Notes and News – 11/14/20

It May Be Winter But That’s Not So Bad!

Although it is normal and perhaps even natural to think that because we are not meeting together for worship little or nothing is happening in the life of our church. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In reality a great deal is happening.  Perhaps it is helpful to think of our church like a tree in the wintertime up north.  On the outside it seems as though the tree is dead and dormant.  The leaves are on the ground (and hopefully raked up) and the cold of winter is at hand. In fact, the winter is a critically important time in a tree’s life. Lots of growth and activity is taking place on the inside – its simply out of sight. It’s this out of sight wintertime activity that makes spring and summer growth possible.

It is much the same for our church. Significant work has been going on behind the scenes. Here are some examples:

1. We have begun the work to start a Community Garden on the large grass field just to the south of the church. We applied for and received a $15,000 Blessing Grant from Peace River Presbytery. This will be the first community garden in Palmetto. The Blessing Grant will enable us to do many of the necessary preliminary things to get a garden off the ground.  Our garden will include non-citrus fruit trees such as avocado trees that yield avocados you can not buy in the stores because they do not ship well. In addition, there will be planting areas for produce, both in “boxes” on the ground and raised up versions for people who can no longer bend over. The garden itself will grow and evolve over time with strong possibilities for flower plots and perhaps in time a memorial section for people to sit and pray. There will be a place for composting stations (odor-free), a shed for tools, a gazebo structure with a picnic table and places for people to sit and rest/fellowship, rain barrels to catch the rain, and water sources and much more in time.  I am just sharing the tip of the iceberg with you. We have been working with the city of Palmetto and the local extension service for quite some time.  I believe this community garden will become an identifying part of the life of our church much like the thrift store has become. It will also be a tremendous way to reach out to our community and to attract people to the kind of church we are.

2. We are continuing to expand and improve our website. This website serves at least 2 basic purposes – to provide information for our family of faith and to give people who are not yet part of our church a real sense of who we are and what kind of church we are.

3. We are working with a company that specializes in online giving for churches to off that option to those who would like to sue it. More will be shared in the near future on this. In the meantime, we understand that not everybody will want to move in this direction and that is perfectly fine. The present envelope system will be available for those who wish to continue in this manner. No problem at all. But for those who would like the ease and security if online giving it will become an available option. This will also be an easy way for those beyond our church to give and support things they would like to support.  Again, much more information will be coming in the next few weeks.

4. We continue to refine and improve our capacity to offer virtual services. This will continue when we are finally able to safely gather again to worship together. A sizable grant is being made available to every church in our Peace River Presbytery to help with the purchase of equipment and technology for this. In fact, I foresee everything we have done so far and are planning to do for this new area of outreach and ministry to be covered. I am proud and honored to be part of a presbytery like our Peace River Presbytery.

This “winter season” of being isolated from one another will come to a close. Our Session has and continues to affirm that safety is our first priority. When it is safe, we will gather together again with much joy and celebration.  In the meantime, there is lots going on to be proud of and excited about.

 Grace and Peace, John

Annual Congregational Meeting - 12/13/20

Following our virtual service on Sunday December 13th , we will have a congregational meeting via Zoom to elect a the 2023 class of Elders and hear the annual report of the corporation( a state requirement). You do not need to do anything special except to stay connected following our service on the 13th. All church members have a vote. Our fellowship time will follow this meeting.

Notes and News - 11/07/20

Think About Champions Instead!

The terms “winners: and “losers” has been used over and over again for quite some time now. However, like most labels the terms “winners” and “losers” are often misleading at best and more typically fairly useless. Their descriptive accuracy is limited at best and distorted at worst. In common with other labels, these terms more often than not hide and distort rather than illuminate and reveal.

