I just participated in the funeral of a long time church member this week. I invited the previous pastor of the church I serve to come and assist in the funeral. They were good friends and shared a long in his tenure here. In hearing the former pastor's words, sharing conversation with he and his wife at the luncheon, I heard Jesus words about taking on his yoke and the burden. I have to be honest I have really been over using the comment, "Seriously?" But I heard those words after that day of the funeral and thought Seriously, Jesus?
The former pastor shared the fact that the man we were speaking of was one who understood the idea dn actions and involvement needed in being a disciple. He built this "grill." I have it in quotes because to see it you would say that is more than just a grill. It is a cooking machine. Several propane tanks, large surface area and the ability to attach it to a tow hitch and take it anywhere, was really a work of art. John, the deceased, used that grill not just for church functions but along side the church. He often grilled for the community attracting people with some great eats.
The church sadly while, the actual facility is in immaculate shape, the membership has grown older, people have moved away and there are no children. So goes the saga of a city church as more people live for short periods of time before moving on. As I spoke with the former pastor at lunch, he shared that he was enjoying his retirement. But as we talk about the church in specific and the general church health, it was clear his retiring came for him after being tired of trying in my opinion. He and his wife shared his passion for what Jesus calls us to do and be. He shared how he would often speak the truth to power in conference meetings but only to go unheard. As we talked and I shared my story, letting the lines replay through the rest of the day, I began asking myself if this was to be my fate as well? Would my "banging my head against the wall" attempting to turn churches around simply end up in my wanting to ask to serve a church where I could "relax" and bide my time until retirement? Would the infrastructure of the United Methodist Church, burden me with more statistics, requirements, hammering me about apportionments, and such that it would lead to the beating down of my spirit for ministry? Has it already done that? To me? To others?
In several of my appointments, I have gotten so far with people being excited about what is happening to only have to move because they couldn't afford full time ministry, or the people who want their "club" back complaining to others about me. I do not envy the district superintendent's job. To have to visit so many churches, and attempt to get a handle on where they are based on your pastor's assessment, or those of the church cannot and is not an easy job. After yesterday I wondered if like myself, they too have been beaten down to a point where it is easier to allow the status quo to reign than to challenge churches so that apportionments are paid and visionary pastors are moved on. Or where they visionaries at one time but through the infrastructure, lost that because the institution needed propped up? Are we all like the picture to the left feeling off our feet and going nowhere?
In speaking to the people in the Gospel of Matthew, he said, ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(NIV) 
But read it again in The Message: ^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Have we taken what Jesus has given us in this yoke & burden and put all kinds of layers on it that it is no longer what He intended? I have seen it on a sign: "Love Me. Love Others. It isn't rocket science. -God." I believe in the United Methodist Church because it ties together in faith the concepts of social & personal holiness. But for those of us as clergy or lay leadership in our local churches, I think are losing this. When we become tired of fighting for the least and the lost, when we would rather keep our mouths shut so we don't move to another church, we have given in to the loss of the dream of the kingdom that has been given to us to share. 
I will be honest, I do not know where I will land. That is for God to decide. Wherever I land I pray that it will be a place that is not afraid to be who God called them to be. Jesus was always upsetting the applecart of the comfortable people in the religious world he lived in. Should we not be doing that as well, job security or not? The other part of the this scripture is about rest. Clergy as well as lay people need rest to continue living a life of the gospel. Always take time and don't feel guilty. Jesus spent time away in communion with God. We should be doing no less and in these days we need it more often.
May God grant us all who are working for His kingdom rest and a reminder that the yoke is easy and the burden light in spite of all the infrastructure. I may be struggling but I would not trade a day in Christ's service. May the moments of the inbreaking of the kingdom make our hearts sing and move us forward in service through grace. Easy Yoke? Light Burden? Seriously? YES!

