THE END ALWAYS COMES

If I had my life to live over, I'd make more mistakes;
I'd relax. I'd take fewer things seriously and take more chances.
I'd have more actual problems... and fewer imaginary ones.
Oh, I've had my moments, but I could do it all over again...
I'd have more of them.
If I had it to do again, I'd travel lighter than I have.  (Nadine Stair)

I've seen a dozen of these lists, and I'm sure you have too, but they do make an important point:
                    life is a fleeting & rich gift that must be embraced to its fullest... because the      
                    door always closes.

If I had my life to live over, I'd invite friends in.... when the house was dirty.
I'd burn the sculpted candle before it melted in storage;
I'd play with the kids on the lawn... and not worry about grass stains;
If I had another shot, I'd seize every moment. I'd look at it, embrace it, and never give it back...
                  because the door always closes,

Life is fleeting- you know it's true- and the choices we make
                  make all the difference in the world.
Being 40 is midsummer for many of us- it's 1/2 way home- and
                  for those of us who are baby boomers, it's already fall, even winter-and
                  the importance of our choices is getting clearer and clearer.

I've discovered- I know you have too- that life turns on a single choice.
What if I would've accepted a job offer in Wayne, Nebraska, or
                  pursued a job opportunity with a grocery chain in Salt Lake City, or
                  chosen Christ much earlier in my life, or not at all, or
                  said "no" to the things I said "yes" too?
I wonder, but I will never really know;
                  however, I do know this: your life quality (and quantity) depend on your choices
                                 because the door always closes.

Have you seen H. Jackson Browne's Suggestions for Success that appear on posters?
They deal with choices that bring us joy.
                 1)  Marry the right person;
                 2)  Work at something you enjoy and that helps the world;
                 3)  Choose to give... and give cheerfully;
                 4)  Choose to be forgiving;
                 5)  Choose to be loyal;, he
                 6)  Choose to be decisive;
                 7)  Choose to take responsibility;
                 8)  Choose to take care of those you love; and let me add....

                 9)  CHOOSE GOD, CHOOSE GOD.

Choose God, as Joshua did,
Choose God instead of yourself and your life will be complete.

Ever since Toeffler wrote "Future Shock," we have known that choices would one day overwhelm us,
and that day has come. Whether we're considering toothpaste, shampoo, TV stations, fast food places, or ice cream flavors, the choices we have today are staggering. We have so many choices that we are sometimes so confused that we don't choose any. Most of our choices are inconsequential, but, and this is important... I am convinced that we will be blessed if we choose the right partner, the right vocation, and God. These three choices are absolutely critical and choosing God is a must.

Choose this day, Joshua shouted, which God or (god) you will serve-
the Living God whom we worship in Christ... or a god of your own making,
                  like money, pleasure, power, or work?
Choose this day, he cried, but as for me and my family, he said,
                  WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

Choose God while he is near... because the door always closes.
Whether we're talking about the rapture, or our daily encounters with Christ, or
                  the daily opportunities that God gives us- they never come again...
                                  and the door always closes.  
The phone rings- someone's died.
There's a pink slip on your desk. 
The dance ends and you never asked her to dance.
You were going to forgive someone, start something great, do business with God...
                  but the door slammed shut!

Friends, tomorrow never comes.
One moment, when you least expect it,
                  God will barge into your life, and whisper your name.
He may have a question, he may have work for you to do, he may call you home.
We never know, but... if we choose God
                  we will live joyously and fearlessly in Christ!    



-
THE

THE POWER OF PRAYER

"Teach us to pray," they asked, and he did. Pray as a people, he said, who know that God is OUR Father, and not yours exclusively. Pray, he said, knowing that your prayers may commit you to action. Never profane your Father's name, he warned, and acknowledge that God provides all good things. We know this prayer as the "Lord's Prayer," but there other prayers, aren't there? There are drive-around prayers, down-on-your-knees prayers, specific prayers, and general prayers. There are prayers, such as St. Francis' prayer, that call for the best within us. There are popular prayers like the prayer of Jabez, the Serenity Prayer, and Biblical prayers (eg. I believe, help my unbelief).

There are a lot of prayers, and even more opinions about prayers. So let's talk about prayer for a moment. Some people have trouble believing in prayer because it doesn't fit their preconceived notion of God, or what God may or may not deem important. One man noted that he just couldn't bring himself to believe in a God who, on the hand, created all that is, and on the other hand, cares whether he gets a pay raise or not. People like this have already decided that their concerns and needs are too small for God, and in doing so, they close the door to a meaningful relationship with their Lord. Other people see prayer as a means of getting what they want for themselves. They make little or know effort to get fit spiritually, but if the chips are down, they may offer up a plea to a God, often expecting God to prove that prayer is worth their time. There are also Christians who simply don't develop the discipline of prayer.  They underestimate its importance and starve their spirits. There are such unfortunates... but let us vow NOT to be one of them. Let us agree to be a praying church. Indeed, let us build our ministry around prayer because prayer is our MOST powerful spiritual tool.

Prayer is the quintessential mark of a Christian. It is the most visible sign of faith- and with this in mind, I would like to issue a challenge to all of us, including this pastor, and the challenge is this: let's- each and every one of us- double our prayer life. Let's double our prayer life and experience the transforming power of God! I'm certain that our church will be blessed if each one of us doubled his or her prayer life. If those of us who've been praying once a week (and some of us are not praying that frequently) would pray twice a week; if those of us who've been praying once a day would pray twice a day; and if those of us who have been praying 30 minutes a week would commit to pray 60 minutes a week... our church would be radically altered. We would give more time and talent, study God's word more intently, and invite others to church more frequently. If we increase our prayer life, we will grow spiritually, we will grow numerically, and we will grow as a Christian family. It is a spiritual axiom that prayer deepens a person's relationship with God and strengthens his or her commitment to Christ.

