Celebrating (Inter)/Independence!

We hold these truths to be self-evident...

Thomas Jefferson, along with a committee of five, penned for us an enduring document that has seared itself onto our collective conscience.  When he wrote that 'all men are created equal' he spoke of a fundamental belief that has guided the activity of our nation from its inception.  Whether we believe ourselves to have faithfully lived up to this ideal over the passage of time or not, nonetheless, it stands as a beacon that lights the way forward as we strive to live in accord with our most lofty goals.

As we gather this weekend for worship, we are well aware that the Bill of Rights forbids the United States Congress from making any law establishing any religion or restricting the free exercise of our faith.  As a result we are grateful that the law of the land protects our freedom to gather, worship, and even to publicly share our faith with others.  There are many nations scattered across this globe where this is clearly not true.

Yet as much as we value this ideal of independence and freedom, it is the Good News spoken by Jesus that reminds us that we are created to be interdependent alongside one another as well as with God. Not one of us is an island, and it is the Word that became Flesh that is constantly calling us into a community formed around the principle of grace.  It is this community we call the church where we are able to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ as well as ‘make our joys complete.’ 

So, I invite you to take a moment to join in corporate worship this weekend.  This is the place where independence and freedom comes face to face with interdependence and law to make a more ‘perfect union’ called the church.  It is in the midst of this interaction that the holy enters in... or so I believe.

Peace,

Pal

Father's Day

To my son and my daughter who made me a dad...

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and their sons!

Father's Day has traditionally meant the day that dad can relax from the many duties of being a father.  For some this may mean a lazy day fishing at the lake, and for others it might mean watching the final round of the US OPEN golf tournament on TV.  For some it may mean someone else stands over the Barbecue today.  For most dads this is a day to enjoy the fruits of our labors as we revel in the gift of family.

We are reminded by Jesus that this day, the sabbath is intended to be a day of rest.  That God did not intend for every day to be consumed by our labor, but that rest is necessary to our nature.  Resting on this the first day of the week is one of the ways we show our trust in God; that we are not what we earn because life begins as a gift.  Indeed the sabbath is a model for how we might look at each and every day.  I appreciate the Hebrew understanding that the day actually begins at sundown.  The implication is that the day begins with the gift of rest and that our labor does not earn us this but is in response.  Gift begets the gifting of others through our effort as well as our talents.

As we gather in worship on this Holy Trinity Sunday, we are reminded that God is like a good father.  He provides for us and he protects us.  He listens to us as he guides us.  Most importantly, he loves us not because we deserve it, but because we are his children.

Jesus was asked by his disciples to teach them how to pray, and Jesus began by saying, 'Daddy, Holy is your name.  May you reign, may your rule be evident in our world today, just as we expect in heaven.'    We know this as the Lord's Prayer.  This, however, was a significant departure from his contemporaries understanding of how God should be addressed.  In ancient Judea God's name was so holy that it was not something to make common.  Jesus wanted us to know that God is more than the great unknown, but has chosen to become familiar with us through his love.

I hope that this Father's Day is a day of celebration in your household as we remember the love that holds us together.  Whether our relationship with our father was good or bad, whether we feel we are fulfilling our expectations as a father or not, may we remember that today of all days, that God our Father loves us and may that be enough.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus. - Romans 8

Mission Trips...

This summer we are sending several of our youth on mission trips to Haiti and to Mexico.  There they will encounter a culture that is different from ours, they will experience hardships and joys that might be foreign to their experience, and hopefully they will see Jesus.

I'm aware as we move from the planning to the participation phase of these trips that it is far too easy for our vision to be corrupted.  It is our human nature, even in the most altruistic circumstances, to start thinking about what's in it for me?  For those who have gone before, they want it to be just like last time.  For those who have never gone, they're motivated by the stories of others, and hope for something like that for themselves.  The truth, however, is that it is never the same.  The reality is that   unless we leave our expectations behind we are surely to be disappointed.

This, however, is not simply an issue for those going on a mission trip, but it is what we in the church wrestle with all the time.  If we had a good experience, we want the church to remain unchanged, at least until we become bored with it.  If we had a bad experience we forever judge the church by what occurred.   It is easy to come to church looking for what's in it for me, rather than hoping to be pushed beyond what is comfortable.  As one who works in the church, I must admit, I want people to leave with their expectations exceeded.  I wonder what it would be like if we expected the church to make us upset and angry, and we walked out far more frustrated and upset than we expected?  Does Good News always need to leave us feeling good, or can it be like a mirror before our face questioning our superficiality and challenging us to get just mad enough that we won't sit quietly in the pews?