Last week I was on vacation. Normally, I don't travel anywhere or do day trips to various places. However this year was different. I have been dating Cathy for the nine months. She and I and her daughter Caitlyn, went to Ocean City Maryland. What you need to understand is that Caitlyn is a special needs child. She is 20 yrs old, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, suffers seizures, diabetes, unable to speak and is wheelchair bound. As I have gotten to know Cathy, I have also gotten to know Caitlyn. Some people might think Cait can't experience the world around her. You would be wrong. She loves pudding. She loves to laugh. While she may not be able to see except for shadows, her eyes can tell a story.
Cathy told me that Cait loves to travel in the van. That was pretty clear by her expressions in between naps on the four hour trip. Yet I was to experience so much more from Cait's perspective. While her hearing is oversensitive, and we needed to protect her eyes from the sun with sunglasses, She wanted to spend every minute in her chair on the balcony. We moved her inside the room from the balcony and she had what could be described as a meltdown. Yet we didn't want her to get sunburned. So we put the front wheels of the wheelchair over the threshold of the balcony door with most of her inside. IN a split second she was quiet and relaxed again.
I can sit her at my computer and tell you that she also loved the boardwalk. Cait likes to be in motion. If you stop pushing her in her chair for too long. Well...you will know it. But the additional attraction is not simply the movement for Cait on the boardwalk. It was I believe a multi-sensory experience for a child who, again, many would think wouldn't she could experience anything. Her experience on the boardwalk was, in the hearing of the people, the seagulls, the waves. Her experience on the boardwalk was the motion of her chair as well as the "bumps" of the actual boardwalk as her wheels traveled over each board. And while she may not be able to see as you and I do, the light and dark of the experience, along with all the other senses, brought her to her place of peace.
Too often in our lives we see aside other people's experience in favor of what we know and experience. rather than listening and hearing how something impacts or impacted someone, we assume we know. I have been on mission trips to Russia and heard people ask, "How can people live like that?" The fact is if you lived the way they do, you too would have to adapt as they have. One of my pet peeves is hearing people say, "I know how you feel." Often it is said as something for comfort. But can we truly understand how people feel? How they experience things we have not experienced?
In my short time getting to know Cait, I have seen someone, again who one might think has no concept of the world around, experience the world I experience, in a way that is as real as what I experience or even more so for Cait. Most times, there are few activities for Cait. She has come to enjoy those experiences we often take for granted. The brightness and the warmth of the sun in our face. The sounds of the waves crashing against the shoreline with seagulls crying all around. The feel of the sand, the "bumps" of the boardwalk and so much more.
Take some time to focus. Take a deep breath and listen. Take a deep breath and look around. We all have a different perspective on this world around us. No one is better than another. Yet together, our perspectives can make our world come alive in ways we hadn't ever thought of before. Cathy and I may be able to share our worlds with each other without even thinking. But I have found that I am also enjoying the perspective that God has given Caitlyn to share. Maybe if we took some extra time with people like Ciatlyn, we might be able to understand this world in a whole new way.
Peace

This past week I got a belated but expected birthday gift: a colonoscopy. I turned 50 in December of last year and it didn't take long for my health insurance folks, who are very preventive conscious, reminded me of my age and the need to have this screening done. 

A couple weeks ago, I and another colleague were invited to offer a short seminar on Holy Communion for a district's licensed local pastors. I am part of a group called the Order of Saint Luke. The Order of Saint Luke is dedicated to sacramental and liturgical scholarship, education, and practice. As a religious order, it is a dispersed community of women and men, lay and clergy, from many different denominations, seeking to live the sacramental life. The Order is Wesleyan and Lukan in its spirituality, Methodist in its origins, sacramental in its practice, and ecumenical in its outlook. Part of our rules of life include magnifying the sacraments. It is about worshiping them it is about holding them up as symbols of our faith, as symbols of God's grace and a way to living as a holy and a living sacrifice in union with Christ's offering for us.
That being said we had a wonderful exchange of ideas and questions regarding practice, liturgy and some nuts and bolts of the How tos. Overall I know my colleague and I were very pleased with what we heard in their practice remaining faithful to the sacraments.
During both sessions, my colleague Kathy asked the question about how many of these pastors saw people during the use of intinction for Holy Communion, pinch the bread with two fingers and try to dip the bread in the cup or faux dip the bread so they didn't have to touch the juice in the cup. Many of the grou p giggled at what they heard and yes that had happened. Kathy proceeded to share that God and Jesus don't want us to "take" a pinch but receive all that God has for us through Christ. When we come to communion, we are looking for grace to continue our journey and to receive abundantly.
There are two services where I serve. At the early service, we get a small number of people and I do not always have someone to assist in communion. So I will bring the bread and the cup forward, saying the words as they take some of the bread. I had to laugh and giggle a little bu moreover became concerned as all of the 15 plus people in worship all took only a pinch of Jesus. Then some didn't even let the bread, small as it was, it the grape juice or they confidently "faux" dipped the bread in the cup. I was concerned one because some see intinction as a way of transmission of germs. Well when one takes only a "pinch of Jesus" and then hits the juice with that tiny bit and their fingers, is it any wonder people see it that way. I was also concerned that in their taking only a "pinch of Jesus" that they were saying, this was all their faith could handle or how much they really wanted to have Jesus in and around their life.
At the end of the service, I asked everyone how many took only a pinch of bread. I shared with them that Jesus did not say come to me all you were heavy laden and I will give you a pinch. Jesus didn't say I have come that you might have life but only a pinch. NO! Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly! I make two large loafs of bread each month just for this service. God's grace is not given out in a pinch but in overflowing abundance.
The sacrament of Holy Communion is an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace given to us even though we do not deserve it. We should not come and approach receiving the sacrament as if we don't deserve it or are worthy. The fact is we are not BUT...because of what Jesus did for you and for me, we are made worthy, as we are justified in our faith to come forward and partake of the holiest meal!
So the next time you have communion at your church, help people to understand they need to stop pinching Jesus and take hold of all God has promised through him by accepting or breaking off a hunk of bread so that we all might "taste and see how good the Lord!"

Have a Blessed Holy Week and a Joyous Celebration of the Resurrection!

