Take Time - A Reflection for the Advent/Christmas Journey

While this Advent/Christmas season is filled with music that reminds us of what is so special about this time of year, an age-old hymn has been on my mind lately. A poem that was later set to music was written by neither a pastor nor composer. William Longstaff was an English businessman, a Christian layman who took his faith seriously. The title offers good advice for us during these days of preparation: “Take Time to Be Holy.”  It is so easy to get caught up in the frantic pursuit of gift-buying and numerous other preparations, it’s little wonder that many folks are exhausted by Christmas morning.  The secular approach to the season often overpowers the sacred.

As Christians we need to remember that Advent is primarily a season of spiritual preparation that has to do with soul matters. Too often we fail to pursue the quiet times of reflection, meditation, and discernment that are a part of our spiritual journey especially during these holy days, commonly known as holidays. Amidst all the sights and sounds, and even the noise that accompanies this time of year, we have to be intentional in finding quiet times. We need to take a “spiritual time out” to experience the fullness of peace and joy that the coming of Jesus Christ brings.

So, let’s fill some of our time with activities that will fill our souls and the souls of others. Take time to be holy through prayer and discernment. Review the carols of the season and concentrate on their meaning and message for your life. Read again the Christmas story from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Attend and participate in worship expectantly. Spend time in prayer for the needs of others, and consider what we can do to make this a holy season for them. The heart of Christmas is love, and the joy of Christmas lies in sharing “gifts of love” not only with loved ones, but with those who need it the most. When we do, our lives will be enriched and so will the lives of others as we are led to share the good news of God’s love through word and deed. These are Holy Days. Take time to be holy. 

Aging Gracefully

We have just returned home from Lafayette, Indiana and from celebrating my mother-in-law’s 100th  Birthday! The party last Sunday was a big success! The birthday card count as of today was 203!  Many thanks to each of you who responded to my invitation to send greetings. She has had a practice of sending birthday cards to friends and family for many years, and continues that tradition to this day. That in part is why it was so meaningful for her to be on the receiving end for her 100th birthday!   

We have been playing catch up after being gone for a week, but I have also been reflecting on how my mother-in-law has handled growing old so gracefully and the life lessons I have learned and observed from her. She is the most gracious lady I know. She has a strong faith and lives her faith fully each day. She stays active, and attends many scheduled activities, including exercise classes and Bible study, even on the days when she may not feel like it, because doing so usually makes her feel better. She is thoughtful, considerate and always looking for ways to bring good cheer to others who live in her residence. She is generally positive, and rarely complains, even though many health problems have created limitations and adjustments have been challenging. 

 

I could say much more, but I think my mother-in-law has captured the essence of what a growing old gracefully lifestyle involves. Aging does cause us to rearrange priorities. Sometimes though, it is the simple things of life that are treasured, like waking up in the morning, watching the sun rise or set, and taking advantage of the opportunities each day offers. I have learned many lessons from those more senior to me. But the most important thing I have learned is not only a guiding principle, but a statement of faith: Take life one day at a time in faith, one step at a time if necessary, and God will provide for all the tomorrows yet to be. 

Fifty Years of Change

On June 10, 1964 at the Virginia Annual Conference in Roanoke, I was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Church by Bishop Paul Neff Garber.  At that time, I was a married pre-ministerial student and had already begun serving student appointments.  During my senior year at Randolph-Macon College, I received my first appointment to the Bethel-Gum Spring Charge on the Richmond district. A popular song of the day was “The Times, They Are a-Changin.”  As I began my ministerial journey, I had no idea what changes were ahead for me both personally and professionally.  I had little understanding about how God would open doors to new opportunities and use me in such a variety of ways.  Neither did I understand as I began my ministry that the Methodist Church (the United Methodist Church by merger in 1968) would have a decline in membership.  Changes would occur in many ways.  Indeed the song of the 6o’s about change was one with a prophetic message for the remainder of the twentieth century to the present. The way the Church did ministry had to change in order to remain relevant for future generations.  As the twentieth century came to a close, churches that refused to address change continued to decline and some were forced to close their doors.

