St. Matthew United Methodist Church
Monday, September 06, 2010
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
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A Message from the Pastor(Just Jake) - A Blog-of-Sorts from the PastorStop By Often for Blog Updates.....or email me at jayfishhook@sbcglobal.net with your thoughts. --Pastor Jake Fisher
ST.MATTHEW CHURCH is a wonderful family of faith. If you are new to our community, please join us for worship and check out our ministries on the pages of this website. For those of you already in the family, this "Pastor's Page" is a peek at one of your pastor's journey in the faith. Come back for updates and check out how he is adjusting to ever-changing life in Frankfort..... and in the faith!
SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 - BACK TO THE BASICS - LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. –Jn.13:33-35 Recently, Carol Goul, our Direcotor of Music, led a staff devotion on this very thought. I’ll let her meditaton speak for itself, but if you like it, I’ll be happy to take the credit for having suggested it. Read on and reflect: You have to work hard to offend Christians. By nature, Christians are the most forgiving, understanding, and thoughtful group of people I’ve ever dealt with. They never assume the worst. They appreciate the importance of having different perspectives. They’re slow to anger, quick to forgive, and almost never make rash judgments or act in anything less than a spirit of total love…. No, wait – I’m thinking of golden retrievers! I laughed when I read this in an e-mail. But having had experience with goldens –and fellow Christians- I think it’s true that sometimes believers are just too eaasily offended! “The choir director always gives her the solos.” “The pastor didn’t even look at me when he shook my hand.” “I do a lot around here –people ought to appreciate me a little more.” Anger. Resentment. Pride. Sure, issues between believers do sometimes need to be addressed. But what if we always tried to treat others the way we want to be treated (Matt. 7:12), weren’t quick to judge others but forgave them (Luke 6:37), and demonstrated a little humility? (Phil. 2:3) And what if the world (and all of us here at St. Matthew) could actually recognize that we are followers of Jesus by the love we have “for one another”? (John 13:35). Since we’re going “back to the basics” this fall, maybe we should ask ourselves, “Is this true of us?” Well, is it? AUGUST 16, 2010 - "DESIGN FLAWS"
"For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb." (Ps. 139:13)
For several month
 s now, after the warranty on my Buick Rendezvous has expired, I notice my remote is no longer opening the rear passenger door on the driver's side. Since the battery is working fine, I'm assuming we have a "design flaw" emerging. Friends at church who are Rendezvous drivers have also complained about this oddity, and, of course their warranties have expired too. One went so far as to get an estimate of $200 to repair the problem. Aghast, the rest of us have suffered in silence, dutifully checking our doors in parking lots, shopping malls and in the "big cities"....until last Saturday. In a bout of frustration, I kicked the offending door and noticed a bulky cable from the front door leading to the back one. I pulled and pushed and twisted and shoved this cable into and out of the hole (those of you who know me realized I am not exaggerating on this point), and, voila, the door was healed! It works and has continued to work every single time I've pressed the remote since then! PTL! Amazed at my new discovery, I "laid hands" on two other Rendezvous yesterday in the church parking lot between second and third worship services. One was completely "healed" and the other had a "partial recovery"! Believers were amazed! I'm seriously thinking about writing the good folks who produce these Buicks and selling them my talents, or I could get a patent to protect my investment (one bruised toe and dirt on my hands.) Lest I get too carried away, I take heart from the psalmist that God is the Master Designer and I am only one of his tiny workers that tinker with creation. I marvel in His loving design, but I am always saddened by how we humans muck it up. We always think we have a better idea. Better, I think, is the believer (and pastor) who realizes kicking the tires is not the best way to sharpen spiritual gifts. Despite our flaws, God is the Master Mechanic. Praise Him! Still, I think this Rendezvous gig isn't a bad money-maker for our Mission giving..... Think I'll post my service department hours in the worship folder next Sunday....AUGUST 1, 2010 - AND THEN HE WAS GONE....
"Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed." (1Corinthians 15:51)
 OK, I know I've taken the verse above way out of context, but it's true that we will "all be changed", and change has come again to St. Matthew. Our beloved associate, Pastor Z, got snapped up by the Bishop to fill the pulpit at Shiloh Church in Kokomo, effective next Sunday, so we said our farewells in worship yesterday. It was bittersweet. Having to say goodbye to a pastor, colleague and friend is tough on all of us. We are encouraged that he is now a "really real" pastor, fully recognized by the Conference with the gifts we already knew he possessed, but we are saddened by the suddenness of his leaving. He will be missed. I've given myself permission to grumble today, and I make no apologies. Each time I pass by his office to share a snippet, or bother him, or encourage him to join me in raiding the kitchen for cookies, or just to chat, I realize the office is empty and he's gone for good. We Methodists grow up with this kind of pastoral change, and while our friends are often aghast at how quickly we pastors are moved and appointed elsewhere, we realize that God always has His hand in the process. In our connection we share our gifts in ministry and St. Matthew and this old pastor are faithfully doing just that this week. Notice I said "faithfully", which gives us the "wiggle room" to admit we don't see the wonderful blessings just yet, but the One who knows us best, loves us most, and He will guide us on. In due time we will be "joyful" and wonderfully "changed" in outlook and spirit. Already I'm beginning to realize I am now the sole pastor with access to the kitchen and all to be found within it. I'm now the youngest pastor of the church too. You see, things are looking up! God bless you, Pastor Zach and Erin and Eli. We love you! JULY 28, 2010 - VBS STAINED GLASS WINDOWS"Let light shine out of darkness," (2 Corinthians 4:6)
It's VBS week around here and 120 children keep the place humming! To look like I'm doing my part, I joined the third and fourth graders at craft time today as they were hard at work making "stained glass windows" with aluminum foil and plastic. The results were pretty impressive and they even looked like the real thing, except for mine. One of our Mexican-American children carefully re-folded my aluminum foil and got my picture looking " better stained". I think she was dumbfounded that a man my age could be so thick, but I showed her! Back in my office (after stopping by the kitchen for "snacks"), I remembered how much I loved my home church's stained glass windows. As a kid, bored with the sermons, I used to pretend I was part of the picture. In a way, of course, we're all part of God's picture, all colors and shapes and sizes blending together. Thinking about that got me to thinking about special quotes I keep in a box in my desk. When I find a really good one, I copy it down and stick it in the box. From time to time I open it and pull one out savoring what I read. These quotes are like friends for me, so here is one of them I share with you by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross:
People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.
This is such a beautiful little saying, but it makes me think. Do I have a “light within”? Do you? What is that “light”? If we are Christians with the love of Christ in our hearts, then the “light” is the “light” of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The light of Christ’s love can shine through the windows of our lives. What a great thought. We must clean our windows and repair them when they break. We must encourage and enlarge the light of Christ within us so that His light will shine through our lives.
How do we become a stained glass window for Christ? Jesus said to … “love God…” and to … “love your neighbor…” (Matt. 22:37-39) But how? Also, He said in Luke 6:31, “And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” Here is where we can start.
During these hot days of summer, Lord, help me in my relationships with others to be a window for your light. And thank you for aluminum foil pressed Mexican-American hands too.
JUNE 28, 2010 - SUMMER THOUGHTS on RE-ENTHRONEMENT
“Consider the lilies, how they grow….” (Luke 12:27a)
 Entering I-65 at the Frankfort exit last week I noticed four red-winged blackbirds perched on the guideposts on both sides of the road, each enjoying the sunlight, staking out his territory and rather contentedly watching the corn grow. It was such a peaceful sight, I felt like a breath of Heaven had kissed the earth and all was well in God’s world. Of course, this all ended as soon as I joined the rushing traffic headed northward toward Lafayette. Within minutes my peaceful thoughts were gone as speeding cars and trucks whizzed all about and around me (at my reasonable rate of 80 mph or so….) Now why is it that all these extra fast speeders had Illinois and Michigan license plates ? What is about these folk that they have to rush through the Hoosier state? And why do they never seem to get pulled over? OK, maybe I’m being a little too paranoid with our Michigander and Illini friends, but why is it that once we hit the “open road”, none of us want to slow down ‘till we get to our destination?Summer is supposed to be the time for slowing down and taking time to “smell the roses”, enjoy the red-winged blackbirds and catch our breath. It’s supposed to be a time to enjoy God’s creation by allowing God to re-create us, to refresh and renew our spirits, to open our eyes and shut our mouths and still our hands. But is it? But do we? Do we allow God to guide? Recently I glanced over a new book at Borders called “When I Relax, I Feel Guilty” by Tim Hansel (IVPress). In the introduction, I read these words: “When was the last time you woke up rested—really rested and exuberant and excited about meeting the day? Chances are, it’s been too long. Many American Christians believe they aren’t serving God unless they’re miserably busy and exhausted. This is not a treatise against work, but against overwork,” writes Hansel. He suggests ways to re-enthrone “the things in life that are truly important—my relationship to God, my health, my family, my personal growth, and my friends.”
Did you catch the word “re-enthrone”? The more I look at it, the more I like it. I think I’d define it as the desire to bring honor again to all of our relationships, to God and family, to better health, to personal growth, to service to others and to appreciation of good friends. This re-enthroning is a great summer project, but it requires more studying the red-winged blackbirds than it does complaining about speedy drivers. I offer it up to you too. Why not let God do a little “re-enthronement” of your soul during these hot summer days? But where do we start? I think God would suggest it’s where we “stop” that we find the place to begin to be renewed. So slow down.
By the way, I bought the book and would love to share it with you just as soon as I’ve finished reading it. Unfortunately, I haven’t found time to start it yet, which says a whole lot about the plank in my own eye….. Keep me honest about this “re-enthronement” process. God isn’t finished with me (or you) just yet.
MAY 5, 2010 - TRAFFIC WOES...
"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so...." (Thomas Merton, -Thoughts in Solitude)
Actually, if it had to happen to anyone, I can't think of two nicer guys than Pastor Z and yours truly. In a remarkable "hit" of providence or bad luck, both of us got traffic citations last week (to the tune of a combined $461 in fines....) Out of nearly 1000 United Methodist pastors in Indiana, isn't it remarkable that two from the very same church hit the jackpot? Oh, that we Methodists were more enthusiastic on buying lottery tickets. We'd be rich! Anyway, my traffic stop was totally undeserved, and quite frankly, unfair (to me.) Sure, I did turn right on a "no turn on red" light, but I had waited and observed no other moving cars in any lane, so I cautiously edged forward, only to be followed by, shall we say, a very "alert" Metro Indy policeman who I had not observed behind me. Hemmed in, he nabbed me. I could have tried the faithful, "I'm on my way to the hospital" line (which I actually was), but I didn't think fast enough. I was guilty and thoroughly unconvincing as a repentant sinner. The other pastor (Z) was more daring and actually speeding when stopped by the state cop, but he didn't fare any better than I did.
