What were your childhood dreams? What did you want to do when you "grew up?" I was reminded of this basic question while reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Pausch recently died of pancreatic cancer before he reached 50 years of age. He reflected on these questions in his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon where he taught computer science. The more I thought about these the more I recalled about my own inner life as a child - what I thought about, what I dreamed about, what went through my mind at those formative times in my life. So, here goes...here are some of the childhood dreams I remember entertaining and what I thought I might want to do when I "grew up." What were yours?
1. I wanted to be President of the United States. I thought a lot about how I would get there. I loved history, especially presidential history even at a young elementary age and I concluded that a bunch of presidents were lawyers so I should be a lawyer.
2. I couldn't get all that excited about being a lawyer as a kid so I thought about being an historian since it was closer to what I loved but I didn't understand at age 9 what a historian would actually do (I did get to give tours of the US Capitol as a congressional intern during college, I think that qualifies)
3. I wanted to go to Disney World (I've gotten to visit there three times!)
4. Later as I got interested in sports I think the thought crossed my mind that I could be on TV talking about sports (here in Woodville I got to call a few games on radio!)
5. Preacher. I wanted to sit and talk and drink coffee with people all the time and talk about the church because I heard my favorite pastors do that at our dinner table with my parents. (That's how I'm spending my life now!)
What were your dreams? Do you still think about them? Which ones could you still accomplish?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Knowing Jesus through Mark 15
At this stage in the Gospel, everything points to the cross. Here in chapter 15, we find Jesus "handed over" by the religious leaders to Pilate, the political authority. I would like to look at this chapter through the lens of the characters. Most chapters of course are filled with the actions of Jesus, his disciples and the masses. Often there is a named someone who has a personal interaction with Jesus. (note - Even though I am calling them characters, I'm not implying they were fictional as in a dramatic play)
Many of the characters we find here are new.
Chief priest, elders and scribes (professional interpreters of the Jewish law and repeatedly Jesus' opponents in Mark)
Pilate - Roman governor, ruling political authority who is portrayed by Mark as a reluctant participant in the trial and execution of Jesus (vs 14) Pilate served in his office from 26-36 AD.
Barrabas - in prison because of his apparent involvement in a rebel insurrection (vs 7) It's not clear which one Mark is referring to because they were many around this time but that detail doesn't seem relevant. He was a criminal who it seems is justifiably incarcerated (as opposed to Jesus).
The crowd - remember its Passover time so the city is full. Were some of the disciples in the crowd?
Soldiers - mock and humiliate Jesus by stripping his clothes, spitting on him and showing outright contempt. The "whole cohort" was a regiment of soldiers of about 200-600 troops. That might be an exaggeration. It doesn't seem like you would need that many for one prisoner but Mark seems to want us to understand the gravity of the situation.
Simon of Cyrene - "passer-by" to help Jesus carry the cross. No doubt journeying to Jerusalem for Passover. Cyrene is in present day Libya.
Bandits - no conversation is found here as in Luke's Gospel between Jesus and the others being crucified on eithe side of him. Again, I think the emphasis is his innocence with others guilt.
Others passing by while Jesus hangs from the cross - religious leaders again - mocking and humiliating Jesus
God - Jesus prays to his Father in the words of Psalm 22:1
Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome - were present it seems along with other women who Mark notes, cared for and traveled with Jesus from Galilee. Although not one of 12 disciples, clearly these women were disciples in the broader sense, as we are. It's impossible to know if Mary mother of James is also Jesus' mother but could be.
Joseph of Aramithea - we don't know which council he was amember of but Mark indicates he was "waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God." He was a "respected member of the council" but Mark still notes that his approaching Pilate for Jesus' body was a "bold" action. He has Jesus entombed with dignity.
What do we learn about Jesus from this chapter?
Many of the characters we find here are new.
Chief priest, elders and scribes (professional interpreters of the Jewish law and repeatedly Jesus' opponents in Mark)
Pilate - Roman governor, ruling political authority who is portrayed by Mark as a reluctant participant in the trial and execution of Jesus (vs 14) Pilate served in his office from 26-36 AD.
Barrabas - in prison because of his apparent involvement in a rebel insurrection (vs 7) It's not clear which one Mark is referring to because they were many around this time but that detail doesn't seem relevant. He was a criminal who it seems is justifiably incarcerated (as opposed to Jesus).
The crowd - remember its Passover time so the city is full. Were some of the disciples in the crowd?
Soldiers - mock and humiliate Jesus by stripping his clothes, spitting on him and showing outright contempt. The "whole cohort" was a regiment of soldiers of about 200-600 troops. That might be an exaggeration. It doesn't seem like you would need that many for one prisoner but Mark seems to want us to understand the gravity of the situation.
Simon of Cyrene - "passer-by" to help Jesus carry the cross. No doubt journeying to Jerusalem for Passover. Cyrene is in present day Libya.
Bandits - no conversation is found here as in Luke's Gospel between Jesus and the others being crucified on eithe side of him. Again, I think the emphasis is his innocence with others guilt.
Others passing by while Jesus hangs from the cross - religious leaders again - mocking and humiliating Jesus
God - Jesus prays to his Father in the words of Psalm 22:1
Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome - were present it seems along with other women who Mark notes, cared for and traveled with Jesus from Galilee. Although not one of 12 disciples, clearly these women were disciples in the broader sense, as we are. It's impossible to know if Mary mother of James is also Jesus' mother but could be.
Joseph of Aramithea - we don't know which council he was amember of but Mark indicates he was "waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God." He was a "respected member of the council" but Mark still notes that his approaching Pilate for Jesus' body was a "bold" action. He has Jesus entombed with dignity.
What do we learn about Jesus from this chapter?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Knowing Jesus through Mark 13
It is first important to note with this chapter the probable composition period of Mark's Gospel - mid to late 60's AD.
Therefore what Jesus and his disciples discuss here is to be read in light of the probable cultural context of the 60's AD which I will briefly describe here.
- During the 60's AD, Christians experienced evil and harsh persecutions by the Roman empire, most notably led by the Emperor Nero. Christians were beaten, tortured, and executed. One Roman historian's comments seem to summarize the mindset - Christians are "notoriously depraved" and "are holding on to a deadly superstition."
- The Jews begin an active revolt against the Roman occupiers in 67 AD which lasts until 70AD at which time the temple in Jerusalem is destroyed. It is never rebuilt.
- The Jews are revolting against the Romans, they also turn inward and fight viciously among themselves.
- Jesus warns about the disciples reacting hastily at first (vs.7-8) about all that will happen (Mark here is recalling the words of Jesus that are prophesying what he is currently experiencing in the late 60's AD).
- Jesus soon tells his disciples that at the right time they should leave Jerusalem (vs14-16)
- This passage often invites discussion about the "second coming" of Jesus (see opening comments).
Therefore what Jesus and his disciples discuss here is to be read in light of the probable cultural context of the 60's AD which I will briefly describe here.
- During the 60's AD, Christians experienced evil and harsh persecutions by the Roman empire, most notably led by the Emperor Nero. Christians were beaten, tortured, and executed. One Roman historian's comments seem to summarize the mindset - Christians are "notoriously depraved" and "are holding on to a deadly superstition."
- The Jews begin an active revolt against the Roman occupiers in 67 AD which lasts until 70AD at which time the temple in Jerusalem is destroyed. It is never rebuilt.
- The Jews are revolting against the Romans, they also turn inward and fight viciously among themselves.
- Jesus warns about the disciples reacting hastily at first (vs.7-8) about all that will happen (Mark here is recalling the words of Jesus that are prophesying what he is currently experiencing in the late 60's AD).
- Jesus soon tells his disciples that at the right time they should leave Jerusalem (vs14-16)
- This passage often invites discussion about the "second coming" of Jesus (see opening comments).
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Updated Mark Schedule
Derrick Noble preached with passion and insight on Mark chapters 9-12 during our Revival. It was good to have a fresh voice and varied approach to our study focus. We are now in the "home stretch" of our study. Here is the remaining schedule:
This Sunday morning, October 5th - Mark 13
This Sunday evening - Mark 14
Sunday morning, October 12th - Mark 15
Sunday evening - Mark 16
The series will conclude on October 12th. Check back in on this blog in the next 24 hours and you'll find brief sketches of chapters 13 and 14 to give you a preview of this Sunday.
This Sunday morning, October 5th - Mark 13
This Sunday evening - Mark 14
Sunday morning, October 12th - Mark 15
Sunday evening - Mark 16
The series will conclude on October 12th. Check back in on this blog in the next 24 hours and you'll find brief sketches of chapters 13 and 14 to give you a preview of this Sunday.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Knowing Jesus through Mark 7
*In order to follow these notes, you'll need to be reading the chapter along with it. I pray that after studying this chapter, you may know Jesus better and in a deeper way than before. Amen.
Verses 1-23
- This section is a back and forth exchange involving Jesus, his disciples and some local Pharisees and scribes
- At issue here specifically is ritual cleanliness; but the broader issue is the continued conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities
- As with any conflicts there is the "presenting issue" as psychologists would say; here it is the disciples eating with unwashed hands (vs 2).
Jesus quickly identifies the deeper issue shrewdly by quoting Isaiah, thereby demonstrating his own understanding and intrepretation of the prophet, in front of these guardians of the Hebrew scriptures. "You leave the commandment of God and hold fast to the tradition of men" (vs 8).
- Jesus goes on to teach that the commandments of God, the law, exists to change our hearts and to purify that which "comes out" of us.
- Jesus gives examples (vs 21-22) of the evil things that come out of people
- There is often confusion on what some of these things are, a few words about a few of these -
Coveting - comes from a Latin word that means "to desire another's possessions."
Fornication - voluntary sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage
Foolishness - lacking in sense, judgement or discretion
Licentiousness - means lacking personal discipline usually in the area of sexual relationships
Deceit - the concealing or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading
- Jesus sums up this conversation by saying in verse 23, "all these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."
Verses 24-30
- Jesus tries to continue to operate somewhat in secret (vs 24) as he enters a house in Tyre or Sidon
- He is in Greek territory and Tom Wright suggests that perhaps Jesus is intentionally trying to "lay low" for a while after making the controversial and confrontational interactions with the religious folks. Perhaps this Greek area of Tyre/Sidon a ways up the coast from Galilee, was a place to go under the radar for a bit?
- It's unclear from the text but it seems that Jesus was trying to hide but then makes his way out into the community where he encounters a woman
- Mark makes sure to note that the woman he encounters is Greek, not Jewish
- Jews often thought of Gentiles as "dogs" and Gentiles had unkind names for Jews as well, Tom Wright notes.
- Her response to Jesus' questioning and arguably, his slight, was to say that even dogs (Gentiles) eat crumbs under the tables of the children (Jews, Israelites) - is this a way of saying that even the non-Jew is "hungry" for healing
- Whatever this odd exchange meant, Jesus responds redemptively and removes the demon from daughter of the woman.
- It seems Jesus' encounter with this woman is outside in the open because after their visit, she goes home and finds her possessed daughter well (vs 30).
Verses 31-37
- Jesus goes to the region of the Decapolis - ten Greek cities evangelized by the "man of the tombs" described in chapter 5 verse 20
- Jesus, in private, heals a man who is deaf and dumb (recalling and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 35: 5-6)
- Again, Jesus "charges" them not to tell about it but "the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it (vs 36).
*this last account in Mark 7 reminds me of the 6th verse of the great Charles Wesley hymn, "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
"Hear him ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.
Verses 1-23
- This section is a back and forth exchange involving Jesus, his disciples and some local Pharisees and scribes
- At issue here specifically is ritual cleanliness; but the broader issue is the continued conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities
- As with any conflicts there is the "presenting issue" as psychologists would say; here it is the disciples eating with unwashed hands (vs 2).
Jesus quickly identifies the deeper issue shrewdly by quoting Isaiah, thereby demonstrating his own understanding and intrepretation of the prophet, in front of these guardians of the Hebrew scriptures. "You leave the commandment of God and hold fast to the tradition of men" (vs 8).
- Jesus goes on to teach that the commandments of God, the law, exists to change our hearts and to purify that which "comes out" of us.
- Jesus gives examples (vs 21-22) of the evil things that come out of people
- There is often confusion on what some of these things are, a few words about a few of these -
Coveting - comes from a Latin word that means "to desire another's possessions."
Fornication - voluntary sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage
Foolishness - lacking in sense, judgement or discretion
Licentiousness - means lacking personal discipline usually in the area of sexual relationships
Deceit - the concealing or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading
- Jesus sums up this conversation by saying in verse 23, "all these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."
Verses 24-30
- Jesus tries to continue to operate somewhat in secret (vs 24) as he enters a house in Tyre or Sidon
- He is in Greek territory and Tom Wright suggests that perhaps Jesus is intentionally trying to "lay low" for a while after making the controversial and confrontational interactions with the religious folks. Perhaps this Greek area of Tyre/Sidon a ways up the coast from Galilee, was a place to go under the radar for a bit?
- It's unclear from the text but it seems that Jesus was trying to hide but then makes his way out into the community where he encounters a woman
- Mark makes sure to note that the woman he encounters is Greek, not Jewish
- Jews often thought of Gentiles as "dogs" and Gentiles had unkind names for Jews as well, Tom Wright notes.
