With my departure from First UMC Lewisville and reappointment next month to First UMC Denton, I have decided to put my blog to bed indefinitely. I deeply appreciate the time you have taken to read my posts and hope that at some level they've got you thinking and believing. Grace and peace to you as you continue your journey of faith. Don

Such much has been transpiring in my life that I've fallen a bit behind on my posts. I just returned from a week long mission trip to Joplin, MO. As you probably know, an EF5 tornado tore through that community 11 months ago destroying approximately 1/3 of the city. We arrived to find most of the destroyed buildings and homes cleared but nominal construction being done to replacing the 8000 structures demolished by the tornado. We found both the members of First UMC Joplin (who provided us a place to sleep, eat, and shower) and residents of the community gracious, appreciative, and eager to tell their stories. Everyone had a story to tell about what they were doing when the tornado hit and how it affected them and their loved ones. We spent the bulk of our time in Joplin working on a house to make it livable for the owner who lost her original home in the disaster. One day was spent clearing a lot of felled trees (lots of chain sawing and moving timber and brush from one place to another). I was moved both by the incredible loss this community has suffered and by the profound response of faith I witnessed from its residents. I continue to meet off and on with the staff of First UMC Denton for staff and worship planning as I continue this transitional phase to my new appointment as of July. My wife and I plan to travel to Utah for a week, so I can study and renew before I move to Denton. My last Sunday at First Lewisville is June 17th and I look forward to celebrating communion together with my church family as a way to say goodbye. For me the most difficult part of being an appointed pastor is the goodbyes which seem to come much too often. Blessings, Don

Lawnmower Man

I’ve been mowing my lawn ever since my lawn guy, one of our former youth headed off to A & M. I could hire someone to mow it for me but I’m kind of cheap and I originally hired Josh to mow as much to support him as to save myself the work. Well, I was mowing the other day and noticed that I seemed to be hitting a few more rocks and tree roots then normal. That should have been the first indication that something was off but I kept mowing until I sheered off one of my sprinkler heads. Apparently some time between the last mowing and my mower’s odd behavior the height adjustment on my mower had reset itself. I was able to raise the height back up but the damage had been done. The blade is chewed up and I’ve had to replace the sprinkler head I decapitated. Perhaps it’s not the best analogy but I got to thinking about the Easter event and how it changes everything for us. Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection redefines our relationship with God and our relationship with the world. It has not only reconciled us with God, it should radically transform the way we relate to the world.  It creates a new normal where we can no longer keep the status quo. Suddenly everything is filtered through God’s priorities and Kingdom agenda. To live as if the mower that is my life has not changed, is a denial of my Christian identity. Further, to operate my life as if nothing has changed can only undermine and even damage to my relationship with God as well as my sense of peace. And perhaps here’s where the analogy totally breaks down. Unlike a lawn mower that can simply be readjusted back to its original settings, I can never go back to who I was before. 

Like a Little Child

   If you were in worship Sunday, you may have caught sight of one of our children after children’s time in a sprint, carrying a bottle of water given to her by one of our staff, and announcing excitedly, “Look mama, she gave me a bottle of water!” Now granted it was just a bottle of water but in my mind this child embodied pure joy. Joy sees life and all of its “trappings” as a gift from God and rejoices in the thoughtfulness of the giver.

   We live in a society where people feel entitled. Entitlement says, “It’s just a bottle of water, no big deal.” We could do well to learn from this child. Joy says, “Thank you God for all the gifts of this day…including the little ones that come as a surprise for they remind us that we are loved.” Perhaps this is part of what Jesus meant when he said, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 If you find yourself being critical of others or focusing on the disappointments of your situation, perhaps its time you rediscovered the little child within that cries out in joy in the face of unexpected gifts. The writer of James puts it this way, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing by joy.” 1:2 

Stay Thirsty My Friends

I am thirsty...it's such a simple little statement. Whether its my son asking to stop at Sonic on the way home from school or one of our hospitalized members asking me to hand them their water mug on the tray table, I hear and think these words often. We're made to thirst, our bodies dependent on fluid to keep them hydrated. We can last weeks without food but mere days without some kind of fluid. So it makes sense that Jesus describes himself as "living water" and God's will as "the cup he must drink from." There is something about a relationship with Jesus Christ that satiates the deepest needs of the soul, something that can never be adequately addressed by anything this world has to offer. Its takes something "out-of-this-world" to satiate our needs as spiritual beings. Jesus poured himself out on the cross, until there was nothing left. No wonder he was thirsty. "Sour wine" could not fix that. It never can. There was nothing left for him to say but "It is finished...into your hands I commend my Spirit." This world continues to offer us "sour wine" and sometimes we settle, thinking to ourselves, "This will be good!" But in the end, nothing in this world can quench our deepest thirst. Only something "out-of-this-world," can do that. As we continue to wander through the wildness of Lent and this life, there awaits for us an oasis along the way. There, Jesus waits for us offering us the water that satisfies. He offers us himself, poured out for us and many for the forgiveness of sins. And then the invitation, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come..." Isaiah 55:1

Don, You Push Too Hard!

