tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60892491133421035762024-03-13T05:22:21.445-05:00Rev. Rob's brain dumpreflections and conversation about ministry and life from a united methodist pastor in missouriAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-66614292307344399232012-01-25T16:11:00.002-06:002012-01-25T16:40:05.331-06:00Visioning forwardOk, so... yeh. been a while since I've posted. And granted, a lot has happened in the almost year since I've posted. Dad died. I graduated from seminary (again). Got appointed to a new charge (this time a two point charge in Lincoln, MO). <div><br /></div><div>But anyway, I digress.....</div><div><br /></div><div>I started reading the book for my next Pastoral Leadership Development class that is coming up here in a couple of weeks. For me, to get started on a book this early before I have to have it read is HUGE, and I'm glad I started this early. Said book is "Preaching for Church Transformation" by Bill Easum. The point of the book, from reading the back cover and table of contents, is that by reading this book, a pastor will be able to use preaching to help the congregation move forward. I'm all for that. Yeah! Then I read the first little bit.....</div><div><br /></div><div>"You can't begin this series until you have a clear vision of where God wants your church to go, because somewhere in this message, you will need to share that vision with the congregation. If you don't have that vision, put this book down, take your Bible, and go off to a place where you can listen to God. Pray and ask God for a vision for the community he has called you to lead." That is page 1, paragraph 1. </div><div><br /></div><div>Crap!</div><div><br /></div><div>Glad I got an early start on this sucker!</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought of going into the sanctuary, which is where I go to pray a lot, but for some reason I felt I had to go out to the cemetery. That would be outside of town. I thought I'd drive, but for some reason I felt I had to walk. I've had feelings like this before, and I learned early on in my ministry not to question them. So I walked.</div><div><br /></div><div>The question I thought I was supposed to ask when I got there and started walking around the graves was "What are some of the dreams you saw unfulfilled in your lifetime?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Did I really think I would get a response? Apparently I did think I would get a response, and it felt weird walking out there (it's just over a mile outside town), but I knew that if I get "one of those feelings" I'm just supposed to obey. We did, after all, sing the hymn "Trust and Obey" this last Sunday!</div><div><br /></div><div>I started walking around the grave markers, some of which were family names I recognized, and some were of people who are still in the congregation who have done their advanced estate planning. Good for them! I knew they were still well alive, but were planning ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div>After wandering around for a bit I started asking "so, what do you hear?" The answer...."NOT A F***ing thing!!!!!!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Seemed a bit brash for my inner voice to cuss me out like that, but then another voice came into my head.</div><div><br /></div><div>"I am the God of the living, not of the dead. You can never take the church back to what it was because the people from that time are here, in the cemetery, not in the church. Go forward, not back. That is THE ONLY way to go."</div><div><br /></div><div>So I started walking back to the church.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way back, I started thinking about dad and his death. In the months since he died, there have been times where I could feel his presence with me, and it has comforted me. In the cemetery, it felt like I was so totally alone. What happened to that "great cloud of witnesses" we talk about on All Saints Day? Is that just a bunch of baloney, or is it something we say to make ourselves feel better? If I say that we have to move forward and can't go back, is that dishonoring our loved ones, including my dad, who have gone ahead of us?</div><div><br /></div><div>I think in that internal conversation on the road back from the cemetery to town, I felt a sense of release from the past. I don't think my dad ever lived in the past, and I also think that he would be proud of me for coming to this realization that I need to lead the church forward. This is something my head has always known, but I don't think my heart ever got the memo. And while I write this, yes, I can still feel his presence, and yes, his presence still gives me comfort, but I know that God will help me lead the congregations into the future. And dad will still be there with me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now I just need to get that vision!</div><div><br /></div><div>In Christ,</div><div><br /></div><div>Rev. Rob</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-64320931482665548152011-03-12T18:33:00.001-06:002011-03-12T18:36:10.023-06:00Lenten reflection March 12, 2011<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:2"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Acts 28:23-31<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’ Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (NRSV)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">______</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I can be REALY stubborn sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Those who know me right now are saying “NO!!!! SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!!!!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But yes, I can dig my heels in with the best of them when I am pushed in a direction I don’t want to go.