- Her response to Jesus' questioning and arguably, his slight, was to say that even dogs (Gentiles) eat crumbs under the tables of the children (Jews, Israelites) - is this a way of saying that even the non-Jew is "hungry" for healing
- Whatever this odd exchange meant, Jesus responds redemptively and removes the demon from daughter of the woman.
- It seems Jesus' encounter with this woman is outside in the open because after their visit, she goes home and finds her possessed daughter well (vs 30).
Verses 31-37
- Jesus goes to the region of the Decapolis - ten Greek cities evangelized by the "man of the tombs" described in chapter 5 verse 20
- Jesus, in private, heals a man who is deaf and dumb (recalling and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 35: 5-6)
- Again, Jesus "charges" them not to tell about it but "the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it (vs 36).
*this last account in Mark 7 reminds me of the 6th verse of the great Charles Wesley hymn, "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
"Hear him ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Catching up - Knowing Jesus through Mark 6
Because of one hurricane scare and one hurricane reality, we are somewhat behind in our church-wide focus on the Gospel of Mark. This Sunday and Monday, September 28-29, Rev Derek Noble will be here. Some time ago, I asked him to preach Mark 9-11 because that's where I planned to be by now. He has prepared those chapters and you don't want to miss those sermons. Thus far, we have made our way through chapter 5 in worship.
So to be faithful to our study, I will briefly sketch chapters 6-8 here on the blog. By exploring 6-8 here, we'll be ready for Derek to jump in Sunday with chapter 9. It's a lot to take in but here goes. I'll do seperate posts for each chapter through this week.
Chapter 6: Verses 1-6
- Jesus goes home. His disciples join him as he teaches in the local synagogue but Jesus is quickly questioned by the locals who knew him in reference to his family. Jesus is clearly disappointed that the locals, many of whom he clearly knows from childhood, belittle his ministry.
- Jesus "marvels" at their unbelief. Disappointed, surprised, who knows exactly what was going through Jesus' mind and heart at this moment but he expected a different reaction from those who have known him all their lives. Many of them were the religiously faithful of the village but in this crucial moment, they did not believe.
Verses 7-13
- Jesus moves on
- He sends the disciples out two by two: Ministry is done in partnership with others
- Note the simplicity that Jesus instructs the disciples to maintain on their journey (in food, clothing and finances etc.)
- No drama (as the popular phrase goes) Jesus tells the disciples to "dust off" rejection and move on - much like Jesus just did in his hometown
- Mark describes the fruit of their journey - preached repentance, they casted out many demons, anointed and healed the sick
Verses 14-29
- Mark describes Herod's fear of Jesus by recalling his treatment of John the Baptist
- in past tense, Herod recalls his arrest and execution of John the Baptist
- He recalls it because people are saying Jesus is John returned or maybe Elijah. Herod's fear grows.
- Foreshadowing of Jesus' death and resurrection in verse 29.
(Read Tom Wright's commentary on this section especially)
Verses 30-44
- After this active ministry (verses 12-13), Jesus calls the disciples to rest in a "lonely place" (RSV)
- They are followed again. Jesus has compassion on the crowds and teaches them "many things."
- Feeding of the 5000: my favorite phrase here is Jesus' retort to the disciples when they tried to send the people away at dinner time - "No, you give them something to eat."
- There was enough food to go around, no there was more than enough!
- 12 baskets full: that number 12 is always significant (12 disciples, 12 tribes of Israel) signifies completeness, restoration, and even abundance
Verses 45-52
- Jesus finally makes it to a quiet place to pray (Jesus shows us that the needs of people and the need to pray are not exclusive of each other. Too many times, many people, most notably pastors, feel like prayer gets pushed off and becomes impossible in the face of human need...Jesus shows us that we are the ones who make prayer a priority, we can always come back to prayer)
- The disciples are in the boat with the "wind against them"
- Jesus walks on the water but Mark notes that he "meant to pass them by" !! Which begs the question - where was he going?! Bishop Will Willimon says that it indicates that maybe Jesus is up to more in the world than just the concerns of the church (disciples in the boat)! Jesus is about saving the whole world!
- "They did not learn the lesson of the loaves" Interesting to see Mark connect this last story with the loaves story - so do we miss the lesson of the loaves? So what is the lesson of the loaves?
Verses 53-56
- It's day time, Jesus and the disciples come ashore and are immediately bombarded again with human needs
- "Touching the fringe of his (Jesus') garment" and being healed reemerges (recall Mark 5: 27-29). Power goes out from Jesus' person
*Please read about chapter 6 in Tom Wright's Mark for Everyone. If you don't have a copy, attend a Sunday school class this Sunday and borrow one or order one from www.amazon.com
So to be faithful to our study, I will briefly sketch chapters 6-8 here on the blog. By exploring 6-8 here, we'll be ready for Derek to jump in Sunday with chapter 9. It's a lot to take in but here goes. I'll do seperate posts for each chapter through this week.
Chapter 6: Verses 1-6
- Jesus goes home. His disciples join him as he teaches in the local synagogue but Jesus is quickly questioned by the locals who knew him in reference to his family. Jesus is clearly disappointed that the locals, many of whom he clearly knows from childhood, belittle his ministry.
- Jesus "marvels" at their unbelief. Disappointed, surprised, who knows exactly what was going through Jesus' mind and heart at this moment but he expected a different reaction from those who have known him all their lives. Many of them were the religiously faithful of the village but in this crucial moment, they did not believe.
Verses 7-13
- Jesus moves on
- He sends the disciples out two by two: Ministry is done in partnership with others
- Note the simplicity that Jesus instructs the disciples to maintain on their journey (in food, clothing and finances etc.)
- No drama (as the popular phrase goes) Jesus tells the disciples to "dust off" rejection and move on - much like Jesus just did in his hometown
- Mark describes the fruit of their journey - preached repentance, they casted out many demons, anointed and healed the sick
Verses 14-29
- Mark describes Herod's fear of Jesus by recalling his treatment of John the Baptist
- in past tense, Herod recalls his arrest and execution of John the Baptist
- He recalls it because people are saying Jesus is John returned or maybe Elijah. Herod's fear grows.
- Foreshadowing of Jesus' death and resurrection in verse 29.
(Read Tom Wright's commentary on this section especially)
Verses 30-44
- After this active ministry (verses 12-13), Jesus calls the disciples to rest in a "lonely place" (RSV)
- They are followed again. Jesus has compassion on the crowds and teaches them "many things."
- Feeding of the 5000: my favorite phrase here is Jesus' retort to the disciples when they tried to send the people away at dinner time - "No, you give them something to eat."
- There was enough food to go around, no there was more than enough!
- 12 baskets full: that number 12 is always significant (12 disciples, 12 tribes of Israel) signifies completeness, restoration, and even abundance
Verses 45-52
- Jesus finally makes it to a quiet place to pray (Jesus shows us that the needs of people and the need to pray are not exclusive of each other. Too many times, many people, most notably pastors, feel like prayer gets pushed off and becomes impossible in the face of human need...Jesus shows us that we are the ones who make prayer a priority, we can always come back to prayer)
- The disciples are in the boat with the "wind against them"
- Jesus walks on the water but Mark notes that he "meant to pass them by" !! Which begs the question - where was he going?! Bishop Will Willimon says that it indicates that maybe Jesus is up to more in the world than just the concerns of the church (disciples in the boat)! Jesus is about saving the whole world!
- "They did not learn the lesson of the loaves" Interesting to see Mark connect this last story with the loaves story - so do we miss the lesson of the loaves? So what is the lesson of the loaves?
Verses 53-56
- It's day time, Jesus and the disciples come ashore and are immediately bombarded again with human needs
- "Touching the fringe of his (Jesus') garment" and being healed reemerges (recall Mark 5: 27-29). Power goes out from Jesus' person
*Please read about chapter 6 in Tom Wright's Mark for Everyone. If you don't have a copy, attend a Sunday school class this Sunday and borrow one or order one from www.amazon.com
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Back on Track
Two weeks and a hurricane later, I'm writing again. Hurricane Ike destroyed, damaged and disrupted many. Last Sunday in worship, with no electrical power we gathered and worshipped God for seeing us through it, caring for us and just being God through it all.
It was Sunday, September 21st when we jumped back in to our study of Mark. We explored chapter 5.
This week I will blog highlights and study for chapter 6 and then on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Monday night September 28-29th we welcome Dr. Derrick Noble to be our Revival Preacher as he carries us into Mark 9-11. Derrick is founding pastor of Impact UMC in Pt Arthur which is set to launch in early 2009. Before moving to Pt Arthur, he served the Abundant Life UMC in Lufkin, where that church experienced dramatic growth in worship and in the making of new disciples of Jesus. If you are a Woodville UMC member and participated in the home small group study on the 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations book, Derrick and Abundant Life Church were featured in the DVD section on Passionate Worship. Derrick is a gifted preacher, teacher and overall spiritual guide. I'm looking forward personally to hearing him preach and coming to know Jesus in a deeper way through Revival 2008.
It was Sunday, September 21st when we jumped back in to our study of Mark. We explored chapter 5.
This week I will blog highlights and study for chapter 6 and then on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Monday night September 28-29th we welcome Dr. Derrick Noble to be our Revival Preacher as he carries us into Mark 9-11. Derrick is founding pastor of Impact UMC in Pt Arthur which is set to launch in early 2009. Before moving to Pt Arthur, he served the Abundant Life UMC in Lufkin, where that church experienced dramatic growth in worship and in the making of new disciples of Jesus. If you are a Woodville UMC member and participated in the home small group study on the 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations book, Derrick and Abundant Life Church were featured in the DVD section on Passionate Worship. Derrick is a gifted preacher, teacher and overall spiritual guide. I'm looking forward personally to hearing him preach and coming to know Jesus in a deeper way through Revival 2008.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Knowing Jesus through Mark 4
Well, with evacuation confusion during the hurricane scare, we will pick back up this week in Mark chapter 4 and cover it this Sunday, September 7th. Come get back in worship and study gear.
A highlight reel of Mark 4 -
- Mark 4 is a chapter of parables. Parables are often misunderstood. Many times they are seen simply as allegories, moral lessons, or ethical teachings. When described in this way, parables become lessons about life rather than stories about God. They are very particularly, stories about the kingdom of God. Jesus uses everyday items to use as comparisons for kingdom understanding.
- Jesus leaves hanging in the air, a very mysterious quality about these parables. "With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything" (verses 33-34).
- Finally in chapter 4, Mark's version is given for the evening at sea on the boat with Jesus and the disciples. "A great wind arose and the waves beat into the boat." Jesus is peacefully sleeping below when he is awakened by the scared disciples. He soon calms the sea, saves them and challenges their faith.
- For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus demonstrates power over the forces of nature and the people are amazed and begin to see that Jesus is more than a teacher of morals.
A highlight reel of Mark 4 -
- Mark 4 is a chapter of parables. Parables are often misunderstood. Many times they are seen simply as allegories, moral lessons, or ethical teachings. When described in this way, parables become lessons about life rather than stories about God. They are very particularly, stories about the kingdom of God. Jesus uses everyday items to use as comparisons for kingdom understanding.
- Jesus leaves hanging in the air, a very mysterious quality about these parables. "With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything" (verses 33-34).
- Finally in chapter 4, Mark's version is given for the evening at sea on the boat with Jesus and the disciples. "A great wind arose and the waves beat into the boat." Jesus is peacefully sleeping below when he is awakened by the scared disciples. He soon calms the sea, saves them and challenges their faith.
- For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus demonstrates power over the forces of nature and the people are amazed and begin to see that Jesus is more than a teacher of morals.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Knowing Jesus through Mark Chapter 3
This week in Sunday school and worship we are seeking to know Jesus through Mark Chapter 3. As with each chapter there are sub-sections here. However we have to be careful not to read them in isolation from each other. Even as I break these sections down, try to look for the places of continuity between stories and points of connection between themes that emerge from story to story and chapter to chapter. For each section I'll offer tidbits that I hope will wet your appetite for study and for worship this Sunday.
Verses 1-6: Jesus heals a man with the "withered" hand. It takes place in the temple on the sabbath day in front of people, including the Pharisees.
- The ministry of Jesus clashes again with the religious authorities over the meaning of the Sabbath. We saw this in chapter 2.
- On Sunday we'll dive deeper into the meaning of "Sabbath" for Jesus era Jews and the ways Christians have "converted" as well as distorted it.
- Jesus "restores" the man with the withered hand. The original Greek word here is apokathistemi, which simply means for something to be returned to its original intent and purpose. Mark's use of "restoration" foreshadows for later in chapter 3 as well as the rest of the gospel, where restoration themes abound (verses 7-19 - see notes below)
Verses 7-19: Large Crowds are following Jesus
- Word is surely spreading that Jesus is healing people so one can imagine the abundant demand for Jesus' power. Jesus retreats in order, it seems, to call, recruit and empower disciples who he calls apostles also (apostolos, meaning messenger) to do three things:
1- to be with him
2- to proclaim the message
3- to cast out demons
Jesus authorizes and commissions trusted apostles to go in his name and do ministry. The authorizing of persons for ministries of various kinds in the life of the church is rooted well Biblically and this is a prime example. Jesus clearly wants to meet the needs of the people and perhaps? he is physically limited in doing that. After-all, he can only be in one place at one time.
