His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
  the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;

 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;

 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,  for his steadfast love endures forever;
 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,for his steadfast love endures forever;
 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;

 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;

 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

 Give thanks to the God of heaven,for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136

The Ballad of Buckeye and Studly

Christmas 1994. Just a few months before my wife-to-be and I were married. We were exchanging presents, as we normally did, with Sherrie and Eddie Johnson, our good friends and the parents of our godsons, Robbie and Terry. As I opened mine from Eddie, I was almost blinded by the bright, red tee-shirt. On the front, in all caps, was one word, "STUDLY". While I won't go into the full story behind that joke, gentle reader, we still laughed a long time about it afterward.

Fast Forward to February 1996, our first anniversary as husband and wife. We traveled to the Smokies with Sherrie and Eddie for a weekend away. One morning, we were walking along a short trail, when Eddie spotted something on the ground. He reached down, picked up a buckeye, and put it in my hand. He said it meant we would always be friends. I keep that buckeye stored away even now.

Eddie Johnson passed away this week after a long fight with a cancer he was told would take him over two years ago. He was a great father, grandfather, son, brother, friend. And true to his word, for 30 plus years, my friend. But he was so much more. He had the heart of an angel, and the mischievousness of an imp.There was nothing he wouldn't do for you, and do it right then, not  "at a later date". He was honest and straightforward with his opinions, and still could love you if he disagreed. When we learned he had passed, it felt like a piece of my heart was gone, and will go one empty from now on. But I'll remember you forever, my friend. That buckeye contract still stands.

Yours, Studly

What is an American?

"n: a native of America" - Webster's New Dictionary c 1994

A rather concise description from Mr. Webster. It might even be expanded to include "a citizen, native or naturalized, of the United States of America", but somehow even this does not seem to be enough to answer the question "What is an American". My thoughts on this were stirred by a recent speech from former President George W. Bush I had liked on Facebook, and the following series of questions I received from a friend that deserved consideration. These thoughts, as always, are my own, and mostly harmless. 

Here is how our initial conversation went. My initial response to his question "What is an American" was the answer to that question was as diverse as every American themselves. He then asked if it was my understanding that being an American was to be divisive. Were there not some principles in being an American that were absolute, namely:

1. Support of the Constitution

2. Adherence to the laws of the land, and

3. Support of your country and its allies. (Just to name a few principles).

My initial answer was that I did not consider these items divisive, but within them was allowed diversity of thought, and this diversity was both the uniqueness and strength of America. (I might now add that it is a respect for that diversity that brings uniqueness and strength, something that seems to be rapidly disappearing in our culture, something else President Bush made reference to in his speech.)

As to the principles mentioned, and they are quite worthy, I believe they also point to my thoughts on diversity. Notice, I use the word diversity, not division. I believe there is a difference of attitude between those two similar words.

1. Support of the Constitution. Yes, this is an absolute. Yet, through its entire history, its interpretation has been subjective. That is what makes this governmental document so different from any other in history. Even in its creation, debate on what to include was great. Fighting between small vs large states on representation, agricultural vs industrial states as to financial support, should there be a federal bank, monies, militia and courts, or should those be ruled by the states with no federal oversight? Everyone saw it differently, and it almost kept us from becoming a United States. Compromise was finally achieved, but 100 years later these compromises helped to fuel a bloody Civil War. Had our Constitution been a strict, unyielding document, it could have ended this bold experiment. It wasn't , though. It was amended, re-interpreted, and became once again a governing document for the people of its time, not for a time past. It continues to be such a living document, and it is the diversity of opinion that allows ALL men and women to be heard. When voices are shut out of the discussion, we choke the life out of the very thing we love. While the Constitution is the foundation of our government, we are not a government of the Constitution. We are a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

2, Adherence to the law of the land. Again, absolute. Yet laws are meant to protect its people from others, and sometimes, themselves. If a law becomes oppressive, or if those enforcing the law become oppressive, then it becomes a law that, if not bad, is at least broken. The law must then be challenged. This usually takes place in the form of protests, both silent, and sometimes, quite vocal. Usually met by protests just a loud and vocal by those with differing opinions. What should happen at this point, but often does not, is that once protests are made, discussion is needed to correct the law. When neither side will listen, it just leads to more protests, even rebellion of a law used to harm its citizens. According to the Declaration of Independence, that is a right given to citizens of any government. Only by speaking out, can correction be made.

3. Support of the country and its allies. Absolute. But is blind support a true support of country? There was a song by Ken Medema years ago, called "I See America". The chorus went like this:

I see America through the eyes of love.

And long for all her people to be free.

If you can, put your hand to the job,

There is work that must be done.

Till freedom's song is sung from sea to sea.

