October 19-25 2014

This week, the question “What inspired me this week” is what will guide my reflections. 

Men of Integrity magazine had a set of reflections this week from Rick Bezet, Be Real; Because Fake is Exhausting. The theme was forgiveness. Its basis was Matthew 18:21ff, where Jesus tells a parable about one person who the king forgave a large debt and the person then not giving the small debt owed by another servant. He discussed myths of forgiveness. Although forgiveness is an essential part of restoring a relationship, it is not sufficient to heal a broken relationship. Failure to forgive will lead to bitterness and sarcasm coming out an inappropriate times. It can also lead to a failure to mature, because one gets stuck in terms of personal, emotional, and spiritual growth. Forgiveness leads to freedom. What struck me this time was that we, who sin against God and have the assurance of forgiveness from God, will not forgive others who do something wrong to us. The discussion on this led me to think of the importance of developing a forgiving way of life or spirit.

            My physical health continues improving in terms of my right shoulder. It still hurts. I have continued with P90x2 yoga and cardio, the total gym, and some time at Anytime Fitness.  

            On a personal note, we saw a movie (Suzanne’s fault) Best of Me, the worst movie I have seen in my life. However, I balanced that with Gone Girl, likely the best movie I have seen in a long time. If you like crime thriller’s, this one is excellent. One inspiring thought was the exchange between two officers. One says that often the simplest answer is the answer. The other responds that she has never found that to be true. The simplest answer was decidedly not the correct answer in this movie. The Book Thief was inspiring in that it showed life in Nazi Germany from the perspective some average Germans. It was slow and a little depressing, but it ended well. It had some interesting insights in the voice-over from “Death,” who encouraged us to relax when our times comes. We also completed watching Bones, season 9, which had a wonderful and surprising final episode. What I find inspiring here is the relationship between Bones and Booth, two people who are so different, and yet have such profound love and respect for each other.

Here is a picture of two beloved members of the household.

            Worship was inspiring for me, and I hope for others as well. Music was wonderful in both services. Good response throughout the morning. Think Orange was wonderful, as was the Youth Small Group in the evening. I worked on the sermon plan for November and December, and that always is an inspiring time. The Finance Committee was longer than normal. Many matters to discuss. Triple S is always inspiring to me, this time s we worked out way through John 6. We had a few computer issues to consider this week. I spent some time reflecting on my appointment form. I also filled out a willingness to serve form on the Annual Conference web site to be a delegate to General Conference. In terms of personal study, I have been working my way through Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth a second time, focused on III.2/3. Although this is not easy, I find it inspiring. I found III.2 to be a masterpiece of how to do a theological anthropology, combining sharp biblical insights with a good reading of psychology and philosophical anthropology. His discussion of providence in III.3 is also inspiring, stressing the parental care of God, that we are always in the friendly hands of God, even when it does not look like it.

October 12-18, 2014 reflections

The question guiding me this week is: What surprised me?

This week, Men of Integrity magazine surprised me a bit with selections from a book by Ian DiOrio, Trivial Pursuits. He wanted to expose the meaningless trappings of culture. He thinks that too many are content with the small portrayal of God and the actions of God in the world. The surprise was his definition of the trivial as that which you can find everywhere, having no depth or real beauty. The Key study passage was Proverbs 4:5-7, 15:14, 18:15 and the need to develop wisdom in the use of the material culture provides us.

I have some surprise that two things are happening together physically. My right shoulder continues to hurt when I put it in certain positions, while my exercises are going better, especially yoga and total gym. I continue going to Anytime Fitness.

Suzanne and I had the pleasure of couple visiting us for a few hours. That was a nice surprise. They graciously treated us at Applebees. The conversation flowed easily. We tentatively set a date for a visit to them in Michigan.

I was certainly surprised by the ending of Homeland, Season 3. It made sense that Carrie loses the things that matter in her life, but still, that was tough.

