Wednesday, December 9, 2009

THE TWO KINGDOMS

There are two kingdoms that we face as followers of Christ. There is the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God, or, what could be called the reign of God. Both are occuring at the same time while we live our human journey as spiritual beings.


On December 7, at approximately 8:30 pm, Nancy, my wife Frankie’s, mother, died. She had been in assisted living for several years. In the later years, she started experiencing dementia, along with comprehensive incontinence and loss of hearing and eyesight. It was painful to watch. The kingdom of this world was obvious.

However, in the life and death of Nancy, something became real for me. I began to realize that what I had been observing during the latter years of Nancy’s life was the brokenness of creation, which I believe has been caused by our continued rebellion with God. When humanity rebelled, even creation itself was broken and taken out of relationship with the God who created it. Nancy experienced many of the effects of this brokenness. We were witnesses to that effect.

Yet, in the midst of all that, I saw daughters, grandchildren, care givers, and others provide love to her and support her as her quality of life diminished. After her death, the love of others broke forth lavishly. Emails, phone calls, food, and cards began to arrive supporting us in our grief and anxiety as we prepare for her full physical departure from our lives. Knowing that the source of love is God, we have been experiencing the breaking in of the reign of God.

We have experienced the reality that God had not punished us, but is taking the brokenness of this world and bringing blessings out of it.

This is the Advent season. We have experienced the coming of Christ.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

HELPLESSNESS


This time for us can be very exciting. What’s happening around Cross of Grace Lutheran Church brings anxiety, hope, questions, apprehension, nervousness, and concern. At least those are some of the feelings I have. On January 3, 2010, Cross of Grace will have its inaugural worship service. We are hoping some, if not many, of those we have talked to while making initial calls will come to worship. We hope as one person said, “we’ll check you out.” In addition an invitation has been sent to many people who belong to other Lutheran churches to worship with us for a few months to help us get our feet on the ground. But who knows who will come? It is up to the Holy Spirit, of course.

In the midst of all this, I have had shoulder replacement surgery. I am in a sling on the arm with which I write until the middle of December. Then, there will be therapy that will probably evoke pain. In the midst of all this, I have to begin preparing for this worship service and the ones to follow.

I feel helpless.

However, I have had some experience with helplessness during the recovery process from surgery. My blood pressure skyrocketed for a few days. I had no control over it. I couldn’t dress myself, shower, or even put in my contact lenses. I required help in so many ways. Thank God for my wife who was there to support me, care for me, and be my hands for me. It was obvious that there was a power greater than myself – my wife –and it was not easy for me to accept.

This was an object lesson for me. It is the same with this fragile mission that will, hopefully, be launched. During my recovery, there have been people who have supported the mission by making calls and making financial offerings. There have been many, many prayers. Support has come in so many directions. And, so it will be with God. This is not my mission. It is not the mission of the Southeastern Synod nor the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Yes, we are part of the body of Christ. But it is the head, Christ himself, through the Holy Spirit, who is doing the work.

Yes, I am helpless, but I hope I can remember where the power is and that it is God’s work and all of our hands.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

THE SHACK


Imagine what you would do and think if during your young life you had a brutal experience withan alcoholic father and, then, after your life seemed to come together with a compassionate and understanding spouse and five wonderful children, you experience the death of your youngest child because she is abducted and murdered by a serial killer.

What would your relationship be with God, initially and after this horrendous event? What kind of God would you think existed? How would you live the rest of your life? What would you think about the vagaries of life? Should they be controlled by God? Does God abandon us to our own devices? Just where would you be in all this? Also, where would God be?

Those are just a few of the questions that could be asked as you read The Shack. It is the story of Mackenzie Allen Phillips who has had a terrible childhood and left home at age thirteen. Mack does experience the death of his daughter. However, sometime afterward he meets the persons of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit at the Shack where he initially realized his daughter had been killed.

Two small groups are meeting on a weekly basis to discuss this book. The discussion is being facilitated by the Mission Pastor, Ed Wolff, of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church. Although it has already begun, there is always room for more. We have only discussed a few of the opening chapters. The discussion is flexible and a new participant could readily join in the discussion.

Eugene Peterson, a well known theologian and author, says, “This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim Progress did for his. It’s that good.”
If you would like to participate, call Ed Wolff at 423-833-8932. Please join us.

