Wilderness Wandering

"Islam"

2012-01-30T11:41:00.001-08:00

Scripture: Genesis 21:9-30

Yesterday, we continued our sermon series on "Christianity and World Religions." As we discussed the religion of Islam, I was struck by how similar it is to Christianity in so many ways. First, both Islam and Christianity (and Judaism, which we will cover next week) claim Abraham as a patriarch of our faith. Islam recounts many episodes in the Koran that are straight out of the Bible. Both religions emphasize the practice of spiritual disciplines. Obviously, the major difference is that Islam believes that the prophet Muhammad experienced the final and lasting revelation of God while Christians believe that not only did Jesus fulfill that role, but he did it as God in the flesh, Immanuel ("God with us"). And herein lies the greatest difference between Christianity and Islam. Christianity has from the very beginning been an "incarnational" religion, which means that everything hinges on the truth that God loves us enough to become one of us. Islam emphasizes humanity's faithfulness to God by following the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. In Islam, God is revealed, but not incarnate. The challenge for Christians becomes making God's love incarnate in the world so that people might see the truth of Jesus Christ as "the way, the truth, and the life" by the way the Jesus' followers love God and love their neighbor. As I have said in every sermon during this series, let love be our greatest truth claim.

"Buddhism"

2012-01-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

“Buddhism”

Philippians 4:1-7

I am truly enjoying our current sermon series “Christianity and World Religions.” First of all, there is value and joy associated with learning something new. However, the reason that I have most enjoyed this series is that it has really helped to synthesize my thinking about my own faith. For example, this week we talked about Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama lived a life of luxury and ease. It wasn’t until he was confronted with the suffering of others that he realized on a deep level that suffering really existed. The existential crisis that resulted from this realization sent him on a journey that gave birth to Buddhism. I share this background because suffering, and the alleviation of suffering, figures so prominently in Buddhism. It is important to recognize, however, that Buddhism teaches detachment as a way to enlightenment. But, enlightenment is something that is to be shared with others. So Buddhists do not ignore suffering, they seek to transcend it, and to teach people to do the same thing. That is an important distinction. As always, as we consider the standpoints of other religions, it is important for us to consider our witness to the world. Even though alleviation of suffering is not the central tenet of Christianity, responding to suffering is one of the ways that God calls us to be witnesses of his love and grace to the world.

"Do Justice"

2012-01-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

Micah 6:1-8

Yesterday, we talked about the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There was so much that I would have loved to have shared with you, stories from Dr. King's writings about the struggles of the civil rights movement, but also his writings about hope for all humankind. If you have never read it, I want to encourage you to read or even watch Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech," it is time well spent. But, what is most important to remember is not just that Dr. King had a dream, but that Dr. King's dream was informed by his understanding of God's will for all humanity. And this understanding was grounded in a deep knowledge and love for hold scripture. Dr. King's dream was not some made up idea about how he would rule the world if he were in charge. It was his response to God's call on his life. In fact, in my office I have a framed copy of a commitment card that Dr. King made people sign before they could participate in his movement. Follow this link if you would like to read it. Pay special attention to the very first "commandment". It calls people to "Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus." Dr. King's dream was a biblical dream. It was a noble dream. It was a Godly dream. And if we are ever going to "do justice" to our own faith, we will have to take seriously Dr. King's dream and make it our own.

"Christianity and Hinduism"

2012-01-09T09:54:00.001-08:00

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Yesterday, we began our new sermon series, "Christianity and World Religions." We began our series by exploring the religion of Hinduism. HInduism shares common ground with Christianity and also has many differences. The major difference, however, centers around the idea of karma. Hindus believe that good thoughts and good actions create good karma. If a person builds up enough good karma in their lifetime, they are reincarnated in the next life a little higher up on the spiritual chain. This pattern is repeated hundreds, even thousands of times, until this person's soul (Atman) becomes one with the universal soul (Brahman) and the cycle ends with nirvana. In Christianity, it is not our merit or our good thoughts or deeds that earn our salvation. We believe that it is Jesus Christ that has accomplished this. And in response to what Christ has done, we seek to live lives that reflect values of the kingdom of God. One of the things that I appreciated in my study of Hinduism is that it really forced me to think about the Christian doctrine of grace. Like the U2 song says about grace, "it travels outside of karma." But, if I accept that truth (which I do), than logic would tell me that that understanding should make me very humble. Christians claim and proclaim that God is the author of their salvation. But, all too often, we act as if we have done everything ourselves. We are arrogant and even judgmental. But, if we are truly going to accept the Christian doctrine of "saved by grace through faith," the first change in our lives should be to our attitude. That is just something to think about.

If you would like to know more about Hinduism, you can follow these links.

Hinduism - Wikipedia

Hinduism - Religionfacts.com

Christianity and World Religions by Adam Hamilton

"Christianity and World Religions"

2011-12-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

We live in an increasingly diverse society. We are often faced with the truth claims of other religions. The claims present questions for Christians. What does God think of other religions? How should Christians respond when confronted with the claims of other religions? What can Christians learn about their own faith when viewing through the lens of the faith of others? Join us as at Light of the Canyon United Methodist Church as we explore “Christianity and World Religions” beginning Sunday, January 8, 2012.

January 8 – Hinduism
January 22 – Buddhism
January 29 – Islam
February 5 – Judaism
February 12 – Christianity
(On January 15, we will have a special service dedicated to celebrating the life and witness of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Check our website for details. Watch the promo clip (made by the wonderful people at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection)

"What Does Love Look Like?"

2011-12-19T11:15:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Luke 1:36-51

I want to share with you something that happened last night and hope that it inspires you this Christmas. At 4:00 p.m. a group of 27 singers arrived to go share the good news of Jesus' birth with others by singing Christmas carols. We went to four homes and even walked one of the neighborhood streets singing carols. It was an inspiring time and I was struck by the willingness of our LOTC family to be there for others. We had all age groups represented in our choir. Shy people, extroverted people, all kinds of people were part of the group. But as all of the voices sang out together, each individual voice grew stronger. It was an object lesson for me about when the church is the strongest - when we are all singing together in one voice. This is an important realization as we consider our time of discernment for LOTC 2.0 in 2012.

Then, when I thought I had learned enough, god had more to teach me. Cindy, Corran and I went over to BJ's for dinner after caroling. Atone point we were talking with our waitress who mentioned she was trying out a new church. Corran said to her, "You should come to our church. It's just over there." And that began a conversation about the virtues of LOTC. Our mission is to be "a welcoming community of faith where spiritual seekers become loving, serving followers of Jesus Christ." My son seems to understand that pretty well. In fact, most of our children do. My prayer is that in 2012, the rest of us understand this. A great place to get started is to invite someone to worship this week. The Longest Night service is on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve services are at 5 pm and 7 pm. We will be having a casual worship service on Christmas Day at 9:30 am. What does love look like? How will you answer that question? God bless.

Bad Theology = Bad Witness

2011-12-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

No one will ever accuse me of being a stickler for details. And when it comes to Christian theology, I am more live and let live, think and let think than I probably should be. However, while I am not the most detailed systematic theologian on the planet, there are certain things that I can recognize right away as bad theology. This is one of them. Tim Tebow's pastor, Wayne Hanson, thinks that the Broncos are winning football games because of Tim Tebow's faith. I cannot count the ways that this is wrong. But, of course, I will try. First, God does not give a flying fig (and that is the nicest way I can express it) if the Denver Broncos win football games. To think otherwise is to to fetishize the personal relationship with God that is available to people through Jesus Christ - one of the ugliest, most self-centered aspects of Christianity. Second, by Hanson's reasoning, Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback of my beloved (and defending Super Champion) Green bay Packers, who are 13-0 right now, must be some kind of prophet. For that matter, is every Super Bowl Champion quarterback and World Series MVP favored by God? Finally, the thought process behind this kind of theology is that God glorifies those who glorify Him. The problem, of course, is that Hanson is assuming that winning football games is actual glory according to God. I don't know what about the origins of Christianity (Jesus being born in a feeding trough for animals to insignificant parents in a nowhere town in an occupied nation, and then ending his earthly life by dying on a cross) would make anyone think that winning football games is to be glorified. Jesus said, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first." So, if anyone is being "glorified" on the football field, my guess is that it is the hapless Indianapolis Colts. When you actually consider the ramifications of Hanson's words words, they seem even more asinine. In the interest of time, I will stop talking theology at this point. However, Hanson's comments are also wrong on the level of football logic. The implication of his words is that Tim Tebow is solely responsible to Denver's success. While I am not a Tebow apologist by any stretch, I acknowledge that the effort he puts into football is monumental. However, most of the games that Denver has won recently have been largely the result of a great defensive effort, and in the case of the Chicago Bears game Sunday (and as a Packers fan, it was with great relish that I watched the Bears collapse), a horrible effort on the part of the opponent. Enough said said about Hanson. However, what is important to recognize is that when Christian's say things as stupid as this, it is not only bad theology, it is also a very bad witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. It reinforces the narrow-minded image that so many people have today and it drives people farther away from the church. Wayne Hanson is a Christian minister. I assume (and hope) that he received some theological training before taking this position. Perhaps he and the church would be better served if he spent some time in theological reflection before making statements that are so clearly contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Shout for Joy"

2011-12-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11

Recently, I have noticed an increase is "evangelism" efforts on the part of atheists. I have seen road signs espousing the atheist point of view. I have seen ads on TV and on the internet. First, let me say that I rejoice to be able to live in a nation where people can express there religious ideas without fear of recrimination from the government. That is a precious freedom. Atheism was once a fringe idea in our society, but it has become increasingly mainstream in recent years. I think that the church is largely to blame for this. We have alienated people with our attitudes of judgment and condemnation for so long that they have simply given up on God. Many people are tempted to say that that is their problem and that they will have to answer to God. While that is true, let us always remember that we must answer to God, as well. And if we have been angry, judgmental witnesses to His love and grace, we might be surprised at God's response when we meet him face to face. By now, you are probably wondering what any of this has to do with Advent. Yesterday, in worship, we read about Isaiah's proclamation of joy. But, if you remember from our reading that Isaiah's proclamation also came with a commission. "You shall be called priests of the Lord; you shall be named ministers of God." God has given us a commission, a calling - to share the "good news of great joy" with all the people. During the season of Advent, when we literally prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus (the aforementioned "good news of great joy"), let's keep in mind that it is good news that we have to share. It is joyful news. It is happy news. And it is for all people. How will you share the good news with someone? Will you join us for Christmas caroling next Sunday afternoon? Will you come to the Longest Night service on December 21? Will you invite a friend to church this Christmas Eve? We have good news of great joy to share. Let us be about God's business and share it with glad and loving hearts.

"An E-bay Christmas"

2011-12-08T16:06:00.001-08:00

Our Christmas commercial watch continues. This spot from e-bay, while funny, is also kind of...well...sad. The family presents well. They are all very dressed up and festive. However, the dynamics of how they relate to one another betray their put together exterior. Consider the dynamics. The spoiled daughter complaining in the midst of the family celebration, Uncle Dale (obviously out of touch with reality and way to into himself), Dad (behind the girl) immediately buys his daughter the gift she wants, the Aunt Carla storms out after her throw pillow from last year is insulted (while Aunt Carla is right to be insulted, she was checked out from the family gathering doing her knitting), and the guy leading the singing that is obviously not picking up on the negative vibes the girl put out. Now, I know that this is humor. I get it. And I laughed. But, I do thank God that this is not my family (and my family is pretty loopy).