I have made two trips recently which frustrated me but also provided some insight into our journey into Lent. The trip was round trip from Harrisburg to Kingston, PA and back. The trip north was a tough one. I love driving, but it becomes tiring for me when dealing with the elements. For the trip north, the element was fog. For the first part of the trip it was light and visibility was not bad. As I began to go up in elevation and mountains, specifically the area of Schuylkill County PA, the fog as with most weather in that area, goes from bad to worse sometimes. This was one of those times. The fog become more dense and difficult to see through. I did my best to concentrate on tail lights in front of me and the reach of my low beam headlights. I was doing pretty well. That was until people, who do not know their own capacity to drive in difficult weather, and do not know their vehicle capabilities, seemed to take bead on my vehicle. Cars which had passed me like I was standing still were now at a crawl if you can call 50MPH a crawl. In fact, if memory serves me correctly hazard flashers should be used when traveling below 40MPH. I was unaware  the law had changed to go faster than the speed limit as one person flew by me. Then there were the people travelling slower than they should on an interstate. I found myself using my cruise control to maintain my speed only to have to continually shut it off because of the spasmodic driving by those around me> People were speeding up and slowing down rather than maintaining their speed appearing to use cruise control.
Once we got through that particular county the fog cleared and, people "returned to normal."
The same thing occurred on my return trip. Same county but this time, what started as rain, became snow in that county. It was the kind of snow that "comes at you" through the windshield if you know what I mean. Again people were clearly not confident of their driving abilities for whatever reason. In fact one vehicle, a 4x4 SUV, I passed at least half a dozen times without changing my speed as they could not figure out the capabilities they had to drive in this weather and that of their vehicle. The worst part was this vehicle PASSED  me the same number of times I passed it in this snow squall and it would fade out of sight after passing. Then it would come back into view.
As Christians we sometimes are unsure of ourselves and our abilities to live out our faith. First we have to know what gifts we have. There are many spiritual gift surveys which will help you find them and use your passion to live out the Gospel. The second thing is being a part of a community of faith. Many people are struggling with the same issue of capabilities. This community of faith can encourage, teach and provide fellowship around who we are and what we are called to do.
If we don't find out what we have and how to use it, how can we ever expect to become who God has called us to be? Just llke driving a car in difficult weather, where one must trust driving skills and the capabilities of the vehicle, so too as a Christian we must learn our capabilities. We must have faith in God, the gifts God has given and the passion/drive we have to live out our calling. If we don't we end up starting, stopping, turning around and getting lost in the process. That is where a community can help. Communities of faith help us understand our gifts, find our unique calling, lift us when we fail and cheer us and praise God when the Spirit helps us succeed in our mission.
Weather can change in an instant. So when driving you need to be ready. Life is the same way. We never know when something surprises us, like an illness which causes us to slow down a little to get our bearings and move slowly in order to be sure we get where we are going.
As we travel in Lent 2012, know your capabilities, connect with a community of faith and trust in God to help you become who you are called to be.
PS- If I ever pass you on the road, just a reminder, it isn't NASCAR! Arrive alive!
Peace

There was a time in my life when I  winced when someone said "wait till you're fifty!" Well here I am at fifty and I am waiting for that other shoe to drop they talked about. I thought there were be some magical change as I turned fifty but it seems that it is a much more gradual change. I here a friend get up and groan and creak and ask when did that happen. When did falling asleep before 9PM become the norm? Oh and the one we all suffer with when ready is when someone asks, "Do you need me to make your arms longer to read that?"
Well here I am at fifty saying to myself, I have my health, I have an AWESOME bunch of friends and family, and I have my faith. As some of you have followed this blog, I have to say, I have had my share of struggles personally and in ministry. I have done my best to follow God's voice, and do the will in mission and ministry. However, when I have been knocked down, it is my faith that says don't quit, get up and find another way. I am finding my faith has been an umbrella over my life for when it rains & pours because that is how life can be. Age can sometimes be a marker for us but it can also be a challenge, a touchstone as we continue along the journey we call life.
I have been preaching in Advent using the book by Adam Hamilton called "The Journey." It chronicles the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem beginning with the announcement and taking us too the manger. In one chapter Hamilton talks about how before she even heard the story Elizabeth spoke with the Holy Spirit proclaiming how blessed Mary is. "Blessed are you," Blessed is the child," Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises through her." Wow! Before even telling her story, with fear, confusion, and worry within her, all disappeared as Elizabeth confirmed the story the angel told Mary. Once those blessings are confirmed, then she sings, "My soul magnifies the Lord!"
As we have been moving through the journey of Advent, and I have moved through the marker of age know as fifty, I could not help but feel like Mary approaching Elizabeth. I have answered God's call long ago and wondered if I was missing something, was I crazy or what? Then I came to this new place. I journeyed to a church in Harrisburg. With my friends, family and the new friends I have met here, I have experienced the grace that comes from being a part of the Body of Christ. I cannot imagine, what it is like to struggle at this time of year, without faith, and then add to it turning a milestone age like 50. What I can know is that because of God' prevenient grace, always reaching, always calling us back, I have experienced more grace and love and mercy in my short life than I ever thought possible! All it took was saying yes to God as Mary did and having it confirmed by many who called me blessed. From that moment on, I have tried, not always successfully, to live a life that shows grace, love. I am by no means perfect, just forgiven. I thank God for this journey. And even though, i find myself squinting to read something, or complaining of aches and pains, or I make noises and creak when I get up, I give thanks to God! Rejoice always. Again I say Rejoice. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. May the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus, his Son continue to bless us on our journeys no matter what age we are at.
Peace and Merry Christmas to you all!