In the great scheme of things we got what we deserved (and more), but it got me to thinking that we very often travel from place to place "on automatic", letting our hands and feet work for our brains, and being more concerned with getting to the destination than observing and learning from the journey. In religious language, we miss God's messages to us along the way in our rushing to "arrive". Merton, great mystical teacher that he was, often found himself cast into deep "ravines" of mind and soul, lost in the quest to cultivate an intimate connection with the Divine. Thank God he was so frank, for in his "pull over moments" he displays a remarkable faith that the Eternal will see him through. But let me let him finish the prayer with which I began this entry. He says it much better than I can:
"...But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."
Perhaps Merton never stopped at 86th Street and Michigan Road to ponder the "no turn on red light" signs, but he did know an awfully lot about wayward Methodist pastors who need to be ticketed from time to time to be reminded that the One who knows them best loves them most and will never leave them. I hope so anyway, not just because I am repentant, but also because I want to know my $261 was not lost in vain.....
Humbly, ---Pastor J
APRIL 7, 2010 - THE BEST OF INTENTIONS....
"Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!" (Johann Heerman, 1630)
Time for a confession of sorts: My intention was to blog each day during Lent as a spiritual exercise. I note, with chagrin that I met that goal only once during the forty day holy season! What happened? Not only was the flesh weak, the spirit wasn't even in the running.... And the sad part is that I was neither too busy nor distracted by pastoral concerns to write in a disciplined, daily manner. I just didn't do it. I fretted away the time with penultimate stuff. Now here it is Easter Wednesday and I wonder where the time went. My best devotional intentions came to nothing, at least nothing I can see on paper. All of which reminds me that "Easter People" are really no different from "Lenten People". We are the same less than admirable folk who struggle along as best we can, easily distracted, selfishly prideful, rather insensitive, and quite adept at sinning. The only difference is what we have become because of the Cross bearing Savior and the mark of that love in the shadow of the Empty Tomb. I like what I read last week about John Newton's final words. "This is all I know," he wrote. "I am a great sinner but Christ is a great Savior." For me that is enough, more than enough. Thank you, Lord. I will try and write more faithfully and love you and my brothers and sisters more fully, but, as you know, my track record is very inspiring. I've heard, though, you do your best work with slackers....
FEBRUARY 22, 2010 - LENT – THE AWKWARD SEASON
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
Pamela Hawkins, author of our Lenten devotional knows us well: “For as long as I can remember, she says”, “Lent has seemed an awkward season. Although I have never been confused about where Lent leads – to Easter – I have often been unsure about how best to follow its path. Lent is a holy season of the church that begins in the middle of the week, on a Wednesday instead of a Sunday. For my whole church life Sunday has been the starting place for most important seasons. Sundays are on my worship radar. But Ash Wednesday often sneaks up on me, and I am behind on the Lenten journey before I even know it.” Already, my friends, we have moved way past it into the holy season. Are you aware we are deep into Lent? How is your journey going?
For those of you who have begun Lenten disciplines and dropped them already (OK, I admit that telling you I was going to give up desserts of all kinds was a bad idea), may I suggest we get back on the pathway with a prayer of confession. It’s not too late to change our ways, mend our flaws, uproot clinging sins, and ask forgiveness. Awkward as it may seem, the only way to the Risen Christ is along the pathway of penitence and suffering. Clumsy as we are, God is not giving up on us. He calls those He loves, and loves us. So plunge ahead with the disciplines of the season. Here’s a prayer from The Awkward Season to get us going:
O God, who makes all things new, new stars, new dust, new life; take my heart, every hardened edge and measured beat, and create something new in me. I need your newness, God, the rough parts of me made smooth; the stagnant, stirred; the stuck, freed; the unkind, forgiven. And then, by the power of your Spirit, I need to be turned toward Love again. Amen.
Onward (and go easy on the desserts)
“I give thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise.” – Psalm 138:1
Where did January go? It seems to me we passed through it somehow, but it remains a blur of cloudy, snowy, icy days in my memory. Did the sun ever shine? On the few days of its appearing, I tried to bask in its glow, but I don’t remember much basking, do you? I chuckle, of course, in the knowledge that the brightest season of the Christian year is Epiphany, right here and now during these dreary days of winter. Perhaps the Church Fathers were “on” to something when they taught our ancestors in the faith to look for bright manifestations of God’s Light during these dark days. And so I have. Here are a few of my “bright” moments in the past few weeks:
· The COLTS (God love 'em!)
· The outpouring of love and support for the people of Haiti during their dark days!
· A wonderful church family that puts up with me despite…..
· Our birdfeeder outside the kitchen window that has attracted bright Cardinals, tiny finches and two very fat squirrels
· The free coupons for McDonald’s gourmet drinks that were left in my mailbox
· Hearing my gradaughter over the phone begging me to come over and play with her (we live 650 miles away)
· Rejoicing in God’s grace and mercy
· The beautiful “wolf moon” coloring our night skies last week
How about you? It’s easy to get discouraged during these dark days (and more snow is on the way!) Look to the light. God is good, always. Praise His name (and go, COLTS!)
 December 22, 2009 – CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (From Luke, chapter 2)
Here we are three days before Christmas and the church office is hushed. Most of the “work” of preparing services for the holy days has been completed, staff members have eaten our share of cookies, candies, breads, and assorted nuts and fruit, all brought in by parishioners with good will and lots of experience in the kitchen. We’ve wrapped our gifts, sent our cards, and picked up our loved ones at the airport. Now in the quiet of the moment, this pastor pauses to wish all of you, far and near, a warm Christmas greeting. When I was a kid (and that was “many moons ago”, we Hoosier school children memorized poems by our kinsman James Whitcomb Riley, most notably his “When the Frost is on the Punkin”. Not too many “moons ago” I ran across his only Christmas poem, the very simple “Christmas Greetings”, which Teresa and I share with you with much joy.
A word of Godspeed and good cheer
To all on earth, or far or near, Or friend or foe, or thine or mine-- In echo of the voice divine, Heard when the star bloomed forth and lit The world's face, with God's smile on it. May God bless you and yours this holy season. Make room in your heart for Jesus and let God’s smile bloom forth in your lives.
DECEMBER 12, 2009 - WHEN THE ANGEL DEPARTS Eve of Advent 3
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)
This time of year you see and hear them everywhere …. angels! They decorate trees, grace Christmas cards, sparkle in yard scenes, cover wrapping paper and sing their message through choirs of every size and age. At Christmastime we can’t get enough of them. But what about you? Do you believe in angels, got a “Guardian” one watching over you? Have you ever felt angelic? Ever gotten an angel greeting, seen an angel, talked with one, heard one hovering near you? I think I have, but then sometimes I think the angels have more angelic beings to gather around. Mary got the full angel treatment in her visit with Gabriel. He announced, she was troubled. He explained, she questioned. He affirmed, she accepted. And then he left her. Wonder what she felt then? Maybe like I do when I wonder where the angel is when I need him most. But I doubt it. I’m believing Mary believed the angel and moved forth in faith, not fully knowing what was to come next, but trusting nonetheless. I can learn from her. When the angel left her, God embraced her more with the Baby Jesus. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, I believe.
NOVEMBER 24, 2009 - A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
“Thou knowest me right well;” Ps. 139:14b
These things happen. Sunday, as I was greeting folk following worship, an elderly gentleman grasped my hand, shook it hard, and whispered into my ear, “That was the best sermon I’ve ever heard you preach.” Trouble was, I was the liturgist Sunday and Pastor Z had just delivered the Word. True, we have similarities. We were both wearing liturgical robes, but I have hair (no slam there, Z), and he is 30 years younger than am I (hardly noticeable though.) In the great scheme of things I was delighted he was praised for his preaching effort, albeit through me, and I hope my next sermon will be as well received as his was. I’m happy to be confused with him. I’m even happier, though, that God does not confuse us. The psalmist says he knows each of us intimately, and that’s both good and bad, I guess, but still wonderfully reassuring that in his great creation, I count! And so do you! He can count every hair on my head (which is no problem for him with Zach’s pate), and, in this world where I’m recognized more for my PIN than by my soul, I’m encouraged, reinvigorated, renewed. So go ahead, make my day this Sunday and tell me how great a job Zach did with the sermon, preached, by the way, by “yours truly.” Hey, I’m willing to share the Good News!
NOVEMBER 19, 2009 - FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY
"If the Lord is God, follow him." (1 Kings 18:21a)
I know, I know, I'm always rushing and late, but sometimes I get held up by forces I cannot control (CSX trains at the Main Street crossing.) Case in point: Last Tuesday I'm late again rushing to the "Retired Pastors' Breakfast", which, if I may say so, begins at the ungodly hour of 7AM at Wesley Manor. Just for the record, when I do retire, I will not be joining them at that hour... But I'm getting ahead of myself. Rushing onward I'm stopped abruptly by the CSX train that has plopped itself squarely in my path at the crossing. I cool my heels for ten minutes more, then speed up when the gate goes up, only to find myself behind the slowest driver in Clinton County. Expecting her to turn on Kyger and inch on out of town, I flash my lights at her once (OK, twice) and hover just inches from her rear bumper. To my surprise, and later regret, I realize she is not continuing on but turning into the Wesley Manor driveway. Too late, my mind connects the dots and I realize "she" is not a "she" but a "he" and that "he" is a retired pastor who somehow must have been shopping at WalMart at 6AM before the breakfast and is now returning to join the others. OK, I did what any miserable UM pastor would have done. As he turned left into the parking area of the Main Entrance, I zoomed right as far as I could and parked a safe twenty parking spots from him. Using the Garden Entrance I gave myself an extra two minutes of wait time in the car before entering the dining room, where I heard him exploding to the others something like this... "and he nearly ran me over." I sympathized as best I could: "What are the younger drivers thinking?" Yes, since then I've confessed my sin to God and tried some penitence, but I can't help but think God would have me ponder how closely I follow others and the world in general, and how distantly I seek after Him. It's a paradox all right. Jesus insisted that if one wants to be a disciple, he must follow HIM. If He turns around, will He find me "right on His bumper" or still back at the railroad crossing? Come to think of it, where will he find you?
NOVEMBER 14, 2009
"Autumn Leaves .... Jesus Doesn't" (Posted on our church sign at the entrance)
Here it is two weeks before Thanksgiving, and the "holiday season" has begun already. We're done raking the leaves at the parsonage, the 8 turkeys for the church Thanksgiving Dinner are "cooling their wings" in the kitchen freezers, and 107. 9 FM has switched to all Christmas music programming. I've already heard "Santa Baby" more times than is healthy for any pastor, and "Feliz Navidad" is filling the airwaves too. Frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready for Advent, but then again I remember that the holy season comes calling on those of us most in need of it. It breaks into our lives, blitzkrieg-like, and demands we look at life and life beyond death with penetrating eyes of faith. No sooner do we Americans pause to say "thank you" to our Creator than we are cast into a time of deep reflecting on the "meaning of it all." I thought about all of this on my way to church this morning. Dawn hadn't yet broken across Hoosier skies and the darkness was fading away, but some crazy neighbor had his "snow globe Santa" already lit up and blinking. "Humbug, " I snorted to myself. "I'm not ready for any of this stuff just yet." And then I saw our lit-up church sign, "Autum Leaves .... Jesus Doesn't." Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and re-order our sight and hearts.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
I HAVE ARRIVED…. But Does It Make Any Difference?