Instead of these terms, let me suggest the word “champion”. Champions are described and determined by their character and not the outcome of a particular event. A champion can lose and still be a champion. A person can win and not even come close to being considered a champion.  Simply put, those who only focus on winning don't get what it means to be a champion. Unfortunately, as a result, we often hear ridiculous comments like “if you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough to win”, “whatever it takes to win” or misrepresentations of the great football coach Vince Lombardi’s comment on “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”. Even a cursory examination of the lives of his players’ accomplishments both on the football field and in life reveals that he built champions and that is why they succeeded in football and life after their football playing days were over.

Champions come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Here are just a few that come to mind immediately: Bob Dole, the wounded WWII vet and politician; John Lewis, the Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights Icon; Jim Abbot the one handed major league pitcher, Annie Glenn, the stuttering wife of Senator John Glenn who gave a speech to a large crowd because her husband could not be present; countless veterans who have made incredible sacrifices up to and including their lives for the benefit of others; more doctors and nurses than we could possibly mention in this COVD-19 pandemic; and on and on. Some champions are famous, but the vast majority are not, outside the circle of lives they have touched.

Champions are not perfect. They are often the first to tell you so. The heart of a champion is something to behold. Champions typically have these qualities of character:

• Instead of whining and blaming others, they focus on becoming better and improving.

• Instead of giving up and quitting, they look for ways to learn and grow.

• Instead of shrinking from adversity, they find ways to let it make them stronger.

• Instead of focusing on disappointment, they search for ways to be grateful and gracious.

• They understand defeat and failure as opportunities to learn and improve.

• They learn from the past to be better able to see opportunity in the future.

• They are hopeful, resilient and refuse to quit or give up.

• They refuse to compromise their core values.

• They are committed, humble, team players and focused more on others than themselves.

• They focus their energy and attention on what they can control – not what they can’t.

• They stand up to big challenges relentlessly.

Champions are extraordinary leaders and leave a lasting impact. Most of all I believe champions are one of God’s many gifts to us.

Grace and Peace, John

Thanksgiving Outreach to Our Homeless Neighbors

On both Sunday, November 22nd and Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day) at 1:00 pm, Palmetto Presbyterian Church will be dropping off 30 Turkey Dinners at Sutton Park.

Also joining us will be a representative from the Manatee County YMCA distributing “Blessing Bags.” In the bags there will be blankets, socks and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment.)

If you would like to help in some way (financially or otherwise) please contact Joan Bryden for more information at: outreach@ppcfl.org

Notes and News - 10/31/20

The Power of Listening for Healing!

By this time next week, the elections will likely be over. No matter who wins or loses there will be a need for healing across our country. Regardless of what happens at a national level, we are called as followers of Christ to be agents of healing here locally in our church and our community. I have thought long and hard about how to best be agents of healing with one another and with our neighbors. To be sure, there is the power of prayer. We should all be praying for healing locally and nationally. Specifically, our prayers, in my judgement, should seek to lift up and find ways we can break down existing barriers and walls and replace them with bridges that bring us together and bind the wounds which all too often appear to deeply separate and even alienate us. Obviously a humble, loving spirit will make such prayer far more effective and impactful.

 But what are we to do as we interact with one another when differing views have too often resulted in walls and the application of labels, differing camps and sadly judgements about one another. I have been wrestling with this for quite some time. It seems to me the answer for healing lies in our willingness to listen to one another. The challenge of course is that this is far easier to say then to put into practice. The painful truth is that we are not very good listeners.

 The late Bill Gove, who was the salesman credited with making Scotch tape and 3M household names and would later become the acclaimed and revered “father” of modern professional speaking, loved to tell the story of a sales training event which focused on listening, perhaps the most powerful tool in a truly professional salesperson’s repertoire. This is how the story goes: Bill was paired up with another salesperson and it was Bill’s turn to tell his story and for the other person to listen. Bill (who had a great sense of humor) preceded to tell him that he was a bomber pilot in World War Two. Intrigued the listening salesman said, “Tell me more.” Bill preceded to say, “I knocked out two bridges and an ammo dump and then they sent me overseas to Europe. The “listening” partner’s response was, “That's a wonderful war record Bill! You must be very proud!” As you might guess, Bill would get a great laugh from the audience. But he would use this to lift up a very important point: how even when we are supposed to be listening, we really do not listen. His “listening” partner heard what he wanted to hear which of course was off target. Perhaps he was more interested in getting his turn to talk. Both sabotage effective and healing listening.

