tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574113953163132602024-03-13T13:11:24.229-07:00 Triathalon Pastor in the United Methodist ChurchReflections on what it means to follow Jesus planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-49156621899346074712019-07-08T12:46:00.000-07:002019-07-08T12:46:09.199-07:00Sermon from 7-7-19 Go!Luke 10:1-11<br />
Linda, Susy and I are all moved into our new home and I want to thank all of you who have been praying for us, helped us set up the house and office, and even rescuing Linda when our car broke down while I was at Annual conference. I thank Pastor Diane and Mark who have helped ease us into the transition with helping us find this house and hosting us when we were up here and before we had a house.<br />
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As I thought about this morning, as I prayed and reflected on what God is doing right now, I wondered what is God calling us to be and do as we start this journey together. The ritual we just celebrated reminded me of all the tools we have as we serve Christ.<br />
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These tools are just as important as a hammer to a carpenter, a paintbrush to an artist, an airplane to a pilot. And even though they were presented to me, they are for all of us as we God into the world.<br />
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The Bible, our founder John Wesley emphasized is the foundation of what we do both as individual followers of Jesus and as a community. The Bible contains wisdom and direction for our lives, a way to root ourselves no matter how old or young we are. So as we move together into the future we will continue to ground ourselves in the scriptures.<br />
Wesley did not expect us to leave our minds at the door, instead he felt we needed to be diligent about the study of scripture and I know you have a rich history of bible study in this congregation which is something we can continue to emphasize. I am entering the 35 year of ordained ministry and I am always amazed at how much I learn as I study the scriptures.<br />
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The hymnal is a symbol of our signing heritage, I pastored a small church in Kentucky while I was in college there called the Campground United Methodist Church. This small church was built on historic grounds, a place where Methodists would come and camp for weeks at a time. There was worship all day long, singing and sermons, bible readings and prayer. And as evidenced today you are a singing congregation. Music helps us express our souls delight, and sorrow, and gives us a way to praise God with others as we harmonize.<br />
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The discipline defines our structure, how we are to organized so we can truly follow Jesus’s call to make disciples in the world. The discipline however is an imperfect document, and is constantly being calibrated to reflect changing times. In the coming months we will have many discussions about the recent legislation that changes the language in the discipline to exclude those in the LGBTQ community. I stand in opposition to the exclusionary language. As you heard last week from the delegates who attended, we are going to be discussing the future of the United Methodist Church, and get to be a part of a new Church, the form and shape of which has yet to be determined.<br />
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The water reminds me of my role as priest to baptize and confirm those into the faith of God. It reminds us along with the globe of Wesley’s claim that the whole world was his parish, not just those who are like us, those who speak our language, those who have been shoved to the outside of the community. Also we want to find those whose hearts leading them to serve with others, to use their skills to bring healing and save lives.<br />
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Jesus calls his disciples and us to go into the world. We are enough, right now to go and invite others to join with us as we seek to care for those Jesus sends us to, to be a part of the work to restore justice and mercy in the face of greed and oppression.<br />
Jesus calls his disciples to go and heal, to bring the good news, to anyone who would welcome them.<br />
I thought of this when I was listening to the music on Tuesday night at Atascadero Lake: here was a group of people all who love music gathered together to listen, to play and to support live music. God calls us to find ways to bring people together so we too can bring joy and healing into the world.<br />
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( Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, Calvin trips turns upside down and then amazing lands on his feet while he proclaims: Ta Da!)<br />
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Like Calvin we will trip and sometimes fall flat on our face as we follow Jesus, we will make mistakes, we will sin against God and one another. But that is part of what it means to go out into the world. Jesus uses pretty serious language, you will go like sheep amongst the wolves!<br />
The work is not always easy, but if we join together, we can help support one another through the tough times, and celebrate in the good times.<br />
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I think of my grandparents, Gertrude and Walter Marshall, who were for me so important as I grew up. July 5 was the 50th anniversary of my Grandfathers’ passing, which I almost forgot about since I was moving and all. But as I was unpacking this bulletin and handwritten sermon fell from one of the boxes . This was a service my Grandfather was preaching because the pastor was on vacation, and it happens to be from July15, 1958 (three days before I was born)<br />
As I was thinking about the new relationship you and I have now, I read these opening words from his sermon:<br />
In the newness of life we enter into when we became members of the Christian church, we promise to uphold that church, by our presence, and our prayers and by the life we live day by day, at home, at work, in the use of our leisure time. For we are born again and become new.<br />
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He goes on to tell the story of a man he and my grandmother knew who had after marriage and fathering three children, who feel into alcoholism. However, his wife persuaded him to find help, and he did, finding someone who helped him and he was born anew into a life of sobriety and faith.<br />
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As we start our journey together, I know I benefit from the love of my grandparents, who you will hear about from time to time, but also from all of those who lived a life of faith, and I expect you too have those in your life that have loved you even before you realized how much that meant to you.This is the grand tradition of believers Wesley talked about and who we thank for bringing us this far.<br />
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Together we take up the yoke of Christ and become one of those who are sent out into the world.I am grateful for this new beginning, and am ready to discover what God has in store for us as we serve together.<br />
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We are called to go to those who are suffering in the world,<br />
Those on the border, those fleeing for their lives, those who are living in poverty, those who are addicted. We do so because Jesus teaches us we need to as part of a healthy faith to go into the world and find those who need to hear the good news, to find healing. But we are also going out there because as long as one suffers, even the least of these we all suffer, we are connected, because we all belong to the one God who created the heavens and the earth.<br />
As we gather around the table and celebrate our Holy Communion with God and one another. Let us remember we have what we need: the Bible, the Traditions of the church, the experience of all those who follow Jesus, a curious and logical mind, and a loving heart, all these will guide us and nourish us for all eternity. So let’s Go!<br />
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planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-81861157140296468472018-10-09T16:53:00.002-07:002018-10-09T16:53:21.875-07:00We have nothing to fear but fear itselfAs someone who has participated in many kinds of races to date, half-marathon,5k, 10K and Sprint Triathlons, I have faced my share of pre-race fears. The voices of fear are many, "You didn't train enough", "You trained too much", "look at that course, no way you are getting around it", " I can't do this what was I thinking?" so on and so on. Usually, once the race starts and I start breathing in a nice rythm the fears melt away and I can concentrate on what I need to do.<br />
In the church there can be times when our faith fails us, we hear voices of doubt and uncertainty, "Look at all the empty pews, our church is shrinking and may die", " we have so many expenses, how will we ever pay all our bills and salary's". " We have a huge building, how can we keep it maintained with fewer and fewer people in the church?". And these fears show up in criticism of others, of pastors, of those who left, and other scapegoats that are in our field of vision.<br />
Some try to circle the wagons, which was a winning strategy perhaps in pioneering days, but it does not work well in todays realities.<br />