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
 After a year among you, I now proclaim myself a true Frankfurter by the fact that I have given directions in the Clinton County style to a “stranger” seeking to find the TPA Park from the Speedway station. With coffee cup in hand, I motioned that the novice should make the “S-turn” in front of the station (carefully, if she values her life), but then shoot straight ahead on Hoke Ave. until she “T-s” into the “Michigantown Blacktop”. Of course I did not tell her that there is no such street sign anywhere in Frankfort, but I rationalize that nobody ever told me that either and that she’ll just have to figure it out herself. “So, after turning left onto the Michigantown Blacktop”, continue on to the Milky Way.” “Is that a street?” she asks me politely. “No,” I reply. Again, she’ll have to figure that one out on her own too. “Turn right at the Milky Way onto a street that starts with a “B” I elaborated, and then just keep going until you can turn left at what looks like another street opening or the park entrance but really isn’t … or just keep going until you see another entrance on the “B” street. Actually, it’s quite simple” I felt rather pleased with myself even if the woman looked a little dazed. “Hey,” I concluded, “don’t bother asking anybody else; these are the standard Frankfurter directions.” I have arrived….My “having arrived”, of course, does not mean she ever arrived at the park. Just because I know the local lingo doesn’t necessarily make a difference to someone who’s lost. Sadly, I’m afraid that sometimes my Christian witness is not very helpful either. How about yours? Do you speak the Word clearly and with insight? Is your life a good reflection and mirror to those seeking direction in life? Do you make a difference?
This autumn and Advent seasons will find us using the theme “Christ Makes A Difference” at St. Matthew. In how we worship, what we study, and who we serve, we will ask ourselves the question of how “we” can make a difference in our community because He makes a difference in us.
Pastor Zach and I, the planning team and our Administrative Council believe now, more than ever before, is the time to make a difference for Christ. Won’t you join us?
Peace,
Pastor JakeAUGUST 6, 2009 - 37 YEARS AND COUNTING....
"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death.... Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it." (Song of Songs 8:6)
Yesterday Teresa and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary! Can you believe it? Together, we've lived in nine parsonages, attended three institutions of higher learning, reared three children, cared for dying parents, worked on three continents, saved, spent, hoped and dreamed together. Now growing older we see our life together as a blending of many currents over the years. How we love each other has changed as our lives have changed with jobs, circumstances, children and parent caring, and now "redecorating" our "empty nest". What hasn't changed is the seal of God's love for our love for each other. Always and forever, we love in His love. I feel truly blessed.
JULY 25, 2009 - IN THE MORNING
"...but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5b)
I am a morning person. Sometimes I get up at 3:00 AM or so just to savor the darkness and the quiet sounds of breaking day. Of course, I snooze again before really arising, but my best hours still occur before afternoon. After lunch, I slumber while I work. Regardless of the time of day, though, I've learned to savor this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, which lists it, quite oddly, under the Ministration to the Sick. I'm not sure why it's indexed like that, but perhaps because we are all in need of wholeness, regardless of our physical well-being. However it got put where it did, I celebrate the prayer and pass it on:
In the Morning
This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whateer it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.
I like the part, "if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly." , because I seem to do that so well. The author certainly knows my style. So does our Heavenly Father. Onward, the day beckons...
JULY 17, 2009 - KEEP IT SIMPLE! - “Being a United Methodist is as Easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The Lord preserves the SIMPLE; when I was brought low, he saved me. (Ps. 116:6)
Pastor Zach and I, and our families (his is growing, remember?), are super glad to be “back home again” in Frankfort for another year of ministry with you. Thanks for blessing us with your love.
Now in these “dog days” of summer, this pastor is trying to “take it easy” and “take a break” for a few days before school resumes. Things slow down a bit in the church office and we stretch, “and rest from our labors” (as much as a Methodist can permit himself….)
So in the spirit of keeping things SIMPLE, I have borrowed Bishop Coyner’s remarks about how easy it is to be a United Methodist. He certainly made my “Pastor Ponder” work easier this month for I'm using his words as if they were mine the the monthly church newsletter. Regardless of authorship issues, I think he speaks strong truth in what follows. Just for the sake of making me feel better, pretend I came up with the ideas before he did. Here goes:
“Sometimes we make it hard for our own United Methodist people to describe how we United Methodists are followers of Jesus. So here it is, in simple 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ways to describe how we United Methodists live our Christian faith:
1. We have ONE mission statement: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” We have all agreed on this statement, it is Biblical, it is in our Book of Discipline, and it is the mission statement of our new Indiana Conference. DO MAKE DISCIPLES!
2. We believe in TWO forms of holiness: personal holiness and social holiness. That is why we United Methodists work to bring individuals to a Christian way of life, but we also work to change our society. BE HOLY AND CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER!
3. We try to live by the THREE Simple Rules: do no harm, do good, stay in love with God. John Wesley gave us those rules, all clergy agree to them when they are ordained, and all United Methodist people are called tfollow them. LIVE THEM.
4. We believe that truth is found by the FOUR sides of the Wesley Quadrilateral: Scripture is primary, and it is interpreted by Tradition (what the church has taught), Reason, and Experience. We are a Biblical people, but we also see the importance of learning from the Christian teachings of the past, using our minds to think through our faith, and bringing our own experience of God into our understanding. BELIEVE!
5. We know that our congregations flourish when we engage in the FIVE Practices of:
Radical Hospitality -Passionate Worship - Intentional Faith Development - Risk-Taking Mission and Service - Extravagant Generosity
PRACTICE THEM
There they are. Five steps to being faithful United Methodist followers of Christ. Those FIVE describe what is unique about being followers of Jesus in the Wesleyan Way. Once a person has committed to follow Jesus, these Five Steps are the hallmarks of The United Methodist Church.
Easy? No, of course not, but just what we need to remain the SIMPLE, quite EXTRAORDINARY disciples of Jesus Christ for this moment, in this place. We can do it together with Christ guiding us.
So, what do you think? I think I did a great job with this column, which means Pastor Zach will probably write about humility for next month’s newsletter. Those “real” pastors have a way of convicting us, don’t they? SIMPLY PUT, so does our Lord Jesus. Simple as I am, I'm in there trying....
Peace,
Pastor Jake
July 9, 2009 - MIND GRAZING - "DEER ME..."
"As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for you, O God." (Psalm 42:1)
What is it with the wildlife this year? Our parsonage sits a good 1/2 mile from the nearest woods, neatly tucked in a tidy subdivision with well kept lawns and shady trees. This year we're also home to a prickly possum who lives in our shrubbery, an 'onry groundhog that waddles back and forth between the neighbors' yard and ours, a Cooper's hawk who perches on our crabtree and scares the cardinals, squirrels and our 20 lb. cat half to death, and some beautiful deer who stroll around the property each morning and nibble on our flowers. Rushing out of the house last Monday, I scared a doe who stood motionless by the garage. She didn't seem to be in a big hurry to leave, but I was, so she had to move it when I started the car. Here at the church, much closer to the woods, we have upwards of a dozen deer each morning grazing on the back forty. Once again, in a hurry yesterday, I whipped out of the office entrance and came upon still another doe who was trimming our hedge. This time I stopped dead in my tracks, and we two eyeballed each other for at least ten seconds. I fully expected her to bolt, but she seem only mildly interested in my presence and continued her nibbling. When I gently suggested that it was 10:30 AM and she was a long way from home, she snorted and slowly headed south across the parking lot. It appeared to me that she was annoyed that I had bothered herm in the first place. We parted company, each to our own business. Now I know it's dangerous to attribute human characteristics to animals, but perhas the good Lord allows us this mind grazing to slow us down and call us to that which we already know but too often forget: it's not all about us. His creation is simply amazing, and there is room in it for all of us, groundhog included. Only the truly observant can catch a glimmer of it all. This poor pastor, in his rushing about, can be rooted by an ambling doe and find himself surprised by the presence of God. Peace.
JULY 9, 2009 - BACK HOME AGAIN....
"God, it seems you've been our home forever; long before the mountains were born." (Psalm 90:, The Message )
As of July 1, Pastor Z and I are "back home again" at St. Matthew for another year of ministry with the good folk here! We are jazzed! Non-Methodists shudder at our appointment system that calls for a yearly review of the pastor(s)/church relationship by both the presiding Bishop (in Indy) and the local Staff/Parish Committee here. They don't understand (and, frankly, sometimes we don't either), how pastors serve for a year at a time and then are re-appointed or moved on to another congregation. Despite our quirks, we've grown used to this style of ministry, but, I've got to confess, I always breathe a bit easier when I know for sure I'm back for another year. So pause with me as I breathe. Teresa and I have learned that a house is a house but a home is a home, and we've decided that wherever we are, we are at home and we will do our best to "bloom where we are planted". We thank God for allowing us a garden full of flowers here at St. Matthew and in Frankfort, and we look forward to that which lies ahead, one year at a time (of course). Many thanks to all of you for loving us despite our shortcomings, and for showering us with the fruit from your gardens (OK, that was a definite plug for produce, except zucchini). May God be praised. We're back home again.
JUNE 21, 2009 - FATHER'S DAY
"...as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beathing, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right and hand in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report: genuine, yet regarded as impostors; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (from 2 Corinthians, Chapter 6)
Seems like only yesterday but my father has been gone from this earth for nearly 15 years! Countless times I've picked up the phone to call him and report about his grandchildren, or celebrate an IU victory, or ask him for advice, only to realize he won't be answering. Often I find myself thinking about how I wished I'd asked about his time in WW2, or told him how much I loved him, or thanked him for sacrificing for me to go to college and have all that he couldn't have educationally. Mostly I just miss him. So Father's Day is good time for me to tell others not to short-change their time on this earth with the dads. No father, except our Heavenly One, is perfect, so I don't expect any of us to worship our dads. But honoring is another thing altogether, and whether they are living or already crossed into Campground, we each one have the privilege and honor of honoring our fathers and all who are father-like. I'm counting on getting a coloring book page, neatly colored, from grandaughter Gracie, and hoping I get a phone call from the two sons who always forget until the last moment, and suspecting I'll get a Starbucks card from the one who lives furthest away. Most of all, I just want to hear their voices and remind myself how grateful to God I am for having the opportunity to be a father. And I wish that for you and yours too.
Erma Bombeck has a catchy reflection on Fathers. Enjoy it!
