A REFORMED DRUNK'S CALLING

Well, I've "unretired," or more accurately, I canceled my retirement before it would've been effective on June 30, 2013. I know that I frustrated a few people by changing my mind again and again as my retirement date grew nearer, and I regret that. I'm sorry about any unnecessary work I may have caused, but I am very pleased that my wife and I made the decision to stay! I'm also grateful that our leadership group at church (we call it a "Session") embraced my decision to stay as pastor and that I received enthusiastic affirmation from our church members. It was more difficult for me to retire than I anticipated because I truly love what I do. I love to teach. I love to preach, and I need to be a pastor because that is what I was meant to be. Indeed, as some of you know, being a pastor in Christ's church still blows my mind because I was the least likely person in the world to be blessed with such an honor. Many years ago now, I called a old friend from Des Moines, and after we exchanged a few pleasantries, Corky asked me what I was doing. I told him that I was a pastor and... he broke into uncontrollable laughter! He couldn't believe that I was a pastor, and I didn't blame him. I couldn't believe it either, and besides, even when Corky knew me, I was already drinking just to get drunk. Even as a young man I was barely in control of myself and things were to get much worse. Indeed, in the fall of 1976 I reached the end of my rope. I hit bottom. My drinking was killing me, but I felt it was more likely that I would go crazy first. I was an emotional wreck and totally unpredictable. At work, I was insufferably arrogant, and I was even worse at home. Filled with pride and fear, I worshiped myself, and I was always afraid of someone discovering that I was utterly empty inside. For years I had been spiraling downhill, and now-at the age of 30- I was done. It's not that I felt remorse or guilt, and I had no idea of what the word "sin" even meant. I wasn't striving to be reborn, or angling to make another deal at home. I was just empty. A nothing in a nowhere, as someone said. So,I entered a treatment center in Omaha and the healing began. I made progress, but it was painfully slow. Don Farrell told my wife that he was especially concerned for me because I was "too smart to accept simple things." He said that he had never met anyone who was too stupid to accept a simple 12-step program of recovery, but some unfortunate people were too smart. Their minds, emotions, and values were a tangled mess and they would never find the clarity to say simple things, like, "I need you," or "I love you," or "please help me." That's what he said, and he was certainly right about me. My mind was so confused that I couldn't find my heart, and this is one of the reasons I stayed longer than most of the others. While I was undergoing treatment, my wife (who didn't drive) would visit me whenever she could, dragging our two beautiful little girls in tow. We lived as far away from the treatment center as we possibly could have, and it was quite an effort on her part to support me with her visits. It was also a form of sacrificial love- the first that I had ever received- and I will be forever grateful for that. What I didn't know was that she had been praying for me with a pastor near our home, and the day came when he visited me in the treatment center- uninvited but equipped with James Kennedy's Evangelism Explosion material. Well, to make a long story shorter, Pastor Lu led me to Christ and ushered me into the church. Yes, I was "saved" in the most evangelical of ways, and I started to grow in my Christian walk. This was easy in some ways because I had so much growing to do. I was still full of my self much of the time, and while I never had the desire to drink again, I continued to say and do things that were inappropriate for a Christian. I was a flawed Christian, but I never gave up. In AA's terms, I "faked it until I made it" and eventually, Sherry and I left our "executive" home in Omaha for student housing in Hyde Park, thanks to the seminary's warm welcome and the steadfast love of our two daughters, Kelli and Kendra (to whom I still owe a debt). From Hyde Park, we moved to Joliet, then to Kalamazoo, then to Peoria, IL and finally to the Quad Cities, here on the Mississippi. I've loved the people wherever we've served and there have been people in each place who have loved me. The meetings-official and also those in the parking lot- have been a frustration all along, and I am sure that they will continue to be. However, they are such small thorns in my life that they are hardly worthy of mention. When you get right down to it, I've never forgotten Pastor Lu's life-changing visit. Nor will I ever forget it because his visit changed my life, Sherry's life, Kelli's life, Kendra's life, Brooke's life, Brittany's life, Archer's life, and perhaps even Donald's life forever. Maybe, in my own stumbling way, I have done the same thing for some family as pastor- who knows? Yes, praise God, I think I have. I am certain that God has used me to change more than one life, and I am not ready to give that up. When I first started in this vocation (or calling), people told me that I should NOT be a pastor if I could do anything else and still be happy. They were wise to say that, and I am wise enough to listen. Therefore, you can return the gifts you bought and do something else on June 29 because God is not through with me yet! I plan to give the people here at SPPC all that I have to offer for some time to come.

