Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the Lord...." The Hebrew word in this passage is yarek, which means 'thigh' throughout the Old Testament. My Biblical expert says that this ritual seems to come from the idea that the thigh is the locus of power, probably because it's near the genitals. He also notes that some modern interpreters of the Bible envision it as a swearing on the genitals, with "under the thigh" being a euphemism which goes all the way back to the Hebrew.
source: http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010214

Ah, Biblical Scholarship is so exciting!

Sunday, September 5, 2010, 11:00 Worship Service

Worship Service is found here.

Sermon for September 5, 2010

In today’s text, Jesus talks about the true cost of discipleship.

Luke 14:25-33

25Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Most of us don’t consider the “real costs” of anything.
Jesus uses the examples of building a tower and waging a war:
How about the real costs of owning a home?

• One time expenses:
• Recurring costs:
• Maintenance costs.
• House goods; lawn mowers; ladders; tools; you can go on and on.
• Personal example: I didn’t realize all the costs of keeping our home in Loganville and setting up house in Monroe. I easily spent twice what I thought it would cost.

If you google “hidden costs,” you get 100 million hits (or more) around everything from home owning and having a job to commuting and health care, pet ownership, fossil fuels, car rental, War.

I think it might be human nature to not consider those “hidden costs” because the thing that we desire we feel is worth it "whatever the costs."

Nothing comes free – or as they say “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”

Relationships for instance aren’t free; a good relationship costs you something. You give up your independence for something greater than you could ever have alone.

Even our relationship with Jesus costs something: According to the book of Luke, it’s going to costs you your family, your life and your possessions. Are you ready for that kind of cost?

The first in this passage that Jesus tells us, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple."

Hate! Hate is a strong word. Does he really really mean HATE?

Now if you look at the Greek, you notice a couple of things. First, you will notice that the Greek word “Hate” is not exactly what we mean by hate – it’s a comparative word meaning more like “love much less than.” Eugene Peterson in “The Message” translates it much more like this: "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple.”
That’s a little easier to understand.

Jesus is telling us that we can’t get our identity from our family; used to be everyone got a certain amount of their identity from who their family was.

"Are you one of the Devereux-Jones? Or the Claiborne-Jones?"

We must give up that identity and take on the identity of "Christian."

Second:
"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

Now, this is before Jesus’ very public execution on a cross. What on earth would this have meant to the original hearers? It certainly would not be what they wanted to hear – most wanted freedom from Rome, freedom from oppression – not words like this:

Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

It sounds like he wants US to bend under the weight of a heavy burden to follow him; to bear the instrument of our own persecution and death. And yes, that is what he is asking. It means boldness and no shrinking before a hard task. Does he mean extraordinary things? I don’t think so; I think he means the little hard things of everyday life. It’s not hard major spiritual sufferings here – it’s a lot more everyday than that.

As Alan Culpepper, "Luke", in The New Interpreter's Bible phrases it: "The language of cross bearing has been corrupted by overuse. Bearing a cross has nothing to do with chronic illness, painful physical conditions, or trying family relationships. It is instead what we do voluntarily as a consequence of our commitment to Jesus Christ." (p. 236)

We are to have our life as “Christian” (our new identity) to be shaped by our willingness to do these hard tasks. And it may put us “cross-wise” to this world, for the world does not understand the cross. We are all becoming more like Christ (little Christs = Christian), transformed in his image:

(Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2)

We do this anywhere, anytime doing whatever it is that we do. For instance: if you are a plumber, do it for the glory of God, accepting his will, accepting whatever daily sufferings you encounter – that quarrelsome customer, that irritating customer service person, that arrogant driver in the other land – and do it all for the Glory of God.

If you are an insurance salesperson, an electrician, a programmer, a postal worker, a lab technician – whatever it is that you do for a living, do it for the Glory of God. Live out your vocation a little cross-ways to this world, doing the will of your Father in heaven.