The world is filled with stories of woe, and if we simply comfort ourselves without being pushed to do more, I believe we have missed the point. Whether we are overseas or close to home, I for one hope the gospel will make us uncomfortable enough that we will not stand on the sidelines any longer.  I hope we all can see ourselves as missionaries.

Peace,
Pal

In Memorial...

In memory of my dad and all those who have served...

It was after the incredible loss of life on both sides during the American Civil War that a day was set aside to decorate the graves of those who had fallen.  What was once known as Decoration Day has come to be known as Memorial Day in the United States.

This is a day when we as a nation pause and give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to sustain our liberty and preserve our nation.   This is a sacred trust that goes beyond party affiliation, economic status, or ethnic identity.  As a people of faith, we too share our gratitude for the freedoms that are ours today because of the sacrifice others have made along the way.

Within our Christian tradition there may be times when we might debate how best to respond to the tyrannies inflicted upon us by the principalities of this world.   As Lutheran Christians we recognize that the world is broken and that people of faith can rightfully seek different paths toward the resolution of the evils we face.  Yet, it is on a day such as this, that we rush to join hands in common bond as we honor those who willingly bore the burden and stood tall to face down our fears.  They are our fathers, our brothers, and our sons.  They are our mothers, our sisters, and our daughters.  They are our heroes.

Today we remember all who have served the cause of justice, liberty, and of freedom.  Today we honor those who have given their life, and we dedicate ourselves once again to strive for justice, to demand liberty, and to work for freedom.  Today we, the people of Peace, pray that all who have perished in this cause may rest in peace.  May their deaths be not in vain, but may their lives point to a future peace for us all.

Peace,

Pal

Life and...

This past weekend I was engaged in a charity ride around Sedona, AZ for the National MS Society.  It was a grueling ride with lots of sharp climbs and steep descents.  High temperatures and high winds just added to the suffering.  But it was all for a good cause!

This was all put in perspective when I came to a rest stop up on the plateau outside Cornville and saw several emergency vehicles.  A rider had been struck by a vehicle and had been whisked off in a helicopter to Flagstaff.  Later that night we found out she didn't make it.

Now there were many places along the route where one might have expected an accident to happen.  The route was difficult and the roads often were narrow and well-trafficed.  This, however, was not one of those spots.  Signage was up warning drivers of the riders along the road, visibility was great and while narrow, the road was plenty wide to accommodate riders and drivers alike.  Yet, it did happen.

Now I know that we ride in these charity events to ease the life of another, and they all involve negotiating donations for the sake of the organization sponsoring the ride.  Yet in the middle of a steep climb, it's hard to look beyond our own suffering.  As the heat bears down on us on the road it is easy to feel sorry for oneself.  As the miles ahead seem endless and the wind blows in our face it is tempting to just give up.

Yet it is our suffering that connects us to another human being.  It is the pain we shared that became the common story that bonded unique individuals into a collective gathering.  It is in our own experience of struggle and the helplessness that inhibits us, that we discover the wonder of grace.   Everyone of us knew that it could have been any one of us, but for the grace of God.

So coming out of Cornville that day, climbing up a mile long 7% grade road, I tried to remind myself to be thankful for the suffering.  The suffering connects me to the needs of others, but in addition it reminds me I am human.   It creates within me empathy for those other humans out in the world, even the ones who strike down good deeds doing cyclist.

Ultimately, suffering connects me to grace of God found in unlikely places.  Rather than running (riding) in fear of it, I believe it may not only lead to a deepness of life, but a grater breadth of experience as well.  My suffering leads to trusting in the promise that he is there in the middle of the mix.

I hope and pray that the family of that woman will be able to experience God's grace in their heartache, and I pray that I will be able to extend that grace to others even when they do not meet my expectations (and vice versa!).

Peace,
Pal

Unknown God...

The text this week is from Acts 17   Paul gives his take on the 'Unknown God.'

Now this is an interesting text for me.  Paul is distressed by all the 'idols' in the city of Athens.  The Athenians want to cover all the options and so they even dedicate a temple to an 'unknown god.'  Now I can understand that God is beyond our comprehension and that any claim of full disclosure is pure folly.  The Athenians, however, weren't simply saying that God is bigger than anything we can imagine, but that there just might be a god out there that we don't yet know. So in an a attempt to appease him/her they develop a shrine just in case.

