March 29, 2013 Good Friday

As I awakened this morning, I pondered the early morning hours for Jesus on Good Friday – after being arrested late Thursday night, and dragged to various places, his fate was still being decided on Friday morning. Now, nearly 2,000 years later, His victory has been won, and my life is forever the beneficiary of his sacrifice. As I sit on my comfortable couch, with a gas fire burning and raindrops gently falling on my skylight, I am so very thankful for this day, for the horrific torture Jesus endured, the death he died, and the life he gave for mine.

Exodus 30 describes the instructions for the incense altar, the wash basin, funding for the tabernacle and formulas for the anointing oil and incense. I note that God tells Moses that these formulas are specifically for the oil and incense used at the tabernacle, holy, set apart and that neither Aaron nor his descendents are to use this or a similar formula for their personal use. It is so important for people who serve God through the church be especially careful with boundaries.

Tonight we will have 2 Good Friday services at Wesley (7 pm Sanctuary, 9 pm Gym), with a very special time of commitment for our confirmands at 8:00 pm. Tomorrow we have the baptism service for the confirmands. I will invest today in spiritually preparing to lead these weekend services, including the preparation of my Easter sermon. Typically I dedicate Friday to working on the sermon.

Last night I saw Jim Bakker on television. Audrey recorded a portion of his current program. There was a Jewish man describing the Passover, and the last supper. Bakker has white hair and a white beard, as he is now 73. I continue to read his autobiography I Was Wrong, and I am up to the point where he is in a minimum security prison called Camp Jessup. He writes about experiencing real Christian Community among the inmates, who truly care for one another in tangible and practical ways. They are especially gracious in the way they welcome newcomers to the institution. The church can always improve the genuiness of community, the substance of service, and the welcome of those who are new.

Guide me today, most holy Lord in all the ways I serve You on this most holy of days, when You suffered and died upon a cross.

March 28, 2013

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss like Judas. But like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.

The above Troparion is from eastern Christianity, according to the Wikipedia article on Maundy Thursday. It is my prayer today, as I look forward to the service of Holy Communion tonight led by Pastor Jim Massey and his Jerusalem pilgrims.

The birds are singing outside, and the temperature is in the 40s, up 20 degrees from yesterday morning. It is beginning to feel like spring, even though March has been cold and snowy. I think that the weather will establish a great context for Easter Sunday. The 40 days of Lent have helped me to prepare for Easter, and the services each of the next three nights at Wesley will further develop the anticipation and preparation for the resurrection. Tonight is the last supper, tomorrow we have 2 Good Friday services, and on Saturday there will be the confirmation baptism service.

Exodus 29 contains the instructions to Moses from God about how to ordain Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. This service will last 7 days, and include the sacrifice of a young bull and two rams on the first day, and 2 lambs each of the following days. As chair of the board of ordained ministry in the Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, I will be involved in the ordination service of elders and deacons at Annual Conference in June. The service typically runs long, but not 7 days! It is very special, and I consider it a great privilege to be part of the ordination process which culminates in the service of ordination. I was ordained in 1982, and the service, held in the sanctuary on the campus of Central Methodist College (now University) was most memorable.

God has given me a special burden for pastors – for the calling, equipping, deployment, nurture, and cultivation of men and women called to tend the flock of God – to seek out the lost, to comfort the dying, to lead seekers and Christ-followers to the Rock. I am currently reading Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp, subtitled Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. He has very good insights, and even though written from the perspective of churches which call their own pastors, what he says is very relevant to United Methodists and others who serve under appointment.

Guide me today, most Holy One. I yield myself to your mystery. I revel in your love and grace. Use me according to your holy purposes and divine will. Lead me in your righteousness.

March 25, 2013

The weather is top of the news this morning with the very cold temps and severe wind chill. It is 23 degrees and the wind chill is 11.  Last year we had an early and mild spring – one year ago, Monday, March 26, 2012  it was 58 degrees at 6:30 and here is an excerpt from my journal :  “On the early morning news the broadcaster suggests that today might be a good one to skip going to work - I have the privilege of this being my day off. I have so many possibilities open – flying, motorcycling, hiking, running, gardening, writing, personal finances, housework, and the list goes on!”  Today, I have a list of possibilities, but all of them are indoors!

Exodus 24 – 25 (I feel like I am plowing through Exodus one chapter at a time – I am gaining meaning and insight, but it seems like tough plowing.)

In these two chapters God instructs Moses to bring selected men plus  the 70 elders to the mountain. They see God but do not die. On the ground under His feet there seemed to be a service that looked like ‘brilliant blue lapis lazuli.” Moses and Joshua proceed up the mountain where Moses will be for 40 days, receiving the commandments from God. In chapter 25 he records the instructions for elements of worship made from pure gold.

