Honoring a Great Pastor
January 15, 2007, 08:00 AM | Peace and
Justice |
Permalink
My father referred to him as "Reverend King" and would occasionally point out that he was a pastor first - defined by his call and theology - and that his civil rights leadership was simply an ordained outgrowth of his ministry. More than once I heard King referred to as a "man of God" and understood that his world view and approach to justice was shaped by the Bible. I know a man from our Ephrata Church of the Brethren who was part of a group of young white men from Lancaster County who were present at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963 when King gave his famous speech. Some in our youth Sunday School class even read "Letters from a Birmingham Jail." At least a number of white Pennsylvania Anabaptists were outraged at our nation's indifference to the plight of our citizens of color. I couldn't reconcile our biblical precepts with the conditions in our country and so we joined the civil protest against the injustices and inequalities in our "God-fearing" nation.
I recent survey of high school students in the United States found that many didn't even know who Martin Luther King, Jr. was or thought he was fighting against slavery. Our local school district gives two days off for deer hunting but doesn't observe Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Few parents attempt to pass on a sense of history to their children. That's really, really too bad.
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere
ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Strength to Love, 1963.
|
Where Are We Located? ... How Are We Growing?
ANABAPTISTS. A new church census conducted by Mennonite World Conference reveals there are nearly 1.5 million members in Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and related churches in 75 countries worldwide. Membership in Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and related churches worldwide has grown 14 percent in three years to nearly 1.5 million.
A new Mennonite World Conference census lists 217 churches in 75 countries with 1,478,540 members. Membership grew in all continental regions except Europe.
(click
on the graph to view it up close)
Africa, with 529,703 members, continues to have the largest and fastest-growing membership among the five continental regions. The Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia is the largest national conference, with 130,727 members.
The World Mennonite Conference represents 87 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ national church conferences in 48 countries. (Data from Mennonite Church USA Historical Society.)
"The Divine Hours" and the "Offices" of Prayer
December 11, 2006, 03:00 PM | Spirituality
| Permalink
Tickle modernizes the ancient practice of fixed-hour prayer, as originally practiced by the Jews ("Seven times a day do I praise you" [Psalm 119:164]) and adapted by early Christians in the centuries-old Book of Common Prayer . It is extremely "user-friendly" and the prayers all on the side of thoughtful brevity. This helps create that wonderful atmosphere prescribed by St. Benedict (father of western monasticism who wrote the first manual for observing hourly prayers in 525 AD) who instructs "therefore prayer ought to be short and pure, except when it is occasionally prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace." The assigned prayers and scripture readings for each day are very well chosen.
The spiritual discipline of observing canonical hours is maintained by many Christian faith groups around the world and is finding new interest in the evangelical and Anabaptist chuches . I began using Tickle's first volume of the Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime six years ago (2000) when I was writing a guide to accompany our congregation's intercessory prayer ministry, The Epaphras Connection. Since then, I've found praying the hours to be life-transforming and still use this book daily. Since then Tickle has produced two more volumes for the rest of the calendar year. She's also written one for The Night Offices, from sunset to sunrise. Now insomniacs have a tool to help them feel spiritually productive in the middle of the night!
Check it our online! Explore Faith has produced an online, daily version of The Divine Hours. You can check it out here, and chose the time zone you live in.
The Wealth of Nations
December 11, 2006, 10:30 AM | Stewardship
| Permalink
Our congregation is comprised of sincere and generous believers who come from work-class towns whose average household income is slightly below the 2005 median US household income of $44, 389. We're down-to-earth folks - farmers, school teachers, homemakers, truck drivers, homemakers, artists, carpenters, salesmen, secretaries, cooks, physicians, and others. Yet no matter how we look at it, we are much wealthier than the rest of the world (see below). We're painfully aware of that, and trying hard to adjust our spending habits so that we can give generously to missions, global aid, disaster relief, and locally needy people. We're trying to find ways to talk about our culture's obsession with consumerism and how it's robbing our souls. Last year we gave a lot of money to victims of natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes). For centuries, Mennonites have emphasized that the living in the Kingdom begins NOW, and that our faith should manifest itself in our everyday life, including our spending habits. That's not easy.