IN PRAISE OF OUR SOLDIERS, LOVED ONES AND LORD- A MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE

I walked through a county courthouse square. On a park bench, an old man was sittin’ there. I said, Your old flag pole in leaned a little bit, and that’s a ragged old flag you got sittin’ on it.” “Well,” he said, “I don’t like to brag, but we’re kinda proud of that ragged old flag. You see, we got a little hole in that flag there, when Washington took it across the Delaware, and it got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it, writing ‘Say Can You See.’ It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham and Jackson tugging at its seams. She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville, and she got cut again at Shiloh Hill. There was Robert E Lee and Beauregard and Bragg, and the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag. On Flanders Field in World War 1, she got a big hole from a Bertha gun. She turned blood red in World War 2. She hung limp, and low, a time or two. She was in Korea and Viet Nam. She went where she was sent by her Uncle Same. She waved from our ships upon the briny foam, and now they’ve about quit wavin’ back here at home. In her own good land, she’s been abused. She’s been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused. And she’s getting thread bare and she’s wearin’ thin, but she’s in good shape for the shape she’s in. So we raise her up every morning, and we bring her down slow every night. We don’t let her touch the ground, and we fold her up right. On 2nd thought, I do like to brag, cause I’m mighty proud of that ragged old flag.” Yes, it is Memorial Day, and at its core, Memorial Day is a day for us to pay tribute to those who have died in service to our country, and to our “ragged old flag” that Johnny Cash sang about. It is a day that invites, even urges, us to remember because there is honor and power in remembering. Friday, we held a graveside service at the Arsenal for William Holmberg, and I was struck again by the holiness of the place. We drove through the Veteran’s Cemetery, and as always, I was moved by the thousands of white crosses dotting the immaculate grounds. It was even more beautiful Friday because each resting place was decorated with an American flag and people were putting flower arrangements on their loved one’s grave. Bill had a military service and the honor guard joined us, and no matter how many times I see it, I’m always touched by the dignity with which they present the flag (in this case, to Barbara), and I experience deep gratitude when the honor guard fires their rifles. As a student of history, I am well aware of the sins of our fathers, but their vision was great and God-centered and they did what they had to do- and more- to keep our freedoms alive. Countless numbers of them died for policies they might not have agreed with and they sacrificed for people who may not have been grateful, but the cause of freedom and justice is far greater than any political party or agenda. Jesus said that there is no greater love than giving up one’s life for another, and we must never forget that freedom is very costly. So today, on this day which is partly for Veterans, partly for remembering all of those who have touched our lives, and partly for celebrating the start of summer with a 3 day, and in some cases, a 4-day weekend, I will pause to recognize my father and two uncles who saw combat in World War 2, and all of you who put country before self as well. Would you please stand is you are a veteran? The red in the American flag (as we just told the kids) symbolizes valor and sacrifice, white represents purity and innocence, and blue signifies perseverance and justice. I have already spoken in praise of this flag, but there is one flag in this sanctuary that is even greater. It waves in praise of our Lord, who gave up divinity to carry a cross for us. It waves in celebration of the Holy Spirit, who is the wind beneath our sails, and it invites us to worship our God, who created us and who is re-creating us even now. It is the freest flag on earth, owing allegiance to no man, or to any cause no matter how good. The first pledge to the Christian flag was written by a Methodist pastor, and I invite you to join me as we offer this pledge now. Repeat after me: I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Savior for whose kingdom it stands; one brotherhood uniting all mankind in service and love. Let’s do this once again, this time using a version that is often used in conservative churches. Repeat after me: I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands; one savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty for all who believe.” Remembering what God has done for us, remembering how God has blessed us, remembering the first time you trusted and surrendered to Him, remembering the times when the Holy Spirit has given you voice, or courage, or grace- friends, this is the source of your hope and your confidence. As I’m sure you know, the white on the Christian flag represents purity and grace; the blue square in the left corner stands for truth and faith; and the red symbolizes the atoning blood and love of Christ Jesus. Two flags- two tales of sacrifice and love. Remember these on Memorial Day tomorrow and for that matter, every day, because remembering is a source of great power. Kierkegaard noted that “the more a man remembers, the more divine he becomes,” and this makes sense to me because, in remembering, we touch wisdom and courage, vision and grace, that is greater than we have, or even the sum of the people we know have. There is greatness and strength in connecting to our collective and individual memories, which is one of the reasons that I am a big genealogy and history buff. It was no less a man than Lincoln who said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all of my life.” Isn’t it the truth? Aren’t our mothers’ prayers every bit as important to our direction in life- the roads we take and the things we stand for- as any book or study we may have in our hands? One of our forefathers noted that “America will cease to be great if she ceases to be good,” and that thought also makes a lot of sense to me because we can’t really leave our mark unless we remember who and whose we are. I don’t know much about Kate Perry, other than that she’s famous, but I did like this. When someone asked her about the tattoo she has on her wrist, she said, “I got this tattoo of Jesus put on my wrist when I was 18 so that it would always be part of me. Now, when I’m performing on stage, it stares right back at me, saying, “Remember where you came from.” I like that. I can’t think of much that I dislike more than tattoos, but I do know that we are easy prey if we forget who and whose we are and what we stand for. Knowing who we are is a wonderful gift and I hope that you will take time this weekend to thank those people in your life who have made you who you are today. Take a moment and list those who have encouraged you, taught you, maybe challenged you, and who have set you on the path you trod today. Who introduced you to Christ? Who led you to church? Who loved you with no strings attached? When you were up, whose hands were applauding you, and when you were down, whose hands were reaching for you? Who took the time to hear you when you needed to be heard, and who has walked with you when the terrain has gotten steep? If the people on your list have passed on, visit their graves, and if they are still alive, tell them how much you appreciate them. Tell them that they have given you moments that will live within you as long as you live. Remembering is a great source of power, and God has called us to “remember” from the beginning to the end of Scripture. When He liberated his people from slavery, He said, “This day shall be a day of remembrance for you” (Ex. 12.14) and as they began to consecrate their first-born to God, Moses said to the people, (Ex. 13.3), “Remember this day on which you came out of the house of slavery.” To the extent that they remembered the Lord’s steadfast love and saving acts, the Israelites had a much better chance of staying faithful, and it is the same for us as we gather here this morning. Whenever he grew weary, Martin Luther would repeat over and over again, “Baptimatus sum. I am baptized,” and in saying these words, he tapped into the source of his strength. On the road to Emmaus (Lk 24.27), Jesus challenged Cleopas and his friend to remember the words of Scripture concerning him, and (Lk 24.6) when Mary stood at the empty tomb sobbing, the angel urged her to remember what Jesus had said about rising on the 3rd day. Moreover, the Lord’s Supper itself is, in many ways, a sacrament of remembrance. Indeed, Billy Graham once said, “I’m going to heaven just like the thief on the cross, with the words, ‘Lord, remember me,’ on my lips.” For Christians, every Sunday is Memorial Day. Every Sunday is an opportunity for us to celebrate all that God has done for us. Every Sunday invites us to put our own interests aside and to gather to praise God for his love, which was most powerfully shown on Calvary’s Hill. Amen.