I have been reading Jim Bakker’s autobiography  I Was Wrong, and in it he tells of building Heritage USA, and the church located there. It seems that his time in prison helped clarify the many things he did wrong. The rapid success of his television ministry and the swift accumulation of fame, power and money contributed to his undoing.

I am also reading Dangerous Calling¸ about pitfalls of being a pastor. It is a good analysis of the many ways life as a pastor can go wrong and it includes many good ideas of how to guard against those pitfalls.

Guide me today, most holy Lord as I live the story you are writing with my life. I am Yours, lead me in Your righteousness. Let my path be plain before me. 

March 22, 2013

A beautiful wet snow fell last evening, and I plan to go for an early morning walk as the sky turns to dawn. Audrey and I took it easy through the evening, after several hectic days. Today I will get to the office, finalize bulletin, write my sermon for Sunday and work on Easter sermon. I will also work on my desk, my list of to dos, and my schedule into the summer.

Exodus 22  - various civil laws regarding property and animals, plus some social laws regarding dowry. As I read all the tedious rules and laws, I am refreshed by the summary statement in verse 31: “You must be my holy people.” This is my desire as a person, as a pastor, and for the people called Wesley. To be holy, set apart, special to God. This will be my verse for today.

O Holy Lord, as the snow has fallen and covered everything with a pure white layer, may your grace and mercy cover my life today as I serve you with joy and humility. You are God, I am your servant. Sanctify me that I might bear fruit in your kingdom, as it is coming on earth reflecting heaven. 

March 19, 2013

My root canal yesterday was a success! The dentist found infection in the tooth and in an abscess below. The root canal saved the tooth. The procedure was relatively pain-free, and my insurance covered 80% of the cost. Those were my three concerns, and I am glad it is over. I will not dread the next one, if another one is needed. I am now looking forward to the rest of this day.

Even though I returned to my office at Wesley on Saturday, and had a full day of ministry on Sunday, it feels like today is really the first day back to normality after the college mission trip. I will read scripture, prepare my action list after reviewing my calendar, and get to the office early enough to write the pastor’s pen and prepare for our worship planning meeting.

Exodus 19 - Moses prepares the people for the presence of God at Mt. Sinai. Even though he was clear about staying a safe distance away from the mountain, God sent him back down to reiterate that precaution and to bring Aaron up with him. This chapter reminds me how very serious is our life in God’s presence, and how careful I must be to follow all of his instructions.

Guide me today, most Holy God as I walk on the holy ground around Wesley United Methodist Church, around Springfield, and into the ends of the earth, teaching your Word and sharing the ministry of reconciliation. Guard me from sin, from presumption, from selfishness. 

March 18, 2013

We have received much needed rain over the last 2 days. While Audrey and I were attending the Donald Miller event yesterday afternoon, there must have been quite the hailstorm at our house, as there were piles of hail in the front yard. I do not think it hailed where we were at Remington’s, just 3 miles away.

Today I will have a root canal performed on a rear molar. It frames my day off. I will try to enjoy the morning, relaxing, reading, exercising. I will rest in the afternoon and evening.

Exodus 17 – 18

In these two chapters, Moses endures much pressure from the people. They are thirsty, demanding water in the desert. God instructs Moses to gather leaders, then strike the rock, which then flows with water. Moses sends Joshua as a general out to fight the Amalekites, and as long as Moses’ arms are up, the Israelites prevail. Moses needs Aaron and Hur to help him as he cannot hold his arms up by himself. Jethro comes to visit, and points out to Moses that the people wait all day for his judgements, and this is not good for them or for Moses. He advises Moses to delegate: “then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” (18:23)

I experience a lot of pressure in my work. Audrey notices it often. I need to constantly widen my support, to accomplish greater good for the Kingdom. I need to pay closer attention to all the people who shoulder responsibility at Wesley. 

Yesterday as we listened to Donald Miller, his talk inspired me to think along several lines. The essence of his direction, he says comes from Victor Frankl who wrote Man’s Search for Meaning (originally titled Saying yes to Life in Spite of Everything: A Psychologist Experiences the Concentration Camp, 1945.) According to Miller, Frankl postulates that meaning comes from undertaking difficult work, in community with people you love, to save many lives. Miller observes that our culture’s obsession with pleasure is really a by-product of life without meaning. In response to one of the audience’s questions, he advised us to continually focus, by saying no to more and more, and pursuing the one thing that we are being led toward.

In reading about Victor Frankl in Wikipedia, I discover one of his observations is that the Statue of Liberty should be complimented by a “statue of responsibility”, that liberty is only half the equation, and that a meaningful life includes responsibility.

 “He is thought to have coined the term Sunday neurosis.  The term refers to a form of anxiety resulting from an awareness in some people of the emptiness of their lives once the working week is over.^[11] Some complain of a void and a vague discontent.^[10] This arises from an existential vacuum, or feeling of meaninglessness, which is a common phenomenon and is characterised by the subjective state of boredom, apathy, and emptiness. One feels cynical, lacks direction and questions the point of most of life's activities.”