- Restoration. In choosing the twelve disciples Jesus makes what must have been an obvious connection to his hearers. He is signaling the restoration of the people Israel rooted in the historical lineage of the twelve tribes of Jacob. Because 10 of those tribes had been conquered and carried away by the Assyrians 700 years before, the Israelites were waiting for a restoration of everything. Through this commissioning of the 12 apostles, Tom Wright notes that Jesus was signaling that "this was more than a great healing mission."
Verses 20-30: Jesus and Beelzebul
- Jesus' family is wondering about Jesus' sanity (verse 21) because of his healing work and what he is saying.
- The authorities, not even his family understand what Jesus is about. Because they don't understand, they revert to a caustic label. Beelzebul was an "arch-demon" as Wright describes it. We'll talk more Sunday about the reasons we label and the dangers of doing it
- Jesus is angry. We are used to thinking that the temple cleansing episode is the only place where Jesus gets angry in the Gospels...not true, we see that he gets angry here. Jesus is serious about the work of the Holy Spirit.
- We have to be extremely careful not to discount work that we may not understand but might be the work of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 31-35: Jesus' Family
- Again, Jesus' family tries to get Jesus to come outside.
- Wright wants us to understand how shocking the words are that Jesus speaks about his relatives. In the modern West, we are used to distance between family members. Even if we don't like it, we know that jobs, school and relationships take people far away from home sometimes. In Jesus' day there was rarely such mobility and the interdependence on one's family was strong. To ask, "who is my mother and who are my brothers?" would have been shocking to the hearers.
- Jesus calls for first loyalty among those who "do God's will." These are family.
Therefore our loyalty and devotion to our biological families becomes an outgrowth of our first loyalty to God and the family of faith.
*Wright says and I agree that Mark calls his readers to "stick with Jesus, whatever the cost."
Verses 1-6: Jesus heals a man with the "withered" hand. It takes place in the temple on the sabbath day in front of people, including the Pharisees.
- The ministry of Jesus clashes again with the religious authorities over the meaning of the Sabbath. We saw this in chapter 2.
- On Sunday we'll dive deeper into the meaning of "Sabbath" for Jesus era Jews and the ways Christians have "converted" as well as distorted it.
- Jesus "restores" the man with the withered hand. The original Greek word here is apokathistemi, which simply means for something to be returned to its original intent and purpose. Mark's use of "restoration" foreshadows for later in chapter 3 as well as the rest of the gospel, where restoration themes abound (verses 7-19 - see notes below)
Verses 7-19: Large Crowds are following Jesus
- Word is surely spreading that Jesus is healing people so one can imagine the abundant demand for Jesus' power. Jesus retreats in order, it seems, to call, recruit and empower disciples who he calls apostles also (apostolos, meaning messenger) to do three things:
1- to be with him
2- to proclaim the message
3- to cast out demons
Jesus authorizes and commissions trusted apostles to go in his name and do ministry. The authorizing of persons for ministries of various kinds in the life of the church is rooted well Biblically and this is a prime example. Jesus clearly wants to meet the needs of the people and perhaps? he is physically limited in doing that. After-all, he can only be in one place at one time.
- Restoration. In choosing the twelve disciples Jesus makes what must have been an obvious connection to his hearers. He is signaling the restoration of the people Israel rooted in the historical lineage of the twelve tribes of Jacob. Because 10 of those tribes had been conquered and carried away by the Assyrians 700 years before, the Israelites were waiting for a restoration of everything. Through this commissioning of the 12 apostles, Tom Wright notes that Jesus was signaling that "this was more than a great healing mission."
Verses 20-30: Jesus and Beelzebul
- Jesus' family is wondering about Jesus' sanity (verse 21) because of his healing work and what he is saying.
- The authorities, not even his family understand what Jesus is about. Because they don't understand, they revert to a caustic label. Beelzebul was an "arch-demon" as Wright describes it. We'll talk more Sunday about the reasons we label and the dangers of doing it
- Jesus is angry. We are used to thinking that the temple cleansing episode is the only place where Jesus gets angry in the Gospels...not true, we see that he gets angry here. Jesus is serious about the work of the Holy Spirit.
- We have to be extremely careful not to discount work that we may not understand but might be the work of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 31-35: Jesus' Family
- Again, Jesus' family tries to get Jesus to come outside.
- Wright wants us to understand how shocking the words are that Jesus speaks about his relatives. In the modern West, we are used to distance between family members. Even if we don't like it, we know that jobs, school and relationships take people far away from home sometimes. In Jesus' day there was rarely such mobility and the interdependence on one's family was strong. To ask, "who is my mother and who are my brothers?" would have been shocking to the hearers.
- Jesus calls for first loyalty among those who "do God's will." These are family.
Therefore our loyalty and devotion to our biological families becomes an outgrowth of our first loyalty to God and the family of faith.
*Wright says and I agree that Mark calls his readers to "stick with Jesus, whatever the cost."
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Knowing Jesus through Mark Chapter 2
This week we move to chapter 2 of Mark's Gospel. It opens with the occasion of Jesus' preaching and teaching "at home" (verses 1-12). Tom Wright notes in his commentary, Mark for Everyone, that there is a strong possibility that this home might have literally been Jesus' home. He notes that Jesus had moved to Capernaum from Nazareth. After preaching and teaching in surrounding villages (1:38) Jesus came home to Capernaum. Much like a famous athlete or rock star, the Jesus paparazzi was crowding in.
Here are key elements and questions for verses 1-12.
- Jesus' first confrontation with the Pharisees and religious authorities in Mark. There are a string of these in chapter 2, beginning in verse 6 during the story of the healing of the paralytic. This time it seems subtle. The scripture says, they were "questioning in their hearts..." about Jesus' authority to forgive sins after his forgiveness of the paralytic man who has been lowered through his roof. (Wright jokes that maybe Jesus is forgiving him for cutting through the roof of his home). Jesus perceives that there are questions in the crowd and he addresses those in verses 8-12.
- Jesus' first issuance of forgiveness in Mark
- Jesus responds to an interruption when the paralyzed man is lowered into the room - come on Sunday, this will be a key question for us during the sermon.
Key elements and questions for verses 13-17
- Jesus continues calling disciples to follow, this time its Levi, a tax collector. Chapter 1 its fishermen, chapter 2 its a tax collector. In both cases, the scripture takes note of the family heritage in the business they are leaving. In chapter 1, verse 20, it notes that James and John are leaving their father Zebedee in the family business to follow Jesus. Here in Chapter 2, it is Levi, son of Alphaeus. Jesus finds them in the tax booth.
- Jesus eats dinner with Levi and other sinners in Levi's home. Jesus responds to the criticism of the scribes by saying essentially that he will be found with those who need him most. Note also that he is on their turf, in Levi's home.
- A key question on Sunday is discerning where we might find Jesus if we looked for him in our community.
Key elements and questions for Verses 18-28
- The confrontations with the religious authorities continues...here it is out loud and about the Jewish laws related to fasting and the sabbath
- Jesus uses common everyday examples to teach. Verses 21-22 use old wineskins and new wineskins. Tom Wright replaces that with bottles in order to illustrate the obvious - "new wine in old bottles will result in broken bottles and wasted wine." Wright goes on to say that "what Jesus is doing can't be fitted in to the existing ways of thinking and living."
*The following is a link to an article written after a powerful sermon given on Mark 2: 1-12 by Rev. Peter Storey. He was the main preacher at the 2008 gathering of the Texas Annual Conference meeting in the Woodlands last May. It has some of his stirring reflections on this passage and what it might mean for churches. Don't be surprised if I quote some of it Sunday!
http://www.txcumc.org/news_detail.asp?pkvalue=627
I invite your thoughts on Mark 2. Scroll up to the top here and click on "comments." Check out a Sunday school class for further study also.
Here are key elements and questions for verses 1-12.
- Jesus' first confrontation with the Pharisees and religious authorities in Mark. There are a string of these in chapter 2, beginning in verse 6 during the story of the healing of the paralytic. This time it seems subtle. The scripture says, they were "questioning in their hearts..." about Jesus' authority to forgive sins after his forgiveness of the paralytic man who has been lowered through his roof. (Wright jokes that maybe Jesus is forgiving him for cutting through the roof of his home). Jesus perceives that there are questions in the crowd and he addresses those in verses 8-12.
- Jesus' first issuance of forgiveness in Mark
- Jesus responds to an interruption when the paralyzed man is lowered into the room - come on Sunday, this will be a key question for us during the sermon.
Key elements and questions for verses 13-17
- Jesus continues calling disciples to follow, this time its Levi, a tax collector. Chapter 1 its fishermen, chapter 2 its a tax collector. In both cases, the scripture takes note of the family heritage in the business they are leaving. In chapter 1, verse 20, it notes that James and John are leaving their father Zebedee in the family business to follow Jesus. Here in Chapter 2, it is Levi, son of Alphaeus. Jesus finds them in the tax booth.
- Jesus eats dinner with Levi and other sinners in Levi's home. Jesus responds to the criticism of the scribes by saying essentially that he will be found with those who need him most. Note also that he is on their turf, in Levi's home.
- A key question on Sunday is discerning where we might find Jesus if we looked for him in our community.
Key elements and questions for Verses 18-28
- The confrontations with the religious authorities continues...here it is out loud and about the Jewish laws related to fasting and the sabbath
- Jesus uses common everyday examples to teach. Verses 21-22 use old wineskins and new wineskins. Tom Wright replaces that with bottles in order to illustrate the obvious - "new wine in old bottles will result in broken bottles and wasted wine." Wright goes on to say that "what Jesus is doing can't be fitted in to the existing ways of thinking and living."
*The following is a link to an article written after a powerful sermon given on Mark 2: 1-12 by Rev. Peter Storey. He was the main preacher at the 2008 gathering of the Texas Annual Conference meeting in the Woodlands last May. It has some of his stirring reflections on this passage and what it might mean for churches. Don't be surprised if I quote some of it Sunday!
http://www.txcumc.org/news_detail.asp?pkvalue=627
I invite your thoughts on Mark 2. Scroll up to the top here and click on "comments." Check out a Sunday school class for further study also.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Detour - Book Review
For all the Woodville UMC readers out there, I'm going to take a quick detour here from the Mark study to mention a few things about a book I just finished reading. Legacy of Ashes: The Secret History of the CIA is a thrilling, frightening, sobering book. This 514 page volume is a chronicle of the CIA from its inception just after the conclusion of World War II, through the Cold War to 9/11 and ending at the reorganization of national intelligence services in 2004-2005. This book won the Pulitzer Prize and its easy to see why. The scope of his sources is amazing, yes because of who they are (all the living former directors, including fmr. President Bush, scores of assistant directors and field agents) but more amazing because they are all "on the record." He has not a single anonymous source cited in this book. They are all on the record interviews and open archival records released under the US Freedom of Information Act or records that were set to be released in a certain year anyway. A couple of observations:
1- Democracy as we know it in the US is a precious and messy thing. The CIA's mission is essentially to gather and analyze information for use to protect the US and its interests. Under this mission, the CIA has engaged in activities and support of activities that are inspiring in many cases, daring to be sure, and illegal and immoral in others. Many of these directors admit all of this on the record in this book and given some of the events described and verified in the book, I agree.
2- There is lots of gray in the world. Attempts to paint a black and white picture of American moral superiority and the "others" as morally inferior is uninformed, arrogant and sinful. Leaders around the world including our own of every political and ideological stripe, are mixed bags. They make hard, life impacting decisions no doubt. The same leader will at times be quite courageous and in another instance cowardly. In one instance make decisions driven by the morality one would hope for and in another instance authorize some of the most heinous behavior one could think of.
In short, they are like any of us - we are a mix. The major mistake we can make is be either completely cynical about our country and its leaders or in complete denial about our own fallibility.
The book was a real page turner but there were lots of pages to turn. I look forward to reading something shorter next.
1- Democracy as we know it in the US is a precious and messy thing. The CIA's mission is essentially to gather and analyze information for use to protect the US and its interests. Under this mission, the CIA has engaged in activities and support of activities that are inspiring in many cases, daring to be sure, and illegal and immoral in others. Many of these directors admit all of this on the record in this book and given some of the events described and verified in the book, I agree.
2- There is lots of gray in the world. Attempts to paint a black and white picture of American moral superiority and the "others" as morally inferior is uninformed, arrogant and sinful. Leaders around the world including our own of every political and ideological stripe, are mixed bags. They make hard, life impacting decisions no doubt. The same leader will at times be quite courageous and in another instance cowardly. In one instance make decisions driven by the morality one would hope for and in another instance authorize some of the most heinous behavior one could think of.
In short, they are like any of us - we are a mix. The major mistake we can make is be either completely cynical about our country and its leaders or in complete denial about our own fallibility.
The book was a real page turner but there were lots of pages to turn. I look forward to reading something shorter next.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Intro to Knowing Jesus through Mark
We are embarking on a journey through Mark starting this Sunday. Each week I'll post here some background material on the chapter we are covering in worship the coming Sunday. Three of our adult Sunday school classes and our youth classes are covering this study too. Our prime resource is Mark for Everyone by N.T. (Tom Wright). Our goal here is to know Jesus through Mark.
