Saying "YES" to life...

Deuteronomy 30:17-21 I love routine. Each morning I get up and get myself ready for the day. After I have finished getting my self ready it is off to get baby Laedin ready for her day. Waking her up, dressing her in accord with what my wife tells me to put on her, and feeding her breakfast. It is then off to either Acorn Acres or the babysitter. Everything throughout the day is about routine. It is about doing everything like I did yesterday and the day before. At 7am the next morning it all starts over. I love routine, but it does keep me from saying "YES" to life. To often I'm stuck in routine and I don't see the "smallness" of life. I miss the beauty of the Kingdom, because I love my routine. Life is happening all around me and yet I miss it. I teach our students that we are a part of this grand story of God and that the Kingdom is all around us...we just have to choose to see it. We have to learn to life our life with our eyes open and our hearts saying "YES" to life. Lord, teach us to see life within our own lives...to see everything we do as apart of your Story...and say "YES".

Our Second Ash Wednesday

Psalm 51 I think this year the blog will reflect on the readings/events of the previous day of Lent. From a Church of Christ minister's perspective putting together an evening like Ash Wednesday presents its own difficulties because of our unfamiliarity with it as a tradition and the diversity of attendees as a range of visitors and members. At Oak Ridge, we've added the challenge of making it an inter-generational activity. I believe the challenges are worthwhile. Through the hour we spent together last night my thoughts and feelings swung from frustrated and disappointed to elated and surprised by Divine action. Smiley faces weren't what I anticipated being drawn on the paper. A twelve year old admitting that pride keeps him from admitting his wrongs exceeded my expectations. Please comment. What did you experience as a spiritually transformative moment last night? What do you think we should consider doing differently next year?

Comments & Archive Practice Run

Ash Wednesday is this week! Please take a minute to practice posting a comment on the blog. In order to add a comment or read comments already posted you click on the link at the bottom of the day's blog that has a (number) in front of the word Comment(s). That will open another window displaying the comments on the left and space to add your own on the right. Simply left click inside that space to begin typing your comment. When you are finished click simply click the Publish Your Comment button at the bottom. It's that simple! Please go there and try it now. Your comment could be something quick like "Howdy Y'all!" or encouraging like "I look forward to reading this blog and comments during Lent." Grace and Peace be with you all through this blessed season!

Why We Will Observe Lent

Psalm 51:1 We have daily devotionals for our families to use during Lent this year. Each day's reading contains an excerpt from the writings of Henri J. M. Nouwen. In the very first one, for Ash Wednesday this week, Nouwen directs us to make Lent a time for breaking down the idol of guilt. That thought provokes me. Lent began as a time of preparation for baptism. As the Church matured and generations of Christians worshiped together, older members began to re-enter the time of reflection and fasting that those just coming to faith walked through. Together the Church celebrated the blessing that God did not abandon us in our sin but came to live among us and redeem us. During Lent those new believers exchanged their idols for the Living God. For Greek's Aphrodite fell and for Jews the Temple tumbled. But 21st Century Christians have idols too. Sadly, some of us do worship wealth or power or pleasure. But isn't it true that some of us pay grudging homage to our guilty consciences. We keep "going to church" because we owe it to God or our parents. We hold back from relationships with other believers because we don't feel spiritual enough. We sit in worship or try to pray at home and wonder why we can't connect with God. All because, we have never found a way to get past our guilt. During Lent we can tear down this obstacle. Lent is not about self-deprecation and focus on sin. It creates space and time in our lives to search out and destroy anything that stands between us and God. Sure, we should do this year round. Lent offers a chance to spend a season doing it together as a community of faith.

OK... What about divorce?

Wow! I don’t remember when a sermon stirred up this much conversation. Interestingly, what I’ve heard focuses not on the main point, but on a topic briefly mentioned. Sunday, I presented our need to have clearly communicated expectations of behavior for our community of faith. To illustrate that such a “list” is appropriate, I summarized Jesus’ list from Matthew chapter five. Number 6 seems to be the one to cause the most stir. Many of us drew a painful breath and held it as I read, “Do not divorce—Do not marry someone divorced.” One of our Shepherds told me his mind ran through a list of people that might be distressed by such an unmitigated restatement of Jesus words. A member related to me her attempt to clarify to another that I wasn’t just outright rejecting anyone divorced. She explained that my point was about needing a clear list of expected behaviors and that on the topic of divorce I would look at a lot of other Scripture. I affirmed that her response was both accurate and appreciated. Another member expressed concern that I had virtually skipped over divorce and treated it too lightly. Yet another appreciated both my willingness to address the topic and Oak Ridge’s willingness to help people heal as they go through the very painful process of divorce recovery. He also appreciated us offering space to K. Hott for the Parenting Through Separation and Divorce class. I wondered what she was thinking so I called her. She focused on the call to be a community of faith and our need to help each other live out the behaviors that reflect that community. She heard the reference to divorce only in the context of all those behaviors Jesus listed. K also emphasized that in her work she helps people in second marriages recognize their part in the failure of the first marriage. She said the healing necessary for the success of the second marriage has to include a humble willingness to change. I told her I have yet to meet someone who saw the divorce they had been through a divorce as a good thing. At times I have agreed a divorce was necessary and unavoidable. Never have I believed that God or anyone else involved was truly pleased with the situation. That seems to be Jesus’ reason for including it in his list. God doesn’t want our expected behaviors to include divorce is an option for a difficult marriage. Jesus does not offer adultery as an exception to the rule. God would rather have reconciliation, healing, renewed commitment, earned trust, and healthy marriages. Those are the expected behaviors. When a couple chooses other behaviors they need healthy discernment, supportive wisdom and spiritual guidance from their faith community. It may be that one or both of the spouses has done irreparable damage and the marriage must be dissolved. Let’s not pretend God or any of us are “ok” with that situation. God weeps that his children suffer so. Malachi 2:15-16 No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth. "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and the one who is guilty of violence," says the LORD who rules over all. "Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful." I would like anyone interested in discussing this topic further to join me from 6:30-8:00 pm Sunday night March 8th for Conversation. Perhaps we can have a different Conversation topic each of the remaining 2nd Sunday nights this year.