IN PRAISE OF DUCK DYNASTY

My wife is a fan of Katie Couric's show, and recently she told me that the "Duck Dynasty" family and the "Swamp People" family appeared on Katie's show at the same time. My wife found the show to be entertaining, and she was especially taken with the patriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" family, whom, she said, was really quite bright and engaging. Evidently, the "Duck Dynasty" family prays as a family before every meal. It is one of their central family values and by all accounts, millions of fans like their values. Evidently, their viewers like their values more than the producers of their show because, according to the man who seemed to be the family's spokesman, they were pressured to quit saying their family prayer before meals. The network producers said that their prayer, or their praying, might offend some people. The "Duck Dynasty" clan was encouraged to discontinue their family prayer in the hopes of improving their already incredible ratings... but the family leader said, "NO. No prayer- no show." The man's faith and conviction impressed my wife and it impresses me, but I want to pause and think about the request to stop praying in the first place. Scholars say that we are living in a "Post-Christian" age, and while I'm not sure that the evidence is entirely in, the little vignette described above lends some credibility to their argument. Why would someone believe that a family will offend potential viewers simply by praying, especially when the family's values are a big part of their appeal? Perhaps we are in an age where displays of faith are simply considered odd. After all, our malls are no longer open on Sundays, and school events are scheduled on the Sabbath throughout the land. As Christians, we are called to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests- which means that we should become increasingly obedient to Christ, on the one hand, and passionate mediators of God's grace, on the other. Biblically speaking, we are called to engage our society for Christ, even as we march to a different drummer that others do. The hope was that we Christians would show so much love to the world and set such a high standard for the world that people would be attracted to us. We are called to be a beacon for the cold and hungry, but also for all of those who are lost in a world that has no direction to give them. However, we've been losing our battle with society, and instead of showing others a new way, we are frantically trying to fit in with their ways so that we can be "relevant." But we aren't relevant. Not really. Not to the greater society. Stores and malls are open on Sundays, and communities no longer set aside Wednesday nights for church activities. As a matter of fact, Christian parents are pressured to treat the Sabbath like any other day. They can bring their kids to church or take them to a sports activity. One or the other, and our children learn early that church is an option when nothing else in going on. I read that 17-20% of our populace attend church on any given Sunday, and we know that attendance is down in all of the so-called mainline denominations, but it's really not a matter of numbers. It's a matter of influence. Instead of offering a more rewarding way of life, many churches try desperately to "fit in" with society. This hasn't worked because "fitting in" with society is the last thing that ought to be on our agenda. We are, of course, vitally important to our own members, many of whom have an unshakeable belief in the Resurrection Promise. We provide an extended family, we help them discover their Christian talents, we empower them to work for Christ, and we stand with them in the most sacred of moments. We make a huge difference for those who have answered God's call in their lives, but the world outside of our church walls doesn't care about our beliefs and our ways. They insist that we leave our Christian ideas at church, and therefore, we run the risk of appearing "odd" if we persist in acting like Christians in the public forum. One seldom sees people saying grace in restaurants these days, and when you do, it's almost quaint, like following an Amish buggy down the road. Thus, it's hard to blame a producer for worrying about the effects that a family prayer may have on viewership. If Christians themselves won't pray in public, why should someone else think that it's a great idea? It is, of course, a great idea! God-talk is absolutely integral to our relationship with God. Indeed, if I discovered that a child had not talked with his or her father for years, I would think that their relationship was broken. For Christians, prayer is essential, but the world doesn't understand that. They think we should keep our prayers to ourselves. As Christians, we know this, and so we do not pray in public. We are embarrassed. It's that simple. So, when the Duck Dynasty family prays, we are both a little bit envious and a little bit ill-at-ease. We would like to be more like them, but in a post-Christian age,praying around a dinner table is increasingly out of step with culture. I've known clergy and elders who did not pray in public, and many of those who did offer a brief prayer, found ways of "concealing" the fact that they were praying. Why? Because they found it to be awkward? Why" Because people outside the church may have found it to be odd. Why? Because we live in a post-Christian age. Amen.

