Today, during one of my busiest weeks in a long time, I took the day off. I felt the load of everything that needed to be done on my shoulders. I felt the weight of not having seen my family much at all this week. I missed my kids. I missed my wife. I needed to reconnect...and I did.
Taking a Sabbath is perhaps one of the most challenging things to do because you feel like things won't get done if you're absent...and truthfully...they might not. But will they ever? I don't think so, especially in ministry. Taking a Sabbath for me is not only a break but it is more an act of faith. I feel as though it's telling/showing God that I trust all this stuff to Him. It's breaking the rhythm of the ongoing pressure of the workdays and ministry to step back and just rest and enjoy the simple pleasures God has given you in life.
Today I enjoyed a few hours with my daughter. We pretty much just goofed around. She danced with her oversized Elmo stuffed animal and I did my best to appear as though I had some sort of rhythm (which I have none of). I rolled around on the floor cooing with my 10 month old. I watched a little of the Packers/Cowboys game with my oldest son and then we spent time doing the dishes together for my wife...yea...he really wanted to help!!! It was a great day and I didn't feel guilty at all for taking it.
I think that's one of the things that has tripped me up in the past. I was so focused on preformance I felt that if I wasn't seen at the office or appear like I put in my time (even though that ranges from 40-50+ hours/week anyway) it was the whole guilt thing. I think...I hope anyway...that I've gotten past that to realize life is much more than about ministry or work, but it's also about resting in the goodness of what God has given...and for me, that's my family.
It's important to break the rhythm of continual workaholism which is rampant in our culture. I've seen and heard a lot about it in ministry, but I'm not sure it's that healthy. My sanity...my health...and the health of my relationship in marriage and with my kids is too important to me. It's something I think overall we need to protect and nurture more carefully.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Why things aren't the same
Two days ago I experienced Thanksgiving that I thought would be reminiscent of my childhood. For the first time in many years I would be with my dad, sister, grandparents, and great-aunt. It isn't everybody that would've been at a family holiday growing up, but it was the closest thing in years...but it wasn't quite as I remember it in childhood.
What I found is that things have changed...not because of anyone in particular...but because life itself has changed. I now have 3 kids which don't allow for hours and hours of card playing and competition (we were a bunch of card gaming junkies!). Much of the time was spent in some conversation, but mostly interacting with my kids.
The next day was spent at my mom's. After having 'Thanksgiving breakfast' (and it was good) we spent most of the rest of the day...playing with the kids. What made my memories growing up so special was that the older adults spent time with me. It seems weird to me now that we don't spend as much time (as adults) just playing games with each other...but I realized how much fun it was...for everyone...to just hang out with the little ones.
With the stages of life changing my expectations must adjust as well. It just seems strange that my grandfather (now 86) can't shoot baskets anymore like when I was a kid (and he was in his 60's). Childhood does something mysterious in all of us. For those who have grown past it childhood points to a time gone past. For those experiencing it they are pushed by culture to move by it. I believe it is a high calling to help our kids enjoy being kids. It reminds us of how simple life CAN be...and perhaps should be. Far too often we make it complex, and let's face it, we know how to sap the fun out of everything by taking it too serious. But not kids. They remind us of the innocense of life.
The next time you're with your kids...or someone else's...don't get frustrated for how un-adult they are. Rejoice in how un-adult they make you feel. Children breed hope for the future and rekindle the simple joy of life.
What I found is that things have changed...not because of anyone in particular...but because life itself has changed. I now have 3 kids which don't allow for hours and hours of card playing and competition (we were a bunch of card gaming junkies!). Much of the time was spent in some conversation, but mostly interacting with my kids.
The next day was spent at my mom's. After having 'Thanksgiving breakfast' (and it was good) we spent most of the rest of the day...playing with the kids. What made my memories growing up so special was that the older adults spent time with me. It seems weird to me now that we don't spend as much time (as adults) just playing games with each other...but I realized how much fun it was...for everyone...to just hang out with the little ones.