Prayer works. So let's pray. Let's pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us. Let's pray, not to get what we want from God, but to intercede for others and to seek God's leading and support for our journey. Let's pray. not for specific things, but for specific people and for specific ways of serving Christ. Let's pray because we love and trust God, and let's continue to pray whether God's answer is "yes," or "no," because praying is its own reward. Over the years I have had more "no" answers to prayer than I can count, but I have actually increased my commitment to prayer over time because prayer is NOT about me getting what I want. I prayed that my brother, Randy, would live and then conducted his funeral. I prayed that my brother, Larry, would live and conducted his funeral. I have conducted well over 100 funerals as a pastor, and many of them were people I knew and loved... and prayed for.  God has also answered my prayers- some really important ones- but either way, I keep praying because prayer is about my love for God and my trust in Him.

So I pray, but I ought to pray more- much more. We all do, but some of you may be asking, "Why should I pray?" If I don't need anything, or if God has already determined the course of things, why should I pray? Well, since I have laid down a challenge to pray more, let me tell you why I pray. There are countless reasons to pray, but...

1.    I pray because Jesus did. It comforted and strengthened him and he is my Lord.
2.    I pray because I want to talk with God. Whoever heard of not talking to someone you love?
3.    I pray because I need to. Most of the things I encounter are too much for me and, like Lincoln,
       I am driven to me knees because I have no place else to turn.
4.    I pray because I believe that God hears, cares, and responds. He is my Father. He died on a
       cross for me and he has equipped me for service. I am part of his family and I know he cares.
5.    I pray because it makes me a better Christian. When I pray I draw closer to God and to the 
       people for whom I am praying.
6.    I pray for direction and discernment. Prayer is a dialogue and I receive answers from God...
       if I stop talking and listen.
7.    I pray because it works. Faith claims this and experience validates it... but for the scientists
       among you, let me assure you that there is empirical evidence as well.

Friends, if we commit to prayer, many doors will open up for us. I am sure of it.

Shalom,

JESUS, WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME?

When I fired our Store Manager in Topeka,  I wondered if I'd done the right thing, but the company President told me that I had done Keith a favor. He said that people who were "in over their heads" were unhappy. And I believed him. I wanted to believe that I was a liberator and not a terminator, but even then, firing a good man without notice seemed unnecessary and yes, unchristian. Back then, I was very good at putting myself first and pretty good at turning a deaf ear to any cries for justice I might have heard, but I was a new Christian and Jesus was tormenting me. I'd spent a lifetime hiding in barrooms, board rooms, and backrooms, and Jesus was calling me out... as the naked and frightened person I was. He wanted to know me so that he could drive out the demons of self and sin that were driving me mad. For the first time in my life, I could hear his voice calling to me, but there was a voice within me that cried louder, "Jesus, what have you to do with me!" There had been occasional moments when I put the right thing ahead of the expedient thing. For instance, I hired a one-armed man as a stock clerk in Memphis, and when my boss saw him, he told me to fire him. "No," I said, "He's doing a fine job and I will not fire him." I amazed myself, standing up for "a little guy," but moments like that were few and far between. Almost always, I was chained to myself and my fears, and I wasn't sure what my future would be if I gave in to Christ.

Over the years I've given money to virtually every street person who asked, sometimes going out of my way to do it. This habit has amused and irritated some of my friends, who are quick to point out that I am being "taken advantage of," but they can all rest easy because I already know that. I've heard just about every version of the "out of gas" story that there is, and I've seen the same faces again and again. However, an inner voice always reminded me that I was a beggar too, and I knew it to be true. I knew, long before I accepted Christ that, if I ever met God, it would be with my hands out, begging for a little mercy. To me, the Biblical story of the naked demoniac is a story of desperation and begging. It's a story about hiding and being found. It's about Jesus interfering in our worlds, whether we're chained to tombstones, or comfortable owners of  herds of swine. Jesus- the real Jesus- is disruptive. He insists on remaking us and most of us are afraid of that. As a dashboard figure, Jesus is harmless, but if you're chained to a tombstone somewhere, or running naked in some graveyard, or for that matter, making a living as a pig herder, Jesus can be an unwelcome intruder. However, and this is important, we will never be healed unless we are known! We can never begin again unless we are known. So when Jesus calls, run to him. Naked and wounded, crazy and fearful, run to him. Let him drive your demons into the brink because He is the only chance you have.

Jesus can be a tormenter! It's not just the demoniacs, the fat cats, the drunks, or the self-righteous who resist Jesus. He calls each one of us to come to him, so that we can be known, and many of us are too proud to do that. Like Nicodemus, we come in the night. Like Peter, we deny the very thing that Jesus is asking us to do. It's challenging to follow a man who is carrying a cross, and besides, many of us simply don't want to give up our sins. We would rather be chained to something we know than freed to follow someone who is inviting us to "die to self," The demoniac is me, and dare I say it, he is also you because we are all chained to something that ties us down. We are all afraid to  come forth and be known because being exposed for what we are- limited creatures in need of grace- is tormenting. Yet, this is how our Christian journey begins- by surrendering and trusting. Being known is a step of faith, and it is the first step toward discipleship. I read of a theology teacher who was asked by one of his students, "Sir, have you been saved?" To which the teacher responded, "From what? Saved from what?" "In fact," he added, "Let that question be your homework assignment. Bring an answer to class tomorrow- from what are we saved?" Well, that's easy enough- I've been saved from my love affair with alcohol... the past... the nagging notion that I'm not good enough... my obsession with self... my base instincts to run or fight... my desire to drag my neighbor down and ignore the stranger... the grips of a demon... from death and the fear of it. I've been saved from all of this and more, by Christ, and I was saved by being known, repenting, and trusting.

