Friends

Friendship is one of those things that I'm not sure I'm very good at.  I have great intentions of staying in touch with people and making time to spend with them and I seem to fail miserably most of the time.  Attending college in Ohio meant that after graduation I wouldn't even be in the same state with most of my best buddies.  Then I met the most wonderful people at seminary, and especially fell in love with the folks in Almon, at Shiloh UMC.  They became my family and though I never get to see them I still feel like they are "mine."  

Serving as a pastor in the UMC can make having close friends kind of a challenge.  In seminary we were urged not to make friends in our churches.  "Our parishioners are not our friends."  But in reality they become closer than friends as together we celebrate and grieve and grow.  Then as God calls to a new place we must say goodbye and unfortunately disconnect so people can develop trust and love for their new pastor.  At each church I have served I have connected deeply with people.  It's the only way I know how to fulfill this calling that God has placed on my life.  When you pray for people every day there's this amazing movement of the Spirit that connects you, and while we might not always like everyone we meet God can sure show us how to love them.  

In John 15 Jesus says, "I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you."  This whole chapter is full of things Jesus was saying to the disciples as he attempted to prepare them for his departure from this world.  While they didn't fully understand they must have felt this same deep connection with the one who had shown them more than they could ever have imagined.  Jesus shared himself with them and while Scripture often  highlights the positives I imagine there must have been days when Jesus just sat down with Peter or one of the others to pour out his heart about the frustration, sorrow, and grief that he must have felt along the way.  These relationships, like the friendships Jesus shared with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus help us to recognize the humanity of Christ.  Jesus needed these friends to do what he had come to do.

We need each other too.  I fully believe that the fullness of God is revealed only as we encounter and embrace the image of God in ourselves and others.  Our eyes are opened to new ideas and understandings when we allow our hearts to connect with each other.  In the midst the Spirit moves us to see things in new ways.  For this I am SO grateful.

So tonight whether you are in Africa, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan or the many other places you might live know that I am grateful for God's image in you.  Thank you for sharing that with me - know that you will never be forgotten, not even when I'm a hundred.  

Prayer:  Gracious God I thank you this evening for the many ways you have blessed my life through the amazing people I call friends.  While I may not see them all very often I pray your blessings would be poured out upon them, that they would know they are loved and appreciated.  Help us to remember that we may be called to befriend the friendless.  Open us to Your image in those we have yet to meet.  Thank you God for calling us friends.  Amen.

Just LOVE.

This morning I found out that a young woman I know was killed in a car accident.  I have thought about it all day as I prayed for her family and community.  It was an accident probably caused by icy roads.  A moment in time that will forever change the lives of the ones she loved.  Makes you think, doesn't it?

My grandpa died a couple of weeks before Christmas.  He had been sick for a while with Leukemia.  He seemed to fight it off pretty well but we all noticed how thin he was getting.  The Leukemia finally overtook him and a man who was drinking coffee and spending time with family on Sunday took his last breath on Thursday night.  While none of us were ready to say goodbye, all of us were thankful that he did not suffer for a long time.  

Exactly three weeks later my grandma died.   By the time she died the woman who had served as the VP of a bank for years was no longer able to remember who we were.  My last conversation with her will remain in my memory.  The day after grandpa died I stopped by on my way back to Big Rapids.  She happened to be laying down for the night and I just wanted to pray with her. As I looked into her confused eyes I told her how much I missed her and how much I loved her.  None of us, even the nurses that cared for her, told her about grandpa.  We knew it would just make her anxious and that we would have to tell her again and again.  To hear that she had died was a shock. She seemed to be doing well.  That's when we were given the rest of the story.  

At 6:30pm the nurse checked on grandma only to hear her say, "Tom died."  (That's my grandpa).  With wonder he asked, "How do you know that?"  She replied, "He told me when he visited."  By 8:30pm that night my grandma had passed in her sleep.  I don't think she even woke up.  My grandpa came and got her, I am certain.  


Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus:

37 But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. 38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, 

or any other thing that is created.