The fact is that the way we do church is changing, well it has been changing for a while but we have not always felt the shifting sand underneath our feet. It is churches who have figured out to be the church in their context that has led to changes which have made some uncomfortable afraid but they have forged through listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that have found a way to be vital disciples and welcome new disciples into their fellowship. There is no magic formula, no easy path, no universal idea that works, except this, not to listen to the voices of fear.<br />
I have completed every race I have entered so far, and most always laugh as I cross the finish line because I have left the voices of fear behind, for the moment, and it feels good to say, I did my best.<br />
What voices are you listening to? Which ones do you believe?<br />
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2 Timothy 4:7<br />
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (NIV)planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-38388527697423990032018-02-12T15:41:00.000-08:002018-02-12T15:41:53.138-08:00Beginning of LentOne of the important parts of training as a triathlete is the proper breathing techniques for each sport, Breathing is as natural as, well breathing, but in sports training there are many ways to muck it up. Swimming especially is a challenge for me, sometimes I hold my breath too much, other times I breath too much. Neither helps me swim well.<br />
The most important breathing I have discovered is not when I am running, or biking or swimming. It is when I am in the midst of my day. I find that as I get tense, I often forget to take deep breaths, and the tension mounts, taking just a minute to breath deeply helps shed the unneeded anxiety and tension that builds up. Also, when I take time to breath, I find myself more focused, and less anxious overall. I even tried a sleeping meditation before a night of a race, when is it so hard to settle down for a good nights sleep. I was able to get more sleep than I have ever had for a pre-race night.<br />
As Lent approaches, for us here at the Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, and Christians around the world, it is a time to deepen our relationship to God. There are many ways to use these 40 days before Easter, and there are many different practises you can take on to see if they help you in your journey with God. I have tried many of these, fasting, praying more, special studies, but for this year I am going to make sure I am breathing enough. It is good my I watch helps remind me to do this, but perhaps we all can figure out how we can take time to breath deeply and see if it does change your life. There are many free apps out there than can help, but I would suggest joining a class or group because that helps you to be accountable to yourself as you practice this new discipline.<br />
Breathing is natural, but we sometimes forget to breath deeply, which can be unhealthy for us.<br />
I hope you will join me and breathe each day very deeply.<br />
Blessings,<br />
Pastor Steveplanetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-32814017970273145742017-07-19T16:43:00.001-07:002017-07-19T16:43:53.144-07:00"Put up a parking lot"I have just returned from vacation and from visiting friends and family back east. I was able to meet my new grand-nephew and celebrate a wedding. I also enjoyed seeing people at the 18th Chromosome Registry Annual Conference. As I reenter life here on the west coast. I am reflecting back on the experiences of vacation, and one image I cannot get out of my head is the parking lot which is all that is left of the church I grew up in. It is a complicated story of how my home church went from being a thriving congregation where I experienced the presence of God, heard my call to ministry, and was nurtured in the faith by those wise Christians who taught me the stories and lessons of the Bible is now gone. In fact I was happy to see one of my Sunday School teachers, who now attends another church cross town where my parents and other family are also members. They all went to this new church when the church we all used to go to was condemned and then demolished.<br />
I think of the parking lot as I go back to my work here in this church where I have been appointed for the last three years and I wonder, what will this church be like in 20 years? Will it be a parking lot? Will it be relevant? Will it thrive or die?<br />
There are many distractions in life that can keep us from being attentive to the call of God to be witnesses of the faith, to work for peace with justice, to be a voice for the outcast, to transform the world. Sports, or robotics, or karate or band or tutoring or any number of activities can draw us away from being attentive to the Spirit, to the soul. I find myself wondering if I am failing in teaching , inspiring others to follow God when I see empty pews. I have no problems with the activities people choose, I worry however for their souls , for their foundation, is what they are choosing helping guide them in the tough times, helping them to see the pain they can help heal, to see the ethical way of living, of following the lead of the Spirit?<br />
The path is not always visible, the way not always easy, the ground always level, yet I renew my vow to serve God, trusting wherever the journey takes me I will be faithful, loving, transforming pain into healing. Perhaps this makes me a fool for Christ, to trust even in the face of the realities of life. What do you think? I would be interested to hear what you see, hear, feel. Because we are in this together after all.planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-68689220875079982182017-06-27T09:39:00.001-07:002017-06-27T09:39:26.261-07:00Being TiredBeing worn out is a bit like the all you can eat buffet<br />
I take in so much because it is so delicious<br />
Gorging my self on conversation<br />
And tasks<br />
My inbox never stops refilling<br />
My mind is worn down by its demands<br />
And so to stop eating, to stop<br />
working and to stop stretching to do one more thing<br />
Is a spiritual exercise<br />
Not easily mastered<br />
When there is so much to taste.<br />
SPM<br />
6/27/17<br />
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<br />planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-33663231817202954772017-06-22T11:03:00.003-07:002017-06-22T11:03:46.326-07:00IfIf I told you God loves you,<br />
Would you believe?<br />
Believe it now<br />
Believe it tomorrow<br />
Believe it forever?<br />
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Or would doubts rise each morning<br />
freshly persistent?<br />
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Would you find more reasons to believe<br />
Or to doubt<br />
Or would the love fall off a cliff<br />
with only uncertainty left?<br />
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Love, God's love becomes certainty for those who<br />
can shake off the doubt long enough to accept<br />
and put it away in the holiest part of their being<br />
Feeling courage to live a beloved life, no matter<br />
What the if has to say.<br />
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SPM 6/19/17<br />
<br />planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-66298918520925788092016-08-23T13:56:00.002-07:002016-08-23T13:56:43.579-07:00Prayer/Poem based on Hebrews 11:29ff<br />
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By faith I will live each day<br />
By faith I will for your people pray<br />
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By faith I will act in your name<br />
By faith I will treat everyone the same <br />
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By faith I will walk this crooked path<br />
By faith I will pour out grace not wrath<br />
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By faith I will turn fear into love<br />
By faith I will follow the peace dove<br />
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By faith I will endure all life brings<br />
By faith of life's joys I will sing<br />
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By faith I will break down walls<br />
By faith I will teach of God's acceptance of all<br />
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By faith I will persevere in the race<br />
By faith I will rest in God's embrace<br />
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By faith I will live each day<br />
By faith I will for your people pray.<br />
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SPM 8/16planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-8666186139418046472016-08-08T15:03:00.000-07:002016-08-08T15:03:50.195-07:00Strength for the JourneyI am just back from the Orange County/Long Beach/Inland Empire Strength for the Journey retreat for those living with HIV/AIDS. I serve as the Spiritual Director on staff, and have been working with the retreat since it started 24 years ago. We meet up in the mountains and provide a safe space for folks to talk, ask questions, get information and most of all have fun, and relax.<div>
I always come back down the mountain feeling exhausted because it is a lot of work, I definitely had one of my highest step total weeks because of all the hiking, walking around, setting up , breaking down camp, and since I don't drive anywhere during that week.</div>