Several weeks ago I was invited to participate in an EMS, Emergency Medical Service event to be held at the the Capital Building in Harrisburg PA sponsored by the Ambulance Association of Pennyslvania. I was asked to be at the memorial service to offer an invocation before their program. Part of that program was to remember those who died on 9/11 as well as those members who died in the line of duty or other deaths in the last year. As I approached the location where the shuttle was to take us from there to the capital building, I got some chills and memories flooding back.
I was dressed in my collar and professional garb. I was escorted into their offices and saw a huge board with who was on duty etc. The memories of laughter, coffee, the often long wait between calls and the busyness of the multiple call day all came back. Then the patients, the tough calls and my partners, my colleagues. Wow! Funny how for so long, I have been out of EMS/Paramedicine since 1996, that your mind doesn't necessarily close off those memories, but kind of packs them away.
As I was looking at the whiteboard with all that information I saw a name or should I saw the last name of someone who was not only supervisor but someone I had come to know as a brother in EMS. In fact I got a chance to see him and chat before the event started. I often said I would stay in EMS at least 20 years. Made it to 16 years before God had other plans for me. I saw several other folks before had who either I knew or knew someone I knew from my early days, or I guess the phrase now is "back in the day."
When we got to the part where names were read and a bell rang out for each person who had died, the emotions of who these people were came back. I told the group gathered it was "good to be with my brothers and sisters in EMS." I may not be practicing but I still am a "member" of this group. I felt that connection again to this group of people who lay their lives on the line every day.
After the brief service, a guy came up to me and said my name and threw his arms around me. I joked at the dinner with a larger EMS group, I was wondering who the hell this guy was? Sorry Jim! I finally remembered him and he and I went to paramedic school together so long ago. Wow the years had been long but it was in that brief moment when we were reminiscing about a call I had by myself, that the years disappeared and we were right back there. We shared about a call I was on when I taught the family CPR as we were waiting for a BLS unit for a LONG time. We laughed and chatted and remembered. I was hoping he would be at the dinner later but he had to heard back. Then I met another person from Middletown who knew me Kevin. Stay in touch Kevin!  Wow! Another person knew some of the people I worked with so long ago at Polyclinic Medic 5. And I do owe Bruce donuts because of a tv spot they saw me on. Small price to pay to see friends again. Although not good for the waistline.
Then at dinner that evening, I met a young man who started running EMS in the Hazelton area who knew people in the area I started off in EMS. As the program at the dinner awarded Stars of Life to many people from around the state for their dedication to their EMS path, I was struck by how much things have not changed.  First was the dedication of these men and women, just as it was when I ran  EMS. Second what did change was that I realized that I can't go back to running EMS again. I know my limitations and between doing what I do now and trying to gain continuing education for EMS and all the other requirements, I just can't do it anymore. Which was part of the reason I 1) got out and 2) God found me another way to help save people. I did realize what I can do: I can support them with spiritual guidance and counsel when they need it. I hope to do that not only in my capacity as a pastor, but through the critical incident stress debriefing training I have taken recently.
Friends, we take these folks for granted each and every day. We call 911 an expect them to be there as fast as our cheeseburger at McDonald's. In the ceremony yesterday, one of the speakers mentioned that in the short time he was speaking, less than 5 minutes, statistics showed that in that time, 45 EMS calls were initiated. Whether it be police, fire, EMS, please take the extra time to say "Thank You." Just as those in the Body of Christ are my brothers and sisters, these first responders are my brothers and sisters too. They may be a smaller group of Christ's Body but part of it none the less. When we remember together we re-member the Body. Whether be from EMS days or should that be daze, to being together in our faith and re-membering the  Body of Christ, we are brothers and sisters together. These folks work had to train, learn the latest techniques in order to serve us better in our communities. if you have ever had to use EMS system, please take time to find out who helped you and say thank you. You may have been one of a dozen or more patients that week, whether by card, letter or in person, it means more than you know to them. Take it from someone who has met former patients who were grateful for what we did. Let them know it! PS if you get a chance to visit Colorado Springs, be sure to visit the National EMS Memorial. Here's there website: http://www.nemsms.org/

