The Heart of a Pastor

Bird man of Jackson

Believe me...I don't embrace this title, but I can't help but chuckle after our little visitor this afternoon...

Connie and I were in the kitchen getting ready do some grilling for supper when I heard a strange noise by our main door (from the kitchen there is a door that leads to three steps that takes you down to a landing.  A left turn takes you outside and a right turn leads you down into the basement).  When I opened the kitchen door to investigate the strange noise...low and behold...there was a bird trying to get out.  Of course my first response was to slam the door to prevent the bird from coming into the main part of the house.  That reaction caused my wife to get a little excited; thinking someone was trying to break into our house to kill us.  But after I assured her that the bird was not going to peck us to death, I entered the landing area to open the outside door.  That, of course, freaked the bird out and it headed downstairs to the basement.  What happened next can only be described as a wild chase trying to convince my feathered visitor that I meant it no harm.  I can't believe it would not trust me.  Eventually I chased it up stairs where Connie had the outside door open and our flying friend found its way to freedom.

[Later that evening]

Connie and I were sitting on the couch watching the news when we started recalling our wild bird adventure.  She then said, "I suppose you have a blog post for tomorrow".  I hadn't really thought about it but now I did.  Later in the evening Connie said, "I think I have an anology for you about the bird.  The bird is like us trying to find our way to freedom and God is trying to guide us to freedom.  Just like the bird who didn't trust you, we often don't trust that God has our best interests at heart.  But all God wants is for us to enjoy freedom...just like what you wanted for that bird." 

Wow...I think my wife is on to something here.  I think she should have a blog as well. 

-edh-

Kicked in the butt by God

I got kicked in the butt by God on Monday and let me tell you...God kicked me hard.

On Sunday I preached a sermon about humility and hospitality.  In my discussing of hospitality I mentioned that the definition of hospitality is "welcoming strangers".  If we are only welcoming people we know and/or like, we are not practicing hospitality.  When I said that...I saw a lot of eye brows raise in unison.  We were all being convicted at the same moment.  And it was quite a moment to experience.  Anyway, I encouraged people to be more welcoming to people we would normally not welcome whether it is a stranger off the street or a person that makes your blood boil.

Here comes the kick in the butt...

...On Monday evening my wife and I were grilling.  I was making some breaded chicken on the grill with green beans and broccoli all wrapped in aluminum foil.  The breading is my own creation and I was really looking forward to trying it.  I threw the food on the grill and went inside.  After about 5 minutes the door bell rang.  It was the tall African/American man, LaMar, that I (through the ministerial) gave a night of lodging to the night before.  He told me that his car was dead and could not find anyone (on Labor Day) to fix it.  He asked if he could get another night of lodging.  At this I was a little put out but tried not to show it.  I said "let's got to my office" (we live right next door to the church).  I called the hotel in town and arranged for another night of lodging and sent him on his way...to walk up the steep hwy 71 hill to the hotel.  I then went back home to check on the food.

After checking the grill I sat outside on the bench with my wife.  Both of us were quiet and I just knew that she was thinking the exact same thing I was thinking...KICK--IN--THE--BUTT...I should have invited LaMar to stay for supper.  After all, that would have been the hospitable thing to do; to "welcome a stranger".  After Connie reminded me of my sermon on Sunday and after I nodded in agreement I drove up to the hotel.  I asked him if would join my wife and I for supper.  He decline because he was washing his shirt and didn't have anything else to wear. I then offered to bring him something to eat.  He said that would be great.  I got home and cooked him a couple small steaks that I had, some grilled green beans and broccoli, homemade apple pie and some ice cream.

I brought LaMar his food and went home feeling a little better but still felt like a pile of you know what.  I preached a sermon on hospitality and I failed to practice what I preached.  I am not sure if I redeemed myself or not...it didn't feel like.  But God did convicted me yesterday and rightly so and all I can say is "thank you God...I needed that".

Today (Tuesday) LaMar asked me to drive him 30 miles to Worthington so he could find a job.  On the way we got into a good theological discussion.  He said that he believes that only 20% of people believe in God.  Most of the 80% go to church but do not live it out.  I think LaMar is on to something.  Many Christians talk a "good game" but many more fail to deliver.  It is no wonder that there are people like LaMar out there with a bad view of Christians. 