Rather than show his disgust with these idols, Paul goes the opposite direction.  He tells the Athenians that they must be highly religious.  Then he goes on to give them a picture of this foreign God he knows but is unknown to them.

Interestingly, he doesn't dive into a discourse on the nature of the incarnation, nor does he talk about Christ crucified.  Instead he speaks to what we know as natural revelation.  Natural revelation is the stuff people talk of when they look at a beautiful sunset and say 'there must be a God.'  Natural revelation is when you begin to reflect upon the complexity of life and the intricacy of our biological systems, and you admit that there is some sort of 'intelligent design' going on here.  Natural revelation is one way in which the love of God is revealed to the world and can encompass more than the Christian faith.

On the other hand, we Christians speak of specific revelation.  Specific revelation is what we experience through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  In other words, Jesus is the short cut through which we see the nature of God.

To put it another way, Jesus is the 'App' for God.  We can get on the web (Natural) and find the love of God, or we can get to the love of God immediately by using the Jesus App (Specific).  While we must admit that God's fingerprints are over all of creation, nonetheless, we don't have to look too far to see just how messed up the world has become.  Jesus on the other hand does not even voice a complaint against his persecutors, but instead we hear in his dying words the promise of forgiveness. This captures divine love in a nutshell.

In this passage from Acts, Paul is wanting the philosophers to agree that all creation reflects the touch of divine love.  Jesus is the perfect example of that divine love.  The key for Paul, however, is not whether we agree about God at this point, but whether we agree about the nature of God's love.  If we agree that the one who created all that exists and all the peoples of the world did so as a reflection of divine love, and that we are the offspring of that love, then there is only one thing left for us to do...

Love one another!

Or as a friend of mine once put it; all of scripture points to three purposes for humanity...

1. Friendship with God
2. Friendship with God's Creation
3. Friendship among God's offspring

So, Paul makes an argument in Athens for a world view that is contrary to that of Rome.  In Rome, right and might are the principle coins of the realm.  Paul argues for a parallel empire that is built upon genuine love of one another as a reflection of the love that God has shown through creation and ultimately through Jesus.  Which empire sounds best to you?

Peace,

Pal

Taking a Bite out of...

Malaria!  It's not sexy is it?  Who worries about malaria?  Well, quite frankly the people who live in sub-Sahara Africa do!  Over 1,170 children in Africa lose their life to this disease every day!  That is 50 children every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year...

Not only does malaria kill, it is the number one reason children are not in school throughout sub-Sahara Africa.  With all those days out of school, it has an impact on the economic vitality of the various nations affected.  Like mosquitoes, this is a situation that continues to breed nothing but more problems.

Yet, it is not hard to fight back.  Malaria vaccine is available at a price.  Mosquito netting is inexpensive and can easily be made available.  All that is needed is a hand up from folks like us.

A few years back, at the urging of our sister churches in Africa, the ELCA choose to make this a big deal.  We are in the process of raising 15 million dollars to help eradicate malaria in Africa.  It's not something that will make big headlines back home, there are no Hollywood stars speaking on TV, but it is big news to those communities decimated by the impact of this disease.

If you would like to help as we put the bite on this disease, you can go to the ELCA website or Peace Lutheran Church website to make a donation, because it's little things like this that make a big difference as we live out the vision of God's reign of peace.

Peace,
Pal

Racing...

WOW…Don Sterling sure caused a ruckus with his racist comments to his ex-girlfriend.  It was good to see the NBA react within the full extent of its power, and now the owners seem to be marching in unison in their attempt to have Mr Sterling stripped of his franchise.

Of course there are many who have written striking essays in light of this event about the lingering effects of racism that continues to exist in America.  We don't need another blog that piles it on Mr Sterling, or somehow casts a broad shadow on the nature of race relations in our country.  Nor are we looking for an easy out such as, 'All are sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God.'  So what does this whole affair say about our world?

Perhaps it is a story of redemption.  It doesn't seem as if Mr Sterling is looking for redemption or that he  is even repentant for his sins.  Perhaps there is something bigger here.  Perhaps the story is that it doesn't end with all sides slinging arrows at one another, but for the most part, all are in agreement that the goal is not to pick sides but to acknowledge that the only way forward is to acknowledge that we are 'one.'

