A story worth telling

A story worth telling

When Jesus forgave the Samaritan woman she “told everyone, Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29)

Recently I went to see a movie in a local theater, perhaps you have heard of it, The Bear Tooth  http://beartooththeatre.net/ .  This local establishment is unique in that it is a dinner theater where one can get something to eat and watch a film.  It was a great time for all in our first trip to this local Anchorage establishment.  We went to see a film that perhaps you are familiar with as well.  “The Amazing Spiderman” was the name of the film, and it was in 3-D!  Wow!  Great food!  Great friends!  A great story! 

As I sat and watched an all too familiar story line, I reflected on this story and how I have heard it over and over during my lifetime.  First introduced to us in 1963 by cartoonist Stan Lee, the adventures of Spiderman have been told through various mediums such as comics, in television, in books and in film.  The story changes very little, but people are continued to be drawn to the story of the “Amazing Spiderman.”

Then it hit me, as great as this story is, we as the people of God have a greater story than any comic book or movie character.  We have the story of how God has changed our lives forever in Christ Jesus.   Paul writes in his correspondence to the Corinthians, “If anyone is in Christ Jesus, they are a new creation.” (2 Cor. 5:17)  We are made new and as we are made new in Christ, we have a story worth telling, worth sharing, worth celebrating!  As I watched the Amazing Spiderman, I wondered, how well, if at all do we share our story?  Do our children know how we have been changed because of Christ’s love for us?  We have a story worth telling!

Do our brothers and sisters, members of the body of Christ know how much they have changed our very lives?  How much their love and support has meant to us?  How have we shared our story with them?  Does your story need to be told again?  Perhaps you have shared before, but I dare say that your story is worth hearing again and again.  

What’s your story? 

Brother from another mother

My wife sent me this new picture as my profile for my picture. My brother from another mother. I can see the resemblance can you?

you have all you need

You have all you need. Do you believe that? Or, like many people tell yourself, "If I only had _______" then I could, or then I would ________.

Is that you?

Recently at the Desert Southwest Annual Conference of the UMC, held in Glendale, AZ, we were confronted with that very reality. In his sermon to the Annual Conference, Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer, the President of the Council of Bishops of the UMC, the Bishop reminded us that in fact we do have all we need. We have the leadership, we have the facilities, we have the $$$$. Now the money may remain hidden in people's pockets but nonetheless, we still have all we need!

What more do you think you need in order to do what God has asked? Would God ask you to do anything, or call you to a task and not give you the very means to acheive it?

You have all that you need. Do you believe it?

If you're not connected, you're dead!

Recently, the network was down at the church. Computers couldn't connect to the printer, they couldn't connect to the internet, they couldn't connect to eachother. If you have never experienced this sort of thing, I will tell you it is not only frustrating, but debilitating. The irony of all this was early that day I had heard an editorial piece on NPR about how dependent on technology our culture had become. Little did I know how real the commentators words would become to me that day.

If for a moment you think that this is no big deal, consider this. Can't print, can't email, can't access the church financial or personal contact records. There were moments where we actually were standing, looking at one another wondering, "What do we do?"

I began to reflect on the importance of being connected. Being connected is everything, isn't it? When we are not connected we are dead! It is not only of central importance to who we are in our culture, but we are as people, as Christians.

We are hyper connected! Through our cell phones we can call around the world. No wires, a piece of plastic this size of a deck of cards allows us to call Africa (did that yesterday)! Disconnected yet connected!

On the same NPR station, I heard this AM that in our financial crisis people are having to make choices about their money. Of course, we all are. They are choosing to stay connected. They are choosing HDTV and cell phones over other discretionary items. People want and need to be connected. Communications satellites are being launched to increase and improve our connectivity. The cost for this is in the Billions of dollars. Why to pay so much for connectivity? Because being connected is everything.

How is it the same for us as Christians? Being connected in community, is everything. Created to love and be loved, created differently and distinctive to be radically interdependent upon one another, that is what Paul would say as he calls us a body. Every part needs every other part. Connectivity, it's not an option. If you are not connected, GET ON IT! Without, you're dead.

Who don't I have to love?

Do you remember your neighbors when you were  a kid?  I do.  I remember every fence I could climb over without worry.  I remember who not to bother.  I remember what houses I could walk into without knocking.  Those days are long gone. 

