Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

God Unboxed: Messin' WIth My Life!

2012-01-22T17:44:00.002-06:00

Happy 12th Day!

2012-01-06T09:13:00.001-06:00

On Christmas Day, I challenged everyone (See C&C Service on 12-25 at Trinity's website) to spend the 12 days of Christmas shouting God's "Yes" to the world. I'd love to hear your stories about sharing God's "Yes" during this very special holy-days!

(I hope to return to posting eclectic echoes and other thoughts soon but probably after Easter!)

Eclectic Echoes--Steve Jobs Edition

2011-10-07T09:39:00.001-05:00

I never thought I'd be a Mac person. But here I sit typing on my MacBook Pro and answering calls on my iPhone and suffering from a huge case of iPad envy! And I can't help but reflect on how one man's dream can impact so many people. Granted Steve Jobs was not the heroic man that Fred Stuttlesworth or Derrick Bell (both of whom died the same day as Jobs). Yet whether you use an Apple product or not, your life has been changed by his life. And I have been very moved by his thoughts on life and faith (see video at bottom). So thank you Steve Jobs for pursuing your dream and changing our lives and hopefully we will use the fruits of your ingenuity to make a positive difference in the world!

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Delusions of Glamour Began with Chandelier Earrings
American Religion is Strange
Four-Fold Pattern on Franciscan Prayer
To Change You Have To Want It
25 Ways to Be Missional in your Neighborhood
Steve Jobs: Reflections About Life, Death and the Life In-Between
I Don't Want An Easy Faith AMEN!
Good News! Jesus Is Not Nice!
The Harvey Inside

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
In Defense of the Lectionary
Six Reasons Young Christians Leave The Church
Scandalous Faith
Finding Yourself In-between
Why Congregations Need Denominations
Random Thoughts on Preaching Styles
Bishop Mike Coyner on Angry Birds
The Clarion Call to Watered Down Evangelicalism
A Few Days on the Trail
The Methodist Call To Action: Marching to or Rescuing Zion
Welcoming Doubt to Christian Education
Preaching to Your WHOLE Church

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Illegals All!
The Passing of a Preacher
Just Another Liberal Rant . . Business as Usual
The End of Almost Fifty
Why I Am Against Capital Punishment
After Ruling, Hispanics Flee An Alabama Town
People Kept Telling Me No
I Know My Call Is Real

REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP
God Will Make A Way
How to Absorb New Ideas And Become a Better Leader
Ministry For the Long Haul

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Confronting the Malefactors
5 Reasons to Drink Coffee (not that I need 5 reasons!)
The Lyrics to the Star Trek Theme Song
Tailgating Traditions at Auburn

JUST FOR FUN

Eclectic Echoes-- Spiritual But not Religious Edition

2011-09-21T16:20:00.003-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Week of Silence
Mine, Mine, Mine
The Spirituality of Play
Apology 101
Surrounded by a Puff of Witnesses
Capital Punishment: Dying a Slow Death
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Neighbor
Baylor Religion Survey Reveals Many See God Steering the Economy
More Americans Tailoring Religion to Meet Their Needs
If It Feels Right
Spiritual But Not Religious
You Can't Make This Stuff Up

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Calling Open Minds: The Kingdom of God Needs You
Moore Wesleyan or Not
The Problem of Beth Moore
What Wesley Did Not Say
True New Testament Preaching ? If he is right, my sermons are way too long!
Worship Versus Performance What do you think?
Our Mission is to Theologically Educate

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Everything I Need to Know About Church
Welcome Others As Christ Has Welcomed You

REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP
Do You See What I See
Hitting The Wall
Becoming A Christ-Shaped Leader

Mad Leadership

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
The Best Worst Movies of All Times
Haven't tried this yet but I plan to! Tailgating Recipes
Reflections on the Auburn/Utah State Game
The Helpless Feeling Of Watching Your Team Losing
In Memory of Bill Walls
What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents
Alton Brown Takes a Final Bite Out of Good Eats

JUST FOR FUN
Thanks to Matt Reed for sharing this with me:

Eclectic Echoes -- Ready for Auburn Football Edition

2011-09-01T20:39:00.004-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
When I Say God
The Hardest Prayer to Pray
Tiger Mom Loses to Reindeer Mom
The Miracle of Scripture
The Perfect Formula for God
The Tides of Life
Jesus Has No Part-Time Disciples
Do You Believe in Optimal Grace?
Questioning Faith: Where is God when you hurt?
Bad Haircuts and Better
Erasing Hell: The Unavoidable Role of the Intellect
Why Certainty About God is Overrated
Embodied Theology

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
The Debate About Adam and Eve Has Nothing To Do With Adam and Eve
A Helluva Sermon and a Damn Shame
7 Things Your Pastor Wants to Tell You But Doesn't Have the Guts
Ministry In the Meantime
Clergy Teams As the Way Ahead
Missional is Wesleyan and Wesleyan is Missional
The Adaptive Challenge and the Local (United Methodist Church)
Blessed Are the Un-Cool

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
One of the Perks
Clergy Fear Law Imperils Ministry
Theological Support for Welcoming Immigrants

REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP
40 Great Leadership Books
Mad Leadership
The Wrong Questions of Leadership
The Way I Get Things Done

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
5 Reasons to Tailgate in the SEC
US Childhood Gets Poor Scorecard
South Has 'Middle-Skills' Worker Shortage

JUST FOR FUN

Eclectic Echoes-- Shipwreck Edition

2011-08-21T17:43:00.005-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Someone Was Paying Attention
6 Tips For Finding a Pastor For Your Wedding
God's Grandeur
The Radical Atheistic Agenda of Ayn Rand
In the Interest of Full Self Disclosure
Are Co-Habitating Parents Bad for Kids?
What Story Are You Telling Yourself?
Stanley Hauerwas Gets It Right On America's Dying god
A Prayer of Blessing for Teachers
God, Grace and Goulash
Ghosts In A Church
Is God Violent?
How To Land Your Kid In Therapy . . . and maybe Church
Has the Bible Become an Idol

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Is It Hymn or Him
Quicksand of Questions
Let Kobe Worship?
Stop Diss-ing My Church
Why Should United Methodists Have a Season of Saints
Running Out of Options

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Yes, I Listened In Church This Sunday . . . and I Remembered
12 Reasons Chip Will Never Be Governor of Alabama
An Occasion of Grace
Say Man, Do You Love Me?
Bishops Lay Down the Law In Alabama
Clergy Fear Alabama Law Imperils Ministry
Trinity United Methodist Church Bolivia Mission Report
This Is What I Understand About Illegal

REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP
It's The Leadership Stupid
7 Thoughts on Collaboration
What Do You Wish You Knew Then That You Know Now
Why Have a Mission Statement
What I Learned About Leadership From a Fight With My Wife
The Ironies of Leadership
Moving Beyond Comfortable Leadership

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
The Practical Implications of the Upcoming Football Season
Give The Help and Black Working Women A Break
The Addictive Power of Bananagrams
It's Official:: Bert and Ernie Aren't Gay, They're Puppets
The Help--South Facing
"Twas A Month Before Football

JUST FOR FUN
Actually this is very serious! Click here for the words.

And more questions!

2011-08-19T11:08:00.003-05:00

Here are the final set of questions submitted to me in preparation for our "Questions for God" series:

• What happens to good people who commit suicide?
○ Do they go to heaven?

• Even as a Christian and a person of faith, I still wonder why there is so much hurt in the world... so much pain. Why men hurt their wives, children. Why children die, are kidnapped, abused. I know Satan is alive and well and the cause, but sometimes it seems too much. I wonder by God allows it. During tornadoes, earthquakes, etc., why some families make it and others don't.

• I would really love to know what I’m supposed to do when I find myself “wandering in the desert” on my way to what/where God has promised me. Is He testing my patience? My faith? Or teaching me a lesson in perseverance

• "Breivik's [the Norweigan mass murderer] apparent manifesto, by contrast, cites biblical verses to justify violence for political ends".
○ Maybe another question might be: Did God really kill all those people as described in the Bible?

• Is the Bible a book of facts and laws that should be taken literally to help us avoid Hell or a book of philosophies to provide guidelines to help us make earth a "good" place?

• It doesn’t seem like God is listening or caring about what is happening to me? Why should I care about Him if he doesn’t care about me? Why doesn’t he do something about all this stuff that is happening to me?

• What has always bothered me is prayers asking God for something... to be healed, even for patience or wisdom, for whatever. God is all knowing, and all powerful, and he knows all the plans for everyone's lives and determines them... why would me asking for something change anything? I get the part about connecting, listening and giving praise in prayer... but I have never understood about asking God to do something for me. Seems so illogical.

• Did Jesus come to earth as a sacrifice to "die for our sins" or did he come to earth to teach us how we should live and to show us that there is life after death?

• God, as you know, Christians say that Jesus "died for our sins". Do You see it that way? Could You please explain to me how that works? I'm an engineer, and my Myers Briggs Type Indicator is ISTJ, so it would be helpful if You explained it without abstract mumbo jumbo used by some of your spokespersons.

• God, do You play an active role in determining who among us suffers, and who does not? When an innocent child dies from an attack by a thoughtless thug; when a young missionary is killed by a stray bullet; when a drunk driver kills a young family on their way to church camp or a kills devout Amish farmers returning from a barn raising; when chronic disease causes suffering -- is Your hand at work in such apparent tragedies? If so, why? If not, why not, and are our prayers to You for continued life and health of any effect?

• God, why did you pick that particular time in history, 2000 years ago, for Jesus to live? It would have been helpful to many of us who try to understand His message so long after his death if he had lived at a time when His every word, the sound of His voice, and the expression on his face, could have been recorded and broadcast to everyone on the planet, instead of just thousands in a small region.

• God, what were you thinking when you arranged for Jesus to live among us 2000 years ago? Was it your plan all along that Jesus' teachings would make people so angry that they would murder Him after preaching for only a few years? Or did you "hope" for Jesus to live longer, and that his teachings would be respected and well-received?

• How do we teach our kids to give and forgive. When by example is not enough.

• Why does it seems that God takes it out on children, etc. tornado victims

• How does God separate his children at the end or does that happen?

• Why do bad things happen to good people?

• My question: Commandment "Thou Shall Not Kill" Justify the killings by nations during war. I know that God directed leaders to destroy nations to include not only woman and children but also livestock. Of course, this was before Jesus gave his life for our sins. This is confusing to me for I know that in order for us to fully worship God our soldiers have to defend our country.

• If we are made in the "likeness" of God . . . Why does everyone (almost everyone) think I am so wrong? Does God love me the way I am?

• God, who are you? A God that killed 1.4 million people in the Old Testament? A God that punishes all sinners for an eternity in hell? A God that is going to return (Dec. 21, 2012) and destroy 1/3 of all people in the world? Or a God that is loving , merciful, and filled with grace?

• How can a state/federal tax exempt church in good conscience and faith support challenges to state law against illegal immigration? Why are UMC clergy and bishop allowed to use church time and funds to support demonstrations against state law to prevent illegal immigration?

Tell Me All Your Thoughts On God . . .

2011-08-19T10:56:00.005-05:00

I have been totally awed and humbled by the questions I have received over the last month. The questions ranged from the merely curious to the intellectually and spiritually challenging to the heart wrenching. I believe I now have enough material to fuel sermons for the rest of my life! Needless to say there was no way I could address them all in four weeks. So we've expanded the series to six weeks and we still won't cover them all!

If you don't have a church home in Huntsville, you are invited to join us at Trinity's Cappuccino and Christ service (the contemporary service that meets in the New Room at the back of the building) at 10 a.m. beginning this Sunday as we explore the following questions for God:

August 21 Is It Okay to Ask Questions?
August 28 Is the Bible True?
September 4 Who Are You Really?
September 11 If You Are Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen?
September 18 Do You Really Care for Me?
September 25 What's Next?

If you aren't able to join us, Trinity's sermons (both from the traditional and contemporary services) can be heard on Trinity's webpage.

Eclectic Echoes -- I Love Lucy Edition

2011-08-06T15:56:00.002-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
What Really Keeps A Marriage Together
Out of Poverty, Family-Style
Harry Potter, Jesus and Me
Eschatology is Everything
American Idols: But Real Pain
God Things Does God care who wins football games?
Burning For the Lord
The Introvert Brand
My Son, The Atheist
Taking God Seriously
Erasing God: Might Makes Right
The Norway Killings: What's the Truth About Islam, Christianity and Violence
Can't Go Around Got To Go Through It
Forgiving Ourselves for Not Being Perfect

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
The Most Risky Profession
Don't Do Ministry Without It
What Church Can Learn From Artists
When the Church Shows Up
Exploring General Conference
Did Jesus Preach the Gospel?

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Civility is Just Gone
Two Quotes
Jogging in the Clouds
Who Speaks for the Church
Bye-Bye July

REFLECTIONS ON LEADERSHIP
10 Characteristics of Great Teams
Bet on the Inevitable
Evaluation Anxiety
5 Things I've Learned From Ministry

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
T'was A Month Before Football
Maintaining Your Faith While Playing Words with Friends
We Love Lucy: Secrets from Your Favorite Episodes
I Love Lucy

JUST FOR FUN
In honor of Lucille Ball's 100th birthday

Eclectic Echoes -- Why I am United Methodist Edition

2011-07-29T16:52:00.003-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Paradoxology
My Part is to Improve the Present Moment
Tragedy Compounded
The Difference Between a Smirk and a Smile
When Everything Suddenly Goes "Captcha"
Tell Me Again That God Isn't Angry
Popularity Was Not A Promise
Why Faith is a Story and Not a Doctrine
Embrace Death, Live Life
Beware the Pledge

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
What Divides Us
Bishop's [Coyner] Take of Youth
How Leaders Can Nurture Practical Wisdom
Reaching the Disinterested: What Works?
Should the Church Accountant Be The One Called "Worship Pastor"?
Church in Community
Why I Baptize Infants
What Do Laity Want From Sermons

WHY I AM A METHODIST AND AN EVANGELICAL
Thoughts from the President of Asbury Theological Seminary
Why I am An Evangelical and a Methodist
Means of Grace
Prevenient Grace
Sanctification: A Reorientation of the Heart

Conversion Through Faith in Jesus Christ
Discipleship, Catechesis in Community
Social Consciousness
Doctrinal Clarity--Catholic Spirit
Global Vision
Centrality of Worship
Conclusion to Why I Am Methodist and an Evangelical

and Adam Hamilton on What I Love about the UMC

I believe the United Methodist Church is at its best when it is passionately evangelical, firmly committed to justice, and with a liberal spirit that is always seeking truth, always willing to question old assumptions, and always open to reform. -- Adam Hamilton

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Get Your Economic Facts Straight-WE Create Jobs
Never Preach Christmas at Easter & Other Rules
United Methodist Debate Use of Numbers
Don't Forget Context In Interpreting Dashboards
Immigration Law Targets Students

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Fear, God and Family Pervade Migrants' Journey
Books for Fall
The End of Harry Potter
Daniel Radcliffe Goes Teetotal

JUST FOR FUN

Questions about Life, Faith, Christianity and the Bible

2011-07-23T09:58:00.005-05:00

• Define faith.