Does speaking out against a wrong we perceive a rejection of our country? Or is it more patriotic to try and speak out against the flaws we see in country we love? While I don't agree with the methods of protest many are using right now, my charges against them are that the reason behind the protest is getting lost in the controversy of the method. If true discussion and solutions were made to correct the problems, the method of protest would be unnecessary. And support of our allies? That has unfortunately always been somewhat wishy-washy. I have a rather global view of support, much like WWII, fighting for a common cause kind of way. But even then, men such as Rockefeller, Kennedy, Lindbergh, and even Henry Ford, wanted no part of that little spot of trouble in Europe. We go from global, to nationalistic, to global again like a person in a revolving door. So I'm not sure we have a true support of allies, at least not one that's locked down, and like everything else here is fluid and changing along with its people.

Finally, being an American, to me, is intensely personal. It is, at various times a source of pride and sorrow, and sometimes even shame. Each person sees their place as an American through their own eyes Which brings me back to my original statement, that to be an American is as diverse as the individuals themselves. E Pluribus Unum - Out of many, one. And thank God our Constitution and laws were created to be flexible and adaptable. A society, or government, where the people are at the mercy of a rigid law, can only fail. But a law meant to serve and protect its people, will stand forever.

What is an American? A servant of his country, with open eyes, ears, and heart. A person his country serves equally. With Liberty and Justice for all.

In A World Of "Me Too"

I sure you have seen the numerous posts on Facebook and Twitter that are just the words "Me Too". It seems to me that every few (very few) posts, another individual has posted these words. They are not shares, but each is a post by a different woman. The number of these posts is enormous, and each makes my heart burdened, ashamed, and angry. Here's why.

Each individual post represents a woman that has been sexually harassed or assaulted. Every. Single. One. So many dear friends where I had no knowledge of the pain they had been holding in. So many cases of being treated as less than the truly wonderful people that they are. How is it, in 2017, we can allow such conduct? How can we even allow the conditions to exist that allow it? Because (and I speak mostly to the men here, but also the women), we are purposely blind to it. We chose not to see. It's a society of, "If we don't look at it, or talk about it, it isn't there." But it is. It is.

We also use the "excuse" of women dressing provocatively, or sending "signals", to excuse the man from his crime. We even use this as a defense in criminal trials! The truth is, a sexual predator attacks because of power, not lust. He tries to have control over someone he perceives as weaker. This is the case in the molestation of both women and children. The clothes and the actions are not the motivating factor. Power and control is, and he lusts after that more that the target of his attack. No means no, people, and yes you CAN stop. This "excuse" just doesn't wash.

For those that have posted "Me Too" please forgive my not seeing your pain. To be treated as you have been is unacceptable at best, and bestial at worst. You deserve a safe place to be treated as the equals you are, and I hope at least I always treat you as such. To others reading, make an effort to be that safe haven for others. To be less, is to be less than human.

To those that have been and are attackers, please seek help. Your need for power signifies a great deal missing in your own psyche, and you are dangerous to others, and to yourselves. Both men and women are created in the image of God. To treat someone so crudely is to defame God, and you will be called accountable not only to those you have harmed, but accountable to God Himself.

Finally, to those very brave souls aligning themselves with the "Me Too" effort, and sharing their pain, and also to those whose pain is still too great, may God grant you strength, and peace, and healing, and true love to fill your souls.

Back from Camp Bluebird

"The counterweight to grief is community." - Nashville Mayor Megan Berry

The words above were spoken by Nashville's mayor regarding the horrific massacre in Las Vegas this weekend. They had also been spoken by her husband just weeks earlier at the funeral of their son, as Nashville citizens shared in their loss. How grief attacks, along with fear, is by isolating a person from comfort. By internalizing the pain, rather than have a safe place for their grief to be shared and ministered to, we sorrow alone. With so many things going on in our world, that is just too heavy a burden to bear.

This statement strikes me personally this week. I've just returned from another weekend at Camp Bluebird, a camp for adult cancer survivors. We share sorrow and tears, joy and laughter (much, much laughter), we hug, sing, dance, and generally cavort. The weight of cancer is lifted by the community created. We all share equally each other's burdens. Not because we should, not because we have to. Simply because we love. And our own burdens are lifted in the process. I believe there is no power greater than the power of love, and that the power of love in community of others is unstoppable.

This doesn't eliminate the cancer. It doesn't stop the passing of dear friends, or the sadness of their loss. It does stop the grief and sometimes hopelessness from taking control. It allows us to remain stronger than that which assails us. The freedom to be more than the disease that has bonded us. That joyful release is unlike any other, and it happens because of our community. Camp Bluebird.