Finding time for what’s important is usually not that hard. We prioritize all the time, whether it’s to make time to watch our child play soccer, catching the game on TV, getting our teeth worked on, or going out with a friend. Sometimes it means adjusting our schedule, carpooling, TiVo-ing “Dancing with the Stars,” or even taking time off from work but somehow we manage. What drives our decisions ultimately comes down to the importance we place on something. You’d be surprised at how quickly I could clear my schedule if someone offered me an all expense paid trip to Maui (if this happens, remember I’m your guy!). So whether it’s participating in a week-long mission trip to tornado ravaged Joplin, Missouri or attending a 30 minute vespers service, we determine whether it’s worth adjusting our schedule to make this happen for us. The truth is, the world will not end if I do not participate in these kinds of activities. The bigger issue is what it says about me and what I value when I can find time for my favorite TV show or a free Hawaiian getaway, but cannot adjust for the radical inconvenience of worship and mission. In most cases no one is going to know or care about how or why I prioritize my life a certain way, but I care. 

Does it Seem Strange to You?

Does it seem strange to you that three men being crucified side by side, suffering inconceivable pain would engage in conversation on the cross? One speaks in desperation, another in humility and hope, the third in words of promise and a future. Does it seem strange to you that a dying criminal would use the little energy he has, mocking Jesus? Or that the other criminal would go to Jesus' defense as the life drains from his own body? Does it seem strange to you that a promise of salvation would be extended to a criminal without the prerequisite confession of sin, profession of faith, or baptism? I'm not sure what all this means except to say that even on the cross Jesus refused to allow others to define his mission. Jesus died as he lived, bringing good news to the poor, release to the captive and recovery of sight to the blind. The irony is even those who mocked Jesus while he died on the cross had this grace available to them, if only they would receive it.

Life Without God

A church member recently sent me a blog entry titled, "Life Without God." It was an interview with a United Methodist minister who had lost his faith and eventually left the church. Its been my experience that no one is immune from the "crisis of faith," not even a minister. And more then once I've had questions about certain aspects of my faith but I don't consider the questioning process to be a loss of faith. In fact, its been my experience that people don't fully own their faith until they learn to question it. It saddens me that someone who considered himself  called to ministry has concluded he's been "sold a bad set of goods." Still I don't fault a minister for losing faith. I do fault them for continuing to lead a church despite this loss of faith. To me this is dishonest, selfish, and subverts the servant role of clergy. While I understand the economics of losing one's job and the loss of face that might occur, to remain active in this role is to make a mockery of the people a minister is entrusted with. In short, it is to alternately "sell them a bad set of goods." Its been my experience that the people I serve, while far from perfect, would be genuinely concerned and supportive of a minister transferring out of a leadership role because a crisis of faith. And I think to automatically assume otherwise, is to sell short their compassion. For my part, I can't imagine life without God.

Pastor Resigns

The evening news anchor reported that a minister from the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist church has been accused of sexually harassing a member of a local church. The member has filed a civil lawsuit (he was a legal adult when it occurred) against the pastor and the North Texas Conference. I learned of the accusation (without any of the details) previous to the news report and was aware that the Bishop had begun a supervisory process to investigate the accusation. The accused minister has since surrendered his credentials and is no longer a United Methodist minister. While my immediate concern is for the abused individual (who is now serving as a United Methodist pastor), my heart also aches for Jesus' church. When something like this happens it’s not just the abused who is victimized but the very church Jesus died to establish. So while we must allow the legal process to run its course (innocent until judged guilty), pray for all those involved. Pray that there is healing as well as appropriate justice. Pray that those outside the church not judge Jesus' church on the actions of a few. So much good happens because of the church’s work in the world and only it has been given the unique “commission” to share the good news of God’s love in Jesus to the world! 

Kingdom Issues

We are currently working with a local sign company to replace our monument sign outside the church. In working with the sign company consultant we've come up with a design that compliments our existing signage and buildings while at the same time incorporates the technology that will allow us to digitally change the sign information. It also will bear on it the name of the church, "First United Methodist Church" in back lit lettering. While the design has been approved and the monies raised, the sticking point has been the color of the lettering to be used in the signage. The color originally proposed by the vendor is pretty bright (even for me), so the current discussion is whether it looks cheesy or resembles a Bahama themed beach restaurant. Certainly no one wants that but it reminded me of a story I heard at one of my former churches. Apparently someone had ordered the new sanctuary carpet in a color others didn't like. There had been major fallout over the new carpet; gossip was spread, words spoken, feelings hurt, some even left the church ( I suspect more to escape the conflict then any real concern about the carpet). When does something become a Kingdom issue? And if it isn't a Kingdom issue, does that mean its unimportant? I think something becomes a Kingdom issue when it derails our unity and focus as a church. The Apostle Paul writes a great deal about the need for unity in the Body of Christ. I don't think that means non-Kingdom issues are unimportant. But I think clarity about what are Kingdom issues and what is not will help us stay on task in the making of disciples for Jesus Christ, while lessening the emotional weight that a difference of opinion can create in the life of the community. So while we look for other colors for our sign, we do so openly acknowledging this is not a Kingdom issue.

