Holidays -- being a pastor ruins holidays; Easter, Xmas, and the rest are major work days. Uggh. I am glad Easter is over. There is still great hope for Pentecost, luckily marketers and families haven't realized the potentiality of this day.
After Easter I went to Rochester for an Alumni/ae Executive Council Meeting (more about this later). We had reservations at a Residence Inn, we were supposed to have two beds and a non-smoking room; we had one bed with cigar reek. So while I went to the front desk the family stayed by the first room guarding our stuff. When I came back the wife and the boy were outside but the girl stayed inside. I asked why? She said because there was a wild animal outside. What? Yes, a baby lion she said. The wife pointed out a mangy old yellow and white cat. In Providence a kitty; in Rochester baby animal. Oh well.
Proof that there the world is not founded on justice. More than anything I would like to grow a beard, but I cant. However, my nose hairs grow at such a rapid and thickening rate that they are almost out of my control. Justice? No way.
29 April 2006
18 April 2006
Creative Donut Adventures
The other day while going to the VA to visit a church member I needed a cup of coffee. I stopped by the old DD in Warren only to find 10 cars in the line, I backed out and went on down the road. As I made a few turns to get onto Metacom Ave. I noticed this place:
Now from the outside this looks like your average donut shop, uh-huh! I walked in and looked at the menu, all your regular items donuts, coffee, juice and get this: cigarettes @ $6.40 a pack. Coffee and cigarettes, they go together but cigarettes and donuts? I dunno bout that one.
By the way, our VA homes and hospitals are a joke. I may be a pacifist, but anyone who is willing to sacrifice their lives for this country at least deserves the best care available.
Now from the outside this looks like your average donut shop, uh-huh! I walked in and looked at the menu, all your regular items donuts, coffee, juice and get this: cigarettes @ $6.40 a pack. Coffee and cigarettes, they go together but cigarettes and donuts? I dunno bout that one.
By the way, our VA homes and hospitals are a joke. I may be a pacifist, but anyone who is willing to sacrifice their lives for this country at least deserves the best care available.
06 April 2006
Why I am a Pastor, at least a couple of the reasons
As you know already the position of pastor does not register high on the well paid categories of Forbes or Money magazines. However, there are some fringe benefits which seem to almost ameliorate the low pay. Lemme give you a couple of opiate examples.
The other day we arrived home from a day of errands to find this box on our doorstep
It was a box of fresh Florida oranges. They beat anything you can get at the market by a mile. We made fresh juice ate them whole and had a wonderful time (still are actually) partaking.
A couple of weeks ago I initiated an experiment on the power and influence of the church. I have almost officially fallen to addiction of Dunkin Donuts. What keeps me from getting on the wagon? They dont have a chocolate coated old fashioned. So I called up DD and asked how one solicts a new donut idea, response: you dont. They do not take solicitations. Okay I thought, I will use the power of influence and persuasion: I will, via email, ask church members to write letters to DD demanding a chocolate topped old fashioned. Within minutes I received recommendations of better donut facilities that carry exactly what i was looking for. One in particular was some 40 miles away. Two days later a man from the church arrived with a white waxy coated type bag from the far away destination of donut ecstasy with three of these in it:
I am sure other professions get this type of treatment, but I like to think they dont. These small blessings sometimes get me, or me and the wife and kids, through the day.
I still believe that if you truly love people it will gradually wear down their numbness and translate into genuine acts of kindness, mercy and justice.
The other day we arrived home from a day of errands to find this box on our doorstep
It was a box of fresh Florida oranges. They beat anything you can get at the market by a mile. We made fresh juice ate them whole and had a wonderful time (still are actually) partaking.
A couple of weeks ago I initiated an experiment on the power and influence of the church. I have almost officially fallen to addiction of Dunkin Donuts. What keeps me from getting on the wagon? They dont have a chocolate coated old fashioned. So I called up DD and asked how one solicts a new donut idea, response: you dont. They do not take solicitations. Okay I thought, I will use the power of influence and persuasion: I will, via email, ask church members to write letters to DD demanding a chocolate topped old fashioned. Within minutes I received recommendations of better donut facilities that carry exactly what i was looking for. One in particular was some 40 miles away. Two days later a man from the church arrived with a white waxy coated type bag from the far away destination of donut ecstasy with three of these in it:
I am sure other professions get this type of treatment, but I like to think they dont. These small blessings sometimes get me, or me and the wife and kids, through the day.