• How does God want us to deal with conflict within our families, our churches, our communities, etc.?

• Why is the church talking about, having meetings, forums, and sending us lessons on immigration?

• What did Jesus write in the sand?

• Is the Bible a book of facts and laws that should be taken literally to help us avoid Hell or a book of philosophies to provide guidelines to help us make earth a "good" place?

• I wonder where our soul resides? I used to think that since the soul was the most perfect(?) part of us it had to reside in the brain, which I thought was the most perfect bodily part of us. Then I heard about Alzheimer's. . .

• If God sent his son, Jesus, back to earth today where would he attend church? I really don't think he would head to a synagogue but where would he go. Would he come to a Methodist church? Would he come to our Methodist Church?

• Why isn't the "magic" found in the bible present in this day, i.e. the healing, burning bushes, visions, etc. etc.

Questions about God and Us

2011-07-23T09:55:00.002-05:00

• This is my question for God. "Why are some bad people allowed to have children when good people experience infertility and would provide a child a wonderful home filled with love?"

• Early in the Old Testament, God promises to the people of God that if they will follow his way, he will reward them. But it often seems to be at the expense of another people. Of course the people don’t and there is constant struggle between God and the people as well as between the people and their neighbors. Then Jesus comes and brings the word to love our brother, to give him the coat on our back if he asks, to forgive 70 times 70, but again says Jesus is the way, cutting out those who may be seeking God, but not by following Jesus. There seems to be an exclusivity to our faith; is this a test for us?

• What does God think when we fail to act? In other words, is inaction - when one has been gifted with a talent and an opportunity (leadership comes to mind) - sinful, damaging, hurtful, etc?

• “If a person commits suicide will they go to hell.”

• “Is there a Hell?”
○ “If so is Gandhi in Hell?”

• It seems like I've always been blessed with good things - I didn't have to work my way through college, my kids have always been well behaved and have achieved great things in high school and college, and I've had a great, well-paying job for almost 30 years. I never did anything special to deserve this and I don't think I've worked particularly hard to achieve it. So many other folks work very hard and still don't get these things. Why have I had it so easy and other people have it so hard?

• What are we going to do to pass the time for billions and trillions of years in heaven?
○ I wonder about heaven and the mansions we are going to live in. Is everyone going to have their own mansion? If so, wouldn't we be lonely living alone. Would there be dust? Who would maintain it and take care of it? Will there be stores? Will we have to work for money to buy stuff, like we do here? Will it be a lot like earth, but completely peaceful? Will there be lakes and sandy beaches? Will our pets who have died be there, along with our friends and relatives who have died? Will all animals and people live together peacefully, with no killing? My thoughts of heaven are that we will be able to do anything we ever wanted to do on earth, but lacked the talent or resources to do here. I can't imagine an endless life where all you do is worship God and sing His praises. There will be plenty of that, but there has to be something more.

• If God watches all we do, does He even watch when we have sex. (The writer wasn't that blunt but that was the question.)

• Does God punish us today? If so, how? How far does His unconditional love go?

• What exactly is grace? How do we earn it? Is it something that can be lost?

• Why God would want to care about me--bad and selfish as I am. Why would He go to all that trouble to create things (and us) and then have to tolerate us and then go to all that trouble to reach us.

• Why won't God talk to me overtly?

• Can soldiers who have killed during combat go to heaven?

• I work for the Army in support of a Department of Army weapon system that is armed for combat, which means people are killed. So, even though I'm not the one physically using the system, I help keep the system in operation. Does that mean my job indirectly supports/causes these deaths? How will I be held accountable for that?

• How does God (I like to call him the big guy upstairs...might be surprised later if God is a she but that would be cool too) sort through prayers and decide on what prayer to answer?

• Is it OK to have some doubts? Will he still love us and will we still go to heaven? What about people who neither believe nor disbelieve; they aren't sure? Will they go to heaven?

Questions about God

2011-07-23T09:53:00.000-05:00

• Why does God care? There are billions of people on this planet, yet we teach that God has a personal, caring relationship with each one. Why does God need or feel compelled to do this?

• Since childhood, I have wondered why God, that can do anything and make anything happen, would allow natural disasters to occur and cause death and suffering of many people around the world?

• If God is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-good, why is there so much suffering in the world? Does God will suffering?

• If there IS a God, why does he let bad things happen? Especially to good people and to children?

• I grew up in a church that taught God controlled everything. I always struggle with this when I would see a child hurting. I would ask “why is God letting this happen." Is there any scripture that helps explain this?

• Even as a Christian and a person of faith, I still wonder why there is so much hurt in the world... so much pain. Why men hurt their wives, children. Why children die, are kidnapped, abused. I know Satan is alive and well and the cause, but sometimes it seems too much. I wonder by God allows it. During tornadoes, earthquakes, etc., why some families make it and others don't.

• Last week you briefly touched on that you believe that God did not create cancer, does not let bad things happen, etc., even though, as you said, many Christians take that approach. I would like to see more along this subject

• The first question in my catechism as a child was, Who is God?
○ Answer was: God is the creator of heaven and earth and of all things.
○ It's not really an adequate answer, is it?

• Why did God punish Moses by not letting him see the Promised Land?

• Does God have any regrets?

• I've often wondered why God made some nasty insects, like cockroaches, beetles, mosquitos, fire ants, flies, scorpions, snakes, spiders, and probably a lot more I'm not thinking of right now. I know frogs, and purple martins have to eat, but why didn't he make these nasty things so they don't hurt us and are only a food source!

• Other than faith, what proof do we have that God exists? Are we all just running around praising, worshipping, and loving an "idea" rather than an actual God? I agree, there would be chaos without the morals and values that come with the Christian God, but truthfully, how do we know that the Christian God is the one that truly exists.

Questions, Questions, Questions . . .

2011-07-23T09:30:00.003-05:00

I have been overwhelmed by the wonderful questions I have received this week! And we aren't through collecting them, so feel free to jump in and add yours!

The questions have been thoughtful. Some are fun. Others express pain and struggle. Some express great faith and others great doubt. Several times while I was reading the questions I was touched so deeply I had to stop, pray and think.

I have been greatly blessed by the willingness of so many people to share their questions and struggles. Thank you!

Obviously, I won't be able to address them all during this sermon series, but I plan to share them with all the preachers at Trinity so that we can keep them in mind as we plan other sermon series and as we prepare individual sermons.

I will share the questions I have received in a series of posts. Some of the questions are redundant but I will share them anyway because they generally have a unique slant that adds to the question. I've removed identifying information because some of the questions are deeply personal. But for the most part, I'm passing on the questions as they were given to me.

Since I have so many questions already, I have placed them in three categories: Questions about God, Questions and God and Us, and Questions about Life, Faith, Christianity, and the Bible. In many cases, the questions could be categorized in two or more of those categories so I placed it where I thought it fit best. (For instance, most of the questions about the will of God do relate to God and us but I put them under Questions about God because they relate to God's character.)

Looking forward to continuing this conversation!

Questions for God?

2011-07-12T12:19:00.002-05:00

Those who believe that they believe in God, but without passion in their hearts, without anguish in mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, without an element of despair even in their consolation, believe in the God idea, not God himself. ~Miguel de Unamuno

"Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving."
— Frederick Buechner

Beginning August 21st in Trinity's Cappuccino and Christ Service, we will start a sermon series on "Questions for God." I'd love to hear what questions about God and faith you'd like to explore.

We'll select four questions to explore, but all questions will be helpful as we plan worship for the coming year.

Thank you!

Ite missa est – “Get out!”

2011-07-01T09:10:00.002-05:00

“Which worship style is right” is, after all, the wrong question. The better question is this: “Does our worship push us out of our church sanctuaries (or wherever it is we meet) to be Christ to the world?” Ronnie McBrayer

In my "previous" life, I prepared logistics support plans for missile systems. For those of you not familiar with logistics plans, their purpose is to ensure that weapon systems can be maintained. They include (among other things) plans for how soldiers will be trained to repair and maintain the systems and how supplies will be transported and stored. In other words, how will we train, deploy and maintain personnel and equipment over the lifetime of the system.

I left that career behind me nearly 20 years ago now. I continually refer to it as "my previous life." And I've assumed that I would never return to that career.

However, recently I've become aware that my current ministry as pastor and preacher has a lot in common with my former job! Articles, such as Ronnie McBrayer's, remind me that at our best, we should be training and maintaining Christians and then deploying them back into the world to make a difference for the Kingdom of God!

We gather on Sunday to worship God, but then we are sent back out into the world as the Body of Christ, a foretaste of heaven here on earth. That's what it is all about.

But as someone I respect often points out that means we put a tremendous burden on that one hour on Sunday. We expect worship to be worshipful, to be entertaining, and to be relevant. Pastors have to teach, to inspire, and to equip all well being authentic and engaging. But even more than that we have to deploy our folks to their schools, their offices, their homes, their ballfields, their golf courses . . . to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through their actions and words.

We could have great attendance, lots of baptisms and large numbers of good committed church members but if we fail to deploy them--to send them out our walls to serve the broken, hurting world God so loves--then we've failed.

So how do we retrain Christians to see Sunday worship not as an event but as preparation for their life in the world? How do we change a culture that assumes that evangelism is inviting seekers to church to a culture that recognizes our job is to seek out the lost and meet them where they are--just as Christ met us where we are?

Eclectic Echoes--Vacation Version

2011-07-01T07:14:00.004-05:00

My resolution for the month of July is to revive my blog. Hopefully in the weeks to come, I will be able to invite you to help me shape sermon series as well as reflect on our culture and lives. In the meantime, for the first time in months, I thought I'd share some of the articles I have found thought provoking.

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Brueggemann points to a food fight in Scripture
Actually That's Not In the Bible
Life on the Border
I Hate Gardening But God Doesn't
Why I Hope to Die Empty
Kingdom Holiness and Sin
Philanthropy and Psuedo-Action

REFLECTIONS ON ALABAMA'S IMMIGRATION LAW I won't even pretend to be unbiased on this issue. While I can understand the political reasons to support this law, I can't find a Christian reason to support it. So here are some of the articles that resonate with me.
Open Letter to Governor Bentley
An Open Letter
Roger Olsen on the Scapegoating Behind Anti-Immigration Laws
As Tuscaloosa Rebuilds, Exodus of Immigrants Makes Job Harder
A Sermon for Egyptians
The Second Cooler
Immigration Law Nothing to Celebrate
And this beautiful story of how one man's life was changed when he entered into relationship with the people: Republican Mayor in the South Becomes Unlikely Advocate for Immigrants

This one is not specifically about this law but in memory of Kathryn Tucker Windham: A Heartfelt Message for the Academy

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Confessions of a Wannabe Emerging Leader
The Truth About the Church]
Brian McLaren's Open Letter to Worship Songwriters
Entertainment and Hospitality--Can These Values Co-exist?
iPad Preachers
Restructure: Losing Ourselves to Find Ourselves
The Church is Dead
Leading for the Long Haul
The Unforgiving
Rethink Annual Conference

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Christian Century on The Bishop's Dashboard
Church Copes with Storms, Racial Allegations
Human Trafficking Blacklist
Our Finest Hour

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Being Elmo

JUST FOR FUN
I'm sure I've shared this before, but it's time to share it again!

Tybee!!

2011-06-30T22:41:00.003-05:00

With just a day and a half away until we leave for Tybee, a friend asked for some suggestions on places to eat and shop on Tybee. So I decided to share with anyone else headed in that direction.

So here you go:
For breakfast or lunch (Not open for dinner —we generally go for a late big breakfast): The Breakfast Club
You’ll probably have to stand in line outside the restaurant to get a table but worth it.
For food and sunset: AJ’s Dockside
food is good and the sunset is spectacular! And I actually usually pass on the seafood here and get the stuffed chicken breast. But the seafood is good too!
For food and fun: The Crab Shack
I usually get the low island boil
Great food and they have live music in the evenings: Stingrays
on Butler (main road) great fried food
Great tacos: Tybee Island Social Club
Laura says it has the best guacamole also! Also on Butler
To cool off: Seaweeds —near stingrays on Butler—Great Hawaiian ice and ice cream
Really good food but not actually on Tybee: Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House -- Paula Dean’s brother--what more need I say!
The one we haven’t tried yet—but have heard great things about: Sundae Café
We plan to try it this trip.

Of course there are lots of choices in Savannah also.

Shopping is more limited. Tybee Oaks has a few little shops. Tybrisa has lots of shops but mainly souvenir shops. There are a couple of art galleries on the Butler that are nice. I generally go shopping on River Street or at the City Market in Savannah when I want to shop.

The Dolphin Tours are generally nice. We’ve pretty much settled on Captain Mike’s for their sunset tour. We see some dolphins but the highlight is seeing the sunset behind Cockspur Lighthouse.

If you like history and museums, Ft Pulaski, Tybee Island Light House, Ft Screven are all fun. And of course there is lots to see in Savannah.

If you need groceries, the IGA carries most things but there is a Wal-Mart and a Publix on Wilmington Island between Savannah and Tybee.

And no report on Tybee would be complete without mentioning the numerous and wonderful ghost tours in Savannah.

(have I mentioned we are less than 36 hours away from our trip to Tybee?!)

Meet Yennifer

2011-06-17T08:15:00.002-05:00

We've had the wonderful opportunity to extend our family to Bolivia through Compassion International. In this picture, Debbie Akers is introducing Yennifer to the Clontz family. Debbie is currently in Bolivia with a mission team from Trinity and had the opportunity not only to meet Yennifer but to tell her that we were here new sponsors. We are looking forward to getting to know Yennifer in the years to come.

One of the many things I love about the church is that national boundaries, time zones, races, cultures, and languages cannot fence in the love of Christ!

The Conference Secretary, the Cabinet Secretary,

2011-06-14T16:51:00.001-05:00

and the Associate District Superintendent all agree: This is so true it is hilarious!

Christ is Risen

2011-04-24T07:43:00.000-05:00

He is Risen Indeed!

When I find myself in times of trouble . . .

2011-04-22T17:26:00.002-05:00

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. John 19:25b-27

Growing up, I didn’t think much about Jesus’ mother, Mary.

Oh, I thought of her at Christmas time when she became the most coveted role in the Christmas pageant. But the truth is that, for most of the year, I didn’t think much about her. And when I did, most of my ideas about Mary were shaped by Hallmark Christmas cards and . . . The Beatles.

After all, I was 8 years old when “Let It Be” was released. I grew up hearing Paul McCartney sing: “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom ‘Let it Be.’”

As I grew into adulthood, I began to hear more about Mary—especially Mary as a role model for faith. Mary was portrayed as the model for passive obedience to God. Whatever happened, she didn’t doubt, didn’t argue, just sighed and said, “Let it Be” and so it was.

And despite the fact that she was lifted up as such a wonderful role model for women, I didn’t want to be Mary. Pregnant at 14. Widowed at a young age. Her son running all over the country putting himself in danger. Publically humiliated when she and his brothers tried to get him to come home for a much needed rest. And worst of all, watching her son die a painful, violent death on the cross. All the while saying “Let it Be,” or to borrow from another song of my childhood, “Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be will be.”