Three weeks ago, I was amongst a group of people discussing the Sermon on the Mount and its implications for our lives. The conversation was among young people who are keenly aware of the poor, human trafficking, victims of war, and oppression. They talked about the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, war, child soldiers, and slavery, and what the Bible says about peace, mammon, greed, and conflict. It was deep, thought-provoking stuff. Here's a copy of the Gini coefficient, the most accurate way of assessing the global inequality in the distribution of wealth:
Green countries have income equality; orange and red have a big discrepancy between the rich and the poor. Looking at the map think about where slavery and prostitution is rampant. Or global conflicts, child soldiers, slavery. Look at where where there's explosive growth in the church. There's a correlation here.
Listen to the podcast |
Free download on iTunes |
Global Distribution of Wealth
A story about the wealth of individuals and nations was recently published in the Financial Times. To place in the top half of wealth on the planet you and I only need be worth $2,200. If you own assests greater than $61,000 you're in the top 10% wealthiest in the world. You can read the article online. It's also important to note the gap between the rich and the poor is growing.
- One,
the Lord has blessed a lot of people with a lot of
money.
- Two,
it is not by accident nor through oppression and
exploitation alone that the West and several Asian
nations have attained such great wealth.
Certain critics love to allege that the West's wealth
stems only or primarily from
oppression/exploitation.
I don't see how any honest assessor of the United State's interaction with non-Western peoples can deny that some oppression and exploitation took place, slavery being the most prominent example. However, multitudes of regimes in world history have oppressed and exploited dominated people groups without attaining to the wealth that the West has. Adroit use of resources, innovation and hard work have played a significant role in the creation of the West's wealth.
- Three, Christians have a responsibility to think through issues of justice and love. So what does it look like to accept and address the responsibility of justice and love, particularly with respect to storing up mammon and loving our neighbor?
Since the crusades of the 11-13th-centuries, Christianity tends to follow whatever unites Europe. Interestingly enough, Europe is united over money (the Euro currency) right now. Money is the issue of our day, and Jesus' challenge, "You cannot serve God and money" sets up a religious battle in our day: allegiance to the God in Christ Jesus or allegiance to the god Mammon.
Throwing money at corruption is a bad idea. At the same time, Jesus charged us to express charity even towards those who take advantage of us (if someone takes your cloak, give him your tunic, too).
What wealthy western Christians do with all this money is going to be a plumb line by which history (and God) will judge us. I think many of us will have to hear the words, "You fool! This very night your life will be required of you," and we'll be standing with properties and investment accounts full of resources while God's children starve on our streets, suffer from AIDS in Africa, get sold into prostitution in Albania, secret slave trades in the Middle East, get orphaned and locked in cages in Romania ... you get the picture.
Listen to the podcast |
Free download on iTunes |
No peace-wreaths in this town!
December 05, 2006, 01:00 PM | Peace and
Justice |
Permalink
Back
in the late 1980s, when I lived in Fort Collins,
Colorado, the western mindset of "live
and let live"
prevailed. Folks were conservative, both morally and
politically, but were accommodating of others. I
interpreted this attitude of accommodation as sort of a
"code of the west" that lingered from the gold rush
towns and the spirit of autonomy the cowboys abide by.
But that was two decades ago.
So
the recent news that
a Pagosa Springs neighborhood wants to fine one of
its residence for not removing a Christmas wreath
with a peace symbol in
it runs opposite of what I remember about the Rocky
Mountains. As the story goes, the Christmas
wreath in question is offensive to some on two
levels: it is making a anti-war statement (and
sub-division policy does not allow any signage with
a message) and the peace sign is a satanic
symbol.