I have lived all or most of my life in and around the Susquehanna an Delaware Rivers. Mostly the Susquehanna. That being said I remember floods. Not just from what other people tell me but my own experience. In 1972, I was 11. I remember the Hurricane Agnes flood as we lived in Kingston PA. All I knew is something was happening in the middle of the night as my dad woke my sister and I and drive us to a friends house in Dallas, PA. We were away for what seemed like weeks. At that time we didn't have Internet and TV news was not on 24 hours. So I remember the siren sound on the radio as the announcer talked about people needed to get out. I remember him telling us about a bridge from Wilkes Barre to Kingston that was gone. My first experience was when we were able to stay in our home, as the flood only damaged the second floor. It was nice to be in my own bed for a change but believe me the "flood mud" smell is one not soon forgotten.
I remembered that well in 2006 but I am getting ahead of myself. I was living in Lawnton, a suburb of Harrisburg, PA in 1996 when, while I did not have flooding, but I saw who did. I also saw the walking bridge from the West Shore to City Island get pushed off its moorings and slam into another bridge downriver and crumble like a bunch of tinker toys. Do you all know what those are? Showing my age again. lol
In 2006 I was in a place west of Binghamton, NY called Deposit. While the flooding was initially minor, the reservoir which holds drinking water for New York City was over capacity. So they group who runs that decided to let water loose to ease that situation. That devastated many people in Deposit. The parsonage was far enough away that only water got in the basement.
So now we come to 2011 in Central, Northeast PA and the Twin Tiers of New York, again. Wind and rain one week and more rain the following week. And it goes without saying that what happens not only here, but upriver, affects these regions. I have only been back n the Harrisburg area for 2 1/2 months. But as I watched the news, read messages on Facebook, I got a strong sense of heartbreak that I have had before.
You see flooding always tests our ability to let go. In 2006, I remember that it was after garbage had been picked up and i looked out and my garbage can and lid were floating in the street. I quick got changed and chased it down. I wasn't letting that get away! Flooding causes helplessness and sometimes hopelessness. I have heard and seen pictures and stories of people who know what it is to live near the river and respect it. Some who have given up and won't come back to devastation. Others have said, we know we pay to live by the river, and this is just one drawback as opposed to the blessings of living by the river. I read a story on Facebook of a friend who was traveling this week worried about what was happening in this area. She met someone who had someone in their family die on 9/11/01. She said it put things in perspective for her.
Often when I feel this heartbreak I turn to my faith and pray and stop looking at pictures and the news. It only seems to feed the helplessness and hopelessness.
In the Bible, or even on the Internet, I would encourage you, as I did, search for the words, "and Jesus had compassion." Those words and the stories of Jesus feeling there are all over. My heartbreak for so many comes from the same place Jesus' compassion comes from. From knowing that so many people are hurting, in pain and need healing and hope. At one point in the Jesus Christ Superstar play/movie Jesus is overwhelmed by it all. We can be too. That is why we are called to remember our communities and specifically the communities of faith.
In the United Methodist Church, many churches, while they may be inundated by this event, have a connection as we all do, to people who will mobilize and come in and help us get started in rebuilding not just the material things, but most importantly our hope and faith in each other. As the waters recede, as the evaluations and assessments begin, it is up to all of us in local communities and the community of faith to come together, help others dig out and lift them up in love and hope. Jeremiah tells the people that God has a plan for us, for a hope and a future. We have had out time to pray, and while we continue to pray, we are called to action.
As all of this comes together I want to give a special shout out to all the first responders but especially the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department. When I was a paramedic and worked in their EMS division, we worked together but I can say they are often taken for granted, even by myself. My guess is over the time of this event of flooding they are somewhere over 500 plus by now for help. Please take the time, if these folks, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, police, dispatchers, nurses or doctors, helped you in ANY and I do mean ANY way during this difficult time. A card, letter whatever or simply a thank you and a handshake, goes a long way for people they might not see any other time.
If you need to get involved go to www.readyPA.org

We live in a tough time for denominations don't we? While the climate in my current ministry setting is clearly open to traditional religious beliefs, the church continues to struggle. There are many "programs" out there trying to help focus people on characteristics of what a church should be. While the standards are high, i am convinced that there are two standards which we have to start with: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind body and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.
Yesterday I was a part of a meeting in which we were talking about doing ministry in our local community. That went well but the initial conversation centered around a local church which was struggling. Maybe that is a mild word to say the least. The local newspaper wrote about the many people leaving and upset at the new pastoral team placed at the church. After reading the article it referenced a YouTube video of a recent service where as the pastor challenged the people, people got up and left. It did not end there, some started to leave but began to challenge the pastor one on one in the middle of worship. Then it became more than one. I was saddened that the wish to hold tight to what we have has gotten so prevalent. Believe me I may have not been challenged in the way this pastor was, but I am familiar with the pain we as Christians tend to inflict on each other and our leaders within our denomination.
I have written in this blog before, that as a pastor I am called to be pastor, priest and prophet. The first two are easy. The third has a tendency to afflict the comfortable and cause a great deal of pinching, frustration and yes even anger. Change is never easy. But I do believe that there is a way that pastors and lay leaders within a church can take a step into the waters of change and still bring people along. Reality is that there will be people who do not want to come. Which brings me to the story of the Exodus.
I truly see the story of the Exodus and the journey to the promised land to be ours today. We are being called to step out of our comfort zones and travel into our communities and do the work Jesus gave us an example of. We must be intentional as pastor and people to be in tune with God's Word, the Holy Spirit and understand the community in which our church is located. People get tired of hearing me says this but a church does not have an intrinsic right to exist on the corner. A church cannot exist on the corner if it does not engage and become a part of the community around it. I don't mean being a good neighbor. Although we need to be that as well. I mean we need to meet the needs of the people in our community.
I often recall the image of Moses preparing to do as God suggested in order that the sea parted for the people to cross. In order to for it to happen Moses had to step into the water. He had to get wet. He also had to trust, as he had done for so long, that God would take care of the people.
As leaders and lay people in the church, with the continued decline of denominations and the constant arguments about doctrinal issues, unless we refocus on Christ and the mission we are called to, unless we step into the water, trusting fully in the grace and love of God for all of God's children, we will be overrun by what ever enemy is pursuing us.