Friday, September 18, 2009

A GIFT OF LOVE AND UNITY

A GIFT OF LOVE AND UNITY
Cross of Grace received an unexpected letter from Pr. Robert G. Schaefer, Director of Worship with the ELCA. Here is some of what he said. "Here are some tools for your hands to use in God's work! The Churchwide Assembly began, ended, and was centered in word and sacrament, prayer and song. Enclosed is the gift of a set of communion vessels that was used at the liturgy of Holy Communion celebrated at the center of each day's work at the assembly. This gift comes with our prayer that the means of grace, the weekly gathering of the assembly around word and sacrament, will stand at the center of the life of your congregation, just as the eucharistic liturgy stood at the center each day of the assembly's life. The global origin of the tools we are sending you serves as a reminder of the universal nature of God's work. Each communion vessel is hand-made of natural and recycled material by local artisans of fair-trade companies."

Cup
The hand-blown glass cup was made by Palestinian artisans at the Hebron Glass and ceramics Factory.

Pitcher
The hand-blown recycled glass pitcher was made in Dhaka, Bangladesh, at Jahanara Cottage Industries. Artisans sort, wash, melt, and reform the glass. Locally harvested palm leaf fibers are washed, dried in the sun and woven over the glass.

Basket
Spiraling patterns in earth tones of dark brown, adobe, and wheat adorn this hand-woven basket from Uganda. Natural and dyed raffia palm leaves are woven around banana fiber.

Basket Liner
The colorful basket liner was woven by women in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala.

***********************


All of these items are centered around local and/or villages industries to assist in helping people, especially women, become economically independent.

We praise God for their work and for these lovely gifts that will be used when Cross of Grace Lutheran Church begins worship.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

HEALTH CARE REFORM


Our country is in the grips of one of the most heated domestic debates that has occurred since the Civil Rights era. It is a debate that has caused a myriad of reactions ranging from heated discussions to downright mean and vicious comments. The debate has brought out the worst and the best of us as a nation as we wrestle with the issue of providing health care to the people of our nation.


Health care reform seems to have developed emotion that is wrapped up around several concepts, taking in to account foreign health care systems:



  • It is socialized medicine.

  • We will end up like other countries with nationwide health care, rationing through limited choices, and long lines to receive health care.

  • Foreign health-care systems are inefficient, bloated bureaucracies.

  • Cost controls stifle innovation.

  • Health insurance has to be cruel because it is impersonal.

In addition, there are claims that we will, if not directly then indirectly, develop a practice of euthanasia. I don’t believe that, but the issue is whether you do.


As responsible citizens, when we hear these comments, we need to find out for ourselves to what extent, if any, they are true. We need to determine for ourselves the responsibility of this country for all of its citizens. Politicians, no matter what side of the fence they are on, will paint a picture favorable to their perspective.


There are deep concerns about the overall cost. Those concerns are real and need to be honestly evaluated by our national leaders.


At its recent Church-wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the assembly approved the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Assembly, commit this church in all of its expressions to the premise that “each person should have ready access to basic health care services that include preventive, acute, and chronic physical and mental health care at an affordable cost.

This is a commitment we can make. As the ELCA believes, adequate health care for the wealthiest country in the history of this world is a right, not a privilege.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

TELLING BIBLE STORIES



Beginning a new mission is not just knocking on doors and attempting to identify prospects for the new mission. Of course, that’s the primary purpose. However, there are other areas to focus upon. One of those is to serve where God has called.
Several months ago, when I returned to Jonesborough to live full time, I was asked by Wellington Place, an assisted living community, to teach a Bible class to Alzheimer residents with other residents participating. I said to myself, “O God, what should I do?” Well, I agreed to do it. Subsequently, I decided to tell stories. (After all, we live in Jonesborough.) I use PowerPoint and images from the internet.
Since we began this story telling in Lent, I began with the passion of Christ. Then, we moved to Jesus’ resurrection. Afterward, we went back to the beginning. We started with creation. We have now finished Joshua and the Judges.
It’s been a joyous experience for me. Yes, some are Alzheimers “victims.” Some have various stages of dementia. Then, there are those who are residents for one reason or another who cannot take care of themselves. They all enjoy the stories. The images presented by PowerPoint provide a focus for the residents as the story unfolds. I enjoy telling them.
My major theme is that God loves us. I always attempt to remind those present of that love through the stories that are told. We always end singing, “Jesus Loves Me.”
What began for me as a fearful request has ended as a blessing.