GOD WILL SET YOU FREE

People are lost everywhere you look. They are desperate for love and opportunity, and some of them will go to any length to get attention. They confuse acquisitions with fulfillment and good times with real joy. People hurt in a hundred different ways, and they seek a hundred different remedies, just as I did for decades. In the end, at least for me, God was the answer, and I am writing this to encourage you to choose God yourself.

People are hurting in many ways. Some of them are victims of circumstance. The man is 57 and he's been fired. "Downsized" they say, but in his gut, he feels that he's been fired. The woman is 43 and she's knee-deep in a bad marriage. She hates to go home at night and often wonders why she didn't listen to her dad in the first place. The boy's 17 and he has few friends. He gets bullied and he wonders if it's worth it. He's sure that no one loves him, and he suspects that he is unlovable.  The girl is about the same age, and she is sure that she's too ugly to get a date. The businessman wears a thousand dollar suit to hide his cheap values and to conceal his emptiness. And then there's an old man. He's been treading water ever since he lost the love of his life. Oh, she's still breathing, but she hasn't known him in years and it breaks his heart! There are many other people who are enslaved  by their own secrets- domestic violence, sexual abuse, and perhaps, grave sins that they committed in the past. The brokenhearted, the "hopelost"- are legion- and we cry for them. They are not at fault, but they still need a healer.

Others are responsible themselves, at least in part, for being lost. They've fallen in love with one of the lesser gods who called their name. They've chased after the whores of money, power, pleasure. They run with all their might- on a treadmill to nowhere- and while they think they're climbing the ladder of success, they are actually going in circles. They are in love with things that can neither think nor feel, and we shake our heads when we think of them. Still others, of course, have fallen in the hands of a demon named addiction. They've lost their souls and they no longer see things as they really are. If they're lucky, the will hit bottom, and if they're really lucky, the impact will shatter their illusions and rearrange their value systems entirely. These people played a part in their own sicknesses, but they are also "hopelost," and they need a healer. In Biblical terms, people are "lost." They are alienated from their Creator, their neighbors, and their own best selves. They live with an emptiness that no amount of money can fill. They may have large corner lots and big corner offices. They may have a 1000 Facebook friends and several club memberships, but they fill incomplete... because God is not at the center of their lives. I know this because I've been there, and I've learned that God is the ONLY real source of transformation.

Even as Adam was created to be in relationship with God, Augustine noted that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. He came to this conclusion after he had tried to fill his life in many other ways, and I've had the same experience. After trying so hard to be loved for so long, knowing that I am known and loved anyway still blows my mind, and after carrying my sins for so many years, knowing that God has forgiven them gives me incredible joy. If you put God first in your life, you will still face challenges. You will still hear the tempting voices of the world, and you may even find yourself in counseling for the addictions, the secrets, and the pain that I mentioned earlier. But I can promise that you will never feel unloved and that your days of trying to be "good enough" will be over. What is more- if God is at the center of your life, you will find purpose and direction. For me- receiving God's grace was the key that unlocked the cage that I was living in. I hit bottom in 1976, and I hit with such a "thud" that it knocked some sense into me. For once, I listen when someone talked to me about God. I listened, I believed, and I accepted the new life that God offered to me. My emptiness was gone, and I saw things clearly for the first time in my life. If I found new life in Christ, anyone can... including you.

