As I am writing this note I am on hold with Comcast and awaiting a callback from Verizon regarding a change in service for my parents. It is an infuriating process to deal with these mega-companies that seem to think that our time is an expendable commodity. In fact, time isn't something that we can get back, so I am multitasking. I am writing you while I am on hold.
While I am holding with these people who will, most certainly, not be able to help me (I will probably end up talking to supervisors who can actually make a decision, but probably won't) I am trying to make good use of the time God has granted me today. Sometimes that is all we can do while we are "on hold" in life.
Elijah was in a cave in 1 Kings Chapter 19. He was on hold. Maybe he was confused. We do know he was fleeing persecution from Ahab and Jezebel. We also know he was in a state of believing that he was the sole person defending God's honor in a godless kingdom. John talked about Elijah on Wednesday night and recalled what God said to Elijah while Elijah was "on hold." He said, "What are you doing here Elijah?" It is a good question for Elijah and for us. What are we doing here?
I can identify with Elijah in this situation. Life sometimes seems to place us on hold and we pray, wait, hope and seem to be stuck. Why isn't something happening? Where is God? Why do we feel this way? These are questions common to good people who are processing their understanding of God and our understanding of life's doldrums. Here is what I will try while I am "on hold."
1) I will keep working. My football coach told me when I was stuck on a skill level that I wanted to improve, just keep doing the right things and work hard.
2) I will remember what God has done because I know God is faithful and caring. That same God is still Lord of the universe.
3) I will seek God in His Word. God's Word always leads, is always living and is always there.
4) I will recall Elijah's story. God sends a whirlwind, an earthquake and a fire ... God isn't in any of these things. God is in the whisper He sends to Elijah, calling him out of the cave. So ... I will listen for the whisper of God.
I am still on hold with Comcast and still have no response from Verizon ... but I know God hears and cares ... that is enough! Randy
Monday, June 16, 2014
Monday, June 9, 2014
Not Picture Perfect
On this week when we are thinking about fathers our thoughts can be a sea of emotions. The position of father has seen (in my opinion) lots of stress in recent years. Between societal distractions, loss of direction, easy departures (that turn out not to be so easy) and the loss of the Church's voice in the equation I believe being a good father has become more difficult. Here are two bits of advice I have for many of the fathers I have counseled in past years.
The first bit of advice might seem a little harsh, but stay with me. Fathers need to grow up. Rather that stubbornly pursue their family authority, their toys and their recreational desires, maybe fathers should reexamine their priorities. While I was critical at the time, I remember my father doggedly making sure he provided for us and gave us the basics of life ... he didn't wait for the government or anyone else to do it for him. He didn't whine about the effects of feminism, the encroachment of the government, the negative effects of media or any other barrier that impeded his ability to do his job ... he just went out and did it. He wasn't always right, he wasn't always in a perfect mood, and he wasn't always "Father Knows Best." But he taught me to be persistent and to learn from the mistakes I would inevitably made (and not to blame them on someone else).
That brings me to point two ... I see a growing tendency for society to offer excuses so that we can feel like our mistakes are not really our fault. Lots of guys I have conversed with have some idea that these excuse have merit and the world owes them something. Yet when I talk to angry children about their fathers I believe the number one complaint is that dad "makes no mistakes" (at least that he admits). Dads ... realize that being vulnerable is being honest and real. Kids don't need dads who are the super heroes they see on TV. They need dads who teach them to navigate the rocky channels of life, including what to do when (not if) you hit a rock.
I love my dad, and I know he won't be with us for too much longer. But I am thankful that he taught me the there is a time and purpose for all things under heaven (Eccl. 3) and that our fallibility and brokenness are intertwined with both the humanity and divine spirit we have all been given. Be real and grow up ... that's my take! Randy
The first bit of advice might seem a little harsh, but stay with me. Fathers need to grow up. Rather that stubbornly pursue their family authority, their toys and their recreational desires, maybe fathers should reexamine their priorities. While I was critical at the time, I remember my father doggedly making sure he provided for us and gave us the basics of life ... he didn't wait for the government or anyone else to do it for him. He didn't whine about the effects of feminism, the encroachment of the government, the negative effects of media or any other barrier that impeded his ability to do his job ... he just went out and did it. He wasn't always right, he wasn't always in a perfect mood, and he wasn't always "Father Knows Best." But he taught me to be persistent and to learn from the mistakes I would inevitably made (and not to blame them on someone else).