Maybe it is a lesson we in the church might learn.  We are so quick to point out the faults of those who believe differently than us.  We are so quick to pick sides when confronted by the difficult social issues.  We are so sure we know that we are right that we rarely give credence to competing claims.   Maybe we can take a page from this affair; if color of skin or ethnic origin doesn't make us a devil, perhaps our beliefs don't either.

Now I am not so simplistic to believe that we can 'all just get along' or that there aren't some really whacko folks out there promoting religions of violence and hatred.  Yes the world is made up of all kinds, but within reason, might we look for our common ground rather than seeking out that which divides.  Maybe if the NBA can attempt to deal with racism, perhaps we in the church can deal with the divide of orthodoxy.  Or to put it another way, can God redeem the heretics in our midst?

Peace,
Pal

The Little Things

Last night a few of us met at Wildflower Bread Company to continue in a journey through Luke and Acts.  We were ruminating on Luke Chapter 7, and the conversation had turned to the encounter between Jesus and John's disciples.  John was in prison, and as he had plenty of time to think, it appears he was wondering if he had fulfilled his calling…

7.18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

Jesus responds to the disciples of John by reiterating what he proclaimed to his neighbors in Nazareth when he had his coming out party.  You might remember that they handed him the scroll from Isaiah and he began to read the text.

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 

    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

While his neighbors were impressed with his proclamation, they didn't like that he went on to say that God would not be limited to working amongst the Jews.  They kicked him out and sent him on his way.

Now Jesus is reiterating his mission statement to John's disciples.

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

And here is where God began to open us up.  The question was asked, 'What does it mean to stumble on account of me?'  

Lots of things were shared, but what got my juices going is when we realized that Jesus might be saying that we are blessed (God is within us) when we can see God in the places where we might imagine God is not.  We are blessed (God is working on our hearts) when we see God in the brokenness of the world, and the shattered lives of humanity.  We are blessed (God is helping us to see how God sees) when we see God amongst the poor, wounded, and oppressed of the world.

In just that one little phrase and the discussion that followed, it seems we were blessed.  How about you?

Peace,

Pal

Peace be With You!

'Peace be with you.'

These are the words of Jesus as he meets the disciples behind closed doors.  He had promised them a special peace as they had gathered to share the Passover Meal, and now he keeps his promise.

That word 'peace' has a special place in the hearts of this community.  We are the disciples of peace.  We are followers of the Prince of Peace.  Our courtyard is festooned with banners proclaiming, 'May Peace Prevail on all the Earth' in some 30 languages.  For us peace is not the absence of war, but a sense of wholeness and holiness within that allows us to navigate the difficulties of this world.

Recently, I came across a study from Duke University that speaks to this issue.  How do we discover peace for ourselves?  Here is their analysis...

They listed eight keys to emotional and mental stability. 

•  The first key is, “Get rid of suspicion and resentment.” Nursing a grudge is a major factor in unhappiness. 
•  The second is, “Don’t live in the past.” An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression. 
• The third key is, “Don’t waste time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change.” Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. 
•  The fourth is, “Force yourself to stay involved with the living world.” Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress. 
• The fifth is, “Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal.” Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune. 
• The sixth is, “Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues love, humor, compassion and loyalty.”
• The seventh is, “Do not expect too much of yourself.” When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable. 
• And finally, number eight is “Find something bigger than yourself to believe in.” Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.

Easter gives us something bigger to believe in.  Easter calls us into a preferred future today.  The gospels remind us that Easter is more than the resurrection of Jesus, but it is the invitation for us to live a resurrected life as Jesus sends us out to be the instruments of his peace.

Peace,

Pal

Isn't there more?

We are on the other side of Easter.  Does it surprise you that the gospel writers spend so much effort on detailing the accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, yet very little is made of his post-resurrection encounters?  Most scholars would say that the original Gospel of Mark ends with the woman running from the tomb afraid to say anything.   Are we surprised later readers decided to add something more?

What can we make of this?  I am reminded that Charlie Brown once was having a conversation with Linus, and he said something to the effect that we have two ears and only one mouth because listening is more important than speaking.  Applying the same logic, it would seem that to the authors of the Gospels, the crucifixion is more important than Jesus' appearances following the resurrection.  How is it then that we want to skip over the crucifixion and get right to the good stuff.

