Last week's Wally's Whispers presented a high light in my month with the Lord. Everything was going right, but then life happens.
Tonight was spent at the funeral home. Pastor Rick, my predecessor at Christ Baptist, was being waked. Rick took good care of himself, exercised and dieted properly and was cutting wood when God called him home. Life can end so quickly and when the person is younger than yourself you begin to think about your own mortality.
For me, I am spiritually ready. For some time I have had my bags packed - my heart belongs in heaven, and I yearn to be with my Lord - he is my all in all. But I'm not physically ready. My will is still on my computer, yet to be notarized. There are many loose ends to consider. Who will do my funeral? Will I be buried or cremated? The questions keep coming, and Linda & I haven't taken the opportunity to talk about these final things. It just seems to morbid; until a friend unexpectedly dies. I'm not ready to die vocationally. I have a to-do list that I just can't leave undone. I love preaching and only Jesus preaches in heaven. so I got to get that out of my system here in the now, not the here-after. I have accumulated much pastoral wisdom over the years, and I would love to share that with others. Lord, I have too much to do; I'm not ready yet. I'm not ready emotionally. I love my wife, my children, my grandchildren; I'm not ready to leave them behind. To be honest, there is quite a bit of this life I would still like to experience. Lord, I'm ready but not yet-please.
I visited my doctor today - my annual physical. I'm healthy and not ready to go to heaven yet. Good. The doctor was pleased at my weight loss and took away one of my prescriptions for hypertension. Life is good. You know - I may have a lot of reasons for staying, but when the Lord calls me home I will rejoice for THEN I will be ABLE to sing with full gusto and no one will complain. The angels will rejoice; Jesus will rejoice; and my heavenly father will say, ... (I'll leave that to your imagination.
I trust these meditations were not morbid but maybe to encourage you that most believers have that I want to go to heaven but not yet attitude.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Worship - continued
This has been a very rich week for me. At times pastors have all the fun, but sometimes I wonder how our wives get replenished. There are so few times when wives can get away to enjoy the same conferences we pastors enjoy, especially if they work outside the home.
Anyway, let me be selfish and talk about me and my experiences. I began (this time Linda joined me) with the worship described in my previous blog - our time with the Singing Men of South Texas. Each song washed over us like the balm of Gilead. Then came Monday. Monday, I picked up "my pastor" Bob Wiles, and the two of us journeyed north to Pilgrim Pines Conference Center. For the next 3+ days we spent in prayer, worshipping our God. At times there was confession; other times we gathered around another pastor for prayer; still other times we broke off in small groups praying for specific needs each one of us had.
I remember my first Prayer Summit way back in 1991. There I met God in a most wonderful, liberating experience. I bawled like a baby, raised my hands in wonderful worship, and experienced the healing of anointed prayer by my brother pastors. This Summit was like revisiting that memorial altar. Another brother felt the same way. He was at a point of transition, just like he was back in 1992. Then he had the brothers pray over him, and this week he made sure the hot seat was exactly where it was so many years ago. Wow - the power of memorial altars.
During some quiet time in prayer I was struck by our inability to do anything of consequence for God; it was totally dependent on his empowerment, breathing into his work his Spirit. I wondered what that meant - why wasn't there of a more positive message. That afternoon session provided the answer. Someone mentioned the power of Christ's name. We work in his name; we don't have silver and gold, all we have is the name of Jesus and that is enough. That spread over the pastors like a powerful wave. One after another picked up on that, and then it dawned on me - we have authority, we have the name of Jesus. We do ministry NOT in our own power, but in the power of the name of Jesus. It is not magical; it is the person of Jesus through his Spirit who accomplishes spiritual ministry. if I want to do something it must be in the name of Jesus, not words but in his authority. WOW.
This past Sunday began with the Singing Men of South Texas; my week was spent in prayer with fellow pastors; now this Sunday Gavin and Glenda Williams will join us for a Sunday afternoon tea, sharing their training mission to India, Africa and Romania. What a luck guy I am!