Locally, many people can imagine that much of time has been with the Galland family. It has been surreal journey, moving from his fall on Thursday, his successful surgery on Friday, a good talk and prayer on Thursday night and Saturday morning, and a massive stroke early Sunday morning. We had a circle of prayer around his bed on Sunday afternoon. He died on Tuesday night and his memorial service was Friday. A great turnout of family and friends. Wonderful meal provided at the church.

Charge Conference was at Main Street UMC.

My surprise here was that we had one of the best charge conferences of which I have had the privilege of participating. I thought we had a good turn out of the five churches involved. The focus was the outwardly focused church. The book was Get Their Name. Chris asked us to consider when we experienced the love of God, where we were, how old we were, what was going on around us, what happened to us, and who took us there. Asking and answering these questions will go a long way toward developing your personal story that you can then share with others.

I went to choir practice and had several good talks with individuals. The choir will sing Because We Believe on Sunday. I received the surprise of a young man whom I have not seen for a while who simply stopped by to say high when he noticed my car there.

My reading group met on Wednesday morning. My surprise here was that we were in large agreement with the insights of our author. We discussed Carl Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul. We were completing the psychological part of our journey as we have been exploring philosophers who address matters related to religion. We expanded it to psychology. For me, this lead to re-reading other books: James Hillman, The Myth of Analysis, Karen Horney, Neurosis and Human Growth, M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Travelled, Otto Rank, Truth and Reality, and Rollo May, Love and Will. These book have been a good reminder that while Freud did much good work, later psychotherapists have had to work correct his errors. In particular, his over-extension of sex, his tendency to look upon morality in a negative way, and his negative approach to religion.

Here are some scriptures on which I have been reflecting this week and will lead to the sermon on Sunday. My surprise here was that imagery Jesus used concerning money is leading to what I hope are some helpful and challenging reflections for people on money.

Psalm 99

⁹ Extol the Lord our God,

and worship at his holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy. 

I Thessalonians 1:

{2} We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly {3} remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 22 {21} "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.

October 5-11 2014 Reflections

I begin with the reflections in the Men of Integrity magazine, this week focusing on Short-circuit Porn's Power, from the writings of William M. Struthers. The devotions centered around how shows to women and to men the selfishness, domination, and violence that men can do. Yet, failure in this area does not define the man. The key study passage was I Corinthians 6:12-20. I have studied this passage quite deeply for other reasons.

I have continued an exercise program that involves yoga, the total gym, and Anytime Fitness. Care for the body is as important as care for the soul and mind, I think.

I preached from Matthew 21:33-46 around the question of whether Christianity is as simple as learning to be a good tenant. We had communion and we had a different opening of worship in the second service. We are working on the flow of the service. I saw God present in many ways this morning, but in particular, in a person being trained to help with communion in the second service. In addition, in the afternoon, I saw God present in a couple who stepped up to help with Family Fun Day to do the script. The music and the energy of the kids is wonderful. Something around 35 people present, several from outside the church. I see God present in the youth small group as well, as we discussed dreams we have for ourselves and the dreams God has for us.

Throughout the week, I saw God present in preparations for worship, both for Sunday and for sermons in April. Some of this study was at Starbucks. This is always a meaningful time for me.

I did have some difficult conversations this week, not church related. I can only entrust the conversations to those involved and to God.

A wonderful spirit at Triple S as we studied John 4. We usually read a passage and discuss, that went particularly well on Tuesday. Yes, God is present when we honor each other and honor the Word of God.

I felt the presence of God at the Trustees meeting, as people stepped up to help in various areas that needed attention at the church and the parsonage.