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sometimes the results of such stubbornness isn’t pretty for either party, but hey – I’m still standing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have the scars to prove it though, but mostly they are emotional and not visible to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Paul had to deal with stubborn people, and I’m sure that he is also speaking to me in this passage at different times of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sometimes it is difficult for me to really believe that the Good News being talked about is really for me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I hear of miracles in other people’s lives, but don’t trust they can happen to me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or when something great or even miraculous happens it isn’t what I’m expecting, so I feel let down.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I’m sure this is some of what the people Paul was addressing were experiencing, and that is why some of them left.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can only imagine this is what Isaiah was being told in his vision in Heaven’s throne room Paul was referring to (see Isaiah 6).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We get hard hearts, and when things start to get difficult, but someone is telling us that God is on our side, that God loves us, that Jesus forgives our sins by having died for us….. the message is difficult to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Yet God wants us to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">We’re still very early in the Lenten season, and the journey has only just begun.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is a long haul.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With my dad undergoing cancer treatments, this is an especially difficult time for me and the family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet our faith is getting us through.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are trusting God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am trusting God to show me the way in how I am to live out my call.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There is hope, and by going through this journey together, we know that God’s healing will happen one way or another.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">It just may not be what we expect or want.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Keep an open heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">In Christ’s love,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rev. Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-88358232130315765932011-03-11T09:53:00.001-06:002011-03-11T09:54:51.065-06:00Lenten reflection March 11, 1011<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.5pt;mso-outline-level:2"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Acts 13:44-52<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (NRSV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">So much I could write about this passage.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When I read this my mind went down so many rabbit trails it was hard to keep up!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I think one of the risks we have to avoid in reading this passage is thinking or preaching “silly Jews, rejecting the message of Jesus!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unfortunately, this attitude has been taken and preached all too often during the course of the Christian tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When I see passages like this and witness this attitude being presented, I have to ask myself “in what ways have I MYSELF rejected the good news that Jesus has to offer?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is way too easy to point the finger about how bad someone is for not accepting Jesus into their lives, or pointing out that other faith traditions who don’t follow Jesus are wrong somehow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But debating the “right”ness or “wrong”ness of a particular faith is not the point here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The point I bring up for all of us during Lent is “how, as a Christian (assuming possibly falsely that everyone reading this is Christian) am I working to make sure that I live in a way that is constant with what Jesus calls me to live?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Am I truly working to feed the hungry, free the captives, restore sight to the blind, proclaim the coming of the Lord (see Luke 4:16-24)? Or am I ‘blaming’ others for a lack of faith?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Lots of tricky questions pop up for me in this reading.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I pray that this passage and meditation will lead you and me to a greater understanding of our place in the world and our faith in God.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rev. Rob</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-46867241693086390222011-03-10T06:56:00.001-06:002011-03-10T06:56:59.817-06:00Lenten reflection March 10, 2011<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:2"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. John 10:1-6 (NRSV)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The theme this week in my devotional book is "Listening to Jesus." This is based on last Sunday's passage on the Transfiguration. As we move through Lent, we continue to guided by the voice of Jesus and we examine our relationship with God, ourselves, and with each other. On this first day after Ash Wednesday, it is very comforting to hear these words of Jesus from John's gospel where we are reminded that Jesus is the one who guides us in our lives. If we try and do things ourselves, we will not do nearly as well as when we listen to our shepherd.