Today, God taught me a painful lesson but one I will never forget.  We are called to action not just talk.  We are called to welcome "strangers" because that is the essence of the Gospel.  We are called to love all people, not just the ones we know and like.  We are called to leave out comfort zones; "to hate our life" (see Gospel text for this coming Sunday from Luke 15) and serve. 

Thank you God for the swift kick in the butt.  Please forgive me and strengthen my faith to be more obedient.  Please watch over LaMar and bless him.  He has had a hard life so help him find a job and if I am presented another opportunity to help...I will be there with your help.  God...you ARE faithful and you are awesome.  In Christ's name I pray...Amen!
-edh-

Dangerous Wonder

I just finished the book I spoke about in my last post, Dangerous Wonder: The Adventure of Childlike Faith.  This is about the 6th time I have read this book and each time I highlight something new and make new notes in the margins.  If you want a book that's not about theology but rather about living this is your book.  It is about breaking the rules and living by the spirit of the law rather than by the letter of the law.  It is about being "reckless" in your faith - reckless in such a way that your faith shines through in helping and serving people rather than through dogma and rules.  It is about being amazed and blown away by the love and grace of God.  Dangerous Wonder shatters the myth that you MUST "color inside the lines" and shows how God encourages and welcomes "outside-the-lines coloring".  This book slapped me in the face with the reality that following Jesus is fun, wild and dangerous; and the only way to grasp that reality is by re-claiming our "childlike faith". 

"Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15)

As I was reading I jotted down some quotes, from the book, that really struck me and I would like to share a couple of them with you.  I am curious how they strike you:

"Predictability and faith cannot coexist...take surprise out of faith and all that is left is dry and dead religion.  Take away mystery from the Gospel and all that is left is frozen and petrified dogma.  Lose your awe of God and you are left with an impotent deity." (pg.28)

"Could it be that one of the significant problems in the church is noise?  Modern faith might be undermined more by activity and noise than by immorality and lack of commitment.  Maybe we have become so active and noisy that we have drowned out the thin silence of God." (pg.81)

Right now I am thinking I need to be a little more "childlike" in my faith.  I need to slow down and focus on listening to the still, small voice of God (the thin silence)...

-edh-

God's bare voice

"And this is the glory of faith, namely, not to know where you are going, what you are doing, what you are suffering, and, after taking everything captive -- perception and understanding, strength and will -- to follow the bare voice of God and to be led and driven rather than to drive." (From Luther's commentary on Hebrews)

A friend of mine from seminary wanted to propose the preceding statement, from Luther's commentary on Hebrews, as a tag line on seminary diplomas.  Given that the Gospel text for Sunday (5th Sunday after Pentecost) is about discipleship the preceding excerpt (which is taped to my computer monitor) serves as a great reminder to me of my call.  It is a scary thing to not know where you are going or what you are doing or what you are suffering.  We want to be in the know.  But when we can turn things over to Jesus the ride is always much more fun than with us at the wheel.  When it comes right down to it...we don't know how to drive.

Dear God, help me to hear and listen to your "bare voice" so I may be led and driven. The journey is too treacherous for me to handle alone.  Please take control and drive.  Amen!

-edh-

Believing in God vs. Believing God

A parishioner of mine stopped by my office on Saturday morning.  He said he had heard something on the radio and wanted to share it with me -- to give me something to think about.  So I offer this comment to you as something to think and/or talk about. 

The comment was heard on a secular radio station and he did not remember the exact context but a guy called in and said, "I don't believe in God -- I believe God."  I was intrigued when I heard that.  I am not sure if I have ever heard a comment like that before, but later I thought what a confession of faith.

My initial thoughts are these:

(1) Believing in God -- This seems to mean that one basically believes in the concept of God at the very least.  You can say "I believe in God" but do you really follow God?  You can believe God exists but not follow him.  With a statement like this a person can give the impression they follow God without actually saying it.