Friends, Christ is a liberator! Won't you come out of hiding today? Won't you come out from behind your desks, your hymnals, your gated communities, your graveyards, and overcome the voice that cries out, "O Jesus, what do you have to do with me?" Friends, Jesus is a Liberator, an Inviter, a Challenger. "Come," he says, "Follow me." "Who touched me?" he cried. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.  "Pick up your cross," he demands, and something within us cries out, "O Jesus what have you to do with me?" It's the question of a lifetime. It's a question that demands an answer. It's a personal question. Go to him now, naked and wounded, confused and embattled, fearful and hopeful. Go to him and get free. Stand before him and be known. I'm still sorry I fired Keith, still glad that I give to bums, and now and then, when one-armed stock clerks cross my mind. I smile at how God works in the strangest ways. Amen.

HEAVEN ON MY TERMS

People often ask me about heaven. Will my grandpa and grandma be there? Will they be the same age- will they like the same things they like(d) on earth? How about my little poodle, "Itty Bit"?  Will my pets and my friends be in heaven?  From time to time, I am asked these questions and generally I answer, "I don't know." I don't have a definitive answer to most of these questions because heaven is something that still awaits me. In his great vision (Rev. 21), John saw streets of gold and pearly gates, but there is no mention of what our relationships with one another and "daily" life will be like in heaven. It will be a new thing for those of us on earth. I look forward to it with all my heart, but I don't have answers to many of the questions I receive. I have opinions, but they're only opinions. I know many, many people who expect to live with their spouse when they get to heaven, but I also know people who would consider such a reunion to be "hell."  Indeed, apart from God's grace, I don't even know if those who are asking me about heaven will actually get to heaven!

People wonder about heaven. My son died when he was just 3, grandpa lived to be 103- will the one be forever a toddler and the other forever old? Will there be diapers in heaven? Baseball? Lawyers? My brother's always been fat- will he be obese in heaven? I don't know, I don't know... but I do know that the river of life runs through heaven, and I know that the communion we share in church is just a foretaste of the banquet we will share, face-to-face, with our Lord and our God. I don't know what will be served, but I do know that the least will be first. I don't know who will be in heaven and who won't be, but I do know that heaven will be filled with forgiven sinners- some of whom gave their life for Christ and some of whom cried out, "Remember me," with their dying breath. I don't what we will do in heaven, but I pray that heaven won't involve any committee meetings. I don't know whether heaven will be filled with traditional or contemporary Christian music, but I do know that heaven will be a place of worship and response. I also know that, in heaven, we will finally be free of self and able, at last, to love God with all of our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. Heaven will be a place of humility. Every knee will bow to Christ and every tongue will confess Him as Lord. I don't know whose names will be written in the Book of Life, but I know that heaven will be filled with people who lived lives marked by the fruit of the Spirit. I also know that everyone in heaven will be childlike, and that heaven will be a place without hospitals, or prisons, or graveyards. There will be no violence, no betrayal, no manipulation, no scorecards; nor will there be any Alzheimer's, or cancer, or addiction, not even any knee replacements in heaven.

Heaven is NOT a place where we will relive our pasts. It is not retro. Heaven is not like, let's say, Des Moines in 1958, nor is it a less troubled version of the world we would like to live in. Heaven is not America without the Clinton's or the Bush's (you choose), nor is it a world with or without political correctness. It is a place of unimaginable and unfettered joy. Many songs have been written about finding heaven in a lover's arms or in a certain way of life. "If heaven ain't a lot like Dixie," Hank Williams Jr. sings, "I don't wanna go. If they don't have a Grand Ole Opry like they do in Tennessee, just send me to hell or NY City, it would be 'bout the same to me." Many of us are just like Hank. If heaven ain't a lot like Iowa, or Texas; if gramma's apple pie isn't on the menu; if things are just as I want them, then I'd just as soon stay home.  These thoughts are borne more from ignorance than arrogance. Since we can't imagine the greatness of heaven, our vision is limited by our memories, our fears, and our wishes. We put heaven into a box that is limited by our ignorance, and we continue to ask: will there be love in heaven? Will there be relationships? Of course, but they will not be dependent on appearances, or sex, or politics, or mutual gain. Instead, they will be entirely anchored in Christ, and as such they will transcend anything we can imagine.

If a woman has 7 husbands, they asked Jesus, which one will she be married to in heaven? The Sadducees asked this question just to be difficult. They didn't believe in heaven and they wanted to discredit this new rabbi who was threatening their cozy relationship with Rome. However, Jesus could handle a debate, and besides, He knew the truth of it- that heaven's joy transcends anything we've ever seen- even the best of it- and that all of the blessings we cherish in marriage... are interwoven into the very fiber of heaven. There's a story of a zoo in which a lion and a lamb are often found, lying together in the same cage. "Amazing," a visitor exclaimed, "How do you do it"? "It's simple," the Zookeeper replied, "I just put a new lamb in the cage each morning." This is the essence of our problem. We can't envision the love, and joy, and peace that exists in heaven... because a new lamb is as good as it gets down here. Friends, God is doing a new thing- something so new it cannot be conceived. Only anticipated in faith. Experienced only by the saved. The surprising news is that, in heaven, there is no need for marriage. The good news is that, in heaven, we are already married... to the Lamb. Amen.

DOES BELIEF MATTER?

There are two sayings that drive me crazy. One is that "perception is everything," and the other is that "what you believe doesn't matter just as long as you believe something." To me, these phrases capture our current fascination with the superficial and the politically correct. I will eventually say something about both of them, but today I will try to make the case that what we believe DOES matter. I first heard the phrase back in Omaha. It was in the late 70s- maybe the early 80s- and I had just joined the Reformed Church in America. I met a friend from AA, as I often did, for lunch, and as we were enjoying our meal, my friend said "it didn't matter what you believe just as long as you believe something." For some time now, I have considered this statement to be one of the silliest statements I've ever heard, but at the time, it sounded sort of profound. It sounded inclusive, tolerant, and non-judgmental. Good qualities no doubt, but shouldn't it matter what one believes? Indeed, how can it not matter? If I'm a devout Christian, I am a person who has chosen to "die to self" (to use Bonhoeffer's phrase) and live for Christ. Since I believe that Christ will enable me to live a full life, I can make this decision, but it would've seemed ridiculous before I believed. In fact, being a Christian DID seem foolish to me and so, I sought meaning and purpose in a variety of other ways. Why would I "turn my life over" to someone or something I didn't believe in? I wouldn't, and neither would anyone else because an important choice is always based on belief (getting married, having a child, relocating for a job or a lover).

