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Sunday, 22 February 2009
We know Jesus had emotions. John's gospel story includes the shortest verse in the whole Bible: "Jesus wept." So we know he reacted to many things, even grief, in similar ways that we do.
I wish there was a verse somewhere in the Bible of Jesus standing in the midst of evil and "laughing so hard he wet himself." I guess that will just have to be in the Biegner Translation.
I have a feeling if Jesus was standing with me this morning in person, he would have been doing just that.
Today I stood at the four corners in Clarence Center and watched three goofballs from Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas protest a memorial service at Zion (which was never actually scheduled as an event) because we were "praying for the dead" (which we don't do anyways).
I was watching pure evil. (One way I define evil would be people who use the name of God as hatred to get across their own little worthless, sick agenda...see 9/11 for details).
And the healthiest thing I could do was to laugh. It allowed me to release the anger and hatred I had building up in my heart...and let it go to God. He's bigger than me and this and them...so I laughed it away and put it on his task list.
Part of HOPE is regaining laughter in the crazy times when God is probably laughing right along with us.
Take time to laugh a little bit more today. Over something silly. Over something that might overwhelm you. Over any of my jokes! Over something unexpected...even tears...even grief.
Laugh...and let it be your prayer.
Still in One Peace,
Steve
Saturday, 21 February 2009
As I'm writing, many in the Clarence Center community are gathering at the Middle School for a memorial service for Doug Wielinski. I decided to not attend and instead pray for the Clarence Center community...that in their grief, they will see and know and experience HOPE. Today, I see more hope!
What amazes me in times like this is God's ability to show us that hope. Now I don't believe that God is a micro-manager. I don't believe that God uses us as puppets and controls our every move.
There will be a group of idiots (sorry...trying not to judge but it's awfully hard!) protesting our church tomorrow that will tell you differently...that God chose to crash this plane because of certain people's actions or life choices. THAT IS NOT HOW GOD WORKS!
God gave us gifts and talents. God gave us life and set us into motion to live out and be hope in the world in his name. We didn't always get it right. We still don't. Historically, after all these stories in the Old Testament about God trying to remind us how to live out our lives, he finally sent Jesus into the world to get the final answer: God has even conquered death. And because of that, we can live out hope, always looking toward eternal hope.
As I sit back now and breathe and pray for an amazing weekend in Clarence Center, I've already seen more hope. People, friends, strangers, restaurants hosting a dinner at Zion to gather a community to be community and allow healing and hope to be present.
And I know some of you are reading this, still wrestling, still struggling, still trying to search for answers to the "why's" and "how's"...I want to invite you to see the answers around you...God's hope present in and through people who might not even realize that God's hope is present in and through them.
So as you struggle, as you wrestle with your relationship with God, please know that God has NEVER struggled with his love for you! That is HOPE.
Today I see hope!
Lord, thanks for showing me again so that I will never forget. Amen
Still in One Peace,
Steve
Friday, 20 February 2009
Every once in awhile...we lose focus.
I do it about once an hour...and by once an hour, I mean every ten minutes.
It's human to forget why we're here...what we're called to do...to be...to express...to create. It's especially hard if we weren't too sure in the first place.
In difficult times, (insert your litany here...plane crashes...towers falling...finances in shambles... relationship trauma...death of a loved one...confusion with kids....WHATEVER) it's easy to lose focus.
Part of healing is walking through that type of valley. And yet continuing to walk. (Psalm 23)
"Through our Lord Jesus Christ we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2
When I read Paul share that with this congregation in Rome, he sounds focused! And they sound like they need that focus again.
For Paul, it's about access. Access to the One who can help us regain focus. Access to the One who allows access to the One.
It's GPS on a cross! Refocusing us in the biggest crisis imaginable.
Because of that event...of Jesus dying...the event in the disciples story which causes them to lose focus like never before...access is granted...and focus once again comes.
How can you regain focus today?
What is God asking you to focus on first? The past week...or the next week. The past year...or the next year. The past mistake...or the next potential. The past ill...or the future healing?