But then I actually read what the Bible had to say about Mary!

Mary was anything but a passive fatalist. She was a smart, strong woman who knew what she believed and acted on that belief. While others whispered about the baby she carried, she stood strong. And when her son hung on a cross, she stood with head held high and watched.

The gospels tell us very little about Mary’s presence at the cross, just the two verses I read earlier. And those verses are really more about Jesus and the beloved disciple then about her. But what strikes me about that short description was one simple fact: she was standing.

As a mother, I can’t stand to see my children in pain. When they hurt, I hurt. What’s more, you can inflict much more pain on me by hurting one of my children than you ever could by hurting me directly.

That is why I find it so amazing that Mary was standing near the cross! In the same situation, I would have been doubled over crying, kneeling in prayer, prostrate on the ground, or collapsed in a heap. The pain, the fear, and the grief would have been more than I could have stood. Standing is the last thing I would have had the strength to do.

Yet Mary stood.

The earth is quaking. The sun is darkening. The world is laughing and mocking him. Her son is crying out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me!” Her son is dying. The world is falling apart around her. The center no longer seems to hold.

Yet Mary stands.

This is not the posture of fatalist. This is not the posture of a passive woman. Standing is the posture of someone who is strong, in control, and, if not unafraid, then someone who is brave enough to stand and watch.

And Mary stands.

Not that we should be surprised by her courage and her strength! Despite the fact that she is only mentioned in a few passages, Mary has a lot to say.

And that in itself is surprising because the truth is that women are rarely named in the Bible, and it is even rarer for them to speak for themselves. But Mary has something to say just about every time she shows up, and what she has to say is powerful.

When the angel shows up with his unexpected news about the baby, her first response is, “How can this be?” She’s not stupid. She knows where babies come from! What’s more she knows what could happen to her if she is pregnant—stoning, divorce, shame. Yet, when the angel tells her that the baby is an act of God, she responds not simply, “Let it Be.” Rather she responds, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.”

“Let it be with me according to your word.”

Mary may not have been highly educated, but she knew her Bible. She may not have been a biblical scholar, but she knew the stories of God and how God interacted with his people. A few months later, when she met up with her cousin, Elizabeth, her response to that meeting was to break forth in a song. We call it the Magnificat because of its opening line: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” But anyone who knows their Hebrew Scriptures would recognize it immediately as a variation on the words of Hannah after she dropped her much wanted and anticipated son, Samuel, off at the temple. I believe Mary knew the stories well. She knew them so well that in a time of great joy, her words were a variation on the words of Scripture.

So when Mary said, “Let it Be with me according to your word,” she was not saying, “Que Sera, whatever will be will be.” Rather Mary was placing her future in hands of one who had proven himself faithful again and again and again. She was standing on the promises of a God she knew something about. A God whom she would declare “has done great things for me.” A God who is just and strong. A God who fills the hungry ones with good things. A God who keeps promises.

Often people speak of trusting God as if trusting God was putting our future into the hands of some sort of unknown entity—akin to believing what Sister Sarah says when she reads your palm or the tarot cards. But we don’t worship an unknown God; we worship a God who chooses to reveal himself to us.

God revealed himself in the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. God reveals himself in the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion. And God reveals himself in the words and stories of our Bible.

We don’t trust an unknown God. We trust a God who the Bible reveals to us makes and keeps promises (even when it does seem impossible to us).

And Mary knew God. So when Mary stood and said, “Let it Be” she wasn’t saying, “Whatever . . .” She placing her trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; a God who keeps his promises. She wasn’t signing up for journey into an unknown future; rather she was signing up to serve a known God.

Therefore, when Mary asked, “How can it be?” and the angel replied, “Nothing is impossible for God,” Mary knew she wasn’t standing on shaky ground; she was standing on the promises of a promise-keeping God.

So Mary stood.

When Jesus was a baby, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple to be presented. While at the temple, they met an old man named Simeon. The old man had taken Jesus in his arms and declared that he could now die in peace because he had seen the promise of God fulfilled. And as Simeon handed Jesus back to Mary, he had told her that Jesus’ ministry would be opposed and that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul also.
Can you imagine the fear that must have caused in the heart of that young mother?

Yet Mary stood.

Standing at the cross, I am sure that Mary felt as if a sword was piercing her soul. Jesus’ pain was her pain. And when Jesus cried out, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me!” I’m sure she cried out also. But she stood firm because, despite all evidence to the contrary, she believed in a God who kept promises.

So Mary stood.

Because she knew the stories, knew the scriptures, and knew her psalms, Mary must have been very aware that Jesus was quoting scripture as he cried out “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me.” That is the first line of Psalm 22, a very painful psalm where the psalmist is calling out for deliverance from suffering. The psalmist speaks of betrayal, of abandonment, of physical pain, and of torture, but the psalm ends with words of great hope and promise:

“Posterity will serve the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.” Psalm 22:30-31.

He has done it! It is finished! What looks to the world is the very end turns out to be just the beginning of something wonderful.

Mary didn’t yet know that, but she stood for what she believed. And what she believed was that nothing is impossible for God and that God keeps promises therefore this could not be the end.

So today when I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary does come to me, and she does speak words of wisdom to me. She tells me that even when my world is quaking, when everything I believed was true appears to be a lie, when I feel abandoned by God, when I am betrayed by friends, when the world seems to be falling apart and the center doesn’t appear to hold that I can stand on the promises of life-giving, promise-fulfilling God.

She reminds me again and again that nothing—NOTHING—is impossible for a God who brings creation from nothing, forgiveness from guilt, and life from death. I can stand on the grace of God.

She reminds me that I trust not in an unknown God but a God who has proven time and time again that he can be trusted. She reminds me that when things are darkest, the story is not yet over. I can stand on my faith in a God who brings life from death.

In the face of the very worst that life can offer, the violent, painful death of her son, Mary stands for what—no, for whom—she believes. And because we too are servants of that same Lord, in the face of the worst life can throw our way, we too can stand on the promises of the God who loved us enough to give up his glory, to meet us where we are, and who threw open his arms in love and allowed himself to be nailed on a cross.

So on this holy week, as we are tempted to rush from the glory of Palm Sunday to the glory of Easter, as we are tempted to fall to the ground and to avert our eyes from the pain of the cross, we too can stand for the one we believe in.

And when we find ourselves in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to us whispering words of wisdom, “Let it be with me according to thy word.” And we, like her, can stand.

Thanks be to God.

Sunday Afternoon Reflection

2011-03-13T15:32:00.003-05:00

"God loves you. And I'd always say 'Big Deal! God loves everybody. That don't make me special. That just proves that God ain't got no taste.' And I don't think he does. Thank God! 'Cause God takes the junk of our lives and he makes the greatest art in the world out of it. And if was as cultured, if he was as civilized as most Christian people wish he was, he'd be useless to Christianity. But God is a wild man and I hope in the course of your life you encounter him. But let me warn you, you need to hang on for dear life or let go for dear life . . . maybe is better." Rich Mullins

If I had to pick just one song that expressed my journey with God, this is the one. With the death of Rich Mullins, Christian music lost not only a great talent, but a very honest and down-to-earth perspective on God and the Christian life.

Sometimes the night was beautiful
Sometimes the sky was so far away
Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close
You could touch it but your heart would break
Sometimes the morning came too soon
Sometimes the day could be so hot
There was so much work left to do
But so much You'd already done

CHORUS:
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Sometimes I think of Abraham
How one star he saw had been lit for me
He was a stranger in this land
And I am that, no less than he
And on this road to righteousness
Sometimes the climb can be so steep
I may falter in my steps
But never beyond Your reach

CHORUS

And I will follow You all of my days
And I will follow You all of my days
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days
And I will follow You all of my days
(Sometimes the night was beautiful)
And I will follow You all of my days

Who Has Loved You Into Being?

2011-03-12T19:00:00.003-06:00

“All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are … Ten seconds of silence.” Fred Rogers

Last night, my 100 year old great Aunt Valetta died and as yet another member of that generation passes on, I am reminded of how much in debt I am to those who have loved me into being. I am reminded of my "Pop," Clarence Wilbur Coutant,who died when I was four but who taught me at a young age what it meant to be loved unconditionally and the power and beauty of imagination. My nanny, Gladiola Elizabeth Coutant, who was always there for me. She was the cool grandma. When she was in her mid-60s and managing an apartment complex in Decatur, GA, the teens flocked to her for advice and support. For my Grandpa Sisler, who died last year, and my Grandma Sisler, who is grieving the loss of her big sister today. For Elise Moss Simmons who inspired and at times prodded me into pursuing my calling to full time ministry and to seminary. For my mother and my father, my sister, and my brothers. For John Rutland and Dorothy Ann Webster, who took calls at odd hours when I didn't know what to do next and stood with me when I was ordained. For my husband, Craig, who has patiently supported me through 28 years of marriage and who has not only been the best friend and husband, but also a great father to our children. For my children, who have turned out great despite me. For Sherry, Nancy, Pat, the folks at Epworth who prayed me through seminary and my first years of ministry. For Jackie, Bivian, Diane, Becky, Greg, who've been my friends through so many changes and even in times when I must less than lovable. For the numerous clergy women who have mentored and inspired me. For the clergy men also! For . . . oh my goodness, I can't begin to name all of the folks who have loved me into being! (Now I understand the problem people winning awards have when they start to thank everyone who made their big moment possible.) . . . teachers, friends, cousins . . .

So in honor of all those who have loved me into being--THANK YOU!

Who are some of the people who have loved you into being?

Mr. Roger's Emmy Acceptance Speech

Eclectic Echoes--Feast of John and Charles Wesley Version

2011-03-04T21:23:00.004-06:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
On Being Competent
Bible, Women and Violence
Why Pray?
An Open Letter to Open Letter (Be sure and read the comments!)
You Can Draw And Probably Better Than Me
Top Five Prayer Pet Peeves
Flirting With The Sabbath
Lenten Work
Guide to Living the General Rules
What is the Most Important Thing?
What's the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?
Mark Rodgers and Bono on Christian Musical Artists
And in honor of the Feast of John and Charles Wesley: Class Meeting Questions -- Check out these wonderful updated accountability questions!

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
A Simple Clear Witness
A Connection of Missional Parishes, Part One
One more on the Rob Bell Controversy -- Dear Rob
Recovering the Power of Wesleyan Preaching

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
A Spirituality of Grief
Some Things Just Can't Wait
Funeral of a Dear Friend
Why Worry?
Is Jesus a Doormat?

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
A Peak Inside Westboro Baptist Church

JUST FOR FUN
Lyrics found here

What the . . Bell?

2011-03-02T21:43:00.003-06:00

If you follow Christian blogs, you've heard all about it (unless of course your computer has crashed or your internet is out or you're lost on an unwired island!). But if you don't pay attention to some things, you may be blissfully unaware of the big brouhaha over Rob Bell's new book, "Love Wins" (a title which wins my heart!). Now before you run over to Amazon to check out the new book, I have to warn you that the book has not yet been released. However, the fact that very few people have actually read the book has not kept them from making all sorts of claims about Bell's theology and even his eternal destination.

While we don't know exactly what Bell will claim in his book, the trailer and blurbs describing it have lead many to claim that Bell is a universalist (that is someone who believes that everyone will end up in heaven). That's yet to be seen and as you'll discover as you read some of the responses to this controversy, there are even different kinds of universalists.

Sadly, this is the kind of controversy that makes many folks (and especially younger ones) dismiss the church and Christians as judgmental and non-thinking. However, this is also an opportunity for all of us to explore our own beliefs about God's love and God's judgment and what Jesus has to do with both of them.

Now most of you don't comment on this blog, but here is an invitation to engage in this important discussion. So here are some links to get you thinking and feel free to chime in!

Rob Bell--Universalist?
Thoughts About Rob Bell, John Piper, and Justin Taylor
An Open Letter to Justin Taylor
What the Hell?
yet another Rob Bell-Universalist?
The Battle Over Hell
Who Gets Into Heaven?
Brian McLaren--Rob Bell--Giving Us All A Wonderful Opportunity (Shameless plug--McLaren will be the speaker at this year's North Alabama Conference!)
Ben Witherington's thoughts on Love Wins
Scott McKnight is Waiting on Rob Bell
To Hell with Hell
Farewell Rob Bell (or John Piper's Inferno)
Christianity Today Chimes in
Young Evangelical's Prayer for John Piper and Rob Bell
What I Lost Losing Hell
Chad Gibbs on Bell, Bartman, and my fears

So what do you think?

Eclectic Echoes -Where Has February Gone Edition

2011-02-27T09:03:00.000-06:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Eros Defended or Eros Destroyed--What Do Wesley and the Bible Have to Say
On Using Prayerbooks
Does the 'E' in 'E Pluribus Unum' Stand for 'Entitlement'?
Life is Both Beautiful and Broken
The Least of These
We Are Failing at Confession
God's Word as God's Mystery
Trusting the Bible Vs Trusting Human Reason
Resistance is Baptismal
Who Am I?
Talk Like a Theologian
The Kingdom as Social, Economic, Communal Resistance

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Why Millennials are Leaving the Church-You Won't Believe This
Program-itis
Are You Serious?!
What is a Sermon?
Take the Sacraments Shopping
How Do Clergy Gatherings Matter?
Confessions of a New DS

WOMEN AND CHURCH
A Pink Flamingo in a Sea of Blue Herons
Women in Ministry: A Letter
Women's Circles and Bonding Social Capital
Please respond to this Question
Out of Ur--Women in Ministry

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
A Letter to the Boys Fantastic
Worship and Song for United Methodists
Church Sunday School Naming Strategies
A Spirituality of Grief
Why Worry?

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
15 More Shows That Should Replace Humans with More Reliable Robots
What is Happening in the Middle East

JUST FOR FUN

Eclectic Echoes--Valentine's Edition

2011-02-12T16:31:00.005-06:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Abba: Intimacy or Cruciform Royalty
Hauerwas, Against the Grain -- Just downloaded his bio to my Kindle.
On Being Blessed
Can You Not Focus for One Hour
Dealing with A Disturbing Bible
Leadership and the Cluttered Desk (So please don't look at my desk!)
What Do You Do With A Lie
New iPhone Confession App!
The Unseen--Illegal Immigrants
And now from Phyllis Tickle! My prayer is that I can say with her,

"There is absolutely no separation between my spiritual life and my work life. My work and my spiritual life are two halves of the same thing. I don't know where one stops and the other starts."

Spiritual Journey - Phyllis Tickle - An Unexpected Life from 30goodminutes on Vimeo.

"We are and become the story we tell ourselves and that we are told by God."

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Mike Slaughter on why he finds contemporary worship boring

But Do You Want To Be A Transformational Leader?
What's A Church's Economic Worth?

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Disagree with Me--That's Cool--Let's Talk--I'll Buy

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
George Washington: Strong Man, But No Strongman

JUST FOR FUN

Eclectic Echoes -- Long Time No See Edition

2011-02-06T20:42:00.002-06:00

It's been quite a long time since I've had time to share what I've been reading (and we won't even discuss how little I've read during that time). But let's give it a try!