 

This June 20-22 (2014), the 232nd session of the Virginia Annual Conference in Hampton will be conducted by Bishop Young Jin Cho. It will be a significant year for me, marking fifty years of ministry and attending annual conferences.  This Conference brings together clergy and elected laity who will conduct business and act on proposals that will affect the life of local churches. On Sunday the 22nd, we will be dismissed to go back to our churches, where we will resume the hard work of dealing with ministry in rapidly changing times. We will once again be challenged by the many issues and decisions facing our denomination as we confront the major crossroads named “change” concerning the future direction for our Church.

     

When all is said and done at annual conference, a primary question facing church leadership is this: “What changes must occur in our lives as a Church so that we can become all God desires of us?”  The answers lie in spiritual discernment by all members and leadership, which will result in casting a vision for God’s preferred future.  Indeed, “the times they are a changing” and God continues to call the Church and her people to be agents of change who reflect the good news for changing times.  How will we respond to this challenge?

Easter People

A Sermon for Ascension Sunday  (Luke 24:44-53) 

As we gather today in the afterglow of Easter, we do so with an awareness of the greatest story ever told: the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, and teachings found in the New Testament gospels. Luke’s gospel is rich with stories that help form our faith.  In fact it could be called the alpha and omega gospel, one that begins with Jesus’ birth and ends with his resurrection and final words of encouragement and instruction to his disciples. Luke’s gospel begins with the story of Jesus’ birth.  Our observance of Christmas would be so much different if he had not included this magnificent story found only in this gospel. Luke also includes many wonderful parables that offer insights for Christian living.  He concludes his gospel account of Jesus’ life teachings, death and resurrection, and offers an account of Jesus’ final instructions and ascension.

 

As Christians we understand how Jesus as the resurrected Messiah transformed the lives of his disciples of his day and our lives today.  Today as we prepare to celebrate communion we will recall once again what Jesus did and said in the upper room.  The disciples heard unexpected words coming from Jesus the night they gathered to celebrate the Passover.  Jesus told them that his time with them was nearing an end.  Yet they were unable to comprehend the meaning of his words and actions that night.  They learned that one of them would betray their Master, and they were puzzled not only by why but who would do so such a thing.  They cringed in the garden when the Roman soldiers came and arrested Jesus and took him away.  They soon learned of a speedy trial, and the sentence that Jesus was to be crucified as a common criminal.  They hid out of fear that they might also be tortured and persecuted for being his followers.  With his crucifixion on the cross, they were utterly confused and lost. They could not understand why the one they had followed and called teacher and Lord, and whom they believed to be the promised Messiah could have has his life end so tragically.  After his death they didn’t know what they would do without Jesus.  No doubt many questions went through their minds as they tried to determine what to do without Jesus’ guidance.  And then, they experienced the resurrected Lord.

Yes, we know the story. The scriptures offer us several different accounts of the resurrected Jesus appearing to his disciples, offering them renewed hope and the assurance of God’s power and love. 

Most of us have celebrated Easter many times.  And Easter Sunday comes and goes, and we go on with our lives.  But Luke isn’t content with simply telling the story of Jesus’ life, teachings, death and resurrection.  He wanted us to understand the rest of the story.  He wants us to know that we are called to live as Easter people. So he concluded his gospel with some final words from the resurrected Christ of faith.  Our scripture reading on this Ascension Sunday records the mystery of what happened on that day when Jesus’ disciples gathered with the risen Lord for the final time.  Among his last words to his disciples were: “You are my witnesses.”  What did he mean?   To answer that question we must understand how the term witness is defined.  Our understanding is often limited to a legal term used in a court system.  A witness is defined as someone who has knowledge relevant to an event or other matter of interest and who can bear testimony to what one knows or experienced.  In a court of law, the witness often will determine the outcome of a trial and impact on another person’s life. 


An interesting development takes place as the word witness is used in the New Testament. The noun that means "one who bears witness" is used 24 times, first referred to as those who were witnesses to the earthly experiences and resurrection facts about Jesus.They spoke about these facts from personal knowledge.  At first the term witness was restricted to the  twelve apostles who, through first-hand knowledge, could bear witness to the facts of Jesus life, teachings, and who had actually experienced his resurrection appearances. In fact,the entire written gospel of John assumes the character of a witness as evidenced by his words in passages like John 21:24: "This is the disciple who is bearing witness concerning these things and  has written these things, and we know that his witness is true."  However, as the message of Christianity spread through the apostles and others heard the gospel and accepted its life-changing message, they too, became "witnesses" to the faith. And Christianity grew and spread to other areas, in part because of the faithful witness of the Apostle Paul and his missionary journeys. 