There is so much that separates us these days.  Sometimes it seems that even among Christians the things we disagree about outnumber that which we have in common.  We argue about what God really means in Scripture to the point that our being right excludes the all-encompassing, overpowering, non-judgmental love that God pours out upon all of creation in Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately sometimes it takes a tragic loss like this family is experiencing today or the recognition that God is still in the business of mystery (like my family experienced) to ground us in that love.

Jesus makes it clear in John 13 when he says, "I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

Can it really be that simple?  

Why is it so hard to let ourselves really believe that there are no boundaries on the love of God?  That every single person bears the image of God? That it is our job in life and in death to be the vessels of this love, whether we think someone deserves it or not?

Please join me this night in praying for the Raven family 

as they grieve the loss of their beloved Megan.  

Ashes and Humility.

Campus ministry is an interesting beast.  I think that is a phrase that will stick with me no matter how long I serve the UMC in this way.  Interesting for many reasons - like no two days are the same, you never know what might happen (at any time of day), every semester is like starting a new church, and university red tape is really confusing!  When serving in the church there are some roadblocks that all pastors face, like those people that will do whatever they can to avoid change.  As a Wesley director there is a TON of freedom.  Students are generally excited to try something new and if it doesn't work it's no big deal.  We can worship with the most contemporary music and then sing "Father Abraham" or "I am a C"and laugh our heads off. With the freedom comes the mystery.  How do we reach out to students?  What would make a student leave their dorm room and come worship with us?  What distinguishes Wesley Campus Ministries from all the others? How do we navigate the university system here at Ferris that is not particularly concerned with the spiritual development of its students?  

I've never been one of those people that thinks religion should be shoved into the spotlight at all costs.  I'm ok with separating our court system from our systems of faith.  I don't have an agenda for posting the Ten Commandments or telling people that believe or live differently than I do that they're wrong.  I'm pretty sure that our God is much bigger than the categories we put one another in - and that God doesn't judge nearly as harshly as we do.  I think that's what makes doing ministry on a college campus pretty cool.  Sharing Love is as easy as handing out a popsicle or cup of hot chocolate. I think we are the ministry on this campus that doesn't expect everyone involved to even believe.  It's about loving people into relationship.  And yesterday I was challenged by the keepers of the rules.  (I might like to call them Pharisees, but they're just doing their jobs.)


Making Ash Wednesday approachable and a teachable moment for folks is pretty cool.  So why not take it to the public right?  I thought so anyway - until I was asked to leave for "soliciting."  There I sat at a small table (where we always meet for Bible study) where folks gather to study or eat.  I had a small sign and a few papers to explain what Ash Wednesday and Lent are all about.  I was just sitting, trying not to feel all peculiar about being there.  Being asked to leave was frustrating, but being called out for "solicitation" really made me mad.  He made it sound like I was running after folks throwing ashes at them yelling "repent."  

It was one of those moments that I did not handle all that well - and definitely one that I thought "I wish I would have said..."  But in the end it just made me feel embarrassed and a little frustrated.  I can't imagine the emotions Jesus went through as he was told again and again to "stop" or "go away."  I would have wimped out.  I would have said something mean and failed to be the presence of God.  

None of us like to feel foolish or be misunderstood.  Unfortunately it happens to all of us at some point, and yet we trust with great excitement that one day our God will be revealed to all people.  I can't wait to be embraced by the Light, Love, Mercy and Grace that is our God.  

These sentiments are similar to those of the Psalmist in the 25th chapter:

 My head is high, God, held high;

I’m looking to you, God;

No hangdog skulking for me.

I’ve thrown in my lot with you;

You won’t embarrass me, will you?

Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us

Who went out on a limb for you.

It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

Show me how you work, God;

School me in your ways.

Take me by the hand;

Lead me down the path of truth.

You are my Savior, aren’t you?

Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;

Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

Forget that I sowed wild oats;

Mark me with your sign of love.

Plan only the best for me, God!

God is fair and just;

He corrects the misdirected,

Sends them in the right direction.

He gives the rejects his hand,

And leads them step-by-step.

From now on every road you travel

Will take you to God.

Follow the Covenant signs;

Read the charted directions.