When God Created Fathers
 When the good Lord was creating fathers He started with a tall frame. And a female angel nearby said, "What kind of father is that? If You're going to make children so close to the ground, why have You put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping." And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child-size, whom would children have to look up to?" And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy. And the angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do You know what You're doing?" Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on ponytails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats." And God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day ... yet small enough to cup a child's face in his hands." And then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders. And the angel nearby had a heart attack. "Boy, this is the end of the week, all right," she clucked, " Do You realize You just made a father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?" And God smiled and said, "A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle, or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus." God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do You honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?" And God smiled and said. "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to 'ride a horse to Banbury Cross,' or scare off mice at the summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill." God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words, but a firm, authoritative voice; eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the Angel and said, "Now are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?" The angel shuteth up. MAY 21, 2009 - REMEMBERING (Memorial Day Weekend) "They are like trees planted by streams of water...." (Psalm 1)
Teresa and I are beginning to think about the holiday weekend before us. This will be our first Memorial Day in some time where we find ourselves living close to our birthplace, so we are planning to visit the cemeteries of our parents and grandparents on Monday. I find myself dreading the visit, not because I do not want to honor them, but because I know it will force me to deal with some feelings that I have left buried for awhile. But remembering is good for us. It calls us back to reflect upon the sacrifices, hardships, and gifts our veterans and our loved ones have made for all of us over the years. A little choking up on this pastor's part is a tiny price to pay for that which they bequethed to us: freedom, future, faith. And so let the flags fly this weekend. It is good to remember all who gave their lives in service to country, and to remember all of our loved ones who gave us life. Being a good Hoosier, I will clip peony blossoms and drape them on my WW2 veteran dad's tombstone and my I will dust off my mom's stone as well (she was big on appearances.) I will say a prayer of thanksgiving for them and all whose graves we decorate. I will also pray for all those departed whose tombstones remain undecorated this year. Just like us, their relatives have been gone for awhile, so we will remember for them.
I found this beautiful Memorial Day reflection in my sermon preparation. May it bless you as it has me....
It has been said that one of the distinguishing marks of our humanity, a trait that makes us different from other species and animals that fill our world, is that God gave human beings the ability to remember. We remember not just events, moments and experiences of our lives but we can share in the collective memory of a family, community, village, state, nation and culture. But we can also forget. We can forget to remember. We can forget to remember the more than 40 million Americans who have served their nation and more than one million who have died. We can forget to remember those who stood at a Concord bridge and those who struggled to survive in the winter cold at Valley Forge. We can forget to remember the litany of conflicts that secured our nation's borders and established a right to sail the seven seas. We can forget to remember the strife of civil war and the quest of a nation to redefine freedom for all races. We can forget to remember the terror of trenches and the deadly gases that called the world to war a first time. We can forget to remember the meaning of a total national commitment to defeat threatening powers of global domination in a second war to end all wars. We can forget to remember the sacrifice of those who took arms to hold the line in conflict after conflict preserving world order and creating opportunities for peoples around the world to know new freedoms. We can even forget to remember that each generation must have those who will stand to preserve the beacon of justice and truth that we have come to believe is God's gift not just to America but for all people. It is so easy to forget, which is why we gather this day. We gather not to celebrate wars or the power of might but to remember the lessons learned by the sacrifice of lives given in service to ideals greater than personal gain or reputation. We gather today to remember not only those whom we can name in our hearts but also those who are unknown to us except as revealed in the freedoms that they preserved through the sacrifice of their lives. This Memorial Day we remember. We remember that we gather as our congress and President have decreed for over 50 years, to pray for a permanent peace. To pray that God will bless the memories of those who served and guide us in remembering the blessing of grace revealed in the words, "Peace be with you."
MAY 7, 2009 - MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND.... Erma Bombeck's Mother's Day Column (She says it so much better than this pastor can think it... When your own mother is no longer living on this earth, you wish you'd taken the time to be more thankful for her mothering. I am ... now. For those of you whose mothers and mother-likes live on, please thank them this weekend and every day.) God bless them all!
 Dear Mother,When the Good Lord was creating mothers He was into His 6th day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." And the Lord said, "Have you read the specification on this order? ... She has to be completely washable but not plastic" …..Have 180 movable parts . . . all replaceable" … Run on black coffee and leftovers…Have a lap the disappears when she stands up…A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair…And 6 pairs of hands"
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "6 pairs of hands....no way." "It's not the hands that are causing me the problems," said the Lord, "It's the three pairs of eyes that Mothers have to have." "That's in the standard model?" asked the angel. The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front so that she can look at a child when he goofs and say, 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."
"Lord," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "come to bed. Tomorrow . . . " "I can't," said the Lord, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one that heals herself when she is sick . . . can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger . . . and can get a 9 yr. old to stand under a shower." The angel circled the model of a Mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. "But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this Mother can do or endure." "Can it think?" "Not only think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran a finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You You were trying to put too much into this model." "It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear." "What's it for?" "It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride." "You are a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there"
APRIL 20, 2009 - IT HAD TO HAPPEN!
"I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." (John 21:18)
 We're on vacation in Phoenix, visiting the youngest Fisherchild and Teresa's brother and sister-in-law. Except for the 100 degree weather, we're holding up pretty well, but when did we get old? It started on the bus shuttle from the airport to the car rental center. Teresa and I slipped into a space between the luggage racks, just wide enough for us to stand comfortably, when a young chap tapped me on the shoulder and offered me his seat. I declined. Then, the car rental agent gave me a senior discount. I accepted. Lunch at Carl Jr's offered us another "senior appreciation moment", as did the US Park Service agent at Montezuma's Castle (even though it clearly states seniors are to be 65 and older). It doesn't stop. The cinema metroplex gal tagged us as "over the hill", as did the "Jack in the Box" kid who invited us back on Tuesdays for "senior deals." Had we arrived at church earlier yesterday (remember, now, I'm on vacation), we could have parked in the "senior only" spaces. Everywhere we go, we are seen as being older than we are, which leads me to conclude I'm older than I think I am or perceive myself to be. For the record, I'm a youthful 59, born 12/10/49 and my driving license proves it. Sure do wish someone would "card" me though just to make me feel better. Jesus knows me quite well, however, and he also knows that I'm getting older. I know the days are coming when I will need others to dress and lead me, but for goodness sake, I can do it myself right now. Wonder if Starbucks is on to this senior discount thing.....APRIL 11, 2009 - EXCITING THINGS ARE ABOUT TO HAPPEN! HAPPY EASTER!
 "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." (Matthew 28:6)
In Winnie the Pooh, Pooh and Piglet take an evening walk. For a long time they walk in silence. Silence like only best friends can share. Finally Piglet breaks the silence and asks, "When you wake up in the morning, Pooh, what's the first thing you say to yourself?" "What's for breakfast?" answers Pooh and then asks. "And what do you say, Piglet?" Piglet says, "I say, I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen today?" You and I can't really plan to meet the Risen Christ because we never really know when or where He's going to show up. But you can be sure of this, He will show up. If you believe, He will show up. And the attitude you need to meet him is the attitude of Piglet, "I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen today?" Teresa and I send you all our warmest Easter greetings. Because He lives, we are awaiting exciting things! God is good, always!
APRIL 4, 2009 - YOU BE JESUS!
 "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mark 11:1)A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. 'If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, ' Ryan , you be Jesus !'
The long season of Lent is grinding to a conclusion for this pastor, and tomorrow is the most joyous Sunday of the season, Palm Sunday. I love it because it is such a contrast from the days of reflection and penitence, of confession and of repentence that mark our lenten journey. For a few brief moments, we breathe in the joy of a parade, the arrival of our King into Jerusalem. It's a celebration. For a few moments, we'd all like to be Jesus, at the head of the line, first up for "pancakes". And yet, Monday comes, and Jesus sets his face to the Cross to be the Servant once more. If you would turn to me and ask, "Do you want to be Jesus?", I'd only answer "yes" for the easiest parts, the festive days, the big celebrations. But when faced with a cross, would I willingly want to first, to be Jesus? "Ah, holy Jesus," the passion hymn begins, "how hast Thou offended?" Tomorrow we celebrate, on Monday we set our faces to the Cross with our Lord. Will He find me faithful on Friday? Will you be there too?
MARCH 21, 2009 - HALFTIME REPORT
"O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)
 March madness has hit the nation with the college basketball tournament consuming this pastor's free time this weekend. While I should be "homilizing", I'm rooting on the Boilers, Bulldogs and other assorted midwestern teams. I rarely watch any one game in its entirety, 'cause I know I'll see the highlights on the late/early/all day sports and news channels for the next 24 hours, ...but I rarely miss the "halftime report". Greg Gumbel and his team have all the statistics of what happened in the first twenty minutes, and they offer their experienced opinions about what will happen during the final 20 minutes of action. Usually, they're right on. All this got me to thinking about a half time report for Lent. You know, we are half way to Easter and perhaps God is doing a little statistical analysis of my spiritual life and progress to date. In basketball terms, here's the update:
How will this game end? The coach never gives up on me, but I think he deserves better, don't you? Time out for now, but I'll report on the final score later. Thank God, "he is good."
 MARCH 9, 2009 – “THAR’ SHE BLOWS….”“The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)
We sprung forth our clocks this weekend to make the leap into Daylight Saving Time. For this early rising pastor, though, it made for a gloomy ride to church, darkened even further by the thunderstorms and lightening that raced across the prairie. The heavens may be telling the glory of God, I mused, but on this particular Sunday that glory was more of an all-stops open pronouncement of God’s omnipotence than it was a lovely singing of “When Morning Gilds the Skies”. In fact the whole weekend was a rather wild ride through God’s gift of Mother Nature. Not content with thinking I can control the elements, I executed a “first” for this pastor of thirty-seven years’ experience last Thursday. As the winds howled I stood by the gravesite of a church member, clutching my Book of Worship and doing my best to stand upright (physically and spiritually) for the family with whom I ministered. As I got to the final prayer, I reached over and put my hand on the casket, temporarily leaving my Book of Worship unsecured in the other hand. The wind gusted and the entire Book of Worship Funeral Section (sermon notes included) flew into the open vault (think “Six Feet Under”.) For those of you who know me well you are now thinking, “this could only happen to Jake”, and you would be correct. But what to do? Resigned to the fact that we are powerless before God, I silently thanked Him for allowing me to have had this particular Book of Worship Funeral Section for a good many years (and the notes therein), as I mentally calculated the cost of a new ritual from Cokesbury. Graciously, the family was kind, if not a little bemused by my predicament. All is well that ends well, though, and several hours later the kind hearted funeral director stopped by the church with my somewhat muddy notes in hand. Apparently he has longer arms and a bigger pull with the Almighty. What have I learned from all of this? Hold fast to the Word (and the Book.) God is gracious, always, and mighty powerful with His Wind. We are like grass that withers. And always keep a copy of your notes in your pocket.