With the stages of life changing my expectations must adjust as well. It just seems strange that my grandfather (now 86) can't shoot baskets anymore like when I was a kid (and he was in his 60's). Childhood does something mysterious in all of us. For those who have grown past it childhood points to a time gone past. For those experiencing it they are pushed by culture to move by it. I believe it is a high calling to help our kids enjoy being kids. It reminds us of how simple life CAN be...and perhaps should be. Far too often we make it complex, and let's face it, we know how to sap the fun out of everything by taking it too serious. But not kids. They remind us of the innocense of life.
The next time you're with your kids...or someone else's...don't get frustrated for how un-adult they are. Rejoice in how un-adult they make you feel. Children breed hope for the future and rekindle the simple joy of life.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
For these things I give thanks...
...for children who demonstrate childlike enjoyment of little things
...for a wife who is unconditional in her love and unwaivering in her support
...for a community of faith that does their best to live like Jesus
...for a modest home filled with memories of my family
...for parents who did their best to raise me in following Jesus
...for health and the ability to enjoy small things...walks...laughter...and the taste of good
food
...for provision of those things we need, and the priviledge to live without excess
...for friends in the journey of faith who struggle with me in the unknown of it all
...for joy
...for healing
...for change of heart and character and a God whose changes with gentleness and
compassion...thank you that your kindness leads to repentance
...for the opportunity to love and serve others and to learn from their life circumstance
...for Father
...for Son
...for Holy Spirit
To anyone reading, have a blessed day of Thanksgiving. I join you in thanking the Maker of it all!
...for a wife who is unconditional in her love and unwaivering in her support
...for a community of faith that does their best to live like Jesus
...for a modest home filled with memories of my family
...for parents who did their best to raise me in following Jesus
...for health and the ability to enjoy small things...walks...laughter...and the taste of good
food
...for provision of those things we need, and the priviledge to live without excess
...for friends in the journey of faith who struggle with me in the unknown of it all
...for joy
...for healing
...for change of heart and character and a God whose changes with gentleness and
compassion...thank you that your kindness leads to repentance
...for the opportunity to love and serve others and to learn from their life circumstance
...for Father
...for Son
...for Holy Spirit
To anyone reading, have a blessed day of Thanksgiving. I join you in thanking the Maker of it all!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Writings on a Mantle
His deeds are his monument
His life our inspiration
I read these words on a mantle with the portrait of Milton Hershey hanging above. It was in the context of the Greater Hershey Prayer Breakfast. I was there leading worship and one of my singers drew my attention to it after our time of congregational singing was over. To me they can be readily and more powerfully applied to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
Friday, November 16, 2007
I Need You
I need your help to stay the course. When one is confronted with the issues I've seen just over the last week...of poverty and incarcerations...your view of life changes. As you continue to think about the larger world and the overwhelming need you begin to think differently about your life. But...
Have you ever been on a missions trip? Ever went to a different country and been impacted by what you've seen? When you come home, something stirs in you for a bit...but then where does it go? The people you share it with don't quite understand it, although they enjoy hearing how God's worked in your life...but they don't identify. Getting the picture...?
I'm grateful for a few folks to do that with...although I don't see them often enough. They are relatives and fellow pastors and friends. The point is this journey gets bewildering at times, and it's necessary for us to have folks to live and think justly with.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Feeding the Hungry
Over the past two weeks our church has been collecting food for a sister church of ours in the Brethren in Christ church, Harrisburg BIC. They are located downtown and have a food pantry servicing the impoverished in downtown Harrisburg. Normally we have a food collection Sunday the first Sunday of the month. However, the last time our folks were down there they were having to turn people away because of the lack of food, so one of our folks felt the need to do something more and to make the need well known.
Today we took three carloads full of food over to their food pantry. The response from our folks was amazing. I had the privilege of stocking the empty shelves at the food pantry. At one point I was almost in tears. I was thinking about how I have a great dinner each night (my wife's a GREAT cook!!!). My kids (at least two) have all the diapers they need. We have the ability to brush our teeth every night. I'm looking at these shelves realizing 40 families depend on help from this pantry.
Oftentimes those of us who aren't in those situations of need feel guilty for where we are. Let me encourage you, the guilt is not necessary. It's self imposed. Don't feel bad about what you have. However, you must realize that what you have is not all yours. You have the ability to give not only out of your abundance but you have the privilege of giving in sacrifice. So you give up a Starbucks coffee a week (or perhaps a day) to provide some food...or something to that effect.
