God's Not Dead-Reality Check

Several months ago, a group of youth and adults attended the movie "God's Not Dead" together.  The premise of the movie is that a professor asks each student in his class to write God's Dead and sign it--then he will forgo the class on the mythical God and each student will pass.  While most students see this as nothing and write the words and sign, one student can not--he cannot go against what he believes to be true.  And the movie plays out from there.

In recent weeks and months, our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, Syria, and other places in the Middle East are asked to denounce Jesus--to denounce their Christian faith.  Some news has reported the beheading of children who refuse to denounce their faith.  Others, I would assume simply do so, because they think what is in the words--and if they have a chance to live--why not!?! 

We live in a country that is flawed, but we do have a freedom to worship in the way we believe.  Granted, some of us don't go to the place of worship, but if pushed, I think most of us would say we believe in Jesus, and that Jesus is our savior.  We take for granted this freedom and in some ways we waste the opportunities to witness, freely, as God commands.  We fail to witness to each other by staying home, we fail to witness to the community because we have too many other pressing issues, or we feel we don't have the time or money. 

What if we lived in a place where we experience a real threat to our earthly lives?  Would we take our faith for granted?  Would we get quiet and claim to believe something else?  Would we out and out convert?  I guess the question really is, do you believe?  Do you trust in the abundant live Jesus has given you?  Are you thankful?  How do you respond?

I am very troubled that the church, ours included has not intentionally done something. I prayed last evening for this specific situation, praying for families and children, and praying that I too would be strong enough if someone came to my door with this ultimatum. 

I don't have an answer.  I don't have a request.  I will invite you into this struggle, a struggle of faith and commitment.  We can pray--we can remember--we can do something.  God's Not Dead, Jesus is risen! 

And when we struggle, we can meditate on Mark 9: 23-24: 
And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." 24Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

Death in the church

This is one of those days that being church is not easy, it brings sorrow and grief.  I believe that when the church rejoices, it rejoices together; and when we grieve we grieve together.  At a meeting last night, we learned of Grace Lutheran in Saginaw’s plan to hold their final worship service together on October 5, and as of November will cease to be Grace Lutheran Church. 

We have also learned that Michi-lu-ca, a camp near Fairview where I went with confirmation youth for years, attended retreats, and my favorite cabin Birchwood 4 (which ironically burned this past spring) –overall the camp was a place of faith sharing and solitude will also be let go, sold.  I am sad, and I know others are as well.

Over the past days I have followed Facebook posts on how people are reacting primarily to the sale and closing of Michi-lu-ca.  There is anger, mistrust, grief, doubt, blame—and I admit that I have felt some of the same.  This is natural.  I spent time pounding re-rods as the Saginaw congregations built the worship space, I have had heart to heart talks with youth about life, and I’ve attended weddings at this place.  I get it.  

But it also reminds me that God is bigger than a place, God’s plan has never been to keep the world as it is.  As a lifelong Lutheran, I understand that death is part of the reality, and resurrection and new life is impossible without it.  There is a time for everything… there has been from the beginning.  The writer of Ecclesiastes knew this—“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”

I understand we are at different places in our responses to these things.  I can only imagine how the members at Grace are feeling with the decision they needed to make.  I can only imagine and read the responses of former camp staff, campers, donors, directors as they hear the news about the camp.

We are the church—the people are, not the buildings, not the land, not the camp.  My fear for a long time is that we have forgotten this.  As a church, we spend so much time maintaining buildings and things, and not tended to the mission God calls us all to, to make disciples of all people.  Yes, Grace and Michi-lu-ca have been vehicles for growing faith for many—but it wasn’t the buildings or the grounds.  It was and always will be the camp staff, the members, the pastors, the ministries… and no one has done anything to these. 

I have been serving in some capacity in Michigan since 1999.  Since that time, I have watched the Gathering attendance go from where we used 3 hotels to one, and often not filling that one up to capacity.  Camp attendance has decreased—from confirmation, Leadership training, and Bass Lake.  I have served on committees for some events and for others attended with youth.  But the writing was on the wall.  I have participated in capital campaigns, where I received a phone call from an active camp staff who called to ask for donations.  I received mailings.  I heard camp directors and others speak at assemblies and other meetings encouraging camp participation.  As an assistant, I shared in almost every congregation the importance of camping and that one year, only four of our congregations in the North/West Lower Michigan synod participated in Bass Lake.  We can place blame if we wish, and we could even blame ourselves—but the reality is, this is the time.  This is the time for a death, painful as it is, and I can only hope and believe that the resurrected results will share that grace with our young people and campers for years to come.  