That brings me to point two ... I see a growing tendency for society to offer excuses so that we can feel like our mistakes are not really our fault. Lots of guys I have conversed with have some idea that these excuse have merit and the world owes them something. Yet when I talk to angry children about their fathers I believe the number one complaint is that dad "makes no mistakes" (at least that he admits). Dads ... realize that being vulnerable is being honest and real. Kids don't need dads who are the super heroes they see on TV. They need dads who teach them to navigate the rocky channels of life, including what to do when (not if) you hit a rock.
I love my dad, and I know he won't be with us for too much longer. But I am thankful that he taught me the there is a time and purpose for all things under heaven (Eccl. 3) and that our fallibility and brokenness are intertwined with both the humanity and divine spirit we have all been given. Be real and grow up ... that's my take! Randy
Monday, June 2, 2014
From the Wilderness
Since I am writing you from the Annual Conference of the Alabama/West Florida, United Methodist Conference you might be confused with the title. All of this order and structure ... all of the music ... all of the reports (some encouraging) ... all of the knowledge about the happenings in our area ... the videos of events and blessings at churches in the conference ... all of those preachers ... one would think that I would be immersed in the message that Jesus is Lord.
But this time has always been difficult for me. Yesterday I preached about Barnabas entering Antioch with an attitude of seeking and seeing God's blessings. Pray that I can and will do the same. Because I too often see three things that give me pause. I see preachers comparing their catches of fish in overtly numeric terms ... I wonder if God is impressed with their numbers? I hear reports that tell me how well things are going but they are sometimes factually evasive. And I meet hundreds of pastors trying to get the weeks work done as they "process" the required meetings, the services and the necessary business of the Conference. Lots of "duty" and seemingly not that much joy.
But then there is this ... as I stood last evening next to Marilyn Skipper and we sang with joy the songs of the church. I don't know about Marilyn but I couldn't tell you much that was read, preached or said at the opening worship service. But I can tell you the lyrics of a song that was shared with thousands of people and a choir of maybe 250 people. "And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near and my time has come, still my soul will sing your praise unending ... 10,000 years and then forevermore." God truly does send streams in the desert ... and he brings life from death. I wonder what His plan will be ... and I pray I can just be a part of something good He is doing! Randy
But this time has always been difficult for me. Yesterday I preached about Barnabas entering Antioch with an attitude of seeking and seeing God's blessings. Pray that I can and will do the same. Because I too often see three things that give me pause. I see preachers comparing their catches of fish in overtly numeric terms ... I wonder if God is impressed with their numbers? I hear reports that tell me how well things are going but they are sometimes factually evasive. And I meet hundreds of pastors trying to get the weeks work done as they "process" the required meetings, the services and the necessary business of the Conference. Lots of "duty" and seemingly not that much joy.
But then there is this ... as I stood last evening next to Marilyn Skipper and we sang with joy the songs of the church. I don't know about Marilyn but I couldn't tell you much that was read, preached or said at the opening worship service. But I can tell you the lyrics of a song that was shared with thousands of people and a choir of maybe 250 people. "And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near and my time has come, still my soul will sing your praise unending ... 10,000 years and then forevermore." God truly does send streams in the desert ... and he brings life from death. I wonder what His plan will be ... and I pray I can just be a part of something good He is doing! Randy
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Expectations and Needs
I was down at the lake yesterday. You might have heard my story about the Blue Heron that decided to try and steal the bass I caught a few weeks ago. Yesterday he was back (the thievin', trashy thing!). He saw me fishing and expected to get something to eat ... to be fed.