Before he departed, Joshua told the Israelites to choose whom they would follow. If they chose to follow Yahweh, they needed to be serious about the laws He had established. On the other hand, if they chose to follow Baal (or any one of the lesser gods), then they should worship the idol they chose with every fiber of their being. Jesus himself noted that we cannot serve both God and money (or power, or work, or sexual pleasure) and He urged his would-be disciples to "measure the costs" of serving Him. Doesn't the very notion of making a choice indicate that belief matters? How can we say that it doesn't matter if I believe in playing fair and you believe in winning at all costs? If I believe that each one of us is endowed with the image of God, I am likely to treat others with the greatest respect. If I believe that we're all connected to one another, my chances of reaching out to, or looking after, my neighbor is greatly enhanced. If I believe that my glass is half-full, I will redouble my efforts to fill it entirely, and if I believe that God hears me when I pray and actually cares about what I have to say, I am likely to pray far more frequently than someone who doesn't believe that God cares. It seems obvious that what we believe will motivate us... or deflate us, give us peace... or bring us into conflict, encourage to trust in what we own... or what we give away. I'm not an expert on world religions, but I do know that a devout Buddhist believes in Karma and is committed to the eight-fold path as a way of life.  There is a lot to be said for both cause-and-effect and a disciplined way of living, but a good Buddhist is not a good Christian. The same thing can be said about a devout Jew, or a devout Hindu, or a devout Atheist, for that matter. What we believe, especially if we REALLY believe, creates its own particular set of choices, values, and behaviors. If I believe that money will make me happy, I will do whatever I have to do to get it, and if I trust in money for future security, I will go to any length to hang on to it... because belief matters.

In fact, the more fervently you believe, the more it matters. Perhaps my friend was just being kind when he said that it doesn't matter what one believes, or perhaps, he simply didn't believe in anything passionately, or much at all. When we don't believe in anything ourselves, then- to us at least- every belief is pretty much the same. Those who don't believe in anything passionately can say that beliefs are all "spokes on the same wheel." But that's just the rambling of someone who hasn't made a choice yet. In truth, as the poet laureate of my era (Bob Dylan) noted, "you gotta' serve somebody," and the somebody you serve may lead you to heights you never dreamed of, or drag you to the depths of hell. Whom (or what) you choose to worship may fill you entirely, or it may leave you completely empty. Your god may give you a sense of peace or put you on an emotional and spiritual roller coaster. There are many beliefs to choose from. You can say that. You can make a list, comparing what each one asks from you for the promises given. You can champion any choice you choose, but you cannot say that all beliefs are the same. It is an insult to each of them when you say that what you believe doesn't matter.

A FATHER'S DAY MESSAGE

“A good father should be… sober, decent, supportive, patient, authoritative, respectful, playful, fair, affectionate, exemplary, engaged, and present.” Can I hear an “amen”?  According to an article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune a few years ago, good fathers are:

1.       Sober (because being drunk is never helpful);

2.       Decent (controlled and clean in word and deed);

3.       Supportive (in a world filled with critics, we all need cheerleaders);

4.       Patient (a prerequisite for any intimate relationship);

5.       Authoritative (fathers should stand for something);

6.       Respectful (as the Bible says, fathers should not provoke their kids to anger);

7.       Playful (whimsical, childlike);

8.       Fair (even-handed and unbiased);

9.       Affectionate (which means “showing” love in word and deed)

10.   Exemplary (being a “role model” for the kids);

11.   Engaged (being attentive to and involved in children’s lives);

12.   Present (showing up- “being there” is a huge gift to children).

The parenthetical comments are mine, but we can all agree that these 12 character traits are necessary standards for fathers. It is hard to imagine a good father who is never home or who doesn’t show any interest in either affirming or disciplining his children. These behaviors are necessary for fathers and they are affirmed in the word of God. For instance, the familiar words of Psalm 23 (and a host of other passages) assure of that God is present at all times in our lives. In fact, as Jonah learned, even if we try, we cannot escape God’s presence. Psalm 139 also makes this point, and it is self-evident that God, our Father, is supportive, authoritative, fair, engaged, and most certainly, patient! All of these traits are faithful to Scripture, and I must emphasize showing affection in word and deed. Somehow, somewhere along the line, men acquired the notion that it is not manly to say, “I love you,” or to buy a bouquet of roses, but God showed His love for us by hanging and dying on a cross of wood. Moreover, throughout the ages, God has said over and over again, “I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOU.” If you want to experience God’s sensitive and expressive love, read Hosea 11 or Luke 13:34ff and measure yourself against that standard. I wish that I would’ve heard the words, “I love you,” from my father, and so I tell our girls over and over again, “I love you. I love you.”

The 12 traits that we have discussed so far are surely necessary for real fatherhood, but to borrow a phrase from science, they are “not sufficient” They are necessary for men of faith, but they are not complete, and with this in mind, I will add these characteristics:

13.   Christian fathers must lead their families spiritually. In the church, it’s very common to have families in which the mother is the spiritual leader and, sometimes, the only spiritual model the children have. Praise God for the mothers and for the “godly” women who fill our pews, but throughout His word, although not entirely, God has expected fathers to provide spiritual direction for the family. “Choose this day,” Joshua said, “Whom you will follow, but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Also, in recent decades, we encounter more and more families in which the children themselves decide whom they will follow. The chances of this happening would also be reduced if fathers stepped to the plate.