"Crazy Faith"

2011-12-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

What does it mean to say that Christianity is a "crazy faith?" It means quite simply that our response to God's call on our lives can appear as madness to a world that has become lost. Here is an example. Advent is the season of preparation for Christmas. Many people hear that and immediately think of preparation for Christmas as "shopping days left until Christmas." Nothing could be farther from the truth. Christians are called to use this time of preparation to to ready our hearts and minds to receive the ultimate gift - the gift of Christ's birth. Advent and Christmas are about "God with us." Everything else is decoration. Yesterday we talked about the Advent Conspiracy. The four principles (for review) are (1) Worship fully (2) Spend less (3) Give more, and (4) Love all. The most important thing to remember about these principles is that Christmas is a sacred day and should be celebrated in a sacred way. We do not need to worry which stores say "Merry Christmas" and which stores say "Happy Holidays" because the Christmas story is not going to be told by the stores and shopping malls. It will be told by faithful followers of Jesus Christ who hear God's call on their lives and who respond by giving their lives to Jesus. God calls. We respond. And in so doing, we bear witness to God's love in the world.

"Hopeful Praying"

2011-11-28T10:19:00.001-08:00

Isaiah 64:1-7

The season of Advent has begun, and what a perfect way to usher in this season than by celebrating hope. Yesterday in worship, we talked about hopeful praying. Hopeful praying means that if you pray for rain, bring an umbrella when you go outside. Hopeful praying means that we boldly offer up to God our prayers and dreams. I have known people that have even argued with God in prayer. In his book A Jew Today, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie Wiesel tells the story of one remaining member of a Jewish family, who prays to God, “Master of the Universe, I know what You are doing. You want despair to overwhelm me. You want me to cease believing in You, to cease praying to You, to cease invoking Your name to glorify and sanctify it. Well, I tell You: No, no – a thousand times no! You shall not succeed! In spite of me and in spite of You, I shall shout the Kaddish, which is a song of faith, for You and against You. This song You shall not still, God of Israel.” When all else failed him, when he had nothing else to hold onto, this man clung to the one thing that he could do, he practiced the spiritual discipline of prayer. He yelled at God, he pleaded with God, but he refused to be taken in by the despair that surrounded him. Only prayer to God - even angry prayer - that was ultimately grounded in hope provided the path to reconciliation with God. Prayer directs our passion toward God. That is why it is so important that we learn more about the Advent Conspiracy, because by doing so we are directing our prayers during the season of Advent where they truly belong - toward the manger that holds our newborn Savior. What are you praying for this Advent?

Perspective

2011-11-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

These two stories are next to one another on the Yahoo main page today. I don't have a whole lot to add. I think they speak for themselves. Crowds gather for different reasons. I wonder what God is thinking about both of these crowds.

Shoppers

Egyptian protestors

Season of Reason!?!

2011-11-24T21:03:00.000-08:00

My belly is full. The tryptophan is kicking in, and the sun has set on another epic Thanksgiving celebration. I am grateful to have such a wonderful family with whom I can celebrate. Tomorrow is a day of absolute madness in our society. It is Black Friday, the day that shoppers lose their minds (and often their perspective) hunting for the perfect Christmas bargain. A perfect illustration of how insane commercialism at Christmas has become, I offer exhibit A. The clever people at Mazda have started running their "season of reason sales event" commercials. They make fun of overspending at Christmas by encouraging people to buy a Mazda. Because that is a really inexpensive option! Tomorrow, everyone will be talking about what kind of holiday season we will have based on how much money Americans spend. What is so perplexing about this is that so many Christians completely "buy" into this insanity (double entendre intended). In fact, many of us say with pride, "I will only shop at stores that say 'Merry Christmas'," or "I will only spend my money at stores that play Christmas carols." And we think that by doing that, we have somehow taken a stand for Jesus. But, what if this year, we tried something different? What if this year, instead of celebrating the birth of our savior by going into debt, what if we actually focused on celebrating Jesus' birth? How revolutionary would that be. Take a moment to check out the Advent Conspiracy. This is the most redemptive response to the commercialization of Christmas that I have seen. Our church, and my family, are participating this year for the third time. This has literally saved Christmas for me. Maybe it can for you. In the meantime, today begins my annual Christmas commercial watch. I will share with you from time to time - hopefully in a humorous way - commercials that I think are particularly contrary to the good news of great joy of Jesus' birth. Hopefully, it will be both insightful and fun. Have a blessed season of Advent. Prepare your hearts for the coming of the Lord.

"Do You See What I See?"

2011-11-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

Revelation 21:1-5

Several years ago at Light of the Canyon, a young boy was charged with bringing the mystery bag for time with children to church. This was the precursor to Minnie's Bag that we have now. He brought two stuffed animals – one for when he is sad or angry, and the other for comfort. Miss Minnie asked him what would happen if he lost the stuffed animals. “I would probably cry forever” was his response. The congregation was so touched by his love and devotion, many people said aloud, “we would buy you a new one.” Some of you might have missed his response to that because he said it quietly just to Minnie and the children. “It wouldn’t be the same,” he said. It wouldn’t be the same. Do you want to know something. That is how God feels about us. Human beings are a lost and sinful bunch, but God in His infinite love, instead of casting us to the whims of oblivion, remains faithful. In fact, he is so faithful, that ultimately, he is going to bring heaven to us. "And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." That is an image that should give us hope. Because that is what God has in mind for His people. With that promise in mind, it is important to remember that God has raised up this community. And God has been faithful to LOTC for over 27 years. It is now time for us to place our wild and crazy, sometimes audacious, sometimes fleeting and sometimes faithful, hope in God's hands.

"Making Plans"

2011-11-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Yesterday, we talked about the importance of planning ahead, or "counting the cost" of discipleship. This is something Jesus commanded us to do because he was all too aware that many people that came to see him were simply responding emotionally to their experience with Jesus. He knew that once that initial rush of emotion wore off, the people would lose faith again. I mentioned the unique place in the spiritual landscape of our community that LOTC holds. We truly are a "welcoming community of faith where spiritual seekers become loving, serving followers of Jesus Christ." One of the most unique aspects of this statement is that it runs counter to the culture in which we live. Almost every message that we receive on a daily basis is geared to actually manipulate our emotional response. Politicians, advertisers, even churches, create a message that appeals to us not on a level that motivates us to do good, but instead on an emotional level that makes us feel good. I am not against feeling good. I much prefer it to the alternative. But, if we are going to follow Jesus, we must realize that it will not always be blue skies and sunshine. That is why Jesus makes statements like, "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." At LOTC, we live this out by welcoming people wherever they are on their spiritual journey. We do not force them to conform to a spiritual box that "feels good." We offer Jesus Christ. Sometimes that means that we feel good. But sometimes that means we feel challenged. But, whatever it feels like, it is a path that requires some thought and planning. That is why we are beginning this time of discernment. As we move forward to discover what LOTC 2.0 will look like, I ask that you remain in prayer for all of our congregation. If you would like to participate in the conversation, I would love to hear your response to the question that we discussed together. "What does a loving, serving disciple actually look like?" Please be as detailed as possible

"Memory"

2011-11-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Yesterday, we celebrated All Saint's Sunday. This celebration in the church has a long history and it has evolved over the centuries. In the United Methodist tradition, All Saint's Sunday is the day that we remember and celebrate the lives and the witness of all of the people that have passed on before us. We celebrate how these people have influenced our lives, how they have revealed Christ to us. There are two important things to know about this. First, remembering is important. In fact, it is essential to our Christian life. When Jesus shared the Last Supper with the disciples, he told them, and us, to "do this in remembrance of me." We remember so that we can know our story. We can know who we are and whose we are. But, memory is only meaningful if it motivates us to action. Pining for the "good old days" is not memory, it id nostalgia. Christian memory brings to mind God's actions through Jesus Christ so that we are motivated to work for God's kingdom, for God's new creation. The second this to know is that, when we remember, we acknowledge that God is a God of history. God was present before the world began and God will be present will there is a new heaven and a new earth. We, in the grand scheme of eternity, are but specks of time. We are not meaningless specks of time. But, we are not the pinnacle of all that God has done or is doing in the world. What this means is that, while we see how things effect our lives and the lives of our loved ones, God sees how these effect all things. History is moving in God's direction, even if we do not see it. That is important because it gives a reason to hope, and to celebrate.

"Transformed Living in Tough Times"

2011-10-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-21

First of all, I have to give thanks to Rev. John Ed Mathison for his book "Transformed Living in Tough Times," on which our recent sermon series was based. If you learned only one thing during our previous sermon series, let it be that it is not the job of the church to sit back and hope and pray that the tough times we are living in will somehow be transformed. Our job, our calling, is to live transformed lives in the midst of these tough times, and in so doing, become agents of transformation. That is what we have been talking about for the last few weeks. In all of the stories that were shared with you, in all of the sermons, everything we have done has been a call to be God's agents of transformation in a world desperately in need. One of the ways that we do this is to take seriously Jesus' words. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustconsume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If it is helpful, think of it this way. You have two safety deposit boxes. One is marked "this world" and the other is marked "kingdom of God." Which box do you fill first. We are not just talking about money, we are talking about our prayers, presence, gifts and service. God knows that you must fill both boxes in order to live. But, which box do you fill first? Are both boxes a priority or does the "kingdom of God" box get leftovers, whatever is available or convenient. That is not what God wants. God wants our hearts because where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.

"Having a Christ-like Attitude"

2011-10-23T21:36:00.001-07:00

Scripture: Philippians 2:4-11

Yesterday during worship, I talked about having a Christ-like attitude. Quite honestly, I thought I was somewhat eloquent (if not a wee bit wordy). But, the truth is, I was the third best speaker that took to the lectern yesterday. While I preached from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, those of you that were in worship heard two dramatically different, but equally compelling testimonies to what having a Christ-like attitude looks like. Marci shared about being transformed after experiencing brokenness. If we are going to be honest with ourselves, we have all experience moments of brokenness in our lives. That cannot be avoided. The question is not will we be broken. We will. Then question is, will we allow God to heal our brokenness. Saying yes to that question is the first step to developing a Christ-like attitude. Later in the service, Mike shared about the Grow One program. Grow one is a tool that we can use to move closer to the biblical standard of the tithe. I shared with you about offering your prayers, presence, gifts and service to God as a spiritual discipline. Marci and Mike described what that looks like. I hope that you will prayerfully consider their words this week. I know I will.

"Who Needs God?"