 Listening is so important and potentially so powerfully significant in the healing process because each of us has a deep and powerful need to be heard and understood. I do not think it is accidental that in Saint Francis powerful prayer he asks God for the grace to first seek to understand rather than to be understood. That is what true and effective listening does – it seeks first to hear and understand.

 When we seek to understand our focus is not on trying to fix, correct, advise, criticize, argue or prove a point (which typically means our idea is right and the other person's idea is wrong or defective). When we listen to understand our focus is on empathetically hearing what the other person has to say. Or in other words to put ourselves in their shoes. Make no mistake, this is hard and demanding work.

 However, I am convinced we will never breakdown walls that separate us by proving we're right and the other person or other side is wrong. I'm also convinced that when we embark on the difficult but very doable process of listening, we will discover that we have far more in common than we would imagine. When we do this, we will start the process of building bridges instead of walls. Healing, reconciliation, cooperation and a brighter future will be the fruits of such listening.

 Grace and Peace, John

A Brief Zoom Congregational Meeting Sunday November 8th

Following our virtual service next Sunday, we will have a brief congregational meeting via Zoom to elect a Nominating Committee. You do not need to do anything special except to stay connected following our service. All church members have a vote. Our fellowship time will follow this brief meeting.

 Our Sweatshirt Outreach Ministry is Here! 

The time of year when we make sure every child at Manatee Elementary School has a sweatshirt for the colder winter months is here. The school has shared with me they need 520 sweatshirts this year. This an increase over last year but not surprising. I will be placing our order by this week because I have complete trust in your faithfulness and generosity. Once again, the price per sweatshirt will be $8. I invite you to join Cinda and me in “buying” 1 or more sweatshirts in honor of grandchildren or other family members.

 Because of you, children, who easily slip through the cracks, are not only warm and comfortable, they are also in a better position to learn. And there is also the joy the staff feels being able to give these kids they love and care about, the sweatshirts that make such a difference.

Notes and News – 10/24/20

Before You Vote and When You Vote

The election process is already underway, and Election Day is just around the corner. I would like to encourage everyone who can to vote, whether by absentee ballot, early or on election day. I hope you will take the time to research the candidates and issues you’ll be voting on. Rather than letting political rhetoric the primary guide for your voting decision I invite you to let the candidates and issues which ones best represent your values as a follower of Christ be your north star. Political rhetoric seems to me to have one objective – to convince you and me that their side is right, and the other side is wrong. This applies whatever side you are on, Red or Blue. I would like something of more substance to base my decisions on. I am saying the process for deciding how we will vote is just as important as the act of who or what we are voting for. Too often, it seems to me, the political rhetoric seeks to make that decision for us.

In a democracy such as ours, I believe the act of voting is a sacred responsivity, an act of Christian discipleship. Of course, there are many very legitimate situations that can prevent a person from voting. However, apathy or lack of interest are not among them.

The simple truth is there never is a perfect candidate or totally obvious issue. God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat and neither political party perfectly reflects the Kingdom values Jesus preached about. Both sides get some things right and some things wrong. We, as people of faith are called to do our best to listen and discern the candidates strengths and weaknesses, their vision and values and then we vote.