Snapshot introduction to Mark:
1. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel recorded. It is dated between the years 64-68 AD. There are indications within Mark (13:5-23) that date it to the time of The Roman Emperor Nero's intense persecution of Christians which happened about 64 AD. The Jews revolted against Rome (their occupying authority) between 67-70. The revolt was put down and the temple in Jerusalem destroyed. In Mark Jesus emphasizes a great deal the hardship of the disciples. It would make sense given these historical occurences.
2. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was a source for Matthew and Luke. I encourage you to draw some of those parallels in your own study.
3. Mark does not contain the birth story of Jesus. Therefore, there is no incarnation, virgin birth here. It also does not contain the experience in the temple at age 12 recorded in other Gospels.
4. Mark begins with John the Baptist and the prophecy of Isaiah that announces the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist plays a critical role here by proclaiming this "good news." He begins with baptism and the need for repentance of sin. He proclaims the good news of the forgiveness of God.
5. John the Baptist points the way to Jesus "who is more powerful than I..." John has been baptizing with water but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit
The following is a brief outline of Chapter 1 - we will walk our way through these on Sunday August 10th -
Verses 1-8: The Proclamation of John the Baptist
Verses 9-11: The Baptism of Jesus
Verses 12-13: The Temptation of Jesus
Verses 14-20: Beginning of Jesus' ministry and calling the first disciples
Verses 21-45: Exorcisms, Healings and Preaching
I sense great urgency with the Gospel of Mark. This is a Jesus who moves and calls and heals. This is a Jesus whose power marvels and whose life changes the lives of others.
*Next week we'll break down Chapter 2 a little more specifically than I have chapter 1. I wanted first to share some background on Mark's Gospel as a whole.
*Attend Sunday school to learn more and come to worship this Sunday
Snapshot introduction to Mark:
1. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel recorded. It is dated between the years 64-68 AD. There are indications within Mark (13:5-23) that date it to the time of The Roman Emperor Nero's intense persecution of Christians which happened about 64 AD. The Jews revolted against Rome (their occupying authority) between 67-70. The revolt was put down and the temple in Jerusalem destroyed. In Mark Jesus emphasizes a great deal the hardship of the disciples. It would make sense given these historical occurences.
2. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was a source for Matthew and Luke. I encourage you to draw some of those parallels in your own study.
3. Mark does not contain the birth story of Jesus. Therefore, there is no incarnation, virgin birth here. It also does not contain the experience in the temple at age 12 recorded in other Gospels.
4. Mark begins with John the Baptist and the prophecy of Isaiah that announces the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist plays a critical role here by proclaiming this "good news." He begins with baptism and the need for repentance of sin. He proclaims the good news of the forgiveness of God.
5. John the Baptist points the way to Jesus "who is more powerful than I..." John has been baptizing with water but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit
The following is a brief outline of Chapter 1 - we will walk our way through these on Sunday August 10th -
Verses 1-8: The Proclamation of John the Baptist
Verses 9-11: The Baptism of Jesus
Verses 12-13: The Temptation of Jesus
Verses 14-20: Beginning of Jesus' ministry and calling the first disciples
Verses 21-45: Exorcisms, Healings and Preaching
I sense great urgency with the Gospel of Mark. This is a Jesus who moves and calls and heals. This is a Jesus whose power marvels and whose life changes the lives of others.
*Next week we'll break down Chapter 2 a little more specifically than I have chapter 1. I wanted first to share some background on Mark's Gospel as a whole.
*Attend Sunday school to learn more and come to worship this Sunday
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Coming Soon...study on the Gospel of Mark
The First – Knowing Jesus through the Gospel of Mark
Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel recorded on paper, probably between the years 64 and 68 AD. It was likely used as a source by the writers of Matthew and Luke. Mark therefore contains the earliest written recording of Jesus’ life and ministry.
For 10 weeks, Woodville United Methodist Church is going to focus on knowing Jesus through the Gospel of Mark. Through sermons and through study during the Sunday school hour, from adults through youth, we will seek to grow in our knowledge of this Gospel. We trust that God will use this dynamic time to strengthen our knowledge of and love for Jesus and increase our confidence to share the story of Jesus with others.
During Sunday morning worship, I'll be preaching our way through Mark. Each Adult and Youth Sunday school class will focus on the Gospel of Mark. Our prime resource will be Mark for Everyone, by Tom Wright. In this blog space, I will post each week an outline of my study in preparation for the following Sunday's sermon. I invite and welcome your comments.
Let’s start the journey together! Beginning Sunday, August 10 – (I'll post the first entry the week leading up to the 1oth)
Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel recorded on paper, probably between the years 64 and 68 AD. It was likely used as a source by the writers of Matthew and Luke. Mark therefore contains the earliest written recording of Jesus’ life and ministry.
For 10 weeks, Woodville United Methodist Church is going to focus on knowing Jesus through the Gospel of Mark. Through sermons and through study during the Sunday school hour, from adults through youth, we will seek to grow in our knowledge of this Gospel. We trust that God will use this dynamic time to strengthen our knowledge of and love for Jesus and increase our confidence to share the story of Jesus with others.
During Sunday morning worship, I'll be preaching our way through Mark. Each Adult and Youth Sunday school class will focus on the Gospel of Mark. Our prime resource will be Mark for Everyone, by Tom Wright. In this blog space, I will post each week an outline of my study in preparation for the following Sunday's sermon. I invite and welcome your comments.
Let’s start the journey together! Beginning Sunday, August 10 – (I'll post the first entry the week leading up to the 1oth)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Leadership 2
After the completion of our pastor/church exchange in England, we traveled to London and spent 5 days there. 3 of those days we spent racing around London seeing everything we could. For three of those nights we had the privledge of staying with a family in Sussex, which is about 45 minutes south of London by train. They are relatives of Woodville church members. Russ is an executive with American Express International. They are about to move to New Jersey/New York but have lived in Sussex for 3 years. Russ and I shared some wonderful conversations about leadership. He has been an active lay person in his local church at various times. Russ leads a team at AEI. In London he has basically been team leader for a European division and by virtue of his move to New York is becoming the global leader of that division. He is about 40 years old. Clearly he is a talented leader who they recruited and fast tracked into leadership. They regularly send him to leadership trainings and expose him to continuing education.
Our conversation was so helpful. Let me summarize some main points of it for you here.
1- Good Leaders are nimble. Russ' experience as a team leader has taught him that different members of the team need different things from you as a leader. One single leadership style is problematic. Many of us tend to fall into a natural style, for example; some are hands-on, some are hands-off. Some leaders involve themselves in the nitty gritty details and some are total big picture leaders. Some coach and stay close to their team members and some give them distance. Russ' counsel was to know your team members and what they need from you as a leader for success to happen. Some will need hands-on and others need some distance in order to work well. Good leaders discern the differences between their team members and are able to lead team members according to what they uniquely need to be successful.
2- Good leaders communicate expectations clearly. AEI has a master plan and an ongoing evaluation process in place. In the church, things often change dramatically when a pastoral change occurs. Some of this is to be expected but Russ said that evaluation of staff should be consistent throughout changes. Example: Staff at any church should expect to have a mid-year and end of year evaluation. In between these evaluations should be ongoing check-ins with staff.
3- Good leaders establish openness early and model it consistently. Regular conversations and the formal evaluations are virtually the same every time in terms of the questions asked. Ie. "What went well? What needs to be improved? Did you meet goals? Are you (team member) getting what you need from me (team leader)? Here's what I (leader) need from you (team member)."
*Thanks to Russ for this great conversation
Our conversation was so helpful. Let me summarize some main points of it for you here.
1- Good Leaders are nimble. Russ' experience as a team leader has taught him that different members of the team need different things from you as a leader. One single leadership style is problematic. Many of us tend to fall into a natural style, for example; some are hands-on, some are hands-off. Some leaders involve themselves in the nitty gritty details and some are total big picture leaders. Some coach and stay close to their team members and some give them distance. Russ' counsel was to know your team members and what they need from you as a leader for success to happen. Some will need hands-on and others need some distance in order to work well. Good leaders discern the differences between their team members and are able to lead team members according to what they uniquely need to be successful.
2- Good leaders communicate expectations clearly. AEI has a master plan and an ongoing evaluation process in place. In the church, things often change dramatically when a pastoral change occurs. Some of this is to be expected but Russ said that evaluation of staff should be consistent throughout changes. Example: Staff at any church should expect to have a mid-year and end of year evaluation. In between these evaluations should be ongoing check-ins with staff.
3- Good leaders establish openness early and model it consistently. Regular conversations and the formal evaluations are virtually the same every time in terms of the questions asked. Ie. "What went well? What needs to be improved? Did you meet goals? Are you (team member) getting what you need from me (team leader)? Here's what I (leader) need from you (team member)."
*Thanks to Russ for this great conversation
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Leadership
It has been several days since I blogged last. I have returned from a Jurisdictional conference of the United Methodist Church where we elect bishops, leaders for the church. I had the opportunity to serve as a reserve delegate and as it turned out was able to vote for about half the ballots taken as one of our clergy had to leave early and I got to take his spot permanently.
The subject of leadership is one I have been challenged to think a lot about lately. My observation of and participation in the Jurisdictional Conference was eye-opening. Several observations -
1- Different generations have dominant leadership tendencies. Post WW II, Boomers, Xers and Millenials each have distinctively different styles of leadership and expectations of leadership. Most of us (including this Xer - me) are a hybrid. However, I observed some interesting generational differences. I'll try to hash these out in a later post as soon as I can articulate them well.
2- Leadership is not assured by an election or a title, it is given by those who would follow. A person may hold the title or have the powers to lead a group or organization but the extent of their influence, impact and effectiveness is solely dependent upon their ability to build trust, relationships and cast a vision. In terms of pastoral leadership, it is again given...but given by God through the church. So as it relates to bishops - we don't yet know if these new ones will truly be episcopal leaders. We'll see signs as they serve in this new role.
3- Leaders lead. The popular quote I have heard lately is "leaders are not managers, they are leaders." Management wreaks of status quo and maintenance. Leaders lead people to new horizons with vision. One caveat - sometimes the day to day work of a leader will feel like management but if a leader can cast those more mundance items in the light of the horizon a team is trying to reach, then the leader is leading not managing. In a church like ours, the challenge is understanding how to be a leader in a role that traditionally expects management.
4- I am most concerned with spiritual leadership. Spiritual leadership is most occupied with the movement of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leadership frames every conversation and decision in the language of faith. If a spiritual leader continually calls folks to the things of God - wisdom, understanding, discernment - then folks will be more apt to think in those spiritual terms. If leaders revert to secular language, folks are more apt to think in those terms.
The task for bishops, pastors and lay leaders is there.
The subject of leadership is one I have been challenged to think a lot about lately. My observation of and participation in the Jurisdictional Conference was eye-opening. Several observations -
1- Different generations have dominant leadership tendencies. Post WW II, Boomers, Xers and Millenials each have distinctively different styles of leadership and expectations of leadership. Most of us (including this Xer - me) are a hybrid. However, I observed some interesting generational differences. I'll try to hash these out in a later post as soon as I can articulate them well.
2- Leadership is not assured by an election or a title, it is given by those who would follow. A person may hold the title or have the powers to lead a group or organization but the extent of their influence, impact and effectiveness is solely dependent upon their ability to build trust, relationships and cast a vision. In terms of pastoral leadership, it is again given...but given by God through the church. So as it relates to bishops - we don't yet know if these new ones will truly be episcopal leaders. We'll see signs as they serve in this new role.
3- Leaders lead. The popular quote I have heard lately is "leaders are not managers, they are leaders." Management wreaks of status quo and maintenance. Leaders lead people to new horizons with vision. One caveat - sometimes the day to day work of a leader will feel like management but if a leader can cast those more mundance items in the light of the horizon a team is trying to reach, then the leader is leading not managing. In a church like ours, the challenge is understanding how to be a leader in a role that traditionally expects management.
4- I am most concerned with spiritual leadership. Spiritual leadership is most occupied with the movement of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leadership frames every conversation and decision in the language of faith. If a spiritual leader continually calls folks to the things of God - wisdom, understanding, discernment - then folks will be more apt to think in those spiritual terms. If leaders revert to secular language, folks are more apt to think in those terms.
The task for bishops, pastors and lay leaders is there.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Young Adult Focus 3
I would like to offer three insights related to young adult lay leadership in the church as I have gleaned them from my British and American experiences and conversations thus far in ministry. The second and third are more pragmatic in nature:
1- Listen to their hopes and dreams, and struggles (not in a manufactured kind of way but in the course of relating with them in daily life) Listening actively is the best way to learn about their love for Christ and His church and for discerning the heart and gifts of a person.
2- Accelerate the pace of young adult's moving into lay leadership roles in the church. The church doesn't have time to spare, thinking that young adults can "pay their dues." If they have the gifts and graces for leadership roles - pledge to support, train and equip and then give them leadership roles now.
3- Don't give young adults jobs/offices in the church that have no specific responsibilities. Generation Xers and Millenials (people generally 40 and under) get frustrated quickly when they are given a role with unclear expectations. Example: don't make them an at-large member of the Church Council unless you can assign a task to them. The responsibility of an at-large member is typically to just show up to a meeting - might be the quickest way to bore a young adult.