I am not talking about us doing cannon balls into the pool to do hit or miss ministry. I am talking about taking steps into the waters of our community little by little, learning the lay of the land before we even set foot in the deep end of ministry. There may be a time where we can identify a ministry need in the deep end and must dive deep together into our community, but more often than not, we take those small steps to build up the body of Christ. The people Jesus touched richly in faith were those whose names and conditions we do not know. While Jesus perform miracles and healed many, we must remember they were done to identify who Jesus was and to show God's glory. Sadly many people wanted to see these miracles rather than hear about the good news. Remember the story of the ten lepers healed? How many came back? One.
Where God is leading us as followers of Christ is not going to be comfortable but a place of pinching. If you are someone in the pew each week feeling the pinch, don't shoot the messenger. If you are someone who is offering those prophetic words to the people, please try not to take it personally. I know how how that can be.
All that just to say this as we follow our calling and use our spiritual gifts: In Essentials Unity, InNon-Essentials, Liberty and in all Things LOVE!

I spent time in my new office at my new church on Tuesday. I managed to get some things accomplished and saved others for the following work day. After a couple of phone calls, I decided to go home and have lunch. I did some minor things around the house and then decided to lay down for a quick power nap. Before I hit the couch, my cell phone twitter notification starting beeping like crazy. I saw that a verdict had come in for the Casey Anthony trial. I turned on the tv and soon heard the outrage of many about the outcome. I heard cries that justice was not served. I heard comments that justice was served. I heard how people were taking sides. Interesting how a child’s death can cause such deep seeded anger as people look for answers and revenge/retribution for the one(s) who may or may not have had a hand in the death. As a criminal justice major, I have to say the system worked. Yet because of the human factors in defending and prosecuting the case, mistakes are made. 
As a pastor I know that God is taking care of Caylee and that when the time comes, God will have something to say to Casey and her family. Justice belongs to the Lord does it not? What kind of God do we believe in? The God I believe in loves each and every one us and wants us back in relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. For me, knowing and believing that, I see God loving Caylee. I also see God loving Casey and her family but with tears in His eyes. God will have the final word on them not us. The justice system while based on God’s law, is still administered by us imperfect human beings. I struggle with the comments about those of the jury who made their decision. Twelve imperfect people in an imperfect system trying to seek human justice for the death of this little girl. When police do not do their job well, when prosecutors and defense attorneys do not do their jobs well, justice, human justice does not always come out as we would like it. After all the anger and finger pointing die down, what are we left with? A lot of questions without answers. I cannot think of anything more important for us as humans and as people of faith to pray not just for this family, for this little girl, for all involved one way or another, but for all missing and exploited, and abused children everywhere that someone might be able to find them, rescue them, and protect them. There are many, many more children out there who are lost, alone and of different color and ethnicity who have not even had their day in court. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children quoted a study that said, 797,500 children (younger than 18) were reported missing in a one-year period of time studied resulting in an average of 2,185 children being reported missing each day. Based on that Caley Anthony was just one that day how many years ago. Our task to protect our children is a daunting one but one which we need to do a much better job of. God offers us forgiveness for not only those things we did do but for those things we didn’t do or left undone. Just because human justice was not found for Caylee, does not mean we stop seeking justice for other children who are still out there, missing or dead. If we stop, then the justice of God will come down on us. 
Children are a precious gift from God. Jesus was clear about how we were to love and care for them. A society is judged by how it treats its children….Certainly seems like we have a lot of work to do. The choice is ours. Keep screaming at the jury, prosecutors etc or work to make an impact in the life of children around you. I have a picture given to me some time ago which says, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” Maybe we should get started with just one child at a time. 