The best I can figure about this whole "Jesus thing" is that his disciples faced what you are facing now and WORSE....
and in their hurting...their wandering...their wondering...he showed up. To bring access. To bring focus.
Lord, help me refocus. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Many have asked me..."what is this "new normal" going to look like?" "when you find it...let me know!"
we did a pretty good job post-9/11 of finding it...we just forget and slipped into the same ol' flawed patterns after a few months.
so what could it look like now? and what are some important elements?
jesus called 12 disciples (then a 13th cause one of them turned out to be a goof ball) for many reasons...spreading the good news...helping with ministry...crowd control...who knows. one of the reasons might just be community. he knew things would be rough for him..for them. he knew he was going to face some horrible crap and then be killed. and maybe, he needed them to have people to hold onto.
as those disciples ran from that "crash" scene with jesus on the cross, they eventually got back together in one of the disciples houses...that is where he appeared to them...in community...and around a meal heading to emmaus.
what should our "houses" be? do they include these powerful meals again? firehalls? churches? homes? workplaces? do they include time to stop and listen to one another? heal one another? ask questions.....and then eventually open our eyes to see Hope standing in our midst.
Two disciples walking on the road didn't recognize Jesus walking with them...until they stopped, ate a meal and listened to him tell the story of God's love. Then they said, "Sweet sassy molassy! That was Jesus!"
Where can you and I create community? Community that breaks for just a few seconds longer to check on one another, share with one another, eat together...and listen...to one another and maybe even the Lord of Hope.
If you are reading this today and live in the immediate Clarence Center (4 corners) community, live on Long St, Good rich, or have served in the CCVFC or Women's Auxillary...come and stop for a meal on Saturday night at 630 at Zion. I can guarentee one thing...it'll be good food. And along the way as we share stories, laugh, cry, and listen...we might just create new community.
Still in One Peace,
Steve
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
I'm now five and a half days removed from a plane crashing into my neighborhood. Five and a half days of shock...anger...doubt...tears...laughter to keep away the tears...inspiration...commmunity...prayer...and faith.
I had someone say to me on Monday afternoon, "I just want to get back to normal." And I'm afraid to say...that is not going to happen.
But here's what must happen...we must start to search out a new normal.
Since the crash, I've been at home for a few meals, I've slept in my own bed, I've had conversations with my wife, played with my children...now I've even flown on two plane as I write from North Carolina...and none of them have been "normal."
If you live in Clarence Center, know people who died, lost loved ones, served at the scene, or were touched by this event in any way...the old normal is gone.
My wife sent me an email, as on Tuesday I hopped onto my first plane, to encourage me leaving town with my kids for a couple days. It was titled, "If." She asked, If this was my last day on earth, where would I want to be spending it? With my kids (and Michelle) of course.
But how did we get to the point where we are reflecting and considering those types of "if" scenarios for God's sake???
We got there because of what happened Thursday night...and now we need to (a) recognize we are there and (b) let hope become a new concrete reality and search for the new normal.
The new normal is filled with the same things as the old normal...but now we have to reconfigure them a bit. Jesus said to his disciples: "Nothing can seperate from the love of God...nothing's too big, too small, too evil, too good, too random." (Biegner translation of Romans 8) Nothing. So now we search for the reconnect...to our families...our jobs...our vocations...our friends...our bowling and laughter in the bars...our tears at the weirdest moments...
In the days ahead, I will treat our daily devotions and blogging time as ways to reconnect to a new normal because of the hope that God brings us even in tragedy. I will wrestle with faith and hope you will wrestle with me (not literally in on a mat in those weird tight things that guys wear). We'll dwell in words like: community, faith, healing, focus, calling, family and more.
This will not be a "religious" conversation. It will be thoughts on how to make sense of life, God and a sometimes tattered and strained faith that connects the two.
Please comment and join the conversation. Your insights will bring the promise of God's hope. Your questions and struggles will touch another's life and journey.
And as we do it...we WILL find that new normal.
Still in One Peace,
Steve
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