One time when Jesus was teaching up around another lake (the Sea of Galilee) he got some bad news (Matthew 14). John the Baptist had just been beheaded by Herod and Jesus withdrew in a boat to be by himself. But the crowds followed Him. Jesus had compassion for them and cured them but it got late in the day. The disciples were worried about who would feed this many people (there were 5,000 men, not to mention women and children). In one of His miracles Jesus fed the people with a little bread and a few fish after healing their sick.
Here is what I was thinking yesterday. How many of us are like that heron, coming down to expect a meal? We go to church expecting to be fed and we even expect how that feeding will take place. When the food is different than we expect, when the feeding fails to meet our expectations, I wonder ... do we fly away like that heron, looking for food somewhere else? The heron is just a dumb bird, but I wonder ... as God's people and God's church, are we so caught up in how we are fed, the kind of music we hear, the style of worship, the expectation of what we want, that we sometimes fail to graciously receive the meal God desires to give us?
I don't know what the crowds of Matthew expected, but in the Gospel accounts the crowds are not presented positively ... because they always seemed to want what they expected. When that "want" was not met (the teaching got hard) John's Gospel says, many fell away from following. In Africa thousands of people will stand for hours in the hot sun to hear God's Word preached. Maybe we can learn something from them.
God desires to give us what we need ... not what we want. This week many churches in the Alabama West Florida conference of the United Methodist Church will receive new preachers. I won't chime in on my thoughts about our process except to say this. Maybe people in our churches should ask God to send them the pastor they need ... not the one they want. May we all go faithfully to our church of choice Sunday (or whatever day we worship) and listen for God to give us exactly what we need in the sermon and the music. We should be thankful for a God who sees and meets our needs, even when we fail to know them ourselves. Randy
One time when Jesus was teaching up around another lake (the Sea of Galilee) he got some bad news (Matthew 14). John the Baptist had just been beheaded by Herod and Jesus withdrew in a boat to be by himself. But the crowds followed Him. Jesus had compassion for them and cured them but it got late in the day. The disciples were worried about who would feed this many people (there were 5,000 men, not to mention women and children). In one of His miracles Jesus fed the people with a little bread and a few fish after healing their sick.
Here is what I was thinking yesterday. How many of us are like that heron, coming down to expect a meal? We go to church expecting to be fed and we even expect how that feeding will take place. When the food is different than we expect, when the feeding fails to meet our expectations, I wonder ... do we fly away like that heron, looking for food somewhere else? The heron is just a dumb bird, but I wonder ... as God's people and God's church, are we so caught up in how we are fed, the kind of music we hear, the style of worship, the expectation of what we want, that we sometimes fail to graciously receive the meal God desires to give us?
I don't know what the crowds of Matthew expected, but in the Gospel accounts the crowds are not presented positively ... because they always seemed to want what they expected. When that "want" was not met (the teaching got hard) John's Gospel says, many fell away from following. In Africa thousands of people will stand for hours in the hot sun to hear God's Word preached. Maybe we can learn something from them.
God desires to give us what we need ... not what we want. This week many churches in the Alabama West Florida conference of the United Methodist Church will receive new preachers. I won't chime in on my thoughts about our process except to say this. Maybe people in our churches should ask God to send them the pastor they need ... not the one they want. May we all go faithfully to our church of choice Sunday (or whatever day we worship) and listen for God to give us exactly what we need in the sermon and the music. We should be thankful for a God who sees and meets our needs, even when we fail to know them ourselves. Randy
Monday, May 19, 2014
Mom's Not Here
The other day Lee heard two little girls arguing in a bathroom. One said ... "Mom told me to tell you to wash your hands." The other little girl said "Mom's not here." These two beautiful and innocent little girls proceeded to discuss the subject of hand-washing with the compliant girl insisting that the other girl should wash her hands just because mama said so. The non-compliant girl is preparing to go out and lie to mom about the whole thing. It was a classic battle of how we, as people, think.