*Main lesson is for the church to not be afraid. It has been my experience that in every congregation there are church veterans that are ready to pass the reins of leadership to a younger person and to begin to serve the role of mentor and encourager. There are healthy people in nearly every congregation that will do this if given permission. Find those folks and lift them up.
1- Listen to their hopes and dreams, and struggles (not in a manufactured kind of way but in the course of relating with them in daily life) Listening actively is the best way to learn about their love for Christ and His church and for discerning the heart and gifts of a person.
2- Accelerate the pace of young adult's moving into lay leadership roles in the church. The church doesn't have time to spare, thinking that young adults can "pay their dues." If they have the gifts and graces for leadership roles - pledge to support, train and equip and then give them leadership roles now.
3- Don't give young adults jobs/offices in the church that have no specific responsibilities. Generation Xers and Millenials (people generally 40 and under) get frustrated quickly when they are given a role with unclear expectations. Example: don't make them an at-large member of the Church Council unless you can assign a task to them. The responsibility of an at-large member is typically to just show up to a meeting - might be the quickest way to bore a young adult.
*Main lesson is for the church to not be afraid. It has been my experience that in every congregation there are church veterans that are ready to pass the reins of leadership to a younger person and to begin to serve the role of mentor and encourager. There are healthy people in nearly every congregation that will do this if given permission. Find those folks and lift them up.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Something fun and interesting
At the end of his show, "Inside the Actors Studio" host James Lipton asks a series of quick questions for quick response by his guests. They are fun and can be very insightful. For an icebreaker before small groups or Bible studies, I have often used a modified version (seen below) to help a group of people get to know each other. So, I'm inviting you now to respond with the first thing that comes to mind. Post your responses, I'll post mine.
What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
What turns you off?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you not like?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
What turns you off?
What sound or noise do you love?
What sound or noise do you not like?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Home
My family and I are back home in Woodville after our adventure across the pond. We had an amazing, unforgettable experience. While we take time to get used to the time change and all, we are definitely feeling some culture shock. It may sound strange after being in a country where language is not the challenge but we are definitely aware that life is different in some ways here than it is in England.
We discovered most of all that people are people and that human beings share the same hopes and dreams and struggles no matter where we live. However it is a different country. The role of the government, the status of healthcare, the work of law enforcement just to name a few are different. As I have reflected on here throughout - the churches have many similar struggles but different starting places for their tasks.
We haven't quite put our fingers on everything but we know we have met and lived with another slice of God's world. It makes us all the more mindful that God created a big world and He is continually creating. At the same time, God loves you and me very personally. It boggles the mind and delights the heart.
We are excited to be home and thankful for the experience we just had. I'm looking forward to keeping this blogging conversation going. I'm hopeful that those of you in the UK and the US will continue to read so that the exchange will continue and we will learn from each other. As always, pass along the link to others so that our sharing can be broad and deep.
We discovered most of all that people are people and that human beings share the same hopes and dreams and struggles no matter where we live. However it is a different country. The role of the government, the status of healthcare, the work of law enforcement just to name a few are different. As I have reflected on here throughout - the churches have many similar struggles but different starting places for their tasks.
We haven't quite put our fingers on everything but we know we have met and lived with another slice of God's world. It makes us all the more mindful that God created a big world and He is continually creating. At the same time, God loves you and me very personally. It boggles the mind and delights the heart.
We are excited to be home and thankful for the experience we just had. I'm looking forward to keeping this blogging conversation going. I'm hopeful that those of you in the UK and the US will continue to read so that the exchange will continue and we will learn from each other. As always, pass along the link to others so that our sharing can be broad and deep.
Friday, July 4, 2008
London
I'll continue to write more on the young adult ministry focus but for now take a detour again to describe our current travels. The official exchange has concluded and we are now in London staying with relatives of a church member from Woodville. We spent Thursday in London. St Paul's Cathedral was bigger than I ever imagined and breathtaking. We climbed to the top via stairs and looked out on London from a terrace/balcony. We spent about 3 hours altogether there. We also witnessed the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. My favorite part was the procession of the royal band into the courtyard of the palace. Hearing those brass instruments and drums play as they marched up the street and into that courtyard was awesome. It made me remember my days in the marching band and rekindle an interest in seeing some marching bands perform back home. Whether military bands like this one or good ole college marching bands (like the one I was a part of at SFA) they're all exhilarating. Fall is coming and that means football season back home. I hope to catch a college game this Fall and see a good university band at half-time.
We spent an all too brief time at the British Museum Thursday to close out our day. The artifacts are basically the result of the "spoils of war." The Brits have all this stuff because they conquered those who possessed them. Anyway, we saw the Rosetta Stone, mummies, greco-roman artifacts, and much much more.
Today is Friday July 4th and we have spent it with our host family. They are Americans, so we will celebrate Independence Day together. They've bought watermelons!
We also enjoyed some traveling around the British countryside today in Sussex where they live, with a hop over to Brighton. We stepped on to the beach on the banks of the English channel and toured a palace that King George IV had built while he was prince.
I'm sure we'll be home before I'm able to post pictures here but will do when I get the opportunity. We've got two more days in London before heading home.
We spent an all too brief time at the British Museum Thursday to close out our day. The artifacts are basically the result of the "spoils of war." The Brits have all this stuff because they conquered those who possessed them. Anyway, we saw the Rosetta Stone, mummies, greco-roman artifacts, and much much more.
Today is Friday July 4th and we have spent it with our host family. They are Americans, so we will celebrate Independence Day together. They've bought watermelons!
We also enjoyed some traveling around the British countryside today in Sussex where they live, with a hop over to Brighton. We stepped on to the beach on the banks of the English channel and toured a palace that King George IV had built while he was prince.
I'm sure we'll be home before I'm able to post pictures here but will do when I get the opportunity. We've got two more days in London before heading home.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Young Adult Focus 2
There was a study released released recently in the U.S. of United Methodist lay and clergy. One of the questions was something like - would you like to see more young adults in your church, and the result was of course over 90% Yes! A follow-up question was asked - are you willing to make some changes necessary in your congregation to attract them? 40ish% answered yes. There is obviously a disconnect between our desire and our will in this area.
There is so much to say here that I'll reflect on this in several posts in order to make easier the conversation. I really hope this conversation can help my friends in the British and American churches come to grips with the most challenging and exciting issue facing the church today.
Young people and all people need to know Jesus, love God and have the joy of serving God in the world.
I have the privileging of serving on the Texas Conference delegation to Jurisdictional Conference in July 08 where we will elect bishops. This last Spring we have interviewed candidates for bishop on of whom was a man named Steve Rankin. Steve is a chaplain at a Methodist college in Kansas. He works with young adults all the time. When asked by our delegation, how do we bring young adults into the church, he replied, "well, first we don't start by bringing young adults into the church." We didn't know what to think of that but he quickly went on to say that young adults are looking for authentic relationships and Christian church folk must first engage young people right where they are. We must talk about what life is all about, what is important to them, get to know them at a personal level. Tell them about Jesus and where we came to learn more about him, what a difference he makes in our lives and what a difference he makes in the world. The key is and always has been - Relationships, relationships, relationships. We must pray and work at having real authentic relationships with people and not just within the walls of the church but anywhere people are. This is what our God did in Jesus - He sought relationship with us so intensely that he sent Jesus, Himself incarnate in the world so as to connect even closer with people. What we need to do as the church is essentially the incarnational ministry of Christ in this age.
There is so much to say here that I'll reflect on this in several posts in order to make easier the conversation. I really hope this conversation can help my friends in the British and American churches come to grips with the most challenging and exciting issue facing the church today.
Young people and all people need to know Jesus, love God and have the joy of serving God in the world.
I have the privileging of serving on the Texas Conference delegation to Jurisdictional Conference in July 08 where we will elect bishops. This last Spring we have interviewed candidates for bishop on of whom was a man named Steve Rankin. Steve is a chaplain at a Methodist college in Kansas. He works with young adults all the time. When asked by our delegation, how do we bring young adults into the church, he replied, "well, first we don't start by bringing young adults into the church." We didn't know what to think of that but he quickly went on to say that young adults are looking for authentic relationships and Christian church folk must first engage young people right where they are. We must talk about what life is all about, what is important to them, get to know them at a personal level. Tell them about Jesus and where we came to learn more about him, what a difference he makes in our lives and what a difference he makes in the world. The key is and always has been - Relationships, relationships, relationships. We must pray and work at having real authentic relationships with people and not just within the walls of the church but anywhere people are. This is what our God did in Jesus - He sought relationship with us so intensely that he sent Jesus, Himself incarnate in the world so as to connect even closer with people. What we need to do as the church is essentially the incarnational ministry of Christ in this age.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Young Adult Focus
Last Monday night, I gathered with three young adults (three adults 40 or younger) to discuss life, faith and church. I asked questions, tried to listen to their responses and followed up with other questions where appropriate. It was a fascinating discussion.
In short, these are some of the questions asked and responses given - all of them offer important insight that I find helpful in my ministry and I hope you, whether you be lay or clergy, find helpful in yours.
- Question: How important is the physical worship space or the church building to your worship experience? All three quickly responded that it was not important at all. Although two then commented that if someone were to come in one day and remove the pews from the sanctuary of their church and change the environment, they would "defend" it.
One "emerging" worship experience was cited as an example of a worship service that "could have been held out in a field and it would have been just as powerful."
- Question: How important is the style of worship to your being a part of a particular church? If the people and the sense of community are positive experiences, this often trumps a style of worship that might not be their first choice.
- A conversation took place around the places and times where they most experience "God-moments." Retreats; worship experiences that allow for testimonies and personal sharing; music that appeals to the heart conveys a powerful sense of God's presence. "God-moments" happen when people can be real, vulnerable, share struggles and know the struggles of others.
- Question: What does the phrase "calling to ministry" mean to you? In terms of ordained ministry, most responses were that they didn't have much of a reflection on someone becoming a minister because no one they knew as a youth went into ordained ministry. However two of them knew someone who went in later as a second career. They share the same challenge the American church has - recruiting young pastors.
In short, these are some of the questions asked and responses given - all of them offer important insight that I find helpful in my ministry and I hope you, whether you be lay or clergy, find helpful in yours.
- Question: How important is the physical worship space or the church building to your worship experience? All three quickly responded that it was not important at all. Although two then commented that if someone were to come in one day and remove the pews from the sanctuary of their church and change the environment, they would "defend" it.
One "emerging" worship experience was cited as an example of a worship service that "could have been held out in a field and it would have been just as powerful."
- Question: How important is the style of worship to your being a part of a particular church? If the people and the sense of community are positive experiences, this often trumps a style of worship that might not be their first choice.
- A conversation took place around the places and times where they most experience "God-moments." Retreats; worship experiences that allow for testimonies and personal sharing; music that appeals to the heart conveys a powerful sense of God's presence. "God-moments" happen when people can be real, vulnerable, share struggles and know the struggles of others.
- Question: What does the phrase "calling to ministry" mean to you? In terms of ordained ministry, most responses were that they didn't have much of a reflection on someone becoming a minister because no one they knew as a youth went into ordained ministry. However two of them knew someone who went in later as a second career. They share the same challenge the American church has - recruiting young pastors.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A Night at the Orchestra
Bethany and I love orchestra concerts. As grace would have it, we were invited for dinner one night a few weeks ago here in England, to the home of a young couple in the Whitefield Church. The Fischers also invited a young couple that live across from them. Tom and Jenny live there with their two young children. Tom is a professional musician and plays in the Halle Orchestra, the premiere symphony orchestra in Manchester and one of the top in all of England. Tom plays the french horn. A few days after our dinner, he graciously made arrangements for us to attend a concert with the Fischers. My parents were here at that time so they kept Addie and enjoyed time with her while we spent the night at the orchestra. It was wonderful. The music for that night was of all things, the music of Frank Sinatra. The orchestra played (strings, winds, brass and percussion) and a guest soloist sang the tunes of these famous songs. I have to say it was really cool to hear "New York, New York" sung by this soloist and this orchestra in England! They were terrific. The orchestra is one of the best I've ever heard and the singer totally hit the mark on Sinatra. It's funny that when people sing, you can't discern an accent. I've noticed it at church and at this concert. Maybe they can hear mine but I can't hear a British accent when they are singing. Maybe that confirms the saying that "music is the universal language."
Monday, June 23, 2008
Circuit Praise
Wow! I had the opportunity to preach at the twice monthly Sunday evening worship Circuit Praise. It rotates churches and last night was at Heaton Park Methodist Church. I felt like I was experiencing Pentecost. Our worship leader (a candidate for ministry here) led us powerfully. It was truly a Spirit-led service in that the band was prepared to play certain songs and there was to be a sermon time but in and through it the worship leader guided according to the movement of the Spirit. Between songs, someone from the congregation would spontaneously recite a psalm. Another would stand and speak as he or she felt led. I preached from John 2, Jesus' cleansing from the temple. It became a "family chat" among Methodist Christians as we talked about the state of the church and the urgency of the moment. I feel that perhaps Jesus' anger should be our own - maybe we need to get righteously upset about the declining state of the church and do like Jesus and intervene. Jesus in this passage both cared for and showed respect for the temple and the common people who were being blocked from accessing it, but simultaneously he reminded us that God is not first about the temple, for that could be torn down and raised up again in 3 days - most importantly, Jesus is the temple of God. It is about Jesus.