2011-10-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Yesterday, in worship, Mark Bell shared his story of coming to faith. THis talk was appropriately titled "Who Needs God?" I think that Mark's story is similar to that of a lot of people. We go through life with all of our physical needs satisfied. We have money for recreation. We are comfortable. Mark said it several times in his talk. He felt like he "didn't have any problems." And yet, beneath the satisfied, comfortable exterior was an inner searching that was going unsatisfied. In the Methodist tradition, we call this sense "prevenient grace." This is the grace of God that calls us to itself, sometimes by making us uncomfortable in our comfortable lives. Every time that Mark described, rather humorously I might add, seeing a Harvest Crusade sign and then dealing with the inner turmoil that resulted, that was God's prevenient grace working in his life. Said another way, Jesus did not die on the cross and raise from the dead so that God would simply sit back, have a glass of lemonade and wait for people to respond. God, through the Holy Spirit, is constantly working in our lives, whether we actually believe in him, or not. When Mark finally went to the Harvest Crusade, he had all kings of preconceived ideas about Christians. "This is just a scam," was one of his ideas. "These people are fanatics" was another. His experience is actually rather typical. Many people outside of the church have a lot of preconceived ideas about Christianity. Unfortunately, all too often, the church has brought these ideas on ourselves by the way that we have behaved. It is important to think about how our behavior, and often times our words, impact other people. Mark's story is an important reminder that how we behave really makes a difference to how effectively we bear witness to the love and grace of God.

"Seeing the Possible"

2011-10-10T11:49:00.001-07:00

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:2-14

Yesterday was an inspiring time in worship. We heard from Minnie, Jared and Debbie Allen about their time at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Leadership Institute. They all articulated a vision of moving LOTC forward through a process of change and growth (the order of those two words is intentional). Minnie challenged us all to "think different." Follow this link to see the commercial that she played during her talk. Jared challenged you to give 24 hours to the youth in 2011 or 2012. What a difference a day can make to the youth of our church. Debbie talked about what a wonderful model the Church of the Resurrection is for having a vision and gearing all that you do towards that vision. And I talked about "seeing the possible." Through the story of Namaan and Elisha, we learned that all things are possible if we keep our eyes and ears open for God's leading.

All of the conversation yesterday reminds me of something. I have two pictures in my office on the wall opposite my desk so that they are facing me as I work. One is a picture of John Wesley. It is probably not a real mystery as to why that picture hangs on my wall. The other picture is Abraham Lincoln. The reason his picture hangs on my wall, staring down at me (more as inspiration than condemnation) is that he reminds me to have a clear vision and to communicate it and live it out in all that I do. His vision was clear, "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." He gave everything for that vision. The question that we must ask ourselves is, what will we give to make LOTC a "welcoming community of faith where spiritual seekers become loving, serving, followers of Jesus Christ." That is our Great Commission.

"Rockin' the Boat"

2011-10-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Yesterday, there was an interesting dichotomy in our worship service (ain't that always the way?). First, Debi Anderson, a Special Olympics athlete, gave an inspiring speech about Special Olympics. Her theme for her life was "I can do all things." She quoted Philippians 4:13. She is a gifted speaker and I know that people enjoyed and were inspired by her testimony. But, then Pastor Jon got up and preached about our limitations. I said that we are not supposed to walk on water. Only Christ does that. The point was that we need to learn to accept our role as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and not try to define for Jesus what is best. When it comes to our faith, we are followers, not leaders. This can be very confusing for people that lead in the church. But, remember, you are not leading Christ; you are leading the people of Christ. So, how do we reconcile this situation? Debi says, "I can do all things," and we want to believe her because her story is so compelling. But, Pastor Jon says that there are limitations to what we can do. Well, as you might expect, Pastor Jon is right. We must remember, especially as we determine how we will commit our resources to Christ and his church, that he is the master and we are the servants. We must know our place in the great drama of faith. But, Debi is also right. Through Christ, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. If we are working toward his purpose and his calling, with the strength of his spirit, we are unstoppable. And that is really good news.

"Thank You Atheists"

2011-09-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know about where you live, but in Orange County, California, lately there have been road signs popping up espousing atheism. The response from the Christian community, as you might expect, has been diverse. Some take offense at having the message of atheism "forced" upon them (I can't even count the ways that this is hypocritical at worst, and uber-ironic at best). This group has filled up on righteous indignation and is not afraid to "force" it on the rest of us. Others don't really care. Live and let live, they would say. Others, and I find this humorous, like preacher Ray Comfort wish that the atheists would not only pick on Christianity, but share their "attacks" on other religions, as well. Suddenly, we are ecumenical and want other religions to be on equal footing as we are, how nice. I have a different response. My response is to say thank you to the atheist groups that have "come out of the closet." Your courage will force the church to think very seriously about its witness to the world. For instance, we can have all kinds of debates (civil and otherwise) about religion, but ultimately the church must recognize that our authority does not rest on getting everything right (because, more often than not, we don't). Our authority comes from our witness to the love of Christ. If we truly believe in God, if we truly believe that God is love and that Jesus came for all humankind, than we will live our lives to reflect this reality. Your billboards serve as a reminder of the importance of our witness. They also serve to reveal much of what is wrong with Christianity. For instance, for any Christian to say that all non-Christians are going to hell (this is not a belief I am espousing, merely one I am pointing out), but then turn around and ask the atheists to pick on all religions and not just ours is the height of hypocrisy. And it kind of makes us sound like cry babies. I am a Christian, so I believe that the billboards that the atheists are putting up are wrong. However, I am thankful that they are there because they remind me that being a Christian is not like being in a country club where I get special perks that no one else gets. Being a Christian means that "the last shall be first," and that we are called to be "servants of all." In fact, Christianity is the only thing that I know of where your status in the world actually decreases after you become a member. Maybe if we in the church spent more time remembering that, our witness to others might be so meaningful that they wouldn't want to put up billboards. It's just an idea.

"Establishing Priorities"

2011-09-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-7

Today we began a new sermon series based on John Ed Mathison's book "Transformed Living in Tough Times." We talked about the importance of priorities. I had a mantra that I would repeat over and over (which, I know, is what a mantra is) when I was a youth director. I used to say to the youth, “The person that you want to be 15 years from now, you have to start becoming today.” This is also true when we talk about the kingdom of God. Envision God’s kingdom as you see it in our corner of the world. What would it look like? How would people relate to one another? If we actually took Jesus’ commandment to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, and loved our neighbor (which includes even our bitterest enemy) as we love ourselves, what would our lives look like? What would our church look like? In the kingdom of God, this vision does not happen by accident. It happens because God’s people establish priorities based on God’s call on our lives, and then we live our lives according to those priorities. As we begin our time of reflection on the stewardship of our prayers, presence, gifts and service, let us remember that the priorities that we establish are not just about today or tomorrow. They are also about eternity. Tough times do not identify the church, or our priorities. The church, by living transformed lives even in the midst of tough times, transforms the times in which we live, now and for all time. I think that’s pretty cool.

Evangelism I'm Not Fond Of...Part 2

2011-09-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

Back in August, I talked about going to an Angel game and being confronted by "evangelists" with signs at the game. I won't bore anyone with a repeat of my rationale for why I think this kind of fear-mongering evangelism does more harm for Christianity than good. If you are interested, follow this link to that blog. A friend of mine sent me a picture that he took from the same game, and I found it very interesting. Check it out. The sign says "Christ will return and judge." I take no issue with that theological statement. I think it is incomplete (Revelation makes some mention of a "new heaven and a new earth," but that's a story for another blog). No, my problem is how scripture is used on this poster. I am making an assumption based in the kinds of signs I saw displayed that the people sharing the good news in this clever way hold the position that if you accept Jesus into your heart, you will go to heaven. That is a great oversimplification, I know, but it is not inaccurate. However, the scripture that they choose to make their point on this particular poster says something completely different. The scripture cited is Matthew 25:31, which reads, "‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory." That would lead one to believe that the sign is correct. But the enquiring person will read on. Christ will return to judge. And he judges people, but not the way these "evangelists" would claim. He judges based not on whether they confessed Jesus as their personal Lord and savior, or whether they made a profession of faith. Those words found nowhere in this passage. Christ judges the people based on whether they cared for the sick, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited those in prisons. Any reasonable student of the bible would see that this list is not exhaustive, it is representative of what Jesus expects from people. Not only does he expect it, he judges their eternal reward (or lack thereof) based on it. Put simply, these people at Angels stadium, who feel completely comfortable and empowered to interrupt my beloved baseball time with their fear-based Christianity don't even get their signs right. If you are citing Matthew 25 as your text warrant, than you damn sure better be encouraging people to care for the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those in prisons (and by the way, I am pretty sure, standing outside a prison wall praising God when someone is being executed inside is not what God had in mind here). And this is ultimately the problem with this kind of evangelism (and theology for that matter). It starts with its own conclusions (i.e. "we are saved by grace through faith"), and either ignores biblical passages that contradict it (i.e. Matthew 25 for starters), or reinterprets those scriptures to say what it wants. Either way, these "bible based" Christians get the bible they love so much completely wrong. If you are going to preach a fear based theology of heaven/hell and Christ's blood appeased God to let us into heaven, at least use the whole bible when you do, and get the bible you are using right. Those that claim to speak for God without having the humility to acknowledge they could be wrong are investing a lot - in this life and the next - to get it right. Good luck with that.

"Rest for the Weary"

2011-09-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-12:8

During the sermon yesterday, I made the statement that by the time of Jesus, yoke had become a metaphor for the law. The religious leaders had turned it into an obligation, a ritualistic requirement. Rather than being a path to God (a means to an end), the law had become an end in itself. As we reflect on what “yoke” we carry in our own lives, it is helpful to consider this. What are the things that we do merely out of a sense of obligation, with no underlying purpose behind that obligation? Purpose is key. There are things that I do because I have to (take out the trash, kill spiders, etc.) that I do not enjoy. However, these things do have a purpose, and the purpose is a righteous one. That purpose is contributing to the well-being of my family. However, sometimes we do things because we feel we must. And that is the only purpose that we can come up with. I would encourage you to prayerfully reflect on whether you need to be involved in such an activity. The point is this. There are yokes that we must carry. There are yokes that we do not need to carry, we have but to let them go. And then there is the yoke that we are blessed to carry – the love and grace of God in Jesus Christ.

"Politicians as Theologians"

2011-08-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

I think that God - in a wonderful display of divine irony (the same irony that is displayed by "winning" salvation while dying on a cross), must have been guiding our founding fathers when they ratified the First Amendment to the constitution, which among others things, laid the groundwork for the separation of church and state. Perhaps, God knew what lousy theologians we all really are, but especially politicians. Michele Bachmann made the comment last week that God is trying to get politician's attention through natural disasters. Also last week, in a sermon entitled "You Better Think," we talked about using our heads as well as our hearts in discerning God's will. During that sermon, we talked about a tool that Methodists have used from the very beginning of our tradition - the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. The quadrilateral is a tool for discerning how God is on the move in the world. Based on the article that I read, I did not see that Sen. Bachmann mentioned what rationale was behind her theological reflection. Nor did I notice what sources she was citing to establish the truth of her convictions. If she were telling us about a budgetary issue, would she not need to cite her source so that we can check her facts if we were so inclined? Why is it then, that when it comes to speaking for the God of the universe, we do not need to know how she arrived at her conclusions? Are we to simply "take it on faith?" I preach for a living. I claim to speak for God every Sunday. But, I would never want my people to simply believe me because I said it. I want them to read the scriptures that I cite, and read others as well. Apply the quadrilateral to my truth claims. I am not saying that theology should only be the purview of trained professionals (Lord knows, many of us have made a mess of it). What I am saying is that anyone - but, most especially a politician trying to somehow invoke the idea that God is on her side (or his side) - should grant the public the opportunity to know on what basis these truth claims are being made. The politicizing of religion and the religionization of politics are very dangerous. When they happen, they must be done thoughtfully, reverently, and most important, humbly (with great fear and trembling).