THY KINGDOM IS IN YOUR HANDS

When I was working as a rehabilitation counselor with the Iowa Commission for the Blind, my job included a variety of duties. My main responsibility was to find gainful employment for a caseload of clients, and as a rookie counselor, I drove clients to Iowa City for eye care.  One of my favorites was Tom Kazarek. Tom was a young man who with significant mental disabilities in addition to being legally blind. He lived in a group home and had never worked, but he really wanted a job. He wanted a job where he could get out into the world, do something worth doing, and earn a little money. He felt that he could do more than he was doing in his group home, and I agreed. So, I asked my friend, Phil Parks, to give Tom a job and Phil hired Tom as a dishwasher in his restaurant. Well, as it turned out, Tom loved the job, and Phil loved Tom. It was "win-win" in every way, and whenever Tom saw me in the cafe, he would wave and holler out, "Hi, Ken." (I didn't need my second 'n' in those days) and I would holler back, "Hi, Tom. How's it going?" "Oh fine," he'd say, "Everything is fine."

I bet the Kingdom of God is like that- like the thrill of being accepted for who you are, like the joy of having someone embrace your abilities rather than your disabilities? The unexpected joy of having someone open a door for you, or in discovering that, in a world filled with critics, you have a cheerleader? I'm sure that the Kingdom of God is like that. I believe that the Kingdom of God is filled with drop-givers and cheerleaders. When I close my eyes and imagine the Kingdom of God, I see a banquet hall where every single person eats his or her fill. I see a dais where there the least among us are sitting and I see a rainbow of people... who are beautiful in their differences. They are singing the same song in harmony without favor or discrimination, and I hear the joyful sounds of laughter. The place is filled with 2nd-chance people, like me, and they never quit expressing their gratitude and joy.

Oscar Wilde wrote of a beautiful prince who was an exquisite statue, looking down on the city with priceless sapphire eyes. Well, one night a small swallow landed wearily at the prince's feet and he noticed that the prince was crying. "There's a sick child over there," the prince said, "Begging his mother for food. Swallow, give this ruby to the woman to relieve her pain." The next morning the prince saw a young man, freeziing and hungry. "Take one of my eyes," he told the swallow, "to buy firewood and clothing." Then came the unemployed woman, the very old man, and many, many more. The prince kept giving and the swallow kept delivering until the prince was little more than a shell. In time, the prince rusted and the people tore the statue down, scrapping the prince's heart next to a dead sparrow. Looking down at the city, God told an angel to go to the earth and bring back the two most precious things he could find. Soon, the angel returned with a rusted metal heart and a smal dead bird. "You have chosen rightly,"God said. Rightly, in my view, because the Kingdom of God is filled with compassion and sacrificial service.

The Kingdom of God is far-away and hard to explain... but it is also very near and in our hands. The Kingdom of God shows itself whenever someone blesses us with an act of love and/or unconditional acceptance. Whenever we love someone simply because he or she is a child of God, or forgive someone because we know ourselves to be forgiven, or stand and applaud when someone else wins the price... the Kingdom is shining through. It has been 50 years now since I saw Tom Kazarek and Phil has been with God for decades. But there was a moment when the Kingdom of God broke through in the kitchen of a small diner. I suspect that you've also experienced the Kingdom in your own life, but if it's been awhile, take the time to say "hello" to someone who is sitting alone. Visit someone who doesn't see many visitors. Treat the poorest of people as if they are dressed up for a ball and the least important person you know, as if he or she is wearing a crown. Give your server a bigger tip than the rules dictate, Forgive someone whom you have refused to forgive, get to know someone whom you've been afraid to know because they're different from you. Do things like this... and the Kingdom of God will shine forth from you. Amen!

LEAVE THE TEA PARTY CHRISTIANS ALONE

Mishpat and sedeqah. These are ancient words, meaning justice and righteousness, respectively. Our world revolves around these poles, where misphat is being "just", and sedeqah is "doing the right thing." For example, the "good Samaritan" showed what God's justice required because he did the right thing for a man who had been beaten and left for dead. Likewise, merchants who keep their thumbs off the scales when they weigh produce are being just, but the growers who let the poor and vulnerable glean their fields are being righteous.

Mishpat and sedeqah. They stand alone. but they are invariably intertwined. For instance, as the prophet, Amos, first said, and the prophet, Martin Luther King, later reiterated: God's kingdom will have come to earth when "justice rolls down like a river and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." These words are placed prominently on the Civil Rights Memorial, and, like many others, I have always associated them with liberation and empowerment. Growing up in the sixties and knowing that God has a special place in his heart for those who need a helping hand, I eagerly associated being a faithful Christian with being a "liberal," as that word is defined in our time. Mishpat and sedeqah led me to support things like affirmative action, equal pay, and expansive welfare. It also led me to champion the cause of just about anyone who felt slighted, and in time, I was persuaded that being "liberal" and being "Christian" were more or less the same thing.