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But I also come back down the mountain with a full heart and soul. The trees and the mountains, and the sunrises and the sunsets, the breeze, the birds all of creation is a glory to behold. I love the way the light changes from peaking through the bushes in the morning, to the bright sky in the afternoon, to the arrival of the shadows at night time. And then the stars shine, so close we think we can almost reach out and touch them.</div>
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And in addition to the environment there is a lot of talking going on, not just chit chat, but conversations about whether God loves us, whether the bible condemns or welcomes those in the LBGTQ community, and where are safe places in our communities we can talk about these things.</div>
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We tell jokes and play games and go to workshops and worship and campfires and we all let down our defenses and form a community in a short amount of time. For me it is what I think Jesus meant when he called us to be in community with one another to love one another with all our strength. </div>
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Of course it is not perfect. there are times when people have to be confronted about their behavior, the food is not always what people are expecting, we find snorers who keep up everyone in their cabin.</div>
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But we find ways to live, truly live with one another, warts and all in this beauty. And although I looked forward to sleeping on my own bed, take a shower in my own home and have time with my family, I do miss the community we had formed. So, I look forward to next year already, but also commit to seeing how I can create that same sort of safe place for people to be a part in life down the mountain. It seems to me that what the world craves, and yet seems so unable to create it. So here I go, boldly stepping out in faith, following the Spirit, bringing and accepting strength for the journey.</div>
planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-69670648992927900672016-07-27T14:58:00.001-07:002016-07-27T14:58:13.649-07:00Sermon for July 24, 2016Sermon for July 24, 2016 By Rev. Steve Poteete-Marshall<br />
Colossians 2:6-15<br />
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I can remember one time I was playing with a group of friends a game of whiffle ball, in the lot next to my house. We choose sides and began playing. Right from the start the other team was so dominant, and began to pile on the runs. Nothing our team could stop them, and not too long into the game, the guy who owned the bat we were playing with, quit because his side was losing so badly, went home and took the bat with him. Of course my team was relieved because we were losing so badly, but on the other hand we could no longer play since the equipment was gone. Soon, we all wandered off to our homes.<br />
Through the years, I remembered that moment, how one person could change the experience of so many, how his being frustrated about the score, caused him to act in this way. And I would be in that position many times, on a basketball team that lost every game, being on a tennis team and never winning a match, being the goalie of a soccer team and being beat for a goal again and again.<br />
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But perhaps the most challenging times are not so much on the playing field, but in life, times when I have become frustrated with how things are going with my life, and with those who are suffering. When someone is going through cancer, or ALS or any other kind of life threatening disease, and especially when he or she are losing the battle, I sometimes hear their frustration, they just want to be able to get healthy again.<br />
And in our world, when there are awful events that are in our news, people being shot, wars that claim more innocent lives, these too are frustrating and overwhelming.<br />
For those whose lives have become lost in our world because there is no one who understands, cares, or bothers with them because of their disability, I can see their frustration.<br />
I can still remember working as a counselor at Camp Daniel Boone outside of Lexington KY, back in the good old days of the 1978. We were hosting a group of adults with special needs, and our camp cook, one of the nicest persons in the world, was so afraid of the group, she literally put the bars across the doors so no one would wander back into the kitchen. Her fear led her to this, action.<br />
Well, as time went by and the camp preceded her heart melted and soon she was mingling and talking and caring for the campers.<br />
In today’s scripture Paul is laying out for the church how none of us are outside the circle of God once we are baptized. He is talking about how through baptism we are raised with Christ to a new relationship.<br />
There is no physical evidence of this transformation, no tattoo, or circumcision, no hairstyle or clothing, no food or exercise routine that causes that change to occur. Rather baptism is a free gift, one that is given to us for us to accept or deny in our life. We have the freedom to choose to walk with God as a baptized disciple of Jesus Christ, or not. We accept this gift of acceptance and transformation, or not.<br />
But once we do, Paul makes sure that we understand we are now in Christ and no one can condemn us<br />
<i>Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. 17These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, 19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.</i><br />
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A growth that is from God, this phrase reminds us in those moments of frustration, when the odds against us seem insurmountable when all hope is lost, when we want to just take our bat and go home, that we are part of the body of Christ now, we are in Christ now, and all things are possible.<br />
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God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our sins<br />
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We are made alive, we are renewed, we are given all we need for the journey ahead, no matter how long it will take for us to get there, no matter how many detours we take, no matter how hard the going gets, no matter how many times we want to quit and go home. God is at work in us because we are in Christ.<br />
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Paul does make this clear:<br />
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<i>As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.</i><br />
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Now you and I hear this phrase a lot in our living, we hear many people say something like: Right now I am really into yoga, jazz or hiking.<br />
Sometimes you wonder what they are thinking, I am really into poetry of the 15th century, I really resonate with music from satanic band, Blood and Vomit.<br />
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But all of this is to say that Paul means something more profound, when he says:<br />
<i>Continue to live your lives in Jesus, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.</i><br />
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To be rooted in Jesus means our whole orientation to life, our priorities, our hopes, our decisions, are from being in Christ, not simply being into Christ.<br />
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When we live our lives in Christ, our faith extends to every aspect of our life, and the lives around us, the lives of even friends we have yet to meet. <br />
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Paul calls us to believe as Jesus has taught us, with all of who we are, all of our strength, all of our hearts, all of our minds, yes with all of our fears, and imperfections.<br />
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And when we live in Christ, we are then free from all that has weighted us down, all that keeps us from moving together without fear, without prejudice, without violence.<br />
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We are in the midst of the politician convention season. The republicans have just completed theirs and the democrats are just about to begin. I am always amused at the chants, the rhetoric and the hoopla of the conventions. I have never been a delegate, but what fun it must be to participate in what looks like a party for the party.<br />
But at the same time I am concerned about all the name-calling, the posturing, the anger and frustration that are expressed. And I am clear I hold very little hope in politicians to solve all the problems of the world. Rather I am sure that it is the power of the Holy Spirit working in the world where I place my hope. Paul calls us to put all our trust, all our hope, and all our energy all our lives in Christ. <br />
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As the church of Jesus Christ it is also important that as a congregation that we continue to live in Christ. Yes, we live in a scary time, a time when churches are closing, a time when we know statistically 60% of our neighbors do not go to any church. We live in a time when despite our best efforts, the world seem to be raging out of control. We live in a time when risking new things is scary because we might fail, we might be hurt, we might be show our imperfection.<br />