"Right Religion"

2011-08-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Scripture – Amos 5:1-4

Yesterday, we talked about a subject that should be near and dear to the heart of everyone that claims the name of Christian – the subject of justice. When we hear that word, many of us come up with our own definition of what it means. But, when the bible talks about justice, especially in the Old Testament, it is talking about caring for the poor, treating people with fairness, showing hospitality to the stranger. It is talking about forgiveness and new beginnings. So, the first thing we need to remember when we talk about justice is that I am not talking about an American definition, where justice is associated with our rule of law. I am not disparaging that system, but that is not what the bible is talking about. So, when we talk about justice, it is a wonderful idea for Christians to understand what the word means to God (his definition is eternal; ours is only a few centuries old). That is why becoming a people of God’s justice begins with learning. I mentioned a resource yesterday – the Poverty and Justice Bible. Get a hold of this bible if you truly want to understand the scope of God’s love and craving for justice. Below, I have included a list of places where you can learn about justice issues and how you can get involved. But, there is one thing we can all do – pray. Pray daily for justice, for God’s justice. Begin with research and prayer, and then be open to where God will lead you. What if the church’s pursuit of justice were as constant as an ever-flowing stream? What if the church stopped being safe and started being brave?

The hungersite.com

Not for Sale Campaign

International Justice Mission (sign up to be a prayer partner)

International Child Care

Bread for the World

Orange County Food Bank

Living Water International

UMCOR

LOTC is starting a Food Pantry Ministry. Contact the LOTC church office and let us know if you would like to get involved.

Go on to the LOTC Facebook Page and add your own

"No Bullies"

2011-08-26T18:29:00.001-07:00

Bullying is an epidemic in our country. I don't personally think that this is new. But, with the advent of the 24-hour news cycle and social media, it has finally become news. I am a Christian minister and I do not believe that violence is always the best response to problems. However, I have seen (and experienced) the damage done from bullying and it is epic. Personally, I don't think that we have begun to scratch the surface on this problem. What are schools doing? Most of the responses I have seen involve developing a "no tolerance" policy. Let's be honest. This doesn't really address the problem. Bullies know how to not get caught. I have always told my son that he needs to use words...first. But, if words fail, he has dad's permission (probably not the school's) to use force. That's just my opinion. I was thrilled, however, to read an article on Yahoo about the Gracie Academy "Bullyproof" camp. Philosophically, I agree with them 100%. But, the beauty of this idea is that they provide young people actual tools that they can use in order to deal constructively (and appropriately) with bullies. Kudos to Gracie for coming up with a solution that puts the power to deal with bullies in the hands of the kids being bullied. That is where it belongs.

"You Better Think"

2011-08-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Scripture: John 7:14-24

Yesterday, we continued our sermon series “Aim High: Rethinking Church” by talking about a topic that is (in this pastor’s humble opinion) not talked about nearly enough in the church. That topic is, of course, the copious and consistent use, or lack thereof, on behalf of the church, of its God-given mental faculties in discerning God’s truth. Forgive me, sometimes I like to have fun with words. Put simply, we talked about using our heads and our hearts to understand God. This truth is indeed a simple one. But, it is so often disregarded. It is based on a simple idea. God gave us many – not just one – tools for discerning truth. Chief among these sources of understanding is God’s story, the Bible. However, God gave us many resources for understanding the bible. That list includes (but is not limited to) church tradition, the work of Christian scholars, general scientific wisdom, reason, and the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. When we fail to use all of the tools that God has provided, we are not being faithful to God. And this is important. The first thing to go when times are difficult is the intellect. Out of fear, people will believe and do some strange things because it gives them temporary relief from their fear. This is how the process of "demonizing" others works (we talked about this during the sermon yesterday). Circumventing the intellect is how cults work. But, it is not the way of true Christianity. If we are going to follow Jesus, we better think.

"Evangelism I'm Not Fond Of"

2011-08-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Last night was the Mercy Me concert after the Angels/Orioles game at Angel Stadium. A group from LOTC participated in the fun. We were treated to an extra-inning win by the Angels followed by the concert (I had to leave before the concert - I work Sundays). I was looking forward to a wonderful time of fellowship with church members. And the game and the fellowship were outstanding. But, prior to the game, as we approached the stadium, there were people holding various signs. I think that they were attempting to evangelize, but I didn't sense anything good in their news. The sign attached to this blog is one example. Other examples include, "the blood of Jesus cleanses sin" (that was by far the most positive sign that I saw), or "After death, judgment." I always find it amusing how people that talk about the "judgment" are so secure in their own standing before God, as if they have seen the list. Of course, the irony to all of this is that the people were posting these signs on the one night there were probably more professing Christians at an Angels game than any other night (due to the Mercy Me concert). Talk about preaching to the choir! The point is that this message (a) does not represent the core of the gospel (read the gospels and explain to me how I am incorrect on that point), (b) appeals to very few people outside of the church (do people ever drop to their knees and repent after reading these signs), (c) and offends some people in the church. Here is my question for the folks "evangelizing" at the Angel game last night. Why did I not see a sign with the word "love" on it anywhere? How can someone evangelize about God without using the word love?

"Love First..."

2011-08-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Last week we continued our sermon series "Aim High: Rethinking Church." We asked an age old question in worship. What would happen if the church were a community of faith that loved people first and asked questions later? The question seems simple, and yet, as we learned in our sermon based bible study this Thursday morning, there are some serious consequences if the church puts that principle into practice. The greatest consequence, however, would be that there would probably be considerably less socially sanctioned violence in the world. If we respond to someone that we view as an enemy (be it theological, political, or literal) with love and compassion first (not forgetting that, of course that they are our enemy), we can certainly take up any matter under debate afterwards. But, here's the thing. Arguing with someone (or fighting with someone) will be considerably different after we have already shown them compassion. Consider the story of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan and the man that was robbed were bitter enemies. Had they met at a political rally they might have thrown rocks at one another. And yet, because they met under the circumstances they did, and because the Samaritan showed compassion (i.e. loved first and asked questions later), the whole relationship was changed. It is especially interesting to note that Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in response to the question, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

"The Miracle of Compassion"

2011-08-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Yesterday, we talked about the famous story of the feeding of the multitudes as it was recorded by Matthew. This is the only miracle story that appears in all four of the gospels. There are slight variations in each version, but the constant thread in all of them is Jesus' admonition "you give them something to eat." Jesus instructed his disciples to take care of the people. It did not make sense to them because they did not have nearly enough food. But, Jesus was not interested in what they did not have. He was interested in them sharing what they did have. Scholars have attempted to explain this miracle by suggesting that everyone brought food with them, but they were unwilling to share it with others until they saw the power of Jesus to heal, until they experienced Jesus' faith and compassion for the crowd. So, when the food was being passed around, they included their food in with the rest. While this theory has problems of its own, I want to suggest that even if this is what happened it is no less of a miracle. Maybe it is more of a miracle. Transforming the hearts of people is one of the greatest miracles ever. What if the church was transformed, as well? What if we became the answer to many of our own prayers? What if the church were a community of faith that loved people first and asked questions later?

Here is some information on some of the organizations that I talked about during the sermon yesterday.

UMCOR - the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Our denomination's relief agency that responds to humanitarian crises around the world. Currently, they are providing relief for the crisis on the Horn of Africa.

International Justice Mission - fight slavery, human traffiicking, and land grabbing in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Not for Sale Campaign - finds slavery and human trafficking throughout the world.

International Child Care - an internationally recognized children's health care ministry in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Special Olympics - join the team from LOTC as we volunteer for the fall games in Orange County (more details to follow)

Special Olympics - help throw Pastor Jon "over the edge" to support the work of Special Olympics

Orange County Food Bank - join LOTC as we prepare food boxes for elderly Orange County citizens (more details to follow)

If you would like to tell us about a place where you share Christ's love by serving others, go to the LOTC Facebook page and let us know about it.

"Grace Availed"

2011-08-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Light of the Canyon completed a sermon series on Exploring Galatians. We had a lot of discussion on the role of legalism and grace in Christianity. I observed on more than one occasion that, all too often, the Christian Church continues to press "legal" requirements. We say to other people, "you are a sinner, you are going to hell, etc." It is the height of arrogance to suppose for a second that God has empowered us with the authority over heaven and hell. This past week, as we began our sermon series on "Rethinking Church," we told the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. It is important to remember that the eunuch was returning to Ethiopia from Jerusalem where he wanted to worship. The passage does not address this directly, but it is safe to assume that the eunuch was turned away (see Leviticus 21:17-21). In our bible study today, we contrasted the eunuch's experience at the temple with his encounter with Philip. We noted that where the law had failed him, grace availed him. Oh, how wonderful it would be if we in the church remembered this. Here is the question again. What if the church were not a building but was ten thousand doors that open people to the experience of God’s grace?

"Ten Thousand Doors"

2011-08-08T14:59:00.001-07:00

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Yesterday, the sermon probably asked more questions than gave answers. I think that, often times, Jesus operated the same way. He would share a parable and then ask the listener, "what do you think?" Truth tends to stick with us better when we do a little digging to get there. The main question that we talked about yesterday (if this was not obvious from the fact that I asked it several times) is, "What if the church were not a building but was ten thousand doors that open people to the experience of God’s grace?" It was my hope and prayer that by asking that question in the context of a personal anecdote that I received from one of you and a powerful scriptural illustration that we would all be inspired to "rethink church" in new ways, in ways that specifically involve us opening doors to others. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. One of the practices that I am hoping to improve on is my ability (and willingness) to be a better listener for people Sometimes, pastors hear part of an issue and then we become so eager to help you solve your problems that we do not necessarily hear everything you are saying. In the illustration that I shared with you yesterday during worship, the person from our church that met with the visitor was a wonderful listener. He paid attention. And that is one of the things that I am going to be working on in my ministry. The other thing I am going to be working on is being more disciplined with my time. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the many tasks that need to be accomplished on any given day. One of the areas where this effects me personally is in sermon preparation. I am not always disciplined with my time when I am in the office. One of the things that I am going to be doing in the weeks and months ahead is to close the door to my office when I am in prayer or study (I already close my door if I am in counsel with someone). I will place sign on my door letting people know what I am doing and will instruct Ami to hold my calls. During these times, I will be available for emergency issues, etc. I am hoping that this will allow me to be more directed in my work as your pastor. I certainly recognize the irony of preaching a sermon about opening ten thousand doors and then sharing with you that I am going to be closing the door to my office more than I have in the past. But, the purpose of trying to be more disciplined with my time is so that my sermons might be more "door-opening experiences" for everybody. The point of all of this is that I want to encourage all of you to prayerfully consider ways that you might rethink church in your lives. Remember this question. What if the church were not a building but was ten thousand doors that open people to the experience of God’s grace? How would you be different?