Say what?
As weird as that sounds it isn't the first time I've heard such a thing. As a youth leader in the Ephrata Church of the Brethren, we hung a peace sign made of scripture on the youth room wall before traveling out to Colorado for the national youth convention. We had been studying the Sermon on the Mount and other passages in the Bible that call believers to live peaceably. While we out in Colorado, we demonstrated against the use of nuclear weapons at the Rocky Flats Arsenal (which has since shut down and was a major Superfund site). When we got back to our church we caught a lot of grief from a difficult, strident man who attended our church for many years but refused to join. He confused our biblically-based peace witness with the beatnik hippy demonstrations on Washington, DC and their eutopic vision for world peace and free love. He muttered a bunch of negative things at us, even claiming the peace symbol was an upside-down chicken foot and a tool of Satan (an idea supposedly started by John Birch himself during WWII).
Wow.
As a follower of Jesus I cannot remain silent. This uproar over a Christmas wreath is ridiculous in many ways. What is this holiday about? ... CHRIST. PEACE on earth, good will toward humanity. This is what the angels proclaimed about the arrival of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the one who would bring the advent for turning swords into plowshares and Lions laying down with Lambs.
Lately, Christians are pleased to see mega-merchants like WalMart chose to stop saying "Happy Holidays" and start saying "Merry Christmas." Other establishments are joining the effort to put "Christ" back into "Christmas." Considering these vendors stand to make millions of dollars from their sale of goodies this Christmas season, this effort is more a marketing move than one inspired by the Holy Spirit. Why, then would these Pagosa Springs evangelicals want to stamp out a reference to the most common word in the scriptures pertaining to Christ's birth - PEACE!
It is a Christmas wreath for goodness sake! The wreath itself did not originate with Christianity, but faithful believers everywhere use them as table settings for the advent candles. At our church we have a wreath enhancing the advent candles placed on the alter. We hung wreaths on the doors to the church. They make the place looked pretty and feel special, in a Christ-mas way, not a satanic way. So, what is so wrong with this couple in Pagosa Springs combining two symbols to remind us that Christ is the Prince of Peace?
It all has to do with symbolism. I suspect had this couple simply hung a wreath next to a sign that said "Peace" , nothing would have been said. I bet they could have got away with placing a white dove on the wreath too. I didn't get the impression the peace-wreath creators were trying to be obnoxious, but maybe they were hoping to stir up controversy (as opposed to peaceably witnessing).
The Prophet Jeremiah writes of a time when there is a cry of " ... Peace, peace," when there is no peace." In a time of conflict for us both inwardly and around the world, may God lead us to a place of true wholeness and shalom.
Say what?
As weird as that sounds it isn't the first time I've heard such a thing. As a youth leader in the Ephrata Church of the Brethren, we hung a peace sign made of scripture on the youth room wall before traveling out to Colorado for the national youth convention. We had been studying the Sermon on the Mount and other passages in the Bible that call believers to live peaceably. While we out in Colorado, we demonstrated against the use of nuclear weapons at the Rocky Flats Arsenal (which has since shut down and was a major Superfund site). When we got back to our church we caught a lot of grief from a difficult, strident man who attended our church for many years but refused to join. He confused our biblically-based peace witness with the beatnik hippy demonstrations on Washington, DC and their eutopic vision for world peace and free love. He muttered a bunch of negative things at us, even claiming the peace symbol was an upside-down chicken foot and a tool of Satan (an idea supposedly started by John Birch himself during WWII).
Wow.
As a follower of Jesus I cannot remain silent. This uproar over a Christmas wreath is ridiculous in many ways. What is this holiday about? ... CHRIST. PEACE on earth, good will toward humanity. This is what the angels proclaimed about the arrival of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the one who would bring the advent for turning swords into plowshares and Lions laying down with Lambs.