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Yet when we pray (and I am certainly guilty of this myself!) we tend to go to God with a list of things we want God to do for us (the image of a Cosmic Santa often comes to mind) instead of us just shutting up and listening to God. Or we tend to think of our walk with God as being something where we have to constantly be DOING SOMETHING!!!!! I think the point of Lent is for us to shut our logical minds off long enough to allow the "still, small voice" of God to penetrate the very core of our being long enough to truly get in and work on us instead of us "working" on God.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I pray continued blessings to you this Lenten season.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Rev. Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-53139431015856338332011-03-09T11:58:00.001-06:002011-03-09T11:58:35.830-06:00Ash Wednesday 2011 (repost)<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 16.5pt;mso-outline-level:2"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Hebrews 3:7-15<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:16.5pt"><sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">7</span></sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, <sup>8</sup>do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, as on the day of testing in the wilderness, <sup>9</sup>where your ancestors put me to the test, though they had seen my works <sup>10</sup>for forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.’ <sup>11</sup>As in my anger I swore, ‘They will not enter my rest.’” <sup>12</sup>Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. <sup>13</sup>But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. <sup>14</sup>For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. <sup>15</sup>As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (NRSV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ash Wednesday is a time when we enter into purposeful and intentional reflection on our lives with God. It is a time to open our hearts and minds to what God has to say to us about our relationship with ourselves, with each other, and with God. On Transfiguration Sunday (this last Sunday), Jesus' glory and divinity was revealed to us on the mountaintop. God's voice broke through and said "this is my son, the beloved. Listen to him!" Sometimes when we hear God's voice so directly, we freak out, just as the disciples who witnessed this event did, and yet Jesus gently tapped them on the shoulders and said "Get up. Do not be afraid."<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">So this Lenten season, we must repent of being afraid to approach God and repent of our fear of letting God into our lives. We must put away our rebellion, encourage each other on this journey we are on together just as the writer of the letter to the Hebrews instructs us, and become parters WITH Christ and OF Christ. Open our hearts to the voice of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I cannot see very far into my future right now. It is like I am looking into a black fog. But I am not afraid. I know that God has magnificent things in store for me and is guiding my footsteps. It is my fervent prayer that you will open your hearts up to God and let God guide your footsteps as well, even if they lead into a place where you cannot see.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">In Christ's holy name I pray for each of you.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:3.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-68834082192800845612011-03-08T13:32:00.002-06:002011-03-08T13:53:33.533-06:00Happy Shrove Tuesday!!Hey everyone. Ok, Ok, I know.... it's been well over a year since I've posted on my blog. I'm not the best at this blogging thang (obviously) but with Ash Wednesday being tomorrow, I figured this would be a good time to fire up the blog o' rama and share some thoughts on Lent. BTW, a colleague of mine and I had to look up Shrove Tuesday today at lunch on my phone. Here is the link to what we found: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday</a><div><br /></div><div>Last year at Lent I had the blessing of being in a covenant relationship where my prayer partner and I promised to pray three times a day and hold each other accountable by texting each other. I am very happy that we have re-established that relationship this year, and there are some very specific things we will be in prayer about for each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also starting tomorrow at the church I serve will be an 11 week bible study on the Gospel of John. I taught this class at the church I previously served and it was a true blessing to be able to get a glimpse of Christ's divinity through these writings. There has also been a request for scripture passages to be read each day and some reflections to be shared. So... here goes the holy reading schedule for this week beginning with tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. Reflections will follow on each day. I won't make a promise as to what time a day I'll post these just because I know myself a little too well and know that "SQUIRREL!!!" is alive and active in my life. (See the movie "Up" if you don't get that reference....)</div><div><br /></div><div>Ash Wednesday (March 9, 2011) Lectionary for Ash Wednesday is Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 - or - Hebrews 3:7-15.</div><div>Thursday March 10, 2011 - John 10:1-6</div><div>Friday March 11, 2011 - Acts 13:44-52</div><div>Saturday March 12, 2011 - Acts 24:23-31</div><div>Sunday March 13, 2011 - Lectionary passages: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 (I usually preach from OT and NT and the liturgy for the worship service draws from the others.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Blessings to each and every one of you in this Lenten season!