Aside from just not wanting to be told what to do (I have a little of this in me) and the compliant girl wondering why she is even bothering on this, what can we learn from this conversation? Maybe a couple of things. First, let's realize that the innocent, perfect little people we call children are naturally attuned to doing what might be called "sins against mama." I don't know how to say it except to say it direct ... kids seem to have a natural ability to lie, fib, blame others for their mistakes and generally be sneaky little folks. I have talked to many parents who had children they said would never lie about things ... they all were proven wrong and had to face the fact that kids lie (sorry parents). We, as parents, are around to make sure we tell them lying is wrong and be sure that enforced/consistent consequences follow bad behavior.
The second lesson is this. While mama might not have been there in the bathroom, mamas seem to know when we are being bad or doing wrong. And God was in that room watching those little girls sort out the hand-washing crisis. Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, messed up and God knew what had happened. God knew the centuries of consequences this meant for all of humanity. Yes, our nature is sin. Yes, sin has consequences. Yes, God sees us when we miss the mark. But there is a final yes ... yes, God has given us a way back to His presence through the atonement and forgiveness of Jesus. God sees us and loves us anyway. Randy
Aside from just not wanting to be told what to do (I have a little of this in me) and the compliant girl wondering why she is even bothering on this, what can we learn from this conversation? Maybe a couple of things. First, let's realize that the innocent, perfect little people we call children are naturally attuned to doing what might be called "sins against mama." I don't know how to say it except to say it direct ... kids seem to have a natural ability to lie, fib, blame others for their mistakes and generally be sneaky little folks. I have talked to many parents who had children they said would never lie about things ... they all were proven wrong and had to face the fact that kids lie (sorry parents). We, as parents, are around to make sure we tell them lying is wrong and be sure that enforced/consistent consequences follow bad behavior.
The second lesson is this. While mama might not have been there in the bathroom, mamas seem to know when we are being bad or doing wrong. And God was in that room watching those little girls sort out the hand-washing crisis. Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, messed up and God knew what had happened. God knew the centuries of consequences this meant for all of humanity. Yes, our nature is sin. Yes, sin has consequences. Yes, God sees us when we miss the mark. But there is a final yes ... yes, God has given us a way back to His presence through the atonement and forgiveness of Jesus. God sees us and loves us anyway. Randy
Monday, May 12, 2014
Good and Evil
Some seem to have difficulty with the concept of good and evil in this world. God, in Genesis, said (in creating the word and all in it) "It was very good." I believe that, but most days I need to be very intentional in accepting it. I see lots of things that make me say, "That isn't so good." Pain, poverty, disease, stress, war ... I could go on but you get the point. This world is far from perfect. What could God have possibly meant by this?
So I search and I read and I find a great book by C. S. Lewis in which he talks about how there is a battle between evil and good in the world. In "Screwtape Letters" Lewis tells the story of two tempters (devils) that are assigned to turn people toward evil. In Chapter 8 he describes the nature of the enemy of the demons. That enemy is God. It is a beautiful description of what Satan is trying to do and what God is trying to do. He says, "One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself-- creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because he has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in,, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."
Read this carefully. God draws us to Himself through the decisions and strife we face every day, giving us the chance to choose Him. He wants us to both be united to Him but remain the distinct and beautiful creations He has made us to be. It is not a perfection of action (the Pharisees had that market cornered). It is dancing in tune with God and one another through becoming the humble servants He desires us to be. And when that happens ... it is very good.
On Sunday when we sing congregational songs it is not to sing the songs in perfection of tune. It is the choir and the praise team lifting up the songs to God in a way that leads all to sing with passion and joy ... because we are all singing to one person ... God. This week, lets sing to God. Let's worry less about the perfection of matching the notes on the page and more about singing from our hearts in unison with God and our brothers and sisters. I'll bet it will be VERY good! Randy
So I search and I read and I find a great book by C. S. Lewis in which he talks about how there is a battle between evil and good in the world. In "Screwtape Letters" Lewis tells the story of two tempters (devils) that are assigned to turn people toward evil. In Chapter 8 he describes the nature of the enemy of the demons. That enemy is God. It is a beautiful description of what Satan is trying to do and what God is trying to do. He says, "One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself-- creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because he has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in,, He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct."