So, we went into a time of prayer, action prayer - how can we be interventionists at a time of crisis for the church? How do we keep the focus of our ministry about Jesus first and not about our church buildings?
People prayed about what God was calling them to do specifically. Teaching, praying, unlocking the doors, giving generously, communicating to the community what the church is all about, being in relationship with young adults. People offered themselves, and we sang more and more. The service all together lasted over 2 hours. People lingered and talked and shared. We talked about ministry and where to go from here. The entire time felt like Pentecost revival. We covenanted to pray for our churches, British and American and for the need for revival in our churches and our commitment to be active parts of that revival.
I met some wonderful people and felt like God did something great in and among us Sunday night. I will continue to pray about this revival.
So, we went into a time of prayer, action prayer - how can we be interventionists at a time of crisis for the church? How do we keep the focus of our ministry about Jesus first and not about our church buildings?
People prayed about what God was calling them to do specifically. Teaching, praying, unlocking the doors, giving generously, communicating to the community what the church is all about, being in relationship with young adults. People offered themselves, and we sang more and more. The service all together lasted over 2 hours. People lingered and talked and shared. We talked about ministry and where to go from here. The entire time felt like Pentecost revival. We covenanted to pray for our churches, British and American and for the need for revival in our churches and our commitment to be active parts of that revival.
I met some wonderful people and felt like God did something great in and among us Sunday night. I will continue to pray about this revival.
Travels and Highlights
This past week we traveled with my parents to the Lakes area in Northwest England. We didn't stay long on this trip but we are going back this week with Bethany's parents. We did see Windermure Lake, one of the main attractions and ate at a small cafe there. It was raining on us that day. The lake was beautiful. It sits in the valley between high hills.
After dinner at the cafe, we traveled on to Carlisle, England and stayed in a bed and breakfast there owned and operated by the parents of one of our young Whitefield members. Carlisle is an historic town that was the northern border of the Roman Empire at its height of imperial expansion. In fact, a wall was constructed across the town to keep out northern invaders - who I guess would be the Scots, the Norweigans and other Scandinavians. The next day we went to Edinburgh, Scotland and toured the Castle and walked part of the Royal Mile. The castle was amazing. In that fortress was a chapel built in the 1100's.
This grand castle is built high up on a rock hill and the city has grown around it. I stood looking at this monstrous construction trying to imagine how they built it without the modern machinery we use.
We spent one night in Edinburgh. On the second and last day we saw the palace of Holyrood, where Mary Queen of Scots lived and where to Royal family still comes to vacation. Adjoining the palace are the ruins of an abbey where Roman Catholic monks lived many centuries ago. This was one of Bethany's favorite spaces. Finally we saw the University of Edinburg. I wanted to see it because one of my favorite professors at Lon Morris College was Scottish and received all her degrees through her PhD there. Madeleine Ross is her name.
There is much much more to share about this trips and many pictures. I will try to post some pictures here as soon as I figure out how to do that. Bethany's parents visit this week and we are going back to the Lakes area and to Edinburgh to see more of these places.
After dinner at the cafe, we traveled on to Carlisle, England and stayed in a bed and breakfast there owned and operated by the parents of one of our young Whitefield members. Carlisle is an historic town that was the northern border of the Roman Empire at its height of imperial expansion. In fact, a wall was constructed across the town to keep out northern invaders - who I guess would be the Scots, the Norweigans and other Scandinavians. The next day we went to Edinburgh, Scotland and toured the Castle and walked part of the Royal Mile. The castle was amazing. In that fortress was a chapel built in the 1100's.
This grand castle is built high up on a rock hill and the city has grown around it. I stood looking at this monstrous construction trying to imagine how they built it without the modern machinery we use.
We spent one night in Edinburgh. On the second and last day we saw the palace of Holyrood, where Mary Queen of Scots lived and where to Royal family still comes to vacation. Adjoining the palace are the ruins of an abbey where Roman Catholic monks lived many centuries ago. This was one of Bethany's favorite spaces. Finally we saw the University of Edinburg. I wanted to see it because one of my favorite professors at Lon Morris College was Scottish and received all her degrees through her PhD there. Madeleine Ross is her name.
There is much much more to share about this trips and many pictures. I will try to post some pictures here as soon as I figure out how to do that. Bethany's parents visit this week and we are going back to the Lakes area and to Edinburgh to see more of these places.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Cultural Contexts for Evangelism
Some thoughts are beginning to crystalize in my mind as to the starting place for evangelism in various cultural contexts. For a local church seeking to reach out and connect people to Christ through the church, that church must pray and assess the cultural norms and realities around it. I am starting to get a glimpse of the cultural starting places here in England which has therefore helped me to better understand the cultural starting place in Woodville, Texas when it comes to God, faith and church. By the way, my purpose in blogging thoughts like this, is to discipline myself first to reflect on this things and second to enter into a conversation with you that will sharpen my reflections, give you an opportunity to bounce back your own thoughts or push back on some of mine. Any and all comments are welcome.
In Woodville, it seems that the cultural starting place (among those not in the church)when it comes to faith is that faith is a good thing, the expected thing, the cultural norm. If a poll was taken, my guess is, most folks would profess a basic belief in the existence and power of God, generally speaking. Further, I think most folks would acknowledge a belief in Jesus (what they believe about him would no doubt vary). Even beyond that most folks would lay claim to a denominational loyalty (ie. I'm a Baptist, Methodist or Catholic...) Many would be on the membership role of a church (not often active members however).
With this cultural reality people don't need to be convinced about the existence of God, the power of God, or the importance of the work of the church. The challenge this cultural reality produces though is communicating to people that a professed faith in God and membership on a church roll doesn't constitute real discipleship. The challenge for evangelism is to convey the truth that a real, true, living, faith has to be lived out actively in community and our faith must shape how we spend our lives.
I am beginning to understand that the cultural context for evangelism in at least where we are in England starts in a different place. For a church here to connect with new people and bring them to Christ through the church, I think the church has to start by talking about why we need God to begin with. That a person you pass by on the street is a person of Christian faith is not a basic assumption here. It does not seem to carry with it any social favor (faith as a favorable social status indicator is not necessarily a good thing). So, I think with evangelism, its not a matter of savy advertising or mass mailers about Vacation Bible School. Evangelism has to first address the questions - why do we need God, what difference does it make, what is the church all about? The challenge of evangelism in England perhaps is to be in conversation about these questions, talk about radical commitment to Jesus and making a difference in the world for God.
Of course neither of these cultural realities are better or easier than the other, both require prayer, discernment and creativity. Bottom line is that deep evangelism seeks to address the core challenges in both of these contexts. We always need to testify to the need for God, whatever our context and we always need to call people to live out their faith in community.
We are living in a rapidly changing, dynamic, and interconnected world and our own commitment to Christ and community calls all of us to wrestle with all of these realities for ourselves.
The Methodist Church in the UK and the Church of England have joined together in an effort to think creatively about ways to "be and do church." Check out this link to find out more
www.freshexpressions.org.uk/
In Woodville, it seems that the cultural starting place (among those not in the church)when it comes to faith is that faith is a good thing, the expected thing, the cultural norm. If a poll was taken, my guess is, most folks would profess a basic belief in the existence and power of God, generally speaking. Further, I think most folks would acknowledge a belief in Jesus (what they believe about him would no doubt vary). Even beyond that most folks would lay claim to a denominational loyalty (ie. I'm a Baptist, Methodist or Catholic...) Many would be on the membership role of a church (not often active members however).
With this cultural reality people don't need to be convinced about the existence of God, the power of God, or the importance of the work of the church. The challenge this cultural reality produces though is communicating to people that a professed faith in God and membership on a church roll doesn't constitute real discipleship. The challenge for evangelism is to convey the truth that a real, true, living, faith has to be lived out actively in community and our faith must shape how we spend our lives.
I am beginning to understand that the cultural context for evangelism in at least where we are in England starts in a different place. For a church here to connect with new people and bring them to Christ through the church, I think the church has to start by talking about why we need God to begin with. That a person you pass by on the street is a person of Christian faith is not a basic assumption here. It does not seem to carry with it any social favor (faith as a favorable social status indicator is not necessarily a good thing). So, I think with evangelism, its not a matter of savy advertising or mass mailers about Vacation Bible School. Evangelism has to first address the questions - why do we need God, what difference does it make, what is the church all about? The challenge of evangelism in England perhaps is to be in conversation about these questions, talk about radical commitment to Jesus and making a difference in the world for God.
Of course neither of these cultural realities are better or easier than the other, both require prayer, discernment and creativity. Bottom line is that deep evangelism seeks to address the core challenges in both of these contexts. We always need to testify to the need for God, whatever our context and we always need to call people to live out their faith in community.
We are living in a rapidly changing, dynamic, and interconnected world and our own commitment to Christ and community calls all of us to wrestle with all of these realities for ourselves.
The Methodist Church in the UK and the Church of England have joined together in an effort to think creatively about ways to "be and do church." Check out this link to find out more
www.freshexpressions.org.uk/
Friday, June 13, 2008
Send Urban/Rural Missionaries
As I experience the ministry here in this urban setting and reflect on some of the realities back home in the US, I am wondering if Methodism's belief in "sent" ministry may need to take on new form in some places. We do believe according to The Great Commission of Jesus that disciples are sent out to be in ministry, "go...make disciples of all nations." John Wesley modeled sent ministry in the early Methodist societies, the early American Methodist circuit preachers lived this by being sent by superitendents and bishops to go and preach from community to community. Now, in a very different socio-cultural context we continue this belief in "sent" ministry through modern day appointment making.
There are many debates brewing about the usefulness, sensibility, relevancy or effectiveness of itinerant ministry in today's context. I don't want to cover the landscape of those arguments here but only to suggest one...urban/rural missionary.
In many of our urban contexts, American, British or South American (the only places I've traveled), the cities are an urban jungle sprawl of secular busyness. I'm afraid that the institutional church on some of our street corners have become simply a piece of the landscape of our cities. While in some places, churches continue to be relevant, engaged, and very much a staple presence in that community - many, many more are not. In many of these cities, what I think would be much more appropriate and I think more fruitful would be the sending of missionaries to these cities. They would meet in homes, coffee shops and other places, sharing the Methodist expression of the Gospel, meeting people where they are with the grace of Jesus, witnessing, sharing and forming faith communities that transform lives by the Holy Spirit.
This sharing and witnessing can happen with the church on the corner, don't get me wrong, but right now in many of our cities, our churches have so much to overcome and impactful ministry is very very challenging in their situations as they are. For bishops and superitendents to send seminary trained, ordained persons with a missionary's mindset rather than a local church pastor or chaplain mindset, might change the face of the Methodist movement in a positive way, in a short amount of time. Many times all it takes is a mature, gifted and graced leader who is willing to be sent. With a leader like this and God, anything can happen.
I know there is much to think through with this kind of approach but sending out missionaries to our urban (and rural) outposts could advance the kingdom of God in a radical life-changing way. We can afford to try radically different approaches. The relevancy of our church, some argue, our very survival as a movement, depend on it.
In Houston, a Superitendent of the Church, Jim Welch secured through the UM General Board of Global Ministries, a Vietnamese missionary from Vietnam to come to Houston and be a missionary to the Vietnamese community in Houston. He is literally an urban missionary in Houston. In his case, he came from Vietnam to be a missonary here. We may need to do more of this and as I am suggesting, send us to be missionaries to folks who are right next door.
There are many debates brewing about the usefulness, sensibility, relevancy or effectiveness of itinerant ministry in today's context. I don't want to cover the landscape of those arguments here but only to suggest one...urban/rural missionary.
In many of our urban contexts, American, British or South American (the only places I've traveled), the cities are an urban jungle sprawl of secular busyness. I'm afraid that the institutional church on some of our street corners have become simply a piece of the landscape of our cities. While in some places, churches continue to be relevant, engaged, and very much a staple presence in that community - many, many more are not. In many of these cities, what I think would be much more appropriate and I think more fruitful would be the sending of missionaries to these cities. They would meet in homes, coffee shops and other places, sharing the Methodist expression of the Gospel, meeting people where they are with the grace of Jesus, witnessing, sharing and forming faith communities that transform lives by the Holy Spirit.
This sharing and witnessing can happen with the church on the corner, don't get me wrong, but right now in many of our cities, our churches have so much to overcome and impactful ministry is very very challenging in their situations as they are. For bishops and superitendents to send seminary trained, ordained persons with a missionary's mindset rather than a local church pastor or chaplain mindset, might change the face of the Methodist movement in a positive way, in a short amount of time. Many times all it takes is a mature, gifted and graced leader who is willing to be sent. With a leader like this and God, anything can happen.
I know there is much to think through with this kind of approach but sending out missionaries to our urban (and rural) outposts could advance the kingdom of God in a radical life-changing way. We can afford to try radically different approaches. The relevancy of our church, some argue, our very survival as a movement, depend on it.