Lately, Christians are pleased to see mega-merchants like WalMart chose to stop saying "Happy Holidays" and start saying "Merry Christmas." Other establishments are joining the effort to put "Christ" back into "Christmas." Considering these vendors stand to make millions of dollars from their sale of goodies this Christmas season, this effort is more a marketing move than one inspired by the Holy Spirit. Why, then would these Pagosa Springs evangelicals want to stamp out a reference to the most common word in the scriptures pertaining to Christ's birth - PEACE!
It is a Christmas wreath for goodness sake! The wreath itself did not originate with Christianity, but faithful believers everywhere use them as table settings for the advent candles. At our church we have a wreath enhancing the advent candles placed on the alter. We hung wreaths on the doors to the church. They make the place looked pretty and feel special, in a Christ-mas way, not a satanic way. So, what is so wrong with this couple in Pagosa Springs combining two symbols to remind us that Christ is the Prince of Peace?
It all has to do with symbolism. I suspect had this couple simply hung a wreath next to a sign that said "Peace" , nothing would have been said. I bet they could have got away with placing a white dove on the wreath too. I didn't get the impression the peace-wreath creators were trying to be obnoxious, but maybe they were hoping to stir up controversy (as opposed to peaceably witnessing).
The Prophet Jeremiah writes of a time when there is a cry of " ... Peace, peace," when there is no peace." In a time of conflict for us both inwardly and around the world, may God lead us to a place of true wholeness and shalom.
Advent devotion
December 03, 2006, 08:00 AM | Church
Events |
Permalink
At home we're using a printed traditional advent devotional booklet which we take turns reading around our dinner table with the three oldest children. However, I came across this really nice online devotional Following The Star and thought I'd pass it along. I usually don't like background music on web sites, but found the pieces played on this site quite pleasing and enjoyable.
Blogging as a spiritual discipline and play
November 28, 2006, 09:00 PM | Discipleship
|
Permalink
I'm
three months into this seminary class at Eastern
Mennonite University on Spiritual
Formation in Ministry and
really enjoying it. The professors are terrific
teachers with tons of real ministry experience. They're
turning our class of nine into a small group. The
material requires we dig deep into hearts and share our
emotions, uncertainties, and fears with one another.
It's been difficult, painful, humbling, and freeing at
the same time. Class sessions involve open discussions,
tears, laughter, and support. A spirit of grace and
understanding has descended upon the group, which I
interpret as a gift from God.
The
course requires each student develop a
Rule of Life, an
ancient practice and discipline among Christians and
one being re-emphasized today. My Rule includes daily
scripture reading, scheduled prayer, contemplative
walking, and spiritual journaling. I've never prayed so
frequently and intensely as I do now. We're encouraged
to share our thoughts with others and this blog is a
vehicle through which I will share some of what I'm
writing and drawing in my pastoral journal. People blog
for a variety of reasons; some to keep a record of
their thoughts, others because they believer their
lives are important and have value. I started this blog
for other reasons. The process of writing down my
thoughts and feelings helps distill them; sharing your
perspective with others helps shape my thinking, and
journaling is a way of allowing my inner creativity to
be released (besides music).
Blogging as a spiritual discipline? I think I prefer play instead. In Homo Ludens (Beacon, 1955), Johan Huizinga suggests that the ability to play may be more centrally characteristic of humanness than our capacity to think. It is certainly true that whole human beings need to know how to play and think. But I believe that journaling and blogging can be a discipline for dealing with life as well as an instrument of play.
I'm delighted when people comment on an entry here or there; your responses makes me feel understood and validates that you can relate to some of my joys, sorrows, fears, struggles, and weaknesses. Pastors are being encouraged to blog as one way to be transparent and allow others to see what's on our hearts and minds. There was a recent article in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania newspaper about Lancaster County pastors who blog. They mention Brian Miller, associate pastor at Sunnyside Mennonite Church, whose blog Just An Apprentice has been on my radar screen for years.