Here are some scripture passages I would recommend reading and reflecting upon in your decision-making process. They are representative of the Kingdom values Jesus Christ preached and taught. I have chosen one or more passages from each of the Gospels. There are certainly many more that could be cited from not only the Gospels, but the remainder of the New Testament and Old Testament as well. Here are the representative passages I chose:

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

False Prophets (Matthew 7:15-20)

The first sermon in Mark (Mark 1:14,15)

The Synagogue Sermon in Luke (4:16-20)

How to Treat Enemies (Luke 6:27-36)

Two Kinds of Fruit (Luke 6:43-45)

The Great Commandment (John 15:12-17)

When the election is over someone will win and someone will lose. This is the way a democracy works. Because of the extremely partisan nature of our political arena and the deep divisions within our country I am convinced it will also be critical and essential that we let Kingdom values such as these be the standard for how we treat one another and live together. When all is said and done and the drone of political rhetoric has been subdued, the only real winning outcome will be steeped in what I have called Kingdom values, which are values rooted in the grace and mercy of God.

Grace and Peace,, John

Your Gifts and Support Are So Important and Vital

The fact our church is not open on Sunday morning does NOT mean it is closed – far from it – many things are happening. The old saying, out of sight - out of mind applies to all of us and many times can serve us very well.  We have made it through the summer months and are heading into the time of the year when we have typically made up lost “financial ground”.  This year presents unique challenges with the extra income from the Thrift Store being lost because it is closed. Our expenses for the most part remain fixed with very little let up on utilities, like water and sewer which are beyond our control and we have been operating our electric needs in an efficient way through our programmable thermostats.  Some are voluntarily turning their salary checks back in.  Please hear this for what it is, a simple, straight forward way to let you know where we stand as we move into the fall of this year. Your support is so important. Just as you have come through in the past, I trust you will continue.

Notes and News – 10/17/20

The Rule of Law and The Law

The Constitution of the United States and the 10 Commandments (i.e. The Law) are the 2 most significant, far reaching and surprisingly similar “documents” ever written down. Let me be clear I am not equating them.  Of course, the 10 Commandments are pre-eminent. What I am saying is there are characteristics of both that are helpful to understand and doing so can give us a deeper, richer understanding of them.

Please include me in the group of people who say the US Constitution is the most brilliant document on self-governance and setting the foundation for a society, ever written by humankind. When I read the Constitution and its’ accompanying Federalist Papers as a political philosophy major in college I was struck by the wisdom, awareness of human nature and far reaching thinking of those people we refer to as our Founders. I still am. Today I am also aware they were flawed human beings who rose above their flaws to create something very special. The concept of the rule of law, to the best of my knowledge, was not original, but they enshrined it in a way that has helped our country be a beacon for the world. Both, the Constitution and the concept of The Rule of Law deserve our thoughtful respect and honor but not our worship.

This leads me to the 10 Commandments, the Law. Like constitution they are foundational but also much more. Unlike our constitution they were not written by people but given by God. They are both foundational and instructional. They are foundation in that they set the most basic and necessary “rules” for life and community. Both accounts in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5 1-22 are almost identical. The first 4 have to do with our relationship with God and the remaining six our relationship with one another as a result or outgrowth of our relationship with God. The first commandment is by far the most dominant and critical. If we are not committed whole heartedly to the first, “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me”, we will never get the other 9 right. To say the same thing a bit differently, if I am having trouble coveting, I need to return to my relationship with God which needs work. When that relationship is restored the problem of coveting will cease.

Obedience, whether in the form of respecting and honoring the Constitution and Rule of Law or the Law is challenging and calls for far more than our casual agreement or easy acceptance. It takes effort, trust, humility and faith. None of these comes easily to us and so often we look for an easier way: Here are some of the ones that have been used for thousands of years:

• Conveniently forgetting the law has both legal and moral claims and authority. It is much easier to just keep things “legal” and ignore the often-inconvenient moral dimensions.

• Settling for legalistic rules that seek to define the limits of our responsibility.

• Focusing on the letter of the law and forgetting the spirit of the law.

• Focusing only on what the law says and ignoring the harder but far more rewarding work of discovering what it means.

• Deciding a particular interpretation of the law (or faith doctrine) is the only valid one and all others are invalid, false or worse. Of course, the particular correct interpretation is always the one “we” or “I” hold as true.