I pray for everyone to experience that community of love. I pray that God's church returns to that community of love, rather than the judgmental nature that seems to prevail. I pray for all my beautiful Bluebirds. Prayers and Bluebird Hugs to you all!

A Living Hope

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" - I Peter 1:3-4

Christians are supposed to be a happy lot. always smiling, always cheerful. Turning cheeks wherever we go. Smurfily dancing and "la-la"ing through the oversized flower garden of life. (Unless you try to touch our guns, or states rights, or individual rights, or national pride, or whatever else little niche we deem so important that our Christianity is used as it's proof, to the point where the niche is more important that the Christianity...these we guard like a Bengal Tiger over a fresh kill!)

OK, my sarcasm is on a roll here. But Christians are expected, by the world, to be happy. And we do have reason to be. So why are there days when I feel dead inside?
 
(In God's usual sense of humor, the moment I wrote those words, an ice cream truck was at the office, and there were freebies for everyone!)

The question still remains though. There are times when life seems overwhelming. Multiple pressures from all directions hammer us into a battered, broken pulp. Those times when it seems the only thing pulling us through the day is the end of it. When we look down, face in our hands, and cry "How long, O Lord, how long?"

The trick, it seems, is not to look down for too long. I'm not saying to ignore what's around you; that would be a lie. Even David knew "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand", but he also knew "but it will not come near you". (Psalms 91:7) He could cry out, saying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1) then "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me". (Psalm 23:4)

What kind of faith can produce such hope?  It seems like just wishful thinking. Can it be because the hope is not in our own selves, but in someone else? Not a relic of history, but in the living, breathing presence of Jesus? In the power of Almighty Father God? In the omnipresent Holy Spirit, with and among us? It is a LIVING HOPE, that carries us when we no longer have strength. Urges us on when we do. Our hope is not an impersonal ideal, not a platitude or gimmick. It is Jesus, the Christ, living presence of God. He is alive. And in His arms, in His love, so are we. 

So, even when all seems lost we "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:14) And when we're hanging off a cliff and at the end of our rope, don't bother looking into the chasm below, but look up to the one pulling us out!

There's A Fly In My Primordial Soup

I read this week where they are remaking the book and film "Lord of the Flies" with an all female cast. As one would expect, this has not gone without controversy. First, many are upset with Hollywood that a script for an all female cast is being written by two men. OK, I can see that. Second, many women are upset at being presented as becoming so vicious and violent. They counter that women would not behave that way. They would separate into natural groups and exist peacefully. My wife is still laughing at that one.

So let's start with the assumption that there would be tension, even violence, with the caveat that it may manifest in different ways that men would exhibit. That would still prove William Golding's original premise correct. Without control, people will fall to their basest instinct. This would be true for men or women, black or white, red or yellow, or any other groupings that can be considered. In essence, if you're human and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap, Clap)

This is the Bible's premise as well. All are broken, and have been since the fall of Adam. I speak a lot about God's love, and His forgiveness and grace. My favorite verse is from Isaiah 61:1, and quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19. "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted." But for there to be healing, there must first be something broken. And we are, all of us. Even after He puts his new heart within us, we will sometimes slip and fall short of His goals. No one has ever achieved His perfection. And yet we seem to see perfection in ourselves, and notice the shortfalls in others. Remember the verse about the mote in the eye? (Matt 7:3)

I'm seeing much more groupings of hatred than I ever remember before. It's not that these didn't exist, but I think the barriers, the CONTROL, that held them back is no longer as strong, and the hate has become bolder. To stand against this, and we must stand, we cannot allow ourselves to fall into the same pattern of hate. That only creates more. An eye for an eye only causes two people to be blind. So how do we fight hate with love, if all of us are on the same broken playing field?

The love we need only God can provide. Only He loves not because of what we have done, but because of Whose children we are. Only His love can be greater than hate, His light greater than darkness. To find it means to empty ourselves of pride and bigotry, and to think of people, not groups. Individuals, not generalizations. Love each person as God loves you, quirks, faults, and all. (And I mean YOUR quirks, faults, and all. I of course am faultless.) See how easy it is to forget. 😃

Next time someone or something causes hate (not necessarily anger, there is a difference) to rise in you, make sure to step back and breathe. Pray. Ask how God would want you to approach it. Listen to what HE says. Take that fly out of your soup, and Go with God.

There Goes The Sun...

August 21, 2017. Sitting on my back porch, looking up into the sky, at least as much as those black out glasses would allow. Then from out of nowhere, it seemed, a small, curved sliver of the sun disappeared. Then more. Then more again. The moon gradually eating away at the sun. Then only a quarter left. Then less. Then still less. Then the sun makes one last gasp and...the world around me stops. I'm looking up slack jawed, staring at the hole in the sky that used to hold the sun, leaving only this little ringlet of flames. A quiet darkness all around me for the next 2 minutes and 40 seconds. It is dark, and it feels as if I'm holding my breath. Then a feeling of rebirth as the sun light bursts through like a diamond on the right side, and the process is reversed, from dark to light. I remember to breathe again. What a beautiful world.