I assumed that the word "conservative" was just a smoke-screen for people who wanted to hold others down, and I was sure that they were erroneously separating mishpat from sedeqah. This was an outrage to me because, without mercy, justice would be hell. I still believe this- without mercy, justice will be hell for those of us who call ourselves Christians- but I have come to see that there are many good people who want to conserve the way things used to be. I still disagree with many (though not all) of their social and theological positions, but I no longer questions their motives. As "W" noted, there are compassionate conservatives, and I know and love many of them. I have a real respect for my conservative friends, and I some of them have been Christian mentors to me. I have gained a broader view of conservatives, but I confess- it is not broad enough to include Tea Party members, whose very presence alone would keep me from signing on. Based on the stereotypes I've formed, Tea Party members are likely to have no education and no teeth. They are apt to support positions that they don't know anything about, and they would probably show up at a rally just for a free beer. Based on the images I have framed in my mind, Tea Party members are just a step away from prison or the cuckoo's nest...

but they SHOULD NOT be singled out by the IRS, or any other government agency, just because they belong to a certain group or believe a certain way.

Such misuse of government power is extremely ominous because someone, someday, in some government agency, may be afraid of moderate Presbyterians. Or tall Lutherans. No, it is not mishpat to push people who are out of power around, even if they are irritating, and it is not sedeqah to do such things secretly,while denying them publicly. Justice and righteousness. They were guiding principles for Moses, and they were central to Christ's teachings. They were dear to our ancestors, and they were on the minds of the men and women who framed this great country.

As I write these words, I am not much interested in blaming someone for Benghazi and I'm not sure that anything really horrible took place between the Justice Department and the Associated Press. But I am concerned about the IRS' political actions. We need an accounting and those responsible need to be disciplined because we're all affected when government overreaches. I am concerned for myself and I am concerned for others-both liberal and conservative.

Mr. President, do whatever you have to do to convince us that this unjust and unrighteous practice has been stopped and, for God's sake, leave them Tea Party Christians alone.

pk

AN OPEN CARD TO MOM- SHE DID THE BEST SHE COULD

"Little things make life complete... little ways of being sweet. Little talks that help and cheer. Little actions that endear...." No, that doesn't fit. Too cheesy and besides, I can't remember all that many actions that endeared.

"Caring, thoughtful, warmhearted, kind. You make the world a better place..." No, that doesn't fit either. Mom has her qualities, no doubt, but she's not particularly thoughtful. Let me try another. "You're always so busy taking care of the family that you hardly have time to do something for yourself...."  No, I can't possibly give mom this one. It is transparently insincere. Even mom would be amused. "Mom, over the years I've watched as you laid the foundations of love and security for our entire family..." Wrong again. Our family foundation is laden with self-indulgence, people-pleasing, and a pervasive insecurity. We all know it. And mom does too.

Again this year, I will thumb through a score of Hallmark cards and set them all aside. Again this year, I will buy a blank card and write my own words.

Mother, the journey hasn't been easy for any of us, and over the years, I've come to see that you did the best you could. You've talked about enduring some awful moments as a child, and I know that you endured some awful moments as a wife. Often I wished that you would've taken me and my brothers under your wings and left dad for a more peaceful life. Anything had to be better than the life we were living, I was sure of it. But I know that those were the old days, that divorces were harder to come by, and that you had no employment skills, nor anyone to watch three growing boys. You were trapped, mom, by genes, temperament, circumstance, and choice, but you did the best you could. You fed us well, although no one else ever eats tongue, or heart, or brains. You played card games with us, and joined in our badminton and softball games as well. You were a big hit with my friends and they enjoyed our home until it was time for dad to arrive. In short, you really were a source of joy at times. There are a hundred different things I would like to rearrange if I could go back in  time somehow), and I know that you would too. I wish that you would have embraced my wife more enthusiastically because she wanted nothing more than to love me and to be welcomed into a loving family.

Now, as you live out your last years in a care center- blind in your wheelchair and often confused- my heart goes out to you. All that any of us can do is to give others as much love as we can on any given day. To do less would be uncaring- to do more would be impossible. Mother, you did the best you could and I will always love you.

Your son,

Ken

WHY I PREACH ABOUT MOTHERS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Sunday is Mother's Day, and I will once again preach about mothers, or mothers at their best, or at least about the power and beauty of a mother's love.

In many churches, sermons about secular holi-days (e.g. Father's Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day) are commonplace. They're expected. If it's Veteran's Day, members expect to see veterans stand up and receive the applause that is their due. If it's the 4th of July, they expect to sing patriotic songs, and if it's Mother's Day, many of them bring their mothers to church so that they can be recognized, if not honored, by their pastor's message and the music they hear. After the worship service, many families find their way to the best Mother's Day brunch they can afford. but before they get there, they want to hear how wonderful mothers can be. I knew this from the beginning, of course, but I resisted it. I wouldn't preach about mothers on Mother's Day... in part, because I had issues with Mother's Day myself... and in part, because our lectionary does not include passages for Mother's Day.  For instance, this Sunday's lectionary passages are from Acts 9, Psalm 23, John 10, and Revelation 7. They're wonderful passages, but they don't say a word about Mother's Day.