Maybe that's the point.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer would accuse us of desiring cheap grace.  Love without cost.  Glory without sacrifice.  Community in Christ without commitment.  In other words, cheap grace is another way we try to place ourselves at the center of the narrative while God simply serves us our whims and desires on a cross shaped platter.

This last week I got an email from someone who attended one of our Holy Week services, and he put it this way;

I came to [worship] for some morsels, really expecting only the appetizer before the main course.  I came away filled up, stuffed to the gills!  Great message last evening, you were filled with a passion and a desire that can only be from God.

When a pastor gets an email like this, you don't readily forget it.   Upon further reflection, however, I realize that as a pastor and as a people of faith, we often see the passion simply as the prelim prior to the promise of Easter.  The passion is the thing we have to get through to get to the main course.  

I do not wish to soft peddle what transpired that first Easter morning, or the significance Easter has on the way I look at life, but I believe the Gospel writers spend so much papyrus on the passion because the church that will be proclaiming this Good News will likely suffer the same fate as did Jesus.  Even as the disciples and their followers boldly proclaim Christ's resurrection, they are paying for this privilege with their lives.  The cross stands before them as much as it does behind them.

In the Gospels death and life are tied together far too tightly for our modern taste.  Yes, there is life after death, but the Gospels will not deny that to follow Christ is the pathway toward death first!  Or as Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote some 70 years ago, 'The call to follow Christ is the call to come and die.'  On that note, Happy Easter!

Peace,
Pastor Al

HOLY WEEK (Batman)!

Yes, it is that week we call Holy.  It is the week we remember Christ's passion.  It is the week of endless services.  It is the week we have got to go through to get to Easter.

Now it can feel like this is the week we have got to get through, kind of like a last form of penance before we can enjoy the celebration of Easter.  If you have seen The Passion of Christ  then this is a week when you might feel really bad for what we humans are capable of doing, but you are nonetheless anticipating that it soon will be over.  No matter whether we are liturgical or not, it is easy to want to skip over the multiple services this week and save up all our church-going for Sunday.

Having been a pastor for over 25 years now, I know that the combined worship attendance throughout this week will not even come close to what we see on Easter morning.  Nonetheless, I would not give up these markers along the road for all the tea in China.  I cannot jump so easily into the resurrection without first experiencing the horror of our humanity.  The older I get, the more I am aware that this life will have an end (it usually sneaks up on me when I'm thinking about some of the moments of my 30's and 40's), and while I do not fear death, I must say I have a deep and abiding respect for it.

Rather than focusing upon the blood and the brutality of the passion week, I believe it is enough for me to drawn into the reality of the grave this week.  That is painful enough.  Yet, without wrestling with that reality the promise of Easter seems almost superficial to me.  Maybe it a Ying and Yang kind of thing, but without all those services remembering the Last Supper and the march to Golgotha, Easter seems just too antiseptic for the realities of my life.  I need the grave in order to know the grace.

Yes, there are a lot of services this week.  Yes, I am glad that I get to be a part of them because its exactly what I need to get ready for Easter.  How about you?

Peace,
Pal

Men's Retreat

I felt really bad missing our PLC Men's Retreat at Spirit in the Desert this past weekend.  We had a great speaker sparking our thoughts about God, men, boys, and fatherhood.  This is a subject near and dear to my heart as we imagine the passing on of faith and values to the next generation.

Unfortunately, I had already made a commitment (and didn't sync my calendars) to ride as a 'marshal' for the 100 mile Tour de Cure for Diabetes.  It is an annual ride I commit to doing in honor of my sister-in-law who suffers with diabetes.  It's a great cause, and this year we  had a record amount of money donated here in Phoenix... Nearly $500,000!  It felt good to be part of such an event.

Nonetheless, I felt bad that I could not be two places at once... and it made me think about the priorities of my life.   Living fast doesn't give us much time to reflect upon priorities, which in turn leads toward shallow living.  Living fast frequently means that external influences as compared to internal values have far more impact upon the direction of our lives.

I believe that all of us exist with the idea that we want our lives to count.  We want to make a difference.  We want to leave the world a better place.  Too often those ideals are swamped by the demands of getting through the week ahead.  The concept of sabbath was intended to give us a moment to rest so we might go deeper, think longer term, and reconnect with meaning and purpose in life.   Sabbath is an essential part of our stewardship of soul, community, and our world.