In Houston, a Superitendent of the Church, Jim Welch secured through the UM General Board of Global Ministries, a Vietnamese missionary from Vietnam to come to Houston and be a missionary to the Vietnamese community in Houston. He is literally an urban missionary in Houston. In his case, he came from Vietnam to be a missonary here. We may need to do more of this and as I am suggesting, send us to be missionaries to folks who are right next door.
Similarities and Differences in our Church Organization
While spending this time in England among British Methodism, I'm learning a lot about their leadership structure at the local church, the circuit and district levels. The British Methodist Church is a different entity than the United Methodist Church.
I have now attended a Church Council meeting and a meeting of "local preachers" on the circuit. The Church Council functions in similar ways as ours in giving oversight for the church's ministry. The way it carries out this function probably varies a bit from congregation to congregation and in that we would find some of the more concrete difference with UM Churches.
For example, the pastor or superitendent chairs the Church Council meetings and has a vote on the council, as well as other committees I think. In the UMC, the pastor has voice but no vote on any committee except the Lay Leadership Committee, one he/she chairs. This is the only committee the pastor chairs in the UMC. The chairs are all lay people.
The local preachers I mentioned earlier are lay persons who have gone through a quite rigorous 5 year program and a period of supervision to prepare them to preach in the churches of their circuit. The circuit I'm serving within has 8 churches, with three full time ordained ministers. So, these local preachers are used every month to preach at the services when the ordained pastor is elsewhere. These people are highly capable. One of the questions that arose in the meeting is the challenge of continuity for the churches. How do the individual congregations and especially new people know what to expect when coming to worship and how do they build a relationship with the preacher? That being said, the use of the lectionary is seen as a unifying element for worship and again, the local preachers are well-trained and well-utilized.
Anyway, I have shared a little about the American models of a local pastor and lay speaker with them. These local preachers are sort of in between these two in terms of responsibility and authority. We are trying to share some of our similarities and differences here so that this exchange can truly be an exchange - of ideas, of experiences etc. Woodville is also learning from Derek in the same way I know. I pray that all of this sharing will be seed planting that bears the fruit of new approaches for all our churches.
I have now attended a Church Council meeting and a meeting of "local preachers" on the circuit. The Church Council functions in similar ways as ours in giving oversight for the church's ministry. The way it carries out this function probably varies a bit from congregation to congregation and in that we would find some of the more concrete difference with UM Churches.
For example, the pastor or superitendent chairs the Church Council meetings and has a vote on the council, as well as other committees I think. In the UMC, the pastor has voice but no vote on any committee except the Lay Leadership Committee, one he/she chairs. This is the only committee the pastor chairs in the UMC. The chairs are all lay people.
The local preachers I mentioned earlier are lay persons who have gone through a quite rigorous 5 year program and a period of supervision to prepare them to preach in the churches of their circuit. The circuit I'm serving within has 8 churches, with three full time ordained ministers. So, these local preachers are used every month to preach at the services when the ordained pastor is elsewhere. These people are highly capable. One of the questions that arose in the meeting is the challenge of continuity for the churches. How do the individual congregations and especially new people know what to expect when coming to worship and how do they build a relationship with the preacher? That being said, the use of the lectionary is seen as a unifying element for worship and again, the local preachers are well-trained and well-utilized.
Anyway, I have shared a little about the American models of a local pastor and lay speaker with them. These local preachers are sort of in between these two in terms of responsibility and authority. We are trying to share some of our similarities and differences here so that this exchange can truly be an exchange - of ideas, of experiences etc. Woodville is also learning from Derek in the same way I know. I pray that all of this sharing will be seed planting that bears the fruit of new approaches for all our churches.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Dialogue on Ministry
I want to open up a conversation with blog visitors about 21st century ministry. If you will take a look at my reading list for while I'm here, you'll notice that I'm reading "UnChristian." It is based on a broad survey and study of young adults 18-29, related to their perspectives of the Christian faith and the church. Some of the responses to the survey are predictable, I've read them elsewhere and heard them in conversation but some of the responses are somewhat surprising. I'll share some of them later because I don't want to prejudice the conversation I am inviting here.
I am in the process of scheduling some gatherings in the two churches I'm serving here in England this month. Those gatherings are with church folks and particularly people under 40. I am hoping for them to be round-robin discussions on Bible, theology, faith and the church's ministry. I am sure I'll learn a great deal and hope that we can share ideas for how to reach a new generation of people with the Gospel.
So, to you blog visitors, a question to kick off our discussion - what should be a local church's essential tasks?
To paraphrase Henri Nouwen (Christian spiritual writer) "If we do not understand that which is essential to ministry, we might spend most of our time doing the merely important."
I am in the process of scheduling some gatherings in the two churches I'm serving here in England this month. Those gatherings are with church folks and particularly people under 40. I am hoping for them to be round-robin discussions on Bible, theology, faith and the church's ministry. I am sure I'll learn a great deal and hope that we can share ideas for how to reach a new generation of people with the Gospel.
So, to you blog visitors, a question to kick off our discussion - what should be a local church's essential tasks?
To paraphrase Henri Nouwen (Christian spiritual writer) "If we do not understand that which is essential to ministry, we might spend most of our time doing the merely important."
Monday, June 9, 2008
National Methodist Anthem of Great Britain
When picking hymns for June 8th worship I ran across "And Can it Be That I Should Gain." It is a great Charles Wesley hymn (brother of John, founder of the Methodist movement). When I talked with the pianist at the Bridge Church, he commented that it is sort of like the British national Methodist anthem. I loved that and now after singing it at both the Bridge and Whitefield on Sunday morning, they sang like it is the national Methodist anthem. The men sang a base part underneath the last two lines of every hymn and the organist/pianists played with lots of gusto. When we sang the last verse, they really bore down on the keys and let it soar. Youth, young people and older ones alike sang it with power. It was awesome. Here are the powerful words of that hymn, verse by verse it tells the Gospel story.
1. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me! 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
1. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me! 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Psalm 131 Keeps Showing Up
Psalm 131 (NRSV)
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.
Over the past year, Psalm 131 has shown up for me in all kinds of places. The first time this psalm came to grab my attention was in seminary. The class was taught by Paul Escamilla, a pastor in Dallas and an adjunct professor at the seminary. He commended the psalm to the class as one that we should pray when we are "getting ahead of ourselves" or feeling too important maybe, or when we feel like the weight of the world or the church is on our shoulders. Anyway, that's when God first spoke to me through this psalm.
Every May, I usually have an individual spiritual retreat, usually for 2 days. I spend the first day in prayer for my own walk with Christ, prayer for my family, extended family etc. The second day I spend in prayer for the church, for our plans and our future ministry. It was on one of these retreats in May 2007 that the daily lection psalm was Psalm 131. I used the daily lection from the Book of Common Prayer to guide me and discipline my scripture reading for these retreats. I journaled about reading that Psalm that day and how it touched me at an important time in my life.
On my last Sunday in Woodville before leaving for the exchange 2 weeks ago, the lectionary psalm was, Psalm 131. I don't often use the lectionary to guide my preaching these days but I did that Sunday because I had finished a sermon series recently and after reading this psalm I thought it presented the right message for that day. I know that daily lections and the lectionary rotate so it is not a surprise that 131 came around again but it is divine that I chose to preach the lectionary on that Sunday and chose to have my spiritual retreat the week it was listed in the daily lection.
There's one more. Last week, while visiting a home group meeting of the Whitefield Church, we opened with some time for meditation, just reflecting on a scripture passage before beginning. I did not lead this group, I just participated. The leader of the group had selected Psalm 131 as the scripture on which to meditate! So, the Lord, at important times, reminds me that He is God and that my hope is ultimately in nothing but Him. For this pastor and person who loves life, wants to save the world, be everything that is needed in a leader for the church to thrive, and be the husband and father that I want to be, Psalm 131 does not let me off the hook on these desires but reminds me that God does the saving and He is the one in whose bosom the world can rest and hope.
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.
Over the past year, Psalm 131 has shown up for me in all kinds of places. The first time this psalm came to grab my attention was in seminary. The class was taught by Paul Escamilla, a pastor in Dallas and an adjunct professor at the seminary. He commended the psalm to the class as one that we should pray when we are "getting ahead of ourselves" or feeling too important maybe, or when we feel like the weight of the world or the church is on our shoulders. Anyway, that's when God first spoke to me through this psalm.
Every May, I usually have an individual spiritual retreat, usually for 2 days. I spend the first day in prayer for my own walk with Christ, prayer for my family, extended family etc. The second day I spend in prayer for the church, for our plans and our future ministry. It was on one of these retreats in May 2007 that the daily lection psalm was Psalm 131. I used the daily lection from the Book of Common Prayer to guide me and discipline my scripture reading for these retreats. I journaled about reading that Psalm that day and how it touched me at an important time in my life.
On my last Sunday in Woodville before leaving for the exchange 2 weeks ago, the lectionary psalm was, Psalm 131. I don't often use the lectionary to guide my preaching these days but I did that Sunday because I had finished a sermon series recently and after reading this psalm I thought it presented the right message for that day. I know that daily lections and the lectionary rotate so it is not a surprise that 131 came around again but it is divine that I chose to preach the lectionary on that Sunday and chose to have my spiritual retreat the week it was listed in the daily lection.
There's one more. Last week, while visiting a home group meeting of the Whitefield Church, we opened with some time for meditation, just reflecting on a scripture passage before beginning. I did not lead this group, I just participated. The leader of the group had selected Psalm 131 as the scripture on which to meditate! So, the Lord, at important times, reminds me that He is God and that my hope is ultimately in nothing but Him. For this pastor and person who loves life, wants to save the world, be everything that is needed in a leader for the church to thrive, and be the husband and father that I want to be, Psalm 131 does not let me off the hook on these desires but reminds me that God does the saving and He is the one in whose bosom the world can rest and hope.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Playing Cricket
Last night I learned a little about playing cricket. Cricket is a popular sport here in the UK. Most people assume, as I did, that it is like baseball. It does have a small ball, a bat, and is played outdoors but after that the similarities soon end. The ball is smaller than a baseball, the bat is larger with a ridge on one side and flat on the other. The playing field is in a circle instead of a diamond. No one wears a glove except the one playing the position we would call a catcher. After playing a little "catch," I am especially thankful for our gloves. When you pitch, you throw it overhand in sort of a windmill motion, letting it bounce just before the batter. Therefore, the batter most times must hit it off the bounce. We all know that when a ball of any kind bounces it can go just about any direction from there. That makes it tough to hit.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be learning on a night when the "senior" team plays and that I thought this was an especially good group to learn with (thinking they were older folks). Wrong. What my host (from the church) meant by seniors were seniors in high school 17-19 years old. It worked out okay, they were gracious, let me mix in and "ball" (pitch) a little and then do some catching (catching fly balls basically), remember you catch with your bare hands, ouch!
Their coach for the summer is a professional player with a team in South Africa, a guy named Wayne, he was cool and taught me the basics.
One of the players/assistant coaches was a Sunni Muslim guy, about 35-40ish who lives here in the UK. We had some interesting conversations out in the field.
Oh, one last thing. A single game of cricket can theoretically go for five days and still end in a tie. I don't quite understand why but Wayne and others say its possible. We Americans have a tough time with ties. Remember the Major League Baseball All-Star game that ended in a tie a few years ago because of pitching shortages and the commissioner calling the game? There was a national uproar in sports America. I even thought it was crazy. No ties for us but in cricket, it can happen.
Anyhow, lots of fun, I'm pretty sore but learned something new.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be learning on a night when the "senior" team plays and that I thought this was an especially good group to learn with (thinking they were older folks). Wrong. What my host (from the church) meant by seniors were seniors in high school 17-19 years old. It worked out okay, they were gracious, let me mix in and "ball" (pitch) a little and then do some catching (catching fly balls basically), remember you catch with your bare hands, ouch!
Their coach for the summer is a professional player with a team in South Africa, a guy named Wayne, he was cool and taught me the basics.
One of the players/assistant coaches was a Sunni Muslim guy, about 35-40ish who lives here in the UK. We had some interesting conversations out in the field.
Oh, one last thing. A single game of cricket can theoretically go for five days and still end in a tie. I don't quite understand why but Wayne and others say its possible. We Americans have a tough time with ties. Remember the Major League Baseball All-Star game that ended in a tie a few years ago because of pitching shortages and the commissioner calling the game? There was a national uproar in sports America. I even thought it was crazy. No ties for us but in cricket, it can happen.
Anyhow, lots of fun, I'm pretty sore but learned something new.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Interesting Tidbits
I wanted to jot down a few interesting tidbits and observations while I am thinking about them. If you have ever traveled in England, you will probably recognize some of these. These aren't earth shattering, they are just interesting to this Texan who has never been to England before.
1- Traffic lights - of course in the U.S. red means stop, green is go and yellow is slow down or yield. The progression from go to stop is a green, yellow, then a red. But of course, the light then turns directly from red to green (still to go). Not so in England. The yellow light (actually they call it amber here) happens on both sides. Green, amber, red (go, slow down, stop) and then red, amber, green (still, get ready, go).