Read this carefully. God draws us to Himself through the decisions and strife we face every day, giving us the chance to choose Him. He wants us to both be united to Him but remain the distinct and beautiful creations He has made us to be. It is not a perfection of action (the Pharisees had that market cornered). It is dancing in tune with God and one another through becoming the humble servants He desires us to be. And when that happens ... it is very good.
On Sunday when we sing congregational songs it is not to sing the songs in perfection of tune. It is the choir and the praise team lifting up the songs to God in a way that leads all to sing with passion and joy ... because we are all singing to one person ... God. This week, lets sing to God. Let's worry less about the perfection of matching the notes on the page and more about singing from our hearts in unison with God and our brothers and sisters. I'll bet it will be VERY good! Randy
Monday, May 5, 2014
Mom Stories
I, like most of you, have mom stories. For some of us they can be wonderful and funny. For some of us they bring a more bittersweet taste and require us to understand that we have a God in heaven that can (and will) make up for any parental failings we have here in this life. God is always there for us.
One thought I had about mothers and Mother's Day, this weekend, is that our stories about our moms are stories we carry all of our lives. Fred Craddock writes about his mother's compassionate nature toward strangers. He would go down to the dinner table and a total stranger would be at the table eating dinner with them. Fred would ask the appropriate questions ... "Who is he?" ..."Why is he here?" ... or a statement ... "He is scary mama!" Fred said he seldom learned the name or any rational reason for the stranger's presence. His mother would simply say "He was hungry."
I think of all the times my mom and dad have been there for the needs of our family. I remember how they helped us when we moved from one place to another. I think about how my mom (who has a peculiar personality) has had us belly laughing with some statement or action that has defied the natural order of things. I am glad to know my mom will be in heaven with the saints, probably causing Jesus a sideways look as He asks, "Why did she say that?" And I am glad to imagine how, in spite of her oddities, mannerisms and quirks mom will be singing (a little off-tune) in the heavenly choir.
I say all this to remind you (and me) we are all a bubble off plumb. We all have things that are character issues we would rather keep hidden. But thank God, He sees all of those things and somehow loves us anyway. God's love isn't blind ... it is all seeing, all knowing, all understanding, and all-in to pursue our best outcome. Let's say yes to Him. And when we get to heaven, I will introduce you to my mom. Get ready to laugh ... she will do something funny! Randy
One thought I had about mothers and Mother's Day, this weekend, is that our stories about our moms are stories we carry all of our lives. Fred Craddock writes about his mother's compassionate nature toward strangers. He would go down to the dinner table and a total stranger would be at the table eating dinner with them. Fred would ask the appropriate questions ... "Who is he?" ..."Why is he here?" ... or a statement ... "He is scary mama!" Fred said he seldom learned the name or any rational reason for the stranger's presence. His mother would simply say "He was hungry."
I think of all the times my mom and dad have been there for the needs of our family. I remember how they helped us when we moved from one place to another. I think about how my mom (who has a peculiar personality) has had us belly laughing with some statement or action that has defied the natural order of things. I am glad to know my mom will be in heaven with the saints, probably causing Jesus a sideways look as He asks, "Why did she say that?" And I am glad to imagine how, in spite of her oddities, mannerisms and quirks mom will be singing (a little off-tune) in the heavenly choir.
I say all this to remind you (and me) we are all a bubble off plumb. We all have things that are character issues we would rather keep hidden. But thank God, He sees all of those things and somehow loves us anyway. God's love isn't blind ... it is all seeing, all knowing, all understanding, and all-in to pursue our best outcome. Let's say yes to Him. And when we get to heaven, I will introduce you to my mom. Get ready to laugh ... she will do something funny! Randy
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