So here are some of my favorites from the web this week:

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
The Truth Trap
Beer and Bible
Women in Mark: Least and Greatest
President Obama and the National Prayer Breakfast
Stanley Fish's Favorite Sentences
The Theological Significance of Grits
Does Prayer Change God's Mind?
The Sacrament of Sex
Lessons in Manliness from Atticus Finch
The Sound of Silence
10 Ways Liberal Christians Lose Credibility

Some reflections on women in the workplace
The Bitching Point
Crying at Work: A Woman's Burden

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Church Membership Requirements
Church Size, Church Culture and Leadership
Judicial Council Gets A Grammar Question and I eagerly await their ruling
Reading in Church: Paul's Advice
Thinking about signing up for this! Epic Pastor's Fail Conference

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
My friend Chip's observations on life: It's Just Me and ___ Talking
Bishop Willimon on the Birmingham-Southern Situation
Steve West: Prayers Under the Floorboard

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Define Gender Gap? Look up Wikipedia's Contributor List
Gotta Love Covers of Whip It -- Whip It Good!

JUST FOR FUN

Why should my face not be sad

2011-02-05T14:00:00.022-06:00

As I listen to the news reports of the violence in Cairo as well as the wonderful stories of peaceful demonstration and Egyptians of differing faiths protecting one another, I keep thinking about the faces of the people I saw in Cairo. So as an act of prayer on their behalf, I thought I would share some of the faces I encountered.

God and Auburn

2011-01-28T10:07:00.005-06:00

I’ve known for years that God was an Auburn fan.

I knew it from the moment I first walked on the campus and knew I had found a place, where for the first time in a long time, that I belonged. Auburn is a special place surely God must have blessed it!

Auburn is the place where I not only earned my Bachelor’s degree, but where I learned that when you fall down (that is fail a class), you pick yourself up and go on. Auburn was the place where I made some of the greatest mistakes of my life, but discovered that good friends will love you anyway, help you get back up when you fall, and walk with you as you move forward. Auburn is where I learned to be a good loser. (Growing up a University of Texas and Dallas Cowboy fan in the 1970s didn’t teach me much about that.) I learned perseverance. I learned the value of community. And I learned the true joy of winning when, in my senior year and the last Iron Bowl I marched in, we beat Bema for the first time in 10 years. Auburn is where I truly fell in love with my husband. And Auburn is where I entrusted my oldest child when he left us to stretch his wings and fly.

When I think of Auburn, I think of the beauty of the arboretum, the warmth of the sun, squirrels scampering as you walk, the majesty of the football traditions, the joy of swinging my body and yelling “War Eagle” as the band takes the field, and the beauty of Toomer’s Corner covered in—of all things—toilet paper. I think of a large diverse family who is “all in.” I remember being in Maryland washing clothes when a young soldier saw my Auburn t-shirt, grabbed me and practically yelled, “You’re from Auburn! I’m from Auburn too!”

God must be an Auburn fan!

So it doesn’t surprise me that Rick and Bubba, Gene Chizik, Cam Newton, Wes Byrum, and Neil Caudle share that news with the world! And that 19, 19, 19 thing—gotta admit that is pretty cool!

But seriously folks, do you really think God is coaching ball games from on high? Do you really think that God prefers Auburn over Oregon (although goodness knows those green socks were enough to annoy anyone—even God!). Or even (as much as I would love this to be true) that this year God preferred Auburn to Alabama?!

I greatly respect Chizik, his players as well as the team chaplain, Chette Williams. One of the reasons I am proud of our team is the deep faith that appears to be a vital part of their culture. However, I get heartburn every time Chizik claims a victory on the football field for God.

I strongly believe that we should all acknowledge God as the source of whatever gifts we possess, whether that be the ability to throw a football, coach a game, solve a math problem, or comfort someone who mourns. I believe we should ask God to bless all our endeavors so that others can be blessed. I believe we should publicly acknowledge our faith and our God.

But I don’t believe God is in the business of fixing ball games!

God is not a cosmic vending machine where we put in the proper amount of prayer, religious devotion, and good living and out pops the thing we most want—be it winning a championship game, finding the perfect job or spouse, or a miraculous healing of a disease. As many faithful people can attest, God does not always answer prayers in the way we would like them answered! Sometimes the prayers are answered and sometimes they are not. But neither is God a cosmic slot machine where we put in prayer, religious devotion and good living and pull the lever hoping that maybe this time it will pay out.

God is not in the business of doing our bidding, but rather God is in the business of bidding us to do.

Granted there are those who would claim that someone might be inspired to go to church or to pray as a result of knowing God assured Auburn a victory because of the faithfulness of their coach and players. But if our goal is to make disciples of Jesus so they can share that faith with others and bring a taste of the kingdom of God to earth, then this is bait and switch. God blesses us not so we can be personally successful but so we can bless others. And Jesus called disciples not to win championship games, but to pick up our cross and follow him.

Yes, I believe God is an Auburn fan, but God is also an Oregon fan . . . and, as much as it pains me to say it, God is even a Bama fan. God loves the world and God calls us to love it to. And those who feel they are blessed by God should always remember that God’s blessing is not for their benefit but for the benefit of the broken, hurting world God so loves.

Celebrating A National Championship

2011-01-11T01:01:00.001-06:00

War Eagle and Good Night!

The Work of Christmas

2011-01-01T11:55:00.002-06:00

On the 8th day of Christmas, the lectionary reading is Matthew 25:31-46

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

And Howard Thurman reminds us that the work of Christmas continues!

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman

Eclectic Echoes--Graduation Edition

2010-05-28T10:27:00.005-05:00

This was a big week for the Clontz family. Our youngest, Laura, graduated and is headed toward Birmingham-Southern College to study Elementary/Collaborative Education. She also had the honor of giving one of the honors graduate speeches at graduation. She says she was glad to have to done it and glad it is over! Needless to say we are very proud of her (and just a bit obnoxious about it--sorry!)

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Words from the Mother of Methodism
AU Study Shows Poor Children Fare Worse From Sleep Disruptions
"Who On Earth Would Support Such a Dummy"
Our Restless Lives
Two Sides to Freedom
The Peace of Wild Things
Are you earnestly striving for perfection in love?
Beatitudes: Virtues or Proclamations?
O Say Can You Wear?
We Were There Too: Women at Pentecost
10 Ways Christians Fail at Being Christian
Skeptical about Skepticism
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Messy Church
God Will Never Abandon The Church
Ministry in a Lonely Generation
The Mourner as Leader
Worship by any other name
Frances Chan gives up
Methodism's Largest Churches
4 things the UMC must do to serve the present age
Evaluating Sunday's sermon
Methodist Monday
Post #6
Post #7
Post 8
Commission Takes Aim at Clergy Job Guarantees Below are some responses to this article.
Fear and Loathing in the Pulpit
Blessed (Clergy Job) Assurance
The Cross I've Not Picked Up

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Major Moves In Ministry

Are You A Woman of the Kingdom
Pray for the Homeless

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
In honor of his birthday: Bob Dylan Covers

JUST FOR FUN

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Tripping Over Joy

2010-05-10T19:27:00.006-05:00

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think

You have a thousand serious moves.

From “I Heard God Laughing” by Hafiz (14th Century Persian Poet)

When the kids were younger, we used to have a computer version of the game Mancala. The game featured a wise observer who when you made a good move would say, "You are thinking many moves ahead."

I've always thought many moves ahead and sometimes it is a good characteristic. But when it comes to the things of God, thinking many moves ahead is not necessarily a good thing. As I could out-think and out-plan God!

A wise nun introduced me to this poem today and I almost laughed when she told me about it. And perhaps I should have because it is definitely time to quit thinking many (serious) moves ahead and start laughing and surrendering!

Eclectic Echoes--Nashville Skyline Edition

2010-05-08T15:27:00.004-05:00

Funny how you take things for granted. I've never particularly thought of myself as attached to Nashville. I love my time spent at Vanderbilt but my time there was primarily spent going to class, studying, and spending time with friends. As a child, we actually spent a fair amount of time in Nashville since it was conveniently located half way between Dad in D.C. and Mom in Dallas. I still remember fondly trying hard to stay awake in Ryman so I could hear Marty Robbins sing (I was much more fond of country music in those days). But all in all I have taken Nashville for granted.

My last visit to Nashville was actually last Friday and I drove on many of the roads and buildings that were flooded less than 24 hours later. And of course, I have a number of very dear friends that live in Nashville.

Given the number of disasters that have hit lately, tornadoes in Albertville and Geraldine and oil slicks on the coast, you'd think we'd become immune to hurting when we see such devastation. But thankfully I haven't yet. So this week I'd like to begin by sharing a video from Nashville. This video ends with an appeal to send funds to the Red Cross but I'd also like to encourage you to consider donating to UMCOR The advance special number is for domestic disaster response but 100% of that money goes to disaster relief.

Nashville Musical Legacy Under Water
We are Nashville

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
How (and how not) To Take Criticism
Office Business --reflection on the offices of Christ
Responsibility and Repentance
Reclaiming Mother's Day
The Gulf of Mexico and Care of Creation
Praying for the Nation
As illegal immigration falls, is American in decline?

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
A Six Pack of Mountain Dew Can't Fix Everything
Randy Maddox on Doctrine, Spirit, Discipline
Dallas Willard on how we assess Spiritual Growth
Results of Voting on UM Constitutional Amendments
Mark Beeson's Methodist Monday continues
Church Host Johnny Cash Themed Services

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Send More People from Your Church to Annual Conference
Six Subtle Moves That Hold Women Back From Success
Steve West's Love for the Academy for Spiritual Formation

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Top 10 Gifts for Mother's Day
School Band Arrangements--Unusual Choices Strangely, it is missing Decatur High's Marching Band Show based on Dante's Inferno!
We have met the enemy and he is PowerPoint

JUST FOR FUN

Eclectic Echoes--May Day Edition

2010-04-30T22:21:00.002-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Fearing We'll Out Sin Grace
The Book I Can't Review -- Sara Mile's "Jesus Freak"
Skipping Church
Breath Prayers for Fibromyalgia
Call for Social Justice with No Apologies to Glen Beck
Holy Places in America
My (John Ortberg) Top 5 Books on Doubt
The Marks of A Methodist
What Evangelicals and Atheists Have In Common
The Lottery and Expendable People

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Methodist Monday -- Post 3
Methodist Monday -- Post 4
Wesleyan Wisdom
In the Garden of Sin
Un-Christian: How a generation is re-thinking church
Annual Conference is not Congress
Sending Out Clergy is Still our Style
Pray for Your Cabinet During Appointment Season
Communichaos
Choosy Leaders Choose (Like) Jesus
The Pastor as Docent

REFLECTIONS ON UM UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE SACRAMENTS
Our Practice of the Lord's Supper
Reforming Communion
Shooing the Un-Washed from the Banquet Table
A Methodist Preacher's Cardinal Sin

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Wesley for Everyone
Thursday's Thankful Thoughts
Pastor as Peacekeeper
Cabinet Shares A Reflection on Appointment Making

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Lesley Gore -- It's Her Party
7 Offbeat Tours
"American Idiot on Broadway

JUST FOR FUN

Privilege and Gratitude

2010-04-15T19:56:00.004-05:00

On days like today, I am reminded of how privileged my life has been. I am blessed to live in a country where I can worship freely, choose my own career, live in a safe community with food abundantly available, and free to vote and speak as my conscience dictates. And I am aware that none of these privileges came without someone paying a high cost and that someone was not I. I am also privileged to live in a day when my children go to school with children of other races, other religions and other political beliefs. Our lives are richer because of our exposure to people who are different from us and we are also allowed to know how in so many ways we are all alike. And that privilege also came at a high price for many—some even within my lifetime.

As a child of the south, I do remember segregation. I don’t remember bathrooms and water fountains that were designated for “colored only,” but perhaps that is because my preschool and elementary years were spent in the DC area and Dallas respectively. But I do remember when my school (Jefferson Davis Elementary) was desegregated. And as much as I would like to think I would have been willing to say segregation was wrong and work to change it, I’ll never know because I have never been in the position to have to do so.

And as a child of privilege, I cannot imagine what it is like to be truly oppressed and to live in fear of harassment or arrest of even death simply because of the color of my skin.

All my life, I’ve heard the stories. Of Emmett Till and the Civil Rights Workers in Mississippi. Of the Strange Fruit hanging on the trees. And of the Scottsboro Boys. But I’ve heard them safely from a distance. A distance I am more than glad to maintain. And I’ve heard them with a sadness, but a sadness of hearing an old, sad story that has nothing to do with my life and with my family.

Today, I had yet another privilege. I had the privilege of sitting in the sanctuary of the former Joyce Chapel UMC as the deed was passed from the Northeast District of the North Alabama Conference of the UMC to the Scottsboro-Jackson County Multicultural Heritage Foundation to be used as the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center. With great joy, I watched as District Superintendent Tom Bell handed over the deed to Sheila Washington.

The ceremony was wonderful. I loved the music, the prayers and just the sense of accomplishment. Shelia Washington and some of the other people present have been working for 17 years to make this museum a reality so that we won’t forget and hopefully never repeat the discrimination and cruelty that allowed those young boys to be so mistreated. And one of the most touching moments in the ceremony was toward the end when a representative of the anonymous family that contributed half the money toward the museum came forward to speak. The family is a Jewish family who lives in New Market, who gave the money in memory of the Samuel Leibowitz, the Jewish attorney who defended them, and in honor of Sheila Washington and her efforts to bring the museum to life. I wish I had a copy of their statement but one of the points the donors made was that during segregation many Southern Jews were quiet about the injustice, but they pointed out that remaining silent never works it only emboldens the oppressors. So the gift was in memory of those like Samuel Leibowitz who did speak out.

The Bible is very clear on issues of justice—the people of God must speak out. Today, I thank God for those who, throughout history, have spoken up on behalf of the oppressed. And today I pray that if I am ever called to do so myself that I will have the courage, perseverance, and wisdom of a Sam Leibowitz or a Sheila Washington!

Eclectic Echoes -- Almost Tax Day Edition

2010-04-13T20:09:00.005-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
American Heart: Volunteer and Save your Job
Why Tiger Matters? But I think the writer is wrong about the nature of monogamy.
The Long and Wandering Process of Prayer
Jesus and the Health Care Bill
Ravings of an Angry Evangelical
Fear's a b*****
What Worms Know About Redemption
Get Your Head On Straight So You Can Pray
NT Wright on the Significance of the Resurrection

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Not Ready for a Woman?
Female Pastor Leads by Listening
Women face long road to change in church
Faith, Expectation and Leadership
Theological Smackdown
Measuremental Disorders
Mark Beeson's Methodist Monday Project
Post #1
Post #2

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Thinking Resurrection
Senegal Village Life
The Effect of Easter on Preachers
The Awesome Communion Cup

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Alabama is the Manliest State!
Gone with the Wind
Rest In Peace Dixie Carter
Thanks Dixie for Giving Big-Mouthed Women A Boost

JUST FOR FUN

Student Ministries Easter preparation from mariners church on Vimeo.