Given the number of special days we celebrate as a society (think of President's Day and Arbor Day), you can see that deviating from our lectionary too often would break down it's liturgical flow altogether. It's better, I thought, to stick to our own calendar. After all, the church chases the world in too many ways as it is, and what is more, many of us did NOT have good mothers. In fact, some of us had terrible mothers- drunkards who abandoned us, women who showed no interest in what we did or who we were, mothers who criticized us at every turn- and we don't want preachers telling us anything about a mother's love. Also, some of us have just lost wonderful mothers, and our pain is great. It's bad enough that we have to sit in church with all of the mothers who have joined their families- we certainly don't need to hear about how great it would be if we had a mother with us as well. In short, if mothers are too be celebrated, it should be done by their families, with a little help from Hallmark, candy stores, flower shops, and the aforementioned buffets.

That's what I thought when I started preaching. But it didn't take me long to discover that the people in our pews didn't agree with me! For many of them, a mother's love- at least at its best- was as close to an unconditional love as they'd ever known. Mothers were as sensitive, as forgiving, and as sacrificial as Jesus was- or at least they could be- and they didn't want to hear any other message on Mother's Day. Notwithstanding all of the reasons why I should stay the lectionary course, I found that, for me at least, ignoring Mother's Day was sort of like pulling the mask off of the Lone Ranger or spitting into the wind. It simply didn't work. So, I worked through my own painful memories-finally deciding that my mother did the best she could- and I began to preach about a mother's love on Mother's Day. Every now and then, someone will tell me that Mother's Day is not on the church calendar...but most of the others don't care. And if you asked the conservative Christians that I've been blessed to serve here in the Midwest, they would tell you that any fool would know that Mother's Day is most definitely a "holi-day."

Shalom,

pk

Sermon on "God's New Thing" at SPPC

WINDS OF CHANGE AND OPPORTUNITY

ISAIAH 43:18-28

Our lectionary passages this morning concern radical change, perhaps none more radical that Peter's vision in the 11th chapter of Acts. Most of us don't give much thought to what we eat and, if we do, our concern is more with calories than holiness. We don't consider food groups to  be "clean" or "unclean," but Simon Peter did. In fact, what he put into his mouth was an integral sign of his faith, and it had been so since the Holiness Codes were written (see Lev. 20:25)  For more than a 1000 years, Jews had been defined (in part) by what they ate, and so the new thing that Peter saw was mind-blowing! While it is still true that we honor God in the choices we make, we know that it is what's on the inside that makes us holy.  On the other hand, God's new commandment- that we love one another as he has loved us- is also extremely radical. It is so radical in fact that it is yet to be achieved! Either one of these passages is rich for any preacher, but as I near retirement, I am increasingly aware of the new thing that God is doing or trying to do) in our midst, right here at SPPC.  Therefore, the Scripture that undergirds my message today comes from the 43 chapter of Isaiah. It concerns the new thing that God is doing for a people who have lost most of their hope, and I think it is fits us well because we have lived through some hard times, and more importantly, because God is doing a new thing, right now, right here, at SPPC! In fact, He's doing several new things- things that will give us a future if we make them our own.

Someone asked me what I thought would happen to this church when I leave, and I said, "It's up to you." There is a little story about a student of philosophy who wanted to show his master that he was ready to graduate. So he approached him and told him that he had a small bird in his cupped hands. Master, he asked, Is this bird dead or alive? He was amused at his own cleverness because his teacher couldn't win. If his master said that the bird was alive, he'd crush it, and if he said it was dead, he would open his hands and let it go free. "Well," he asked, "Is this bird dead or alive," and his master replied, "The answer lies in your hands. It's up to you." Yes, whether SPPC dies or thrives is in your hands. It's up to you, and depends on whether you see and respond to the new thing God is trying to do in your midst.

 If you continue to insist on Biblical preaching, if you continue to expand your emphasis on Bible studies, if you continue to put spiritual growth ahead of numerical growth (without sacrificing the latter), if you really welcome new members, if you find ways of empowering new members, if you personally invite or even take them to church events, if you make sure that new voices are heard, if you help every member find and use his or her spiritual gifts, if you help people see that stewardship is an act of love and not a campaign, an if you find aat least one thing that defines SPPC, I suspect that "the bird will live." However, if you reduce your emphasis on the Bible as the source of preaching and teaching, if you let visitors fend for themselves; if you insist that new members serve their time before they speak, if you put memories ahead of dreams, if you ask very little from one another, if you find that you are not even sure why you're coming to church, and if you distrust pastoral leadership, then I can't promise you a "rose garden."