The temptation for us in affluent suburbia is to give without it making us think and change our own lifestyle. Because someone lives in poverty changes how I live. It changes my attitude. It changes how I spend my money. It changes how I look at my house (not having to keep up with the Jones' so much). Giving is one thing, but allowing the giving to change you is another...and I think this is what must happen in each of us as we think we're 'helping' others.
We may never meet the people we help. They may never meet us. But the action of giving should somehow change both the one who gives and the one who receives.
Today we took three carloads full of food over to their food pantry. The response from our folks was amazing. I had the privilege of stocking the empty shelves at the food pantry. At one point I was almost in tears. I was thinking about how I have a great dinner each night (my wife's a GREAT cook!!!). My kids (at least two) have all the diapers they need. We have the ability to brush our teeth every night. I'm looking at these shelves realizing 40 families depend on help from this pantry.
Oftentimes those of us who aren't in those situations of need feel guilty for where we are. Let me encourage you, the guilt is not necessary. It's self imposed. Don't feel bad about what you have. However, you must realize that what you have is not all yours. You have the ability to give not only out of your abundance but you have the privilege of giving in sacrifice. So you give up a Starbucks coffee a week (or perhaps a day) to provide some food...or something to that effect.
The temptation for us in affluent suburbia is to give without it making us think and change our own lifestyle. Because someone lives in poverty changes how I live. It changes my attitude. It changes how I spend my money. It changes how I look at my house (not having to keep up with the Jones' so much). Giving is one thing, but allowing the giving to change you is another...and I think this is what must happen in each of us as we think we're 'helping' others.
We may never meet the people we help. They may never meet us. But the action of giving should somehow change both the one who gives and the one who receives.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Christendom Falling: A Call to Serve
Last post explored the history (in a very brief and broad way) of the rise of Christendom. Now I would like to move on to what I think this may mean and where opportunity may arise for followers of Jesus.
Because Christendom allowed us to freely operate followers of Jesus over time became more and more socially acceptable. What happened in the early centuries of the church where Jesus' followers were subversive, underground, and radical slowly became more and more acceptable. This has a direct impact on how our faith is lived out in our present day situation.
Perhaps the greatest challenge is that of power. With the rise of Christendom and its influences the otherwise socially powerless church all of the sudden had the backing and power of the state. We currently live in a situation where we experience religious freedom (of which I'm grateful). However, the growing church (in the early centuries and currently in the persecuted church) did not...and does not have that power. What we've lost in our acquiring of power and continual search for 'religious rights' here in America is the church's call to serve.
This is mainly what Jesus is calling us to in the gospels, is it not? We are called to serve others. We're not called to either wield nor seek power, but to become 'powerless' in order to serve our fellow man. It it through this service that we demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Power fails to bring people to a true knowledge of the gospel because it is not offered, it seems forced. However, when you see the opportunity and call to serve other people those you serve are left speechless because of your good works (off-quoting Peter here).
If we see this time as a time when churches are losing their power (political, social, etc) then instead of grumbling to get it back we should be challenged to see it as a great opportunity to become the last...to serve.
Because Christendom allowed us to freely operate followers of Jesus over time became more and more socially acceptable. What happened in the early centuries of the church where Jesus' followers were subversive, underground, and radical slowly became more and more acceptable. This has a direct impact on how our faith is lived out in our present day situation.
Perhaps the greatest challenge is that of power. With the rise of Christendom and its influences the otherwise socially powerless church all of the sudden had the backing and power of the state. We currently live in a situation where we experience religious freedom (of which I'm grateful). However, the growing church (in the early centuries and currently in the persecuted church) did not...and does not have that power. What we've lost in our acquiring of power and continual search for 'religious rights' here in America is the church's call to serve.
This is mainly what Jesus is calling us to in the gospels, is it not? We are called to serve others. We're not called to either wield nor seek power, but to become 'powerless' in order to serve our fellow man. It it through this service that we demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Power fails to bring people to a true knowledge of the gospel because it is not offered, it seems forced. However, when you see the opportunity and call to serve other people those you serve are left speechless because of your good works (off-quoting Peter here).
If we see this time as a time when churches are losing their power (political, social, etc) then instead of grumbling to get it back we should be challenged to see it as a great opportunity to become the last...to serve.
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