Just recently I heard a report that 12 of the 13 warmest recorded years for this planet have occurred since the year 2000.  We know that global warming is real; that droughts, storms, and flooding are a real result of human interaction with our environment.  Yet, the new twist on that old saying is, we all complain about the weather, but we are unwilling to do anything to change it.  We know that a positive change for the future of our world will require a change in our behavior today.

Our psyche and soul are under the same sort of stress as our environment.  The storms are bigger, the droughts are hotter, and we are flooded by our fears.  We complain, but again we do little to change it.    Perhaps the first thing we will want to do is to create the space for sabbath in our lives.  This small change might result in a 'sea change' for our lives.

Creating sabbath moments each day simply requires a bit of intentionality and a willingness to shift the focus from me to 'thee.'  It might mean expanding our vision by attempting to see the world and my part in it through the eyes of God.   It means a moment to reflect upon the bigger, greater purpose of life and our partnership in this grand adventure.

Maybe this is something we can commit to trying for the remainder of Lent.  Taking 10 minutes each day to get out of ourselves so as to enter into the imagination of God.

Peace,
Pal

Son of God, the Movie

Several people have asked me my opinion of the new Jesus movie, Son of God.  I haven't seen it.

I heard several people speak glowingly of it.  I haven't seen it.

Many reviewers have given it poor marks for its quality of story telling.  I haven't seen it.

I've seen plenty of Jesus movies over the years, and to be honest, most have failed to excite me.  Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of Christ, was one I forced myself to watch simply because of all the buzz it fostered, but I could not recommend it to a soul.  Some of them were better than others, and others were worse, but for the most part I don't blame Hollywood.  They have had to operate within such tight parameters, knowing that the faithful are their primary audience.  While we imagine unbelievers will see and be convinced, Hollywood knows it cannot offend those who already believe.  In the first century AD the gospel was considered to be a scandal, but in the last century, Jesus is as radical as white enriched bread.  As a result Hollywood frequently portrays him as as something like an alien in our midst, missing the complexity of our humanity.  It seems to be almost purposely ironic as they present a film version of the gospel message in which God become less complex than our humanity.

So I have not been motivated to see Son of God.  I believe the better way to tell the story of the God who is with us is through the complexity of our lives.  Your story and my story are far more real and interesting to our friends.  When we can acknowledge with all humility, the hand of God at work in our lives, this becomes a far more effective means for communicating the gospel than any movie might offer.  In fact I wonder if movies like this one undermine our witness.   It seems to provide us an excuse not to tell our story of the God who is at work in our lives.  Our story seems so 'low budget' compared to what is up on the screen.  Yet, if the truth were to be known, when we share our story, it makes more sense than anything Hollywood can create.

So when people ask me if I've seen The Son of God, I could respond by saying I've already read the book, or I'm waiting for it to come out in DVD.  Or maybe, however, I might respond by asking them if they have ever been a part of the faith community.  Paul calls the church the Body of Christ, and when we take communion, Jesus invites us to eat of his flesh and drink from his cup.   In the midst of this diverse humanity gathered together Jesus promises us that he is revealed.  I believe this to be the more accurate portrayal of God at work in our world.  Or as the ELCA says, God's Work our Hands.

Peace,
PAL

Ukraine! Really?

What is happening in the Ukraine?

First it seems as if a corrupt government is trying to hang onto power with a sweetheart deal with Russia; but now that there has been a change of government, the Russians are back to playing Soviet-style politics.  Is this a repeat of Czechoslovakia 1968?

Have we truly returned to this sort of political gamesmanship?  This seems more like something that would happen in the Middle East or Sub-Saharian Africa but not in Europe.  Just how fragile are the international relations that we depend upon for the sake of this world?

It would seem that there are few options available to those who would want to come to the aid of the Ukrainians.  It doesn't seem like anyone wants to commit troops (but we would gladly send our soldiers to Afghanistan).  Nor do economic sanctions seem to have much importance because the Russian economy is humming along due to its oil and natural gas exports.  So a tit for tat response seems to be of no avail.

What would happen, however, if people all around the world began to protest what the Russians are doing in invading a sovereign nation?  What if we all sent emails to the Kremlin telling Putin to stop?  What would happen if this became the biggest buzz on Social Media?   What would it look like if we were to express our disgust for this action by simultaneously gathering in churches around the world and joining in 10 minutes of prayer for the people of the Ukraine?  If we can light a candle, doesn't that make more sense than to curse the darkness?