"Rethinking Church"

2011-08-01T16:46:00.001-07:00

Our new sermon series "Aim High: Rethinking Church" begins this Sunday, August 7. What if the church was not a country club for saints, but a hospital for sinners? What is the church was not a building, but a community of faith? What if the church was more concerned with getting heaven into us rather than getting us into heaven? What if the church changed people’s lives and changed the world? For too long, the church has settled for being comfortable and safe. But, that no longer works. It is time to aim higher and to rethink church. Check out the promo right here. Thanks to the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection for the video.

"Parting Words"

2011-08-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Galatians 6:11-18

Yesterday, we concluded our sermon series "Flight School: Exploring Galatians" by looking at Paul's parting words to the church. These words were very important to Paul. That is why he wrote them himself in big letters. It is much like when we send an e-mail and use capital letters, we are trying to really make our point. And Paul's point was simple. Christ did everything for us. All that we did was to say yes to Christ. That should NEVER (notice the big letters) give us cause to boast or brag. Instead, it should inspire us to help others to say "yes" to Christ, as well. And how do we do that? We do it in a variety of ways, but none of them involve judging, demeaning, or otherwise humiliating them. This is Paul's point. Being a Christian gives us NO RIGHT TO BOAST. It merely means that we humbly serve God in bringing others to Christ. Remember, throughout history, the pattern has been that God has chosen people to do his work and he has made them worthy. God did not just find the worthy people and choose them. And God has NEVER called someone simply for their own benefit. All that have been called to God are called in order to works for God's kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven." In our society, there is a horrible trend towards speaking of others in demeaning and derogatory ways. It is accepted and acceptable. The problem with this is that it is wrong, it is not biblical, and it is un-Christian. This kind of talk is arrogant and it implies that the person doing the talking is somehow superior to others. That is simply not the case. We are not superior to anyone and we have no reason to boast. And it is really that simple.

"Life in the Spirit"

2011-07-25T16:41:00.001-07:00

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-23

Yesterday, we talked about the "fruit of the spirit." Paul challenged Christians to live - not by the flesh - but by the spirit. He gave us a list of what life in the spirit looks like. On the list are qualities like, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." A good way to understand this list is to try an exercise. At the end of the day, take some quiet time to reflect on your day. What was the fruit of your interactions with people? Do words like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control come to mind? Or is it something else? This is the standard. This is how we know we are living in the spirit. One of the things that I notice that people often do (myself included) is to play the "blame game." That means that we look at the fruit of our lives and notice that sometimes, we sow the seeds of "enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy," among others. But, it is not our fault. Other people made us do it. If they would only straighten out their act, than our lives would reflect the fruit of the spirit. Let's be clear, Paul's admonition is not about some far off nebulous future when other people "get it," and act like us, thus allowing us to be spirit-driven. Paul commandment is for us, here and now. We are to be about sowing the seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What others do with it is up to them, and up to God. How will you respond to Paul's challenge?

"Christian Freedom"

2011-07-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-15

Yesterday's sermon attempted in 20 minutes (give or take) to cover a topic that has been a subject of debate since the early days of the church. I am talking about Christian freedom. Recognizing that I am vastly oversimplifying things, I think what is important to recognize is the fact that, through Christ, we have been set free. However, as Paul makes abundantly clear, we are not to consider our freedom something to exploit for our own benefit. We are free so that we may share God's love with others. It is that simple. Freedom leads to love. Bada boom, bada bing. Love is the ultimate Christian virtue. Let me say that again. Love is the ultimate Christian virtue. If the freedom that we experience in knowing Christ has not made us more loving of others, than we need to go back to square one and figure out what went wrong. Yesterday, I explained that some of our confusion occurs when we try to equate the freedom that Paul is talking about with the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. There are two important things to remember about that. One, we are talking about different kinds of freedom. Paul is not talking about our "rights". He is talking about liberation from the power of sin in our lives. Second, eve when we consider our American freedoms, most people would agree that even those freedoms are not really free. They are were won. They are defended. They are protected. And the quickest way to lose them is to not exercise them. So freedom should never encourage to sit back and relax and do nothing. That is not the purpose of freedom. And Christian freedom should inspire us to a greater love. That is what the LOTC path of discipleship (connect, grow, serve) all boils down to - equipping us to share our freedom with others in love. Love is the ultimate Christian virtue (did I say that already?). And we have been set free in order to love.

"Bad Things"

2011-07-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Our Summer F.E.A.S.T. began at LOTC this week. We are doing a bible study based on the movie movie "Soul Surfer." The main scripture verse for the first lesson is Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'." (NIV) That got the discussion going immediately about why do bad things happen (to good people). Does God cause them to happen? Specifically, did God cause a shark to bite the arm off of a 13 year-old girl so that she might have an opportunity to evangelize others? My response, and the general consensus in the room, was that no, God does not cause these things to happen. That would be contrary to the promise of God in Jeremiah (yes, I know that promise was extended to the people of Israel while they were in exile, but God's promises speak to God's nature). I do not (and cannot) believe in a God that makes bad things happen. However, I do believe (and offer praise and thanksgiving to) a God that enters into our suffering with a redemptive hope. The same is true for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was not God's will - but human sin - that brought Jesus to the cross. But, God redeemed even the sin of people in order to restore a right relationship with all of his children. This is a complicated issue, one that theologians have been writing about and debating for centuries. I am not going to answer all of the questions about theodicy in one blog. But, that is specifically my point. This issue is far more complex than simple, pat answers. Preachers, pastors and others that try to give us simple, bumper sticker answer to deep theological questions ultimately do a disservice to people. So, let's keep the conversation going. That's my two cents.

"How to Influence People"

2011-07-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

I hate to say I told you so (actually, that's not true, I really enjoy it), but, "I told you so." I just finished reading an article from the Huffington Post by pastor and writer Tim Suttle entitled "Why Are Evangelicals Losing Influence?". There is a lot of good stuff in the article. You should read it, especially if you self-identify as an evangelical Christian. The article is based on a study by the Pew Research Center that chronicled (you guessed it) the decline of influence of evangelical Christianity on Americans. Near the end of his article, Suttle makes his conclusions with poetic eloquence. "Popular evangelical leader Rick Warren once noted the church was meant to be the body of Christ, but it seems 'The hands and feet have been amputated and we're just a big mouth.' He's right. The evangelical church will enjoy great influence on American culture when it once again becomes the hands and feet of Christ, when it begins to act like the church. How this works out is always different in every context, but Jesus taught it always involves two simple things: love God, love your neighbor." Be the hands and arms of Christ, what a novel idea. Love God, love neighbor, what an inspiring concept. We have been teaching this at Light of the Canyon United Methodist Church for as long as I can remember (that's the "I told you so" part). In fact, it is the core of our teaching. We haven't perfectly lived into this truth yet, but we are on our way. For me, it is affirming to hear someone say on a national level what I have been preaching for over nine years. It makes me think that maybe I have not been barking up the wrong tree all of these years, after all. Only time will tell. But, until we see Jesus face to face (and I believe we will), I am going to try to practice and preach the words of Thomas Aquinas, "preach the gospel whenever you can, and when necessary, use words." Amen.

"Leaving Las Vegas"

2011-07-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

I had an interesting experience this morning. My family stayed at Treasure Island in Las Vegas last night. I woke up before my wife and son, and took the opportunity to spend some time in prayer. I sat myself in front of the window of our room, which looked down on the Las Vegas strip. It's kind of a strange setting for prayer (unless that prayer sounds something like, "21 Lord, 21, I just need one big win to get me back in the game"). What does one pray for while enjoying such a view? Do I pray for lost souls? Of course, but I need to be careful to not get too high up on my self-righteous horse (please forgive the mixing of metaphors). One thing that I realize as I looked down (both literally and figuratively) is that Las Vegas specializes in distraction. And that is when I realize what I can pray for. I pray to God today for clarity. I prayed for clarity for myself as I seek to be faithful to the principles that I have claimed for my life. I pray for clarity for my church, that we might continue to live into our mission to occupy the "extreme center" of Christian discipleship. I pray for the United Methodist Church, that we might have clarity in "Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." And, since it is July 4, I pray for my nation and our leaders. All of that while staring down at the remains of a Monday morning on the Vegas strip. This morning, we left Las Vegas and arrived a few hours later Zion, UT. The irony of that experience was not lost on me.

"A Study in Contrasts"

2011-06-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am often struck by the absolute contrasts that life presents. I was reading my twitter feed earlier today, and rejoiced to read the following tweet from International Justice Mission, "“I have never experienced this kind of happiness before.” – David, freed today after 11 mos illegally jailed in Kenya. @IJMHQ rejoices too!" A man that thought that he had no hope suddenly is living in a world of possibilities. David is still poor. He did not receive a windfall settlement. But, he is free. Then, I listen to the radio and I hear on ESPN that the NFL is still "locked out" and the NBA will probably be locked out by midnight tonight. On the one hand, we have a man celebrating the simple fact that he is able to breathe free air once again. On the other hand, we have grown men that get paid way too much to play a game arguing over who gets their "fair" share of billions. I sometimes wonder if we have all completely lost our perspective. Confession - if there is an NFL next fall (and almost everyone thinks there will be), I will be watching and hoping my Packers can repeat. If the NBA were to go away, that wouldn't sweat me much (But, I am only 5'4" tall, you can't expect me to have a ton of love for basketball. Besides, March Madness is still more enjoyable).

"One in Christ"

2011-06-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

Galatians 3:23-29

Yesterday, we talked, among other things, about the difference between unity and uniformity. Check out my previous blog to use as a reference. The point that I was making is that I believe that Paul was seeking unity at the church in Galatia, and not uniformity. When he makes the statement in Galatians 3:28 that, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus," he is calling for unity in the midst of diversity. I believe that unity is what God wants for the church today, as well. During a sermon I heard at annual conference last week, a recent study was mentioned that said that an overwhelming number of young people in our society love Jesus. The problem that they have is a deep and growing skepticism of the church. They are put off by the inability of people in the church to be loving and gracious towards others that think differently. This is the exact kind of thing that Paul is addressing in Galatia. Perhaps, it would help us to remember that the The Christian church has never been uniform. There was never a time in history where it could be said "all Christians believe this way." From the very beginning, as evidenced by most of the New Testament, there have been disagreements about what the church should believe. But, somehow, the fledgling movement of Jesus followers managed to grow in the midst of this diversity. They were united - not by a common creed - but by Christ crucified. The differences did not hinder the gospel until someone decided that the church should seek uniformity in instead of unity. The picture of the mosaic that I showed in worship yesterday is the one attached to this blog. It represents to me the unique place that Light of the Canyon UMC has in the spiritual landscape of Anaheim Hills. We are not uniform, but we are united under the love and grace of God as it was revealed to us in Jesus Christ. And because of that, we are truly a "welcoming community of faith where spiritual seekers become loving, serving followers of Jesus Christ."