Friends, Isaiah 43 focuses on the new thing that God is doing in His people's midst, and the prophet asks them if they perceive it. God is doing a new thing, do you not perceive it? That is the essence of Isaiah's message at this place in his prophecy, but his words are quite relevant for us today. They shout to us: "God is (trying to do) a new thing at SPPC, do you not perceive it?" Dear saints, I am convinced that God is trying to kick down our doors and throw open our windows so that the winds of change and opportunity can carry us to new heights. Do you not perceive it? This morning we baptized Emmet Michael Seaver. He will be 1 year old tomorrow and today we welcomed him into the family of God. What is more, we baptized Teisha and Scott's three children a few weeks ago, and in the next few weeks- before I leave- we will baptize the kids who belong to the greater Gordon family. How long has it been since we've experienced so many baptisms, and I didn't even mention Steven Johnson, who is only a "kid at heart." Today, I can announce that we are going to add a Sunday School class next fall and, yes, I said "add." Can you say "amen"?

Friends, God is doing a new thing, right here at SPPC. Do you perceive it? A year ago we had no women's group, other than our Presbyterian circles, but now we have a strong women's koinonia group, and Debonie tells us that she is working to form yet another women's group, consisting of even younger women. God is doing a new thing, right here at SPPC. Can you perceive it? Two weeks ago our "Girlfriend's Cafe" met for the first time.... and we had more that 20 girlfriends show up.  They had a great time, and their laughter disturbed our Finance Committee, which was meeting one floor up and in a different corner of our building. The girls at the Girlfriend's Cafe carried on in a most unPresbyterian way, but I applaud the fresh winds of the Spirit that were blowing through their group. O yes, God is doing a new thing in our midst, and it's not just the women. Deryl Miller has created, nurtured, and is now teaching youth and adults throughout the greater QC area to read and do math, and he is doing it for free! Likewise, our Men's Club is growing closer together in Christ, and it, too, is less than one year old.

Friends,  God is working in our midst. He is trying to bless us with a new thing. But the answer is up to us. Since we're free to be obedient or disobedient, visionary or myopic, we can accept or reject God's blessings. We can 1)resist God's new thing; 2) ignore it until it goes away; or 3) embrace it and make it our own! There are a very few who will work to undermine God's new thing, fearing that they will lose power if they don't. Every church has such people, but most new things- even God's new things- die because of apathy. Many church members, not caring much one way or the other, and not wanting to hurt someone else's feelings, will simply ignore the new thing that is trying to happen. They will not support it. They will not attend it, or invite anyone else to experience it, and in time, the new thing will die for lack of oxygen. This could happen to us, but it doesn't have to happen. Pray that the winds of opportunity will prevail, and more than that, do whatever you have to do to see that they will! Friends, God is offering us a new thing, and we don't have to say "no." Instead, we can claim it,  nurture it, shout about it, and make it our own.  

We can open our doors and throw open our windows and allow the winds of change to transform us, and in part, we can do this by re-envisioning how we are doing things. For instance, God continues to bless us with a steady flow of visitors. We had several last week alone, but the question is this: are we prepared for this blessing? Are we making the most of this opportunity by redoubling our efforts to welcome visitors?  In addition to visitors, God is blessing us with new members. Indeed, it is those who have joined SPPC in the past three years who have given us the desire to embrace God's new thing in our midst. Many new members are leading and starting new ministries even now, and it is my prayer that you will increase your efforts to involve them in our church ministries. I've already mentioned the wondrous changes that God is bringing to our Sunday Schools and our nursery, but the question remains: are we doing whatever we have to do to make this blessing our own?  Are we identifying and equipping teachers? Are we rethinking VBS and other ministries to children? Have we vowed to provide child care to every church gathering that has even the remotest chance of having children present? Do we perceive this new thing, or will we simply wait until the winds of change die down?

 Friends, our neighborhood- the College Hill Neighborhood- is working hard to remake itself, and we are part of this neighborhood!  We have two new restaurants within a block of this building and several  other new businesses are dotting 30th street. The city of Rock Island has been encouraging, and when we saw the hundreds of children filling our neighborhood streets for the Halloween event last year, we couldn't help but be excited about the new thing that God is doing in our area. Will we resist this change, ignore it, or work hard to bring it about? The answer is in your hands! We are much better off financially than we've been anytime in the last several years, and this too, is a new thing. Should we use our financial resources to get into the investment business, or should we replace that rusty and outdated sign on the corner of our lot- the one that has letters too small to read? Our neighborhood is ripe with evangelical opportunities, and NOW is the time to reach out to our neighbors. We have seen more of them in recent months, and this is one of God's new things. Are we opening our doors to those who walk and drive by them every day?

Well, I suppose I could cite a dozen more new things that God is doing for SPPC, but you get the point. God wants to bless this old Presbyterian Church and He is trying to do a new thing in our community. The Spirit of change and hope is blowing freely all around us. So, I ask one final time: do you perceive it? May we quit letting the past define us. Can we pledge to quit telling "old war" stories? Can we agree to be a people of the now? If your Session will always ask, "What new thing is God doing in our midst?" and if they never allow anyone to say, "We've never done it that way before," your chances of being a church with a future will be greatly enhanced. Please seek leaders who open windows to the winds of changes. Insist that your leaders cast more visions than memories. God is doing a new thing right here in this old church. Do you not perceive it?++++