February 18, 2013

Job 32-34

Elihu is a fourth friend of Job. He is younger than the other three, and has been listening to the arguments back and forth before he speaks. He is respectful, and he is the only one of Job’s friends that God does not rebuke or refute. In Job 34:37 is the heart of Elihu’s commentary to Job “For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.” It seems that Elihu names the sin that Job is ultimately guilty of – exalting himself to be equal with God – rebellion.

In the news this morning are two tragic stories – the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp, the girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee who was an Olympic track star who is accused of murder, though he claims it was mistaken identity of an intruder.

The second story is the suicide death of country singer Mindy McCready. She has struggled with personal demons for a long time. Her boyfriend died of a gunshot on her front porch last month, and she was questioned as a suspect, his death is still under investigation. She recently fought for custody of her 6 year old son.

From Job to the morning news, people struggle with suffering and the search for meaning in life. If only everyone would trust God the way Job did, even though he exalted himself, he eventually repented and was blessed by God. Listening to the recent interviews with Mindy McCready I could imagine the missing part of her life was a surrender to God and a willingness to discover the meaning of her life in the context of God’s will and purposes.

The church continues to have a vital role as leaven in society – as Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, so a vital authentic congregation of believers should be available to all troubled people who could find hope for daily living. My challenge as a pastor is to lead and equip such a church and inspire many other faith communities. This is a continual process, of each day, each week, each year being faithful and open to God's spirit in order to represent Christ in the culture and provide a healthy body of unselfish, outwardly focused disciples just like Philip!

Guide me today, Holy Lord on this national holiday, president's day. Guide my writing of the newsletter article, guide my preparation for the Wednesday evening life group as I continue to extend invitations. Guide my thinking, my planning, my rest and my recreation, even as this throat seems to be housing an incipient cold. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

February 16, 2013

The roofs and lawns are lightly dusted with about a half inch of snow. I do not remember this being predicted, and it is beautiful. David tells me that St. Louis is bracing for a possible winter storm on Wednesday. I had a good 3 mile run yesterday afternoon. It was 39 degrees and I was dressed for it. My throat is funky, and I have had one cup of “Throat Coat” tea instead of my first cup of coffee. I will wage war on whatever is happening in the back of my throat. Bethany sings her live audition at Cincinnati’s conservatory today, and then flies tomorrow to Baltimore where she auditions at Peabody on Tuesday.

Job 31 – This is his final speech. He lists ten things he has never done, as he lays out his case that he does not deserve the tragedies that have befallen him. These are ten areas for every person to predetermine to avoid sin:

1.     Never lust after a young woman. 2. Never lie or deceive anyone. 3. Never be seduced by neighbor's wife. 4. Never be unfair to servants. 5. Never be stingy with the poor – with widows or orphans or the homeless. 6. Never trust, feel secure in or gloat over wealth. 7. Never worship the sun or the moon. 8. Never rejoice when disaster strikes enemies. 9. Never turn away a stranger. 10. Never hide your sins for fear of public opinion.

This list is a great guide and a good example of intentional living by a God-fearing person. The problem Job has created for himself is that he wants to present his cause to God, and wants to argue his case before the Almighty. He sins by exalting himself to the level of God, and in the following chapters God will turn him back to his rightful place.

Today I will visit with two families about baptism, and I will conduct a wedding at five p.m. The rest of the day will be invested in perfecting the message God has given me for tomorrow, and preparing mentally and physically for the four morning worship services. This is the day that You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! Thank you Lord for the gift of this day. Use me as your servant, communicating Your grace and your care. 

February 15, 2013

My meeting yesterday in Columbia with the Mission Council of the Annual Conference went well, and provided a good reason to ride the Kawasaki 360 miles. It was chilly, but my heated gloves and other gear kept me reasonably comfortable. Bishop Schnase and I met before the Council meeting about Board of Ordained Ministry matters. In addition to the business of the Annual Conference, it was good to catch up with various friends around the table. Bishop Schnase opened with devotional thoughts gleaned from a radio broadcast “Ted” which referred to the sinking of the whaling ship Essex in 1820 and the options the crew had of heading for an island rumored to be inhabited by cannibals, or for South America. They chose the latter, and ended up becoming cannibals in order to survive. The point of the devotion was that we use our imagination to turn our fears into stories, and usually we fear the most spectacular, but it is the ordinary that we should really be concerned about. He applied this to life in the church.

