Category: Uncategorized
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Received, not Taken
I heard a conversation this past week where a middle-aged man shared how he visited his friend whose 23-year daughter had died. He told his friend that Jesus had “taken” his daughter. The father, responding in kind wisdom, replied “Jesus did not ‘take’ her, He ‘received’ her.” It is curious that in the Gospel’s we read about Jesus healing people and even raising some from the dead, but never “taking” anyone. Death is certain and is random and many Christians choose to replace that fact with the idea that it is God’s plan or God’s will. I suppose our need…
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“Jesus Carry Me Upon Your Back”
Recently I heard a song sung by Ugandan Christians, “Jesus Carry Me Upon Your Back.” The genesis of this hymn is seen everyday as mothers carry their babies on their backs. To be as dependent as a baby, snuggled close to your mother as you can get, is the image of being carried by Jesus on His back. As usual, my mind went to another image and place. Of Jesus carrying His cross and falling three times. Listening to the song, I replaced the cross with me, Gary. I asked myself, is Jesus falling because I’m a tall overweight man,…
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Of Pentecost & Annual Conference: A Different Perspective
Back in 2015, Taylor Watson Burton-Edwards shared his thoughts about the East Congo Annual Conference at Kivu on his Facebook page. He said that their primary agenda item was: “To evaluate what God has done among them during the past year.” Taylor then noted that they were not reporting on what the Annual Conference ministries had done in the past year, nor what the leading pastors had done. This re-framing of the evaluation question is so powerful. First, it is full of humility. Notice that in the East Congo they focus on what God has done among and in them.…
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Endowments: A Blessing or a Curse
Inheritance comes in many forms; legacies, heirlooms, traditions, and personality traits to name a few. In our culture which equates self-worth with net worth, the inheritance which can be monetized is most desired. The wealthy among us lean on their financial advisors when making decisions about how much inheritance will help, and the “too much” that will hurt their children and grandchildren. The danger is that “too much” does more harm than good. Curiously, too much money can rob the individual of initiative and integrity. Within the paradox of faith, we understand that that too much money makes us poor…
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Memorial Day & Memorial Gifts
Seventeen years ago my father died. He served in the Navy during WWII and then enlisted in the Air Force, retiring after 23 years of service. As many veterans, he did not share his wartime experiences with his family. Not being a veteran, nor serving in the military, I can only rely on books for an explanation for his silence. My Vietnam veteran friends keep their cards close the vest as well; although some have shared their stories, mostly painful, all heroic, in this non-soldier’s mind. This Memorial Day I remember the dead, men and women who laid themselves down…
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If Stained Glass Windows Could Talk
The sun broke through the clouds just as I was looking at the stained-glass windows. Sitting in the back pew I was able to see each window light up and cast its colors into the sanctuary as if it were performing its own sacred dance. Several of the windows displayed the donors name, while most were given in memory of a loved one. I learned that the church celebrated turning one hundred years old this year. For 5,200 Sunday’s, numerous special holy days including weddings and funerals, the beautiful stained-glass windows shed their radiance, reverence, and peace over them all.…
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Simple is Not Easy
“What does the Lord require, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8 In my daily reading one of my favorite passages hit home. This passage is both simple and difficult. It is simple because it does not require a sermon series to unpack its meaning. There is no metaphorical, hidden, or sophisticated language to cloud our understanding. What is simple in the spiritual life is often the most difficult. Today’s reading requires daily discernment of what is right and just. And then the passage calls us to act on that…
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The Best News Ever
The loss of a loved one is profoundly painful. The weight of grief slows time to a standstill. We see people going about daily activities wondering why they don’t realize our world has stopped. On Good Friday I imagine those closest to Jesus were completely devastated, His mother labored even to breathe. Everything – her heart, bones, even down to her DNA ached for her beloved son. Her world was swallowed up by the tomb. Then the news came. Risen! Alive! The deepest, crushing, dark night of despair vanquished. The brightest light of joy and new hope enveloped the day.…
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The Holy Week Mirror Image
I am placing myself within the Holy Week drama. So instead of re-membering the week’s events, I am co-membering – placing myself in each character’s role. I got as far the Garden in Gethsemane when I realized I was penning a short story instead of a reflection. So to spare you a long read, I will share the process as a way of making my point. I began by holding up a spiritual mirror to see myself in the story. For instance, it is not the priests questioning Jesus about His authority and teachings, but me, the guy that sits…
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Of Insurance and Assurance
The word insurance conjures up all sorts of thoughts and feelings. If you have been struggling to pay health insurance premiums or have been “self” insuring because you cannot afford the health plan, the word insurance is loaded with anxiety. Now if you had a water pipe break in your home and the insurance company just paid for a new kitchen, you are probably singing the jingle – “Nationwide is on you side.” I was trained in the life & health insurance business and saw firsthand how insurance can change lives. I sold a major medical policy to a college…