I was lying in bed watching the Celebrity Apprentice. I had just heard Lil Jon announce that his charity was The United Methodist Children's Homes. I sat up and pumped my fist because the men's team, made up of Jon Rich and Meatloaf with Lil Jon, just won the challenge and the charity got $40,000! IN a posting I saw today Lil Jon said: "I have a sister and a brother who were foster kids," Jon said of his decision to donate to the United Methodist Children's Home. "My mother ended up adopting them. I feel children shouldn't have to suffer for faults of adults." Then the scrawl at the bottom of the tv...."President Obama to make a statement beginning at 10:30PM." The news broke in just moments before Donald Trump said, "You're Fired" to someone on the women's team. Was that planned? Anyway.....
After hearing the news, sleeping on it and waking up to the news coverage, I began to have mixed feelings. I remember where I was ten years ago...sitting with clergy studying scripture for Sunday when a person popped their head in and said, "a plane just flew into the world trade center." We at first thought it was a joke but when we heard about the second plane, we prayed and went home to see what had been unfolding. A story so fresh in our memories that many after the announcement of bin Laden's death, began to party in the street. Americans all over saying the words we have heard at other times, "We got him."
I am struggling with the scenes from last night and today. People all over the US chatting, singing and celebrating the death of the most wanted terrorist. I was not disgusted by it which bothered me. I racked my brain because these scenes seemed so familiar somehow. And then it came to me...a celebration of American deaths. I understand it is the terrorist way to flaunt their success to try and demoralize or such, I think. But what are we celebrating the death of this one man for when so many have died because of terror? Then I read a tweet from Rev. Mike Slaughter the pastor at the Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City Ohio."Glad bin Laden's personal voice 4 mandate of hate silenced but also reminded of biblical mandate 4 R attitude of response in Prov. 24:17" Proverbs 24:17 reads: "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice"
I also got into a discussion about what we would do Sunday with all the events and topping it off it is Mother's Day. Some said they would only mention it in small groups where we could take it apart a little. They wouldn't mention it in worship. Others were discerning and still others said yes it should be mentioned because it brings back those images and memories of "Where were you when..." I look ed at the text of the Emmaus journey and thought maybe it should be spoken of. If we are the disciples, walking and speak to the stranger we have so many highs and lows and now the remembrance of an evil act that we would be chatting the whole way home. Imagine Jesus asked us "what are you talking about?" What would our response be? "what's a matter with you pal? bin Laden is dead!" What would Jesus open our mind up to as we walked together? Proverbs 24:17? Love God & love your neighbor? bin Laden had a mother? The children and women there had mothers? The soldiers had mothers? And what of the Navy SEAL who shot bi Laden? What is he thinking today? I don't know. All I know is that the voice of terror has been silenced but not the terror itself. I also know as a follower of Christ I am not to gloat and rejoice.  

Please be in prayer with me and so many others who are looking to recent events, highs and lows and trying to let the Spirit guide us to a gospel message to be shared.

As I prepared my sermon for this past week this song went through my head from bible school eons ago..
Dem bones, Dem bones them Dry bones
Dem bones, Dem bones them Dry bones
Dem bones, Dem bones them Dry bones
Now Hear the Word of the Lord.
Then I started to think about all the crime drama shows on TV. There is one though that is a little different than the others. That is the show Bones on the Fox Network. It seems to have a little intellectual edge to as it emphasizes forensic anthropology and archeology. The main character "Bones" is logical and trusts her experience and observation. She thinks there is a rational reasons to everything in life. She might not get the pop culture when folks around her make references to slang, metaphors, or movie quotes. When that happens she utters her signature line, "I don't know what that means." Bones gets bones as they refer to crimes and what happened. But what if she were standing in the valley of dry bones describes in Ezekiel 37:1-14?
¹ The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
   I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
 ⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
 ⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
 ⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
 ¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”
My guess is Bones would stand amid it all a little confused. She would probably taken aback as the bones came together in human form. Then she would utter her signature line, "I don't know what that means. " we might too as we stand there in that valley. The scene is weird, irrational and has no rational explanation. But this vision given to Ezekiel by God can inform us as individual Christ followers and the corporate Body of Christ. 
This vision comes as the people of Israel are in exile after the Babylonians have scorched the earth and sacked Jerusalem. God warned them what would happen if they were unfaithful. After being displaced and even losing their faith, is it any wonder in an earlier chapter they cry out to Ezekiel, "How then can we live?" The way our world is sometimes we ask the same question, "How then can we live in this world?" Haven't we asked that question too? Maybe you have made these statements. "I feel spiritual dried up. I haven't heard from God in years. My prayers feel like they never leave the room." These fell hopeless. No God. No end in sight. 
But even thought we may cry out feeling spiritually dead, these cries, these laments, are a sign of life in us.Real change comes in honesty and vulnerability before God. Read the Psalms or Lamentations and you too will read and hear how the great saints before us endured the dark nights of the soul.  We find hope again by embracing our spiritual despair. Ezekiel had to see death before he could be shown new life. There is no rational answer. But only one that can come from God. In this place Ezekiel knew that answer could only come from God to bring life. Life literally came into death as He prophesied to the wind and the life entered the "dead" bodies before him. 
The only way Ezekiel knew this was because what happened to the bones had first happened to him. What God does for us, God first of all did for Jesus. God overlooked the generations of Israel's dry and decaying spiritual life and provided undeserved blessings again. This is also know as grace. Life into death. We always have hope. There is no situation beyond God's reach. They need God's holy breath/Spirit to give us the new life. 
I have a lot of favorite movies. One that I enjoy is Tommy Boy starting Davide Spade and Christ Farley. Chris plays Tommy Boy a "screw up" of a son seeking redemption from his past mistakes. Towards the end of the movie there is redemption. He loves to get out in his boat, onto the water and sail. He does that bit there is no wind. Nothing happens. That can happen to us too. We thing if I just do this something will happen. When it doesn't we get discouraged. But no matter what difficult, dry bone time we are in, we need to keep placing out boast in to the water, shove up and raise sail. All the while praying to God, begging God, lamenting in prayers with hope and faith, that God's Holy Breath will come into us, we willingly accept it and receive new life. But it does not end there for us as Christ followers. We have to then share that with others who see nothing but a dry, dusty  valley of bones.
What have been the dry bones times in your life?
How did God breathe life into death for you?
What gives you hope in the tough times?
Try just taking a deep breath...breathe in God's Spirit! Peace as we prepare for Holy Week!
Michael W. Smith's Breathe... http://youtu.be/XgUAvMyclbU 