FEBRUARY 25, 2009 - ASH WEDNESDAY
"Yet, even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing." (from Joel, chapter 2)
 Spring has sprung a bit this afternoon, chasing away the last of the ice from the parking lot. The shadows of winter are still here, and even though rain is on the agenda for tomorrow, nobody with any sense is putting away the snow shovel just yet. We know the cold lingers. It is Ash Wednesday on the church calendar, and so we stop and gather together once more for the sacred act of marking each other with the sign of the cross. Each year as I gather the palm branches for the burning and the marking, I am reminded that before we can see the bright glory of Easter, we have to pass through the "valley of the shadow of death". Life on this earth does not last forever. Ash Wednesday reminds me that sin, like winter, lingers on in each of our lives, and during Lent we are encouraged to put to death all that would keep us from Christ's glory. It means picking up our crosses, just as we pick up the snow shovel temporarily stored but always at the ready. I invite you to join me in prayer and penitence, in sacrifice and in sorrow as we reflect on Christ's passion, on our humanity, and on the glorious promise that is ours through His love. The prophet Joel wasn't much interested in shoveling snow, but he was quite serious about rending our hearts before God, assuring us that the one who made us is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Marked by the sign of the cross, we march on in faith.FEBRUARY 13, 2009 - VALENTINE'S DAY
"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7
Happy Valentine's Day! It's here at last, although it seems the stores have been decorated with the signs of the season since the day after Christmas. Candy, cards and diamonds aside, it is a "lovely" day in the Christian calendar. This morning Teresa and I exchanged our valentine thoughts over coffee and our ongoing concerns for our kids in these economically devastating times. We never stop being parents, do we? In the midst of love, our love ripples out to those we love who are far from us. Last Sunday one of our challenged adults handed me a kid-sized valentine on her way out of church. "It's for you," she said, "from me, with love." I know she's nearly 70 but she was well into the valentine spirit, and I hugged her and opened it right then and there. The caption read, "You're fun to hang out with", a message I hope the Staff/Parish Committee would second! I choose to believe that's a message God is sending to me and you this day as well. As sinful as we are, "we're fun to hang out with." Over the years I've come to the conclusion that the language of love has many voices, and we know that how we say something is as important as what we say. So, today, in the language of one who is wise beyond her talents and IQ, I join her in affirming that all of you (wherever you are in my journey of faith over the years, are "fun to hang out with too." Thanks be to God, the Lover!
FEBRUARY 3, 2009 - LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW?
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the founations of the earth? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary." (from Isaiah 40) - 5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B
OK, let's all admit it: We've had a ton of snow and this morning the heavens pelted us again. On the church calendar, yesterday was Candlemas, the fortieth day after the birth of Jesus, and, by tradition, the day he was presented at the Temple. It falls at the mid-point of the coldest days of the year, right smack in the middle between the Winter Equinox and the Spring. It heralds the rustling of the burrowing animals, who begin to stir and wake from sleep, wondering if warmer days are truly coming. Caught between the seasons, the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday and, well, ...... here we are in winter still. Now being hearty Midwesterners, we know it can be -5 degrees F. tonight (forecasted) and a balmy 50 with rain on Sunday (also forecasted), and so we plod along, heads down, gloves on, shovels at the ready, determined to outlast the winter winds. Something lies deeply buried in all of us, the promise of spring, and we hold fast to the dream of green grass again. But for now, we wait. It's good to know that in the waiting we reach deeply into our Word and draw on the promises of Isaiah, caught as he was in the plodding of the Exile community so long ago. He knew a secret we keep buried in our hearts as well. The Lord God will give us power, we who are weary and heavy laden. Those of us who wait upon Him will renew our strength, we shall mount up with wings like eagles, we shall run and not be weary and we shall walk and not faint - even, especially, when it's icy and the snow keeps drifting. So snow on, we're still here and God is good!
JANUARY 24, 2009 - GET UP AND GO!
"The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city... So Jonah set out and went...." (Jonah 3:1) 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year B
Mid-week Teresa pointed out that the robins had returned and were strutting across the snow in our backyard. She was right, but I'm thinking their timing is way off. It's only late January and there's still a lot of winter waiting. The mystery was solved by "Tree Boy" from WTHR, Indy. He tells us the people who know birds say the robins haven't returned early this year but that they never left last fall. A wonderful summer and mild autumn left lots of wild berries hanging on the trees and bushes. Robins, well fed and numbering in the thousands, decided to stick around instead of flying south for warmer weather. Now, things are tough, but the tough are hanging in there and the robins are cleaning off what's left of the berry harvest. Now don't tell anyone, but I have a lot of sympathy for the robins. Spiritually (and sometimes physically and emotionally), I have a hard time getting going. Ever feel that way? Most of the time I'm content to stay in my comfort zone, and when God calls, I find myself content to pick at the "dried berries" still clinging to my home. The text for tomorrow is the saga of Jonah, another "robin" who would have preferred to go in another direction when God called him to preach in Nineveh. He did too, until God changed directions for him. In the end he did what God called him to do, but not without a lot of complaining and trying to avoid his calling. Of course, the text is for me, especially on those days when I hear God calling me directly to do his bidding, and I choose to either remain stuck where I am or move off in another, more favorable at the moment, direction. I call it "robin-sense". Ever find yourself doing the same? Well, get up and get going with me, because God is not going to allow us to stay on the patio clutching for dried berries much longer. He's calling us to use our wings for Him. Keep scattering the seed of your Word, Lord God, I'm coming....
JANUARY 16, 2009 - A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A COLD THING AT -17 F
"O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely." (Psalm 139:1-2) - Second Sunday after Epiphany
Do you know how cold it is outside? As I write this, fingers in gloves, it's a balmy -17 degrees F., but brillantly sunny outside (NOT THAT I'M GOING OUT...) I will venture out eventually, but for a few more minutes I'm content looking at the pair of Cardinals on the feeder outside the kitchen window, happily munching on sunflower seeds. I know they are cold too. And so was the window through which I'm looking. It got so cold last night it cracked right down the middle of the pane.
Now I'm just guessing here, but I'm pretty sure I know that God knows all of this already. He is, after all, ALL KNOWING. I'd just like to know when the temps will moderate, spring will be sprung, and the grass will emerge from its blanket of snow. I'd also like to know a lot of little things, like why did the kid in Hammond lick a light bulb outside his house at -21 F last night? I think he is recovering in the hospital. I'd also like to know bigger things, like how did God know to put the pilot in that US Air plane and guide it safely into the Hudson River with no loss of life yesterday afernoon? And how about knowing when the invasion of Gaza will end, or will it bring peace? And why did the father of a little 7 year old shoot himself in front of his son and now we have to bury the dad and grieve with the child? And why does God love me, when He knows all about me?
After a while, I give up asking, not because I don't want to know, but because over the years I've matured (hopefully) into a believer that says "always and forever we are in God's hands", and, for me, that means during horrible assaults on our bodies, after silly kid-like jokes, through the pain of losing loved ones, and coping with a host of unique happenings that color daily living, including sipping coffee while watching cardinals feed and watching the thermometer as it inches up to -15 (Hey, we're on a "heat wave" here). And God knows and knew it all the time. May His Name be praised. In life, in death, in life beyond death, we are not alone. God is with us. I think I'll go out now, the pastor who braves the elements to tend his flock.....ok, I know you think that's going too far!
JANUARY 8, 2009 - BALLOON-ED!
"We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
Monday mornings can be downers for pastors, but last Monday, on unlocking my office door, I discovered hundreds of colorful balloons carpeting the floor, walls, bookcases, desk, ceiling, file cabinets and even the toilet bowl (I kid you not!) Seems the youth group on Sunday night had had a little extra time and energy and permission from the associate pastor to decorate my area with left-over holiday spirit. I was jazzed. In fact, the parade of color so infected my day with joy that I was (I think) a kinder, wiser, more joyful servant the entire week (except maybe to the associate pastor)..... Isn't it amazing how a balloon can lighten your spirit? More than that, I took the room full of them as a sign of love from the youth, of acceptantce, if you will, that I was an OK guy, white hair and all. Deliberately, I've left the balloons where they are (or fly), and even though they are losing steam as the week progresses, you'd be amazed (there's that word again) at how happy they've made the office visitors as they come and go. I believe with all my heart that balloons belong in church and in every heart that loves the Lord. So, if you're needing a pick-me-up, stop by while the quantity lasts. Since I'll be teaching the High School Sunday School class for the next six weeks, I'm sure we'll have plenty of creative ideas on how to decorate Pastor Zach's office. Share the joy!
JANUARY 1, 2009 - HAPPY NEW YEAR (2)
"And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road." (Matthew 2: 12)
Long about this time of the New Year, I dig out my devotional material and center in on the Three Kings. It's a great story, isn't it? I love every last detail of their pilgrimage, from their first sighting of the Star till their change in plans as they head for home. What a trip! Over the years, I've been warmed by their faithfulness, and by their willingness to be flexible as they journey on in life. Seems to me God is saying that we all need to be sensitive to the condintions of the moment, and always aware of the evil that lurks so closely and the sin that clings so fiercely. But most of all, we need to keep our eyes fixed firmly on the Star that guides us onward, from day to day, through darkness and mist, to the heights and through the valleys of the shadow of death. For me, Jesus Christ is the "bright and shining star" that leads me onward. Lord, grant me the vision the follow you carefully but confidently into that which lies ahead.
JANUARY 1, 2009 - HAPPY NEW YEAR! (1)
"And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:5)"
There's someting exciting about the first day of the New Year. I try and clean up my office, open my new Pastoral Desk Calendar and neatly record my first appointments and meetings for the weeks ahead. It's all nicely ordered, and that's the way I want it to stay. But looking back at the desk calendar of 2008, I note I also started out that same way last year. Month by month the sloppiness inched ahead of the ordered goals and by December my calendar was a maze of scribbled notes, in various colors of ink, smudged, coffee-stained, dog-eared and chocked full of important phone numbers, passwords, PINs, and doodles. I'm guessing the 2007 calendar followed the same format. Not all of that is bad, of course. We all want order and neatness, purity if you will, in our lives, but the real world intrudes chaotically and the Spirit moves where it will, if we allow it, through and around our lives, continually transforming us as the days slip by one by one. So I'm not betting the 2009 Pastoral Desk Calendar, in all of its glory, will be pure for long. God lovingly intrudes, and I think it's my part (and all of ours') to be flexible. Oops, I just had to cross out my first mistake, but I did it neatly.
DECEMBER 27, 2008 - CHRISTMAS SONNET
Consider what one star does to a night, one song to watchers on a lonely hill,
One candle, burning on a window-sill,
To a dark street.
Think with what lovely light
One mother's smile transforms to glory bright
Even a stable; or, when all is still,
One infant cry the careless heart can thrill,
One whispered hope prove more than armed might.
Then ponder how one man of humble birth,
Short-lived but Godward bent through all his course,
Has changed a world.
Imagine what might be,
Since we are now so many souls, if we,
Using God's best (perhpas God's one real force)
Conspired to let God's love loose on the earth!
Just imagine!
---Merry Christmas from the Fishers
DECEMBER 14, 2008 - TAKE JOY!
"And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." (Luke 1:46-47) - Advent 4
What do you do with Mary? She always surprises me as she tiptoes into the fourth Sunday of Advent's holy readings. By worldly standards she should have been petrifed by Gabriel's declaration. She should have been mortified, finding herself suddenly pregnant and certainly vulnerable. She should have been desperate to get out of the mess she had in no way created. She should have been angry and discouraged and defeated, disillusioned by stll one more unexpected thing to happen to an unfortunate teenager. But Mary sings! She is joyful in the face of the unknown, knowing fully well her strength is in the Lord. How joyful are you as we edge closer to Bethlehem? How joyful am I? Amid the gloom of our economic meltdown, and arctic winter winds, do we have the courage to sing for joy like Mary? I'll give it a try. What a gal!