It seems that the people of this world could make it know one way or another that we do not approve of what Mr Putin is doing.  Rather than waiting for the governments of the world to figure out how to respond, can we not use this world-wide web to make our voice known?

Faster...

When I was a pastor in Redding, CA. we had a family who operated one of the local marinas on Lake Shasta.  Once a year they would make available to us a huge patio boat as a home base for a congregational lake party.  People would bring their speed boats and all would join in for a great outing on the lake, especially all of us who didn't have boats.

One year as we were heading out of the marina, I was behind the wheel steering this huge barge of a boat like I knew what I was doing.  The woman who operated the marina was concerned that we were exiting the marina a bit too fast, and so she starts saying, 'Pastor... Pastor!' I, on the other hand, with the breeze in my face and the wheel in my hands, heard her say 'Faster... Faster!'  Fortunately for us all, it didn't take her long to start yelling, 'Slow Down!'

We are fast approaching the season of Lent, a time when God starts yelling at us, 'Slow Down!'  Left to our own devices, we will just run ourselves into the ground.  I cannot tell you how many conversations I have with teens that begin with the phrase, 'I don't have time for that!'  They are good kids, doing great things, but it seems that from 6 am to midnight they have no free time.  Is that really the world we want to live in?

Fasting is one of those ways we slow down.  When we fast, it effects our metabolism and forces us to slow down.  Just as important, our gurgling stomach reminds us that we are indeed a blessed people, and that life is a gift generously shared with us by a loving God. Through fasting we are reminded of what we have lost and all that has been given us.  Fasting provides a perspective that enables us to see what we typically take for granted.

Finally, fasting is a means to identify with those for whom fasting is not a voluntary act but a way of life.  Fasting is more than a spiritual practice, but it is an act of suffering that enables us to better appreciate the needs of those around us who suffer on a daily basis.  When we rush from one appointment to the other, we really don't have time for those who are not on our approved list, the ones who will benefit us.  Yet when we fast it has a way of opening our eyes as well as our heart to all those whom the world typically chooses to ignore.  It opens our hands perhaps to grasp the hands of Jesus in our midst.  (Matt. 25)

We want to go faster in our attempt to get a head start on everyone else.  God invites us during this season of Lent to fast, so we might slow down to discover the beauty around us.  Consider the lilies of the field...

Peace,
Pal

Winners and Losers...

Wow, it wasn't even close!

In Seattle they are celebrating right now, but in Denver it's back to work.

Of course those who are celebrating will learn sometime soon; that as hard as it was to get to the top, the slide down is even harder to prevent.

Now the Seahawks deserve their victory, but the bigger life question deals with our response when we lose.  I have a friend who has just witnessed a family member pass away.  Death has not come easily, and there are no good words to be offered at a time like this.  We cannot sugar-coat the pain of life and death, for if we cannot accept the concept of loss, we ultimately are destined to sink deeper into despair.  Whether it is the small deaths we face each and every week, or whether we are humiliated on national TV, we are all losers.  Our struggle for success will ultimately fail us as we struggle under the gravitational pull that drags us down into our humanity.

We live in a world that loves 'rags to riches' stories, or the image of the 'self-made man.'  The truth is, however, that no matter what we do, we cannot escape the dust.  The earth has a claim on us.  As the minister is likely to say as the saint is lowered into the ground,  'ashes to ashes and dust to dust.'   No matter how strong we might be, eventually we must succumbed and be pulled back to earth.

Now I don't mean this to be maudlin.  I find the struggle to appear successful to be deadly to the soul.  It steals from the heart.  In the attempt to prove ourselves successful we miss out on significance.  I find it comforting that we are not to be evaluated by God as to whether we made it to the top or not.  Our value is not to be measured by success, but instead,  life is found in the depth of our humanity.  The closer to the ground we are, the closer we are to our origins.  The closer we are to our origins, the closer we are to God.  It is not our goal in life to show ourselves better than others but to make the world in which we live a bette place for all.  The goal is not to divide ourselves between winners and losers, but to dig deep into our fallen nature and thereby discover our common humanity.

So I have learned a lesson in humility this weekend as my Broncos lost.  Perhaps, however, this makes me the ultimate winner because I am more human than I was before.   It's lonely at the top, but there are plenty of losers all around who will share in our grief.

Peace,
Pal

A Big Fan?

We had some fun in church on Sunday.