"Unity vs. Uniformity"

2011-06-25T12:53:00.001-07:00

I think that often times when people say that they are seeking unity, what they are truly seeking is uniformity. We will be exploring this more in worship on Sunday as we wrestle with Paul's words from Galatians 3:23-29. As we think about what it means to be "one in Christ," let me offer my thoughts on the differences between unity and uniformity. It is my sincere belief that Paul is seeking unity. Unity - Diversity of thoughts, opinions, theologies, and spiritual practices. Uniformity - Everyone thinks and acts the same. Unity - Dissenting voices are allowed, even engaged. Uniformity - Dissent is not tolerated. Dissent breaks down the fabric of the community. Unity - Goal is to grow in our understanding of and commitment to the call of Christ. Uniformity - Goal is to establish a culture of compliance where everyone behaves a certain way Unity - United under the banner of Jesus’ self- giving, sacrificial death on the cross. Uniformity - Made uniform by common ideas and practices (following “the law”). The Christian church has never - ever - been uniform. There has been no time in history where the church has spoken with one voice for all people. Unity was not a serious issue until the church began pursuing uniformity instead. Perhaps, if we began focusing on unity, rather than uniformity, we might learn to be "one in Christ," despite our differences. What a witness to the world we would be!

"Sinfully Proud"

2011-06-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

One of my dad's most famous sayings was that he was "sinfully proud". He was a United Methodist pastor and whenever his church would step up and address a great need in a meaningful way, he would declare (often with tears in his eyes), I am "sinfully proud of you." For my siblings and I, it was a badge of honor growing up if we heard those words from my dad. We used to make fun of him for his sentimentality, but we always loved it when he was talking about us. But, today, in the midst of the California-Pacific annual conference plenary session, I got the opportunity to be sinfully proud. And it felt pretty darn good. I was sitting in the session, playing close attention to what was going on, really focusing on the issues being presented (if I were telling you this story, you would hear the sarcasm in my voice) when they introduced a speaker. The girl that approached the microphone was a twenty-something youth worker in our district. She stood before the gathered assembly of roughly 1600 delegates and spoke with confidence and passion that I don't think I could have mustered in front of that group. The part that was so moving was that, roughly a decade ago, this young girl appeared in my youth group and was unwilling to even raise her head in a group of about 8 young people, let alone speak before 1600. What happened? Our youth group went away - to a mission trip, or a retreat (quite honestly, I don't remember). Her mom convinced her to go with us. While we were gone, some girls in our youth group made a point to include her in everything they did. By the end of the trip, she was a smiling, talking, engaged youth. And it took off from there. After high school, she participated in mission trips abroad, went to a Christian college, and is now working with youth, and sharing the same transforming love that changed her own life. This young women and I are a part of a holy chain of people that have not just talked about the love of Christ, but have modeled it, and lived it, and because of that, have helped change the world (in small, but not insignificant ways). I wonder how many chains like that exist in the world. I imagine millions. And that is exciting. I am a part of a church that often times gets in its own way in its desire to "make disciples for the transformation of the world." However, sometimes, we have created faithful communities that do just that - make disciples and transform the world. Every now and then, I am blessed to see that experience first hand. And when it happens, I am sinfully proud to be a United methodist Christian.

"The Ghost in the Machine"

2011-06-16T20:48:00.001-07:00

It is day #1 if annual conference in Cal-Pac. A group of faithful laity and clergy are gathered at the - surprisingly only moderately hot - University of Redlands for three days of working together to try and move our conference and our denomination forward. As a lifelong United Methodist, one of the things that I have observed is that we have a pretty big "machine," a corporate structure that, for better or for worse, determines much of how we function as a church. Most of the time, I find the machine frustrating. That is only a personal observation. The machine is too big, and I am too small. But, sometimes, when I get involved and listen to people and talk to people and work with people, I find that the church is not just about the machine as much as it is about the people - faithful, loving people - that are earnestly trying to do their best to honor God and to change the world, in small ways and in large ways. One example is One Book One Life, a home grown organization developed to get the bible to people that need and want it. What a great idea. So, here I sit, in the midst of meetings, conversations, conflicts, resolutions, etc. It's easy for a simple person like me to become overwhelmed by it all. But, then, I am gently reminded that the church is more than just the machine. And my faith is restored, if even just for a while. The United Methodist denomination is a bit of a machine. I rejoice when I encounter the ghost in it (I just hope that it's a holy one).

"Justified"

2011-06-13T15:36:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Yesterday, in worship, we talked about one of the cornerstone doctrines of Christianity - justification. In simplest terms, and to quote the Apostle Paul, we are justified "by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law." Remember that justification is when a relationship is made right. This is important because church tradition, especially since the Reformation, has understood justification to simply mean being forgiven so that we can go to heaven. But, what justification means in the bible is that our relationship with God is made right so that we can get heaven into us. We must be very careful that we not not make another "work" of faith. By that I mean, we must not talk about faith in terms of a hoop that we must jump through in order to get God to love us. God already loves us, and already did what is necessary for us to obtain forgiveness. Faith is about laying our lives at the foot of the cross and turning our lives and our will over to God as we know him through Jesus Christ. This reminds me of the day that our son Corran was born. The moment the nurse brought him to us in the bassinet, I held him and declared, "you are my son." The love that poured out of me was not something I had a choice about. If I am capable of such love for someone that has only been alive for a few minutes, how much more does God love us. As we go through our lives, Corran "tests" Cindy and me often. Sometimes, we do not respond as redemptively as I would like. But, sometimes, we do. But, regardless of our response, I hope that one thing Corran can trust is that his mom and dad love him unconditionally. And, it is my sincere desire that that trust helps him to face the good times and the challenges that life will present. Corran already has our love and blessing. When he does something wrong, he already has our forgiveness. But, he can experience the transformation of that love and forgiveness when he trusts us. Now, consider how imperfect I am. If I am able to love in such a way, how much more than can God love us. But, we minimize the power of God's love when we make a "law" of faith in God. Faith in God simply means that we place our trust in God's goodness as it was revealed to us by Jesus Christ on the cross. That faith is our path to the experience of justification.

"Jesus Needs New PR"

2011-06-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Matthew Paul Turner wrote a blog about how Christians should respond when someone like Stephen Hawking say something that we consider to be critical of our faith. He raises some great issues. It is always a struggle as to whether to respond to comments like Hawking's or not. Obviously, I am not going to engage Hawking in a intellectual debate (I would be overmatched in such a debate by "biblical" proportions). But, at the same time, as a pastor, I feel duty-bound to respond to my people. For me, the issue ultimately comes down to one of humility. If everything I say is presented with the attitude that "this is what I believe and this is the faith that informs my life, but I could be wrong," than the ultimate value that I stand for - which is love - is hopefully communicated. I always tell my people that Christians bear witness to the love of God through Jesus Christ not simply by what they say, but more by how they say it. If we are speaking lovingly and with genuine respect, than we are truly witnessing to Christ. This is especially true in our day and age where partisan bickering has become the primary method of communication. But, that's just my belief. I could be wrong.

"And the Crowd Goes Wild"

2011-06-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

At 8:00 p.m. eastern time tonight, the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks will face off in what could be the final basketball game of the season. I guess I care about what happens, but, well, not a whole bunch. It seems that with an NFL lockout going on and with an NBA lockout being threatened, and even questions about MLB, it just sort of makes me wonder. Is it worth it? All of the time and energy that we fans invest in professional athletes that, for the most part, do not seem to care if we exist. Is it worth it? Spending time and money on watching a game that is much more enjoyable to be out playing? Is it worth it? We pay athletes (and actors, for that matter) far more than they are worth to society (as opposed to say - teachers). I am just feeling less and less like professional sports are worth my time. But, yesterday, while volunteering at the Special Olympics, I was reminded again about sports simply for the love of it. I watched athletes, mainly basketball and track, give their all for a game that was not going to be featured on ESPN, but had all of the intensity of a world championship. There is great joy in watching athletes that love to play, and who really love the fans. When the crowd would cheer at the Special Olympics, the athletes would not only acknowledge the crowd, they would bask without shame in the joy of the moment, spreading their arms out wide, smiling ear to ear. There was no pretense, or provocation, just joy. And they really wanted to share it with everybody. That is why I love sports. Are you listening Lebron?

"Turning it All Around"

2011-06-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Galatians 1:11-24

Yesterday, I contrasted my own spiritual journey with that of the Apostle Paul. Paul came to Christ in a flash of light - literally. I came slowly, and methodically. My faith was nurtured by a number of Methodist churches over the years. And I am thankful to God for each one. But, Paul and I have one thing in common. Through Christ, our lives have been turned around. And that is a very good thing. But, I do need to clarify something. Turning it all around does not mean going backwards. As Paul would say, "may it never be!" Turning it all around does not mean a nostalgic return to the "good old days." Even though Paul referred to an event in his past to establish his authority as an apostle, the focus of his journey was always on going forward and moving closer to Christ. The story of God is about moving forward - "going onto perfection" in the Methodist tradition. But, there has never been a time when we arrived there. Which means that the good old days were not as good as what God has in store. To be a Christian means that we are always moving forward. Turning it all around means that we change our direction, and move in God's direction. It does not mean that we go back. Christians are always on a journey. We are a pilgrim people. And, to be honest, that is kind of the fun part.

"Where is Your Sting?

2011-05-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

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?"

2011-05-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-21T20:19:00.001-07:00

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

2011-05-21T09:49:00.001-07:00

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"

2011-05-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-02T11:23:00.001-07:00

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"

2011-05-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

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"

2011-05-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

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.

"New Life"

2011-04-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Today, the theme was obviously the resurrection. Resurrection is more than resuscitation. It is not about Jesus simply breathing again, and blood once more coursing through his veins. That would not be that spectacular since Jesus had already done that for Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:21-43) and Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Resurrection was about more than Jesus' coming back to physical life. It was about Jesus being transformed and living again in an entirely new way. And that is the promise that resurrection holds for us. Imagine that all of this was an epic drama. The script had been written, and all of the characters knew their parts. Then, suddenly, Jesus goes completely off script. He changes everything. And because Jesus did it, he has opened the door for us, as well. We all have different scripts that work in our lives. Sometimes they are good, and lead to new life. And sometimes, they are not good, and lead to death. The good news of Easter is that God has completely rewritten the play through Jesus Christ. And we all have reason to rejoice and to hope because what God has done in Christ, he wants to do in our lives, as well. We need not be bound by a script that others have written for us. We need not be bound by a script that diminishes us. Christ has conquered death, and new life is possible for everyone. Hallelujah! Christ is risen, my friends. Christ is risen indeed.

"The Old Rugged Cross"

2011-04-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today's is Good Friday (a somewhat ironic moniker). It brings to mind one of the great old hymns "The Old Rugged Cross."

On a hill far away stoold rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

Amen. And amen.

Earth Day

2011-04-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day. In the same way that Sunday is not the only time during the week that Christians are called to live as faithful disciples, Earth day is not meant to be the one day of the year that we are proper stewards of the earth's resources. Earth Day is simply an annual reminder of how God calls us to live all the time.The challenge of earth day is what lifestyle changes are we willing to make in order to preserve our natural resources. A great place to start is the Rainforest Site. With a simple click on the icon, you can help buy rainforest land. This is great daily spiritual discipline. There are other resources right at your fingertips. Go here to learn the principles of "Leave no trace." There are many others. What lifestyle change are you willing to commit to in order to be a faithful steward of God's creation? I'm going to think about it while I go on a hike.