In this congregation we have people who disagree passionately about decisions that will impact our future, impact how we reach out, how we welcome, how we worship and how we are in mission.<br />
This is nothing new; Paul was very familiar about the tensions of believers in his churches he was overseeing. This letter today was written to make clear you did not have to be circumcised before becoming a Christian.<br />
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That is why Paul urges his people to root themselves in Christ, to be as spiritually vital in practice and thought, so the spirit can work within them, unite them, guide them.<br />
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So prayer becomes the cornerstone of any church trying to find the way into the world. And the prayer we prayed today is the way forward for all of us. The modern translation from Luke is:<br />
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Father, hallowed is your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.<br />
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Yes we have the freedom to live in Christ, to orientate our whole selves around Jesus, to ask for God’s kingdom to come. But we also need to know that once we do, we have died to our old self. We need to bury our fears, and our doubts, we need to bury our prejudices and our judgments, we need to rise again as Jesus has to new possibilities and new realities.<br />
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That kid that took his bat and went home, was not the example I wanted to be in my life. I wanted to stay engaged with my friends even if I was losing. That basketball team that had lost every game had many of my friends on it, and I loved getting together with them to play foosball, and go on trips together. I played on many teams since then, and have enjoyed the experience of being together, of learning together, of improving together. The lessons I have learned on the soccer field or on the basketball court have helped me be who I am today. I am reminded of that these days because our new Bishop Grant Hagiya who will become our bishop September 1rst played basketball with me and other clergy for many years before he was elected Bishop.<br />
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Sometimes it feels like we live in an “I’m going to take my bat and go home” sort of world, where there is no sense of negotiation, or compromise or understanding of what the other is feeling, thinking or experiencing. Marriages end because the two cannot talk to each other, grow with one another. Simply opting out rather than working through the tough issues they face is so often the way. Churches too find that the atmosphere has changed, there is less loyalty to a particular church and when there are disagreements over directions, people leave for another church.<br />
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To be a free to follow Jesus means that we will commit ourselves 100% to being his disciple. There is no, “When the going gets tough we can opt out” card. We give ourselves to the Lord whose name we honor with our thoughts, words and actions all of our life. This means we commit to being a part of a community that will often be less than perfect, will have those we disagree with, but we learn to love.<br />
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As we move through life, I yearn for companions who I can help support as they wrestle with what it means to walk with Jesus, I yearn for companions who will listen to me and try to understand what I am wrestling, I yearn for those who can provide music that will gladden my heart, for those who are not afraid of difficult discussions and, I yearn to find ways to invite others on this journey, those who may have been left out, those who suffer from loneliness and overwhelmed by suffering. I look for those who forgive easily, and often instead of keeping score on who has done what when.<br />
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planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-26526695296739106682016-05-25T11:11:00.003-07:002016-05-25T11:11:32.609-07:00Oppression doe not careOppression does not care how unfair it is<br />
Oppression does not care whether you are aware or not<br />
Oppression does not care who gets hurt<br />
Oppression does not care about your strenuous objections<br />
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Oppression moves through life smothering hope<br />
destroying souls<br />
killing the innocent<br />
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And does not care<br />
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Even when we shire a light on the terrible consequences<br />
Even when we see positive change<br />
Oppression does not rest, does not back off, does not care<br />
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We do or should care in order for oppression to stop<br />
We do or should care to spend our time to reverse oppression<br />
We need to care so long, so hard so the harmful, destructive results of oppression are reversed, held at bay, healed, overcome, erased, objected to ,<br />
So progress is made to release the captives of hate<br />
Our work is never done, oppression does not care for progress or defeat<br />
Oppression lurks around every corner<br />
Ready to claim new victims every as we care.<br />
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But care will overcome uncaring every time<br />
So care because lives depend on it, all the time.<br />
SPM 2016planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-54986930944898257472016-04-27T10:23:00.002-07:002016-04-27T10:23:42.687-07:00Sermon from April 24, 2016 The Beauty of DiversityThe Beauty of Diversity<br />
Acts 11:1-18<br />
Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church<br />
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Judgment<br />
A professor of child psychology lived next door to a family with several children. He had no kids of his own, but enjoyed a warm relationship with his neighbors and their children, though at times he couldn’t stop himself from offering advice and comments about their parenting. In particular, he felt that the parents were sometimes overly strict, and he would admonish them that what their children most needed was unconditional love.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One day the professor had a new sidewalk poured, and before the concrete dried the neighbor kids came over and made a mess of it with their footprints. The professor was furious and began yelling at the children. Hearing the noise, the parents came out, saying, “Wait a minute professor! You’re always lecturing us about unconditional love! To which he replied, “I love them unconditionally in the abstract, but not in the concrete!”<br />
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Today’s scripture is about Peter who is someone who gets in trouble for applying his faith to the concrete situations of life.<br />
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him,<br />
11:3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"<br />
In todays’ scripture Peter is called to account from his behavior in baptizing and eating with Cornelius and his household. Peter has been on trial before but now it is his friends who are judging him. They may of supported his teaching and preaching about following Jesus, who welcomes all, but they did not like the concrete application of this message, of taking Baptism to the gentiles.<br />
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In his defense Peter explains his reasons for doing so, by explaining the vision he has in a dream. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I replied, "By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. Peter has what must have been a nightmare of a middle age Jewish man of the first century in killing and eating animals that Leviticus taught were unclean.<br />
However, God helps him see the beauty of diversity, nothing in the world is unclean because God has created it all.<br />
We too can witness the beauty of God’s creation, in the diversity around us, the multitude of wonders we see each and every day. On Friday, as I when I went to visit Ron, I saw the purple of the Jacaranda trees that line the streets. I have been enjoying the variety of roses that have been in bloom, and how each is a wonder. Just a little while ago I went to Descanso Gardens and enjoyed the beauty of the God.<br />
God has made a diverse world, and each piece of creation each flower, each tree, each animal; each human is unique and yet so beautiful.<br />
So, we should learn from this diversity Peter learns in his vision, we need to see that all of God’s creation is beautiful, is worthy of delight and wonder. As one popular bumper sticker says: God does not make junk.<br />
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Peter wakes up: At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.<br />
So Peter goes into a gentile’s home, even worse, that of a Roman soldier, and when he tells the collected gathering about Christ the Holy Spirit falls upon them. So he feels compelled to baptize them all as God has clearly set this up. The Spirit tells him not to make a distinction between them and us.<br />
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It is God working through Peter, and fortunately all who hear the explanation recognize, this and drop their judgment.<br />