Thy will be done

Jesus saved his harshest words not for Israel’s oppressive Roman overlords, nor for insurrectionists like Barrabas (who advocated violent civil unrest), not even for the religious elite he accused of being white washed tombs. No, Jesus reserved his harshest criticism for his disciples. When Jesus speaks in terms of God’s will (his pending death and resurrection), one disciple, Peter responds, “Oh no Lord, God forbid this to ever happen to you.” What could be more well meaning then that? Yet Jesus gives Peter the severest of condemnations when he addresses Peter as the embodiment of evil. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:23) Nowhere else in the Gospels does Jesus speak of anyone in this harsh of language. Is it possible that our concerns might be a problem for God; that they might stand in the way of God’s purpose? Jesus seemed to think so. In other words, God’s will is not a given. It doesn’t reveal itself by osmosis. It takes prayerful reflection and holy conversation. It’s a discernment process with an eye on scripture and a heart open to God’s Holy Spirit. But isn’t it enough just to be well intentioned? Hmmm…. 

Finding Grace

A mega church in Winston-Salem recently sent letters to families who attend worship but never volunteer, tithe or participate in small groups. They were “politely” asked to either take their participation to a higher level or simply stop attending. Their executive pastor was quoted to say, “No more Mr. Nice Church. Bigger is not always better. Providing free services indefinitely to complacent Christians is not our mission.” Another church staff member adds, “Before now, we made people feel comfortable and welcome, and tried to coax them to give a little something in return. That’s changed. We’re done being the community nanny.”

I wonder what Jesus would think of this approach. Yes, church membership is a big deal and people should take it seriously. We say as much whenever someone joins First UMC Lewisville. But isn’t there something contradictory about treating church members as dead-weight who don’t measure up to our standard of what a Christian or church member should be? That God has standards for our lives is clear but grace is the ultimate standard God uses to measure us by.  Grace is God treating us better then we deserve. I can’t imagine belonging to a church that is unwilling to give grace when it’s very existence is owed to it.

Don

The Sky Is Falling!

   January 15... that’s when a failed 14.5 ton, 165 million dollar Russian Mars probe is expected to come crashing back to earth. The good news is, most of the probe is expected to burn up in the atmosphere. Russians scientists predict that just 20 to 30 pieces, weighing a maximum of 440 pounds will actually hit the ground (or water). The bad news is Russian scientists say it's impossible to know when and where the probe will hit. Should we worry? According to the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies, the odds of getting hit by space debris are at the most 10,000 to one. In fact there’s only one known case of that happening, in Tulsa and she survived. Still, the thought that large pieces of a space probe will be falling from the skies is somewhat disconcerting. 

   I wonder if God is intrigued and even amused by our longing to explore the mystery of the universe when perhaps the greatest unexplored frontier is the human soul. For it is here within the deepest part of our being that God waits to meet us. It is here we'll discover that extraterrestrial life that has already come crashing down into our reality not as some errant piece of space debris, but as the embodiment of love. In my book that's something worth getting clobbered by!

Broken pots

Over the summer my sister gifted me with a coffee cup. The cup design is called "Somayaki" and is a type of traditional Japanese pottery. Somayaki is prized for it's high end tea cups and teapots. I know this from experience because I grew up with this pottery. While a new Somayaki coffee cup will set you back $50.00, my sister picked this one up in a flea market for $5. Well, today I accidentally dropped my cup in the sink while washing it and the handle broken into several pieces. Sad, I know. While I could glue the handle back together it will never be something useable, only decorative. It got me thinking about the things in our lives that have since run their course and no longer serve their original purpose. Sometimes we keep them for sentimental or ornamental reasons. Sometimes we simply keep them because we've long since grown accustomed to them. I don't know about you but these days I find myself thinking "less is more." Maybe its the economy or even maturity, but I've been divesting myself of a lot of the things I've accumulated over the years. Some I've sold, others I've simply given away. I think this divesting is healthy and its helping me keep my focus on what's most important. I think at some level this is true for the church and maybe even for the doing of theology (how we think and talk about God). When things run their course its a healthy thing to allow them to fall by the wayside and instead focus on what's most important. Some of the things I was taught early on in my faith journey simply don't hold water anymore and I've learned to let them go. Others have had to evolve, as I processed them through my life experience. I hope that as I continue to mature in my faith, I will be able to focus on what's most important and have the grace to let go of what isn't. I suspect this is Jesus' hope for his church as well.