I salute you! There is nothing I can give you which you have not; but there is much, that, while I cannot give, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today. Take Heaven. No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take Peace. The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy. Take Joy. And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you, with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away. Fra Giovanni A.D. 1513
DECEMBER 11, 2008 - THE BIRTHDAY BOY
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances..." (1 Thess. 56a) - Advent 3
Yep, even pastors have birthdays, and I get to share mine with the Christchild (well, at least in the same month as our dear Lord's birth.) He gets the big celebration, of course, but by his grace, I get to join in the festivities. Yesterday, despite a heavy schedule here in the office (with three funerals this week), the staff took time to joyfully celebrate my completion of year #58. I was touched by their offerings of "senior related" helps for healthy living, but even more so by their genuine expressions of love. Birthdays are markings, and even though we've all moved beyond the childish glee of parties and blowing out candles, there's always room for rejoicing and giving thanks as the years pile up. I am grateful for a church family that can hug and cry and laugh and sing together the Lord's song, even on frosty mornings with a pastor still adjusting to new glasses. I felt marked with love, and I rejoice with the blessings, except, perhaps, for the Polident denture cleanser. I'll chew on that gift for the moment. God is graciously good. Three phone calls from the three kids and a hug from my wife were the "icing on the cake." Even the cat behaved. Happy Birthday, me!
DECEMBER 8, 2008 - THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;" (Psalm 126:2) - Advent 3
Joy comes in spashes! Despite the frigid, snowy and icy weekend (hey, this is Indiana!) our church family was warmed on the inside and out by three joy-filled performances of the play,"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", presented by the children of the parish. We chuckled and smiled and laughted at loud at the antics of the Herdman family as they "corrupted" and then "sanctified" the typical Christmas nativity pageant at the typical Methodist Church. It was a pretty good send-off for those of us advancing futher into the holy season, those of us who want the picture-perfect holiday but must learn to celebrate the Perfect Gift, not the decorations. Oh, keep on splashing us with joy, Father, and spray us with the Holy Spirit too. Joy comes calling.
DECEMBER 5, 2008 - ADVANCING INTO ADVENT
"Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God." (Isaiah 40:1) - Advent 2
Last night I had the privilege of sharing in the Memorial Service held for families who have lost loved ones by death this past year. Sponsored by our good friend, Mark Genda, and his staff at the funeral home, the service is designed to help grieving families face the holidays with strength and courage, and perhaps, to find a little joy entwined with the sadness. My job was to be the "preacher of comfort", and I took as my text Isaiah's words to the scattered community as they headed back to Jerusalem. I can imagine those who had been in captivity were fearful that nothing would ever be as before as they neared home. And just as confused must have been those who were there to welcome the exiled back. They too had changed in their neighbors' absence. Nothing would ever be the same for any of them. As I advance into Advent I realize Isaiah's words were not just for the exiled community of Israel or just for the grieving families here in Frankfort who look toward Christmas with a heavy heart. Those words are for tired pastors too who trudge into the holy season with great expectations and realize all too quickly we are just as anxious as everybody else that our holy days will be squandered away in the rush of the season. "Comfort, comfort," I hear God say to me. "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, ... (for) every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low." The glory of the Lord shall be revealed. "See, the Lord comes with might. ...He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep." Feels comforting to this pastor.
NOVEMBER 26, 2008 - THANKSGIVING EVE
"I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers." (Ephesians 1:16)
Here it is the eve before Thanksgiving, and I'm scurrying around the church office trying to "tie down the loose ends" as we head to Sunday and Advent 1. Once again I'm rushing without stopping to accomplish that which I should have done much earlier. The result is that I'm frazzled and hardly in a spirit of gratitude. But I have much for which I am grateful. As I think back on the parishes Teresa and I have served over the past 36 years, faces and smiles, hugs and memories float across my mind. Wherever you are now, dear friends, you are a part of our Thanksgiving tapestry. From Lima to Brussels and lots of places here in North Indiana, we honor you all and thank you for pastoring us as we pastored among you. Tomorrow our family will be scattered again from Virginia to Arizona, and so we've decided to eat our festive meal at Cracker Barrel. Don't feel sorry for us. There will be NO dishes to wash and a lobby full of gifts to enjoy, but most of all we will feast and be grateful to God for blessing us with good friends over the years. We are truly grateful. Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!
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NOVEMBER 11, 2008 - VETERANS DAY
"Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." (from Revelation 21)
For some reason Veteran's Day has touched me more deeply this year. It might be because as I was cleaning out my briefcase, I came across a paper that I'd stuck between other files months ago when I'd discovered it among my father's things. It was his application for compensation form from the WWII Bonus Fund of the State of Indiana which he had filed in 1952 as he sought funding for his new business venture. My cousin had sent me the file as he was cleaning out his own father's belongs, and he thought I might want my dad's information. Not knowing exactly what to do with it, and not wanting to destroy it, I did what so many of us do when undecided, I filed it away and just came across it this morning, on of all days, Veteran's Day. It says, among things, that my dad enlisted in the Army on Aug. 31, 1942 and that he was discharged on November 29, 1945 (almost 53 years ago now.) There is little else of interest on the paper, but I wonder what horrors he must have witnessed and experienced during those three and a half years spent entirely in France, Luxembourg and Belgium. They changed the course of his life, but he seldom, if ever, spoke to me or anyone else in the family about them. I think most veterans are a lot like that. War so affected them they were determined to look ahead, not behind, when they returned from the battlefields. And what a blessed teaching that is for us. The best is yet to be, in part, by their sacrifices. I miss you dad. Thank you for doing your part. Truly, "the first things have passed away." Be at peace.
November 4, 2008 - VOTING FOR DONUTS AND COFFEE
"Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see -how good God is!" (Psalm 34:8)
ELECTION DAY is finally here! Vote! I did, very early this morning, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, just a few hundred yards from the voting station here at St. Matthew's. May both saints favor us with grace and wisdom! Heard on the radio on my way to vote that Krispie Kreame Donuts is giving a free donut today if you have your "I voted" sticker affixed to your clothing. Not to be outdone, Starbucks is giving away free cups of coffee to both voters and those-who-haven't-yet-voted. As I recall, both outlets are quite near each other on SR 26.... I'm tempted, but is it good stewardship to drive 25 miles to Lafayette for the "pay off"? Nobody there in the hospital to visit either..... Maybe I should be content to know my vote cast here in Frankfort was "digested" into the system regardless of the potential incentives. God is good wherever we are, and so are the donuts. I think he is pleased whenever we cast our vote and even more pleased when we follow it with words turned into deeds. So, hold the coffee for me, Starbucks. I'll get there eventually, but I'll pay for it (unless, of course, I earn over $250,000 a year, in which case I'll spread the wealth....") OK, I shouldn't have written that last line, but I'm still craving a donut....
November 3, 2008 - SLACKING OFF
"The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; only the one who has little business can become wise." (Ecclesiasticus 38:24-24)
Good Protestant that I am, I rarely, if ever, read from "the hidden books", the Apocrahpa, recognized by our Catholic and Anglican friends, but not accepted by us as holy canon. Still, I am a "sucker" for picking up free literature in churches and last Friday, while Teresa and I enjoyed a noontime organ concert at Christ Church Cathedral in Indy, I picked up a copy of "Forward Day By Day", an Episcopalian-leaning devotional offered on their literature table. Hey, it was free! Anyway, yesterday's reading left me pondering why I didn't remember having read before these verses from Ecclesiastes (in our Bible), only to read more carefully that it comes from Ecclesiasticus (in their Bible)! Have I lost you? Anyway, as I read the passage I was struck by how enamored I am of busyness, and the fact that our culture places such a high value on multitasking, that nobody is ever going to tell you to put silence and sillness on your "to do" list for the day. I don't, and sadly I feel guilty when I'm "not doing anything". Yesterday was one of those days. There were no pressing issues in the office, no one to be visited in the hospital, no deadline to meet, no counseling, no nothing. I puttered around, straightening up my desk, and I ended up making a new list of everything I have to do today! How wise was that? God speaks to me in a variety of ways, even from scripture my tradition doesn't count as holy sacred. I allowed myself to feel guilty because I wasn't be "productive". How about you? Ever "slack off" and find yourself renewed? Or feeling guilty?
OCTOBER 30, 2008
"Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing." (Psalm 34:9)
Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I guess I have enough scary things pass through my days that I'm not much enthused about still more spooky happenings lurking about. Still, I enjoy watching the little ones dress up and parade through the neighborhoods with trick or treat bags bulging with candy. That said, I'm much more at peace celebrating "All Saints Day" this weekend, that holy day in which we light our candles and remember our loved ones, "saints" in the faith, who have inspired us over the years. I may forget to put flowers on my parents' graves each Memorial Day in the spring, but I never forget them at All Saints Day. They lit my darkeness with faith and hope for many years, and gave me the spark of light at my birth. With the whole company of the faithful, they provide the light of faith that guides the Church onward in these dark days. I saw on TV that this Daylight Saving season comes to an end, mercifully, this coming Saturday night, right on holy Day we call "All Saints". This year has been the longest season we observed "saving" time, but here on the western outpost of the Eastern Time Zone, we awake to the darkest of mornings each day. The brighter morning can not come soon enough. So, take off your masks and let the light shine in. What stirs your memories in this season? Who are the folks, living or dead, who linger close in these days? Whom do you gather with? Who or what haunts you? How do your memories help inspire your path ahead? Shine on! Those who fear him lack for nothing.
OCTOBER 22, 2008 - STAFF MEETING NOTES
"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands - o prosper the work of our hands!" (Psalm 90:17)
We have a great church staff at St. Matthew, but our weekly staff meetings do wander a bit. This morning Pastor Z opened with a devotional thought from "Jeopardy", in which we all "lost" our money. This followed my account of the "Great Horse Escape" (see entry below). Not to be outdone, Betty Lou, our ever faithful organist, noted that as she drives to work she notices that squirrels darting across the road always run from right to left in front of her car, which led to the obvious questions about how they get back from left to right, or do they never come "home to roost"? In spite of our diversions, God does love us as a church staff, and we believe he does "prosper the work of our hands" as well as our minds and hearts. We may wander off the subject but He brings us back and calls us to attention. Not only does he draw our prayers to include horses and squirrels and Jeopardy contestants (and an ocassional reference to Dancing with the Star performers unfairly tossed off the show), He centers us on the work "at hand" here at St. Matthew and in Frankfort. May His favor fall on us forever.
OCTOBER 22, 2008 - A HORSE IS A HORSE....