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Today, as we live in this time and place, we still live with the reality we are living in a racially divided Western World. We hear peppered in our conversations the “us and them” language. We are divided into rich and poor, republican and democrat, white and black, Methodists and Baptists, etc.<br />
Yesterday at the La Crescenta Prayer breakfast, one of the things that Congressman Adam Shift reflected about the speaker for the morning was that when they worked together on a case, they were on opposite sides of the argument, one prosecuting one defending. But at the end of the day, the two could put their work aside and take a moment to have dinner, to find common ground and have a relationship outside of the courtroom. The congressman then paused and said, I miss those days, it seems like today it is hard for him to find colleagues who are willing to cross the aisle and come together in respect to share a meal.<br />
In the “Working Preacher” commentary Professor Mitzi Smith (Found at Textweek.com. see below) suggests that behind this division is fear off the other, and in minds of the friends of Peter this fear is fueled by a sense of superiority. There is the fear that this status might be lost if the other is allowed to get too close, and this should not be strange to us as our own history of prejudice condemns us. She says:<br />
<i>An “us and them” mentality should haunt our human sensibilities if we would experience and benefit from our common humanity. We need to allow our biases and stereotypes to be checked. It is imperative that we engage with others different from ourselves, in more than superficial ways. And most of the time it will not happen when “us” keeps our distance from “them.” This construction of others who are different from us as “unclean” based on those differences signifies a belief in our superiority. If we get too close, live too close, interact too much, we risk contamination and becoming unclean too. Sometimes our self-definition is constructed upon differentiating ourselves from others, instead of upon who we are in God.</i><br />
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(Mitzi J. Smith<br />
Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity<br />
Ashland Theological Seminary<br />
Detroit, Michigan)<br />
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It is difficult to overcome the biases and prejudices we have inherited and made our own. Some are so hidden we ourselves are not even aware of how much the fear and judgment rules our behavior. The first step then is for us to examine our attitudes and our judgments and make sure that we can say they are the way God wants us to behave. Clearly Peter’s vision that nothing that God makes is unclean is an important vision for us today.<br />
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<i>But the only way we begin to put an end to making distinctions between “them” and “us” is to learn to recognize and admit our biases and their impact on human relationships. Racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and other biased behaviors and thinking are not godly; they are motivated by fear of the other and not by love of humanity. “God shows no favoritism” for one human being other another.</i><br />
<i>(Ibid Mitzi Smith)</i><br />
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Unfortunately history is a sad testimony to how religion has been used to foster misunderstanding and violence between believers. Even though we hear all those who hear Peter’s explanation understand, we know the early church faced opposition again and again, leaders were rounded up and martyred, communities persecuted, and yet, even then the Jesus movement grew and the Spirit would not be defeated.<br />
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But that does not mean we give up and just give in to the fear. To believe in the beauty of diversity, to believe in the power of resurrection means we will strive to transform the world, to a place where fears are healed, prejudices are cast away, and we see each other in this world as God’s creation, each one of us as flawed and sin filled that we are sometimes.<br />
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Yesterday was a good morning as the leaders of the La Crescent Community came together to pray, there were many churches represented, many from our local government, and yes those running for office. But it was not a day for politics; it was a day to pray for our youth, our community, our world and how we can come together to make a difference.<br />
As a people of the resurrection we continue to have faith in the God who has made us all, to bring into our souls the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit, which will lead us, help us, to let go of our fears, and learn to celebrate the diversity in our world. And as we celebrate the unique and wonderful talents, gifts, intellect, beliefs of this world, we will see that we dependent upon one another to cooperate to meet the needs of this changing world, to transform lives so all of God’s people, all of God’s creation will be healed and made whole.<br />
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<br />planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-7130791296378295532015-04-29T13:44:00.002-07:002015-04-29T13:44:50.086-07:00Assistant to the AssistantI have been working as the Assistant to the Assistant coach on my daughter's swim team for the Special Olympics. None of our swimmers will go to the World Championships coming up in July, but we plan to go and cheer on those who are competing. This past weekend we had two meets, back to back, the first time our team has done this since my daughter has been part of the team. We usually have a meet every couple of weeks, so there is time to recover and practice and get ready.<br />
Having two meets in two days caused me some anxiety, how would the athletes do? Many have low muscle tone, so would they have the endurance to compete two days in a row? Would our new athletes be overwhelmed by the chaos, the hurry up and wait pattern of a swim meet? Would our coaches endure through the process of staging all 34 athletes on our team in the races with approximately 300 other athletes who would be competing? Would the parents have the endurance to not only get their athletes to the meet and back but help set up tents, serve food, monitor races, and make sure everyone was having a good time?<br />
For me, as an assistant to the assistant, I had to round up the athletes who were next to race, march them over to the staging area, make sure they went into the pool area when they were called and then hopefully have time to watch them race before getting the next group.<br />
As now I look back, I find the emotions of watching the athletes I have been working with, and my daughter who is an old pro now, come pouring out of my eyes. To see how those swimmers, who could hardly swim 10 meters, now compete in a real meet for the first time, to see how far they have come, and triumph by completing their events, and racking up the medals, was simply amazing to me.<br />
Some cannot really do a freestyle stroke, they do a sort of hybrid of a doggy paddle and free style, but who can make it 15 meters, is inspirational, to see their joy and see them presented with medals, ah, it makes all the hard work more than worth it. We simply lived up to the teams motto of featuring their abilities, not their disabilities. And the parents who experienced this thrill for the first time, well they too were a delight to watch, they work so hard to care for , to nurture and support their children, and all their efforts in this moment were rewarded as well.<br />
I am grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who make these events possible, it is no small task to put on a meet, it does take a village. But, the reward outweighs the sacrifices of time and energy.<br />
As far as the worries I had, well after two long days from 7:30-4:40 of being the rounder upper, I can say I was far from worn out, I was pumped up with pride and joy. And so were the parents and their athletes, we ended with smiles on our faces and hearts.<br />
Special Olympians are everywhere, I hope you will add attending an event like a swim meet or track an field meet, or bowling, or golf or any other sports that may be taking place in your community to your bucket list. I am confident it will change your hearts and the way you look at others. You might even get out that bathing suit and start swimming a few laps...planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-17671311304935207442015-02-27T15:26:00.000-08:002015-02-27T15:26:07.633-08:00Does our writing matter? Writing, typewriters, journals, computers, does the writing we do count, does it matter, does it make a difference? I believe we, each of us have the gift of contributing to the world, and if we withhold our contribution, what ever that may be, means the world is that much less creative, joy full, wonderful, focused. To withhold our writing for those of us who write is depriving ourselves and others from discovering the gift we have to share, our piece in the solutions for the worlds ills.<br />
However, even then, I hesitate, I procrastinate, I keep my words and thoughts and emotions to myself. It is a shame, and even if not one single person reads what I write, I miss the opportunity to create, to explore, to contribute.<br />