(2) Believing God -- This seems to mean that you not only believe in God but that you believe what God has to say.  You believe the Word that Jesus Christ has died for you and for me and has broken the bonds of death.  Believing God means action, because if you believe God has saved you through Jesus Christ, then why wouldn't you want to tell others?

(3) Maybe I am reading to much into these two phrases --  Now that is a distinct possibility.  When people say "I believe in God" are they also saying that they believe God?  For some I believe this to be true, but not for all. 

(4) John 3:16 -- "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that all who believe in Him may not perish but have everlasting life."  Now I am running into a contradiction.  Maybe saying "I believe IN God" is good enough.  Now I don't know.  Maybe if your belief is IN God then that automatically means that you believe God.  But then again, sometimes I have a hard time believing that God forgives ALL my sins.  So maybe there is something more to this.

What are your thoughts?  Do you believe in God or do you believe God?  Is there a difference for you?  Am I reading too much into this?  What else would you add? 

This is just something to think about so I offer this to you.  God bless you and take care.  -edh-

Dumber than sheep???

This coming Sunday is known in many churches as "Good Shepherd Sunday.  The 23rd Psalm is read along with John chapter 10 where Jesus talks about sheep and shepherds.  The second lesson is Revelation 7:9-17 which is about John seeing the great multitude robed in white - robes made white in the blood of the Lamb.  And verse 17 of Revelation 7 says, "for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

So those were the texts we talked about at text study today along with Acts 9:36-43 -- the first lesson where Peter raises Dorcas from the dead.  After we read the texts one of my colleagues talked about his ponderings of this whole sheep/shepherd imagery early in his ministry.  He said at first he did not like being called a sheep since they are some of the dumbest animals on earth.  Then someone told him that it is not about us being dumb, but rather the importance of us needing a leader (someone to guide us).  He said that made a lot of sense to him.  Then I chimed in and said, "So if sheep are some of the dumbest animals on the planet and they follow their shepherd's voice everyday, then what does that say about us who do not always follow our Shepherd -- Jesus Christ?  We have a lot to learn from sheep."

I mean think about it -- sheep do not wake up some mornings and make a conscience decision to not follow their shepherd.  They know that their shepherd cares for them, protects them and feeds them.  They trust their shepherd and follow their voice.  But then here WE are -- the smartest mammals on the planet and we can't even manage to follow and obey.  Many people know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and yet we often do not trust or listen to Him.  We have our moments when Jesus is the best thing since sliced bread and then moments when we try to create our own destiny -- and of course that never works.  So maybe sheep are NOT the dumbest animals on the planet.

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want..."  The Psalmist in Psalm 23 knows who to follow.  With Jesus Christ as our Shepherd, we shall never be in "want" - for Jesus provides for our souls.  So let's take a page out of the How to be a sheep manual and follow our shepherd's voice where ever He may lead.  We may not always understand why God does what God does, but God's ways and wisdom are far above our own. 

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want..."  Thank you Lord Jesus for leading, guiding, caring for us and giving us life.  But most importantly, thank you for coming after us when we stray.  Thank you for forgiveness and thank you for your love.  Praise be to God our Father and our Shepherd Jesus Christ -- Amen! -edh-

I have decided...I am not arrogant

I have decided that I am NOT arrogant. 

Last week a read a quote in a Christian Century article that said it was prideful for pastor to feel the need to write a new sermon every week.  That quote has been ringing in my ears, mind and heart ever since I read it (See "Sermon Stealing" below).  Writing new sermons each and every week is not about being prideful, but about being faithful.  A pastor is called to a particular congregation.  The pastor reads and lives the scripture text.  The pastor then comes FROM the congregation to preach a word to the people. This is not arrogance -- it is being faithful to the Word of God spoken to each of us where we are at in a particular time and place.  To take a sermon preached previously and preach it now is to cheat people.  Joy left a very good comment about sermon stealing in my previous post when she said: "I think that's terribly misleading (when pastors steal sermons), and could really damage the pastor/congregation relationship if discovered. If sermons are gifts from God, why would you even want to "steal" them from others? God will give pastors the right words for the right time."  Amen Joy, thank you for that comment.