YouTube entertainers and reality stars are suffering burn out and depression on a much larger scale than their counterparts in the entertainment industry, according to an NPR news report earlier this week. It seems by having to be "on" 24/7, there is so much pressure to always be accepted and liked, it just builds up. These people are responsible for their own writing, directing, filming, acting, editing and even marketing for shows at least twice a week, often more. One agent (yes, they have agents!) said when he sees a client nearing that edge, he'll tell them to take a break for a day. Shut off all social media. Get away. Stop being a brand for a while, and just be yourself.

I'm sure at this point some of you think I've just swallowed the red pill and followed Alice down the rabbit hole. But bear with me. We live in a society that bombards us with news and entertainment non-stop. We work more, and vacation less. Even when we do vacation, it is planned to the last minute, lest we should miss something. Our phones, which are now so much more, can never leave our sides, and our thumbs cramp up from use.

I had a friend that used to say, "Sometimes you just need sit and stare into a corner, and watch the cobwebs grow." Even God took a day off. And he told man to do the same thing. Take a Sabbath. Rest. Recharge. Connect again with yourself and the God who made you. During the eclipse, the thing that kept going through my mind was Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God." On August 21st, millions of people did just that. They stood, they sat, and all gasped collectively with awe and humility at the majesty of God's creation. Hate, politics, prejudice, greed, all shrank to the background in the collective stillness and childlike wonder.

When you feel you've lost your joy, when life is never ending pressure, then allow yourself a break. Watch a sunset, watch an eclipse, watch the cobwebs grow. "Be still and know that I am God" means more than recognizing His Lordship. It means that we can rest because He is in control. He keeps us safe. He says "Take my yoke...for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:29-30.

Be still, and know that I am God.
Be still, and know that I am.
Be still, and know.
Be still.

Take a stand

This blog is a little tough to write. It will cause disruption at the least, hate quite possible, and the loss of friends a possibility. I need however to speak my mind on something that is rooted in evil itself, spans our history, and has come again to prominence.

Groups such as the Neo-Nazis, Skinheads, KKK, and White Nationalists, like a multi-headed serpent, have again come to a very vocal and violent presence in our country and world. Even though they should be shouted down from every voice from every corner of our nation, we have some who would claim these hate mongers as "Good people". Hear me clearly, those who would advocate hate are not "Good". They are not "Christian", they are not "good citizens of America", they are not anything but purveyors of hate. My father was severely wounded, and almost lost his life (But for the strategic placement of a Gideon's Bible taking the shrapnel) in fighting against these very low level dredges of society.

Yet here they are, coming again and again, spilling their vile, poisonous venom, amplifying it with violence and murder. As a strong believer in the First Amendment to free speech, they have the right to speak, however wrong they may be. But it is then up to us, as citizens, as Christians, as humans, to counter that speech until it is driven out, and no more assails and sickens us.

If you think my denunciation of these scum as too harsh, then I would refer you to a higher source.

Leviticus 19:17-18

 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. 

Amos 5:15

 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate;

Romans 12:9

 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Galatians 5:22-23

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

 

1 John 2:11

 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 4:20-21

 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

And maybe my favorite:

1 John 4:7-12

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

 

That is pretty specific. Someone whose beliefs include a hatred or bigotry of another person or group because of race, religion, or even just being different, falls into that category. "If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar". And Jesus was even more specific than that.

 

Matthew 5:21-22

 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, "You fool!" will be liable to the hell of fire."

So why speak out? Because without speaking out, the voices, the hatred, the violence only continues and grows; growing ever more bold, ever more confident, ever more evil. If we do not speak out, we are complicit in all that follows.

One last word on this, from pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He knew this evil quite intimately, and gave his life to stand against it in Nazi occupied Germany, even when he could have escaped with his life. He said,

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
 

Will you stay silent? Or will you take a stand?

 

Abstractionism and Creeds

"Abstract goals lead to abstract results" - Anon.

 ^"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you." - Philippians 4:13-15

I have often been known to take time to daydream. (Also known as wool gathering, watching the cobwebs grow, etc.) Imagining the impressive charitable contributions I would make  upon obtaining a massive fortune, after buying a house, yacht, three King Charles Cavalier puppies, and a small music studio somewhere on my own Caribbean island of course. Trouble is, I don't see that as a reachable goal at my point in life, and the path to that goal is somewhat obscure, to say the least. So I continue the course laid before me, and count it good that God has allowed me to provide shelter and food for my family, even in the midst of illnesses that have tried to put obstacles in my way.