• Trying to precisely define the scope of a law or action when common sense points us beyond these artificially imposed limitations.

What all of these, and the others I have not listed, have in common is we use them to try to be in control in ways that end up being hurtful and painful for all concerned. And that is always a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it is also a violation of the first commandant.

Grace and Peace,, John

Notes and News – 10/10/20

Some of the Challenges of Changing Times!

During a morning walk earlier this week I found myself reflecting upon a time back in February of 1991 when my running mentor and friend, Ted Root, and I decided on a Sunday after church, that we would meet together later that afternoon and go for a run. It was one of those February days up north when the weather takes a break from the winter freeze.  The temperature had risen into the mid 50s with northern Ohio gray, but it was the nicest day we had experienced in since early December. For the first time in at least two months we were running in just our shorts and our tee-shirts. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and as Ted described - it felt like we were young colts experiencing the joy of being released into the pasture for the first time and frolicking around in our new freedom. A cherished memory with a good friend.

Fast forward to a February day here in Florida this past winter with the temperature in the mid-50s. This time I am going for a walk. I’m wearing sweatpants, a sweatshirt, a windbreaker, gloves, a ski hat and I must talk myself into venturing into the frigid winter elements. The entire time I’m walking I find myself thinking maybe the summer 90-degree heat and humidity wasn’t so bad after all. When I get home, I triumphantly announce (at least to myself) how I have braved the frigid winter elements and brutal cold and survived! Quite a difference nearly 30 years can make!

Perhaps you chuckled as you read this. I know I have in recalling these moments. But there are changes that have been taking place in our society that are no laughing matter. How are we, as followers of Jesus Christ, to deal with these changes and the challenges they present.

I am thinking of the news reports late this week that white supremacist terrorists sought to kidnap the governor of Michigan. I applaud the Republican Legislature Leader who quickly and forcefully denounced these people and their alleged and foiled criminal actions. Like all they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Having said that, it is also worth noting, the FBI seldom expends the efforts and resources it did on cases like this because they are dealing with innocent people. I also find it sickening that an elected county sheriff would seek to excuse their actions along the grounds of perhaps intending to make a citizens’ arrest of the sitting governor. Hopefully, the days of vigilantly justice such he was suggesting are behind us forever.

The question remains, what do we as Christians do?

1.      The first thing is to expect and demand our elected officials, at every level from local to national, to stand up to and condemn violence and hatred wherever it occurs and whoever commits it. Nothing less is acceptable – ever.

2.      The second thing is to expect and demand of ourselves the exact same thing. If we are not condemning violence and hatred everywhere then we are complicit – period, stop!

3.      When it comes to our own hearts it means opening that dark side to the healing light of grace and forgiveness. In our faith heritage, the process for this is called repentance and confession. I find it helpful to think of confession and repentance not in linear terms but as a spiral process. By that I mean, the more I confess the more I come to understand my need to repent (turn my heart and life to God). Likewise, the more I repent, the greater my awareness of my need to confess becomes. Through this process we experience healing and new life.

4.      Lastly, I believe we are called to commit our lives to making the words of the prophet Micah a foundational and guiding force everyday: “to do justice, and love kindness and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).

The biblical term justice means to actively seek the well-being of others. You could also say doing justice is making sure others get nothing less than they deserve because they too are precious children of God. To love kindness is to be passionate about kindness, which is best understood as the natural result of doing justice. It is my observation that the deficit of kindness in our society as a whole today is far more extensive than our National Debt! It can and must begin to be erased by people like you and me being kind. To borrow from the saying of the late Senator Everitt Dirksen of Illinois, an act of kindness here and an act of kindness there and before you know it you have a lot of kindness. When we are doing justice and loving kindness the result can only be discovering we are walking humbly with our God.

I can hear somebody saying, sounds good but way too idealistic. Our world is too nasty for this kind of love to prevail. My response is our world is too nasty for anything but this kind of love to prevail. The love Micah is pointing to is the same love that the entire witness of the Bible is pointing to. It is the greatest power in our universe, and it beats at the center of God’s heart.