Anyway, let me be selfish and talk about me and my experiences. I began (this time Linda joined me) with the worship described in my previous blog - our time with the Singing Men of South Texas. Each song washed over us like the balm of Gilead. Then came Monday. Monday, I picked up "my pastor" Bob Wiles, and the two of us journeyed north to Pilgrim Pines Conference Center. For the next 3+ days we spent in prayer, worshipping our God. At times there was confession; other times we gathered around another pastor for prayer; still other times we broke off in small groups praying for specific needs each one of us had.
I remember my first Prayer Summit way back in 1991. There I met God in a most wonderful, liberating experience. I bawled like a baby, raised my hands in wonderful worship, and experienced the healing of anointed prayer by my brother pastors. This Summit was like revisiting that memorial altar. Another brother felt the same way. He was at a point of transition, just like he was back in 1992. Then he had the brothers pray over him, and this week he made sure the hot seat was exactly where it was so many years ago. Wow - the power of memorial altars.
During some quiet time in prayer I was struck by our inability to do anything of consequence for God; it was totally dependent on his empowerment, breathing into his work his Spirit. I wondered what that meant - why wasn't there of a more positive message. That afternoon session provided the answer. Someone mentioned the power of Christ's name. We work in his name; we don't have silver and gold, all we have is the name of Jesus and that is enough. That spread over the pastors like a powerful wave. One after another picked up on that, and then it dawned on me - we have authority, we have the name of Jesus. We do ministry NOT in our own power, but in the power of the name of Jesus. It is not magical; it is the person of Jesus through his Spirit who accomplishes spiritual ministry. if I want to do something it must be in the name of Jesus, not words but in his authority. WOW.
This past Sunday began with the Singing Men of South Texas; my week was spent in prayer with fellow pastors; now this Sunday Gavin and Glenda Williams will join us for a Sunday afternoon tea, sharing their training mission to India, Africa and Romania. What a luck guy I am!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Worshipping to maintian your balance
Pastors often find it difficult to worship. When you're in charge you are more often concerned with making sure that everything is in place, that everyone is on the same page as you, and that makes it difficult to sit in the presence of God. This is why today was such a special day. Our church hosted one team from the Singing Men of South Texas. Their choice of songs, their spirit-ability, the message from the Word led me and others into his presence. This afternoon was a continuation of the morning. Our Association of churches sponsored the Singing Men where they performed for 90 minutes, many of the same songs as this morning but also new ones. Once again it was wonderful to participate in the worship experience.
Worship gives you a balanced perspecetive on life. Most of the week you concentrate on the affairs of the world. The tensions of the financial world, which often spills over into family life. You also see the devastation of the world's woes on people's lives and wonder how a Christian would respond. There is a lot of stress trying to do the right thing. Sometimes I am so nice to outsiders and come home to be a bear to my family. Haven't you experienced that?
Do you remember that a few weeks ago out congress set aside $700 billion to help resolve Wall Street's problems. Now we see the money not being used for its original purposes and we become frustrated with the greed of certain people. Now we have elected a charismatic leader, and we all have high expectations. By January 22, we will all be frustrated that the world is still a mess. Worship reminds us that God is in charge, that God has promised to provided for us. Worship tells us that, for Christians, everything will be all right. Our hope is not in the President or in Congress or even in the Supreme Court. Our hope is in God.
worship reminds us to be faithful to the task of declaring his kingdom, of demonstrate a kingdom lifestyle, and of developing kingdom leaders. worship helps us balance on lives.
Worship gives you a balanced perspecetive on life. Most of the week you concentrate on the affairs of the world. The tensions of the financial world, which often spills over into family life. You also see the devastation of the world's woes on people's lives and wonder how a Christian would respond. There is a lot of stress trying to do the right thing. Sometimes I am so nice to outsiders and come home to be a bear to my family. Haven't you experienced that?
