East and West

We are talking about Jonah this Sunday. I love Jonah. He is one of the best bad examples in the bible. Jonah gives me hope that God will be able to use me for his purpose, even in spite of me. Jonah is living proof that God only needs a little of our hearts to accomplish a lot. He reminds me of Bono - I think everything reminds me of Bono, especially since I am getting ready to join a gazillion other people at the Rose Bowl for the U2 concert tomorrow night. Bono said something brilliant at his speech at the National Prayer breakfast in 2006. I think it applies to Jonah. I know it applies to me. Check it out.

The Courage of Youth

The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct." Our youth at Light of the Canyon did just that today. They did an outstanding job leading worship. The service was focused (the theme was ministering to the homeless in Orange County) and succinct. The message was prophetic - in the tradition of Jeremiah. The opening of worship was fantastic. The stage was set up with cardboard boxes and a tent to look like an encampment for the homeless. While music played, youth emerged from different corners of the sanctuary and simply gathered up front. It was a stirring moment. The youth are not settling for simply talking about homelessness, however. From now, through November 8, they are collecting blankets, coats, hygiene kits to help the homeless in Orange County. I am proud of our youth. They are for our church "an example of speech and conduct."

"What a Drag It Is...I Forgot What I was Gonna Say"

This is too funny to pass up. Maybe it is because I am turning 48 this weekend. Or maybe, it is because I just forget stuff all the time. But, this video spoke to me somehow. I hope it speaks to you. If it doesn't, don't worry, you'll forget about it soon enough. If you have ever had a "senior moment," or love someone who has, this is for you. Enjoy.

"Talk is Cheap - Part 3"

O.k., I am almost done with my latest rant. There are just two more things I want to share. The film "Lord, Deliver Us From Your Followers," begins with two great quotes, and I just wanted to share them as food for thought.

First, writer Phillip Yancey, once said, "No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument."

Another writer, Anne Lamott wrote, "You can tell you have created God in your own image when it turns out that he hates all the same people you do."

As my dad used to say, "amen...and amen."

"Talk is Cheap - Part 2"

There is a scene in the film "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers" where the filmmaker talks about an episode in St. Paul, Minnesota. The City Council decided to take the Easter bunny out of City Hall because "non-Christians may have been offended by it." What?!? Hello?!? They got rid of the Easter bunny because NON-Christians were offended. While I respect their opinion and I support efforts at the separation of church and state, my question is, why were Christians not offended. First of all, the state (or in this case, the city of St. Paul) is not a religious institution and I don't want them doing anything that represents my faith, because nine times out of ten, they will get it wrong. Second of all, the Easter bunny is pagan in its origins, not Christian. If you are going to get bunged up about city hall taking down a religious symbol, make it be an actual religious symbol. The whole "separate of church and state" thing notwithstanding, I was amazed by what happened after the bunny was removed. People began bringing "Peeps" those gross marshmellow-y like things that we give out to children at Easter. People dropped them off in the lobby of city hall. Soon, there was a multitude of "Peeps" littering (literally) the lobby of city hall. They were not removed until after Easter. People protested the removal of the Easter bunny by bringing little Easter bunnies to city hall. Wow! They didn't even bring empty crosses. They brought Easter bunnies! Talk is cheap. And the idea that we witness to the love of Christ by making a mess of the city hall lobby with pagan symbols is absurd. Do you want to show the power of the resurrection in your life - get rid of the Easter bunny entirely (and dump Santa Claus while you are at it). Live a redeemed life. Serve others in Jesus' name. Love others in Jesus name. Stop talking and start doing. Than people will know of the love of God.

Talk is Cheap - Part 1

This Sunday, we are concluding a sermons series called "Here I Stand: Living Lives that Mean Something." I saw an incredible movie today that so eloquently emphasizes what I have been trying documentary by an evangelical Christian named Dan Merchant who went around the country trying to find out why the gospel of love that Jesus preached seems to be such a cause of pain and division. Most of the time, it has been because Christians have talked more and served less. And our words have not always been loving. Sometimes, our words are loving, but they are not accompanied by loving actions.In one segment, he visits Biloxi, Mississippi where churches are doing a great deal to help people affected by Hurricane Katrina. One man, as he celebrates what people are doing, challenges the church with a simple question, “Are you helping your brothers and sisters, or are you just talking?” That is a question that all Christians should ask ourselves before even opening our mouths, especially on matters of faith. Before we stand in judgment of others, have we washed their feet? Before we tell others how they should live, have we asked them about their lives? Before we decide which political candidate is more "Christian," have we fed the hungry? Before we condemn the sins of others, have we honestly confessed our own? (Marchant deals with confession beautifully in the movie). The point is, talk is cheap, especially in a society where so many people are making so much noise. Our most eloquent expression of Christ's love is serving others, plain and simple.

Lessons About God From Being a Tigers Fan

In 1988, Robert Fulghum came out with a wonderful book entitled All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. In the book, Fulghum makes a case that all of the important lessons in life are taught to us when we are children. I think that someday I may write a book. I will call it What I Learned About God by Being a Detroit Tigers Fan. Here are a few sample lessons. Look for the expanded version in a bookstore near you (sometime after the Tigers win the World Series).

1. Love causes pain. Any Tigers fan will tell you, especially this morning, that disappointment comes with loving the Tigers. In fact, for many seasons, there was more pain than joy. Well, God knows our pain, and then some. The bible is chalk full of examples of how we seem to get God's simple message of love (that even most kindergartners understand) completely twisted around. For a quick example, read the first few chapters of Hosea. By the way, getting God's love wrong didn't stop with the folks in the bible. We are pretty good at it ourselves (nothing there to be proud of, but I thought I should mention it).

2. Love is a decision, not simply a feeling. My family moved from the Toledo area in 1969, and yet here I am 40 years later still rooting for the Tigers. Why? Because I choose too. I could become an Angels fan like most people in my area. But, the Tigers represent something in me that I choose not to let go of, so I stay a fan. In the new testament, there are several words that mean love. However, it uses an interesting word to describe how God loves us - "agape." Agape is not love that loves only when it feels like it. Agape love is a decision that someone makes because they hold the object of love in high esteem. Agape loves even when the object of love seems unlovable. Said another way. I love the Tigers because they represent something very important to me (I hope someday to figure out what that something is). So, I choose to love them, regardless of how often they break my heart. I am a better person for loving. That is what agape means. That is how God loves us. And that is how we are called to love one another.

3. Love hopes. In baseball, there is always next year. That is the battle cry for Tigers fans. There is always next year. God is the same way. As often as we get God wrong (and let's just cut to the chase, we get God wrong way more than we get God right), God hopes for a better world, a world based on love, kindness, and justice. God hopes so much for this that He became one of us to (a) show us what it looks like, and (b) to liberate us from the tyranny of selfishness and sin. Because of how God has loved us, we have hope, not only for ourselves, but for all the world.

Well, that is all that my breaking heart will allow me to express right now. Stay tuned. Perhaps there will be other lessons coming soon. After all, it is football season, and my beloved Packers are not looking to good.

In Our Prayers

This past week, separate earthquakes wreaked their own kind of havoc in different parts of the world. On Tuesday, an earthquake out at sea caused a tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. So far, over 100 people have died. Then, on Wednesday, another earthquake hit Indonesia. So far, over 1000 people have been lost. The United Methodist Church, through its relief agency UMCOR is providing relief to both Samoa and Indonesia. If you would like to make a donation to UMCOR, follow this link. Let's all keep those affected by these earthquakes in our prayers.