I imagine that this same concept could be applied to retirement also. I will peruse my copy of Man’s Search for Meaning to glean other nuggets.

Guide me today, most holy Lord in the life and work to which you have called me. I give you thanks for this day, and all that it will hold. 

March 17, 2013

The college mission trip to Biloxi, Mississippi was a great time of fellowship and spiritual journey. As Audrey and I travelled to join the students and Pastor Matt Kerner for most of the week, we were blessed to share in this experience. The days spent on this trip are a good context for me to teach and preach about the cost of discipleship as described by Jesus in Luke 14.

Luke 14 The Cost of Discipleship

Jesus dines with Pharisees, heals a man on the Sabbath, teaches about taking the lowest seat rather than the best seat, and uses the metaphor of a wedding banquet to describe the Kingdom of God. He then addresses the multitudes who were following him, describing the cost of discipleship, how they must love him more than father, mother, wife, children, even their very lives. He uses the building of a tower and the deployment of an army as examples of counting the cost. Grace is free but not cheap!

My task this morning is to apply this teaching to Christ-followers in Springfield, Missouri during an era when it is relatively easy to follow Christ, and the culture does not present persecution. The difficulty is an inner one, an orientation toward God, and taking the lower seat at the banquet. It is seeing what others do not see, of acting upon the knowledge one has in the setting where one lives. I struggle with this challenge every day as a pastor in an age when being a pastor is respectable. What is the cost of following Jesus for me, and what does it look like in my life to love him more that anyone or anything else?

Guide me today, most Holy Lord as I seek to follow where You lead, and to lead others to a deeper commitment and more radical sacrifice in this daily life. Guard me from ease and love of pleasure, use me as an example of unselfishness and complete surrender to your will and purposes. 

March 5, 2013

I am looking forward to hearing an author/speaker who is coming to Springfield on March 17, St. Patrick’s day. Our United Methodist District office is sponsoring the event, which brings Donald Miller to Remmingtons (just down Republic Dr. from Wesley). The doors open at 3:00 pm, the event starts at 3:30. From the district web site: “Donald Miller is best known for “saying what we are all feeling,” especially in the realm of Christian spirituality. His candid, disarming style has increased the talkability of our common spiritual longings while decreasing what was a hyper-religious culture. He has had numerous books on the New-Times Bestsellers List including his first hit, Blue Like Jazz that stayed on the list for more than forty weeks.”

At the front desk in the church office we have tickets available for $15. Please stop by and get a ticket to hear Donald Miller and one for a friend. I think this will be the kind of event that people will talk about afterward and say, “if I had known it was going to be so good, I would have cleared my schedule and attended.”

I just downloaded his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years onto my laptop. I am looking forward to reading it in preparation for his visit to Springfield on March 17. His topic for this engagement will be: “What in the World is God Doing?” Perhaps those of us who attend will gain a helpful perspective from Donald Miller. 

March 3, 2013

22 years ago today we launched SunRise United Methodist Church in a Knights of Columbus hall in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, just west of O’Fallon. 240 people came to that historic first worship service. This morning in an elementary school just west of here The Foundry has its launch. Richard Fine has been under appointment for 14 months to develop this congregation. A very good card was in our mail this week inviting us to this launch. I am praying that it goes well. At Wesley, in its 49^th year as a church we will celebrate Holy Communion, teach about salvation by faith, and nurture 1000 people in their spiritual and physical lives.

Galatians 3

“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Verse 23-29)

Yes! The law, as our tutor has led us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith! This morning I will preach the good news about salvation by faith. I know that the law has led me to Christ, painfully teaching me that on my own I cannot please God, and that justification for Bruce Baxter must come by faith.

Most Holy Lord, pour out your Spirit on your servant, as I seek to preach by faith, on faith, that those who hear through faith might deepen and expand their walk with You. 

March 1, 2013

My early rising the last two days (before 5 a.m.) is catching up with my body. I did not spring out of bed this morning, but slowing am waking up. Last night I joined the confirmation class at the CPO bookstore after they had visited  The Wind 88.3 radio station and were learning about these two ministries. I appreciate the many ways adults are pouring their lives into these students as confirmand mentors, church leaders, and parents.

Ephesians 2 (reading from the Greek English parallel edition.)\

… the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (7)

…the surpassing wealth of the grace of him in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus (Greek transliteral)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (8)

Not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are what he has made us, (we are poema, masterpiece) created in Christ Jesus for good works…

This will be my text for the message I preach on Sunday. I am looking forward to delivering this message with energy, creativity, and the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit. This is one of the central truths of Scripture, and it is the basis of the life I live.

Guide me today, most holy One, who has given to me and to all who would receive the greatest gift possible, new life through Jesus Christ. You have made me, your poema, created in Christ Jesus for good works.