So what does it mean for us who claim to be Christians to be a witness? It doesn’t mean having to be a missionary, evangelist or a preacher.  In simplest terms, it means living in such a way that others can see Christ at work in our lives. It means continuing the work that Christ began.  It means sharing the difference accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior has meant in your life.  In the words of the Apostle Paul it means being able to affirm, “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives within me.” (Gal.2:20)   Jesus expressed what it means to be his witness in this simple way: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:16)

Before coming to Bon Air as pastor, I served Monumental UM Church in Portsmouth.  One year we developed a major outreach campaign that included bumper stickers and buttons. One Sunday every member attending church was given a button that read: “Let me tell you a Monumental story” and was asked to wear it.  Weeks later persons were asked to share experiences.  Kathryn, a faithful member, but a quiet introvert, shared her experience while checking out at the grocery store. The bag boy noticed her button, which she confessed she had forgotten was on her coat. So she was caught off guard when the young man said to her:  “Tell me a monumental story.” She said the first thing that came to her mind was a lesson she had learned as a child so she replied, “Jesus loves you!” To which he responded, “I remember hearing that once a longtime ago.” What difference did that brief encounter have in this young man’s life? Was it a transformational moment?  We will never know. But perhaps the seed of a basic truth was planted that caused him to reclaim the message. As disciples we are given opportunities every day to plant and cultivate seeds of faith in the lives of others. 

Yes, Jesus called his disciples then and now to be witnesses.  And to insure that we can do so, he offered a promise of God’s presence to strengthen us for the task. The Holy Spirit continues to work in transforming lives and to empower disciples to agents of transformation.

This time in the liturgical year between Easter and Pentecost symbolizes the transformation that sent the apostles into the world to continue what Jesus had begun.  So, what we celebrate on ascension Sunday is really the beginning of a new story, not the end of an old one. As Easter people we continue to write a new chapter for our time and generation by how we live and witness to our faith.  Jesus gave us our marching orders the last week of his earthly life:  “Love one another as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

Easter people should ask themselves these questions every day:  How can others see the resurrected Christ at work in my life?  How does my life bear witness to the resurrection faith?  More simply put, how can others see Jesus in me?  This is the challenge we continue to face in a world where Christianity is losing ground and influence, where church membership is steadily declining in comparison to population growth, and where the ways of the world are overpowering the ways of self-giving sacrificial love taught by Christ.

In Matthew’s gospel, moments before his ascension, Jesus told his followers exactly what they were to do: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” He urged them to baptize, to teach, and to carry on the work that he had begun. But his first word was direct and clear: “Go.”  Act on what I have taught you, Jesus said. Put my message of love into practice.

 

The account of the ascension in Acts offered another challenge to the disciples, and to us.  After the apostles watched Jesus disappear into the clouds, two men appeared. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing there looking at the sky?”  The apostles were not supposed to spend their time staring nostalgically at the stars, awaiting Christ’s return.  There was work to do.  There was a world waiting to be converted. So, they left the mountain, went into the city, and launched the greatest missionary undertaking in human history.

Christ's word to them and to us is the same.  It's a word of action" "Go."  Go – help those in need.  Go – pick up those who have fallen. Go – tend to the heal those who are hurting. Go – feed the hungry, visit the sick, clothe the naked. Go – offer hope to those what are discouraged. Go – love those who need love the most. Go – make more disciples, so that the world can be transformed by God’s grace and love through you.   

So much of the world is in need of hearing the good news – Christ’s message of hope, redemption, and resurrection –  and to understand why all that matters.  So many need to hear and understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and experience the transforming and healing  power of God’s love. 

 

The question for us who have received and accepted the message is this:  How will we witness to the good news of the gospel to those we meet today and every day?  May we search our hearts and find answers to that question as we seek to live as Easter people. 

Angels Among Us

There are angels among us.  Some of them we know. They have befriended us many times.  Others are not familiar to us, and seem to come into our lives at times when we need them the most. The word angel appears many times in scriptures.  The word literally means “messenger.” 