Let the people you encounter know that you dedicate your work to God – what a powerful message on this Labor Day weekend! For your average Joe to hear a representative of God – a little Christ – a Christian – say that what he or she does at home and work, while volunteering or being a good friend – matters to God and makes a difference in the world.... How different this world could be!

First, we take on a new family – Christian. Second, we give up our life in service to Christ and live cross-ways to this world, doing all things for the Glory of Go.

What is the third things we need to give up? Our Stuff.

Yes, he says it: So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

You have to give up all your stuff. Sez so here in the Bible.

Clear as day, eh? Clear as MUD!

• First: remember he’s already talking to people that are already poor. This is just as much a liberating thing than a limiting thing.
• Second: people used to see money and possessions as a “proof” of God’s blessing.

If we compare it to Jesus other teachings maybe we can bring it into focus:
We know that the “rich young ruler” story was more about greed than about the actual money. We know that it is the LOVE of money that is evil, not money itself.

Let’s look again at “The Message” -- "Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.”

Put THAT way, Jesus, I think I would rather give up my stuff – how about you?

What a demand is this! As Detrich Bonhoffer said, the cost of following Jesus is not “cheap” because it cost Jesus His life. Jesus doesn’t call us into a comfortable easy faith that is so common among American Christians. He tells us to “count the cost”, “take up our cross”, “give up our possessions” and that we (like Him) may “have no place to lay our head.”

What a cost!

The passage states: "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Seriously, Jesus?

Yes, seriously. Because following Jesus is serious business.

And here is the grace y'all -- you don't do it alone. You get to ask for help. And if you don't do so well one day, you can try again tomorrow. We are not left here to do this all alone.

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Matthew 11:28,29

He is here to help us.

Can we go by a new family name – Christian? Can we live crossways to the world? Can we let go of all we hold dear? With Jesus' help -- we can.

Let us pray.

Dearest and most Gracious God, help us live every day as Christians -- little Christs, bearing our crosses with you and loving you more than just our possessions. Help us to participate in your work in the world. Help us choose each day be your people -- always remind us of who and whose we are. Amen.

Pleasant Valley 8-29-10

Audio file of today's sermon here.

Conundrum

co·nun·drum/kəˈnəndrəm/Noun
1. A confusing and difficult problem or question.
2. A question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.

Caught in a conundrum, a sticky wicket, a wicked problem. I'm preaching this week about hospitality and humility; specifically the text is Luke 14: 1, 7-14:

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Specifically the condrum hit me this morning when I was composing my children's sermon. I suppose the word was blithely composing my children's sermon. It's titled "Were You Invited to the Party." I'm riffing off of Sermons4Kids -- the one for this week is "Left Out." It's going to be about how one feels when they get left off of a party list. It's a little more than that: I'm going to have a fake invitation for "Big Important People" to a party and ask the kids if they got one too. When they say no, I'm going to ask them how they feel.

Almost immediately after I solidified this (along with the fake invitation), the loving husband calls me and asks if we got invited to XYZ's party on Labor day. It seems it's the talk of our group of friends. All were asked but us. Gee! All of a sudden this theoretical question I was posing for the children's sermon got a Real World Twist and I felt myself get twisted up inside.

As an adult, I know there are a million reasons why we might not have been invited: they might be inviting boys only, there might be just a limited number of spots, they might not be happy with us for some reason. But all I know is that it stings.

In the past, I've had to talk to the kids about "not being invited" to parties. For the most part my answers have been unsatisfactory for both them and myself. I know I've hurt other people's feeling by "leaving them out" (specifically I am thinking of a person I *know* we invited to my post-gradation party, but somehow the invitation got lost. That relationship is now broken.)

I think today's gospel is talking directly to ME. How many groups of people are represented here? 1) The Pharisees (the hosts) 2) The "interesting" guests 3) the ones being left out.

My revelation is that Jesus UN-invites the "interesting people." 'Don't invite them,' he says. I suppose the thought is that they have enough. Not much solace, there. Maybe we need to take away a lesson from the first part of this gospel: For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Dern. Why does this "moving onto perfection" and "working through your salvation with fear and trembling" have to be so dang hard?