14.  Christian fathers should manifest the fruit of the Spirit, and this cannot be done unless they have personally done business with the living God. The fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace, patience (already mentioned), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are gifts of the Spirit and they are born out of a life-giving relationship with Christ. In short, Christian fathers must make the commitment to be Christians;

15.  Christian fathers honor their marriage vows because they know that they have been united in Christ and that they are part of a sacred union. They are called to see marriage as a covenant which includes God. Fathers honor God when they treat their wives with the greatest respect;

16.  Christian fathers forgive. They forgive because they know themselves to be forgiven, and like their Father in Heaven, they also throw away their scorecards. Worrying about the score, what you have coming to you, what the other has coming to her, what someone has to do to get even with you, or what you must do or accept to get even with someone else- all of these lead to either pride or resentment- both of which are fatal spiritual and relational cancers! Besides, forgiving us is at the center of what Christ’s life and work was all about. Forgiving then, is the most Christian act you can perform. If you are a fan of WWJD, forgive someone. Forgive a parent, forgive a child, forgive a spouse, and get about the business of living for Christ.­­­  

17. Finally, Christian fathers are priests within their homes. Biblically speaking, priests mediate God’s grace and love. They listen, support, and pray for others. They teach the ways of God and they challenge those who have gone astray. They themselves are spiritual men who read and reflect on God’s word and seek God’s guidance. They heal, they provide, and they empower. We are, or course, no longer caught up in the Protestant Reformation, and I am not using the word “priest” apart from our Presbyterian commitment to the “priesthood of all believers.” But even so, priests mediate God’s love and grace. They teach and model his word, and they empower others to live lives that Glorify God. This is what Christians fathers

TO DAD- HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

      He would be well over 90 now, and I wish he was here so that I could say, "Happy Father's Day," or "I love you," or simply, "goodbye."
      He died suddenly, with a massive heart attack, on July 11, 1977, and I wasn't there.  My not being there was not surprising... because I was busy trying to make a name for myself (just as he had done). Besides, the unpredictability of either one of my parent's moods kept me on edge, and dad and I never talked much anyway. It never seemed as if we had much to talk about. He loved hunting, but I loved golf. He worked with steel, but I pushed a pencil. He was a combat veteran, and I had not served at all. He loved to make things work, whereas I loved to think about them. He was a Tea Party member before its time, and I was a child of the 60's.  I didn't know what to say to him and when we were growing up, he was seldom around the house anyway. He always seemed to be at "the plant," and when he did come home, he would often be very difficult to live with. When he entered the house, my brothers and I made ourselves scarce, and between his work schedule and his moods, I never felt entirely comfortable when I was around him. I often wished that I would've had a dad to play catch with, or one who would've listened to my worries and my dreams, but things just never turned out that way.
      Therefore, we didn't talk much, and as the years passed, and we went our separate ways after Sherry and I moved to Omaha. Yet, I wish we would have spent more time with him and the rest of my family. I wish that things could have been different because I loved my father dearly... and I admired him in many ways. Like many of his peers, he only had an 8th grade education... but he was very bright. He had a quick wit, a wonderful sense of humor (he absolutely loved Red Skelton), a legendary work ethic, and a well-earned reputation of being a man people could trust. He also had an immense amount of courage...and almost frightening perseverance. In short, he was a man's man. He filled a room... and the record shows that he accomplished a lot, rising to the rank of VP and Co-Owner in the field that he chose.
      He lived, it seems to me, in three worlds at the same time. At home, he seemed unhappy and at odds with my mother much of the time. At work, he was somebody important, who played a big role and cast a big shadow, and within himself, he carried the memories of the depression, the War, and any number of regrets, hopes, and wishes. Of course dad was somebody's child himself. He grew up in what seems to have been a stern and volatile household, and he was definitely affected by what he experienced in WWII (which he seldom mentioned at all.) He had seen too much death, experienced too much pain, and pushed himself to be more than he was able to handle at times. He played the cards that had been dealt to him with strength and courage, and he never complained about not being dealt the very best hand. This is the same thing I've tried to do in my life and in many ways, I am much like my dad... except that, when I hit bottom... I was blessed with a transforming grace... and he never had that experience. Grace. A second-chance. That's the only difference between us. Otherwise, I am pretty much a chip off the old block. Indeed, in many ways I wish I was even more like my dad. With a better hand and a moment of grace, dad could've done great things. There is not a doubt in my mind, but (like me) he needed an "unconditional hug." He needed to be known... and loved anyway.  
      This man... who once put his fist through a picture window, wrapped his own arm with his shirt, and then drove himself to the doctor... who lost a co-pilot and many of his buddies in the war... who loved to fill his house with laughter and friends- who had lost siblings and parents- who loved to play with his grandchildren and grill food for the whole family- who prayed to God when he picked up enemy fire during the War- who gave us everything he had to give... was my father... and I loved (and love) him deeply. His body is now resting in the Masonic section of Highland Memory Gardens, grace 4, lot 170... which is not far from either one of the plants he used to run. I won't get there in person this year, so I will say it now: "Hello, dad. I hope you are at peace. Thanks for doing the best you could. Happy Father's Day."

Your son,

Ken

AN OLDER MAN'S THOUGHTS ON CHANGE

The times...are a changing- that's for sure-and they're changing at a mind-boggling rate. My father died in 1977, which wasn't all that long ago, but he would be an alien in our world today.

Many of the changes have been good. We're living longer; we're healthy longer; and we have an incredible number of toys to entertain us. In fact. the sheer number of choices available today, whether we're talking about television channels, bar soaps (make that body lotions) or fast food restaurants, is actually overwhelming.  In the "old days," we watched television without cable, wrote letters by hand, and called others by dialing telephones that were connected to land lines.  There were no GPS makers (so we often got lost) and there were no cell phones (so we said goodbye when we left in the morning and hello when we arrived home at night). Thanks to technology, we are living longer and we are better entertained while we live.

