A Little Closer to Home …

Leading through change may be the only real and true role of the pastoral ministry. As a pastor, I have experienced extensive schooling in the specific functions of serving as clergy in a local church. We required our clergy take classes on the particulars of pastoral care, preaching, and church administration along with the basic subjects of Bible, theology, church history, doctrine, and polity. As long as we have satisfactorily completed the classes, we are good to go. However, somewhere along the line we may have missed the point. As in all education, the focus should not be acquiring knowledge, which I admit is necessary and important, rather the point of our education is to gain proficiency in leading. Particularly true for clergy is learning to lead through times of change.

The church, our church, is in the midst of a season of profound and sweeping change. It is not the basics of our faith which are changing; but how we understand and experience our faith in worship, in disciple making, and in our mission to the world around us certainly has and is changing. We are not talking about a small stream of change that if we ignore it long enough it will slow and finally stop, as if it were a new garden hose that just needs to be tightened up a little. This is a mighty river of change that has the ability to re-arrange the landscape and make all things new. A few years ago the parsonage went on to city water. The next day the water heater decided to blow a hole in the side and flood the basement. The increased pressure, the new direction of flow, and even the difference in what the water carried with it all combined to cause the leak. We had to replace the water heater, rethink the pressure levels, and remain aware of the change taking place in the water quality. So it is with the church. Much of the knowledge and expertise from the last century just does not fit today. Like it or not, we have moved to a different water source and there will be changes.

We say we want change in the church. It is even politically correct to say we want change. However the truth is we are frightened by change. “If there must be change please wait until after I die, then you can do whatever you like,” she shared with me following her husband death. Some of this is very scary; such as the increases in health care costs and small congregations who find themselves unable to remain financially healthy. Change in the church also can mean position and power will move into other hands. You know this is no small item, which by itself it can tear a church apart. And yet change is always a part of the church, Holy Scripture is the book of change. Jesus offered in John 3.7b “(We) must be born anew.” and also in 1 Corinthians 15:51 Apostle Paul offers, “51Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed.” Change is the very fabric of the life in Christ. And yet change is hard for us all.

Is there hope for the church? Yes. Because of faithful people and faithful ideas and visions the church is in the midst of re-tooling and re-focusing. The church will continue to base it’s mission to the world on Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience. We will continue to study our doctrinal heritage as a source of new directions. The church has experienced significant change in the past few years and more is on the way. I offer that as your pastor, along with a willing and able body of paid and un-paid staff, together we will encounter and engage the future so that we may lead through the changes ahead with grace and humility honoring God and bringing many others into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. This ought to be fun!

SCRIPTURE STUDY / WEEK LEADING TO SUNDAY June 5, 2005

Monday: Genesis 25:19-34 The Twins
One very famous set of twins named Esau and Jacob born to Isaac and Rebekah. Read about their start in life and how Jacob was the “heal grabber.” One of my favorite funny verses is 25.30 where Esau says, “Give me some of that red stuff.”

Tuesday: Genesis 27 Stealing the Blessing
This passage offers the story of Jacob deceiving his father to receive the blessing of the oldest son. Rebekah is deeply involved in this plot.

Wednesday: Hebrews 11:1, 8-39 Faith in Action
The author of Hebrews offers a recounting of some of the defining moments in the Old Testament. They make the point that these defining moments were engaged through faith.

Thursday: Hebrews 12:1-14 Run Toward Peace
How do we react to the events in the world around us offers a pretty good indication of where are hearts are focused. We are to run the good race ending in peace and joy.

Friday: Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob’s Ladder
The first of two defining moments in Jacob’s life. This dream of a ladder reaching to heaven offers Jacob a new start in life away from the “trickster” he has been. Jacob is now following a new vision of one who becomes a blessing to the nations because he has been faithful. Think about the movie, Field of Dreams and the scene where Ray hears the words, “If you build it, He will come.” Ray is asked to follow a dream without full knowledge of the outcome.

Saturday: Genesis 32:22 – 33:11 Reconciliation and Peace
This is the second of two defining moments for Jacob. He is now older and wealthy. He has family and is returning to his home land where he meets his brother Esau. Jacob is sure Esau will kill him. He has a second dream and wrestles with God all night. Jacob is given a new name, Israel, and in his meeting with Esau is shocked when his brother reconciles and wants to live in peace. Again in the movie, Field of Dreams, Ray is reconciled with his father in a game of catch. What have been the defining moments of your life? One proof is the presence of peace and joy following the experience as compared to before.

Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Sermon Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22, 32:22-33:11
Sermon Title: “Two Defining Moments”

Sermon Notes May 22, 2005

Genesis 1:1-31 “You Get What You Get” May 22, 2005

We have a Covenant with God
When Unequal Parties Agree to Unconditionally Offer The Full Measure of Their Agreement, Regardless

Stronger, Larger – Take Care of Things, Provide Consistent Rules and Boundaries
Smaller, Weaker – Trust What You Can Not See, Live in Faith and Hope

You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit
Parent – I Will Love Unconditionally, I Will Provide FREEDOM to Grow and Choose
Child – I Will Trust You have my best interest in mind. I Will Live as if everything is a blessing and miracle.

Einstein. Two ways to live your life: Everything is miracle, Nothing is Miracle.

Covenant starts with Creation. In the Beginning…
Bonhoffer: We always view the Beginning from the End, while we are caught in the middle.
We know Jesus Christ will overpower everything, even death at the end.
Our view of everything is from this perspective. Even the creation of the world. John 1
In the midst of life we are existing in-between, in need of Covenant.

(seems odd we claim to know more about the end than the beginning,
perhaps God is telling us the end is more important,
and yet the beginning offers insight into the middle – Covenant)

Who caused creation? God – There is No Belief in God Outside of Creation
We are a people of the Book – Scripture Tells us God Created 1In the beginning when God created
We believe the Scripture is Holy, the very Word of God, We Believe Scripture says God created.
Scripture is full of Creation Stories, From the first beginnings to Noah on through to the New Testament when Jesus offers new birth. “New Creation”

Creation is not a one time event, Creation continues until it stops at the end. God Says When.
Jesus Said, I am the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last…

How did God Create? Scripture Does Not Say. Story Tells Why, not How!!!!!!!!
What caused creation? Why did God create?
God purpose was to create goodness 31God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.
Love – God created in love, for love, to love.
Hardest part of creation is love. Any other answer will do.
I Struggle With Love: Because I Live in the Middle and I Struggle with the Middle
Life is Not Easy.
Created Goodness and Freedom to Choose Causes Problems, Big Problems. Sin & Death
I Need A COVENANT ! Good News is that God Offers a Covenant.

What about evil? Did God Create Evil?
God Created Good: Freedom to choose is inherent in Goodness.
There is no Love Apart from Real Freedom. Freedom to think, to feel, to choose, Even Choose Poorly.

You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit – COVENANT Based in Creating Love
God – I Love you Unconditionally, I offer Freedom to Grow and Choose

Me – I Trust You, I Live As If…everything is a blessing and a miracle

A Prayer for You:

Quiet and peace for you, my people.

Quiet and peace flow through your soul
until your voice is steady and even, with knowing and being fully known.

Quiet and peace be yours;
until your breathing slows to a long even pull and release of all that had held you captive today.

May quiet and peace overcome emotions remembered, painful days recalled, grief encountered.

God is calling you to come away to your quiet place, just for a few moments.
Feel the presence of Spirit holding you.
Honor the Son in prayer and actions.
Almost as silent, with your voice say. "abba, abba." And again.

Quiet and peace for you, my people.
May Quiet and peace flow gently through your soul.

Amen. . ><(((*>

Sunday Sermon Notes May 15, 2005

Luke 17:11-19 “The Best Samaritan”

And They Will Know We Are Christian By Our Love
Do Christians have a “special” kind of love?
Lisa Simpson “I do not want to become a Methodist just because it is cool.”

What does this “look like” in real life terms?
This looks like embracing the difficult, even the impossible
This looks like one who acts differently,
primarily because this ones sees the world differently.

Samaritan: Good Vs Best
Background of Samaritans – the ones Jews did not expect – hated

Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-36 Priest, Levite, Samaritan
36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Best Samaritan in Luke 17:11-19 Ten Lepers: One was a Samaritan
Maybe the Same Man
One Offering Mercy, Has Experienced Mercy
“They” will know followers of Christ …
by love born from an experience of forgiveness.
Who has the Power to do that?

Faith is Seeing, then Responding With Love
Priest, Levite, Samaritan see – Only one acted in Love.
Jesus Sees the Ten Lepers vs. 14 – Heals them
The Samaritan Sees that he was Healed – Offer Praise to God, Thanks Jesus

Story of the Orange Grove
Everybody is talking about Picking Oranges, but nobody actually is

Gratitude: A Sign of Faith vs. 19 Your Faith has made you well.
Faith is shown in the gratitude, not in the healing.
Everybody gets healing – Only a few show gratitude to God.