  

I’m not referring to the celestial beings with wings depicted in paintings. Neither am I referring to “guardian angels” as some may be known.  Nor do I desire to discredit the possibility of such. Rather I want to suggest that the angels among us are those who often reveal divine attributes toward others

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Many times I have heard a person referred to as being an “angel.”  On these occasions the bestowed title is the result of some needed act of kindness or word of affirmation toward another.  Angels can bring calm in the midst of confusion.  Angels among us also offer comforting words and a caring presence.  Their words may bring comfort and provide hope in times of despair.

 

Some of the angels in the scriptures began their message with four words.  “Do not be afraid.”  These words are very applicable for living in a world where bad things continue to happen.  As I reflect on angels among us, specific people come to mind.  They have made a positive difference in my life by their words and deeds which challenge me to be a better person.  That’s what angels do best.

 

I don’t know about earning “angels wings,” such as described in the popular holiday movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but I do believe that the angels among us represent what we can become if we live the divine message offered to us through faith. Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to a Christian is this: “You’re an angel!”  May we all be challenged to become messengers of the good news of the Christian faith through word and deed.

Holy Week and Beyond

Of all the seasons and observances in the Christian calendar, none is more dramatic and transforming than Holy Week. It begins with Jesus' decisive and strategic plan to enter the holy city of Jerusalem with his followers. It was a risky act! Opposition was mounting to silence him as his words and deeds challenged the religious leaders, and his growing popularity was a threat. The common folk accepted him gladly, and responded to his actions of compassion and healing. They shouted "hosanna" to welcome him, unaware that before the week was over many would shout "crucify him!"  They spread palm branches in his path with great hope that he was the promised deliverer who would rescue them from Roman dominance. With such hope it is little wonder that they welcomed him with a joyous celebration fit for a king. However, they misunderstood the symbolism of him riding on a donkey. They expected some-thing more from him and his leadership, more suited to their personal desires. They were more concerned about the earthy kingdom than God's kingdom.

The days that followed were filled with significant events. On Monday Jesus went to the temple where he challenged customs by overturning the tables of the money changers. This act resulted in a plot by the religious leaders to seek a way to silence him.  On Thursday he celebrated the Jewish tradition of the Passover with his disciples. But this time the Seder meal was different. Not only was it Jesus’ last supper with them, but what he said about the traditional symbols of bread and cup was surprising to them. The upper room experience included Jesus taking the role of servant by washing his disciples’ feet. He was betrayed by one of his chosen followers and subsequently arrested. Agony, humiliation, rejection, abuse, pain, suffering, and desertion by his followers followed his arrest.

Then came Friday. Jesus was hurriedly tried, convicted and condemned to death for blasphemy. He died by crucifixion on a cross between two common criminals. His disciples hid in fear for their lives. Saturday brought uncertainty and shattered hopes and dreams of what could have been. The events of the previous days brought fear and confusion to his disciples. How could this have happened to Jesus?  What would they do without him offering guidance and pointing the way? Had it all been for nothing?  

On Sunday, the defeat and despair experienced by Jesus’ followers was overcome by the power of God’s greatest act of love in the resurrection. Jesus had conquered death through the transforming power of God. The message came to one of his faithful followers, Mary Magdalene, who came to pay her final respects to her crucified Lord. But she was confronted with a greater message that transcends death:  "He is not here... He has risen."  And then she encountered the resurrected Lord!  Astonished and excited by her encounter, she ran to tell others the good news. In the days that followed, other disciples also experienced the resurrected Lord. The astonishing message of resurrection that lies at the heart of the Christian faith was proclaimed and spread.

It has been suggested that the life of a Christian follows the pattern of the activities of Holy Week. There are days of prayer and preparation, followed by celebration. There are also days of trial that sometimes include suffering and pain. There are sometimes days of rejection and betrayal. There are times when we face the reality of death that seeks to diminish and destroy, followed by days of despair, sorrow and grief. There are silent Saturdays when we feel forsaken by God. But through the hope and promises that Christianity offers, God's love transforms our dark and dismal days into the glory of resurrection Sunday. When this happens, we find the strength to live another week, another day, looking to that final resurrection when we are welcomed to our eternal home.