The world is full of critics, and forces that stifle our creativity, that oppresses our spirit, and we can become world weary, scars on our souls can make us careful, too careful, and we fail to risk, taking shelter in our wounds. But if we open to the creator, the creation, the power of the universe that wants to bring beauty and joy and love, then we discover a power greater than ourselves and we can find that power in times of injury and sorrow, as well as in times of great joy.<br />
So, perhaps it is time to let go of the wounds and allow the healing and the writing to begin..planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-9553686587739988832014-12-29T14:30:00.001-08:002014-12-29T14:30:54.787-08:00End of the year messageSermon for 12-28-14 To Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church Text: Isaiah 61:10-11<br />
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God;<br />
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2014 is about to end. For me, this year held so many important events, and experiences. We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, sporting accomplishments, school achievements, the rain, and the coolness of winter. We have worked to gather to provide hope for the hungry, by supporting Empty Bowls (fundraiser that benefits the hungry) and the Baily Center at the Tujunga UMC.(a place where those who need food and a shower can go during the week) We have worked on peace through educating ourselves about the concerns of others that perhaps we had not understood before, issues like prison life, hunger, education of those who are considered uneducable, HIV/AIDS.<br />
We worshipped and held meetings; we shared food and fellowship, love and concern, prayers and greetings.<br />
We cried when we felt the pain of living in such an imperfect world, and the sorrow for those who have lost loved ones. We witnessed new families being born through marriage and expanded through birth and adoption. We laughed until we lost our breath, and listened to a stream of stories. We spent money, earned money, received money, gave away money, and tried to be good stewards of money. We sang songs both familiar and new adding to our repertoire, we tripped and fell, we scraped our knees or scratched our arms, we listened to the news and it broke our hearts more times than we thought possible, violence and ignorance running rampant in our world. We said goodbye to those we knew by their art, those who made us cry or laugh, or feel comfort or who moved us to action.<br />
We faced moments when we did not want the moment to end and moments when we thought this was the end. We shook when the earth moved, burned under the intense sun, sneezed during windy days, and bundled up when it turned cooler.<br />
We gave thanks for the blessings, and yearned for finding the words to express our deepest desires for connection to God, to one another so we could find peace.<br />
We discovered once again the world is scary and magnificent, enormous yet small, strange yet familiar. We discover just when we thought we had it all together, it all fell apart, and yet we started again, and again, and again.<br />
We learned not to trust advertising to give us the truth about the world, nor movies or fiction. But we learned the truth in just a little more depth than the year before even if we cannot put it into words.<br />
We learned that our experience of the world is not the same as others even our neighbors, but somehow we all stop for red lights, and go on green, even when chaos threatens our safety. We have learned once again there is always another way to look at a situation, and how hard it is not to give an opinion before all the facts are presented, how we want things just to stay neat and tidy even though the reality is very chaotic. How do we not fall off of the earth?<br />
As we move into a new year, we will make promises, and break them, resolutions and become unresolved, set goals we will meet and accomplish, we can rejoice and be glad because God prepares us, and gifts us with all that we need to move into the future. That is not to say life will do all it can to steal away the garments of salvation and robes of righteousness from God, but do these thieves foil God? Will God’s gifts be taken from us never to return? Yes life does often give us more than what we can handle, but God gives more, so we can find purpose and honor in the days ahead. God will always be with us and For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.<br />
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So in those times ahead when we experience a flood of anxiety and worry and fear about whether or not God has been defeated, that our best efforts go unrecognized, that our gift seems to small to impact lives, take heart, God will always spring up again, no matter how many times God’s work gets torn down, plowed under, destroyed, cemented over and abandoned. God is always at work and so we are those who move into the future with hope, and with the assurance that God is at work in the world, in us and you shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.<br />
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As Howard Thurman said it in his poem The Work of Christmas,<br />
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When the song of the angels is stilled,<br />
When the star in the sky is gone,<br />
When the kings and princes are home,<br />
When the shepherds are back with their flock,<br />
The work of Christmas begins:<br />
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To find the lost,<br />
To heal the broken,<br />
To feed the hungry,<br />
To release the prisoner,<br />
To rebuild the nations,<br />
To bring peace among brothers,<br />
To make music in the heart.<br />
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Our work, our lives have been born anew, it is time to make music, seek peace and rebuild the nations! Amen.<br />
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planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-4189425702066047272014-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:002014-10-30T13:54:58.462-07:00Fears and HalloweenWhat we think is ours is really not.<br />
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I have trouble sometimes with giving away my love and blessing to others. For example, when I meet someone new for the first time, I tend to be careful about letting down my guard, of fully being present with that person in that moment in time. There are too many voices in my head who distract me. I love that Jesus was able to understand the moments he had with others, and made the most of these encounters.<br />
Fear is a big part of my reluctance, I am afraid of far too many things to be fully Christian. I feel afraid of being taken advantage of, being ridiculed, insecurities I have lived with and never let go of.<br />
I feel in control I guess if I withhold my love and blessings, I am the decider, you have earned my trust, you have not.<br />
So my practice is to sign all my emails of late with , Blessings, Pastor Steve. I have to think about it sometimes, but the idea is that the love God pours upon me is such a blessing, I want to share this with others. This blessing is not finite, it is not petty, it is not withheld, even in those terrible moments when I behave badly. I find it takes more energy to withhold than it is to give freely, and so much work that keeps me from freely living.<br />
Life is a gift, I may not always understand or feel wonderful as I live the gift, but when I remember that all I have has been given to me freely, no strings attached, I mean the important stuff, then I can remember that those who have been left out by myself or others and have not received the gift. They instead have felt love withheld, food withheld, because others think they own these things, but they don't.<br />
I know we need to live lives that reflect the depth and the beauty, and the love of God. We need to be kinder to one another, help one another, forgive one another, share with one another, instead of withholding these gifts.<br />
When we become humble, admitting when we are wrong, seeing how no one is greater than or less than ourselves, we can see the way to be in the world that brings blessings, and love.<br />
There are far too many with big loud voices who want us to judge one another, who want us to do violence against one another, who want us to be afraid, so very afraid. Cause they know when we fear, our best selves go into hiding.<br />
I heard today that Halloween costumes often reflect our greatest fears so we can make fun of those fears when we wear a scary costume. So I wonder what a bully costume would look like? What would a greedy politician look like, what would a judgmental Christian look like? What would our darkest and most dangerous self look like? We need to name all of these so we can get over them. We need to move forward in bringing blessing, not threats of being left behind, to a hurting world.planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-28607307600461915992014-10-17T10:03:00.000-07:002014-10-17T10:03:27.059-07:00KindnessJ.M. Barrie in the book, "The Little White Bird" writes "Shall we make a new rule of life...always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary". I read this in another book called "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio.<br />