Just so, being a Christian isn't about having a vague concept of goodness, or thinking you have "made it" so you can wool gather at will. Being a Christian is about believing something, and then living like you represent it. In the early days of Christianity, there were many different ideas about just what it meant to be a Christian. Anybody could say they were a follower of Christ, but just what was that supposed to mean? It was different with every group of followers, some wildly different. The Church Fathers got together, and came up with this:

 1. " I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth."
 2. "And in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord."
 3. "Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary"
 4. "Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried."
 5. "He descended into Hell. On the third day He rose again."
 6. "He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father"
 7. "From which He shall come, to judge the quick and the dead."
 8. "I believe in the Holy Spirit"
 9. "The Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints"
10. "The forgiveness of sins"
11. "The resurrection of the body"
12. "And the life everlasting, Amen"

Twelve statements, covering everything needed to call yourself "Christian". The very basic of being a child of God. Whatever reason you have for being a Christian, this should be your road map, your vision to the goal. Did you become a Christian out of fear of Hell? Fair enough, but rather than look back in fear, look forward in joy. Were you socially motivated? (That can be anything from peer pressure to simply wanting to look good in front of others on Christmas and Easter.) That still means those twelve tenants must be believed, not just in words, but in the heart.

Part of living a Christian life is believing that God loves you, and if He loves you, then you have purpose and meaning. And if there is purpose, it is sometimes in His vision, but not ours. He sees the path of our whole lives, while we can only see a step at a time. The creed above illuminates the path. Numbers 1,2, and 8-12 give us what to believe, and 3-7 tell us why. We may not always know what we encounter on the way, but our goal is the same: Jesus. The end of our journey is not death, the end of our journey is Him. He is our goal, our target, our prize, our victory.

Hebrews 12: 1-2 says
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

No abstract goal. Only the real, true, living Lord. Amen.

Fly, Bluebird, Fly

"Spirits high, Bluebird. To the sky, Bluebird. Free, you and me. Lord, I want to be winging free." - Gary Mills

Sometimes, it's tough to be a Bluebird. By that, I'm talking about Camp Bluebird, the adult cancer survivor camp that is held twice a year. These are some great friends, and we share, in its many forms, the unique bond of cancer survivor. For two weekends a year, we ARE the norm, not the ones set aside by the label "cancer". For two weekends a year, we laugh, cry, pray; sometimes all at once. These are friends that go beyond "acquaintance". These are friends that I love to be with, and am proud to be a part of, even if my membership dues of cancer were rather steep. (To me, anyway.)

Today, we have lost a member of our group. I won't give the name, out of respect for the family. She was a sweet, funny, beautiful lady, with a heart so full of love it burst out of her, overflowing. The cancer came back for her, unexpectedly, and took her away. It was quick, and left us with a sudden vacuum where she had filled our lives. But part of being in this group is celebrating when a person is cancer free, and celebrating when they pass on as well.

I know so many who have had cancer, that want to act as if it was never there, and avoid anything that brings it up. I have a co-worker here, who also had colorectal cancer, and she looks away anytime I'm around. The fear of it coming back is for many, I believe, so great that avoidance is the only answer. But cancer will not be avoided, or ignored.

I recently read a devotional talking about cancer in trees. Sometimes, you may see, on a tree trunk, a large ballooned out part, looking like the tree just bulged out at that spot. That, according to botanists,  is cancer. It hits a tiny spot, then spreads out in every direction. It looks ugly and deformed. But woodworkers actually love those cancerous spots. Their wood is multi-colored, and swirls, and can be crafted into magnificent works of art.

Don't get me wrong. I don't like cancer. I don't like that it takes lives. I don't like the toll it takes on families, finances, emotions, strength. But God can make good out of anything, if we give it to him. Without cancer, I would have never found such wonderful friends as those from Camp Bluebird. Without cancer, I would have never found my voice as a writer and blogger. Without cancer, I would have never found my voice as a pastor. I would never have had the guts to even try.

In the things we face in our daily lives, sometimes the cancer is all we can see, whether it be disease or stress or hardship or loss. Step back, and know that God is seeing from a different viewpoint. Let His vision guide what you comprehend. That is why He speaks of "peace that PASSES understanding". (Emphasis mine.) Rest in Him, and fly.

Just Like Ronnie Said

"I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will eventually triumph, and that there is purpose and worth to each and every life."
- memorial marker at the Ronald Reagan grave site

That statement wouldn't go over well with most Christians of a Calvinist background. Actually, most church statements will say that man, because of original sin, is degenerate. So, that statement wouldn't even be agreed to by most people that just watch the nightly news. Why would someone as intelligent as Ronald Reagan make a comment that could have come from Bonzo? (Bedtime for Bonzo, Bonzo Goes to College-come on, look it up, people!)