Grace and Peace, John

Our Sweatshirt Outreach Ministry is Just Around the Corner! 

We are fast approaching the time of year when we make sure every child at Manatee Elementary School has a sweatshirt for the colder winter months. I will be calling the school to get numbers this week. My guess is the number will be like in the past around 450. I will know more specifically after talking with my staff contact person.  I will also expect to have a firm cost of sweatshirts from Hanes.  Look for these in next week’s edition of Notes and News. I am excited as we prepare for this outreach ministry because I know of your faithful and generous support through the past years.

Notes and News – 10/03/20

Shocked but Not Surprised!

I am guessing you, like me, woke up Friday morning to the news our President and First Lady both tested positive for COVID-19. I was shocked as I suspect you were. We join many others when we say our prayers are for a speedy recovery for both of them as well as all the others who have been diagnosed: well-known and unknown, neighbor and stranger, citizen and refugee, and friend and enemy. This vicious virus brings fear and heartache along with the myriad of physical issues and problems it creates. It can attack both the arrogant and the innocent. Our good friend Tony Last tested positive earlier this week over in England (Gail did not). Please keep both Tony and Gail in your prayers for strength, peace and God’s healing touch.

Back to our President and First Lady. I was shocked but not surprised. The shock was if the most protected person on the planet can get COVID-19, then virtually anyone can. The scientific truth is, this virus makes no distinctions what so ever,  not caring if a person is democrat or republican, liberal or conservative, man or woman, young or old, white or black (or any other skin color),American or Iranian, Christian or atheist, or any of the other labels we use to point out the perceived differences between us.  Forgive my crudeness, but all this virus cares about is its next “meal” in order to perpetuate itself.

I say shocked but not surprised because of the cavalier (polite language, grossly irresponsible – not so polite) attitude of so many of our “leaders” who for whatever reason (political, economic, religious, etc.) decided to ignore the advice and warnings of the experts, front-line doctors and medical professionals. Can you imagine someone living in any coastal community during WWII, refusing to turn out their lights at night during the blackout periods because it was inconvenient, or it interfered with their evening reading, or they didn’t want anyone to infringe on their freedom to do what they wanted to do! I suspect the response would have started with outrage and escalated from there.

The two most recommended things we can do (and the two most abused as well) are to wear a mask and to practice social distancing. I cringe when I hear a so-called person of faith say “I don’t need to wear a mask. God will protect me.” That is NOT a statement of faith at all. Quite the contrary it is a self-centered expression of prideful arrogance. What the person is really saying is, “I am going to do what I want to do and I expect God to honor my actions.”  The overwhelming witness of the Bible is this is not something God does – God honors our actions when they reflect our obedience to God not visa-versa!

But perhaps, even more important, when I wear a mask and socially distance it gives me an opportunity to put into practice the Great Commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” I don’t wear a mask or practice social distancing to protect me from you. It’s just the opposite!  It’s to protect you from me, in case I have this virus and don’t know it. We are at our best, when we are intentionally putting into practice the great commandment to love one another.

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 09/26/20

The Power of a Guiding Thought and a Grounding Prayer!

There are many ways to unleash the power of the Bible in your life. I want to focus on one of those ways - to have one or more special verses that you repeat to yourself over and over until it becomes a part of you. I like to call this a guiding thought.  What better source could there be than the Bible! A guiding thought can shape your life - give it special meaning and purpose. It can be an anchor in the storms of life and a source of strength. It can also be a light and motivation when facing difficult decisions or challenging situations.  For example, the late Supreme Court Justice “RBG” had a quote from the beginning of Deuteronomy 16:20 as a wall hanging in her office to remind her of her calling. The message of this text says “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue”. (Other translations might be slightly different, but the message is the same – making justice the heart of the matter).

