Talks A Lot

I was readying to head out of the church today to attend our semi-annual Regional Board meeting. I told the church secretary where I was headed and for how long. She's not a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She said, "you all like to talk a lot don't you?"

Yeah, I guess we do.

The work of the Holy Spirit among us begins with a conversation. The work of the church begins with a conversation as well. Conversation leads to understanding. Understanding has the possibility of leading to a common sense of purpose.

So, I hope we talk a lot. But even more, I hope the conversation leads to action as the Holy Spirit leads us. Because the Holy Spirit has begun the conversation. It's ours to take up.

Advent

Today is the start of a new year according to the Christian liturgical calendar. The new year starts with a focus on being prepared for the coming of the Lord. Advent has always held a double meaning; that of preparation for the birth of Jesus and that of preparation for the Second Coming of the Risen Christ. Focusing on these two things seems appropriate as the new year begins.

Of course the new year and the focus on nativity coincides with the retail celebration of Christmas and Santa and all that consumer-driven excitement. There are some in the Christian family who don't want this to be called the "Holiday Season" because it detracts from Christmas but, to me, that's wrongheaded. Christmas has been all but completely co-opted by retail sales and all those cutesy movies about family tradition. It's about Santa Claus and reindeer and Frosty and the Grinch. Those are all wonderful in their own rite. But, they have nothing to do with the Nativity. I have no trouble in naming things separately. There are holiday things. There are Christmas things and there are Nativity things.

Macy's could care less about Jesus. They are interested in the bottom line. They have no concern for Hanukkah. They want to see a rising sales curve. I don't mean to single out Macy's. It's the same for all big box retailers. Christmas gets their balance sheet healthier. That's what it's all about for them.

I enjoy buying gifts and the family celebrations. I love the Christmas songs of Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I enjoy watching people open presents on Christmas day and I have my own great memories of getting up before the sun to see what was under the tree. I have no trouble calling it Christmas or Holiday time as long as we are careful to talk about the Nativity with a completely different voice.

The Nativity is about a humble husband and wife who are under the orders of the strong and oppressive government to return to their home town and pay taxes. It is about a child laid in a feeding trough on a bed of hay and wrapped in bands of rags and the lowliest of job-holders in all of society; shepherds, being the first to hear the news.

To me, it's all good. Just don't confuse Santa with Jesus or give his magical appearing with gifts any time in the church. That place belongs to Jesus.

The First Presidential Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

THANKSGIVING DAY 1789
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
GO. WASHINGTON.

Patience

I was asked today, "what is your greatest ministerial challenge?" My answer? "Patience."

Earlier in the week I posted as my Facebook status, "Patience with people who threaten to disturb your inner peace amounts to listening to the gentle whisper of the holy." It drew a lot of response from people because I guess a lot of us have a problem with patience when it comes to others. Some people try us, and some people try us intentionally. They like to get us riled up.

I think that's certainly true when it comes to the pastor/parishioner relationship. I believe some people enjoy playing roast the preacher. Whatever they can do to be a burr under the saddle they will do it; and, they seem to get some pleasure out of it too.

So, yeah, patience is my greatest challenge as a pastor.

I've been accused of being too patient. One person who used to work with me would criticize me for moving too slowly, for letting church members get away with too much, for being too laissez faire. There may be some truth to that because another great challenge for me is conflict. When it's head on, I'm good, but, when it comes from the undermine and it's up to me to address it I don't get quite so motivated. But, as for being too patient, I think I have a ways to go to reach that state.

Still, I try always to take a long view. I absolutely always know where I am headed. I absolutely always have a clear goal in mind. I also realize there are many paths to the end of the trail. We can get to the goal many ways. Sometimes there are setbacks, but, I believe if I can keep moving in the direction of the ultimate goal that somehow I am going to get there and lead the people in my charge there as well.

Idyllic optimism? Maybe. Patience. Maybe a little. It's the way I try to work and co-exist and lead.

Someday I'll get there and I hope that I will have taught and learned along the way. Until then; patience and perseverance.