I think Reagan was looking at mankind in faith; faith in what we hope to be, not what we often are. And I think that is the way God looks at us. Not blindly, but seeing beyond the bad, to the good. AND, I believe that is how we are to look at each other, beyond the bad to the good. Just like we want others to look beyond our bad to the good. Dottie Rambo wrote beautiful lyrics for a song titled "He looked beyond my fault and saw my need". Shouldn't we do the same?

This is harder sometimes more than others. Sometimes we see the whole world going to the pits of Hell. (Except ourselves, of course.) Elijah thought that after he confronted the priests of Baal (I Kings 19) but God put him straight. Even though we feel alone, there is a sense of urgency, of expectation that something better is coming. In Romans 8:19-21, the Bible says:

¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; ²⁰ for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.

In Matthew 19:28-29

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,^[a] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold^[b] and will inherit eternal life.

So, maybe, Ronnie had it right. We need to look expectantly to the good. Because, in faith, it is there. And this new world we look to, we yearn for, is for all. We only need to accept Him as Savior and Lord. It is even there for those we may not like. C.S. Lewis said that we would be surprised to see the people that make it into Heaven, and I think he got it right. His salvation is for ALL who will accept it.

This hope is here and now as well, not just in the future. In II Corinthians 5:5, it says

⁵ God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.

A guarantee is like a deposit, a down payment, a TASTE of the Great Banquet that awaits. His Sprit in us is just the beginning of what is coming. So let's look at each other a little more kindly. After all, we know what's ahead, and we wish it for everyone, as God wishes it for everyone.

(Except for you. Yeah, you. I see you out there. Just no hope...dang, there I go again!)

Surviving Life - A New Blogspot

     A friend of mine, Lisa Moorehead, has just begun a new blog. It's titled "Surviving Life...In loving memory of Ben". For any parent who has ever felt the crushing loss of a child, or whose child is one deeply chained by an addiction, this let's you know you are not alone. The blog is to document Lisa's journey through this process. I would highly recommend it to you at www.lisamoorehead1.blogspot.com.

     The story is as old as time. Adam and Eve lost their son, Abel. Eli lost his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. King David lost his son, Absalom. But these all pale to the willing sacrifice of God's own son, Jesus. Can you imagine the pain and suffering, even knowing the outcome, that God must have gone through, watching and crying through each drop of blood spilled?

     Because of that, I think God feels deeply for others that have lost a child as well. He understands the pain, and wants to be there through the process of healing. There are no miracles to get someone through, but there is always His love. It can be tough trying to accept that love, sometimes even blaming God Himself for the loss, but even in our anger, He waits to love us through.

     If you, or someone you know, has gone through this, please check out Lisa's blog. Thanks!

One Minute After You Die

"Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
- 1st Corinthians 15:51-52

The other day, I saw a tract in the bathroom at work with the title "One Minute After You Die". I did not read it (I'm not in the habit of picking up things left in the bathroom!), but it did set me to thinking. There are several ideas on what happens at death, and I'd like to look at a few here.

One is that death is final and forever. Gone, Kaput, Bye-Bye, Worm food. When the physical self ceases to be, all thought, dreams, likes, dislikes and wants will all end with it. Anything that made up who you were (personality, creativity, your true essence) is forever gone. Not a fan of this mode of thought.

Another is like that, but states that brain activity continues for a short time after death. This would allow for the near-death experiences we hear of, the white light being the electrical impulses still traveling the neurons. Seeing family and friends our memories acting as dreams for one last time. But in the end, the result here is the same as before. Gone. Also not a fan.

Some will admit to the existence of a soul, but believe that soul is reincarnated (comes back) into a different body after death, leaving at most, trace elements of the life it led before. Eventually, when a soul reaches perfection, is sent heavenward. While this would greatly reduce Heavenly overcrowding, what happens to the lives of all those who went before the final reincarnation, each life different and unique? Seems a waste. Not a fan.

So, my thoughts? I think the soul goes on, but that it is separate and unique, just as we are all separate and unique. I believe the soul is eternal, because it is how we are created in God's image, in Spirit. We are also created in His image in body, though, in that He came down to earth in human form. So...what now?

We are told to worship with all our "heart, soul and might". (Deut. 6:5) Mentally, spiritually, physically. Because what happens in one area, will affect the others. In that "One Minute After", I imagine our souls are going to look pretty battered and bruised. But then the unimaginable happens. "We shall be changed". Not from who we are, but INTO who we were meant to be. The personality, the memories, the character, all enhanced by God's gracious love. Made pure, by His Holy Breath, just as we were given life in creation by His Breath. In that "One Minute After", we shall see God as He truly is, and be seen as who we truly are. And the new bodies created to house the perfected souls shall be imperishable. Perfection, without weakness or sickness. Perfect houses for perfected souls.