</div><div><br /></div><div>Rev. Rob</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-68877763658946474342009-09-20T16:01:00.005-05:002009-09-20T16:22:04.169-05:00Grace and Redemption - "You have to move on"<a href="http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090920&content_id=7057386&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp">http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090920&content_id=7057386&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp</a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tntHAC9GJgE/SraYZxaSahI/AAAAAAAAABQ/uvBdwKXeST0/s1600-h/jimmy+conrad+you+have+to+move+on+9+19+2009.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383657973095754258" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tntHAC9GJgE/SraYZxaSahI/AAAAAAAAABQ/uvBdwKXeST0/s200/jimmy+conrad+you+have+to+move+on+9+19+2009.jpg" /></a> Some of you know that I am a big fan of REAL football, or what people here in the US call "Soccer." ;) Last night during the Kansas City Wizards game, a real life example of grace and redemption showed itself.<br /><br />Jimmy Conrad, the captian of the Wizards and one of the most respected players in the league, committed what were really the only two mistakes in the game for the team, but those mistakes lead directly to the other team's two goals. After the second goal for FC Dallas, every time the camera showed Jimmy, his face looked worn and defeated. There were visible bags under his eyes. In the paper this morning, he said it felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.<br /><br />How many times in our lives have we made mistakes that have been costly, either to ourselves, our loved ones, or even to someone we may not know? Sometimes these mistakes make it feel as if the weight of the world were on our shoulders, and that the entire world is going to wait and watch, anticipating and even rooting for us to make another mess of things. Sometimes it seems as if the only one on your side is the devil, waiting for you to make one final mistake that will cost you everything.<br /><br />Thankfully, God is always on our side, cheering us on, granting us the grace that we do not deserve, but that we so sorely need in order to be able to move on with our lives. And thankfully for Jimmy Conrad, he was left in the game. In the 80th minute, a ball was delivered toward the Dallas net that one of their defenders tried to direct over the crossbar for a corner kick, but it was too low and the keeper had a hard time handeling the ball. Jimmy was there to head in what would be the game winning goal for the wizzards. He had been given another chance and he took advantage of it. He was the first one after the game to admit that he was not happy about the way he had played the game that evening, but he was also the first to be glad that he had made up for his errors.<br /><br />God gives us all second chances. While I usually don't care for sports metaphors in sermons or using them as preaching illustrations, the way Jimmy played last night shows, I think, how we are all called by God to use the multiple second chances we are given to turn our lives around. To God I give thanks for grace and redemption.<br /><br />Rev. RobAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-30832157846585529292009-06-27T21:54:00.006-05:002009-06-27T22:17:38.273-05:00What IS Resurrection?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tntHAC9GJgE/SkbgSpVlD7I/AAAAAAAAABI/QTh4t4XSpSc/s1600-h/dry+bones.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352211818115043250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tntHAC9GJgE/SkbgSpVlD7I/AAAAAAAAABI/QTh4t4XSpSc/s200/dry+bones.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Ok, so it's been awhile. I'm sure you've all missed my blog... or not ;)<br /><br />anyway, a lot has been on my mind lately, some of it even good, so here is a tasting of some of it.<br /><br />I just got done taking a course called "interpreting biblical narratives" with one of the coolest professors I've ever had, and it was one of the best classes I've ever taken in seminary. but during one of the class times, we got into a discussion about what Jesus' resurrection means. I don't remember exactly how the original question was framed, but the prof turned it a little bit and re-framed the question to "what IS resurrection?" we had an incredible discussion after that, and i am sure i didn't take adequate notes to really recapture the essence of the discussion, but pretty much it boiled down to this: resurrection is a renewal of something that had died [spiritually or metaphorically] into a way that is new a vibrant. i think of so many instances where i have seen or heard of people or even whole congregations that have needed to die to their old ways and be renewed so they can truly live the way God intended them to live.<br /><br />my final project for this class, due in a couple more weeks, is to write an exegesis on a narrative that we select ourselves and then to also write or sketch out or actually do a performance piece of the narrative. the point of this second part is that what good does the exegesis do that we as pastors do if we can not convey what we have read and interpreted to those we encounter in our faith walks, IE, the congregations we serve? i chose Ezekiel 37:1-14, AKA the valley of dry bones (the head bone is connected to the...neck bone. the neck bone is connected to the...shoulder bone. the shoulder bone is connected to the... arm bone etc, or however you want to sing it.) I have seen and experienced places or people that are dry or dead and need the word of God breathed back into them so they can be renewed. some of these places or people i often wonder if they were truly alive to begin with, or are they, as a friend of mine calls them, "dead grey masses?"<br /><br />so as not to spoil all the fun, when i am done with the "presentation" piece, i will post it after it has been delivered. until then, i will be praying for all who need to experience the renewal that resurrection brings!