I guess we all have a choice to make.  My choice and hope is in the future, to trust that the people of Grace will continue to use the gifts they have received for the building up of faith and hope in the Saginaw community.  And I hope that the people of God in Michigan will continue to be church together and support the ministry that clearly means so much to many—and support camp.  I will be at Stony next year with confirmation campers from Ascension.  I plan to be at the Gathering.  I plan to continue to support in prayer, finances and participation as the church.  

I understand and pray for those in grief.  In time, I pray that we can trust that God works for good in all things—and that the ministry will continue as it needs to and as it is beneficial.  We are the church—the people, the body of Christ. 

Below is the video produced to help us understand as best we can what happened with Michi-lu-ca and the commitment to mission.  I encourage you to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owp2SDeNV_s&list=UUO8_ClAdyGWbKo6GRPOjFEA

Bold Faith--sermon from 8/17 and 8/20

I am not doing well keeping up on the blog. I will have to make a better effort at this.

I am posting the sermon I preached.  I wonder what others think of bold faith?  What does it mean? 

Our gospel reading this morning is challenging, mainly because of Jesus’ response and reaction to the Canaanite woman.  Earlier in chapter 15, Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees and scribes why the disciples had broken with tradition, particularly, why didn’t they wash their hands before they ate.  Jesus challenges back about why they break the commandments of God, particularly speaking evil of parents when God commands to honor your Father and Mother.  Jesus says, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 

Our reading picks up on this idea with a very descriptive image—what enters the mouth goes to the stomach and will go out via the sewer.  But what exits the mouth proceeds from the heart and this is what defiles, for out of the heart comes that which we do and say to others that is unclean.  Dirty hands will not defile, dirty words and actions will.

To illustrate this further, Jesus and the disciples enter the district of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile territory that Israelites would not venture into alone.  Just then one of them, a woman in fact started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”  She is multiple-unclean---Canaanite, woman, daughter with a demon.”  Jesus doesn’t answer, and the disciples urge him to send her away—because she keeps shouting.  She approaches him and kneels, Lord, help me.  This time he isn’t silent, and says it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.  This illustrates that he had said earlier he had been sent to the lost sheep of Israel.  Dog would have had the same impact that calling a woman a female dog would have today!  The woman, bold in her conviction replies, Yes Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.”  Moved, Jesus responds, Woman, great is your faith, let it be done as you wish and her daughter is healed instantly.

Jesus’ responses are rough to hear.  However today I want to focus on the bold actions, the bold conviction this woman displayed.  She knew the traditions of the Israelites, she knew speaking to a man, let alone and Israelite man was just not done.  But it was her child, and some boundaries are crossed when a parent needs something for their child.  So she crosses the social, ethnic, gender boundaries to reach this Jesus, the Son of David, and asks for compassion!  The tradition, the boundary was a fence that kept her away from Jesus, and she was not going to let this stand. 

I wonder, am I as bold?  Are you as bold?  Are we, as a church as bold? 

This past week, we offered a Back to School Fair, for everyone!  Everything was free, no one had to prove anything.  We trust that those who came needed what we had, and no questions.  I believe we were bold.  We welcomed people, we engaged with people, and almost all comments I heard was how great this idea was and how people can help next year. 

The week before, as we were setting up, a young man came in—most people in the church at that time were concerned.  He claimed he needed money for a bus ticket to Toledo, for his mother’s funeral.  All the signs were there, all the warnings, at least they were for everyone but me.  So I went to the ATM, took out some of my own money and gave the young man $43 for a ticket.  Only to find out later that day he had also been seen at a bowling alley and a supermarket asking for money for a bus ticket—and he was supposed to have been already on the bus.  Duped.  And out $43.  I could get into all the things I did wrong here, but that would take too much time.  Leave it said, this could have jaded me, but I will still say that if I have to face God at the pearly gates and defend myself, I will boldly defend myself for giving to people who don’t need it than not giving to those who did!  Sometimes bold doesn’t equate smart!

It seems the news in our world today is overwhelming.  Issues with genocide in Iraq with ISSIS.  Ebola outbreaks throughout Africa and now on the soil of the US.  Israel and the people of the Gaza strip warring.  Riots and looting after a police officer shot a young man.  Ukraine.  The Islamic state has executed over 700 people, many civilians from a tribe in Syria; and have stated a desire to eradicate Christianity from their territory.  Two peace keepers were killed and 11 others injured by a suicide bomber in Mali. 

In our own community, shootings, gangs, poverty, hunger. Racism, economic disparity, education inequality, undocumented children.  

It is overwhelming, and it can lead us to think there is nothing we can do, there is too much.  One of my struggles is where is the church in all of this?  Where is the bold proclamation of mercy, grace, love, reconciliation, peace, God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven?  Are we so overwhelmed we can’t do anything, that we remain silent?  Are we afraid that not everyone will agree on where we stand on an issue that in order not to offend anyone we keep our mouths shut?  I truly believe that if the congregations in Saginaw stopped worrying about keeping the doors of the buildings open or doctrines that separate us like female clergy, homosexuality, communion—we could change this city, if we could be bold enough to take down the traditions and barriers that separate us from each other. 