I still believe that if you truly love people it will gradually wear down their numbness and translate into genuine acts of kindness, mercy and justice.
05 April 2006
I dominate the dojo
This evening I begin my fiddle classes at the Blackstone Valley Theatre. I am quite excited about this six week beginner course; one cavet: the class is for 12 and up. I feel a bit like Kramer dominating the dojo episode. I'll have to keep telling myself, "We are all at the same skill level."
Evangelism
Recently my reading and thinking have been swiriling around the topic of evangelism; if mainliners are ever going to bounce back with any kind of vitality and health we have to do a better job of evangelism. The evangelism here at the L. R. Baptist seems to be going well; last year we had 13 new members and look to have possibly another 11 after Easter. The new members are folk from other churches either dissatisfied, moved to the area or who knows, a reshuffling of the saints so to speak. The church seems very happy to continue this style of evangelism: the stumble on in approach. I would like to see us take a more strategic approach to attract younger folk.
When I came here I had visions and dreams of creating a place for folk under 40 but instead the exact opposite is true: since i've been here the median age has rose not dropped. All of our new members are boomers +. Oh well, see the ball, hit the ball.
I am going to try and get a basketball goal put up in the parking lot this summer. If so, I guarentee to start and build a youth group that way. For the record I am terrible at basketball but enjoying playing. I am hoping that my size will intimidate the junior highers into thinking I can actually play. Stay posted.
When I came here I had visions and dreams of creating a place for folk under 40 but instead the exact opposite is true: since i've been here the median age has rose not dropped. All of our new members are boomers +. Oh well, see the ball, hit the ball.
I am going to try and get a basketball goal put up in the parking lot this summer. If so, I guarentee to start and build a youth group that way. For the record I am terrible at basketball but enjoying playing. I am hoping that my size will intimidate the junior highers into thinking I can actually play. Stay posted.
Life Lessons from Billy Donovan
Monday night after an exhausting deacon's meeting I came home, had some ice cream, watched the end of the first half of the NCAA championship game, then went to bed. After WVU lost I really didnt have much interest in the tournament. I did, however, have a slight connection to Florida: the coach Billy Donnovan.
One day my buddy Ole Philsy and I were walking through the basketball coaches offices as a shortcut to the racquetball courts. Standing outside the offices were Billy Donnovan and John Pelphrey. O.P. was a crazy UK fan and immediately knew who they were, me no clue. Later on that day we saw on the news that Billy the Kid was going to be MU's new bball coach.
This brings me to my life lesson. During the course of his two years as the coach I went to several bball games. The life lesson involved one game in particular, against who I cant remember. I remember the Henderson Center being very hot and rowdy; it was a close game. During the second half I noticed that the dapper dressed coach wore a blue dress shirt with cuff links that was well startched. I was impressed by this at the beginning of the game but by midway of the second half the shirt was drenched with sweat, coming from pores I didnt know men possessed. I left with a life lesson: on hot days, or steamy meetings always wear a white dress shirt.
One day my buddy Ole Philsy and I were walking through the basketball coaches offices as a shortcut to the racquetball courts. Standing outside the offices were Billy Donnovan and John Pelphrey. O.P. was a crazy UK fan and immediately knew who they were, me no clue. Later on that day we saw on the news that Billy the Kid was going to be MU's new bball coach.
This brings me to my life lesson. During the course of his two years as the coach I went to several bball games. The life lesson involved one game in particular, against who I cant remember. I remember the Henderson Center being very hot and rowdy; it was a close game. During the second half I noticed that the dapper dressed coach wore a blue dress shirt with cuff links that was well startched. I was impressed by this at the beginning of the game but by midway of the second half the shirt was drenched with sweat, coming from pores I didnt know men possessed. I left with a life lesson: on hot days, or steamy meetings always wear a white dress shirt.