Your thoughts may differ on the matter. As always, these are "my" Thoughts and Musings. There is even debate on when that change may happen, at death or at Jesus' return. But think on this. On any of the first three, whatever you do, say or think, will eventually be of no consequence. Those things that make you "you" will be gone. If, however, you feel the soul DOES go on, then everything you do to nurture it continues on for eternity. Every act of kindness, thoughtful words, or simple sharing of yourself is carried on forever. And EVEN should that be wrong, your doing so leaves the world a better place.

But it's not wrong. And your soul deserves the care of Christ. Because you are His, not as slaves, but as brothers and sisters. God's own, loved children. Let Him love you deeply, richly, as he so desperately wants to do. Then, love each other as He loves you.

(And if you SHOULD be reincarnated, I hope you never come back as the third verse of a hymn. Those things NEVER get sung!)

JCS to A.HAM - A Musical Oddesy

In the summer of 1973, I listened to a double album that "rocked" my world. At a church retreat, our youth leader played through the soundtrack to "Jesus Christ, Superstar", and went through the different scriptural references in each song. Up until that time, Broadway and Movie Musicals were basically the same; story lines built up to lead the characters into song. (One of the reasons many people don't like musicals, they will say "People don't just burst out into song!" Any musician and their significant other will realize the fallacy of that statement! But I digress.) JCS evened out the playing field by having everything in song, much like an opera.

This was an opera like no other, though. Guitars wailing, drums beating, Ted Neely and Carl Anderson screaming notes so high only dogs should have been able to hear. And the story Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber told became different in their hands. Never again would I hear the story in hushed monotones of Shakespearean English. They put PASSION into the Passion. I will still listen to the soundtrack around Easter each year, and the instrumental section on the crucifixion, led by Andre' Previn's magnificent direction, will still raise goosebumps on my arms.

Fast forward 44 years. Just this week, a friend loaned me a copy of Hamilton: An American Musical. And I was thirteen all over again. The mastery of music telling a true story, the obvious talent in the writing, arranging, and production. And the singers/actors themselves, bringing the story of Alexander Hamilton to life. But what made me go back was the true PASSION with which the story was told. So many times we look at history as only dates and body-less facts. History isn't about the thumb tacked dates on a time line, it's about the lives lived between those dates. The love, the hurt, the joy, the life. And Hamilton brings that out with exuberance.

In that same way, Religion isn't so much about do's and don'ts, rights or wrongs. They are there, yes, to give us a model by which we can live by, but the law is secondary to WHO the law points us too. Just as in History, dates and mere facts are secondary to the lives lived, so are laws meaningless without the LIFE lived, Jesus, for without HIM, there is no salvation. No law can save, only Jesus. The law can help us be more like Him, but only He can make the true transformation.

In the summer of 1973, that began to become real to me in ways I never imagined. The Bible began to turn from a rule book, into a love story, of which I was the object of affection. And I was loved with PASSION. Enough so that God's only begotten son, Jesus, gave His life for me. We will never be perfect, as He is perfect, even though we should strive to perfection. But we are loved. With passion. Let us love Him, and each other, with nothing less.

Love - It's the greatest

So now, faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1st Corinthians 13:13

I'm sorry for the time between posts. Last Friday, I found myself officiating the funeral for a good friend, Roger Matthews. His passing, while not unexpected, came quickly, with friends and family at his side. The day before the funeral, I went to the family house to see what I could offer in the service, what they most wanted to say, and ran into something a little unexpected. While the family was going through Roger's things, they ran across my wedding announcement from 22 years ago! Made on an old Brother Word Processer in 1995, it still looked good as new. (We thought we were pretty on top of technology back then, too!) On the announcement was the familiar quotation from 1st Corinthians 13, a description of true love. They wanted this to be the theme of his service, because, in Roger, the family felt he truly embodied that love.

Well, I'll admit, I've seen the scripture used in plenty of weddings, but not a funeral! As I tried to grasp what I needed to say, I thought back on Roger myself, and listened to stories the family had about him. For me, he was grandfather to my nephew and niece, Trent and Alison, but I was always treated as a family member. For the family, time and time again, there were stories of unselfish giving of himself, thinking about his family first, friends first, others ahead of himself, so many times. And that is what love is about.

He was a man who loved music as well. Born into a musical family, guitar player and wonderful singer and arranger.

Great sense of humor. A story from his sister...As he lay in bed, with family around, the music in the background was slow, sad sounding gospel tunes. As his sister was about to have had enough of the sadness, Roger said, quietly, "Can't y'all put on some rock and roll?"