Eclectic Echoes--Yes, I've been busy edition

2010-03-20T15:46:00.004-05:00

Well it has been a busy year thus far! Add to that a Lenten discipline of not playing on the internet in the evenings and well, I haven't had time for lots of things especially blogging. Quite honestly, I'm not sure how it will fit into my new routine (if at all) but like many things I'm not ready to give up just yet. So here are some of the articles that have caught my attention since last I shared:

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Living with Imposter Syndrome
Lent isn't about Denial--It's about Transformation
Roger Ebert: The Essential Man
Which of These Six Leadership Styles Works The Best?
Women, Humility and Worth
Turning Anxiety Over to God
You've Got A Friend: A Spiritual Friend that is

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Shane Claiborne--Letter to Non-Believers from last fall but still powerful
What's Christian Perfection Got to do with Leadership
Some "Thou Shalts" from Synergy
Mad Methodists
5 Myths about Emerging Adult Religion
Simple explantion of the Missional Church

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Too Much Practice
Foolish Preaching
Henri Nouwen Messing With Me
Can a Female Pastor's Voice Be Heard?
Preaching and the Cross
Cruciform Peaching

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Caring for Your Introvert -- This will explain a lot about me! Okay--not the "more intelligent" part!
The Political History of the Biblical World in 90 seconds flat
Five Iron Frenzy

THE GLENN BECK DEBATE
Feeding the Hype
Jesus was a Nazi, So's Your Preacher
Sounds Like Social Justice to Me
Is Social Holiness the Same as Social Justice?
Not at Your Beck and Call: A Response to Glenn Beck
How Not to Talk about Justice
An Open Letter to Mr. Glenn Beck

JUST FOR FUN
In honor of the wonderful Moody Blues concert in Huntsville last Sunday

Time to Face the Strange Changes

2010-02-15T20:12:00.003-06:00

Well, it's been two years since I've quoted David Bowie, but it is that time again.

No, I'm not moving. I will be returning to New Life for a third year! This past year has been very busy for us. As a congregation, we spent six weeks reflecting on God's vision for New Life and now have a new vision statement that we will use to develop a two-year strategic plan for ministry! We used some wonderful material from Alban Institute called "Does Your Church Have a Prayer?" that I highly recommend despite the fact that we did call it "Journey to the Promised Land" since some church members found the title a bit negative. Our leadership team took the results of six weeks of congregation Bible study and a sermon series (compiled by the teachers) and used them to develop the following statement:

The mission statement of the United Methodist Church is:
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world
Therefore, we will:

NURTURE
EMPOWER
WORSHIP

LOVE THEM IN
INVITE PEOPLE INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
FELLOWSHIP
ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY

We followed that process with a successful stewardship campaign. So in 2010, we will work hard to live into all our hard work this fall! And I look forward to seeing where God's vision leads us in the coming year.

And if that wasn't challenging enough, God has called us to yet another change. Beginning June 1st, I will also serve as the Associate District Superintendent for the Northeast District. My office hours at New Life will decrease by 8-10 hours a week and I will be working with Dale Cohen in the Northeast District.

On a personal note, my "baby" will graduate from high school in May and we are anticipating an empty nest in the Fall when she goes off to college.

For someone who isn't a great fan of change, I see lots of changes heading my way in the next year! All prayers are appreciated!!!

Eclectic Echoes--Olympic Snowbound Edition

2010-02-15T18:57:00.003-06:00

Just when I was about to give up on this, the snow and ice gave me a few hours extra at home plus I read some really wonderful articles that I wanted to share. So here are a few articles from the past (oh my goodness) six! weeks.

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Religion and Women
Pastor Says Cancer Gives Him Chance to Suffer Well
Should Christians Consume Caffeine?
On Stewardship: God is Green and So Should You (But It's Not Easy Being Green)
Caring Too Much About Failure
Religion and Women

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Call for Special General Conference "A Reality Check"
The Need for Stress and Conflict
Tying the Clouds Together Rob Bell on Preaching
Clergywomen Make Connections
The End of Denominations?
The Best Defense is a Good Pretense
Reality Check
Four Beatitudes for Church Leadership
Women Telling the Story
Caustic Criticality
Ordination --I am planning on watching mine again soon!
Preaching Without Notes

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Cartoon on New Testament Origins (thanks to Dave Barnhart!)
On Making Many Books There Is No End
Pastor as Cheerleader
Silly Conversation in My Head
Beyond "Worship Wars" to Beholding the Movement
Communion Seconds
Tony's wonderful Goals
Anything worth doing for God is worth counting
Playing Whack-a-Mole

(WAY TOO) CLOSE TO HOME
As you probably know, Huntsville was the location of two school shootings. The second shooting by a Biology professor happened on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville where my youngest son attends school. I found out about the shooting when I received a text from Phillip that read, "I'm at the dorm and safe." So much sadness

Steve West on How Will We Walk Through This Tragedy
Professor Charged
Suspect in Alabama Shooting Killed Brother in '86
Twists Multiply in Alabama Shooting Case

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Youth Ministry Outfit Since our youth minister is female, she doesn't have any of these items as far as I know!
Sarcasm Mark May Prevent Misunderstandings!
In Memory of James Mitchell

JUST FOR FUN
Ten Literary Masterpieces that Should Be Video Games
Toyota Says Cup Holders Still Working Great
5 Things You Didn't Know about Bing!
Ten Geekiest Musicals

LAUGH OF THE WEEK Okay--several laughs. I shared all these on Facebook but in case you missed them!

Eclectic Echoes--January 8th (my) Anniversary Edition

2010-01-08T09:08:00.003-06:00

Hope everyone is enjoying this weather. Personally, I'm hoping for the roads to be clear so Craig and I can run away for the evening to Chattanooga! In the meantime, we are trying to stay warm and I've been whittling away at my to do list! I haven't shared in a while and there has been lots of good stuff to read on the "world wide interweb"

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Coming of Age -- I am adding this book to my "to read" list!
How NT Wright Stole Christmas
To One of the Lucky Ones "Because sometimes, just normal is good enough."
Roger Ebert reflects on not being able to eat, drink or talk in Nil by Mouth. Warning--don't read if you are hungry or thirsty--but DO read, you will find yourself grateful for the small pleasures!
Southern schools mark two majorities: more than half of public school students are poor and more than half are minorities
New Year's Joy and Penitence
Do we really love THEM?
Justice in Real Life

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Churches Say "Be Our Guest" -- lesson for the nation at large
More Thoughts on the Ordination of Women and Christian Unity
Pastors' Work Hours -- How do yours compare?
Let's Talk About Sex
Checkup
A Martyr's Death

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Ambiguous Good News at Christmas
Scriptures for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany -- Thanks Steve!
Mr Not-Nice

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Relevant's Best Films of 2009
The Customer is Always Right -- in honor of the Kindle I received for Christmas.
Is Your Child a Dandelion or an Orchid?
Top Ten Books on the New Testament you should have read in 2009
Star Trek Vs Star Wars: Liberal vs Conservative?

JUST FOR FUN
The Last Decade According to 9 year olds
Manliest Item in the Store
Roger Ebert's Best Films of the Decade
Andrew Jones' Best Books of 2009
10 Of Our Favorite Pop-Culture Humans Of 2009

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
I couldn't get the embedding to work on this but be sure and check out this wonderful video of Jimmy Kimmel and the Muppets singing "One"

A New Year

2010-01-05T17:41:00.002-06:00

If anyone is still reading this blog, I suspect you think I have given up on it. Not so! Everyday I intend to update it, but it just hasn't happened. But it is a new year and I am going for a new fresh start and we'll see where it takes me.

I thought I would join in and answer the questions asked by the REVGALPAL blog. Par for the course lately, I am a bit late getting around to it! But here it goes . . .

1. What will you gladly leave behind in 2009?
At the end of every year, I wonder "Where did the year go?" The older I get the faster they seem to fly by. However, I really don’t know where 2009 went!!! It was a big year for us and the annual Christmas Epiphany . . . okay Valentine's Letter will be full. Yet I feel like I somehow missed an entire year of my life as I rushed through everything on the way to something else. So I would like to leave that since of preoccupation and hurry in 2009.

2. What is the biggest challenge of 2010 for you?
So I can't just name one!

Laura will graduate in May and leave for college in the fall. So the empty nest is looming. We've been raising kids for over 23 years now --and quite honestly were preparing for it long before Steven was born--so I think it will be challenging to negotiate life without kids in the house as well as negotiating treating the three of them as the fine young adults they have grown to be.

At New Life, we spent 2009 discerning God's vision for us as a church and so the challenge for 2010 is to develop a two year plan to implement that vision. But the greater challenge will be to communicate and live into the vision in such a way that it really becomes part of our DNA. We've come a long way during this long challenging year and I'm excited about the possibilities of the new year!

And because three is a magic number . . . Perhaps my greatest challenge remains learning to live in the moment without losing the gifts (and I do think they are gifts) of being able to analyze the past and look toward the future.

3. Is there anything that you simply need to hand to God and say "all will be well, for you are with me"?
Yes--and we'll just leave it at that!

4. If you could only achieve one thing in 2010 what would it be?
Be faithful--faithful to God, faithful to my husband, faithful to my family and faithful to my friends.

5. Post a picture, poem or song that sums up your prayer for the year ahead....

I'll continue to pray Thomas Merton's prayer
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"

Eclectic Echoes--December 11th

2009-12-12T15:39:00.002-06:00

THOUGHTS ON ADVENT
John the Bell Ringer
Christmas Memories: Everett and Brenda
Who Have We Forgotten
Claus-trophobia
Deo
A Counter-Cultural Quiet
Star-studded Wise Men--Rethinking the Christmas Story
The Story of Yuletide Carol

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
The War President's Peace Prize--Influence of the Niebuhr's
I am Tiger Woods Part 1 and Part 2
Worship with the Saints not as an individual experience
Judging Who is Poor Enough

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Women Steering the Titanic
Adam Hamilton for Bishop

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Need A Little Christmas
Prayer of Placement
Preaching Politics

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
The Island of Misfit Christmas Specials
Bizarre but Clever Christmas Decorations
Handel's Messiah: The Story Behind the Classic
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

JUST FOR FUN
Subtle Worship Distractions
Baby It's Cold Outside
Top Ten Geeky Christmas Presents

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
My annual sharing of "Elf's Lament"

2nd Sunday of Advent

2009-12-06T08:24:00.003-06:00

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" Luke 3:1-10

Eclectic Echoes -- December 5th

2009-12-05T08:55:00.005-06:00

I'm getting ready for the Grant Christmas parade. The snow on the ground is beautiful (and I can't remember seeing snow in Alabama before Christmas ever!). But the parade promises to be COLD!

But here are a few thought and smile provoking articles from this week:

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Finding God in the Chatter -- what does God have to say to women today?
Is it Holidays or Advent?
Is God With Us?
On the way to being the "new humanity"
Me and Tiger Woods are Idiots!
Top 5 Books on Advent
We May Be Born with an Urge to Help!
Happy Adventillating
Busted Halo's Advent Calendar
Merry Advent

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Should Pastors Know How Much Members Give?
What We Are Asked to Change
So I can't bring myself to spend the time listening to Mark Driscoll, here are some good reasons to do so!
United Methodists Tackle Ineffective Clergy and Congregations
Must We Lose Guaranteed Appointments

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
The Spirit of Advent Giving
The Paradox of Expectation
Like Us in Every Respect
Buncombe Street, Through Faith Colored Glasses
Re-thinking Annual Conference Staff Positions

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Make Your Own Captain's Chair -- for my husband!
The Christmas Best and Worst List

JUST FOR FUN
Taking Notes During Sermons -- I'm looking for that moleskin notebook!

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

Eclectic Echoes--November 27th--Thanksgiving Edition

2009-11-27T12:47:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Hope you have had time to rest, to visit, to play as well as to reflect on all the blessings in your life!

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
A Frog of a Different Color -- this simply makes me sad.
Harvard Professor Donates Engagement -- this simply makes me happy
Practice Advent as a Season of Preparation!
Everything Changes Christmas, Christmas Changes Everything
Renita Weems on "There's A Place In the Sun"
Shane Claiborne--"What if Jesus Meant All That Stuff?"
Word of the Year--Unfriend

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
The Mission Has a Church and not the other way around!
How to Estimate Church Attendance
One in Christ or Coffee?
Methodists Doing Ministry

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
The ABI is Watching!
Joe Auburn is One Thankful Tiger

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
I already posted this on Facebook--but enjoy!

Eclectic Echoes -- November 19th

2009-11-19T12:40:00.002-06:00

Okay--so this is officially a punt! Between the visioning process, stewardship campaign, Emmaus Walk, Senior year activities including pictures and campus visits, and normal everyday life, I have not had time to do anything but occasionally read a blog or two. So below are some of the highlights of the last month. And who knows maybe next month, I'll be able to write some on the increasing number of subjects that have been buzzing around my head lately.

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
The Moral Challenge of Our Century
The War on Advent
A Month Without Makeup

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Avoiding the Numbers Trap
What Does Business Literature Have to Do with Theology
Women Get to Talk Now Too
The Neverending Story
Pastors Who Forget to Tell You to Sit Back Down (I confess, I've done it!)

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
No, That's Not Funny, It's Sinister
Newsflash: What the Bible is not and what it is

JUST FOR FUN
It Will Be Disappointing if the World Ends in 2012

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
or at least a smile

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee . . .

2009-10-24T14:30:00.002-05:00

If I had realized how important that day was, I would have written the date down! All I can remember is that it was sometime before or after Phillip was born during the time when I was working full time, going to school, active in church, and either having or nursing babies. Those years are a bit of a blur. But some time in the last 1980s/early 90s, I experienced one of the major converting moments of my life.

For those who like to date the moment of accepting Christ, this was not that moment. I was baptized as an infant at Grace Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, MD and given to Christ at that time. At age 11, I was confirmed at Brooklyn Avenue United Methodist Church in Dallas (Oak Cliff specifically) and accepted the baptismal vows for myself. When we moved to Gadsden, I was re-baptized at Whites Chapel Baptist Church when I expressed a wish to join. (One of the reasons I so strongly object to re-baptism. The first one took!) When I could drive, I drove myself to Gadsden First UMC and upon feeling God's presence in the beauty of the liturgy of Holy Communion, I moved my membership back to the denomination of my heritage and raising. I did the stereotypical thing and became very inactive during my college years. We visited Epworth off and on for a few years as young adults and joined when I was VERY pregnant with Steven so we could raise him in the church. Steven was one of the babies who screamed when left in the nursery and I was told that if I came regularly he'd get used to it. So God tricked us into weekly worship attendance --and Steven did quit screaming after a year and a half (or was it a lifetime--it felt like it!).

In those days, Epworth no longer held revivals. We hosted Spiritual Renewal events. In any case, at the time of year when churches held revivals, our pastor (Andy Wolfe) invited David Lowes Watson to led our Spiritual Renewal event focusing on covenant discipleship and the event ended with an invitation to form covenant discipleship groups.

As I recall, we were introduced to Wesley's Covenant prayer one night and invited to come back the next and actually commit to a covenant group after carefully and prayerfully considering the covenant.