31 March 2006
Looks do Count
Today two events happened that solidified, for me, the age old truth that looks do count and matter.
First, this morning I received a call that a parishoner was in the hospital. I cleaned up, put my black suit and tab collar shirt on and went to the hospital. Note for this story: Rhode Island is 60% RCC. I approached the front door of the hospital, security guard opened the door for me and said hello father. Before I even arrived to the main desk to inquire the room number of the patient the gal already had my parking validation sticker ready. Looks count? A normal trip to this hospital, when I wear a business suit, is the exact opposite. No one opens the door and the folk at the front desk ask to see credentials. When in Rome (RI), dress as the Romans, Catholics that is, do!
Second, being the start of Spring it is time for the annual father and son trip to the barber for a buzz cut. The boy really looks cute. When we got home the wife tells me how her tolerance level for the boy severely drops when the boy has a buzz cut; she says he transforms from a cute mop top toddler to a mean little thing.
Looks do count.
First, this morning I received a call that a parishoner was in the hospital. I cleaned up, put my black suit and tab collar shirt on and went to the hospital. Note for this story: Rhode Island is 60% RCC. I approached the front door of the hospital, security guard opened the door for me and said hello father. Before I even arrived to the main desk to inquire the room number of the patient the gal already had my parking validation sticker ready. Looks count? A normal trip to this hospital, when I wear a business suit, is the exact opposite. No one opens the door and the folk at the front desk ask to see credentials. When in Rome (RI), dress as the Romans, Catholics that is, do!
Second, being the start of Spring it is time for the annual father and son trip to the barber for a buzz cut. The boy really looks cute. When we got home the wife tells me how her tolerance level for the boy severely drops when the boy has a buzz cut; she says he transforms from a cute mop top toddler to a mean little thing.
Looks do count.
27 March 2006
March 26, 2006 Sermon
The sermon on Sunday seemed to be well received. It was a tough sermon to write - so much to say while limiting myself to around 1200 words. I was editing the sermon right up to the time of preaching with a red pencil.
This sermon series has been lots of fun for me, I enjoy the task of wrestling with some large ideas and trying make a sermon out of them.
Below is a version, the closest from Sunday morning that I can figure.
If You Want God to…Do Likewise
Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 26, 2006
Text: “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12)
Jesus took the time to teach and model to his disciples how to pray. It is a prayer that the Christian Church grabbed onto with great fervor and has yet to let go of it. Every week millions and perhaps a billion pray this prayer; many even feel that a worship service just isn’t a worship service without it. We call it the Lord’s Prayer because Jesus our Lord gave it to us, but in reality it is not a prayer for Jesus to pray, it is a prayer for Disciples, us, to pray. The prayer is a prayer that expresses the essentials of Christianity and teaches us the way of life Christ desires for us.
The prayer is part of Jesus’ great teaching moment that we call the Sermon on the Mount, a sermon that is neither full of new nor novel religious concepts but of ancient and well known teachings with long histories. The originality lies in Jesus’s creative genius, his ability to translate the preserved truths inlight of the always but coming kingdom of God. This morning Jesus offers 12 simple words on forgiveness: forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Forgiveness, we all have problems with this practice and action. The problems are so compound and perplexing that we have before us not a powerful, passionate, justice working, grace filled practice but one that has not bite or bark. We are left with a limp discipling practice that we practice with our tails stuck between our legs. People define our practice of forgiveness for us: they say that we are Christians, we are supposed to forgive and are therefore obliged to let everyone walk all over us.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Why do you think that Jesus felt it was so important to incorporate forgiveness as essential to following him? If we are to be a new version of a holy and separate people fully living in the world as a light to the nations as bearers of good news how can we do this if we do not practice forgiveness? How can we herald good news unless we practice some good news ourselves? How can we be a true, intentional, and beloved community unless we forgive? More to the point how can we feast on God’s forgiveness if we turn others away from the table?