Faith Questions for the Lenten Journey and Beyond

The Lenten season is often a time for a spiritual check-up and accountability. For me it is a time to consider spiritual questions that have to do with my faith journey. This idea is basic to our Wesleyan heritage. Participants in the eighteenth century class meetings of John Wesley’s day were asked the same question every week as a point of inquiry regarding their faith development:  “How is it with your soul?” This profound question lies at the heart of the matter. How we answer this question depends to some degree on how we can answer other questions related to our growth in Christian discipleship. 

Am I being intentional about my journey of faith?  How is my prayer life?  What additional spiritual disciplines do I need to practice?  What lessons and insights am I gaining from reading the scriptures?  How am I applying such insights required of Christian living?  In what ways does my life include acts of love and kindness? 

Asking and responding to questions such as these becomes transformational. To find answers to such inquiries prepares us to ask the most important question of all: “Lord, what do you desire from me today?”  This question alone can help shape our journey of faith, as we become more aware of our surroundings and the persons who occupy space with us for this moment in time. It opens us up to be inspired for actions we can take to make a difference.

What does the Lord require? This is the central question of faith that has been raised in every age. It was answered many years ago in Old Testament times by the prophet Micah: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  (6:8- NRSV)

Now that we know the answer to this question, we are confronted with another one. How will we allow these imperatives to find expression in our lives today? We are called to live the answers to such faith questions each and every day. 

Birthday Reflections

I’m about to celebrate a milestone birthday.  Another life chapter is closing; a new one beginning. I’m at a place in my journey where I acknowledge that each day is a “little birthday” with cause to celebrate the gift of each day. Speaking of gifts, I have also reached the place in life where the most important gifts are not material. When my family asked what I wanted for my birthday, my reply was, “No presents, just presence.”  The wisdom of years has led me to realize that the most important things in life are not measured by what we have accumulated, or personal achievements, but the relationships that enrich our journey.

Birthdays are times to celebrate and create memories. I will be spending time with special friends who invited me out for dinner. I’ll gather with family to have a meal including my favorite homemade cake, and they will take pictures to capture the moments.  As I reflect, I am reminded that the celebration isn’t all about me. It is also about what I have become through the years by God’s grace, by those who have loved and continue to love me, and by those whose lives have contributed to shaping and molding mine. So on my birthday, I will offer a prayer of thanksgiving for those special persons whose lives intersected with mine in positive ways. I will also be grateful for cards and Facebook birthday greetings I receive as expressions of the friendships that I share.

On this the occasion that marks my seventy-five years, I want to expand my birthday “wish list.” For those who would like to do something for my birthday, please consider doing an act of kindness in my honor. This would be such a blessing to the recipient(s) and me. Then drop me an e-mail or post to Facebook indicating what you have done. Thanks in advance to any of you who may choose to make my birthday count through acts of kindness for others. After all, we are blessed to be a blessing. 

As a New Year Begins

“Happy new year!”  With that traditional greeting we began the year 2014. No doubt by now you have received or shared this greeting many times. In spite of such a positive greeting, many will enter the new year with anxiety and despair, carrying with them remembrances of unpleasant past experiences.  A new year will bring new opportunities and even challenges. Sometimes we are tempted to dwell on the past and not embrace the present with hope for a more positive future.

Scriptures offer important insights regarding how we are to live as Christians. This passage from Ephesians offers guidance as we begin a new year:  “So get rid of your old self,  which made you live as you used to -- the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” (Good News translation)

These words from Thessalonians also offer guidance for faith living in 2014: “Do not quench the spirit nor ignore the words of the prophets, but test the value of faith. Hold fast to what is good and combat evil in all forms… Faith living is the result of faithful actions, no matter what life brings.”

A new year will include both positive and negative experiences. That much we can count on! There will be times of uncertainty, adversity and despair. As persons of faith, however, we can move toward each tomorrow with an assurance that we do not face any day alone. The Christmas season reminded us of a central truth for all seasons.  That truth is expressed in one word:   “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”   Isaac Watts expressed an appropriate prayer in his hymn for all ages:  “Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.”

May his words be our prayer as we begin this new year, and may you experience God’s blessings for the journey throughout 2014.