13

Dallas is 13. A certified teenager. Wow, that happened fast didn't it?

Living with my child is difficult, rewarding, and perplexing. He doesn't make things easy because he doesn't understand that to be his job. As he sees it his job is to live a carefree existence where he gets what he needs and what he wants and the rest of us hold the position of his servant.

I am hoping he will learn otherwise. I am hoping he will learn that Jesus was a servant to all and a master to none. I am hoping he will learn that while he is indeed special, so is everyone else on the planet. I am hoping he will learn that truth is more important than popularity or riches. I am hoping he will always give his best, speak his best, offer his best -- because you know, when he does, he's pretty wonderful.

13 is the number of men there were in that crowd that wandered through the Israeli countryside; Jesus and the twelve. 13 is the age at which Jewish boys and girls are offered the rite of passage into adulthood. 13 is also the age which Native American boys became warriors. It's a big year.

As Dallas moves into his teen years and grows in stature, in knowledge and I hope in faith as well I ask for your prayers, your support, your wisdom and your help. Affirm him when he does well. Steer him when is wandering off the path. Answer his questions if he asks. Accept his hugs and offer him one now and then. Respect him. Love him.

Thank you.

The Revised Common Lectionary

I have a deep appreciation for the Revised Common Lectionary. Using the Lectionary takes a chunk of the human word out of sermon and worship planning and allows more divine Word to be heard.

The Revised Common Lectionary was revised and began to be used in 1994 based on the Common Lectionary which came into use in 1983. The Revised Common Lectionary has the support of the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal, Methodist, Prebyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ. It spans a three year period with the general rule being that for every Sunday of the year there is a prescribed reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Psalms, the Epistles and the Gospels. Over a three year period virtually all of the Bible is touched.

The major principle behind the lectionary is that on a Sunday members of congregations should be able to hear the voice of each writer week by week, rather than readings being selected according to a theme. Thus, in any given year the writer of one of the first three gospels will be heard from beginning to end. Likewise the rest of the New Testament is heard, in some cases, virtually in total, in others in large part.

As I said, this takes much of the human word out of the picture and keeps us from preaching what we think ought to be preached. The pulpit is no place to grind an axe or to release the frustrations of a pastor. It is the place from where the Word of God should rightly proceed. Thematic preaching is helpful, necessary and often quite illustrative of the great truths of the scriptures. The Lectionary is sometimes set to the side when themes need to be preached to a particular congregation because the Lectionary is itself an implement for preaching and not a rule that must be followed. Still, the Lectionary can save the congregation from preachers intent on getting THEIR point across. For that reason alone it is a useful instrument.

The Lectionary also instills a discipline on the preacher. It causes us to examine the whole Bible and not just the parts we like the most. It challenges the preacher to find within its prescribed texts the Word of God the congregation needs to hear. It is difficult, though not impossible, to manipulate the Lectionary to one's own purposes. As a discipline the Lectionary invites the preacher into each portion of the scriptures and then asks the preacher to listen for the Word of God rather than reading it into a text.

I don't always like the Lectionary. Sometimes the prescribed texts are difficult to preach or don't speak to my listening ear. There are times when I get stuck trying to hear. But, I will most likely always be primarily a Lectionary preacher. It puts me in the proper place in the pulpit.

Can't Stay Away from Dangling Bait

Sometimes people ask you a question or make a statement that is cryptic and veiled. They do that so that when you respond you are caught unaware or perhaps trapped into admitting something you might not otherwise reveal. It is a passive-aggressive form of communication rather than just a straightforward speaking of the mind. When lulled into one of these conversations you are often embarrassed, surprised and not often allowed to offer any deeper answer. In our sound-bite world this seems to be ever-more true. Journalists and political pundits are looking for that shocked, surprised answer or just a strange reaction so that they claim a "Youtube" moment.

I don't like being baited. But you know, I can't seem to lay off that dangling bait either. Some years ago when I was in elementary school I talked too much in class and the teacher assigned me sentences to write. What did the sentence say? "My mouth gets me in trouble when I talk too much." One of these days I will take that lesson to heart.