If you take it seriously, Wesley's covenant prayer is more than a bit scary. "Put me to suffering. . . " "Let me be empty . . ." "Let me have all things, let me have nothing . . ." But the line of the prayer that really stopped me in my tracks that night was "Let me employed by thee or laid aside for thee . . ." And for the first time in my life, I realized that I didn't want to be laid aside. I wanted to make a difference for Christ!

So on the next night, I went forward and made a commitment to intentional, accountable discipleship. This converting moment was not about accepting a belief in the salvation we receive through Christ or of accepting a commitment to the church rather in this moment I not only committed my life and what would happen to it to Christ but I vowed to be accountable for how I served him. Without really knowing what it meant or where it would lead, I committed my ALL to Christ.

From there everything changed! A couple in my covenant group sponsored me on an Emmaus Walk and I left knowing that as a baptized Christian I was called to ministry and determined to find my ministry. Another friend from the covenant group convinced me to go with her to Huntsville First and take a Disciple Bible study class which led to teaching Disciple classes at Epworth. I served on just about every committee imaginable and I began to teach my Sunday School class. I attended "To Grow A Teacher" events and "Gifted and Called." And somewhere in the midst of all that, I began what seemed like a long hard struggle with my growing sense of call to representative ministry. Which lead eventually to candidacy, licensed local ministry, seminary, and now ordained ministry. And for the last 11 or 12 years, I feel like God has been continually calling me to jump in my car and go somewhere I've never been to do something I never dreamed I'd be asked to do (and was not to sure I wanted to do!).

There were days I've wondered why I ever worried about being laid aside! And some days, I confess it sounds pretty restful!

However, I noticed something this week that I don't think I had ever noticed before. For years, I have heard the prayer say "let me be employed by thee or laid aside BY thee" and interestingly enough that is not what the prayer says! Rather the prayers says "let me laid aside FOR thee"-- a rather different proposition. God never lays any of us aside, but sometimes there are seasons in our lives when we are laid aside for the sake of God. Sometimes the door doesn’t open where we expect it to and we have to sit and wait on God--laid aside FOR God--and it is during those times--usually uncomfortable times--that we grow the most. And while we are tempted to think nothing is happening and we are useless, God is at work growing and shaping us for the next season of ministry.

Through the years, I have revisited this prayer often. Each new year, I draw my congregation's attention to it. Recently, a friend told me that she has it posted on her treadmill so she can pray it daily as she exercises. Last Sunday, I posted it on this blog. And Wednesday during our final session of the gathering of the orders, Rob Weber asked us to pray it and I couldn't make it through the prayer without the tears falling.

In the end, Wesley's Covenant Prayer is about saying YES! to God. Yes to times of activity. Yes to times of rest. Yes to times of change and risk. Yes to times of waiting and seeking. Yes to going. Yes to staying. It's all about saying Yes to the one who said Yes to us! Giving ourselves to the one who gave himself for us. Giving ourselves to others unconditionally as Christ gave himself unconditionally for us. Entrusting our present and our future with all the unknowns to the one who knows us intimately and has a plan for a future and a hope for us.

So today, I place Wesley's Covenant prayer as well as Merton's wonderful prayer in my prayer notebook so that each and every day I can be reminded to say Yes to whatever and wherever God is calling me to go or to do.

Eclectic Echoes--October 23rd

2009-10-23T13:30:00.004-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Overloaded!

Not To Mourn as Those Without Hope

Keep Going

Towards a Consistent Pro-Life Ethic

Lessons in Leadership from Captain Chesley Sullenberger--Gotta love a man who saved lives because he abides by the General Rules of the Methodist Societies!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Chesley Sullenberger

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
The Evangelical Liturgy--Prayers of the People

Toolkit for Radical Methodists: Daily Bible Study

A Younger Pastor seeks advice from an elder pastor andThe Abba Replies with a Word

That's the Old Team Spirit

It's all Sermon Prep to Me

(Essential) Books for Preaching

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Steve West shares the Great Thanksgiving set to the Hymn of Joy

Jesus is For Losers

Money and Mission

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Bill Nye The Science Guy

Rich Mullins: The College Years

JUST FOR FUN
Seven Haunted Objects

Dr. Awesome's Guide for what a man should and should not do if he catches on fire!

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
In Memory of Soupy Sales

Prayer for the Journey

2009-10-18T10:41:00.002-05:00

I have probably posted Merton's prayer before, but I find these two prayers are ones I have to revisit on a regular basis and so I am sharing them this morning.

Prayer for the Journey

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"

Wesley's Covenant Prayer

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low by thee,
Let me full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
To thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Eclectic Echoes--October 17th

2009-10-17T09:43:00.004-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Discipleship is like Riding a Bicycle!

Whatever the Balloon Boy lessson is, we've already forgotten it!

Ben Witherington on whether Christians should celebrate Halloween

Economic Changes Opened Doors for Women

Eucharistic Living in a Fast Food World
Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Assurance of Things Hoped For

Invisible Sticky Leaders

Not for everyone, but if you can handle his irreverant humor, he makes an important observation Stephen Colbert on the meaning of the cross

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
How to Sport A Megachurch Refugee Not sure I agree totally but it is an interesting observation.

Determine Your Ministry Age I'm 37 or a "Younger Leader" but like so many things I really straddled the fence on many of the questions.

The future of UM guaranteed appointments is discussed

Reclaiming Methodism--a Community not a Crowd

FROM NORTH ALABAMA

Steve West shares a Communion Song

Amelia takes on some really difficult Bible passages here and here!

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF

11 Off-beat College Essay Topics

Winnie-the-Pooh Particulars

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The Word - Learning Is Fundamental

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Michael Moore

Eclectic Echoes--October 13th (the late version!)

2009-10-13T06:30:00.002-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
The Joy of Giving
U-2: Evangelists of the Reign of God
U-2 and Leadership
Going Deeper in Relationships
Comforted versus Comfortable
New and Improved Dark Ages
And I'd Like to Thank God Almighty: Sports and Religion
Conservatizing the Bible
Faith and Science: Nikki made her choice
Advice Columnist Stands On Her Faith

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
The Evangelical Liturgy--The Creeds
The Evangelical Liturgy--the Sermon
Traditioned Innovation in Action
Captives to Comfort
We of Little Faith

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Bishop Willimon: If this were a REAL Church
Jack on Loving Your Enemies and Praying for Your Enemies
The Grace of a Random Phone Call

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Boneless Wings--the Cheaper Bite
In honor of my daughter who loves movies that make her cry: 9 Movies That Always Make Me Cry I'd add Now Voyager, Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, West Side Story, Carousel, Life is Beautiful, and Snoopy Come Home

JUST FOR FUN
A Jerk is a Jerk, Of Course, Of Course: The Psycho-Social Complexities of Mr. Ed

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

For Amelia

For Phillip

Eclectic Echoes--October 3rd

2009-10-03T20:09:00.002-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Promise of Eternal Bliss more persuasive than fear of hell Is anyone really surprised by this study?
Hebrew Origins of The Lord's Prayer
God and Gays in Film

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Internet Monk on the Evangelical Liturgy:: The Offering
Go Figure

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
The Church Formed by the Power of the Word
Steve's first published hymn

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
What do you think about Letterman's apology? Was it real? Is it enough? Is it any of our business?
Stuff Christians Like Has Moved
--featuring my favorite Tom LandryThe Non-Football Jobs of Coaching Legends
Brady Bunch turns 40 and we're old! At least I am!

JUST FOR FUN
Nine Wicked Facts
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and other improbable musicals

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

Eclectic Echoes--September 25th

2009-09-25T10:14:00.003-05:00

Let me begin this week by pausing a moment to remember Rich Mullins. He remains my favorite Contemporary Christian artist. Jason Boyette does a great job of listing the many reasons Rich Mullins remains one of my heroes.

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Religious Beliefs "Strongly " predict birth rates

What younger folks wish older folks would learn

Moltmannia: Questions for Accusers followed by Moltmann Haiku!

Coming soon! Theologian Trading Cards

Barna on Jesus' Health Care Plan -- My concern is that this is just another reason to say the church should do something then do nothing!

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH

A Walking Paradox-- "Getting Out of the Way" Should we who are over 45 "get out of the way," retire, or simply "get off the ladder"?

Worshipedia

The Measures of Our Success and Growth Exaggeration Some good reflections on why numbers may not be the best way to evaluate ministry.

Organized Religion's 'Management' Problem

FROM NORTH ALABAMA

Patient in each moment of anger

Bishop Willimon: Christians as Consumers or Disciples?

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

Eclectic Echoes -- September 18th

2009-09-18T10:20:00.002-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Gen X Rising is Thinking about Death

What we can learn from personality clashes

Dan Dick reflects on "Waiting for Something Important to Come Along" while we do nothing about health care.

Eugene Cho on Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, Wilson, Racism, "You Lie" and the perpetual elephant in the room

Three Levels of Forgiveness

The 7 Deadly Sins by Geographic Area I may have shared this before, but worth a second look. According to this, Alabamians have problems with lust and pride--time to start on a new sermon series!

Surviving Stuck

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
The Gospel for iGens

Distinctively Methodist

Number of Female Senior Pastors in Protestant Churches Doubles in Past Decade

Some reflections on how we preach
3 Myths About Preaching Today
Preaching From the Pulpit
7 Ways to Improve Projection of Your Voice

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Bishop Willimon on Church Renewal as Theological Recovery

Cleric Eric "I Could Be Wrong"

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
This is Your Brain on Horror Movies

8 Famous Apologies

Patrick Swayze and Pangs of Familiarity

Early Emmy Wins--They may have canceled MY show, Pushing Daisies, but at least they recognized its quality!
JUST FOR FUN

3 Killer Songs about Vincent Van Gogh

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
In memory of Henry Gibson

And in memory of Mary Travers

A Remembrance of 9-11

2009-09-11T16:11:00.003-05:00

I remember clearly that I was listening to an FM radio music station as I drove through the intersection at Winchester Road and Moores Mill. I was on my way to Nashville for my week of classes. The report was short and told very little. A plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. So I switched the radio to NPR’s Morning Edition to find out more. I listened for the next two hours as the horror unfolded.

As I recall, Craig was on the arsenal that day. By the time I reached Fayetteville, Tennessee, the knowledge of the terrorist attack in NYC made me fear for his safety on the arsenal. So I called him on my cell phone just to check in.

I arrived in Nashville with enough time before my first class to stop in at Alpine Bakery for a cup of coffee and it was there that I saw the images for the first time.
For two hours, I had listened as the horrible events unfolded. I knew what had happened. But nothing prepared me for the impact of seeing the towers fall. Never underestimate the power of a visual image!

My first class that day was a class on the prophet Jeremiah taught by Renita Weems. As I recall by the time I entered the Div School, the dean’s letter was already posted on the door (although my timeline of the day could be sketchy). The letter expressed horror at the event and concern for the victims. In fact, the dean had a relative that worked in or near the Towers who had not yet been heard from. But he wanted everyone to know that the Div School would be a sanctuary for any Arab or Muslim students who feared retaliation. Dr. Weems also had a family member in NYC who worked in or near the towers that was still be heard from. (We latter learned that both people had survived the attack.)

I don’t remember what we discussed in Jeremiah that day. I do remember that Jeremiah and his lamentations seemed appropriate to the day.

I do, however, remember what we studied in my second and final class of the day, Liberation and Spirituality. In many ways, the class had prepared me to accept what had happened. I had read and heard so many third world voices and even the Christian ones were resentful of the United States. I was saddened, but not shocked, when some people did not grieve when we were so terribly hurt. Our teacher was out of town and he had planned for a TA to show us a video on non-violent resistance and so we did. I can’t begin to tell you how surreal it was to watch a video about Ghandi and MLK Jr on September 11, 2001! The class took on new meaning and depth as we truly struggled with Jesus’ teachings, Merton and Thurman’s teachings on spirituality, MLK’s teachings on community and non-violence in light of the violence of Sep 11th and the responses and emotions that day evoked in ourselves as well as others.

My apartment in Nashville was in the flight path of the Nashville airport. The apartment was far enough away that I was actually relatively unaware of the planes flying overhead until they stopped. I still remember the silence in the air around me.

That year, I was in the apartment alone. So I went back to the apartment and turned on the radio to NPR and kept it there throughout the night. When I would wake during the night, I’d catch up on the latest events and reflections and then fall back to sleep.

What I wanted—needed—the most was to be able to do something. So the next day, I did the only thing I knew to do: I went and gave blood. Hundreds of people joined me. The line to give blood was hours long. I had homework to do and a sermon to preach that Sunday, so I spent the hours waiting to give blood well. Generally, my experience with lots of people and long lines is that folks get testy and ugly---not that day. For a few days anyway, I think we all readjusted our priorities. We were more patient. We were more loving. We recognized what was really important. So we waited. For a while, we experienced Thurman’s concept of ”communitas” which strips us of the things which divide us, such as age, race, gender, and economic status, and binds us into a unified heterogeneous group. Well, at least, those of us southern Americans who gathered that day in Nashville to give blood experienced a form of “communitas.” A form still defined by nation and perhaps even region. And perhaps there is even something different about those who donate blood as a way of doing something that separates them from others. In any case, that day I received a foretaste—a vision—of what community truly should be.

Eclectic Echoes--September 11

2009-09-11T11:29:00.006-05:00

THOUGHTS ON FAITH AND LIFE
Open To Interpretation Both believe the Bible is important, but . . .
The NIV 2011 -- Preview of Coming Attractions
Church Hugs
Caught on the ethical horns of a moral dilemma
Surviving Stuck
Drive-thru Prayers

REFLECTIONS ON CHURCH
Coolest Thing I've Ever Seen on a Church Website Someone at this church learned a lesson from Santa in Miracle on 34th Street!
25 Fair Warnings for a Visitor
Toolkit for Radical Methodists: The Bohler Principle I love this quote!!!

"Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith."

Eugene Cho liked this pastor better when he was talking about pisseth against the wall The pastor best known now for his "Why I Hate Barack Obama" is the same pastor who gave us this gem of as sermon:

From bad preaching to bad liturgy! Check this out (and be sure to struggle through to see the clapping puppet Jesus!)

FROM NORTH ALABAMA
Father's Day Speech about Joe Connaughton Joe is one of my favorite people!

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
I confess I'm a fan of truTV. Love to watch Forensic Files and such. But this study on the science behind some of the forensics may just take the fun out of!

JUST FOR FUN
9 Things You Probably Didn't Know About the Beatles

LAUGH OF THE WEEK
This week instead of a laugh, a moment to remember those who died eight years ago today.

Eclectic Echoes -- Sep 6th

2009-09-06T16:00:00.003-05:00

Thoughts on Faith and Life
On a "Pro Vita Faith" that takes seriously the value of life

Communicating Hate Sucks

For a Civil Parking Lot

The Health Care Debate: Early Church Style

Church of the Resurrection Health Care Forum

The Practice of Asking Questions

John Piper makes me wipe me eyes and say, "AHHH" I agree with this wholeheartedly!

Reflections on Church
A Different Kind of Success

What exactly is a worshipper?