<br /><br />in Christ's love,<br /><br />rev robAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-41760646199013604982009-03-16T22:08:00.003-05:002009-03-16T22:35:16.567-05:00reflections on a "models of God" assignement and other ponderingsI just finished an assignement for my systematic theology class where I chose to write about "models of God" from two theologian's points of view and what images and languages they use in these models. Let me tell you, trying to describe the indescribable is VERY difficult to do, even if you are basically only reporting on what other people said! It really opened my eyes up to the diversity of thought on God. I am very glad that people write about these things with such passion.<br /><br />Some of the observations I have about God from this assignment: I come from a liberation theology point of view mostly, which starts with the assumption that God has a "preferential option for the poor." This may seem contradictory for a white guy who grew up in the 'burbs to have an affinity for this theology, but I think my parents, even though I did live a somewhat sheltered life growing up, did try to instill in me some empathy for other people and their condition in life. I even look back at my Scout troop and the variety of economic conditions kids from the troop came from. True it was restrictied to my neighborhood, but that neighborhood was somewhat diverse as neighborhoods go. But no matter who's homes we met in, I was taught to be appriciative of the hospitality they provided, no matter what level of hospitality they were able to extend. This has been able to translate for me to one of my ministry settings. Since my church appointment is part time, I fill some of the other time by being in charge of the community meal on Saturday mornings at a church downtown that serves mostly homeless people (we refer to them as sojourners, and if you have visited this church or even heard of a church that uses that term, you know which church this is.) So every weekend I see how God is active in what we would call "the least of these, our brothers and sisters."<br /><br />But what is still troubleing for me is my response to this segment of the population outside of that particular setting. Yes I am able to help provide a meal, but then when I leave I still see people on corners with cardboard signs asking for help. I don't give anything to them on the corner, but I help them with a meal at the church. Am I really able then to do as much as I can or should? I have a colleague who blogged about this same feeling a couple weeks ago, and I can say that I empathize with their concerns around this - and this colleague is one who has a strong social justice passion the way I do, maybe even a stronger passion! But the question is always "Where is God in all of this?" Where is God in my willingness or ability to help or respond only in certain ways or situations, Where is God in my recognition of my own White Privlege that I struggle with so much? Where is God in my ability to ignore what is going on around me when there are many who do not have that luxury? do I just care too stinkin' much? (and can i blame that on my parents? jk!)<br /><br />anyway, my faith seems to be in a good place at the moment. as good ol' JW was constantly asking "how is it with your soul?" seems pretty good right now, dispite some of my questions about discribing God. It is an imperfect task, but one that I think we need to struggle with. As Paul wrote to the church in Corninth, our wisdom is nothing compard to God's, and our greatest strength is tiny compared to God's weakness. We just have to trust that we are doing our best to discern and cary out God's will here on earth. that is my prayer, and that is the prayer I leave any of you who have taken the time to read this.<br /><br />God bless y'all!<br /><br />the irreverant rob allenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-31980339303990319432009-02-09T02:48:00.002-06:002009-02-09T02:59:23.636-06:00finding my legsWell, i am finally starting to get settled into the church i am serving. i'm not sure that there was anything that was keeping me from settling in, or if it was just all of us getting used to each other, but these last couple of weeks have been very good. i have a very loving and supportive congregation who let me be who i need to be. i was able to make a couple of minor changes in how the worship flowed, and i think that really helped.<br /><br />one of the things that i think has helped me settle in was just relaxing. i thougt at first that i needed to preach from the pulpit, that being there would make things "right" or some bla bla like that. but after taking a weekedn to go to denver to celebrate my grandfather's b-day and then returning, i stayed out of the pulpit, didn't bother to robe up, and just stood out front and talked. no notes. my wife had been bugging me to preach without notes for a long time, and at my last church (actually my first church) i had tried that for a while. worked well for a while. the first time i preached without notes was a sermon on simon-peter getting out of the boat to walk on the water to jesus. so i figured what beeter time to get out of my own boat and step out on faith! it is working well again, and i feel that there is a connection with the congregation that actually gives more authority to the preacher when there is that connection that the pulpit, which to some represents authority, can not provide. of course, you have to back what you say with authority with how you live your life or everyone will just think you are full of it.<br /><br />enough of the midnight ramblings. if you look at the time this was posted you would think i am off my rocker for writing this late. or early. or somthing. hope this makes some sort of sense for a middle of the night update.<br /><br />revrobAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-40318102718681491002009-01-22T18:00:00.000-06:002009-01-22T18:26:41.139-06:00Thoughts on changewith all the changes in the world going on, this may be a good time for me to reflect on some of them.