Maybe we have a hard time with forgiveness because there are no reference points in our contemporary life. We cannot look to our judicial system; it is based on punishment not forgiveness. We cannot look to our economic system; it is based on debt. We cannot look to our political system; it is based on specific gains for a specific group of people. We cannot look to our educational system; there is no curriculum of forgiveness. Our true source has to emerge from our ongoing religious tradition; the way of life of Jesus the Christ. When it comes to forgiveness we have to go into business for ourselves. If we look outside our own source we have nothing but a definition that others have defined. Others have defined forgiveness for us and the definitions they offer are neither appealing nor virtious and certainly do not contain any morsels of good news.
There is a way of defining Christianity by called the apophatic way where you define something by describing what it is not in a manner to peel away to get to the core of something. Lemme try this with forgiveness.
Forgiveness as mandated by Christ is not easy! Forgiveness as called for by Jesus is not instant; it may take weeks, months or years before we are ready to forgive someone. Forgiveness as taught by our Savior is not passive; it is the active work of incorporating the offense against us into our own life, making that story our storyu, “and by owning it we destroy its power to divide forgiver from forgiven.” Forgivness is not forgetting; it is a special kind of remembrance of seeing the offender, regardless of the severity of the offense, still as a child of God; forgiveness is the knowledge that I and the offender are one. Forgiveness is not manipulation like when an alcoholic of spousal abuser says that was the last time, forgive me, then goes right on committing the offense; forgiveness is the acceptance of the true spirit of change, repentance and transformation of others; forgiveness cannot happen until some form of change happens.
Forgiveness is an intense practice, a gift given to us by Christ for us to share with each other and with the world.
Forgiveness is a gift for true community. It is a key towards our wholeness and perfection. But how do we do it?
Roberta Bondi in her book To Pray and To Love offers four ways on how to forgive.
First, and often the hardest, we must want to forgive. Sometimes the sensation will emerge soon, others may take weeks, months or years.
Second, we need to pray to understand, if possible, the pain and brokenness of our wounders. Why did those two boys led me out into the yard to kick me? What would make two older boys want to do such an act? Are there any clues my imagination can provide? Can I put myself in their shoes? This does not excuse their actions, but it is a part of the journey of forgiveness.
Third, we can pray for help to see the consequences to others as well as ourselves of our lcak of forgivness. What is the overall value of nursing a lifelong grudge with an offender? How is my refusal to forgive affecting my current relationships; am I missing our of greater communion with God and with others? On a basic level is my desire to withhold forgiveness affecting my physical, emotional and mental health?
Finally, we can and we must pray every day for the well being of our injurers. Christ challenged us to live as if the kingdom of God is fully present, where we don’t match evil for evil but pray for and love our enemies. This is not easily accomplished, by actively praying for our souls to be tenderized we hope that the gift of God’s grace to forgive us of our debts, trespasses and sins will enable us to forgive others.
Discipleship is a re-learning of how to be a human being in a repaired relationship with God, it is not natural or easy. But if we merge onto the way of Christ and yield our wills we have the bountiful life, centered in grace, love, forgiveness, peace, joy blessing, salvation.
The good news is that we are freely forgiven. The tough news is that we have to also forgive as our Father in heaven has forgiven, is forgiving and will forgive us.
This sermon series has been lots of fun for me, I enjoy the task of wrestling with some large ideas and trying make a sermon out of them.
Below is a version, the closest from Sunday morning that I can figure.
If You Want God to…Do Likewise
Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 26, 2006
Text: “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12)
Jesus took the time to teach and model to his disciples how to pray. It is a prayer that the Christian Church grabbed onto with great fervor and has yet to let go of it. Every week millions and perhaps a billion pray this prayer; many even feel that a worship service just isn’t a worship service without it. We call it the Lord’s Prayer because Jesus our Lord gave it to us, but in reality it is not a prayer for Jesus to pray, it is a prayer for Disciples, us, to pray. The prayer is a prayer that expresses the essentials of Christianity and teaches us the way of life Christ desires for us.