The idea of a guiding thought is rooted in the awareness that what we say to ourselves and the messages we repeat over and over have a powerful impact on the way we live and the quality of the lives we live.  No one is ever too old or too young to do this. But clearly the sooner we incorporate this into our daily lives the more positive impact it can have.  The unfortunate reality is too many have a “wealth” of negative, destructive thoughts that shape their lives far too much.

My guiding thought is found in the 12th chapter of Mark’s gospel when Jesus is asked what the first commandment of all is and he responds with “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

I usually shorten it to “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Another one of mine is from John 10: “I have come that you may have life in all its abundance”.

Yet another is from the 8th chapter of Romans, “If God is for us who can be against us…there is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

These are just some of the passages that speak to my heart and I choose to make guiding thoughts. What matters is that you find one that illuminates your heart and make it a guiding thought. Here are a few you might consider from the Old Testament: Joshua 1:9; Joshua 24, 14-15; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 43:1; Micah 6:8; Psalm 46:1-2; Psalm 46:10; and Habakkuk 3:17-18.  And then there is the New Testament – a source of many treasures. I invite you to find yours.

A Grounding Prayer is also important. This is a prayer you repeat at least 3 times each day – morning, noon and night. More is even better. It works just like a guiding thought. My recommendation is the Prayer of St. Francis which you can find below.  I invite you to join me for the remainder of 2020 to pray this prayer at least 3 times each and every day. Let’s see what happens!

Grace and Peace, John

Our Church Sign Has a New Look!

We replaced the old, discolored Lexan plastic which made it very difficult to read our messages with new, clear plexiglass.  Wow! What a difference this makes. One of the things we want all who pass to be able to see is our website and the invitation to our virtual service. Now they can! A special thanks to Jeff Bryden for his help and practical ideas.

I Invite You to Make This Prayer A Daily Habit

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Notes and News – 09/19/20

What if Both are God’s Gifts!

Here are 4 experiences I have had in my ministry or read about recently. I think they are related in an important way. The first was in a hospital waiting room with a family whose daughter had been in a terrible automobile accident. A doctor came into the room and told the family he’d seen many brain injuries like their daughter’s and there was no hope.  (no bedside manor from this doctor!) The mother thanked him but told him after much prayer they were entrusting their daughter future to God. After 3 months and many prayers from all over the country their daughter came out of her coma and began a long road to recovery. Perhaps her biggest hurdle was overcoming the physical problems caused by the doctors’ order to stop physical therapy. A year later she enrolled as a freshman at a local university and went on to graduate.

The second experience was several years ago when a granddaughter asked me if I thought the biblical account of creation should be included as an alternative in the high school curriculum to the scientific theory of evolution.  I told her no I did not, because I thought, based upon my study and experience as a pastor that the stories of Creation in Genesis 1 and 2 were never intended to be scientific and their message was far too important to be lost in the midst of the predictable controversy that would create far more heat than light.

The third is from a brief TV encounter between a mask-less man at a big indoor event and a reporter. The man said he didn’t need a mask because God would keep him safe from COVID-19. And the fourth is from a self-proclaimed “no-masker” pastor from Idaho who was infected with COVID-19, along with his wife. Her case was mild. He’s in ICU with significant difficulty breathing but hoping to be able to return home to recuperate if his breathing can improve.

What I think all of these have in common is our struggle with science and faith. The overly simplistic approach is to choose one and reject the other. But this doesn’t pass the test of life’s experiences. The doctor above was all science and no faith. The no mask, “God will protect me” is a pseudo faith and rejection of science. The words of faith may be used but really the assumption is God will do what I want done. The success of this kind of approach in the biblical witness as well as today is miniscule.

Science and Faith are meant to complement each other not compete. Science works with data that is observable, measurable, repeatable, quantifiable and ultimately predictable. Thank goodness for the discoveries of science! Faith focuses on the realm of the intangible, unmeasurable, mysterious, and surprising. Thank goodness for the times that stir our souls and help us see and experience the gift of life in its fullness! Science asks the question “why” to discover the cause. Faith asks the question “why” to discover meaning. I am convinced both science and faith are God’s gifts to be embraced and enjoyed!