"Triumph???"

2011-04-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Scripture: John 12:12-16

During the sermon yesterday, I quoted from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Simon the Zealot was one of the twelve disciples. It is meaningful to note that the zealots were a faction within Judaism in Jesus' day that advocated violent overthrow of Rome. It is interesting to me that, within his closest circle of disciples, Jesus welcomed such diversity of opinion from a zealot (someone who hated the Romans) to a tax collector (someone who actually collaborated with the Romans). I often wonder what many of the discussions were like between the disciples. Anyway, maybe Simon's words to Jesus from the musical make more sense knowing his political position. "There must be over fifty thousand, screaming love and more for you. And everyone of fifty thousand, would do whatever you asked them to. Keep them yelling their devotion, but add a touch of hate at Rome. You will rise to a greater power. We will win ourselves a home. You'll get the power and the glory, for ever and ever and ever.” Simon has bought into to Jesus as the conquering hero. And he wants it so much that he is blinded to what Jesus is actually doing. I love Jesus' response in the musical. "Neither you Simon nor the 50,000, nor the Romans, nor the Jews...understand what power is, understand what glory is, understand it all." We think of power and glory and, let's be honest, the last thing we think of is a cross. So it was in Jesus' day. And that is the great reversal of Jesus' ministry. If we accept that Jesus was the messiah, the Christ, and we accept that Jesus was God incarnate, than we must come to understand that how God revealed himself is important. God revealed himself through the life, death, and resurrection of a simple, suffering servant, of a man whose power and glory was most plainly revealed in sacrificial self-giving love. As we prepare to celebrate Easter, we must ask ourselves, how will God be revealed in and through us?

"Hurt"

2011-04-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, in worship, we "burned" our sins in a bowl while we played the song "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. This is a powerful song, originally written by Trent Reznor, but covered exceptionally by the man in black. Take a moment to watch the video and offer up to God your own confession. It's good for the soul.

"Dying to Sin"

2011-04-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Romans 6:5-11

Are you dying to sin? Or dying to sin? Yesterday, in worship, we received an object lesson in grace. During the sermon I told everyone that a legalistic world view focuses on obeying the law which does not necessarily inspire creativity. Not a lot is accomplished in with this world view because very little is ever risked. The world view of grace, however, inspires creativity and when mistakes are made, relies on grace. After the sermon, I almost set off the sprinklers in the sanctuary by burning our sins in a steel bowl. I was trying to illustrate the point that our sins do not have authority over us any longer. My little inspiration may not have gone how I planned, but I'll bet that folks will remember the sermon longer than some others that they have heard. Grace versus the law is an age old debate that has been around since the very beginning of the church. What is important to remember is that when we try to narrow God down to a set of rules and regulations, we are making a spiritually monumental mistake. We are limiting God to parameters of our own understanding. It was just that very thing that Jesus came to liberate us from. When we die to ourselves and live to Christ, we live not by the confines of the law, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And that changes everything. It changes our behavior. It changes the way that we see the world. And it changes our understanding of sin. One important thing to remember is that sin is not limited just to individuals. In the bible, sin is often dealt with in a collective manner. That means that we in the church bear responsibility for the church as a whole. God has made a covenant with each of us as individuals. This is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But, God also calls the church to be in covenant with Him. Sin and grace apply to all of our covenant relationships with God.

"Counting the Cost"

2011-04-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

Snowy River

Hot Springs Falls

"The Cost"

I hiked this past Friday. It was strange, frightening, and fun. I hiked the Upper Hot Springs Canyon trail to Hot Springs Falls. It was a short hike, only about three miles round trip. But, this is the only hike where I ever got lost. It was last year, and I lost the trail on the return trip when it crossed a dry creek bed. I was lost for about 90 minutes before I found an alternate trail back to my car. I was determined that that trail would not get the best of me, so I went out on Friday with a plan. I brought duct tape and placed on branches every time I traversed the creek bed, which was full of water because of the very wet winter. It was my own version of Hansel and Gretel's bread crumbs, only no birds were going to eat my markers. On the way back, I simply followed the trail that I had marked. I made it back to my car without incident. Well...almost. First, there was the snow. That's right, snow. It was cold enough where all of the snow that had fallen in past weeks had not yet melted away. Then, there was the hail. It hailed while I was hiking which challenged my will to go on. And finally, there was the "slip and fall." While walking in the wet creek bed, I stepped on a rock, slipped and fell back, injuring my elbow. It occurred to me as I drove back home, wet, tired and exuberantly happy, that there is often times a cost associated with facing challenges. And it is in our willingness to count the cost, and still pay the price where we see our character develop. This truth was demonstrated on my hike on a small scale. But, in life, it happens to us every day on a much larger scale. The trick is, I think, that we remember that our faith is not there to shield us from challenges, or to protect us from "the cost of discipleship," it is there to motivate, empower and equip us to face challenges.

"Building Character"

2011-04-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

"Building Character"

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

In 1979, M. Scott Peck published a book that was to become a bestseller and an international phenomenon. What is unique is that Peck opened his book with these words, "“Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths..." I know that the first time I tried to read that book, I did not make it past the first line. And I am sure that I am not alone. I did not want to invest time and energy in a conversation about suffering. That seemed rather depressing. That is tragic because if I would have continued to read I would have realized that Peck's book is not about suffering; it is about transcending suffering. The very next lines of his book read, "It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters." Peck's book, with its insights into transcending suffering and living lives of meaning was an inspiration to millions of people around the world. The Apostle Paul's words to the church is Rome were probably received about as enthusiastically as I first received Scott Peck's words - not very enthusiastically at all. No one wants to hear the adage, "it builds character." But, here's the thing. There are times when suffering does build character, and there is really no getting around it. Suffering can draw us closer to God (which is always a good thing) and it can strengthen us as we prepare to face challenges in our lives. Let us not shrink from challenges. Let us learn to face them with the assurance of God's abiding presence with us, even in the midst of suffering.

"Hubris"

2011-04-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

So, Reverend - and I am biting my tongue as I use that term as it is a title that I share - Terry Jones decided that he would go ahead and burn the Koran anyway. Jones claims to be a Christian (I have doubts see Matthew 7:21). Although I have a feeling that when he finally meets his maker that he is going to be as surprised as a suicide bomber that expects 20 virgins to cater to his every whim when he goes before God. I have read the bible. I know the Christian story. Jones' act of "spiritual terrorism" did absolutely nothing to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead, he simply reinforced people's fear that Christians are ignorant, intolerant, and bigoted. And now, as a result of his actions, people are being killed or injured in protests over his action. Terry Jones does not speak for any Christianity that I have ever known. His is a gospel of fear and hatred, not of Jesus Christ. As much as it turns my stomach to even mention Terry Jones because I suspect that publicity is what he is most after, it is important for Christians to denounce his actions as strongly as we would denounce any other act of terror committed in the name of God. I hope that preachers all over the country tomorrow denounce Jones as the perpetrator of hate that he is.

"A Church Grammar Lesson"

2011-03-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnoman, on the faithandleadership.com web site, makes a compelling point about denominations within Christianity. Check out a short video of his comments here. Denominations, Kinnamon says, represent distinctive renewal traditions within one Body of Christ, and terms like “Methodist” and “Presbyterian” are adjectives that qualify the word “Christian.” This raises at least two questions for all churches. First, are we being faithful to the tradition of renewal that gave us birth, or are we supporting in institution? Second, where does our renewal tradition fit within the the greater (meaning bigger and better) body of Christ?

"No Fear"

2011-03-28T09:21:00.001-07:00

John 12:20-26

Can I just say that I am not a fan of Lent. This whole "giving stuff up" and "dying to self" is not fun. This is not the happy, happy, joy, joy season of the Christian calendar. It is tough to preach and even tougher to live out. I love Easter, Christ's victory over death, salvation, hope, and all of the wonderful themes surrounding the holy day. Easter, yay! Lent, not so much. But, then, while I am wallowing in self-pity and frustration (I gave up candy for Lent, and I am ashamed at how much will power it is taking me), I encounter a scripture like John 12:20-26. I remember that the whole purpose of Lent is not to be sad and downcast just to appease God. The purpose of Lent is to prepare our hearts and minds for the radical mystery that is Easter. The resurrection of Jesus is the event in human history that provides us with hope. Because God was able to conquer death and sin, we can hope that He continues to be at work in our midst. But, Easter - resurrection - cannot happen unless there is first the cross. Which brings me back to Lent. While I might not find it enjoyable to skip that Milky Way bar that I wanted to have after lunch, and while I may find it difficult to preach and teach on themes that we all struggle with, the truth is that Lent is a very important time because it provides us the opportunity to die to ourselves so that we might live to Christ. In the gospel lesson that we read yesterday, Jesus invites those who would follow him to take up a "cross-centered spirituality," which means that we are willing to die to ourselves each day so that we might live to Christ forever. This would have been a source of fear for the people, just as it probably is for many of us. The idea of dying to our own desires, habits, prejudices, appetites, etc. is not an appealing one for most people. But, we must remember that the cross is not the end of the story. And that is the whole point. The cross is merely the path to the real story - eternal life with God. We need not fear the cross. We need not be resentful about the season of Lent, with its emphasis on self-denial. All of these things can be sources of hope and new life. And that is good news!

"Faith and Fear"

2011-03-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, we are going to be talking about fear and faith, specifically giving up our fear of a cross-centered spirituality and embracing a faith that sees in the cross hope for salvation. I found this wonderful quote from Dr. E. Stanley Jones that sums up, quite well, what I am hoping to say. "I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath--these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely--these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, 'We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact.' But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality." Amen.

"Heaven on Our Minds - part 2"

2011-03-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

"Hell hath no fury like a ministry scorned." Ouch! That one hurt. That is the opening line from an article by Lukas I. Alpert from the NY Daily News about a United Methodist minister that was asked to leave his appointment after posting on his Facebook page his support for Rob Bell's book Love Wins. I find this more than a little unsettling considering I am a United Methodist minister that expressed sympathy for Bell's ideas on this blog last night. Should I be worried about my job? Will my parishioners come after me? I doubt it. They are a pretty good bunch of folks. But, as someone that loves not just Light of the Canyon UMC, but the whole United Methodist denomination, it saddens me to see that the narrow-minded theological ideas of a few people are broadcast on the web and become the mage that people have for the whole bunch of us. As I said last night. It is not the theology that I find so disturbing. It is the idea that we find it really important that people go to hell. That seems like an angry and fearful faith, not a loving one. Right now, I am reading a wonderful action/mystery by C.J. Box. But, when I am finished with that, Rob Bell's book is next on my reading list (I am not the world's greatest multi-tasker, so I try to keep it to one book at a time). I will give my thoughts about Bell's book when I get to it. If you are curious about what all of the uproar is all about, check out this promotional video that Rob Bell put out about his book. In the meantime, the question we are left with is one that Rob Bell asks in his video, "What is God like?" That is a deep question for deep souls. And God is not afraid of our questions. He welcomes them. Many people prefer the shallow waters of faith. That's cool. But, even one of the most evangelical people in America, Rev. Billy Graham, has said, when asked whether he believes heaven will be closed to good non-Christian people, "Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won't ... I don't want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have." This quote is from a Newsweek interview in 2006. I have to say I appreciate and applaud Rev. Graham's humility. I hope that it is catching.