All of us navigate the different paths in our lives.  Living out our faith and passion can be hindered by process, rules, and red-tape - but even these roads, often the ones with the most bumps and hills, lead us to God.  I realized this as students circled the table for the rest of my time in that space, as they laughed and together we celebrated the movement of the Spirit in that place.    

It's all good.  It's all God.  Thanks be to God.

And Lent begins...

Today's the day we begin again that forty day trek to Easter.  While the weather might make us think otherwise, spring really is coming.  Last year I decided that for Lent I would write a devotion/reflection each day until Easter.  If you look at my blog, you'll realize that since Easter last year I have not written very much, so here we are again - as I devote myself to writing each day until Easter.  If you are reading this I'd love to hear from you and welcome your thoughts.  

I have struggled this year with the idea of giving something up for Lent.  I will be honest in telling you that giving up something seems really dangerous in light of the upcoming Wesley mission trip that will have at least 30 people on it.  I'm not sure it's a good time for me, (or for those I will be around) to stop eating chocolate or drinking coffee.  I have been going to the gym pretty regularly so that isn't really a matter of self-discipline.  There is always room for improvement in my practice of spiritual disciplines like prayer and reading Scripture.  But there's one area in my life that really plagues me, one area that is dangerously destructive, not to mention spiritually defeating.  So for Lent this year I am going to do everything I can to say only positive things to myself.  If you've been around me for any length of time you know that I can make fun of myself pretty easily and I don't mind laughing about the dumb things I do/say.  Somehow these bits of laughter can lead directly to my believing that I'm not doing enough, smart enough, pretty enough, or just plain enough.  This struggle has gotten worse as I have gotten older and for it to be reversed I am going to be intentional about stopping these negative thoughts in their tracks - to be replaced with loving and encouraging thoughts.  

I am seriously a very blessed person - and I am so often encouraged by others that I should not have any trouble believing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  It's easy for me to share that belief with you and all other people.  When I look at the people God has placed in my life, whether the students I see every week or the many beloved folks I have grown to love while serving churches, college-friends, hometown folks - all of you - I am often overwhelmed at God's work in and through you and the power and connection of the Holy Spirit.  Somehow I have failed to truly receive God's grace, mercy and love fully for myself.  So that's my goal.  I might need your help to stay on track, but I know that the end result will be filled with joyful recognition and embrace.  

One of today's most well loved Scriptures is Psalm 51.  Read it below from The Message: 

1-3 Generous in love—God, give grace!

    Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.

Scrub away my guilt,

    soak out my sins in your laundry.

I know how bad I’ve been;

    my sins are staring me down.

4-6 

You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen

    it all, seen the full extent of my evil.

You have all the facts before you;

    whatever you decide about me is fair.

I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,

    in the wrong since before I was born.

What you’re after is truth from the inside out.

    Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

7-15 

Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,

    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.

Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,

    set these once-broken bones to dancing.

Don’t look too close for blemishes,

    give me a clean bill of health.

God, make a fresh start in me,

    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.

Don’t throw me out with the trash,

    or fail to breathe holiness in me.

Bring me back from gray exile,

    put a fresh wind in my sails!

Give me a job teaching rebels your ways

    so the lost can find their way home.

Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,

    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.

Unbutton my lips, dear God;

    I’ll let loose with your praise.

16-17 

Going through the motions doesn’t please you,

    a flawless performance is nothing to you.

I learned God-worship

    when my pride was shattered.

Heart-shattered lives ready for love

    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

18-19 

Make Zion the place you delight in,

    repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls.

Then you’ll get real worship from us,

    acts of worship small and large,

Including all the bulls

    they can heave onto your altar!

So today I am throwing myself in the "laundry of the Lord" praying that each day the stains in my life will be scrubbed clean by the One who sees me through the eyes of love and grace.  Let's pray for one another on this Lenten journey - what are your plans or thoughts this day?

Prayer:  God, you know my shortcomings and you know my strengths.  Help me to focus less on the weaknesses in my life, help me to perceive myself as you see me.  May I have your eyes when I interact with others and trust in the presence of Your Spirit working in the midst of relationships.  Strengthen me this day in faith, hope, and of course, in love.  Amen.