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations." (Psalm 90:1)
There's no place like home. After two weeks on the road, Teresa and I are glad to be back in the heartland, even though it's rural. That we live in a rural community was brought home to me this morning about 7:30AM. As I approached the church, I noticed five Frankfort police cruisers (with lights flashing) circling around our parking lot. Afraid to enter (or exit), I watched from a safe distance, fearing a break-in, posible murder scene, domestic violence encounter, lost preschooler search, etc. You can imagine how amazed I was when I saw an errant horse galloping across the front lawn in the general direction of St. Mary's parking lot, five cruisers in hot pursuit. After a brief graze on the Catholic grass, he cantered back to the Methodist field. When last seen he was off to the YMCA and the police were still "on his tail". Later on I learned the poor creature had gotten loose from the county fairgrounds or TPA park. Fortunately nobody was hurt in the race, but it did remind me that all God's creatures, even horses, need a place to call home. Ecumenical grass is good for all of us. I think that's the way God intends for us to roam in his fields.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 - ON VACATION (1)
"The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)
Gosh, America is beautiful! Driving 'cross country, Teresa and I are amazed at the creative hand of God. We may mark progress by stops at gas stations, McDonald's (which now has gourmet coffee at lattes, cappacinos and mochas), interstate rest stops, and toll booths, but in-between, ah, what a majestic land we inhabit! We loved the Blue Grass and thoroughbred horses grazing in KY, the wildness of West Virginia (these are mountain folk!) and the colonial history of Richmond and Virginia. But, most of all, we love seeing our kids and grandkids (OK, more the grandkids than the kids), and they are the crowning proclamation of God's handiwork! Tiny little Mason (now a month old), ocassionally opens his little blue eyes to behold grandpa and grandma. Big sister Gracie is the charmer who knows her AWANA verses backwards and forwards (something preacher Grandpa can't do.) Most of all, Teresa and I bow before our Lord in gratitude for his abundant blessings to us in beholding both land and family. We don't deserve it, but he keeps on filling our cups to overflowing. So, we're off to kindergarten for lunch with Gracie today, then kiss Mason and his mommy and daddy once more before heading south to Atlanta and a visit with my sister and her husband. I did momentarily think about worship at St. Matthew yesterday, but the Lord reminded me that I am on vacation and that Pastors Zach and Emmet are His handiwork too. Just don't get too comfortable without me. I'll be back!
SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 - DISTRACTED
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
It happened to me today on my way to McDonald's. I got distracted. With Teresa occupied in Lafayette at the orthodontist, she instructed me to cook for myself or do "whatever" for lunch. "Whatever" was simpler, so I darted out of the church parking lot on my way to get my Double Cheeseburger (without ketchup or mustard), and when the car stopped I realized I was in the parking lot of Wendy's, two fast food places to the west of the Golden Arches. How did I get there? I must have been distracted, but it left me puzzled. In this my last-day-before-vacation rush to get everything done at work and home, I am slipping. Too many thoughts are swirling in my head, and too many things are on my "to do" list. How sad! The truth is that in my distraction I could have done far worse things than end up in the wrong parking lot. The embarrassing thing was that as I walked back to McDonald's, I passed two St. Matthew couples at Wendy's who must have been wondering where their pastor was wandering. The spiritually depressing thing is that, instead of following Paul's admonition, I was focusing in on things of "lesser worth" and certainly neither noble or lovely or admirable. Just busy work. While Wesley might be proud of my desire to do all that I can for the Kingdom, I think he would be disappointed that I filled my work with less than praiseworthy endeavors. Anyway, convicted yet again, I ate my cheeseburger with a greater desire to focus on the better rather than on the bun. And tomorrow is vacation! Maybe I'll be less distracted on the beach. Let Pastor Zach put it all together. The Wendy's crowd may be amazed if he parks there too!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 - GRUMBLING ON I-65
"The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness." (Exodus 16:2)
Well, I'm not the "whole congregation", but I did my share of complaining the last two days on our way to and from and around Chicago. We'd planned the two day get-away to "get away" for a bit and to visit with our youngest one who flew in from Phoenix for a business convention. Mother Nature, though, had other ideas, and our normal two hour trip to the South Side ended up being a three and a half hour - stalled - in - traffic - snarlfest along US 41. Seems all the rain last weekend flooded the rivers and forced IDOT to close Interstate 65 from Remington to the Toll Road, and the Toll Road to the state line with Illinois. Talk about a headache! I bellyached the last 45 miles, never once thinking of all the families displaced by the flooding, nor the homes destroyed, nor the misery endured. I just complained because I was being inconvenienced. Confession aside, God opened my eyes. Taking the "back roads" Teresa and I discovered communities we had only seen before on maps. Shady streets hugging the lake under perfect blue skies lulled us from complaint to praise. We stopped at a Catholic shrine to St. Jude (saint of hopless cases and complaining Methodist pastors), and ate a Chicago-style Hot Dog in a "greasy hole in the wall " near the U of C. campus. Still lost, we stumbled across the Jane Addams Hull house museum (Jane Addams, the social activist reformer who was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize), and then we drove by Frank Lloyd Wright's homes in Oak Park. And we even got to see the Cub fans pour into and out of Wriggley Field as they beat the Brewers in 12 innings to bring their magic number to "2". Sure, it took us 5 and 1/2 hours to get back to Frankfort, but the Loop's skyline at dusk is breathtaking. Complaints aside, God is to be complimented on his work and his creatures. Go Cubs!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 - DON'T PARK IN A FIRE ZONE
""As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God." (Romans 14:12)
OK, I did it. I parked in the fire zone in front of Marsh's .... but it wasn't my fault! It was raining, and Teresa needed to be dropped off at the door. I sat in the car the whole time (despite the fact that two other cars wanted this same illegal space.) Do I feel justified in doing so? Well, I had pretty much convinced myself it was an "ok" thing to do (what with the rain and all), when a friendly St. Matthew member tapped on my window and gently scolded, "It's not nice to park in a fire zone." It was Paul Whitaker (wouldn't you know?), and I suspected immediately that he was just jealous he didn't get to the fire zone first. Thinking about it now, I realize how often I park my soul in spiritually tempting spaces too (and well marked off by God's Word.) I do it with all of the sincerity and conviction of my illegal parking at Marsh's, justifying it on the situation at hand and convincing myself that I can handle the closeness to temptation without getting burned. How foolish! In a world where God is always at hand, why do I shut him out when it's convenient for me to overlook his rules? The apostle Paul says each of us will be held accountable. Paul (the Whitaker) reminds me his namesake means business. Watch out for me at Marsh's, but remember that "fire zones" are marked off for a purpose. Don't get burned!
SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 - DON'T BE A "DNA"!
Our Bishop always writes a great E-pistle to his pastors every week. Today's was especially meaningful to me, and so I pass it on to you as well:
I love the start of football season – the college games, the NFL games, the reports on Sports Center, the sports talk shows – all of it. I usually go to two or three games a year, and I like the bands, the pageantry, the enthusiasm, and the whole atmosphere. Football is a great spectator sport, but Christianity is not. Sitting on the sidelines watching football is fun, but sitting on the sidelines of our Christian faith is not. Watching others play football and cheering (or criticizing them) is OK, but being a Christian is not about watching others live their faith. Christianity calls us to get involved, to participate, and to be team players. Think about it … when Jesus called his disciples, he called them to join him, follow him, learn from him, and share the ministry with him. Jesus also called together a team, a group of disciples who were trained to work together. It is very significant that the first four disciples Jesus called were two sets of brothers (Andrew and Simon, James and John) who were used to working together. In fact, many scholars believe that all four of them worked together in a fishing business. At least we know that they were sets of brothers, family, and a “team” in many ways. It is as if Jesus started his ministry emphasizing teamwork, cooperation, and what we now call Christian community. To be a part of such teamwork and community is far different from sitting on the sidelines, going to church to watch the pastor do ministry, or being just a passive believer. Christianity is not a spectator sport. So enjoy watching the football games, but don’t be let the box score indicate next to your name DNP (did not participate). Amen, Bishop Mike, Amen... AUGUST 30, 2008 (Part 2) - A MIRACLE ON 8292008
"Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things." (from Psalm 72)
Let me explain about the "colossal" cinnamon coffee cake splurge (see August 30, 2008 Part one below...) I have another good excuse for selecting the supersized variety. Teresa and I were on "pins and needles" all day yesterday while awaiting the birth of grandchild #2 in faraway Richmond, Virgina. We were glued to the cell phones for updates of daughter-in-law Kellie's progress in delivering. As the day grew older, we grew hungrier. It's only fair that we bought the slightly larger than life size of the cake. But the best part was eating the slice at 3 AM this morning while I savored the picture of wee little Mason Fisher neatly delivered on the cell phone pix. Seems dad had been so consumed with the delivery, he grew a little pale and had to be escorted out of the delivery room. Now a slice of our cinnamon coffee cake might have been a good thing for him about then.... Teresa says we males know nothing! True enough, but God knows everything, and we praise his name for his wondrous things, like showering us with the blessings of the gift of life. Welcome, Mason, we've been waiting for you. Grandpa has lots of treats in store for you and sister Gracie, but don't count on the colossal cinnamon coffee cake just yet. We already ate it. Stick to milk.
AUGUST 30, 2008 (Par 1) - COLOSSAL CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE
"Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." (Matthew 15:10b)
It's Labor Day weekend, a time for family reunions to close the summer, but the Fishers are alone (again!) One child is in Phoenix, another in Indy (working all weekend), and the third is having a baby in Virginia (some excuse!); thus, no cookouts, no picnics, no hugging the kids and grandaughter, and no celebrating with Teresa's parents who can't leave home, so it's just the two of us in Frankfort. Did I mention we're alone?
To salve our wounded hearts, we've planned some nature hikes, bike rides, book readings, and DVD watchings during the long weekend, and we do enjoy being together (which is a very good thing considering the clan diaspora.) But to fill the inner hunger for family, we also made a stop by Kroger's yesterday, and in the process thought we would splurge and buy us each a doughnut (or two) for breakfast this morning. Somehow, enroute to the doughnut counter, we got stopped by the glittering array of baked goods before us, and we ended up buying a cinnamon coffee cake. Only later did we notice the tag said, "Colossal" cinnamon coffee cake (well, it may look colossal but it is very thin....) We had a piece for dessert last night, and I noticed Teresa had cut herself another wedge before going to bed. This I noticed while I was cutting myself a tiny piece at 3 AM this morning. Then for breakfast, we each had another slice. I confess all of this, not because I'm especially pleased with my self-control, but because I realize sometimes we stuff ourselves with "stuff" when the bigger hole to fill is not physical hunger but human connections. Thank God we have each other, and thank God we have our family (although far away.) Thank God for reminding me that it's OK to fill the stomach, but to be awfully cautious about what comes out of my mouth. Confession over, I think I'll just have one more tiny slice before lunch. Who's counting the calories?
AUGUST 24, 2008 - OPEN UP!
OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS ... (Except for the Zucchini)
O taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:1)
As I mentioned during worship recently, two months into our move to Frankfort, we have been showered with the blessings of your summer gardens: green beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, green peppers and the early fall apples. Thank you! Praise God for it all (except the zucchini!) Somewhere in my growing up, the zucchini harvests overtook me and ever since I’ve not been very welcoming to the squash family. I even have it on good report that United Methodist pastors lock their car doors during zucchini season!
We don’t, however, lock the doors of the church. In fact, we’re expecting company this month! During September all 1300 United Methodist Churches in Indiana are preparing to “open hearts, open minds, and open doors” in an extravagantly gracious Hoosier welcome to friends and neighbors in our communities. Be on the lookout for our 30 second TV commercials that will air during the month that highlight our belief in God’s marvelous goodness. One particular spot begins with a seeker hearing the words, "I loved you before you were born. . ." Based upon the first chapter of Jeremiah, this message is about the prevenient grace of God. It speaks of transformation by the power of Christ’s resurrection. The viewer is told that he or she can start over again no matter how low they have fallen, and the spot ends with the assurance that all persons are welcome in our home, “brought to you by the people of the United Methodist Church”. Makes me proud to be a Methodist!
So dust off the pews, sweep the front steps, fill up the coffee pot, and tune your voices as September arrives. And don’t forget to pray that not only will our neighbors flock in to hear the Good News, we too will be invigorated by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. From the choirs to the Sunday School, thorough the youth group, and echoing in the pre-school, from the walkers who walk our hallways, to the thespians who ready our fall plays, and the mission committee who is busy sewing up school kits for Operation Classroom, let’s give it all for the glory of God here at St. Matthew. Everybody and everything is welcome (….except for the zucchini!) Enjoy the harvest!
AUGUST 15, 2008 - QUOTABLES
Having been married to a librarian for 36 years, I've been to a lot of libraries..... My wife is quick to point out that having been married to a minister for 36 years, she has been to a lot of churches..... We are doubly blessed! Anyway, let's just say we are a "reading" family. We read voraciously, and there is always a stack of books from the library (or the church) around the house. As I read from the stack, I try and scribble down quotes with which I'm especially impressed (I would have written that sentence, "quotes I'm especially impressed with", but the librarian person would have called me out for poor grammar.) Anyway.... while she keeps journals, I scribble down quotes. I share a couple from this week's readings. I pondered them.
*OLYMPIC FAITH
Bear with all, even as the Lord does with you. Support all in love. Give yourself to prayer without ceasing. Bear the infirmities of all, as being a perfect athlete (in the Christian life): where the labor is great, the gain is all the more. --Ignatius of Antioch.
I took this quote from ORDINARY GRACES, Christian Teachings on the Interior Life. We keep a copy in the bathroom off the kitchen in the parsonage in case you are ever there. *(I think I deserve at least a Bronze Medal for gleaning this during the Olympics!)
*RECIPES
To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world. --Karl Barth.
*I took this quote from the bottom of a recipe for making a vegetarian entree as listed in a cookbook produced by Orthodox monks. This is true. Remember, the librarian is an eclectic reader. I just "sample" some of her literary tastes. When I went to get the exact title from "her stack of books", I realized she had already turned in her stack to the library and gotten a new bunch.
What can I affirm? Reading is fundamental, and so is faith. (I just made that up but it's true, isn't it?)
AUGUST 12, 2008 - A WALK IN THE WOODS
On Fridays Teresa and I take to the woods where we often spend a few hours hiking local nature preserves. I know it doesn't sound very exciting, but we're not going for "excitement", we're going for the solitude and peace, experiencing the beauty of God's creation all about us. So, when we moved south from Northeast Indiana, we fully expected to have to search for new preserves, and, quite frankly, we doubted that the flat cornfields around here had much to offer. We were wrong (again!) Right here in Clinton County is the beautiful (and very well hidden) Eunice Hamilton Bryan Nature Preserve, just a "stone's throw" from Frankfort. The guidebook says that this expanse of forest is really a tree "island" refuge in the midst of an extensive agricultural belt. The forest has several wet depressions and high points that support a great variety of hadwoods and wildflowers in over 29 acres. I might add that the forest also hosts a nice population of mosquitoes who seemed delighted that we had come to visit. Swatting them aside, we were welcomed by a flock (and I mean a whole bunch) of blue jays and cardinals that flew over and around us as we wandered through the woods. We left refreshed (and scratching) and blessed once more by the delightful surprises of living in Clinton County. The "book" says there are more places to explore around here too, so don't hesitate to join us. With my map-reading skills, I can get us there. Remember, all roads pass by "The Milky Way". All of God's creation shouts His Name!
AUGUST 7, 2008 - WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?
Yesterday we had a staff retreat and centered in on the theme of change, guided by the book and video “Who Moved My Cheese?” This light-hearted reflection on how we process change in our lives (and change is all around us) got me to thinking that the good folk at St.Matthew Frankfort are going through a lot of change right now, and I’m in the middle of it being the “new man on the block”. For the past month I’ve been concentrating on all the changes Teresa and I have been making (new church, new town, new staff, new circle of parishioners, new ways of getting from here to there, etc., that I’ve sometimes forgotten the big change the church family is going through getting used to us! Once again I find myself thinking “it’s all about me”, instead of seeing the bigger picture of how changing pastors (and church families) is a work in progress involving all of us. So let me make it clear from my perch of being here one whole month, I think the St. Matthew family is doing one terrific job of affirming us and the whole “ball of wax” that goes with pastoral changing. I’m grateful to God they are willing to go in the “maze” of seeking “new cheese” while celebrating their faithful heritage of pastors-gone-on-before-me. God bless ‘em all! And if all of this is not making sense, I’ve got an extra copy of the book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” I’m happy to share it. It’s good reading for a summer evening.
JULY 31, 2008 - OF POISON IVY AND VBS
Why is it that good and bad seem to go together more often than I wish? VBS week is always a faith-booster for me. When I see the kids, I remember the fun, the songs, the excitement, the enthusiasm of those faith building years when I was a little one. And these hundred kids at St. Matthew are full of vim and vigor. My faith has been punched up a level by their excitement. So why does God allow me to have a full blown, miserable case of POISON IVY on this hottest week of the summer? Now if I were God, I'd let Pastor Jake sail on with the "Beach Party" theme, unencumbered by the constant itching that ruins the overall effect. Yes, I know it was my choice to weed where the ivy flourished, but somehow I thought God would make me immune from the consequences. After all, didn't He know I was helping at VBS? God, I'm discovering, works best with more humble folk than this pastor. It is His gracious choice to let me weed wherever I choose but to live with the consequences of my choosing. Good and bad flourish together on this earth. Thank heavens He loves me enough to allow me to learn (ever so slowly) by my mistakes, and to remind me that I'm never alone in the poison. And, thanks be to God, He allowed the good medical folk to invent Prednisone. Party on, dude!
JULY 29, 2008 - WE LIVE LONGER!
One of our well loved retired pastors in Indiana, Riley Case, usually takes "dead aim" on how we can become better United Methodist Christians in the world. But today I was surprised when he passed on the exciting news that we United Methodists may be shrinking in numbers but we're really quite healthy! Read on....
JULY 24, 2008 - "I ONCE WAS LOST" ....AND STILL AM!
Frankfort is not such a big place that one can get lost in it easily, but I do. Even though I wander around with a map in the car, people give me directions by landmark, not by mapgrid. "Go to the Milky Way," they say, "and then turn toward the Armory". Or, "it's much quicker if you take the Michigantown Blacktop Road", but try as I might, I can't find that street on the map (and I have a suspicion that name would be way too long to spell out on a street sign.) Still, there's something comforting in realizing that folks know their location by sight and experience rather than by numbers. It personalizes the place. I guess that's why I'm so crazy about the "Church", not just St. Matthew, but the whole family of God. "Church" is that wonderful place where we recognize each other not by the numbers on the street (or counted in the pew) but by sight and touch, by laughter and tears, by hugs and prayers. For me, "church" is found wherever God's people claim His love and reflect it onward in Gospel mission, be that sipping a milkshake at "The Milky Way" or listening to a friend in front of the National Cigar Company (yes, I found that too!) Being found is not arriving at a destination but knowing you are loved on the journey. Sensing my "lostness" one church family has kindly loaned me their *"Tomtom", complete portable widescreen GBS car navigation system" (programmable in both English and Spanish) for my driving pleasure. Once I learn to program it, I will be on my way. I'm grateful for their help but suspect I'll continue to wander... The computer generated voice is soothing, but the One who knows me best always heads me toward home safely. And by the way, I'm always available to meet at "the Sugar Shack". Some kindly person directed me there by saying "turn left right after the railroad tracks and keep on going".
JULY 21, 2008 - HIS EYE IS ON THE CARDINALS
Moving into a new parsonage is always a work in progress and we are well into the process here in Frankfort. The good folk of St. Matthew polished the place till it shone before we moved in, but the transforming of it from a house into a home is my wife's gift. Over the years, she has lovingly arranged our valuables (and we're talking about memories here, not money) into a place of peace for the two of us, and for our friends who stop by, and for the kids who always seem to be coming home again.... On the front door is the plaque that she has hung on four previous parsonages: Bless all who enter here. And that's the way we want it to be experienced and enjoyed. Of course, "feeling at home" is a work in progress too, and just yesterday we realized that Tony, our 17 year old tomcat (a veteran of four of our nine previous moves) is adjusting too. The parsonage has a lovely fenced in patio area with shade trees and plenty of space for the feline to roam in safety. Unfortunately, for Tony, there is a pair of cardinals who have also made it a home (long before we arrived). They are not pleased. Did I say they are not pleased? That's an understatement, and they have noisily reminded Tony he is not welcome in their yard. They are relentless in their warnings to the point that we really wish they would call a truce. I feel a bit sorry for them, for poor Tony is nearly deaf, and to be generous, I don't think he would have noticed the cardinals had "Mrs." Cardinal not swooped right in front of his failing eyes last night. Now he knows the score, and this morning he charged outside with fire in his eyes. "Mr." Cardinal takes the long range approach and sits quietly on the fence as if in deep thought (or misery at the realization that his world is never going to be the same again). I know it's probably not gonna happen, but I really wish the animal kingdom in our back yard could just get along. And then I remember that God must be thinking that about all of us too.
JULY 17, 2008 - GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ME YET
Hello folks,
If you haven't already guessed it, this pastor is "under construction", a "work in progress", or to use Methodist jargon, "on the road to perfection". Being appointed to this historic church in the North Indiana Conference is an exciting (and somewhat scary) and sobering and humbling experience for me. I stand in the line of a great "cloud of witnesses" who have gone on before me as beloved pastors, and I am grateful for their heritage.
Most of all, I thank God for trusting me to pastor, despite my "warts". I fall on the grace of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who saves both you and me. I look forward to journeying in the faith with you. Check back often for blog updates as I make my way among you. For those of you who are also new to St.Matthew and/or to Frankfort, come join me on the road. A good place for me to begin is with this prayer from Thomas Merton:
MY LORD GOD,
I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me down the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen. (Thomas Merton) |
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