Friends
This week in Blain, Perry County, Pennsylvania, seven children from one family died in a house fire. While they are still in the grieving process trying to find some way to make arrangements for a loss many of us cannot even begin to understand, the Westboro Bapstist Church has decide to protest at the children's funerals. A much as I find this just disgusting and unforgiveable, I must go back to my faith and find a way to answer this group of people who have differing views of what God's kingdom is all about. In reading all this I am reminded of Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)

^43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. ⁴⁸"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."


I would call on all of us who are profess Christ, to stand up and let the family know there are people who do care, and grieve with them and do not hold this particular church's views. 
The first link below is from one of the local tv stations in the Harrisburg area. It provides an address for people to help send donations to the family. The second link is one from a story about the Westboro Baptist Church deciding to protest the funerals. 


Let's fight back in love. Let their worst bring out the best in us. Let's live generously and graciously towards this family just as God does with us!

I have been following the news this morning regarding the earthquake /tsunami in Japan causing death and devastation and now the warnings all long the west coast of the US and other areas some type of tsunami. With what is happening globally and what is happening locally here with flooding as well as up and down the east coast, I think we need to pray for each other here and around the world. I would encourage you to pray the following prayer I found on the General Board of Discipleship Website www.gbod.org and pass it along for others to pray:
Our Hearts Ache Eastward(For victims of floods, earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific)Safiyah Fosua

Over my life, I have come to appreciate all kinds of music. Being a pastor, of course, I love sacred music, hymns, praise songs etc. I find myself every so often leaning towards today's pop hits. I have heard some new artists and others that I have heard before. Katy Perry, Usher, Tai Cruize, Bruno Mars etc have become some of my new favorites. One of the artists I have heard before and enjoy their music is the artist Pink. Her current single, "Raise Your Glass" has become, dare I say it an anthem for me. I know sounds crazy. Here is a link to the official video via YouTube.
VIEWER WARNING: Some of the scenes and language may be offensive. http://youtu.be/XjVNlG5cZyQ
The lines which have meant the most to me in the song are the following: "So if you're too school for cool, And you're treated like a fool, You can choose to let it go, We can always, We can always, Party on our own."
In the video towards the end, the words to the chorus play as the faces intermingle on the screen. A reflection of the diversity of who we are and how much we all hold in common. As a Christ Follower, the song for me means we are truly to be outside of the secular world. We are to be a place that people want to point at and say "Hey look at that!" We want to be "out there" so people are so curious about us that they will want to see what makes us so strange. Peter in one of his letters even says, always be ready to answer the question as to why you have this hope!
As I struggle in my current ministry setting, there are people here feeling much like I am. Judged by what they wear, their life, their jobs, their addictions and even worse the balance in their checkbook. I am drawn to and have shared with this group words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 4 which says (Message version):"^9-13It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you." When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better. ^14-16I'm not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father. I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself."
Lent is a time of self-examination and repentance. A time to reflect on who we are, who God calls us to be and no matter how we have failed to be restored to relationship with God, each other and welcomed back into community. On this journey, if you have found yourself being judged, "being too school for cool" as Pink says, being treated like a fool, judged, take time today to come back in faith to who you are in Christ Jesus. We may be the prodigals who have spent everything. God is the prodigal as well in that God continually and without hesitation, will pour out love, grace, mercy and forgiveness on all the people. Even the people who have been judged unworthy by the Pharisees in the church. Oh and the cool thing? The Pharisees have that available to them as well!
"So Raise Your Glass, if you're wrong in all the right ways, All my underdogs, we will never be never be anything but loud, and nitty gritty, dirty little freaks, won't you come on and raise your glass."
Signed
Your fellow underdog, dirty little freak, wrong in all the right ways, Jesus Freak, brother Christ Follower!