Do you remember that a few weeks ago out congress set aside $700 billion to help resolve Wall Street's problems. Now we see the money not being used for its original purposes and we become frustrated with the greed of certain people. Now we have elected a charismatic leader, and we all have high expectations. By January 22, we will all be frustrated that the world is still a mess. Worship reminds us that God is in charge, that God has promised to provided for us. Worship tells us that, for Christians, everything will be all right. Our hope is not in the President or in Congress or even in the Supreme Court. Our hope is in God.
worship reminds us to be faithful to the task of declaring his kingdom, of demonstrate a kingdom lifestyle, and of developing kingdom leaders. worship helps us balance on lives.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Love my neighbor as myself
For the past month I have been asking myself as well as my congregation: what does it mean to love God with a total commitment, and what does it mean to love my neighbor as myself? From a personal stance the question is answered fairly easily. I make a total commitment to God; I have daily devotions; I tithe; I do all the things Christians are suppose to do in their walk with God. Seeing a neighbor in need I come along side and help. When we have a snow storm in the city, I snow throw not only my sidewalk but also my neighbor's. I am neighborly.
When I look at life with a wider lens I see complications. Somewhere I have in my boxes of books one titled, But You don't Know Harry. The command to be submissive to husbands is a clear teaching of Scripture, but if you knew Harry you would make an exception! The same line of reasoning is applied to my neighbor. If I help my neighbor I will be creating dependence, and that is not good. Suffering is a good teacher. Even beyond this scenero is my neighbor the Muslim. Muslims hate Christians; they want us all killed, so why should I love him? Or what about my neighbor the welfare cheat?
Let's go even deeper. How do I express love for my neighbor on a more public platform? We do care about public platforms because most of us voted in this past election according to our values. What is the practical way to show love to the millions of undernourished children? to those who are in under performing schools? to those living in crime saturated neighborhoods? Even on a larger scale - what about countries like Haiti?
I don't have all the answers, but I do have questions and a certain sense of dissonance - I say I love but do I really. What are the hindrances to expressing love? How can my church assist me in demonstrating love. Oh, what I would give to have Jesus walk the earth right now. Oh, no way - he is walking on earth, isn't the church his Body? Where the church walks Jesus walks. Boy, I better get my questions answered the right way or Someone will be angry!
When I look at life with a wider lens I see complications. Somewhere I have in my boxes of books one titled, But You don't Know Harry. The command to be submissive to husbands is a clear teaching of Scripture, but if you knew Harry you would make an exception! The same line of reasoning is applied to my neighbor. If I help my neighbor I will be creating dependence, and that is not good. Suffering is a good teacher. Even beyond this scenero is my neighbor the Muslim. Muslims hate Christians; they want us all killed, so why should I love him? Or what about my neighbor the welfare cheat?
Let's go even deeper. How do I express love for my neighbor on a more public platform? We do care about public platforms because most of us voted in this past election according to our values. What is the practical way to show love to the millions of undernourished children? to those who are in under performing schools? to those living in crime saturated neighborhoods? Even on a larger scale - what about countries like Haiti?
I don't have all the answers, but I do have questions and a certain sense of dissonance - I say I love but do I really. What are the hindrances to expressing love? How can my church assist me in demonstrating love. Oh, what I would give to have Jesus walk the earth right now. Oh, no way - he is walking on earth, isn't the church his Body? Where the church walks Jesus walks. Boy, I better get my questions answered the right way or Someone will be angry!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Election Reflection
There is very little neutral ground concerning the outcome of this year's Presidential election. Many of my friends are down in the dumps because of Obama's win; they think God has given our country up to its own depravity. Obama seems to be the culmination of our sinful tendencies. We can now expect abortion on demand with no restrictions; perhaps partial-birth abortions will be re-allowed. the acceptance of gay marriage will now be federally recognized. Perhaps the Tribulation will be ushered in because we elected Obama.
Others of my friends are elated. At breakfast this morning an African-Amercian was strutting around the restaurant, being so proud of his race and what was accomplished. Later in the morning I attended a neighborhood meeting where everyone was so excited about the hope that Obama brings to our country.