Today I will devote myself to writing Sunday’s sermon, to developing my Wednesday life group, and to preparing for tomorrow’s wedding at Wesley, including tonight’s rehearsal. Last night Audrey and I exchanged cards, shared some candy, and enjoyed a movie at home from a Jane Austen novel called Mansfield Park. Even though I dosed through the movie, Audrey kept me informed of the important elements, and I was awake for the ending. 

Job 28- 30

Job’s final reply, and this is hard to read with all that he recounts about his life, his previous joys, his present pains. He describes the technology of his day which enables men to dig mineshafts and mine ore unseen to the birds, and he describes God as the source of wisdom. Reading chapters from Job each day in my devotions has caused me to consider his plight and to consider suffering. My life is similar to Job’s before he was stricken. I have not suffered in the ways he did. I appreciate that my life could be stricken on any day, and I trust that I would respond with faith and hope in God.

Guide me today, most holy Lord as I serve you faithfully as a pastor in Springfield. Guide me thoughts, my preparation, my interactions, my choices. Use me today as Your servant, sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit. I anticipate that Your hand will guide my every effort, and that You are even now preparing the way of this day. In Jesus precious name I pray, amen. 

February 13, Ash Wednesday, 2013

I have been awake for awhile, and finally got out of bed at 3:15 a.m. The light snow falling is beautiful, and it is collecting on the grass like powdered sugar, even as it melts on the roads and sidewalks. The high is supposed to hit 50 today, and as the sun comes out this afternoon, it will melt all the snow. In Big Bear, California, where my parents honeymooned and I played in my first snow (according to the 8 mm films!) there was a dramatic end to a violent killing spree. Apparently Christopher Dorner, the rogue LAPD cop who allegedly has killed 4 people died by a self-inflicted wound as the cabin he was holed up in went up in flames. The burning cabin and the unfolding story were hard to ignore on live television as we ate dinner and started our evening. President Obama came on with the State of the Union speech as the cabin was still in flames and before there was any confirmation of the final results in Big Bear.

This morning I will stop by the youth room at Wesley and consecrate the communion elements, then I will pray at Mercy hospital with Carol as she goes in for a knee replacement, then I will stop by St. Paul UMC downtown where Pastor Kerner is offering ashes to college students in the Green Room ministry. We have an executive staff roundtable at 10:15 am, and then the Ash Wednesday service at 6 pm followed by the final new member class. This afternoon I will work on my evening message and my Sunday message, as I will be travelling to Columbia tomorrow for the Mission Council meeting with the Bishop and other leaders of the Annual Conference.

Job 22-24

In chapter 22, Eliphar makes some good statements. His words in verses 6-11 remind me of Jesus’ teaching about the final judgment, the sheep and the goats, and those who fed, clothed, and cared for the poor, and those who did not. (Matthew 25) Even though Eliphar falsely assumes that Job has ignored God and thus his punishment, Eliphar makes some good observations about God, and judgment, obedience, surrender, and God’s omnipotence.

In chapter 24, Job asks why the wicked are not punished. In verses 10-12 he observes that the poor harvest food for others while they themselves are starving. This brings to mind the plight of many in Central and South America, where coffee and sugar plantations have taken the good land, and the workers are poorly paid for their labor. The land would support adequate local agriculture to supply the residents with food, except for the multi-national companies that own the plantations. This morning our medical team from Springfield is waking up in Nicaragua, preparing for another day of caring for the poor throughout the villages served by Rainbow Network. This ministry, founded by Keith Jaspers, uses a local structure that requires participants to be involved in ways that contribute to their own benefit from the programs of nutrition, housing, economic development through micro-loans, and medical treatment. Keith has told me that he picked Nicaragua because of its level of poverty, the government’s willingness to accommodate (which seems to have deteriorated lately) and its accessibility to travel from the USA.

As I write this early morning journal entry, I am pondering my Lenten disciplines. My regular disciplines include reading scripture every day before I eat breakfast, fasting on Fridays until the afternoon, tithing our income, praying daily, and pastoring the flock. Sometimes I give up soda for Lent, which provides me with a sacrifice that regularly presents itself as a reminder to pray. Sometimes I take on an additional discipline. This morning I am feeling that giving up soda will be my Lenten discipline, along with the others that I already observe.

Lord, on this day which Christians around the world focus on their intentional preparation for Easter, I pray that you would guide me as your servant in all my interactions and endeavors. I recommit myself to following your path and your will for my life. Thank you for this day, and this season.