It is a book about many things, but this quote helps me to remember that kindness is so important, yet is often in short supply. I am guilty of feeling unkindly towards others, of letting my judge rule my heart more than the prince of peace, of conforming to the need to fit in and not be ridiculed for being different. I am a mixed up person of many emotions which often play tricks on my logic and so I act in unkind ways that harm or hurt others. This is not my true intent, my true intent is to sow seeds of kindness and acceptance wherever I go. I want to honor each part of creation as I live out my day, but so often I fail, and see myself acting out of unkind motives.<br />
So, perhaps if I focus on being a little kinder than necessary, go beyond the expectations I imagine others have of me, or I have for myself, I will see an opportunity to act with radical kindness. Maybe this starts with myself and instead of putting myself down for those times I do not act with the best spirit, to let go and accept my murkiness. The only thing I can do is stay in the present and be kind.<br />
To find ways of nurturing that kindness and pushing out the rest means seeing others as human, a mixture of kind and murkiness just like me. I choose to connect to their kindness or to the murkiness, in how I act, how I think about them.<br />
There are those who really test my patience, and who seem outside this rule, kindness? Sometimes I rather they just go away to some isolated place and think about the bad they have done. But, if I give up on them even if they have given up on me, am I really being kind, am I being kinder than necessary?planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-85642771303205341412014-10-09T16:19:00.001-07:002014-10-09T16:19:56.308-07:00 Walk to Defeat ALS®So it has been several years now that Lil came to live with us as she grew dependent on others to care for her after being a radically independent woman most of her life. I was never prouder of my daughters who voted to issue the invitation to her once her ALS started giving her fits and the possibility of a cure was fading. She came to live with us at first with reluctance afraid of what the future might hold, but as we grew together as a family, unsure, unsteady, ready to tip over, we made the choice to put other stuff on hold so we could give her all the care she asked for. Her friends supported her days out, and would as long as she could manage it, pick her up for a dinner, for card games, celebration luncheons.<br />
I spent time watching tennis and dancing with the stars, with her in her room we had emptied so she would have space, and lifted her from place to place when needed.<br />
Our new family was far from harmonious, we disagreed, we were angry, we were exhausted, and often at wit's end. But somehow we held it together, knowing a bit more intimately how precious life is, how we cannot take for granted we will be able to do anything we want anytime we want. I am not sure if I learned enough about the precious gift of health and life, I am still chewing on what I learned, but in the meantime, we walk to support the research, and the ways the chapter supports families. If you would like to help, follow this link,<br />
<br />
<a href="https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/SPageServer?pagename=WLK_BP_walk13_pc2&pc2_page=center&fr_id=10142#.VDcVsyxKLFA.blogger">Participant Center - Walk to Defeat ALS®</a><br />
<br />
Blessings,<br />
Steveplanetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-66948813810900920492014-09-02T13:55:00.000-07:002014-09-02T13:55:04.025-07:00Sacred WorkSunday in church we worshiped using the passage from Matthew 16:21-28. I preached about how important our work is in building the beloved community of God. Much to my surprise I was saying how it is by seeing our work as sacred that we can transform the smallest tasks into ways to bring hope and love into the world. I said even being an usher or hosting fellowship time can be an opportunity to build up the community because who knows if someone will be coming to church and you are the first person they see, and maybe you are the first person all week who has smiled at them, asked them how they were doing. And who knows by providing coffee and a snack you are giving someone an opportunity to talk about their lives with others and find an answer to a question nagging at them all week.<br />
What was surprising about this for me was I did not really plan on saying this exactly. I must confess I was really trying to tie in Labor Day with the scripture , about how sacred work does make a difference. <b>But to compare transformational work that changes lives to ushering? </b>But then it did make sense in other ways, because I have known some very cheerful and inviting ushers who you are always happy to see when you come to church. One of those ushers in fact was on a committee that was interviewing me about my call to ministry. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" was his question that set the tone for the rest of the meeting. Yes, I do, and I do believe that God is calling me to a life of ordained ministry, not just then, but now, and every time I doubt this call, when I want to give up, I think of this man's question, of how he put all of the business of ordination into the context of my belief in Jesus Christ.<br />
If we believe with our whole hearts, minds and souls in Jesus and the path he walks with us on, then I don't have to have all the answers, for all the many challenges of life. But I will find that it is often in the ordinary acts of life that I will find hope, and love, in the kindness of the faces of those who greet me when I come to church, in those who faithfully serve their positions in the church so we can make decisions and move forward in offering a message of love and hope to everyone we can. Is that home baked cookie just a home baked cookie, or is it God working through the person who made them? All I know is sometimes a hot cup of coffee is just what I need, and having the time to talk to others over that cup of coffee is a divine experience of building a beloved community.<br />
I challenged my community to look at everyone they meet with an open heart, mind and soul, to learn who they are, and in some way remind everyone whose they are. We are God's mysterious and beloved children who are united with one another through the love and hope of God. As you go through your week I wonder if you can look at each person you encounter as that sacred child of God who you may want to at least see with loving eyes...let me know how this goes.planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-41275558437417547892014-07-27T15:34:00.000-07:002014-07-27T15:34:13.946-07:00Human Sexuality and the ChurchOn the issue of human sexuality, we are a society that is very often divided. In the midst of this division, how we think about our sexuality is changing. The standard descriptions are being blurred, gay, straight, bisexuality, transexual, definitions are changing from hard set to softer lines. This understanding is one of exploring the depths of each of us, and who we are, not just as we have tried to define ourselves. In the past sexuality has been a mystery to be feared, boundaries set, rules of engagement established. We have divided ourselves into camps, and spent little times to understand one another.<br />
This is all to our failing our understanding our complexity as a human and as a human race. This keeps us divided and perpetuates the ill will towards one another. I would like to imagine a world where we are free to be all God has created us to be, in the great diversity united in the common passion to create a world of peace and justice.<br />
What does the future hold? I am not sure, but hope we can at least have a discussion, figure out how to heal the hate, and prejudice towards people of differing sexual orientation, so people can come out of the shadows and live in peace.<br />
http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/human-sexuality-homosexuality is the site where the conversation is going on in the United Methodist Church. You can join the conversation there, or on line, or with persons in the church community you belong.<br />
Human sexuality is an issue that will not go away as people discover who they are, who they want to be in public, in a free and just society. My hope is that we learn to accept one another and not blame the ills of society on the scapegoats of those who are different than us. We need to stop living in fear of who we are, how diverse we are, and come to join together to face the hard issues of life, to feed the hungry, to break the bonds of prejudice, to transform the world.planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-13575807311118165822014-07-01T10:22:00.002-07:002014-07-01T10:22:26.060-07:00Wedding of friends“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man." Luke 6:22<br />
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I recently went to a wedding of two friends of mine who happen to be both women. Their service was held in the back yard of supporters of theirs and although it was small, the spirit was of celebration and joy. However, the words from Luke hit me like a lighting bolt as they said their vows. I have listened to my friends stories of what it is like to interview for church positions and people ask, "What is your sexual orientation?'. Their ordination journey is similar to those who have a call from God to serve, and to make new disciples for Jesus Christ. They have done their work to educate and prepare themselves for this work. They have submitted themselves to the process of interviews, personality tests, and written manuscripts. Their call has been confirmed by those in authority. Yet, this simple question about sexual orientation is asked as though the sexual orientation of someone would then somehow void all the preparation and their call from God to be effective pastors. <br />