But think of it this way as well:  What if your pastor were to ask you to share your faith story in worship some Sunday - would you go and find a "really good one" some place; someone who has a "better" faith story than you and use that?  Of course not.  You would share your story; the story God has written for you through Jesus Christ.  If I wanted to hear someone else's story I would have asked them.  I understand that the sermon is not necessarily the pastor's faith story, but in a way it is.  The sermon deals with the pastor's/preacher's encounter with the Word.  As Joy said the sermon/Word is a gift from God.  The message is different for everyone.  You are not going to preach the same sermon preached in Virginia in the aftermath of the shootings as you would in Minnesota.  You might have similar themes, but the Word is different.  God comes to each person in different ways and gives each us the words we need to say and hear.

And this is a lesson for all people.  When you are asked to share your faith story, don't try to embellish it to make it more entertaining, but share your story.  We all have a story.  Be faithful and honest with people.  Take the time to listen to God and trust that when the time is right, the Holy Spirit will inspire you to share a Word with people.  Whether you are on the street or at work or in the pulpit.  When a Word needs to be shared with people, God will provide those words.  So be faith and honest and trusting.  Sermons and faith stories are not about us but rather about God.

I am NOT arrogant.  I am just a person trying to listen to God in order to share the Good News with people HERE and NOW.  What's YOUR story? -edh-

Amazing Friday

God is awesome and never ceases to amaze me.  When God wants something done, God gets it done.  When God has a word to speak, that word gets spoken.  When God has a message for his people, that message gets delivered.  And there is nothing in my power that I can do to stop that (not that I would ever want to or try).

Yesterday I wrote about "Irony Thursday".  I was trying to write a sermon but found myself at a loss for words as I sat and wrote a post (how ironic huh?).  Anyway, as soon as I published that post I grabbed my Bible and piano books and proceeded to the sanctuary.  I go to the sanctuary when I want to get away and focus without distractions.  I also practice piano to settle my mind down (I have been taking lessons for nearly 2 years now).  After some practicing and praying, I started to listen.  After some time of what looked like me talking to myself (I was actually talking to God and talking through some ideas) I returned to my office.

Now this is the cool part.  I started typing and before I knew it the sermon for Sunday was done.  I entered a zone and the words just flew from my fingers onto the keys of my keyboard.  God never ceases to amaze me.  God is able to break through any writers (preachers) block.  There is no way I could have done this on my own.  Like Martin Luther says in his sacristy prayer "If it were left up to me I would surely bring it all to ruin".

There are many Thursday mornings when I have no clue what I am going to preach on Sunday, but every Sunday a sermon is born; not of my doing but of God's.  And every Sunday I sit (or stand) in amazement of God's awesome power.  So I sit here in my living room, on my day off, enjoying another amazing Friday with my God wondering what God is going to do next.  I am not sure what it will be, but if God is involved I am ready to hang on for the ride.  -edh-

God is doing a "new thing"

What new thing is God doing in your life?  But more importantly, can you even perceive that God is doing anything in your life?  Isaiah 43:18-19 (the Old Testament lesson for March 25) reads as follows, "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.  I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"(emphasis mine).

Text study this morning has got me thinking again.  It is amazing how that happens when people get together to study scripture.  I am not sure if this is what I am going to preach on, only time (and God) will tell, but what I am thinking is this:  What "new thing" is God doing in my life? In the congregation I serve? In the Church? In you?  I perceive some activity in my life but I am still trying to figure out what it means.  I perceive some activity at Salem and Belmont Lutheran Churches (the congregations I serve) but I am still trying to figure out what it means.  I know God is doing something new in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but I wonder if anyone knows what is going on.  And I know God is doing something in your life.

I believe it is all a matter of listening to God.  I think we get so caught up in ourselves that we don't stop to recognize that God is up to something.  I know God is up to something amazing in mine and Connie's lives but what?  I get so lost in emotion and selfishness that sometimes God's voice gets lost.  I need to stop and listen.  I need to tune out the noise.  I need to perceive.

God IS up to something.  What "new thing" is God doing in you? -edh-