Martin Luther's Morning Prayer

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Evening Prayer from Martin Luther

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. --Martin Luther

Evening Prayer From the BCP

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen

Pleasant Valley 8-22-10

Service is Online here.

Sermoning

I spend a lot of my life thinking about sermons. It takes me a long time (most of the time) to build a sermon. A lot of it is subconscious -- perking in my brain, dreaming, thinking, meditating. It just can't be rushed.

This week the text is Luke 13:10-17:

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

This text comes around every three years; hundreds of thousands of sermons have been written about it. I have spent time reading the text, taking it apart, reading it in different translations, looking for a preaching "handle", doing word studies of the Greek. I try to understand the text before I crack open any commentaries, steeping myself into the text and seeing where it might connect to myself and my congregation. Only after I've done that do I open up any commentaries (that is, if I open up ANY commentaries.)

Then I look to see where the themes intersect today's society. This week I came up with a tagline that I want to use as the title of the sermon: "Bent Out of Shape." The woman is bent out of her shape physically and the powers that be are bent out of shape that Jesus healed on the sabbath. I thought it was a brilliant title. Then I googled the phrase and the word "sermon." Well, there must be a couple of dozen sermons on this text with that title.

Sigh.

I thought I was bringing something fresh and new to the text, but no. Then I realized that my three points: Bent Over, Bent Out of Shape and Bent to Our Own Purpose (how we twist the Law to suit ourselves) are the SAME three points several others have used (if not in those words.)

Sigh.

Is it conceit that I believe I can bring something fresh and new? I suppose it's horribly arrogant to think that for the first time in two thousand years *I* would have this brilliant flash of insight and bring something new into the world.

May the Lord save me from conceit and arrogance. Lord, have mercy.

Sidebar: I suppose what I am afraid of now is being accused of plagiarism. With many of the discussions on facebook, blogs and in the magazines about plagiarism, I guess I'm just scared. I use the Psalm of the week for my call to worship; I use phrases from the texts in my pastoral prayer. I suppose all I can do is just be true to my method and if I come up with a "common" title or structure, I just can't worry about it.

Thinking about Radio Spots

My current appointment comes with an added benefit -- our service is transmitted on the local AM Radio Station, WKUN, 1490 AM. The owner of the radio station goes to our church. I've asked if I can do a few radio spots. This is my first attempt at writing what is basically a sermon in a minute.

This week’s text in Luke 13 concerns a woman who has been suffering with a crippling spirit for 18 years. With the touch of Jesus’ hand, she is healed. This is not the first time we hear of Jesus healing people with long term sufferings – he healed a woman with a 12 year hemorrhage in Luke 8. And again, by the pool of Siloam, he heals a man with 38 years of suffering. Are you suffering from physical illnesses? Spiritual malaise? It is never too late to turn to Jesus for healing and wholeness. Although he might not heal us in the body, healing of the spirit is available with just a single prayer. Are you weary? Are you heavy laden? Tell it to Jesus.

Is it long enough? Too long? Bad theology? Good theology? I feel that it's just the beginning of a conversation about the topic.

Blogging?

Wow! I got a mention in the Circuit Rider!

http://www.umph.org/resources/publications/circuitrider.asp?act=displayissue&cr_issue_id=110

I'm honored to be on the same short list as Bishop Willimon and Bishop Schnase. Wow!

Pleasant Valley 8-08-10

Homecoming Service available for streaming here.

New Source for Bulletin Material

Cool Biblical Art Website.

Parsonage Picture

Only two Last Supper Pictures here!

The "branch" is a set of reusable stickers.

Newly cleaned curtains, Hatfield House chairs, the end tables are the church's.

New lampshades. New throw pillows.

Ready for the Parsonage Open House.

Lots of goodies for all to enjoy.

Chaos' room. She wanted "that shade of orange no one likes."

The master bedroom.

Blue glass from Fenton and Blue Boy and Pinkie.