<br /><br />44 - wow. what can i say. this is obviously the biggest change that everyone is talking about right now. i have to say that the first time i had ever heard of Barack Obama was not during the campaign, but when he spoke at a renewal put on by sojourners, a progressive christian magazine whose editor is Jim Wallis (someone who i hugely admire). Mr. Obama's speech, which was published on sojourner's website at the time (don't know if it is still there) was about the meshing of faith and politics, and it was given at a time when "faith" and "politics" in the same sentence was code for "conservative, white evangelical christian." the political right still had a tight grip on the conversation, but their death grip was loosening. but this speech that Obama gave almost brought tears to my eyes because i felt he was saying things i had been thinking for some time, but also saying things that needed to be said. you could say i was smitten. when i was a community organizer a year or so later, some of us were in dc to visit our senator, Claire mccaskill. we were in the office building (heart, i think it was) waiting for someone in our party to go to the bathroom and senator Obama got off the elevator. some of the guys in our group jumped up to shake his hand. i wish i had, but i usually would have viewed that as brown-nosing. principles-be-damned, i wish i had done it. then about 8 months later he announced his candidacy on a very cold morning. i wanted to hear his speech, and again i was impressed. this guy gets it, and now he is our president! what a change from someone who drove our country into the ground to someone who will start the healing process. this will take many years and maybe several more administrations, but i think we are headed in the right direction. i know he is not our savior (Jesus has dibs on that title and role), but i think Obama will be a great leader. <br /><br />the church is changing also. in my last post i wrote about minister's school at tan-tar-a. lots of posts in the blogosphere have been discussing this event and i have had some conversation with some of my colleagues about the event and the emerging church that we talked about there at the school. the emergent movement is difficult to describe, but basically it is an organic way to do church that honors the traditions that have worked, returned to talking about theology in a very serious way, and works to include everyone. at least that is the idea. i find aspects of the movement promising for the united Methodist church, which is in need of another big renewal. i see the way the church is weighted down with bueacracy and i am convinced that John Wesley would be rolling in his grave. but as i posted on a couple people's blogs, i wouldn't still be trying to get into this system if i didn't think the church was still capable of discerning and doing God's will in the world and in the community. so i will be learning more about what the movement has to offer and see what i can do to integrate it into the church i am serving.<br /><br />i am constantly changing too. i feel that my preaching style is still evolving and improving, and my leadership and pastoral skills will be changing and improving as i settle into my new appointment. I'll keep y'all posted on how that all goes.<br /><br />in Christ's love<br /><br />rev robAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-5443533471554575562009-01-15T16:07:00.000-06:002009-01-15T16:20:56.955-06:00relfections on minister's school and emergant chruchi just returned from the missouri united methodist church's minister's school in tan-tar-a, a resort on "the lake" in missouri. the main focus of the few days we were there was how to use technology and learnings from "the emergant church movement" in our own churches. well, setting up this blog is step one of this engagement. ok, actually it is step two, because step one was me starting to read about the emergent chruch movement with a couple of books. first i read "the great emergence: how the chruch is changing and why" by phylis tickle. great book. i actually used some of the material in my sermon last sunday. the second book i started reading (i still have a bit to go) is "the new christians: dispatches from the emergent village" or somthing like that. the author is tony jones, and he was one of the main featured guests. i think he was also the one that pushed most people's buttons. this morning there was a "conversaton" between him and the bishop that really should have been moderated because it wasn't the most respectfull conversation (that goes for both parties). it wasn't jerry fallwell ugly, but i was kinda dissappointed.<br /><br />aside from that, the minister's school was really well worth while. i have left it with more questions than answers for my ministry. the main question is "ok, now what?" the big problem with the emergent church movement is that there isn't really an owner's manuel. there is not a set of directions. that is one of the beauties of the movement, but also a frustration of a somewhat liniar thinker like i am. i can see that there are things tony said and is in his book that i actually already use, but how to work some of these ideas into such a complex structure such as the united methodist church is going to take frying some synapses on my part.<br /><br />anywho, i hope that if you have taken the time to read this and that you were there you will comment on my reflections and keep this dialogue going.<br /><br />btw, i will be heading out to colorado tomorrow to see my grandfather, possibly for the last time. not sure what kind of shape he is in. he turns 93 today. happy bday papa. i love you.<br /><br />in christ's love<br /><br />revrobAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089249113342103576.post-78628998960228141152009-01-15T10:18:00.000-06:002009-01-15T10:19:56.611-06:00Welcome to my blogHey there. this is my first attempt at a blog, and my laptop battery is about to run out. I have a lot on my mind, so i will make sure that i get them on here.<br /><br />in christ's love,<br /><br />rev. robAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08429701986865574890noreply@blogger.com0