Myths of Church Growth

Tool kit for Radical Methodists: Group Prayer

Over accepting being young

Stewardship and Church

Does architecture make a difference in attracting men to church? Reaching Men Through Intentional Design

From North Alabama
Anonymous Donor pays off Sumatanga Retreat Center Debt! Thank you Mr. or Ms. Anon! Now the rest of us need to use the facility!

Thanks God, but No Thanks

AU Poll shows many Alabamians are skipping meals and eating less to cope with the economy

Bishop Willimon on Thinking Like Christians about Health Care

Other interesting stuff
How To Learn Fast

My Name is Roger and I'm An Alcoholic Take the time to read this powerful testimony by Roger Ebert!

A Classic List of Must-Read Children's Books

Just for fun:

Man Purses

Top 20 Jewish Comedians

8 Songs inspired by real women

This week's laugh of the week:
(This is appropriately PG suggested)

Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids

Bad Haiku

2009-09-05T14:41:00.006-05:00

I have begun to wonder if we will get any mail at all once Laura decides on a college! Most of our daily snail mail comes from colleges far and near. Most of it is destined for the trash can and some Laura has set aside to actually look at. In addition to all the "snail mail," she is evidently getting tons of e-mail. Once again, most of it is not terribly exciting. But she did get one that tickled her so that she actually requested information and I just had to share it!

Dear Laura,

You haven't responded to any of our other emails regarding getting on the MIT mailing list and getting some interesting/cool materials in the mail, so we'll stop bugging you. But I begged my boss to let me try one last time, telling him that bad haiku is the key to connecting with people.

If you respond to this email, after having ignored the others, it will make admissions officers everywhere rethink their use of bad haiku in the admissions process. Let's change the world.

Here goes...

Hi, how's it going?
We would like to send you an
MIT brochure.

It's free, really cool,
And we think you will like it.
Click the link below to request it.

(That last line had nine
syllables. Did you catch that?
We knew you were smart.)

https://admissions.mit.edu/AdmissionsWeb/si/725B9E3F0A5B00B800000120ABEC00A7

Sincerely,

Matt McGann '00
Associate Director of Admissions, MIT

Another prayer for a child leaving for college!

2009-09-02T22:37:00.001-05:00

O God, go with my child as he goes to college
Keep him safe
Keep him sensible
Keep him focused
Keep him joyful
Keep him surrounded by friends and teachers who help him grow.
Help him not to succumb to alcohol or other drugs
To the fast crowd going nowhere
To the lure of laziness or the glamour of cliques
To careless sex and careless habits
But to be his own person and avoid group-think
Help him to write more and call less!
To know I miss him
To feel my prayers and remember his home teachings
To visit home as often as he can and know it remains a place where reservations are never needed and no locks will ever bar his return
Help him always to remember how much I love him.

- Marian Wright Edelman

(picture of Phillip and Austin moving into their dorm)

Sumatanga

2009-09-02T17:01:00.001-05:00

My Life or Something Like It . . .

2009-08-29T16:36:00.001-05:00

A Prayer for Children Leaving Home

2009-08-25T11:15:00.002-05:00

Each day, I receive a prayer from Beliefnet. Today's prayer really hit home for me. So here it is for all those who have children who have left for college, work, military, marriage, or wherever God has led them.

It is time to let go,
to stand back and watch
as the young leave home
and go out into the world
on their own.
Bless them, O God,
in all their endeavors,
in their successes and failures.
Guard them from all harm and evil
and make them strong to resist temptation.
Lead them in your paths
that they may be the builders of life
and not destroy your creation.
Teach them your ways of justice
that they may care for the well-being of all
and not for their needs alone.
Guide them in their search for truth
that they may praise you in all they do.
Let them trust the love of family
to support them in their time of need,
to care for their hopes and dreams,
and to love them, no matter what comes.
Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

Eclectic Echoes -- August 21st

2009-08-21T07:51:00.007-05:00

What is our chief end?

"We" Faith in a "Me" Culture

Mother Teresa and Billy Graham's hands

Coffee Pastor reflects on Barbara Brown Taylor's Leaving Church.

Jack reflections on "What Keeps You Going?" and all I can say is "Amen!"

A More Prayermissive Society

The concreteness of community

Health care reform: WWJWS (What would John Wesley say?!)

Failing to Trust Ourselves
Young Clergy Women share their call stories: Ashlee and Beth

Waiting for Sex or Marriage

Dammit, Jim, I'm a pastor and not a curator!

Ministry Pornography?

Elvis Costello asks "What's so Funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?"

Tips for trying to wake up an early crowd at church!

What's so funny about a generation of sarcasm? One of the many services I have been known to provide!

Check out Bart Stye's new blog featuring covers of songs! Fun stuff!

My hero as a child! The Amazing Life of Audie Murphy I also had a crush on Daniel Boone.

Caffeine reduces memory impairment! Hope I can remember to grab that next cup of coffee!

7 Flowcharts for Fun! Yes--flowcharts can be fun!

In honor of District 9 (which I will probably never see due to the gore!) Five ways Movie Governments Could Respond More Effectively to Alien Invasions

Stand

2009-08-19T07:36:00.004-05:00

Jon (at Stuff Christians Like) in his recent post on “Asking God Geography Questions” reflected on our tendency to ask God questions such as “Where I should go?”, “What should I do?”, and “Who should I be with?” and concluded that God’s answer to all these questions would be “In My Presence.” Which reminded me of a chapter in Barbara Brown Taylor’s new book, An Altar in the World, where she reflects on the spiritual discipline of getting lost. One of the values of getting lost, according to Taylor, is that you must become aware of where you are.

“I am convinced that this is normal human behavior, which means that something extra is needed to override it. Why override it? Because once you leave the cow path, the unpredictable territory is full of life. True, you can’t always see where you are putting your feet . This means you can no longer afford to stay unconscious. You can no longer count on the beat-down red dirt path making all of your decisions for you. Leaving it, you agree to make your own choices for a spell. You agree to become aware of each step you take, tuning all of your senses to exactly where you are and exactly what you are doing.”

And when we become aware of exactly where we are, we discover that we are in God’s presence—here and now.

I’ve never been good at standing in the place where I am and I’m especially not good at being lost. Carmen, my GPS (as in “Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?”) is my best friend. She tells me where to go—and even though I argue with her from time to time and even override her instructions on occasion—she is pretty faithful to ensure that I get where I believe I am supposed to go. But even at that she has taken me some interesting places—because even Carmen doesn’t give me the big picture. She leads a step at a time. And quite honestly, I don’t like that either.

Give me a map. Show me exactly where I am going. Show me each clean bathroom, each Starbucks, each McDonnell’s drive thru, and each gas station. Don’t worry telling me about the beautiful scenic overlooks or the field with deer that might surprise me because I am on a mission—most the time I’m even on a mission from God—and I don’t have time for all of that.

Yep, I’m not good at standing where I am.

The problem with constant movement—even movement toward something—is that you so easily forget the reality that even when you are moving toward the place that God is calling you that God is still present with you now. God is not to be found over there. God is here. God tabernacles with us. So that even when God is leading us forward by pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, God still dwells in our midst.
So today, I am hearing the word of God from the band REM, “Stand in the place where you live. Think about it. Wonder why you haven’t before.”

Those of us at New Life are on a journey. We are in the midst of visioning process followed immediately with a stewardship emphasis. The theme for our visioning process is “Journey toward the Promised Land” and right now we are trying to discern what God’s Promised Land is for New Life and how we get there. So, I confess, I’ve already jumped ahead and tried to determine where God is leading us and what it will mean for the congregation as a whole and for me as their pastor.

On a personal note, I’ve moved my youngest son into his college dorm and am well aware that in a year I will move my youngest into one. I wonder what is ahead for me as a mother of grown children who don’t live at home. Will I become old? Will I no longer get pop references? Will I suddenly prefer reruns of SNL to Jon Stewart on the Daily Show? What will life be like with an empty nest?

Last year at this time, I was looking back. This year I find myself looking forward.

But today, I hear God telling me to slow down a bit and focus on where we are—where I am—to find God in our midst and to wait for the next direction and who knows where that will take us. So maybe instead of rushing into God’s presence in the future, I can feel God’s presence here and now.

As Joshua and Caleb told the Israelites as they stood at the edge of the Promised Land, “the Lord is with us, do not fear . . .”

As REM reminds me

Stand Where You Are!
Stand!

Image: The Dancing Life by Bernard Ndichu Njuguna

The Gospel in 10 Words

2009-08-07T15:21:00.003-05:00

At Fallen and Flawed, 12 bloggers summarized the gospel in 10 words or less. I was struck by the fact that none of them mentioned the love of God. Furthermore, to be quite honest, I don't buy into the opinion that we ought to be able to summarize it in ten words or less. And my definition of gospel probably changes from day to day depending on where I see God's love at work in the world, but here is my summary (in 10 words) for today:

God's love means sin, death, evil are never the end!

Eclectic Echoes--August 7th

2009-08-07T14:40:00.002-05:00

Great news!!! Sumatanga raises over $400,000 to remain open!

What DO pastor's do all day?

5 Things You Need to Know About Self-Control

Johnny Cash and Leadership

Twitter Theology: 5 Ways Twitter Has Changed My Life and helped me be a better Disciple of Jesus

The Younger Generation and the Churches That Reach Them

Funeral Evangelism

In Memorium: 5 Great John Hughes Moments

In honor of our 30th High School Reunion

2009-08-07T09:31:00.002-05:00

I normally don't post Facebook quizzes to my blog, but here is a quiz about my senior year in honor of the fact that I graduated from high school and started Auburn 30 years ago.

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! At the end, choose 10 people (or more) to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to "notes" under the tabs on your profile page, copy and paste my note in the body of the note, delete my answers and type yours, tag 10 people (in the right hand corner of the app). Then click publish.)

IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR DID YOU...

1. Did you date someone from your school? I may have had a date or two, but I didn't "date" anyone.

2. Did you marry someone from your high school? Yes. I met Craig in 9th grade when we took Latin 1 but we didn't date until our sophomore year of college when he transferred to Auburn.

3. Did you car pool to school? Yes. I drove my sister as well as a couple of other folks.

4. What kind of car did you have? 1972 Chevy Vega (nicknamed the Viscous Vegas and it could be heard coming for miles)until it was rear-ended and totaled. Then (and this sounds much better than it was) a 68 Pontiac Firebird (the Ferocious Firebird).

5. What kind of car do you have now? 2009 Toyota Camry--metallic blue

6. Its Saturday night...where are you today? Reviewing my sermon for the umpteenth time.

7. It is Saturday night...where were you then? Walking the mall

8. What kind of job did you have in high school? None

9. What kind of job do you do now? Pastor, New Life UMC

10. Were you a party animal? Not at all.

11. Were you considered a flirt? Not hardly

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Clarinet in marching and concert bands.

13. Were you a nerd? Absolutely.

14. Did you get suspended or expelled? No

15. Can you sing the fight song? Unfortunately, yes.

16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Mr. Wagnon, Ms. Bedell, and yes Ms. Morrow

17. Where did you sit during lunch? I have no idea

18. What was your school's full name? Gadsden High School (and it no longer exists)

19. When did you graduate? 1979

20. What was your school mascot? Tiger

21. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Honestly, no.

22. Did you have fun at Prom? Yes.

23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? If Facebook counts--Hi Bob!

24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? Unfortunately, no. It's Saturday night--not my best night for a party.

25. Do you still talk to people from school? Yes--mostly Facebook

26. School Colors? Orange and Black

27. What celebrities came from your high school? I don't know of any--anyone else have an idea?

What if Today Was Your Last Day?

2009-08-05T09:46:00.003-05:00

“I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don't intend to waste any of mine.”
-Astronaut Neil Armstrong (born August 5, 1930)

This week, we continue to reflect on the words of wisdom given to the churches of Ephesus.

15Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20

• “Be careful then how you live . . .” How would you live your life differently if you knew that tomorrow was your last day? Would a sense of urgency inspire you to live more boldly or to cower in fear? How can you make better use of the time granted you?

• Do you believe that your life is Spirit-filled? If so, how is that evident to those around you? If not, what stands in the way of allowing the Spirit to fill you and pour out of you?

• What is the role of worship and of singing in the life of faith?

Ask the Right Questions

2009-08-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.
- James Thurber

Eclectic Echoes July 31

2009-07-31T21:18:00.002-05:00

Here are a few things that caught my eye this week:

Numbers Matter--If You Count Right What would most faithfully represent success for your congregation?

Roger Ebert's list of the best movies ever made

Tool Kit for Radical Methodists: A good Bible
and a few good hymns

What if you only had a month to live?

Why Johnny College isn't coming to church

Should we use media in worship?
God as Second Banana
John Piper says video hurts preaching
Quotable Luther

Steve reflects on a grateful heart

Training a new generation of leaders requires new models

Cagey Christians

Women are better managers ?

Boy, 7, steals car to avoid church

5 Things You Didn't Know About Billy Wilder
And now for the laugh of the week:

This hits way too close to home . . .

2009-07-30T06:33:00.001-05:00

I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.
- Beryl Pfizer

Preparing for Sunday, August 2nd

2009-07-29T10:28:00.002-05:00

Since the Jimmy Buffett series is over, I am returning to the lectionary--but jumping a week ahead. So this is actually the Epistle reading for the 10th Sunday of Pentecost.

On first glance, one would think that first church Ephesus had major problems and we could all take a deep breath and celebrate the fact that we don’t attend THAT church. However, scholars tell us that Ephesians was not written to a particular church, rather Ephesians was intended to be circulated among many congregations. Unlike Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, this letter is not directed toward a particular congregation with particular congregations but to many congregations struggle with typical congregational struggles. In other words, this letter is written to us!

Over the next two weeks, we are going to reflect on some of the advice given to those congregations. This week’s scripture focuses on the kind of new life Christians are empowered to live thanks to the power of the Holy Spirit within them.

25So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
5Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:25-5:2

• Notice that anger is not considered sinful in and of itself. What does that teach us about how Christians should respond to their feelings of anger?
• How does this passage teach us about how we should speak to one another?
• This passage is directed toward Christians—those who are being saved. Are you surprised that this passage infers that there might be Christian thieves? What does that mean for us as a Christian community? Why does the author suggest thieves should not steal? What does that teach the rest of us?
• If we are called to be imitators of God, how should we treat others?
As we prepare to celebrate Holy Communion this week, let’s reflect on what this passage teaches us about the invitation to Holy Communion to those who “earnestly seek to live in peace with one another” and which also calls on us to the body and blood of Christ for the world?

New Life Youth Week

2009-07-27T22:49:00.002-05:00

The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett concludes:

2009-07-27T21:54:00.004-05:00

He Went to Paris

Fins

Eclectic Echoes -- July 24th

2009-07-24T10:35:00.002-05:00

Been a busy few weeks: Great vacation on Tybee Island with extended family. Phillip turned 19 and Steven 23! We've had VBS and are in the midst of youth week at New Life. We have a new youth director, a new secretary beginning Monday, and are working on finding a children's director. In addition, we are beginning a six week visioning process on August 17th followed immediately by a stewardship emphasis month. In addition, I have two candidacy mentor trainings to conduct and a paper to write. So I continue to have little time for blogging. But I thought I'd at least share some of what I have been reading. And maybe (at least after the paper is written), I'll be able to return to reflecting on some of the things my mind has been processing this summer. (I do have a professional diagnosis of thinking too much!)