More importantly, sexual roles that had endured from the beginning of time came under assault and began to change in the 60s. Women went to work outside the home and families generated more wealth, which enabled them to pay for the two-car garage they then needed. This single change changed many other things, from fashion to childcare, and introduced us to sexual harassment issues. The only social change of greater consequence (arguably) was the Civil Rights movement.  My father was alive when it all began, but he would have really struggled with affirmative action and a black President, not to mention the recent Cheerio's commercial which showed an interracial couple kissing.

Our language has changed too. There are many new words and some words, like "mouse" and "gay," have taken on new meaning. We have more civility in the public arena because of political correctness, but on the other hand, we are bombarded with words that would have made George Carlin blush. Political correctness is silly at times, but it's better than crass labels and name calling. In any event, we can't reflect on change without mentioning technology and social media. In my father's time, we heard the news from two or three white men- some parts of the country did not receive ABC and Fox was just a twinkle in what's his name's eye-and we heard it once a day, for 20 minutes. Now, we watch networks that have political agendas of their own, and we can live for years without ever hearing a view that is different from our own.  What is more-we can access hundreds of stories and opinions with unprecedented speed, and we never quite know whether the author actually knows what he or she is talking about. The amount and rate of change is confusing for a man who is now 67.

I try to keep up, or at least I used to, before it became obvious that I wasn't going to succeed. It's a little embarrassing to become one of those who doesn't quite "get it," but what I am more concerned with is not what we've gained, but with what we've lost. We have gained much, but we are losing some important things. We live longer, but our lives our neither as wide nor as deep. While I was often "bored" during the summer, my friends and I were outside, and we were together. We became pretty good at making things happen, and we learned to communicate face-to-face. Now I see groups of people, not all youth, sitting together, each one fixated on the electronic device in their hands, sometimes texting one of the others in the group they're sitting with.  Perhaps I am just getting old, but I I worry about our love affair with impersonal and often, unaccountable, communication formats. I know family members- okay, they're mine- who answer text messages much more reliably that phone calls. I suspect this is because the conversation in more controllable, even though it is less vulnerable. Also, when I walked to one of my friend's houses as a youth, I was forced to listen to my own thoughts. I was forced to reflect and consider my life from time to time, whether I wanted to or not, and within that process, I had to struggle with my hopes, fears, and goals. Someone said that "an unexamined life is not worth living," but he lived in a world that was much less cluttered than ours is today.

Finally, I will add my voice to those who lament the loss of family time. Even in my troubled house, my brothers and I and my mother ate evening meals together, and sometimes, we would pop corn in a skillet and watch TV together, my father included. When we were in the house, we were expected to be visible and we wanted to be because being "sent to our room" was a punishment. In short, community, not isolation, was our norm, and I fear that, in a country that is noted for its individualism, community is what we need. In a shrinking and more diverse world, we need more community, not less.  More civility, more reflection, more community, a greater sense of family. Are our increased choices enhancing or reducing these things? Is technology opening vistas that will lead us to the core of what it means to be fully human? Or will it make questions like that seem dated and foolish? Can we buy enough apps to bring us joy? Or do they merely entertain us?

GOD FAVORS THE WEAK AND VULNERABLE

When Jesus looked at the crowd, he had compassion on them, and he asked his disciples to feed them. It was impossible, of course, because they only had two fish and five loaves of bread, but Jesus fed 5000 men… and the women and children who accompanied them… proving that with God all things are possible AND that, if we offer God all that we have- no matter how little- it is more than enough! God is more than able to make life out of nothing, but he often chooses to partner with us.

He invites us to join him in the miracle-making business, and we see this again in our first passage this morning (1 Kings 17:8ff). Elijah, the Tishbite, has just been introduced, and he became a prophet of such importance that faithful Jews save a seat at Passover for him to this day. In any event, there was a great drought in Israel and Elijah was desperate for a source of food and water. For a while, God sent ravens to give him food and drink, but then, in his sovereignty, God sent Elijah to a widow who lived in Zarephath, which was on the Mediterranean shore, north of Tyre. Why Zarephath? Who knows. Why this widow? Why not? In any event, Elijah obeyed, and soon the great prophet met the widow, who was desperately poor. Of course, widows were predictably poor because they had no source of support. It was a man’s world, and if a woman was widowed, she lost her breadwinner and her protector. Most people just eked out a daily living at the time, but a widow was much worse off, and there was a serious drought in the region. She was dying, and she had given up. She was planning to make one last meal for her son and her- with her last bit of flour and olive oil- and die, but Elijah offered her a promise: make me a loaf of bread with what you have left- put everything you have on the line- and God will feed you and your son throughout the entire drought, no matter how long it lasts. And so it was- the Lord provided and the widow thrived- because God as a special place in His heart for the powerless. 

There are other truths in this passage- God can do anything, God takes care of his prophets, God blesses us when we obey- but the Bible is quite clear that God has a special place in his heart for the widow, the orphan, and the alien.  Consider these verses among many others: Oppress not the widow, or the orphan, or the stranger, or the poor (Zech. 7:10); God is a father to the fatherless and a judge of the widows (Ps. 68:5); pure and undefiled religion is this: to visit the orphans and the widows in their affliction and to keep yourself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)  I could go on, but perhaps there is no greater evidence of how much God cares for the widow than our gospel passage today. (Luke 7:11-17)  Listen, after he had praised the centurion’s faith, Jesus went to Nain, aka Naim, ( a small village 25 miles southwest of Capernaum), where he encountered a funeral procession leaving town. Since it was against the law to bury the dead within the city walls, a solitary widow followed her son’s casket through the gates on the way to the burial site. There was a large crowd with her, and since she couldn’t afford to hire mourners, as the rich often did, we take it that most of the village was caught up in her grief as well. She had lost her husband and now, her only son, leaving her with nothing to hang on to. She was a “nothing in a nowhere,” but she was everything to Jesus. In fact, when he saw her, his heart broke, and he said, “Don’t cry,” just as he became “deeply moved” and asked, “Where have you laid him?” when he stood at Lazarus’ grave. He said, “Don’t cry,” and raised her son to life- not because she was more deserving that any other widow, not because of her faith, and not even because he wanted to make a point about God’s power, but simply because he was overcome with her pain.