"Heaven on Our Minds"

2011-03-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

There is much ado about Rob Bell's new book Love Wins. Rob Bell is a provocative thinker, and so people usually have a passionate response to him one way or the other. It rakes a special courage to put yourself out there like that. I admire that quality (and even envy it a little). I am looking forward to reading the book. I confess that I have not yet done so. However, what has struck me about the response of so many people is that so many Christians seem really concerned that certain people go to hell. They take a special relish in knowing that they themselves will be enjoying an eternal reward with God in heaven while those that do not believe burn in eternal torment. What concerns me is not people's theological perspective. It is their sincere hope that some people burn in hell. That seems un-Christian to me. I am not saying I don't believe in hell. And I am not saying some people do not go to hell. I am saying, I would like to think that the GOd of the universe, a God who came up with the idea of redeeming human sin by dying on a cross, will address the afterlife with the same compassion that I hear so many preachers preach about. If God is love, what does that mean for heaven and hell? Either way, I think it is a prideful and arrogant sin when Christians rejoice at the prospect of someone spending eternity in hell. There is nothing in that idea worthy of rejoicing about. We really need to get over ourselves. Rob Bell rightly points out in an interview with Relevant Magazine that there is a great diversity of opinion within the Christian tradition about the nature of heaven and hell. That is a true statement. And while people on the theological extremes (both right and left) would prefer to think that they have the one true answer and that is the end of the discussion, that is clearly not the case for people that seek a faith or both head and heart.

"You Can Take It With You"

2011-03-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Luke 16:19-31

Lent is the season of giving things up. That may not be a great sales pitch. But, that is what this time is about. Remember, this is not because God is no fun. God is not a cosmic killjoy. We practice giving things up during Lent because God is the path to true abundance, abundance that human currency cannot buy. That is why the first thing that we need to give up for Lent is our love of/obsession with money. The reading that I shared yesterday from The Discipleship Journal sums up quite nicely the main principle in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. “Money will buy a bed, but not sleep; books, but not brains; food, but not appetite; finery but not beauty; a house but not a home; medicine but not health; luxuries but not culture; amusements but not happiness; religion, but not salvation; a passport to everywhere but heaven." That there is poetry.

"To Die is Gain"

2011-03-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Yesterday, in worship, I tried to convince everyone of a truth that is, in all honesty, counter-intuitive. That truth is "to die is gain." Again, I am not speaking of a literal death as the Apostle Paul probably was in his letter to the Philippian church. I am talking about dying to self, dying to all of the things that hold us back from knowing, loving, and serving God. In the video that I showed during the sermon, God actually chiseled away the parts of the man that he needed to "die to" in order to live to Christ. And living to Christ is what makes dying to self a "gain." In the video, God talked about the "empty wells" that we keep going to again and again, and we continue to hope that somehow this time will be different. We all have our own version of the empty well. For some, it is bad relationships. For others, it is bad behaviors. For some, it is negative emotions or thoughts. What is your empty well? The secret to living in Christ is to learn to die to those things that make us feel separated from the love of God. Death is not a popular topic, and it is usually not one that fills the seats in Sunday worship. But, I want to invite you to take seriously the opportunity that we all have during this Lenten season - the opportunity to die a little to ourselves each day, so that we might truly live to Christ for all days. If you would like to fill out a "Flight Plan" for our new sermon series, you can find an attachment at the LOTC Facebook page. A good way to get the most out of this series will be to prepare our hearts and minds for what God has in store for us. The whole point of the season of Lent is to prepare us for the glory and the mystery of Easter. So, while we talk a little bit about death now, it is for the purpose of knowing fully the abundant life to which we have been called through Christ.

Japan Relief

2011-03-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Follow this link if you would like to make a donation to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to support the relief efforts for the victims of the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunamis (Matthew 25:34-40. Let us continue to hold all of the victims in our prayers.

"Just Around the Next Turn"

2011-03-05T19:42:00.000-08:00

I went hiking yesterday. While this may not be cause to alert the media, it has been a while since I have been out. I hiked a place Fish Canyon Trail in Duarte. It was a pretty serious elevation climb to begin the hike. I found myself in an old familiar position, looking "just around the next turn." For those that hike or bike, you know this experience. You tell yourself, I will keep going until I see what is around the next turn. But every time you reach a turn you look around and see that is just leads to another turn. So you repeat the process until exhaustion sets in. I was thinking as I was hiking and kept telling myself over and over "around the next turn," that this is what the life of faith is life. We Christians have a belief in an ultimate victory of Christ, where love and justice reign in the world and in the hearts of people. But, the distance between where we are and where God calls us to be is so far that sometimes the best we can do is to make it to the next turn. And then God inspires us to go one more, and again and again. That is why the Christian life is like a journey. It never ends until it...well...ends. So for now, I will just keep going. Because I really think something cool is going to happen...around the next turn.

"Lemons and Lemonade"

2011-02-28T11:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, in worship, we talked about the fourth principle for our "Flight Plan for Living the Good Life." The fourth principle is "learn to make lemonade." I am not talking about getting the right mixture of water, lemon juice, and sugar. I am talking about the idea that when life gives us lemons, we make lemonade. Whenever I can, I try and give you a concrete "takeaway" with every sermon, something that specifically answers the question, "so what?" Yesterday, however, I intentionally avoided doing so because the point that I really wanted to stress is that we need to get past the idea (or myth) that every problem or challenge that we face has one solution. Some problems cannot be solved. However, that does not mean that we cannot deal with them in a positive way. Remember the phrase that we talked about yesterday - redemptive possibility. The appropriate question to prayerfully ask is not always "how can I end this suffering?" Sometimes, the appropriate question to ask is, "where is God in this situation, and how can he redeem it?" That is sometimes a difficult question to ask because it is always our natural instinct to want to end suffering (especially our own). But, sometimes, suffering brings with it a gift. And if we work to hard to simply end it, than we run the risk of missing that gift. What gifts are hidden within our experience of suffering? That is a great question to ask in order to find out the redemptive possibilities in a situation

"Fighting Hunger"

2011-02-27T07:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was one of those days that made me incredibly proud to be the pastor at Light of the Canyon United Methodist Church. Our youth went without food for 30 hours to support the work of World Vision to alleviate hunger. While they were fasting, they also "took to the streets" of Anaheim Hill and essentially begged for food. All of the food that they received will be donated to Purple Ark Ministries, a local outreach to homeless people. While the youth were busy "foraging", many adults from the congregation were at the Orange County Food Bank filling boxes that will feed hungry people all over Orange County. In two hours, they prepared 933 boxes. This morning, we will be talking about when we gets lemons in life, making lemonade. In other words, learning to respond redemptively to difficult situations. It warms my hearts to see so many folks at my church already doing just that.

"Love Our Youth"

2011-02-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Foraging for food for Purple Ark Ministries.

I am very proud of the LOTC youth. The just completed a 30-hour famine to raise money for World Vision. They made over $700. But, more than that, they experienced what it is like to really, really, really want food. We "broke the fast" with a simple celebration of Holy Communion and then shared a great spaghetti meal together. Great job youth.

"When Christians Get it Right"

2011-02-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Jesus' followers have been getting Jesus' message wrong since the beginning of our faith. The disciples, to quote Chris Berman, were "stumbling, bumbling, fumbling" idiots most of the time. And throughout the centuries, the church has revealed its propensity to get it wrong (and I am being kind here phrasing it that way) in glaring and dramatic ways - the inquisition, slavery, just to name a couple. However, God is faithul and continues to work in our spirits hoping to leading us to his kingdom. And every now and then, Christians actually live into Jesus' teachings. Every now and then, we get it right. I want to celebrate one such time. Check out this video on Youtube and see for yourself. There is still hope for us all.

"Spiritual Discipline"

2011-02-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

Mark 9:14-29

Someone asked me once in a sarcastic (but loving) tone, "Pastor Jon, do you like sports?" I understand (and plead guilty) that I tend to use a sports metaphor or two in my sermons to illustrate my point. So, let's try something else. Have you ever seen a virtuoso musician, or a great painter or sculptor, that did not make a regular practice of the fundamentals of their craft in order sustain their abilities. The old adage that "practice makes perfect" bespircame an old adage because it is true. And the same truth that exists in sports, art, music, and pretty much every human endeavor, also exists in our faith. Practice makes perfect (or at least more perfect). God gives each one of us spiritual gifts - things that come naturally to us. The Apostle Paul wrote about these gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Go check it out. God gives us gifts for the purpose of building his kingdom. Our gifts were not given to us to profit ourselves. We cultivate those gifts through the practice of spiritual discipline. If we do not practice spiritual discipline, those gifts will wither away. This really is refreshingly simple. Will we be a people that cultivate the gifts that God has given us, that use those gifts to their utmost potential, or will we let out gifts wither away. The third principle of your "Flight Plan for Living the Good Life" is to practice spiritual discipline. So, let's get to it.

"Glorifying God in Our Body"

2011-02-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

I have been in ministry of one type or another for about 22 years. Never have I preached to taught about caring for our bodies. I am not proud of that. That is just the way it is. This past Sunday, I changed all that. The sermon title was "Glorifying God in Our Body." Every now and then, I like to play with words a little just for the fun of it. This was one of those times. The sermon title was an intentional double entendre. The first meaning is simple - treating our bodies like a temple of God's holy spirit. However, there is a second meaning to the sermon title that I want to share with you. Glorifying God in our "body" also refers to our church community, specifically how we conduct ourselves. We are called to bear witness to others to the light of Christ in our midst. Part of that witness is how we treat our individual bodies. But, it is also about how we as a church body conduct ourselves. Do we encourage one another to treat their bodies as a temple? Do we set a standard for health and wellness? That is all a part of the witness that we provide to the world. This is just another reason for us to be mindful of how we treat our bodies. If you would like to share your insight about how you treat your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, go to the LOTC Facebook page, scroll down to the entry and add your thoughts.

Defining Success

2011-02-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11-19

We began a new sermon series yesterday entitled "Flight Plan for Living the Good Life." Our first sermon series of 2011 looked at the "big picture" of taking flight. Now, we are going to be looking at specific principles that, if we learn to put them in place, will help us to live a very good life in 2011. The first principle that we talked about was to have a clear and righteous definition of success. Yesterday, I talked about the fact that I learned an important lesson about defining success during one of my greatest failures, while being beaten soundly in a high school wrestling match. It is amazing what God can reveal to you about life when you spend six minutes doing a "neck bridge." It is what I call "good thinking time." Even a cursory reading of the bible reveals that God defines success in dramatically different ways than we are used to. But, it is important that we take some time to think about how we define success because our definition will impact how we live. Is our definition of success clear? Is it righteous (meaning is it consistent with God's will)? These are important questions to answer at the beginning of our year of transformation. Why? How will we know if we are being transformed if we do not know what it looks like. Take some time this week to work on your definition of success. If you would like, post your thoughts on the LOTC Facebook page.