2- The Manchester Evening News is the local newspaper (Manchester is the 2nd largest city in England). There is a basic headlines section that is free if you are in Manchester proper. If you buy it where we are, out in a suburb basically, you have to pay for it but you get the full edition. The word is that the gas (petrol) costs too much just to drive the free version out to the suburbs so the paper charges in order to reimburse itself for the gas it takes to deliver it here. However the one that gets delivered here is the full version. It is interesting first that the main newspaper of the second largest city in all of England has a significant section that is free in that city and second it is a commentary on how dire the gas situation is or is perceived to be that just a drive out to that city's suburbs is that costly. (gas is the equivalent of about $9 a gallon here)
3- People are very interested in the American presidential campaign and it is covered widely in the press. The end of the Democratic Primary Campaign was front page top headline in one of the major London newspapers.
*I drove the car a little more today. A neighbor from across the street rode shotgun and guided me to places that were good practicing areas. Brave souls, Bethany and Addie sat in the backseat. God bless em'.
1- Traffic lights - of course in the U.S. red means stop, green is go and yellow is slow down or yield. The progression from go to stop is a green, yellow, then a red. But of course, the light then turns directly from red to green (still to go). Not so in England. The yellow light (actually they call it amber here) happens on both sides. Green, amber, red (go, slow down, stop) and then red, amber, green (still, get ready, go).
2- The Manchester Evening News is the local newspaper (Manchester is the 2nd largest city in England). There is a basic headlines section that is free if you are in Manchester proper. If you buy it where we are, out in a suburb basically, you have to pay for it but you get the full edition. The word is that the gas (petrol) costs too much just to drive the free version out to the suburbs so the paper charges in order to reimburse itself for the gas it takes to deliver it here. However the one that gets delivered here is the full version. It is interesting first that the main newspaper of the second largest city in all of England has a significant section that is free in that city and second it is a commentary on how dire the gas situation is or is perceived to be that just a drive out to that city's suburbs is that costly. (gas is the equivalent of about $9 a gallon here)
3- People are very interested in the American presidential campaign and it is covered widely in the press. The end of the Democratic Primary Campaign was front page top headline in one of the major London newspapers.
*I drove the car a little more today. A neighbor from across the street rode shotgun and guided me to places that were good practicing areas. Brave souls, Bethany and Addie sat in the backseat. God bless em'.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
No Favorite National Past Time in the U.S.
Okay so there is no single favorite American past time, sports speaking. Of course for decades we Americans have been fond of saying that baseball is the favorite American past time but seeing how thoroughly inculturated football (our soccer) is in the lives of British youth, I have realized that no single sport occupies that place in the U.S. I guess "favorite past time" is subject to one's own definition but I would define it, in the sports world, maybe as a game that is so widely played, admired, and embedded in a culture that from childhood to adulthood, it is the default sport for everyone. For example, last night (Monday night) I headed over to the Bridge Methodist for their Monday youth open recreation night. I took Steven, a young adult from Whitefield Church with me. There were probably 25 youth there in all, nearly all were boys ages 11-14. We played a pickup game of basketball with about 4 on each team. The rest of the guys played on computers in a lab they have there and the rest sort of wandered around. Then one of them said, "let's play football" and you would have thought that boys came out of the walls to be a part of that game. In a small half basketball court 25 boys divided into teams and we played football (again, we're talking American soccer here). These boys were awesome and intense.
At one point, one of the adult volunteers, maybe 50ish age, attempted to cross the court to go to another part of the building. The ball happen to come his way and he instinctively tapped the ball with the side of his foot, and did some other fancy foot trick like it was no big deal. No doubt an instinctive reaction from years of football inculturation. Football is the British past time. In the British newspaper, the Guardian, the first seven pages of the sports section are devoted to football. Cricket and tennis get a page or two each to round out the section. Some locals here are fans of Manchester United. Many more are fans of the Manchester City Team , also a professional team. Football is the favorite national past time of England.
In the U.S. we have any number of sports that could qualify as a favorite past time - American football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR or even golf; but since all of them could qualify as a favorite national past time, then none of them can. Only one sport can occupy that space to be the favorite. So I've concluded, we have lots of entertaining sports that occupy the passion, attention, and money of Americans of all ages, but the day is gone that just one can be called our favorite American past time.
PS. I announced at church in both places Sunday that I also wanted to learn to play cricket. So, I was invited afterward to go one Thursday very soon, to a local seniors league (good place to start) with a guy in the Whitefield church. There is an African professional player who coaches them. Pretty cool.
At one point, one of the adult volunteers, maybe 50ish age, attempted to cross the court to go to another part of the building. The ball happen to come his way and he instinctively tapped the ball with the side of his foot, and did some other fancy foot trick like it was no big deal. No doubt an instinctive reaction from years of football inculturation. Football is the British past time. In the British newspaper, the Guardian, the first seven pages of the sports section are devoted to football. Cricket and tennis get a page or two each to round out the section. Some locals here are fans of Manchester United. Many more are fans of the Manchester City Team , also a professional team. Football is the favorite national past time of England.
In the U.S. we have any number of sports that could qualify as a favorite past time - American football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR or even golf; but since all of them could qualify as a favorite national past time, then none of them can. Only one sport can occupy that space to be the favorite. So I've concluded, we have lots of entertaining sports that occupy the passion, attention, and money of Americans of all ages, but the day is gone that just one can be called our favorite American past time.
PS. I announced at church in both places Sunday that I also wanted to learn to play cricket. So, I was invited afterward to go one Thursday very soon, to a local seniors league (good place to start) with a guy in the Whitefield church. There is an African professional player who coaches them. Pretty cool.
Monday, June 2, 2008
First Sunday reflections Part 2
Please see the earlier post for reflections and impressions of our first experience at Whitefield church. In the evening on June 1 we made our way to The Bridge Methodist Church. It is in a district of Manchester known as Radcliffe. The church is located in the heart of that community and used as a community center for many activities. Its congregation is a bit of a mixture of ages and its worship style was very different from what we experienced in the morning at Whitefield. While Whitefield used very traditional liturgy for its worship, The Bridge utilized power point to project its hymns on a screen. The worship space has been modified from its previous state. It was a large sanctuary seating 1000 people with a three story pipe organ. About 20 years ago they did something I have never heard of and might have difficulty describing. If I don't paint the picture well, comment back and I will try to clarify. They enclosed the upstairs balcony area and made a portion into a mini-gym (about a half court basketball size). With the other portion of what was the balcony they made classrooms. Today, those classrooms house some computer labs for student work and tutoring. The Bridge has a youth ministry as well.
The downstairs part of the sanctuary was also divided with one portion made into a fellowship area and another the new revised worship space. The worship space now has modern sorts of pews (rows of hard plastic seat and back with cushions) and the space altogether seats probably 100-130. There is now an electric organ and a piano which serve as the accompainment. The old stairwell to the balcony connects all of this but they have also added an elevator.
The musicians are very good. In worship, there was clapping and singing that was "rousing,", a common British descriptor.
There was not as much structure to the service as in Whitefield and much in the way of worship order is left to the preacher or speaker for the evening (the circuit does have several lay speakers that rotate in regularly).
After evening worship we headed to the once a month community youth service that our Methodist youth attend. It is multi-denominational and rotates from church to church each month. Held in Christ Church (Anglican), a beautiful sanctuary that reminded us of St Paul's Houston, worship was led by a praise band and a speaker who was converted to the Christian faith in the Bridge Youth group and is now a youth leader at another church.
There is so much more to share but I'll leave it at that for now.
The downstairs part of the sanctuary was also divided with one portion made into a fellowship area and another the new revised worship space. The worship space now has modern sorts of pews (rows of hard plastic seat and back with cushions) and the space altogether seats probably 100-130. There is now an electric organ and a piano which serve as the accompainment. The old stairwell to the balcony connects all of this but they have also added an elevator.
The musicians are very good. In worship, there was clapping and singing that was "rousing,", a common British descriptor.
There was not as much structure to the service as in Whitefield and much in the way of worship order is left to the preacher or speaker for the evening (the circuit does have several lay speakers that rotate in regularly).
After evening worship we headed to the once a month community youth service that our Methodist youth attend. It is multi-denominational and rotates from church to church each month. Held in Christ Church (Anglican), a beautiful sanctuary that reminded us of St Paul's Houston, worship was led by a praise band and a speaker who was converted to the Christian faith in the Bridge Youth group and is now a youth leader at another church.
There is so much more to share but I'll leave it at that for now.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
First Sunday Reflections Part 1
It is Sunday night here and we have just completed our first full Sunday of worship in England. We are serving two churches these weeks so I alternate between them. This morning I worshipped, preached and celebrated Holy Communion at Whitefield Methodist in the heart of the Whitefield District of Manchester (Whitefield is like a burrough of Manchester like Brooklyn is to New York City). They are dealing with many of the issues our urban churches struggle with in the U.S. Metropolitan influence is growing around them including a new shopping mall being built across the street. In fact, there is no access along the street that faces the front door of the sanctuary because of the construction. Like many American churches, the congregation is made up largely of faithful people who have been part of the church for a long time. There are some new people who have come within the last few years including a new young family who they are very excited about. Most seem to live within a mile or so of the church.
The people are as kind and gracious as any I have ever met. They were very friendly and love their church.
As we walked up to the church this morning, our eyes were caught by something (we only live about 1/4 mile so we walked). A long line was forming on the far side of the church from the side we were approaching. They were people of all ages, nationalities and economic class, men and women. As I got closer I realized that at 10am on that Sunday morning they were standing in line at an office next door, looking for a job. I will investigate later but it seems that the church's neighbor is some type of employment agency. I wanted to go up and down the line and invite them in to the sanctuary. It was rainy and a little cold so I wonder what it would be like to make plenty of coffee...and tea, and offer it to them while they wait and tell them about the church and the love of God. We might try it one Sunday.
When we gathered in the sanctuary I very much felt that the place was like a safe haven for the faithful and literally a sanctuary for the sojourner. There were a few folks who sat alone and seemed to slip in and out, soujourners in the city. I hope to talk with them some.
The sanctuary is beautiful and the worship service is guided by the traditional liturgy of the British Methodist Church. It resonates quite a bit with the American Methodist liturgy for worship and Holy Communion.
In the evening we worshipped at The Bridge Methodist Church which is a couple of miles away in the Radcliffe District. I will write about it maybe tomorrow. They were also extremely welcoming.
Oh, before I go, the lay minister that assisted me in Whitefield greeted everyone at the lunch meal after worship with a good "hi y'all!" It was great.
The people are as kind and gracious as any I have ever met. They were very friendly and love their church.
As we walked up to the church this morning, our eyes were caught by something (we only live about 1/4 mile so we walked). A long line was forming on the far side of the church from the side we were approaching. They were people of all ages, nationalities and economic class, men and women. As I got closer I realized that at 10am on that Sunday morning they were standing in line at an office next door, looking for a job. I will investigate later but it seems that the church's neighbor is some type of employment agency. I wanted to go up and down the line and invite them in to the sanctuary. It was rainy and a little cold so I wonder what it would be like to make plenty of coffee...and tea, and offer it to them while they wait and tell them about the church and the love of God. We might try it one Sunday.
When we gathered in the sanctuary I very much felt that the place was like a safe haven for the faithful and literally a sanctuary for the sojourner. There were a few folks who sat alone and seemed to slip in and out, soujourners in the city. I hope to talk with them some.
The sanctuary is beautiful and the worship service is guided by the traditional liturgy of the British Methodist Church. It resonates quite a bit with the American Methodist liturgy for worship and Holy Communion.
In the evening we worshipped at The Bridge Methodist Church which is a couple of miles away in the Radcliffe District. I will write about it maybe tomorrow. They were also extremely welcoming.
Oh, before I go, the lay minister that assisted me in Whitefield greeted everyone at the lunch meal after worship with a good "hi y'all!" It was great.
Friday, May 30, 2008
greetings from England
Well, this is my inaugural launch into the blogging world. My brother Guy is a blogger extraordinaire and my sister Mindy is the techiest one in our bunch. I decided to jump in so that I can journal the experiences here and have your interaction along the way. The title of the blog, "Letters from the Field" just came to mind one day. Pastoral ministry is of course my calling and my chosen field. Further, I also I think of our ministry and this time in England particularly as time in the mission field of the Lord.
We arrived in Manchester, England at about 7:45am on Friday, May 30th. Addie did great on the plane ride but we are feeling the 6 hour time difference now. We were met with great Christian hospitality by three people from the churches we'll be serving here. They gave Bethany a bouquet of roses and took us to the manse (parsonage) where we are now. Our greeters were sweet, warm, hospitable people. They were just like the Methodist lay people I have known all my life.
We are catching up on sleep now but looking forward to tomorrow. We'll learn to drive on British roadways!
I'll share more later. God bless,
Tommy
We arrived in Manchester, England at about 7:45am on Friday, May 30th. Addie did great on the plane ride but we are feeling the 6 hour time difference now. We were met with great Christian hospitality by three people from the churches we'll be serving here. They gave Bethany a bouquet of roses and took us to the manse (parsonage) where we are now. Our greeters were sweet, warm, hospitable people. They were just like the Methodist lay people I have known all my life.
We are catching up on sleep now but looking forward to tomorrow. We'll learn to drive on British roadways!
I'll share more later. God bless,
Tommy
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