Grace and Peace, John

Notes and News – 09/12/20

I Am Biased and I Hope You Are As Well!

As you might expect I received feedback from my article in last week’s news and notes. Candidly, most of it, by far, was favorable and appreciative but some was not. As a result, I want to be very clear about my role is your pastor and the realm of politics.

First, let me say what I wrote last week I would have written if the president had been a Democrat or Independent. The fact that our current president happens to be Republican has nothing to do with either what or why I wrote what I wrote. The real issue has nothing to do with political persuasion, but rather a failure of moral character. This judgment it's based upon what I see our President doing, what I hear him saying and what I read, from a variety of sources.

Second, please never think I am a neutral observer. I am most certainly not. I am biased and I always will be, but perhaps not in the way you might initially think. My bias is the foundation of our faith that is found especially but far from exclusively, in the four gospels (Some examples include the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 through 7; Jesus first sermon in the Gospel of Luke, Luke 4:16 and following; Matthew 25; the Great Commandment, Mark 12:28-32; the I Am sayings in John’s gospel, the “one another” passages in Paul’s letters, 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 and numerous other examples in both the New and Old Testaments.)  Simply put my bias of faith growing out of the Biblical witness of both the Old and New Testaments is God’s claim upon us includes every aspect of our lives, not just the “religious or spiritual ones”.

We are called to be Christian Americans – people who seek to have their walk with Christ shape their values, mores and attitudes determine how they live in our culture. Over and over again they ask themselves the question, what would Jesus Christ have me say or do rather than what do I want to say or do. I can say with heart-felt sincerity this is the commitment of my life. And I can say with utter candor there are plenty of times I fall far short. But no matter how big the gulf may be at a given time, it is always my commitment.

As your pastor, I have neither the right nor the responsibility to tell you how to vote. That is up to you. It is my responsibility as your pastor and as a leader to speak out, when I see, again and again, words and deeds that contradict or repudiate what the very foundational values and principles of our walk with Christ, as His disciples, in this blessed gift we call life. Perhaps even more significantly it is our (yours and mine) responsibility to treat one another with grace and respect regardless of who or what we vote for. We do not need to agree on any particular issue. The command to love one another is not limited to those who look, think, and act like we do. We must treat one another as the precious children of God that we are. Or to put the matter in slightly different terms, Jesus Christ died on the cross to redeem all of us - republican, democrat, independent, liberal, conservative, white, black, man, woman, young, old – all of us, no ifs, ands or buts. I am convinced loving one another as our faith calls for means, at the very least, for each us to seek each and every day to eliminate the words “they and them” from our words and deeds and to replace them in word and deed with “we and us”.

Let me close with a true story. The church Cinda and I belonged to when I was stationed in San Antonio had a sad and tragic characteristic. For as long as many could remember, whenever a new Senior Pastor was sent to the church there would be standing room only on Sunday mornings for all 3 services. The place was packed – for about 4 to 6 weeks! Then the congregation would shrink to somewhere between 35 and 45% of the initial Sundays’ attendance. Dr. Gray explained to me one day that 4-6 weeks was about the time it took for the various factions in the church to decide if this would be “their” pastor or not. Isn’t that sad and tragic! And of course, those underlying attitudes kept the church from fully realizing but a fraction of its immense potential or taking full advantage of the extraordinary leadership ability of Dr. D. D. Gray. 

Likewise, whether as a country or as a church, if we simply retreat to the positions and/or ideas we have convinced ourselves are the truth we will never solve anything of significance. It is only when we listen to one another with compassion and respect and focus our energy cooperating with one another instead of trying to correct or overpower one another, that will discover the possibilities in every crisis and the incredible power of grace to redeem and create anew.

As a reminder to us all, I invite you to join me in making this prayer a part of everyday:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Grace and Peace, John