Friends, life’s stage is not level. Some people have steep hills to climb, and without help they cannot make it to the top, or even to a decent resting place. The hands that we’ve been dealt are not the same.  Some people seem to have all the wild cards and the rest are certain to lose unless they get a little help. As God in the flesh, Jesus knew these things. Injustice and vulnerability were part of his daily life- part of his personal life- and he took it all in. He condemned those who would take a widow’s last mite. He lashed out at those who placed burdens on the poor, but more than that, their pain broke his heart. Last week, our stereotypes were challenged by Jesus when he praised the Roman centurion’s faith, and they were challenged by the centurion also, when he cared about his slave. They were even challenged by the Jewish leaders who praised the centurion’s character. In short, no one treated the other as if he (or she) was just a label. No one dismissed another’s need because of their ethnicity, faith, or status because there are no barriers to God’s love (other than the refusal to accept it).

Last week, we came face to face with justice, and now today, we are asked to stare at mercy.  There is a widow here with abject poverty and she’s running out of food… and hope. There’s a widow here who has lost her son. Her grief is palpable- her situation is dire. Are we able to feel their emptiness? Can we taste their tears? Are we able to feel the pain of those who have less joy in a lifetime than some of us do in a season? Do we get a lump in our throats when others lose everything they have and find themselves in need of shelter and food? Do we support our Drop-In Center, which provides a sanctuary for junior high kids- the ones who don’t make all the teams and need a place to go? Do we support our meal site, where we have the privilege of feeding people who will not be deciding which steak house dine in this weekend? Friends, from the Levitical codes to the gospels, God could not be clearer: our love for Him is measured by the love we show to the hungry, the sick, the vulnerable, the imprisoned, the disabled, and all of those who are not able to make it to the mountaintop, or who aren’t even allowed to try!

DANCING LIKE FOOLS FOR GOD: REFECTIONS ON 2 SAMUEL 6

It had been a rocky ride for David…

            with little more than a prayer, he had slain Goliath,

                        but he had also been a victim of Saul’s madness,

He had experienced great highs and some deep lows,

but now, he was dancing with all his might,

                        because he was bringing the ark home.

The ark was a sacred thing- a very sacred thing-

which signified nothing less than the presence of God.

So … it was a day of celebration-

a day for songs and harps and sistrums-

                        a day to let go of one’s inhibitions-

a day to” let it all hang out.”

It was a day to dance if there ever was such a day,

and that’s exactly what the great king did.

He danced, and he danced, and he danced.

He danced with all of his might, wearing little more than an apron (ephod).

He danced like a fool, giving everyone in the crowd

            a loaf of bread and a couple of cakes.

Then, he went home, where he encountered an angry wife!

Michal (Saul’s daughter) was waiting for him and she had a thing or two to say.

She had been watching him from her window, and

            she was offended by David’s “vulgar” display of enthusiasm.

According to God’s word (2 Samuel 6:1-19),

            David and Michal had a verbal exchange that

                        permanently damaged their relationship.

Michal told David to act like a king, and

David told Michal that she hadn’t seen anything yet.

He told her that he would dance like a fool  

every time God showed up.

When God blessed him, he had to respond with utter joy

as God’s people always had.

When Sarah gave birth,

            Abraham called the boy “Isaac,” which means “laughter;”

when God’s people made it across the Red Sea,

            Miriam led them in praise and song;

when the prodigal son came stumbling home,

            his father threw the party of all parties;

when a homemaker found a single coin,

            she invited her neighbors to come and rejoice with her,

and…they gave one another “high-fives” and hugged

                        because unfettered joy is the only

appropriate response to God’s grace!

Friends, as people of faith,

we ought to be dancing fools

                        because we’ve been blessed beyond David’s dreams

David was king, but we reign with Christ.

David had the ark, but we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

David has a scepter, but we have a cross…

            so… let’s dance as if we know ourselves to be saved!

 As Presbyterians, we know that decency & order have their place.

            Michal was right about that,

                        but David had the greater truth:

God’s people must dance with unbridled joy!

As Christians, our dance ought to be a dance

of freedom, and grace, and inclusion, and hope.

It ought to be a dance where every note sung off-key

            and every clumsy dance step is forgiven.

There are other dances, of course-

dances of power and dances of pleasure,

dances of addiction and fear,

dances of death.

But we dance for the Lord of the dance,

            and His dance is THE dance of life!

Someone said that many Christians dance as if

            they have an instruction manual, but no music.

They move mechanically from place to place,

            stiffly and without joy, hoping not to make a mistake.

They are disciplined, but they are not dancing.

Michal would’ve liked that,

            but according to Scripture,

                        she never did feel the music.

 

 

 

AN LETTER TO MY GRANDSON- YOU ARE LOVED JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU

Dear Archer-

You scored a goal in your soccer game today, June 1, 2013, and just knowing this gives me great joy. In fact, I get great joy from all that you do and say. I am amused that you told your barber that you have six names, and I think it’s “hysterical,” that you are also Mario (and sometimes Luigi). I am so pleased that you did well on your intelligence and aptitude tests because your scores are likely to improve your life in some ways. I wish that people wouldn’t keep score and label others… but since you will be helped by the process, I am quite pleased. I was also filled with joy when I saw you dancing for me in Brooklyn, although I wasn’t able to discern what particular dance you were doing, and I am very proud of how well you are doing in school. You have a wonderful mom and dad and a very happy grammy, who was really touched with the salt and pepper shakers you made. When I heard that you enjoyed a stand-up comic that you saw, and that you really wanted to go on stage yourself, I laughed with joy because most kids who are 4 (almost 5) would neither enjoy a stand-up comedian nor even consider doing it themselves. Maybe we could develop an act, and go on tour as a really, really old person and a very young person! For years, long, long before you were born, I often wondered what joy would feel like. I even tried to bring it about and make it happen, but it didn’t work! Sometimes I had fun and many times I had a lot of laughs, but I could not make joy happen. Instead, I have discovered that joy simply comes to you when you love another person deeply. Joy overwhelms you when you forget about yourself and get fully entangled with another person’s excitement, laughter, and accomplishments.