I also came across another neat blog - A Simple Desire - by Will Fitzgerald who publishes daily commentary on the scripture verse in Mennonite Media's Third Way Cafe website. You might want to check A Simple Desire out. Fitzgerald doesn’t claim to be a theologian, (although he reads Greek) so he tries to write honest first reactions, thoughts of songs, poetry and situations he has lived through.
Blogging as a spiritual discipline? I think I prefer play instead. In Homo Ludens (Beacon, 1955), Johan Huizinga suggests that the ability to play may be more centrally characteristic of humanness than our capacity to think. It is certainly true that whole human beings need to know how to play and think. But I believe that journaling and blogging can be a discipline for dealing with life as well as an instrument of play.
I'm delighted when people comment on an entry here or there; your responses makes me feel understood and validates that you can relate to some of my joys, sorrows, fears, struggles, and weaknesses. Pastors are being encouraged to blog as one way to be transparent and allow others to see what's on our hearts and minds. There was a recent article in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania newspaper about Lancaster County pastors who blog. They mention Brian Miller, associate pastor at Sunnyside Mennonite Church, whose blog Just An Apprentice has been on my radar screen for years.
I also came across another neat blog - A Simple Desire - by Will Fitzgerald who publishes daily commentary on the scripture verse in Mennonite Media's Third Way Cafe website. You might want to check A Simple Desire out. Fitzgerald doesn’t claim to be a theologian, (although he reads Greek) so he tries to write honest first reactions, thoughts of songs, poetry and situations he has lived through.
Google maps our church this summer!
November 26, 2006, 11:00 PM | Permalink
Google has
color satellite images of our church online!
Recently I was using Google Maps to get driving
directions and just for fun, typed in our church's
address and was shocked to see a color satellite
image that was grainy, but had enough resolution to
discern landscape features and even individual
buildings. There are higher-resolution images
available, but they're black and white and a decade
old.
If you look closely, you can spot the long poultry building (just below the arrow head) and our parking lot at the intersection of Hoffa Mill Road and Colonel John Kelley Road.
If you look closely, you can spot the long poultry building (just below the arrow head) and our parking lot at the intersection of Hoffa Mill Road and Colonel John Kelley Road.
If you want to see for yourself, click on the image above and you'll go directly to Google Maps. By the way, don't bother trying to locate our church by typing in our church address (4445 Hoffa Mill Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837) into either Google, MapQuest. Their georeferencing for Hoffa Mill Road is in error. They locate the church south of Buffalo Creek near Rt. 192, which is over a mile south of its actual location.
On Being Thankful ...
November 22, 2006, 01:00 PM | Quotations
| Permalink
Fleming Rutledge, The Bible and The New York Times
(Eerdmans, 1999)
I
believe that the real difference in the American church
is not between conservatives and liberals,
fundamentalists and charismatics, nor between
Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is
between the aware and the unaware.
When somebody is aware of that love—the same love that
the Father has for Jesus — that person is just
spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become
the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and
the byproduct of gratitude is joy. We're not joyful and
then become grateful — we're grateful, and that makes
us joyful.
Brennan Manning, author of the Ragamuffin
Gospel
Listen to the podcast |
Free download on iTunes |
The Nature of Faith
Now Faith...is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable. This rebellion of your moods against your real self is going to come anyway. That is why Faith is such a necessary virtue: unless you teach your moods "where they get off," you can never be either a sound Christian or even a sound atheist, but just a creature dithering to and fro, with its beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion. Consequently one must train the habit of Faith.
C.S.
Lewis, on the nature of faith in
Mere Christianity
The Call of the Church To Live in Love
The validity of our witness to society, including the critical address to the state and the statesman, hangs on the firmness with which the church keeps her central message at the center: her call to every man to turn to God and her call to those who have turned to God to live in love.
If she fails to keep this call to personal commitment at the center of her life and work, her prophetic witness to society is either utopianism or demagoguery.
John Howard Yoder (The Christian Witness to the State)