Recently, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and the leadership of the ELCA has been speaking out against many of these issues.   In response to the undocumented children, some of who have moved into our community of Bay City, advocates in the ELCA encouraged leaders to act with dignity and compassion.  It doesn’t matter where you land on whether the children should be here or not, people deserve dignity and compassion no matter what is done.

In an Aug. 15 letter to the church, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the ELCA wrote that Psalm 133 generally is "an encouraging Psalm, at a time such as this, when the world seems anything but unified, these words may feel more jarring than inspiring. This is especially so now as news from Iraq continues to worsen."

About 150,000 people have "recently fled their homes in the wake of attacks from Islamic state militants and their allies. While reports indicate that the immediate threat to many of these precious lives was abated by the delivery of food and water aid, an estimated 300 people, many of them children, still perished from exposure, dehydration and starvation. Reports of attacks, atrocities and human-rights abuses, often targeted at religious minorities and other vulnerable groups cause, our hearts to cry out in lamentation rather than in the hope that this week's Psalm celebrates," she wrote.

In response to the shooting in Ferguson, Bishop Eaton writes; "Throughout the gospels, Jesus reached out to the 'others,' those whom society deemed utterly foreign. We are at greatest risk when we divide into 'us' and 'them.' Then, we are unable to see each other's humanity," said Eaton. "In Christ, there is no 'them,' not Michael Brown, not the community, not the police. All are one. All are 'us' and all are Christ's."

            "We pray that peace will come to Ferguson and the Brown family – peace is founded on the knowledge that in Christ, there is no 'other,' only brothers and sisters," she said.

            In an effort to bring the community together, the Rev. Rick Brenton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Ferguson, said thousands of local residents gathered for a peace march Aug. 14. "Last night we came together to march and reclaim the streets," said Brenton. "Somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 people marched. Clergy from all over the city, from every denomination, creed and origin, came together along with youth and others to peacefully protest. We had also delivered food and toiletries items to residents of the Canfield Green Apartment complex where police opened fire Aug. 9. People there are afraid to leave their homes. God's people deserve better than what has been happening."

As church, the first thing we need to do is be careful not to make judgments too quickly.  First, not every person that practices Islam is attempting to eradicate Christianity.  Not every African American in Ferguson is looting and destroying the city. We can cry out for justice.  We can reach out to those who are being destroyed---the Christians of the Middle East, the Brown family, the police officer and family, the community that had nothing to do with this but stores that are being looted.

How will we, as a community of faith demonstrate the bold convictions of the Canaanite woman?  How will we reach out and boldly make Christ known?  Sometimes our hands, our feet, our money will be used to aid those in need with mercy and compassion. 

The church cannot be silent on these issues.  We must be bold, we must reach out with the conviction that all are God’s children, nothing separates us.  We need to enter into the conversation, writing our political leaders, demanding justice, demanding that we name what issues we are dealing with, stop supporting companies and agencies that foster them and us. 

I wonder, what if every one of us committed to pray for the issues around the world, for the issues in our community, for each other.  Not just on Sundays mornings or Wednesday evenings, but if we took the prayer list home and prayed instead of putting it in the recycle bin?  What if all Christians prayed for justice and peace in Ferguson, Missouri—even when we don’t really have all the answers.  We don’t need them to pray for justice—God knows what is just!  What if we prayed for our brothers and sisters around the world—Christian, Muslim, Jewish—for mercy and understanding in our differences? 

I pray for bold faith, for me, for us, for the world.  I believe that as a people of God we are called to make a difference.  To make us difference silence isn’t an option.  To make a difference we need to put ourselves out there in the bold trust and conviction that God will show mercy on this world, and that we are called to be part of that.  Lord, make us bold in our prayer and in our actions.  Let the people of God say, Amen.

Chapter 5: Love Changes People

Chapter 5:  Love Changes People

This chapter has caused the most confusion and maybe uncomfortableness.  Not because we don’t know the power of love, but sometimes it seems it does take a bit of a shock to get people to listen, maybe cause some fear.

One of the most vivid conversions stories is that of Paul.  Read Acts 9:1-22.

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

21All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

How is this an example of how God always comes down to us in  love?  What was Paul’s reaction?

Do you think Paul or Ananias was changed more?  Why?

Have you ever had what you might call a conversion experience?

Have you ever had an experience where someone whacked you upside the head with a Bible?  What was it like?  Were you changed?  What was your response?

Describe a time your life was changed by love, or a time when someone else’s life was changed by an experience of love.

Do you think a community is changed by love or by fear?  Is there differing results?