I hope that you will always remember this lesson, but for now, I look forward to all of the joy that you will bring to me- simply because I love who you are. I received the same kind of joy when your mommy scored her first soccer goal and when you aunt Kelli graduated from college. Joy also came upon me when your cousin Brooke (aka Brooklee) and I “mooed” for our shakes at a café in Joliet and when your cousin, Brittany, and I made up songs on the way to school. Brooke and Brit gave me joy for the same reason that you give me joy- I love all of them with all of my heart, as I do grammy. Finally, I must mention Donald. He’s 1 year old, and even though I don’t see him often, I love him very much. His great smile and big eyes give me joy, and he may well score a goal some day too.

Well, that’s about it. It’s almost midnight and I have to preach a sermon in the morning. Thanks for giving me joy, Archer. It is a remarkable thing, and maybe it’s only old people who really know how good it is. Remember, you don’t have to do anything special or win something to give me joy. I hope these things will come to you, but you give me joy just because I love you as you are. One last thing- I heard that you made a great defensive play also- and that the other kids gave you a “high five.” That’s our boy!

Poppy

AN

FAITH, REASON, AND CHRISTIAN LIVING- MY MESSAGE FOR TOMORROW

“Never question the truth of what you fail to understand… for the world is filled with wonders!” Frederick Beuchner wrote these words, and many other profound things, and as a person who has learned that the greatest things in life can’t be explained, reduced, measured, earned, replicated, or proved, I wholeheartedly agree with him. It’s not that I have any issues with reason or science. I am actually fascinated with both of them.  When I was earning a graduate degree in Organizational Psychology, I conducted more than one double-blind study myself, and concerning reason, I’ve never asked anyone to embrace Scripture without knowing its context, or “setting in life.” Science has improved and saved billons of lives, and reason tells us to change the things we can and to accept the things we cannot change- to stop on red, go on green, and things like that. Without science and reason, we would be leading lesser and more dangerous lives.

However, as the Kirk (the church) here on earth, we are called to be people of faith and it is faith that transforms our lives. Faith and science are both necessary, but they seek different truths and they ask different questions. Moreover, while faith and reason co-exist in any organization, faith must be our dominant guide because we are a people of faith. We can rejoice in this because faith keeps on going when reason gives out. They travel together for awhile, but reason is never bold enough or sure enough to bring us to a saving faith in Christ. It simply cannot do it. Everyone, no matter how smart or well educated, must take a leap of faith at some point. This is the truth of it- so rejoice that you can live without proof or explanation. Reason asks, “How can anyone be born of a virgin?” but faith rejoices in the birth of a Savior! Science investigates the Shroud of Turin, but the faithful already believe that Jesus was buried and risen, and they will continue to believe, regardless of any eventual verdict on the shroud. Gibran noted that faith is “beyond the reach of proof,” and this is what makes it so powerful. It is as real as anything is ever real, but it cannot be limited, or controlled, or marketed, as if it were a sandwich or an automobile, and it will never die! It is eternal!

In many ways, or course, we all live by faith. For example, I don’t understand how computers, or even TVs, work, and I’ve never seen a germ. Still, I believe that those little men I see playing on my TV screen are actually playing a real game on a real field, and I wash my hands and cover my mouth to protect others from… germs. Likewise, and of greater importance, without faith, we could never live as if our hopes and promises are true, and this alone, would drastically reduce the quality of our lives because all relationships are based on faith. You tell me that you will love me forever, and I make plans, and decisions, and live my life based on your promise. I live as if it is true. I put my faith in your promise, and it is my faith that frees me to be myself and to live each day with quiet joy. In short, life and love both demand faith… so it ought not be a surprise that our relationship with God does too. Relationships are based on faith- not experiments nor rational arguments- and it is the same with Christ, who invites us into a relationship based on faith.

Gideon asked for, and received, proof from God, and in the passage that Jack read this morning, Elijah built his entire case for God around “proof,” but these men didn’t have gospel or the advantage of a Christian community. Besides, as Jesus told Thomas “the twin,” blessed are those who believe without seeing for they will inherit the kingdom. Yes, it is true- faith gives us confidence, and confidence gives us vision, and vision gives us Spirit-filled energy, and Spirit-filled energy gives us faithful action. Friends, faith is the stuff of greatness! Believing the God walks with us when we walk through the valleys of life, believing that God has a plan for us, believing that God hears us and cares for us, believing that we cannot do anything that will cause God to love us less, believing that we- and our neighbors- carry the Image of God within us- trusting in all of these things makes all the difference in the world. Living as if these things are true is what separates disciples from church attendees and unbelievers. Living by faith is the “secret” to a Christian life, and the good news is this: it is ours for the choosing! Yes, believing is every bit as much a choice as not believing… so you can choose to live as if every Biblical truth and promise is absolutely true, and you can make that choice today!

If you are living by faith, count it as a great blessing. You’ve been set free to dream and you’ve been empowered to live for God. As a seminary professor noted, “Faith itself is the only evidence. When we come upon the unanswered question, the unknown and the unknowable, the love we cannot explain,  or live without, the relentless hope that keeps us dreaming impossible dreams and working... " against all odds, to patch a broken world. when we know that God’s Son died for us and that He has not only forgiven us, but invites us, even this day to dine with Him… then we become believers and “proof” never crosses our minds, anymore that it crossed our minds when our loved one said, “You can trust in me and I will love you forever.” There are times when I would’ve appreciated a sign because Elijah is right- if God is God we must serve Him and praise Him in all that we do. But I am blessed to live by faith because my faith gives me both grace and courage, and through eyes of faith, I can see the Image of God in every one of your faces.  Let’s prepare to come to His table. Amen.