The prayer is part of Jesus’ great teaching moment that we call the Sermon on the Mount, a sermon that is neither full of new nor novel religious concepts but of ancient and well known teachings with long histories. The originality lies in Jesus’s creative genius, his ability to translate the preserved truths inlight of the always but coming kingdom of God. This morning Jesus offers 12 simple words on forgiveness: forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Forgiveness, we all have problems with this practice and action. The problems are so compound and perplexing that we have before us not a powerful, passionate, justice working, grace filled practice but one that has not bite or bark. We are left with a limp discipling practice that we practice with our tails stuck between our legs. People define our practice of forgiveness for us: they say that we are Christians, we are supposed to forgive and are therefore obliged to let everyone walk all over us.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Why do you think that Jesus felt it was so important to incorporate forgiveness as essential to following him? If we are to be a new version of a holy and separate people fully living in the world as a light to the nations as bearers of good news how can we do this if we do not practice forgiveness? How can we herald good news unless we practice some good news ourselves? How can we be a true, intentional, and beloved community unless we forgive? More to the point how can we feast on God’s forgiveness if we turn others away from the table?
Maybe we have a hard time with forgiveness because there are no reference points in our contemporary life. We cannot look to our judicial system; it is based on punishment not forgiveness. We cannot look to our economic system; it is based on debt. We cannot look to our political system; it is based on specific gains for a specific group of people. We cannot look to our educational system; there is no curriculum of forgiveness. Our true source has to emerge from our ongoing religious tradition; the way of life of Jesus the Christ. When it comes to forgiveness we have to go into business for ourselves. If we look outside our own source we have nothing but a definition that others have defined. Others have defined forgiveness for us and the definitions they offer are neither appealing nor virtious and certainly do not contain any morsels of good news.
There is a way of defining Christianity by called the apophatic way where you define something by describing what it is not in a manner to peel away to get to the core of something. Lemme try this with forgiveness.
Forgiveness as mandated by Christ is not easy! Forgiveness as called for by Jesus is not instant; it may take weeks, months or years before we are ready to forgive someone. Forgiveness as taught by our Savior is not passive; it is the active work of incorporating the offense against us into our own life, making that story our storyu, “and by owning it we destroy its power to divide forgiver from forgiven.” Forgivness is not forgetting; it is a special kind of remembrance of seeing the offender, regardless of the severity of the offense, still as a child of God; forgiveness is the knowledge that I and the offender are one. Forgiveness is not manipulation like when an alcoholic of spousal abuser says that was the last time, forgive me, then goes right on committing the offense; forgiveness is the acceptance of the true spirit of change, repentance and transformation of others; forgiveness cannot happen until some form of change happens.
Forgiveness is an intense practice, a gift given to us by Christ for us to share with each other and with the world.
Forgiveness is a gift for true community. It is a key towards our wholeness and perfection. But how do we do it?
Roberta Bondi in her book To Pray and To Love offers four ways on how to forgive.
First, and often the hardest, we must want to forgive. Sometimes the sensation will emerge soon, others may take weeks, months or years.
Second, we need to pray to understand, if possible, the pain and brokenness of our wounders. Why did those two boys led me out into the yard to kick me? What would make two older boys want to do such an act? Are there any clues my imagination can provide? Can I put myself in their shoes? This does not excuse their actions, but it is a part of the journey of forgiveness.
Third, we can pray for help to see the consequences to others as well as ourselves of our lcak of forgivness. What is the overall value of nursing a lifelong grudge with an offender? How is my refusal to forgive affecting my current relationships; am I missing our of greater communion with God and with others? On a basic level is my desire to withhold forgiveness affecting my physical, emotional and mental health?
Finally, we can and we must pray every day for the well being of our injurers. Christ challenged us to live as if the kingdom of God is fully present, where we don’t match evil for evil but pray for and love our enemies. This is not easily accomplished, by actively praying for our souls to be tenderized we hope that the gift of God’s grace to forgive us of our debts, trespasses and sins will enable us to forgive others.
Discipleship is a re-learning of how to be a human being in a repaired relationship with God, it is not natural or easy. But if we merge onto the way of Christ and yield our wills we have the bountiful life, centered in grace, love, forgiveness, peace, joy blessing, salvation.
The good news is that we are freely forgiven. The tough news is that we have to also forgive as our Father in heaven has forgiven, is forgiving and will forgive us.
23 March 2006
A Bit of Daughter Wisdom
Yesterday morning the girl came in and told her mother that she did not want to play with her brother anymore if he hits her every time she takes toys away from him.
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