Our United Methodist discipline calls on us to affirm the sacred worth of every being, as a child of God, yet we often fall into the trap of defining others by their sexual orientation, by the color of their skin, by the income they earn. We sin against God when we choose to believe that someone is less than, unworthy of being treated as a sacred child of God. And those who live outside the circle of unconditional love and acceptance live persecuted lives, feeling the hate and the anger daily. Yet in the midst of this reality two people, beautifully alive, servants of God, dare stand up and commit themselves to one another, and preach to us a word of love. They did so quietly, not to cause too many ripples, and this reflects who they are. I on the other hand would dare to stir the waters and challenge us to overcome any prejudice, any hatred, any sin with God's grace to welcome those who are persecuted, to offer them a place in our hearts.<br />
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Help me O God to melt away all that keeps me from loving unconditionally those you have created and hold dear, Amen<br />
<br />planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-16778372985406009632014-05-14T10:30:00.002-07:002014-05-14T10:30:27.122-07:00Sacred BeingsIn the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline it states that we consider all persons as having sacred worth. This is more of what we are living into, than have established. Our church like many have those who want to be gatekeepers, keeping in certain people, and keeping out others. I wonder, how does God see us? Are the prisoners, sex offenders, homeless, LBGT, republicans, democrats, terrorists, soldiers, welcome or turned away?<br />
I know my heart welcomes some more than others, I am sometimes appalled with how easily it is for me to judge, and to hold grudges towards those who I want to suffer for their sins. I want to throttle that motorist who needs to cut me and my fellow travelers off as we go down the freeway. I get passionate about those who do not look at those with learning disabilities with compassion and try to find ways to include them in life's activities such as school, church, scouts. I have a hard time with those who kidnap people and turn them into slaves.<br />
So how can I reconcile my urge to punish with the words of Jesus, forgive them for they know not what they do? I don't think I can always, rather, I can look at these enemies of mine with eyes of compassion, holding them accountable for their sins, but trusting that God will work in me to bring them peace, not eternal damnation. Ah, such a messy world we live in, it would be much easier to be a gatekeeper than a peacemaker..planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-53760810294070460822014-05-07T12:33:00.000-07:002014-05-07T12:33:16.328-07:00Not WritingAs I reflect on this time in my life, I realize I have not been writing on a regular basis, not here in this forum at least. What does this tell me about myself? I have busy, and there is much on my schedule. How busy my life is, and yet I have forgotten to make time for the expression of my learnings and my reflections on life, I have not taken the time to pause, to revisit all that I have done to see if indeed these activities are really what God is calling me to be and do. And it means that I have stopped creating in a way that has always helped me connect to God.<br />
I also realize that I am not being recognized for this blog in any way and so the temptation is to let it go, I mean who is taking the time to listen and reflect with all the choices that are available to you?<br />
However, if I remember these writings are a prayer, to be lifted up, then I trust they reach the God in you, just as your comments below reach the God in me. I am creating in harmony with the Great Creator, and doing so to grow in my awareness of how God is working, in me, in you. If I believe creating is not required, but an invitation to deepen my sense of who I am in relation to God, then I can let go of the need to go, go, go all the time. How is it with you?planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-12327613992453303432014-02-06T20:13:00.001-08:002014-02-06T21:04:26.660-08:00Who Are You Today?<h2>
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<b>As I think through who I am, I reaffirm I am a child of God and I am a member of the family of God. This family supports me and prays with me, this family offers guidance and advice, which I sometimes listen to and other times ignore. I am not always happy with the family, we tend to bicker and argue and call each other horrible names. I wonder if I could find another family that is more healthy, more together. Alas, there is no such thing as a perfect family, there is no place where all is well all the time. </b><b>I treasure those moments when we are in harmony, when we can raise our voices and praise God, and the abundant love poured upon us. I love those moments when the walls tumble down, and we connect. Those are precious times, too few, too scarce to take them for granted.</b></h3>
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<b>So how can I break through all that separates us? Perhaps by writing a blog and hope it connects us together in this one moment so we are energized to continue to work for a world full of love and peace. That is who I am right now, how about you?</b></h3>
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planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-70926098559199001992013-12-23T10:56:00.001-08:002013-12-23T10:56:07.253-08:00Christmas 2013<br />
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I have moved to a new appointment here in Montrose and this will be my first Christmas with the community here. I have been reflecting on what it means to give and receive. I notice I am overwhelmed with all the celebrations and activities that are available at this time of year. So I often feel burdened by the choices, by the extra giving that goes on this time of year. I wonder if perhaps the season in which we celebrate what we have been given by the grace of God, has been replaced with a season of giving and receiving. Maybe we have not paid enough attention to what it means to receive a gift from God, and the profound importance of this gift for our lives. I am struggling to articulate what it means to receive, but I wonder if we really could receive, we would find we do not have expect to get as much as we are accustomed to. What if instead of filling the season with so many gifts,we just gave one thing? I know the retailers would hate us for spreading such ideas. But I wonder if we need to remember something more than what to get for someone, or what we expect to get from another. I wonder I have become addicted to the notion that I need to have certain things or else I will feel neglected, uncared for, completely forgetting that God so values us Jesus was born on earth.<br />
Don't get me wrong, I love getting gifts, I love how folks express joy through the music and celebrations of the season.I love wearing my christmas themed ties. But I always get worn out, usually develop a cold at this time of year. I wonder if that is a symptom of our society's celebration expectations? I wonder what you think? planetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-657411395316313260.post-51661279158809106842013-02-26T11:05:00.000-08:002013-02-26T11:05:25.105-08:00Today I realized I have not written at all about Lent! It is easy for me to lose track of time and let tasks slip by until I have a huge pile of undone phone calls, visits, paperwork, emails to tackle. I know I am busy and I don't procrastinate on all my work, but it is a time like this that I feel overwhelmed and confused about where to start. So what to do? I am more and more aware that I often do not ask for help, do not delegate enough, do not say no to things like invitations to special events. I have a hard time narrowing down what is a priority and what would be nice. Even sitting down and thinking about what I should do is not something I do on a regular basis. But, if I take five minutes of my busy time and settle down into connecting with God, then my path becomes clearer. It does not really matter if I chant, or breath, or sing, a centering prayer, just that I do. Of course the universe of chaos tries to interrupt that five minutes, the phone rings, sirens sound, my wife needs to talk to me in that precise moment. But, it is okay, if I need to I can come back and try again.<br />
How about you what interrupts your centering exercises? What causes you to get off kilter? For me writing helps, and asking for help from the universe helps, these are two practices which I am still getting the hang of, even now, even after years of experience. Let me know what works for you cause I need all the help I can get! Blessings, Pastor Steveplanetarypilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084411005710533794noreply@blogger.com0