As I shared how fanatical we are about our favorite team, I happened to mention that growing up in Denver, I am a Bronco fan.  Someone in the back let out a bit of a 'boo' because they were rooting for the New England Patriots on Sunday.  Everybody laughed.  It was good natured ribbing.  (Of course now that the game is over, I get the last laugh!)

In a good way it fit into my message which was to suggest that we might want to be just a bit more of  a fan or fanatic about the gospel as we are about the rule of the NFL.

Now I'm not suggesting that we die our hair or wear outrageous costumes, but what keeps us from showing others that we are a fan of Jesus.  Even as I was going to a gathering with a group of guys from the church last night, I had no concerns about wearing a Bronco ball cap, but I'm not sure I would have felt at ease wearing some BIG cross around my neck.  I knew that a Bronco hat might offend others, and that did not dissuade me, but the idea that I might convey the wrong message publicly affirming my faith… well that was a different matter.

Are we afraid to be too boisterous about our faith because of the abuse in the past.  I mean we have all encountered that obnoxious fan who just won't shut up in the stands or around the water cooler.  Nonetheless, we don't allow that to silence our own support of the team.  And of course, we all have suffered through seasons where our team didn't do so well, but we nevertheless wear our jersey with pride to show we are not a fair-weathered fan.

So why am I more reluctant to publicly acknowledge my allegiance to Jesus?  Could it be that we are more knowledgeable about the in's and out's of football, and we don't want our ignorance of spiritual matters to be exposed?  Perhaps.  Maybe it is because a person's faith is very personal, and we just don't want to step on somebodies toes about something so close to their heart.  That too could play a role.

I'm thinking, however, that we don't express our fanaticism more, because we are afraid people might expect more from us.  As a Denver fan, the expectation is that I will wear the right attire, let out a few cheers, express my concern about the play of the Middle Linebacker, and I'm done.  As a member of the Jesus team, people hope that there is something more to us.  They expect us to be a bit, shall I say it, better.  Sometimes, this is just me, but I'd prefer to remain anonymous just so I don't fail in the eyes of others.

Maybe it is in times like those, that I simply need to remind myself that God's work in this world will continue no matter what I do.  I, however, will miss out on the opportunity to share in the experience by choosing to sit on the sidelines.   I believe that somehow, I want to get into the game, because that is where the real action happens to be found.

I will continue to be a Denver Bronco fan, but I believe I will not be quite so timid a fan of Jesus and his work in the world, simply because I took time to reimagine this reality once more.

My Hometown

The Denver Broncos won a BIG game yesterday.  Why is that important to me, you might ask?  The one and only reason is because Denver is my hometown!

As much as we travel in this world, and as exciting as it is to see something new, there is a definite need to have a place we call home.  The place where we feel like we have some roots.  The place, mythical as it may be, where we feel as if we are known and where we know.   Home is more than just where the heart can be found, home is where our imagination will always return.

Rooting for the Broncos is a way for me to reconnect with my story.  I remember sitting around the Living Room TV with my mom and dad cheering on the boys in blue and orange.  I can remember my dad getting so upset with a play or a referee's call that he spilt his snack all over him, the chair, and the floor beneath him.  I can remember the exhilarating excitement when the Broncos first went to the Super Bowl and the whole town was a Mile High.  It was a moment when Denver was on the map, and we were so sure that the Broncos would whip those darn Cowboys from Texas.  I remember driving from Redding, CA to Orange County in the worst fog imaginable, listening to the radio chatter until 3 AM, so filled was I with adrenaline from Elway's first Super Bowl victory that there was no fear that I would fall asleep at the wheel.  Yes, the Broncos and I go way back, because they remind me of home.

Just a little change up, but that is why I'm in church on Sunday morning (before the games).  It is like home.  When I step into church I am reminded of those awkward days when I wasn't sure I belonged, but others made me feel welcomed nonetheless.  When I see the people I've come to know and love, I am reminded of our small group meal and bible study at the Campus Ministry Center at the University of Utah when I was preparing to become a lawyer.  When I'm a part of a theological discussion it brings me back to those heady days in seminary when we would gather over a beer and pizza at LaVal's in Berkeley.  The church is more than a place or even a people; the church is the repository of my memories.  The church is like home for me.

Now nothing becomes home right away.  It took 25 years for Denver to become home.  It's taken another 35 years for the church to become home.  But there is something about having a home, and it is my hope no matter who you are or where you have been, that this place called Peace might be a home for you.

Go Broncos!  Beat the Pats!

Peace,
Pal