February 12, 2013

(Job 20-21) Zophar makes his second speech and Job replies. Zophar makes some good points about the godless, but he misapplies them to Job. Job increases his confrontation with God for being unfair. As I have been reading this book in my devotions for several days, and it will be a few more until I finish, I am finding many applications in my life and thought about this book.

It has now been a little over 24 hours since the Pope has announced he will resign as of February 28. Throughout the day yesterday, and on the news this morning there is speculation about who the next pope will be. I have heard a couple of leaders say that what the Catholic Church needs is an evangelist, that the one who follows Peter in this office needs to be a great communicator of the Good News. Someone has said that the Roman Catholic Church is an institution that needs to become a movement again. There is talk about how Western Europe is spiritually dry, but Africa and Central-South America are alive and growing. These comments could be applied also to the United Methodist Church! It is interesting to watch this process for electing a pope unfold as I am part of the leadership in my denomination.

I just spotted the first pair of Eastern Bluebirds, the state bird of Missouri. I have three nests around the house, and yesterday I noticed sparrows hard at work in the nest on my back fence facing north. I was cheering the pair of bluebirds on, hoping they will fight for the nest mounted on a support of my deck, facing south. In past years I have not had the nests out this early, but this year I left them up all winter.

Today we will have staff prayers at 9:15 and at noon lunch to honor Dutch and his work among us. We will have our regular Tuesday morning worship planning meeting, minus Jeff who will be assisting in payroll, and minus Rochelle who is with the medical team in Nicaragua. Guide me today, most Holy Lord as I serve You as shepherd and as evangelist. 

February 11, 2013

Pope Benedict has just announced that he will step down from being pope next month. He said that at 85 he has noticed in the last few months a decline in his energy resulting in his inability to perform the office entrusted to him. This will be the first time in 600 years that a pope has resigned or retired before dying. In our American culture, retiring early used to be such a big goal so that people could do what they wanted. I have adopted the Bob Buford approach to “finishing well” and expect to work through my 60s and 70s doing that which is fruitful and fulfilling, using the gifts and experience God has given me. Pope Benedict and others, including my parents, have provided a model of working into their 80s. Dr. Kalas was president of Asbury Seminary in his 80s.

I have just been reading about Pope Benedict on the internet, which led me to read about the Augsburg Confession, which drew me into reading about Martin Luther and then John Calvin. It is interesting for me to survey these church leaders from my couch here as the sun rises in Springfield in 2013.

Job 17- 19

In these tedious chapters of Job maintaining his innocence and his friends accusing him of sin, there is a refreshing affirmation offered by Job: “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” (Job 19:25) Yes, I affirm with Job that my Redeemer lives, Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and who will come again in power and glory. I have not suffered the losses that Job did. My life has been blessed with good health, good family, and adequate resources. I realize that any of these could be lost in a single day, and that they are gifts from God. I desire every day to be invested in pleasing Him and accomplishing His will.

Guide me today, most Holy Lord as I designate this Monday as my “sabbath” and seek to rest as you have prescribed. Guard me from busyness, guard me from sloth, guide me on the path of restoration and replenishment that I might serve you with all my energy for a prolonged season. I give you thanks for strengthening Bethany in her audition at USC yesterday, her first of three across the country as she applies for admission to a Masters degree program in Vocal Performance. 

February 10, 2013

The whistling wind and blowing rain are comforting sounds, as I sit here in the family room at 5:30 am with the fire burning and my coffee brewed. I look forward to worship today, with a combined sense of anticipation and apprehension. This combined sense is a normal feeling, and it is part of the burden I carry for preaching. I begin the six-part Spring Training series today, subtitled “The Basics of Grace.”  I will read the various scriptures in which God is described as “slow and anger and abounding in mercy” for my devotions.

Psalm 103:1-14 Bless the Lord and do not forget all his benefits:

            Forgives all your iniquity

            Heals all your diseases

            Redeems your life from the pit

            Crowns you with steadfast love and mercy

            Satisfies you with good as long as you live

            Works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed

            Merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

            He will not always accuse

            He does not deal with us according to our sins

            Nor repay us according to our iniquities

            As the heavens are high above the earth – so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him

            As far as the east is from the west he removes our transgressions from us

            As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him

            For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 145:8

             86:5

Exodus 34:6

Numb 14:18

Nehemiah 9:31

Joel 2:12-13

            “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.”

Thank you Lord for your gracious nature. Thank you for forgiving me, and relenting from punishing me as I deserve. Guide me today as I seek to teach about your grace and lead people to accept in a personal way your forgiveness.