On a purely human level my excitment is somewhat subdued. Two years ago I was excited about electing our current Governor. He emanated hope; there was a lot of excitment of what he would bring to the State house. Well, even my community friends became disappointed in his non-accomplishments. I take that subdued thought when I think of the possibilities with our new President. He does bring excitement and hope, but can he deliver?
I'm learning more and more with each passing historical moment that the Bible is true, our hope is in the name of our Lord. Politics is very important; we can' do anything in life without politics. However, politics is not the solution to our problems - only God is. As a nation, no, as a people of God we must return to God as our hope. In America we have a checks and balances system of government because we recognize that we humans can't be trusted. we are selfish; we are ambitious; we are sinful. Only God-given values can save our country, and those values must first be lived by the church as an example to the world. We must demonstrate our love and compassion for all peoples, not just the unborn. As Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man so all laws need to reflect the needs, interests and well-being of the people. When we think of the poor, the immigrant, the single mother, do we look with eyes of compassion or with eyes of judgment? I think the church often is more American than Christian. What do you think?
Others of my friends are elated. At breakfast this morning an African-Amercian was strutting around the restaurant, being so proud of his race and what was accomplished. Later in the morning I attended a neighborhood meeting where everyone was so excited about the hope that Obama brings to our country.
On a purely human level my excitment is somewhat subdued. Two years ago I was excited about electing our current Governor. He emanated hope; there was a lot of excitment of what he would bring to the State house. Well, even my community friends became disappointed in his non-accomplishments. I take that subdued thought when I think of the possibilities with our new President. He does bring excitement and hope, but can he deliver?
I'm learning more and more with each passing historical moment that the Bible is true, our hope is in the name of our Lord. Politics is very important; we can' do anything in life without politics. However, politics is not the solution to our problems - only God is. As a nation, no, as a people of God we must return to God as our hope. In America we have a checks and balances system of government because we recognize that we humans can't be trusted. we are selfish; we are ambitious; we are sinful. Only God-given values can save our country, and those values must first be lived by the church as an example to the world. We must demonstrate our love and compassion for all peoples, not just the unborn. As Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man so all laws need to reflect the needs, interests and well-being of the people. When we think of the poor, the immigrant, the single mother, do we look with eyes of compassion or with eyes of judgment? I think the church often is more American than Christian. What do you think?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Thoughts about the financial crisis
I am disturbed; I am disappointed; I am ashamed; yes, even conscience-stricken. Watching the pundits on the various news’ channels pontificating about who is at fault in the current fiscal crisis, I am thinking that they left out one very important category. Yes, Wall Street Barons are at fault for following the goddess Greed. Congress shares much of the blame. Imagine adding $100 billion in pork to a $700 billion rescue package! However, there is a larger question – who within society has the responsibility to teach morals? Families? Cultural values have usually been passed from one generation to another by the majority religion of that culture. As a Christian clergy person, I am ashamed that we have failed in our responsibility.
I am especially ashamed because so many of us clergy are teaching a prosperity gospel, all but advocating worship of the goddess Greed. Others preach that less government is better and that lower taxes means more money to spend on my family, again bowing down to the goddess Greed. Have we forgotten early Christians suffered martyrdom and that a sign of spirituality used to be to sell all we have and give to the poor?
I urge my fellow clergy to accept our responsibility in this fiscal crisis and urge our congregants to live a life of righteousness in light of the fact that they and one day we will be held accountable to our lives.
I am especially ashamed because so many of us clergy are teaching a prosperity gospel, all but advocating worship of the goddess Greed. Others preach that less government is better and that lower taxes means more money to spend on my family, again bowing down to the goddess Greed. Have we forgotten early Christians suffered martyrdom and that a sign of spirituality used to be to sell all we have and give to the poor?
I urge my fellow clergy to accept our responsibility in this fiscal crisis and urge our congregants to live a life of righteousness in light of the fact that they and one day we will be held accountable to our lives.
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