Peacebang reflects on her henna tattoo! They are fun, but mine is probably coming off today!

NT Wright reacts to gay ordination

Part of my fun reading on the beach was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jason Boyett has some other suggestions.

Superstitious Atheists and Superficial Believers

Big news this week, Jimmy Carter finally leaves the Baptist church over the issue of women clergy:
Jimmy Carter on Losing My Religion for Equality
Why are there (still!) so few women clergy?
Should women lead no matter what?
Standing in the Shallows
Women Excluded From Ministry: I Just Didn't Think About You

NPR reflects on the problem with censoring a racist rant.

Miss California and the politics of sexual redemption

John reflects on the itineracy

Is Michael Jackson in heaven?

What kind of (facebook) friend are you?

Grumbling in Church

Very bad ideas: Who wants to be a Buddhist?

Who are these people? The importance of exegeting your congregation

Given the situation at Camp Sumatanga, here is an interesting article on church camps closing.
If you didn't hear Bob Murray's report at Annual Conference, check it out here and note the WONDERFUL news!

You're An Interim Pastor and You Just Don't Know it

Lots of comments on Derek Webb's new album, Stockholm Syndrome, which contains the song What Matters More. I'm posting the video, but warning it does contain an expletive (part of the controversy and part of the point he is making). I have a great deal of respect for his work (many of you may know him from his work with Caedmon's Call) and I find this very thought provoking (but honestly I agree with his point). (for those reading this on facebook, you have to visit my blog to actually see the videos I embed)

Laura reflects on family and having (and not having)children

On Being Mad at God

Congregations as places that offer life

And this week's laugh of the week:

The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett: Cheeseburger in Paradise

2009-07-06T07:58:00.002-05:00

This Sunday's offering: Cheeseburger in Paradise

and just for fun:

The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett: Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude

2009-07-05T20:16:00.003-05:00

A BIG thanks to Kim Scites, who came to my rescure and preached last weekend for me. Here is her take on Changes in Latitude, Changes In Attitude
And here is New Life's take on Brandon Heath's I'm Not Who I Was (Trinity folks may remember a similar version last year)

Eclectic Echoes--July 3rd

2009-07-03T09:39:00.008-05:00

Okay--so I haven't exactly run away from anything. The last month has been extremely busy! The last two weeks, I've been at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA for my the introduction to Gospel and Culture Seminar with Mark Douglas and Martha Moore-Keish. Great classmates and great instructors! There are 12 of us who will spend the next four years exploring the connections between the gospel and culture and it was really interesting to hear the varity of projects we intend to explore!

In the meantime, updating the blog, Farmtown on Facebook, and other such things has become nigh unto impossible with school work, church responsibilities, and annual conference tasks! But hopefully, today I'll start getting back into a more normal routine (those of you know me well can quit laughing now!).

Here is just a sampling of interesting items from the past few weeks:
Need a good cry? A Taxonomy of Cinematic Crying

The Sermon Illustration Scorecard

Let's Hear it For Libraries!

Dave Barnhart's Monday Morning Hiaku: Genesis 17

11 People Every Youth Group Needs

Woodlawn UMC perserveres after fire

Top Weaknesses of Effective Pastors

Methodism by the Numbers

Peachtree Presbyterian Pastor: We'll care for any unwanted children! Reminds me of Hauerwas's comment that rather than working to outlaw abortions, the church needed to be the sort of place where abortions were unneccessary.

The Gospel is not a culture ? Kathryn Tanner would agree and says it is a style and I'm begining to agree.

O Pulpit Where Art Thou?

Dave Barnhart's Aha Moments with the Bible and More Aha Moments

UM dying faster than US average

Celebrity Worship: Admiration or Idolatry

And laughs of the week in memory
of MJ (whom I always best loved in parody)

Karl Malden

Billy Mays

Farrah Fawcett

The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett: Son of a Son of a Sailor

2009-06-21T23:24:00.002-05:00

For a number of reasons, I do not have a manuscript for this week's sermon. (Only the second time in 10 years!) But in honor of father's day, here is my opening illustration:

The Chandlers of Chincoteaque, Virginia were another family of the sea. One brother was the keeper for the Cape Hateris lighthouse. Yet another brother, Joshua, was a sea captain who was lost at sea. I’ve been told that all that was found of Joshua after his death was his red long johns which the family buried beneath a headstone on the side of a road at the end of Chincoteague island in his memory.

And Billy—Uncle Billy—as he was affectionately called by everyone who knew him—was a Wesley Methodist preacher. By Wesley Methodist, I mean a “shouting Methodist”--A group of evangelical, charismatic Methodists that would shock most Methodist congregations today. But Uncle Billy worried that the Methodist Episcopal church wasn’t emphasizing holiness enough and so in 1887, he joined with Joseph Lynch and others in establishing the Christ's Sanctified Holy Church on Chincoteague Island, an independent church which still has about 1000 members today. It has always been an unusual church with its lack of Sacraments or ordinances (they don’t baptize or practice Holy Communion). And, even more unusual was the fact that women were not only allowed to teach men, but they were also allowed to preach in a day and age when few established church hierarchies were ordaining women.

As I said earlier, the Chandlers were a family of the sea—lighthouse keepers and ship captains. So I guess it is not too surprising that Uncle Billy’s ministry also involved the sea. In the late 1800’s, he boarded a house boat in Dover, Delaware and began a long voyage around the coast of the United States and ended in Galveston, Texas in 1900. As he sailed along the coast, he would stop and hold revival meetings all along the way.

1900 was the year of the great hurricane in Galveston. The entire city was nearly destroyed. But Uncle Billy survived by anchoring his house boat in the Gulf and taking on as many people as he could fit on the boat to ride out the flood.

I can’t remember the first time I heard stories about my great-grandfather, William Chandler. Perhaps Nanny first told them to me as she cradled me in her arms. I’ve heard the stories all my life and they are a part of who I am. I have been shaped not only by Uncle Billy, but also by his granddaughter who felt that his story was important enough to pass on to her grandchildren. Like Buffett, my life has been shaped by men of the sea and the tradition remains.

Laugh for the week

2009-06-20T08:09:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure when I'll have time to pull together Eclectic Echoes for this week. But here is this week's Laugh of the Week: (and if you are too young to appreciate the Doors, you won't get it!)
Meet 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Stealth Pop Musicologist

Preparing for Sunday, June 21st

2009-06-19T07:55:00.000-05:00

Changes in Attitudes: The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett
This Week: Son of A Son of A Sailor

In the grand story of the Bible, you can always count on trouble when one generation fails to pass on the story of the faith to the next generation. As we celebrate Fathers’ Day and remember the men who have shaped our lives, we will reflect on the importance on passing our faith to a new generation.

Then God spoke all these words: 2I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3you shall have no other gods before me. 4You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:1-6

1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old 3things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. 4We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Psalm 78:1-4

• Jimmy Buffett said of writing this song: “I saw a picture of my grandfather after he had come back from a trip to Nova Scotia. He was born there but left when he was a young man and didn’t return until he was 84. He was standing on dock staring at an old sailing schooner, and the look on his face told the story of where he had come from and where he had been. I have always been very proud of my heritage as a sailor and wrote this for the men who taught me the skills.”
o What story will the look on our face and the shape of our lives tell about where we have come from , where we have been, and where we hope to go?
o What skills have we taught a new generation?
• Have you tried to pass along your faith?
o Have you succeeded?
o How have you failed?
o How has God worked through your efforts?
• As a congregation, how well have we told the good news to the next generation? As we approach 20 years in ministry in this community, what must we do to continue to tell the story to new generations? What must we change? And what role do you play in telling the story?

'The Shelf Of Constant Reproach': Best Books You Never Read

2009-06-16T23:24:00.007-05:00

On NPR today, there was an interesting article, 'The Shelf Of Constant Reproach': Best Books You Never Read. So I began to think of the LARGE numbers of books I have meant to read, but somehow haven't. So here is a list of some of the best books, I've never read:

1. The Brothers Karamazov. Some have called this the greatest novel ever written. I've made it about 1/3 of the way through. Someday I'll finish it!

2. Ulysses. In honor of Bloomsday, I may as well admit I haven't read Ulysses. I have a hard enough time making it through Joyce's short stories!

3. Sound and Fury. I made it about 1/4 of the way through, but I just couldn't follow it. I did, however, make it through the Electric Kool-aid Acid test which was just about as crazy--but it was required reading.

4. Anything by D.H. Lawrence. No reason. I just haven't.

So what is on your shelf of constant reproach?

The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett: Come Monday

2009-06-15T22:04:00.004-05:00

Come Monday

Eclectic Echoes -- June 14th

2009-06-14T21:42:00.003-05:00

Ministry is never predictable. The last two weeks have been particularly busy with Annual Conference, two weddings, a funeral, a number of crises, and normal busyness. As a result, I have not only had time to update this blog, I've had little time for reading. But here are a few highlights of the last two weeks.

North Alabama Conference

10 Stupid Things That Keep Churches From Growing

Beards and Shaving -- so how many blades can you have on your razor and still be manly?

Tutu's daughter a force for human rights

Sex Without Intimacy: No Dating, No relationship

Some thoughts on prayer:
Connecting with God . . . No Really
What is Prayer for?
Prayer may reshape your brain . . . and your reality

Why Etiquette Ain't Just Quaint

Moist and Methodist Baptism in the UMC

The Leader as Listener

Piece Be With You

Camp Sumatanga Fights to Stay Open

Aha Moments with the Bible

US News names Auburn as a top place to live Doesn't surprise me!

Tribute to Rev. Warren Hamby

Left brained husbands and funeral food

Getting to a Different Place boundaries and ministry

Altar Calls Why? Because it allows people a variety of ways to respond to the message.

Best summer reading

What to do about our graying church

Religious citizens more involved . . . and more scarce?

The Gospel and the Gosselins

And for this week's laugh

Changes In Attitudes

2009-06-09T22:12:00.004-05:00

Margaritaville (Pictures of the Water's Edge Parrothead Band to come)

Life with the Clontz Clan

2009-06-08T09:35:00.006-05:00

Well, Annual Conference 2009 is behind me. Okay--it actually isn't. I still have the Business of Annual Conference questions to complete (and one DS hasn't sent me his info!) and finalize the minutes of conference (which always takes longer than I expect).

When I first began this blog, I was writing two blogs: one related to ministry and one personal. Now this one is sort of a combination of the two but it leans toward ministry and I save most of the personal stuff for facebook. But I did think today that I would post a few personal items--especially for those who aren't facebook friends.

On May 26th, my son, Phillip, graduated from Buckhorn High School. In the fall, he will be attending the University of Alabama at Huntsville majoring in Math Ed. It was a great day for our family and here are a few pictures:

I love this picture of my boys!!

Phillip and (soon to be roommate) Austin. Austin lived most of his life two doors down from us.

Love this picture of Phillip and his girlfriend, Christina. (They've been dating almost two years.)

Laura and her boyfriend, Trent, who is heading to Bama in the fall (no comment!)

Leslie, Phillip and Christina. We've known Leslie all her life. In fact, Craig went to Jr. College with her father. They live around the corner from us and we used to go on family vacations together. Leslie and Phillip started Kindergarten together and were in the same class for years.

Changes in Attitudes: The Gospel and Jimmy Buffett

2009-06-04T07:40:00.003-05:00

This week, we are beginning a six week sermon series based on the songs of Jimmy Buffett. I borrowed this idea from my friend, Wade Griffith at Trinity UMC in Tuscaloosa, because it seemed like a good fit for a community on the river with a lot of folks who live there only on the weekends and because I do believe that Jimmy Buffett's songs ask the kinds of questions that many outside the church are asking: What gives life meaning? What happens after we make a mess of our lives? What really is the "good" life?

We are beginning with Margaritaville, the anthem of beach vacation, spring breaks and drunken parties. Yet, this song is actually anything but a celebration of the drunken lifestyle. There is great pain in many of the lyrics, such as when he praises "that frozen concoction that helps me hang on." These are the words of a man who has wasted his life on women and alcohol and now realizes that his wasted life is no one’s fault but his own.

What do we when we find that we’ve made a mess of our lives? What does God have to say to those who have sinned and are now experiencing the consequences of those sins?

Nearly six centuries before the birth of Christ, the people of Israel found themselves in a similar situation. They turned their backs on God and found themselves in exile in Babylon. The prophet Isaiah had warned them that if they did not change their ways, they would pay. And now they were.

Hear now, the words of God through the prophet Isaiah to a people wasting away in exile:

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
6Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:1-13

• In what ways, do we spend money on that which is not bread and labor for that which will not satisfy?

• What is God’s answer to those “wasting away in Margaritaville”?

I'm in Birmingham preparing for Annual Conference now.

Eclectic Echoes -- May 31st

2009-05-31T22:45:00.006-05:00

Sorry for the late post, but it has been a crazy busy week! Not to mention there has been a lot of news.

An appropriate model for making a disciple

Facebook Survival Guide for Awkward Adults
Why I took a Facebook Break

Last Survivor of the Titanic Dies

First Person Writing

Barna on Casual Christians and the Future of America I agree that casual Christianity is a concern, but I disagree with his defintion of "casual" which assumes committed Christians share his particular theology.

Labrynth Musings

Getting your current members to invite

Evangelisn't and Evangelisn't Part II

Throwing the "b" card (I've done and will do it again!)
Christmas,Easter and Pentecost Christians

The Paradoxes of Poverty

In UM News:
Did We Get a Quantity Discount on Constitutional Amendments
Don't forget the 40 days of prayer from the young clergy!
What's Your Spirit
Lynn's new blog--Musings by One of God's Scardy Cats
Rock Solid
Keeping it all in the family

The Designing Women Game. Here is my Julia Rant:

I would rather spend two hours sharing fried mushrooms with Bonnie Barros than watch a woman who apparently purchased her intellect at Target for quarter chase twenty-five men with biceps made of tin and heads packed with Raisin Bran.
Because when future generations look upon what we have left for them, which may by then be little more than global warming and millions of non-biodegradable iPods, I fear they will conclude that they would have welcomed bread and circuses if only they had realized the alternative was potato chips and Survivor.
[sits down and crosses arms, but then immediately stands back up]
And let me tell you a little something about romance: Handing out roses like you are a mascot throwing Hot Tamales to the assembled hooligans at an Auburn football game is not my idea of romance. Romance is a man who knows the difference between John Wesley and John Wayne and who is capable of putting on a dress without scratching his head as if he is connecting a speaker without the instruction manual.
So do not ask yourself why I do not particularly enjoy a television show where the assembled male candidates represent romantic prospects inferior to the workers on the night shift at the TGI Fridays in Huntsville. Ask yourself whether, after a lifetime playing with a cultural slinky and dancing on the grave of Scarlet O’Hara you will ever...recover...your dignity.

Congregational Subtext

In family news, here are two articles about my brother's vow renewal service
Dream Wedding
Wedding Celebrates Ancestral Roots

Not so much a laugh as a smile for the week: