"Where is Your Sting?

Paul asks a pointed question in 1 Corinthians 15:55. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, I death, is your sting." There will always be those that declare something dead before its time. But, hope truly does spiring eternal. Just ask the people of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"Exploring Galatians"

This Sunday, we are beginning a new sermon series. It is entitled "Flight School: Exploring Galatians." The first step in learning to become a pilot is going to flight school. Flight school does not take place in the planes. It takes place in a classroom. Students are given a flight training manual to read and to study and to know. Knowing the information in the manual is essential to being a pilot. Christianity is the same way. We have God’s word - the bible. It is the story of God interacting with his people for the benefit of his kingdom. If we are going to take flight in 2011, it is important that we spend some time studying our “flight manual” - the bible. Our next sermon series will look at the book of Galatians, a letter written by the Apostle Paul. This book outlines some of the major principles of the Christian life.

"Love One Another"

Scripture: John 13:31-35

On Sunday, we concluded our sermon series "Flying Coach: Finding God in Everyday Life." The fourth principle was very simple and straightforward, but sometimes those are the easiest ones to overlook. "Love one another." This was Jesus' commandment to the disciples as he shared his last supper with them. All of Jesus' words that are recorded in scripture are sacred. But, I think that we can look at these words with even more weight than other times because these are the last words he shared with his disciples. There is an important sentence in this passage that I want to highlight. Jesus tells the disciples that, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." The way that we in the church love one another is actually an evangelistic tool. That is just as true today as it was in Jesus' day. People look at Christians and they decide the truth of our religion based on our ability to actually live it out. The greatest witness that we can provide non-churched people is to be loving to one another. This is true in the everyday experience of life, but it is most plainly revealed when life is difficult. Love one another. For that is the principle that gives credibility to all of the truth claims of the gospel. Without it, we are simple "a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal," according to the Apostle Paul.

There is one caution here. Jesus' admonition to "love one another" does not diminish our calling to love our neighbor. What Jesus is saying to his disciples (and us) is that start by loving one another. Learn how to love by loving one another. Bear witness to others by loving one another. And then, because you have loved one another, you will be equipped to love others in my name. Love one another. Then, love others. But, whatever you do, love.

"Wha's Like Us?"

Wha's like us? Damn few and they're A' died. So goes the mantra celebrating the uniqueness of being Scottish. Today, I spent the day with my wife and son at the Scottish Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds. What a great time! Body art as far as the eye can see (we're talking serious ink), highland games, whiskey tasting (Cragganmore single malt - not bad), archery, sheepdog exhibition, highland dancing, and bagpipes everywhere. There was no place you could have been at the festival where you did not hear the dulcet tones of pipes and drums. It was indeed a good afternoon. It is a wonderful experience to come home from the diaspora for a few hours and celebrate my heritage, to celebrate my family, to celebrate that I belong somewhere. Scots wha hae!

"Heart Strangely Warmed"

Today is Aldersgate Day. It is not quite Christmas, but it is a day worth celebrating for Methodists. Aldersgate Day celebrates the day in 1738 when John Wesley went to a bible study on Aldersgate Street. He was a huge failure as a missionary and as a Christian. His heart was probably breaking over a love that he had let get away. He was not a happy guy. But, then, something strange happened. Wesley wrote in his journal about feeling his "heart strangely warmed." He wrote, "I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." There is still debate among historians about the true significance of this event in Wesley's life. My belief is that this was not the earth-shattering event that some claim it to have been. But, it was not inconsequential either. Wesley's Aldersgate experience is at least to things. First, it is a "mustard seed" experience. It is the beginning of a new direction in Wesley's life, a life that was to have profound impact on the world. Second, Aldersgate affirmed Wesley's theology that Christianity is a religion of the hear and the heart. This is an influence that remains (or should remain) among Methodists today. I was blessed by my parents to have John Wesley as my namesake. As a kid, I hated it. As I became an adult, I wore the name with pride (maybe too much, sometimes). Today, I am happy that I can share at least a name with the man that has done so much for Christ's church. Happy Aldersgate day!

"More Than This"

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Yesterday, we continued our sermon series "Flying Coach: Finding God in Everyday Life." There is an underlying principle in this sermon series that we have talked about, but it is worth emphasizing again. Sometimes, we separate our everyday lives from the experience of God. We have built this false dichotomy between our secular life and our sacred life. We see our time in "church" activities as our time with God. Everything else, we just hope that we have the strength to endure. Such a dichotomy does not exist in the heart of God. In fact, God calls us to love him with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength - essentially with everything that is within us. The problem, however, is that as our lives continue to become so overwhelmingly busy, as the rise of technology makes it more difficult for us to simply turn everything off and be with God, we find this false dichotomy that we have created growing larger and larger. The good news is this. God is present in our everyday lives. In the simple, mundane activities that define how we spend most of our time, God is absolutely and unequivocally present. If we do not experience God's presence, that has more to do with us than with God. Even in our work, God is present. During yesterday's sermon, I gave folks a lot of information. But, it is important that we recognize God's presence in our lives. If you missed the the five "dos" and "don'ts" for finding God in our work, than you can check out the sermon at here. I would love to continue the conversation. If you have a spiritual practice that you use to bring God into your work like, please share it with the LOTC community. Go to our Facebook page and leave a comment. Share your wisdom. Share what works for you.

"The End of the World As We Know It" - part 2

The twittersphere was going crazy today. People were commenting on, making fun of, and seeking the whereabouts of Harold Camping. He and I have one thing in common; we both believe that Christ will come again. Most Christians have some understanding of Jesus' return. They fall somewhere on a continuum between the "Left Behind" series of books and some humanistic experience where we all come to recognize our one-ness and sing a round of Kum Ba Ya together (does anyone else really miss Kum Ba Ya, I thought that was a great song). But, within that continuum, I have observed two general schools of thought. The first school of thought is based on fear. This thought says, "get right, or get left." These folks seem to relish the idea of getting lifted up to heaven while others remain here on earth and suffer. I have not ever been able to figure how that attitude reflects God love and grace, but what are you going to do? These folks see the apocalyptic literature in the bible as 100% literally true (as translated by King James). The second school of thought is based on love. These people seek to increase the love, grace, justice and beauty in the world as a way of co-creating the kingdom of God together with God. These folks actually work to prepare the world for Christ's return by making it a place where Christ might actually want to come back to. These folks tend to view books like Revelation as figurative, as attempting to describe in words a reality that is actually beyond words. They seek to interpret the promises of scripture using the brain and heart that God gave them. Can you tell which camp I endorse? The point is this. Everyday is the end of the world for someone. What are we doing to prepare? Are we preaching gloom and doom for everyone that disagrees with us, or are we working for God's kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven?"

"The End of the World As We Know It" - part 1

So, today was the day that the world was going to end. The cynical part of me wants to make a bunch of jokes and make fun of the people that made such ridiculous predictions, despite the fact that Jesus and Paul both clearly said that no one could know when it will happen. Another part of me wants to distance myself from Harold Camping and his followers, some of whom are essentially traumatizing their families by telling them the end of the world is near. I am, as I hope all reasonable Christians are, embarrassed about the publicity that our faith has been getting lately. First, Stephen Hawking, arguably one of the most brilliant people that ever lived, makes a rather bold (and, in my humble opinion, incorrect) statement that heaven is a "fairy story." The next week, does the world media cover the intelligent, reasoned response of church leaders? No, we get fringe Christians that claim the end is near, and because they have the boldness/nerve/hubris/audacity to claim a date and time - tonight at 6:00 p.m. - they get world wide coverage and Stephen Hawking is looking like a prophet right now. I apologize for not treating this non-event with the cynicism and derisiveness that it probably deserve. But, I am saddened by how all of this plays out and that people continue to view Christianity with disdain and disregard. The truth is that there are some truly brilliant Christian thinkers out there right now that are adding great wisdom and insight to the public discourse. They are doing theology from the pulpit, not from the confines of the ivy-covered walls of academia. You should check the out, people like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Adam Hamilton, and a host of others. But, because they are not burning Korans or proclaiming the end of the world as we know it, they do not get the attention that they deserve. It is my feeling - and certainly my hope - that these folks are the spokespeople for a new kind of Christianity.

"(Trying to) Practice What I Preach"

Oh, sometimes, I love God's sense of humor. Last night, my son had been asking me to go play catch with him for almost an hour. I was busy writing a sermon so I said no. Finally, as the sun was just about to go down, he came into my office with ball and glove in hand and asked again. My loving, paternal response? "I'm busy!" I went back to writing my sermon. The sermon is about God and work. On my notes page, I had just written the words "honor the principle of Sabbath," and my additional comment to that was "do not get so consumed by work that you miss quality family time." Oh, the irony. Convicted by my own words. Hoist by my own petard (I am not totally sure what that means, but I think it is appropriate here). It was such a spiritual slap in the face that I knew that I could not in good conscience preach this sermon. And, then I received an inspiration. I shut the lap top, closed my notebook, thanked God (who I am sure is in heaven with my dad having a huge laugh), put my shoes on and walked outside to play catch with my boy with whatever daylight remained. We had a wonderful time. And, oh yeah, this story will be in the sermon, if not as an illustration, than as a confession.

"The Banquet"

Scripture: Luke 5:27-34

The sermon yesterday was an experiment, of sorts. My desire was to remind everyone of a truth that is really very simple. There was no big mystery and no deeper meaning. The second principle for "Flying in Coach: Finding God in Everyday Life." was "don't eat...feast." All that means is that mealtimes are a natural opportunity to experience and share the love of God. We should treat mealtime as a spiritual discipline. In the bible, mealtime is often imbued with spiritual significance, from Passover to Holy Communion, even to Matthew's meal with tax collectors and sinners. Mealtime is a wonderful time to seek Christ. I think that this has to do with the fact that so many senses are used during meals. God has so many "ports of entry" into our hearts and minds during a meal. Instead of simply eating, taking in the nutrition that our body needs to continue operating, we should feast, engage all of our senses in an all out experience of food and fellowship that reminds us of God's love for all people - sinners like us included. The whole purpose of this sermon series is to explore how to live meaningful lives in the midst of everyday existence. It is to answer the question, where is God at work, at home, at play? The sermon series is based on the principle that we need not move to Calcutta and work in the slums a' la Mother Theresa in order to be holy (although, I would never want to discourage anyone from doing that - it is certainly a holy and righteous thing to do). God is present in our everyday lives. However, in order to be holy, we must teach ourselves to seek God out in our everyday lives. There are very few experiences more "everyday" than eating. So, why not learn to seek God at mealtime. During the sermon yesterday, I asked everyone to take a moment and respond to the following question on the LOTC Facebook page, "What do you do to remind yourself of God's presence at mealtime?" Let's share our wisdom and learn from one another. Have a blessed week. 

"What's in a Name?" Part 2

Now to address another name that I claim in my life - Methodist. I am a United Methodist pastor and have spent my life nurtured by Methodist traditions and spirituality. But, what does that mean? The term "Methodist" was actually a pejorative term used by Oxford University students to make fun of John Wesley and the members of his "Holy Club" because of the methodical way that they lived their lives - reading scripture daily, study, participation in small groups, faithful attendance in worship and serving others in need. For these things, Wesley and his friends were derided by others. But, Wesley took this name as a badge of honor and applied it to the movement that he was to develop, a movement that went on to change the face of Christianity in Great Britain and the world. The Methodist movement came to be characterized by practicing spiritual disciplines or "means of grace," small group fellowship, innovative worship (field preaching as one example), empowerment of the laity to do ministry, and addressing the pressing social issues of the day. In the Methodist movement, all were welcome and all were invited to become leaders if God had gifted them to do so. In the Methodist movement, theology and doctrine were imminently practical, which is to say that they tended to develop out of the ministry and practice of the church, rather than define the ministry and practice of the church. I wonder what would happen if the United Methodist denomination really got back to what is most important, "making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." What would people call us then? Maybe...Methodist.

"What's In a Name?" Part 1

Last week, we talked about how we identify ourselves. In Acts 11:26, Jesus disciples are first called Christians in the city of Antioch. It is not clear if this was a self-identification or a name that others gave the disciples. But, the name "Christianous" in Greek, generally meant "those belonging to Christ." I love that definition. There are two thoughts that come to mind when I consider this definition. First, I hope that it came from outside of the church because that would mean that the lives of those Antioch Christians bore witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ so effectively that others named them "those belonging to Christ." I wonder what people would call Christians now if they were going to name us? What name does our witness encourage? The second thought is that it would be exciting to think of a church where the only requirement for membership was a desire to "belong to Christ." And the rest of it we could talk about and figure out together. What would the church look like then? And what name would people give us then? Maybe it would be...Christians.

Flight Training

I am late on my Flight Training question for this Sunday's sermon. But, here you go. How often do you eat meals with other people - either family members or friends? Where do you eat most of your meals? Do you find the meals that you eat satisfying?

"I'm Going Over the Edge"

I can't take it anymore. I am finally going over the edge, the edge of the Long Beach Hyatt, that is. That's right, on October 29, I am hoping to take LOTC's ministry with the Special Olympics to new heights, specifically, 16 stories to the top of the Long Beach Hyatt, and then all the way down. Here is how it works. If I raise a minimum of $1000 for the Special Olympics, then I get to go over the edge of the Long Beach Hyatt and rappel down to the ground. So, how much would you pay to send me over the edge. Every little bit helps. Just follow this link to my personal fundraising web page and make a donation. My goal is to raise $2000 for the Special Olympics. But, I only need to raise $1000 to go over the edge. Go to the web site and make a donation, and then e-mail the link to your friends and family and ask them to sponsor the crazy pastor. I am going to post this link everywhere, on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I am asking that you will do the same. Please, help me go over the edge and help out the Special Olympics at the same time. It is a win-win for everyone. 

"I-life"

Scripture: Acts 11:21-26

Yesterday, I encouraged everyone to live the I-life. "I" does not mean internet, and it does not mean individual. It means inspired. This means that we allow ourselves to be touched so deeply by God’s love and grace that it defines everything in our lives. I know, this sounds like a no-brainer. Of course, we want to live the I-life Pastor Jon. How do we do it? Great question. But, here's the thing. Living the I-life is not about jumping through a prescribed set of hoops and arriving at the other end classified as "inspired." It is not a spiritual obstacle course. And it is not about rules. Living the I-life is simply about going deeper. If you want to know what to do in order to live the I-life, than do something that takes you deeper into faith. Do something that is outside of your comfort zone. One of the things that I know about the spirit of God is that it is most readily accessed when we are outside of our comfort zone. in that situation, we are far more likely to lean on God, and not on ourselves. What can you do? Pray. Pray as a discipline, even - especially - if it is inconvenient for your schedule. Worship. Again, this sounds like a no-brainer, but faithful worship attendance is a foundational spiritual discipline for anyone that wants to go deeper and live the I-life. It also identifies you as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Study. When I was a kid, there was always that guy at baseball games imploring us to buy a program. "Get your program," he would bark. "You can't tell the players without a program." The I-life is like that. You can't go deeper, if you do not study God's word. Our sermon-based small groups are a perfect resource for that. Serve others. Get involved in something that has nothing to do with you, that is all about the needs of someone else. You will surely encounter God by doing so. You will also bear witness to God's love in the world. At the risk of oversimplifying, connect, grow, and serve. It is important to remember that we do certain things, not to appease God, not to earn enough merits to qualify for the I-life, but instead to open our hearts and spirits to the movement of God's spirit in our lives. If you peruse your worship bulletin or the LOTC web site (www.lotc.org), you can find plenty of things to do to help you do deeper and experience the I-life. Think of it this way. In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul writes that scripture is "inspired." The word that he uses is literally translated "God-breathed." The I-life is a life that is sustained by the breath of God. It is the life that reveals the breath of God to others. Do you want to live the I-life? Than, let's go.

"Church Branding"

I read an interesting article by Maurilio Amorim about church branding/marketing. It is a good article (short, like it I like 'em). I never thought about Old Spice that way but he is correct. Unfortunately for me, I was an Old Spice guy when it was for old men. Now, my wife has me wearing something newer and sexier. I smell good. But, it doesn't change the fact that I short, bald, and pudgy. Oh well. This article will be a good jumping off point for strategy discussions in churches. I know we will be talking about it. 

"Hell or Something Like It"

One of the things that I have had to come to terms with over the past few years is the fact that there are so many people out there today that are so much smarter than I am. This is a crushing truth for someone with a pretty big ego. However, I have learned humility enough to recognize sharper minds when I encounter them. Adam Hamilton, the lead pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, wrote a wonderful blog in response to the debate that has arisen surrounding Rob Bell's new book.  You can find the article by following this link. The one important question that Hamilton leaves us with is so profound that I hope you will give it honest, prayerful consideration. "What if hell itself is aimed at working out God’s redemptive purposes?" That can mean a lot of things. What does it mean to you? 

"Words to Live By"

In light of our new sermon series about finding God in the everyday experience of life, I was struck by the simple truth of this statement from the Dalai Lama on Twitter. "The ultimate source of a happy life is the attention we pay to our inner values."

"Flying Coach: God in Everyday Life"

Easter is not simply the culmination of Lent. It is a new beginning. After the triumph and celebration of Easter Sunday, we are tempted to lose sight of what is important as we return to the routine of our daily lives. But, what if I told you that our daily lives are anything but routine? What if I told you that it is in the midst of our daily lives that the power of Christ’s resurrection is most revealed. That is what “Take Flight in 2011” is all about. That is why, on May 8, we are beginning a new sermon series entitled “Flying Coach: God in Everyday Life.” We will be looking at how God wants to transform what many of us might see as ho hum into something with eternal significance. Come and be a part of “Flying Coach: God in Everyday Life.”

"The Naming of the Few"

Our "Flight Training Question of the Week" question of the week is a simple one. How do you identify yourself to others - what names do you use when describing yourself? Does your description change based on whom you are talking to? If you would like to add your input, comment here or go to the LOTC Facebook page and share your thoughts.

Small Groups

Every Sunday in worship, just before I begin the sermon, I invite the congregation to use their sermon study guide that I have prepared to help them process what they are about to hear.  I also invite them to attend one of our sermon-based small groups. Small groups are important for a number of reasons. I want to encourage you to read this very brief devotion from The Upper Room that talks about small groups. 

"An Historic Event"

Last night will be one of those days that, years from now, we will talk about where we were when we heard that Osama bin Laden had been killed. Cindy, Corran and I watched president Obama's speech together at home and then Cindy and I watched some of the ensuing television coverage. While I am loathe to actually celebrate anyone's death, it was difficult not to feel a sense of joy, as well as relief, that this evil person had been killed. It was particularly gratifying to watch crowds begin to gather in Washington D.C. and New York City celebrating that "justice had been done." I want to say two things about Osama bin Laden. First, I put quotations around the phrase justice had been done because, in truth, justice would have been that the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000 and the 9/11 attacks had never happened. Taking Osama bin Laden's life is not justice in the sense that it will not undo the pain that he has caused through his various acts of terror around the world. It is justice in the sense that it is the most we can do in order to restore a sense of well-being and relief to the victims of bin Laden and his terrorist network. It is my sincere hope and prayer that anyone that lost loved ones on 9/11 or other terrorist attacks can feel a measure of peace as a result of bin Laden's death. The second thing that I want to say is that I appreciated that our president stated that "Osama bin Laden is not a Muslim leader." That is an important thing to recognize. Bin Laden never spoke for Islam, he spoke for Al-queda, a terrorist organization. His death is not a triumph of one religion over another. It is a triumph of American ideals, principles, courage and skill over the cowardly, terror-based work of Al-queda. As we celebrate bin Laden's death, as we celebrate that justice has been done in whatever measure possible, and as we celebrate the courage of the men and women of our armed forces, let us also take a moment to celebrate what it is that these things make possible - a world where peace ultimately reigns, a world where children of all nations and races can grow up without fear of attack or harm. This is world that God envisions.

"Time Well Spent"

As I get older, I become more conscious of time, and how I spend it. This past week, my family went to Morro Bay, California for our annual post-Easter sojourn. It is an opportunity to relax after a busy season of ministry. On our first full day, I took my son to the beach. We climbed on rocks. We played in the sand. We did beach stuff. It was fun. But, the real highlight for me was watching Corran play in the tide pools. He became to engrossed in what he was doing that he became completely unaware of my presence. I watched him for almost an hour before he finally stood up and noticed me. He acknowledged my presence with a loving wave, and then returned to his bliss. For me, watching him was a glimpse of eternity. It was truly time well spent.

"Love Wins - Final Thoughts"

There is one more thing that I think is important to consider about Rob Bell's book Love Wins. Actually, this has more to do with the response to the book than the book itself. Christians, people that claim to worship and follow a loving, caring God, have felt perfectly empowered to respond to Bell's book with vitriol and judgment that, quite honestly, does not seem very Christian at all. But, here is my main concern. The bible, as Bell points out in his book, says very little about hell. Compared to what the bible says about love, for example, or justice, hell is not that important. And yet, Christians who claim to be "bible-believing" are completely comfortable extracting verses from the bible that confirm their theological beliefs while ignoring many others. The point is this, if you feel the need to argue for a hell, that says more about you than it says about God. If the idea of people spending an eternity absent from God provides you with a sense of "justice," or satisfaction, than it is time to examine your own heart.  How do you respond to hellish conditions on this earth, like poverty, hunger, abuse, human trafficking and slavery, just to name a few? We are defined by the principles that we defend. And to say that we believe in a loving God, while spending most of our energy defending the position that people will burn in hell is simply not consistent. Not only that, it is not loving. Christianity was never meant to be an exclusive club of the "in" people and the "out" people. Everything Jesus did in his ministry was about bringing everyone into the family of God, especially the people that religious folk thought were "out." Jesus friends were not the "good" people, they were the outcasts, prostitutes, tax collectors, sinners, and the like. Jesus was about expanding the bounds of the kingdom of heaven to include people that the church had excluded. We are faithful to his mission when we do the same thing.

"Love Wins - Again"

I have finished Rob Bell's book Love Wins. Let me just say that I love this book. Without breaking down in detail how he interprets scripture to establish his position, (and his position is grounded deeply in scripture) I want to invite you to read the book for yourself. Bell is one of a new generation of theologians that are doing their theology not from the hallowed halls of academia, but from their experience in the church. They do not separate theology from the work of the church. That is, to me, a breath of fresh air. One characteristic of these new theologians is that they are comfortable with ambiguity. Bell will raise questions in his book that he will not specifically answer. Instead he will guide the reader through a discernment process that sometimes reads more like poetry than prose. However, there were several clear themes that resonated throughout his book. First, a theme that is near and dear to my heart - love. The central idea of Love Wins is that, if we claim to worship a loving God, than love must characterize all of God, and not just a part of God. God is loving, or he is not. It is not reasonable to claim that God is loving in one area of life (being willing to die for the sins of the world) but is not loving in other areas (being only willing to give people the time allotted to them on this earth to make a decision about God that will last an eternity). Second, if we accept that God is loving, we must also accept that God allows us the choice about how to respond to his love. If we do not have choice, than we cannot truly experience love; it is more coercion. So, Bell's critics that claim he is a "universalist"should read this book and understand that because he loves, God desires to have everyone with him in heaven, but he always gives people the choice. That is not true universalism. What is different about Bell's theology, and something that I have personally affirmed for many years now (although not nearly as articulately as Rob Bell), is the idea that God can and does extend his invitation to live in his love beyond the bounds of our earthly existence - into eternity. While that might sound like a radical notion to many that see Christianity in terms of dogma, for those of us that see our faith bound only by God's willingness and ability to love, it is perfectly consistent. In fact, it describes a God that is truly worthy of worship and praise.