I have been thinking recently about neighbors, and what it means to be a neighbor.  Not only a local neighbor, but a global neighbor.  Living in Arizona, bordering Mexico, we are daily facing the question of what it means to be a neighbor.  I can't help but wonder how are we doing as a neighbor.   

The questions about what it means to be a neighbor and be a good neighbor are not new.  When Jesus was asked this question, those asking were essentially asking, "Who don't I have to love?"  After all, Jesus had commanded "love your neighbor."  It's the natural question isn't it.  Ok then, if I am to love my neighbor, who exactly are we talking about here?  Because if you can identify for me, who is and who is not my neighbor that will give us clarity as to who exactly we have to love.  And Jesus, if you will tell us who exactly these neighbors are, that will bring us great relief.  

Jesus replied with a story, we call it the story of the Good Samaritan.  

If you don't know it the story is about a man, presumably a Jewish man who was traveling on a road and was mugged, robbed, and  beaten.  As he lay on the side of the road, literally left for dead some people came by.  First a priest.  Not wanting to be bothered, the priest literally went out of his way, across the road to avoid being near the victimized man.  

The second person, a Levite, or a temple assistant, did the same thing.  

But then a Samaritan came along.  This doesn't appear to be any better news for the dying man. Samaritans and Jews hated each other.  This hate was rooted in religious and cultural differences.  The Samaritan however surprises us and cares for the man, puts him in his car (okay on the back of his donkey) takes him to a hotel, pays in advance and vows to return and pay for more incurred costs.  

In closing the story, Jesus asks, "Which of the three was neighborly?" 

That's the story.  .. . . . .Jesus says go and do likewise?  

This does nothing more than raise more questions for me. . .. I do not have the answers.  

But consider.  

Who is my neighbor?  Who do I have to love and not love?  

Who are those so different from us, culturally, religiously, or otherwise to which we have failed to extend mercy and grace? 

Head on collision

It is interesting how live converges sometimes, how conversations, circumstances and events collide. Two such events hit head on yesterday in my life.

 

My lunch appointment yesterday was a long overdue one. I met with my friend and mentor Dr. Kelly Bender, Sr. Pastor of Paradise Valley UMC. Kelly is someone I respect and have the highest regard for. I always find myself either with hand-written or a mental list of things I want to discuss with Kelly because the time with him is so valuable. Over the past 8 years or so that we have met, we find ourselves often talking about leadership, church polity, and in our meeting yesterday, our culture of affluence. We discussed Walter Bruggeman's contention that consumerism more than a result of marketing strategy. Consumerism is a "demonic spiritual force" that has a hold on our culture, and the question for us does the gospel have the power to help us withstand it. Wow! This was published by Bruggeman and Old Testament scholar 10 years ago.

For dinner my wife and I met with our friends Michael and Christina Bernardino. Michael and Christina are educators in the public school system and they themselves, are enough reason for me to believe in the public schools. I can't say enough good about them. Our conversation, also touched on the culture of affluence and how it impacts our young people. Christina who has taught Spanish at a High School in suburban Phoenix, AZ shared this story with me.
When asked what their favorite holiday was, her Spanish speaking students, many first and second generation Arizonans answered, "Mother's day." Second, they said, "Father's day." Her English speaking American students when asked their favorite holiday responded, "Christmas." Secondly they responded, "Birthday."

Perhaps Bruggeman is right, that consumerism is a demonic spiritual force. As such it would seem his demonic spiritual force has a pretty firm grasp of our young people. What are your thoughts?

Do you really want God to move?

Was listening the Perry Noble at the unleash conference this AM.  He got me thinking.   

Do you really want God to move?  I mean really?  Think about that for a minute. . .

I think most people who pray to God and ask God to "move" don't fully comprehend what that means.  Most people are too controlling to really be open to God moving.  Take the early church in ACTS.  The church went from 120 to over 3,000 the next day.  God moved and things spun out of control!  Just imagine it.  Everything that was in place went out the window that day.  Are you ready to throw everything out the window?  

Do you really want God to move in your life?  In your church?  

Are you ready for things to spin out of control?  Ask for God to move, and hang on!