God was present on Thursday as a "peer mentoring" group met at Cross~Wind. This group involves pastors who are involved in the Fruitful Congregation process. It was interesting to discuss the single board concept. However, the focus was a discussion of the book, Get Their Name.  The book discusses practical ways to engage in relational evangelism. In particular, when we tell our story of Christ affects our lives, we learn to keep the story current as to how God is at work in our lives lately. We discussed the discipleship pathway as a movement from outside to guest, guest to connected, connected to disciple of Jesus, and disciple to missionary. As an extension of this, I see God present in our cluster clergy meeting at Buffalo Wings. The care the pastors have for their churches and for each other is beautiful to see.

I had an abbreviated time with the choir, but God is certainly present as people put their hearts into singing their faith. Suzanne was with me, and that is always nice. One of the members of the church had fallen in Kokomo and was now in memorial hospital in Logansport. Good discussion and prayer.

In other news, Suzanne and I watched The Equalizer. It was nice to see Denzel Washington in this role. The movie was an origin movie, describing how the equalizer became such. For those too young to remember this, it was a television show that began in 1985. It brought back some good memories.

Lord, I offer this week into your loving hands.

Septeber 26-October 4 2014 Reflections

Men of Integrity magazine had some reflections from John Siebling around the theme of honoring God from his book Momentum. We are to honor God above all, of course, but we can show this honor by honoring God with our money, by honoring the house of God, and honoring all people as made in the image of God. He reflects on Matthew 15:1-20. Next Saturday, we will begin our men's group that will reflect on this devotional book. I have found the readings consistently good to read and to discuss.

Last Sunday, a special moment was to have Alyssa Luching, soon to go under the banner of the Peace Corps, to a nation in Africa for a couple years. We surrounded her at the altar for prayer and anointing. It was a privilege to be a part of this.

Staff meeting, Staff Parish, and Nominations were all this week. All of this meant some administrative work. We are ready for Charge Conference at Main Street UMC on October 14, 2014. Cass County Clergy Association met at West Side Diner. Worship Design team met and we discussed making some changes that will start on Sunday for the second service.

I had some visits at Memorial Hospital with a family. Very meaningful. The wife of one of the families of the church was in a car accident that totaled the car. She was shaken but OK. She went back to work the next day. Good talks on the telephone with them.

Visited shut-in persons for communion with Mellie. Always a privilege.

We completed Upward Soccer on Saturday and had a banquet on Friday night. Sly did a wonderful job leading us through the awards part of the program.

We also had B-Shoc, a Christian rapper. His testimony was wonderful. Part of it related to a series of messages I will give in October. Christians tend to make things complicated. He wanted to keep his message simple in that Christian life is about letting people see the Jesus in us. Let it be so. I like hearing how people incorporate their faith into their artistic performance. As I understand it, some 31 people stood up to make their first profession of faith in Christ, and about 11 were parents. It was a wonderful evening.

In other news, I have continued my physical exercises, still with Yoga and Total Gym. I ran last week once for five miles. It was not easy.

Suzanne and I are wanting to get away for an evening once a month. We stay on the north side of Indy. We went to Kona Jacks for seafood. Then, we went to Apres Jacks for live entertainment, Orvis and Friends. We had the privilege of sitting with a wonderful couple, the woman attending North United Methodist Church in Indy on 38th Street. She knew Dick Hamilton, Richard Lancaster, Joe Emerson, and Bill Schwein. The group was wonderful, featuring London Grace, her stage name. She was awesome.

I have been on a path of revising in order to shorten my reflections on Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics. It has been a way of reviewing the positions of Barth as well. I am also going through Wolfhart Pannenberg to see what he has to say about various portions of Church Dogmatics. Thus far, I have concluded by review of Volume I.1/2, his prolegomena that focuses on his view of the Word of God.

Here are a few Scriptures I will be pondering this week.

Psalm 106

¹ Praise the Lord!

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever.

 

Philippians 4

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone.

 

Philippians 4

⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

Philippians 4

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 4

⁸ Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

 

Matthew 22:1-14 (NRSV)

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. ⁴ Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ ⁵ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶ while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹ Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ ¹⁰ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, ¹² and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.”