I got a chance to look at his Bible, an old Revised Standard Version. You can learn a lot about a person from their Bible. This one was well used, the cover worn through in places, and the binding barely holding on to the pages. Inside were MANY notes. Roger had no problems writing in his Bible, and there were underlined passages on almost every page. And the notes he wrote filled in many of the margins, a lot of them with exclamation points! But one thing stood out, in the front of the Bible, were his own handwritten interpretations of two verses of scripture, Romans chapter 8, verses 26 and 28.

26 "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words."

28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose."

Under his thoughts on those verses, also handwritten, were the words "The two most wonderful things I can know!"

Love, in that 1st Corinthians 13 sense, is impossible to achieve on our own. So, how did Roger have it? Because he was not on his own. He held to the faith that in order to love, we must first be loved. And must hold on to our love, to then give to others. Roger's faith was in God's love for him, so strong that he could afford to give that love freely. The Spirit helped in weakness, and God's love worked through him.

I, and many others, will miss Roger's presence here, but his love will always remain, because Faith, Hope and Love abide, these three. But the greatest of these...is Love.

61st Street UMC - Goodbye, Old Friend

I had the chance to revisit a very special place today. There was a lunch time, Good Friday service at 61st Street United Methodist Church, a church where I served from 1978 to 1980. This was the first church I served in, other than my home church, and ran the circuit with Bro. Jim Hobgood. It was the church where I rededicated my life on March 25th, 1979, and felt my heart turned within me. I learned spiritual Joy, and learned spiritual warfare. I learned that prayer was more than just words, and that no sin is greater than God's love.

The church history goes back more than 100 years in that same location, and has been a fortress of service for the poor, elderly, and world beaten of West Nashville. Two of their ministries, a Hispanic outreach that serves there, as well as a Christmas Last Minute Toy Shop for parents that wouldn't be able to give to their children otherwise, are highly recognized for their service to the community.

The church's last service will be in June of this year. They are being closed, shut out by the "revitalization" of the neighborhood. The alter where I truly gave my heart to Him, the piano I played for hours are still there, for now. The clock on the wall that Jim Hobgood frequently ignored, still hangs. The stories and tears of over 100 years of saved souls are still in those walls. But where once, families with little income had a chance to at least have a home, they are pushed out on all sides by $400K "Monopoly" houses crammed in two and three to a lot. As these families are pushed away, those the church has served are diminishing in number.

I spoke to the Hispanic leader there, Rev. Miriam Cortez, and shared my memories of the church, and was joined by another member, whose history goes back over 60 years there, and her parents before her as well. I know there are other church locations out there, but this was her home, and to lose that is to lose just a piece of yourself. The pastor said they are still looking for a place to serve, as the ministry is so vital, especially for the multitude of children there. She says they are prayerfully hopeful. I join with them in prayer.

But all is not sad. Many souls were saved within those walls. Many souls were re-claimed, like mine. And for every life reborn, others outside those walls came to know Him, too. Ministries come and go, but the touch of God's hand is forever. Out of death, comes life. This is the Easter Story. Without the Cross, there is no empty tomb. From the passing of this small church on the corner of 61st Street and New York Avenue, may life burst forth. It's Friday, but we pray for Sunday. Amen.

I think I'll just sleep in...

"Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see you. I want to see you." - Paul Baloche

"Stand by me. Oh, stand by me.
Oh, won't you please, stand by me." - Ben E. King

"Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." - Jesus

You know, some days it's just hard to see the good. those days when the debate of getting out of bed or just staying put  with the covers up are real. Those days it feels like you've been put on the crazy mouse ride by force, with out a safety bar. Maybe it's just me, but some days, facing the world is tough, and running seems a viable option.

That's where the verse in John's gospel always comes back to me. (Sometimes sooner, sometime later, depending on how much I resist!)

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (ESV)

The trouble with fighting tribulation, is that in the midst of the fight, there is no end in sight. the greatest weapon in tribulations arsenal is the despair of failure. But this verse says there is an end. The tribulation in the world, whether global, national, local or personal, HAS BEEN OVERCOME. There is nothing the world can throw at you that Jesus has not overcome. Notice, He's not taking it away, necessarily, but assures you there is an end, you will win, and He's there with you to see you through.

As a person who sometimes can be depressed, I have clung to this verse like a security blanket. Does that sound weak? It's not. Jesus begs us to lean on Him, remove our burdens to take on His (Matt. 11:29-30). Rest in Him, and follow where He leads, even if the going is rough. (Ps. 23) In a time and a world that can be more than overwhelming, it is good to know that our guide, our savior, our Lord, our Jesus, has overcome.