Gift of God's Grace

A lot of times when I sit down to write these reflections, I honestly have no idea what to say or write.  I will ask someone for a topic if they stop by my office, look at the lectionary for that day, I have even phoned a friend.  More often than not, I use my own life and questions I have at the time and use those as a springboard into a larger topic.  This week I wanted to speak on something that may be difficult for all of us to do because it involves those not so great times in our lives.  I think it is pretty safe to assume that we all have had these times; times when we are separated from God.  Whether it is by our own choosing or our reaction to those situations placed before us.

In C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, he describes heaven and hell as these sort of city like places.  Where as you become closer to God, you move closer to the center of the city of Heaven; and as you move further away from God, you keep moving beyond the outskirts of the city of hell.

I am talking about those times when we have gone past the last house on the block and settled in on the outskirts of hell. 

While I was thinking about this concept, a certain verse stuck out to me.  I remembered thinking it was rather peculiar even when I heard it read in church over a year ago.  2 Samuel 11:1-15.  This is the story of King David and Bathsheba.  I invite all of you to take the time and read the passage as it but if you are unable to right now, here is a quick recap.  David sees Bathsheba bathing from afar.  He calls for her to come to his home.  She becomes pregnant with his child.  Both David and Bathsheba were married to other people already.  David tries to have Bathsheba’s husband return from war to spend the night at home.  Uriah refuses.  David sets up for Uriah to die in battle. 

Wow.  You can’t make this stuff up!  I remember sitting there thinking, what message could this possibly have!?

When you have questions like this regarding something you hear during a church service it is normally a good thing to read the Collect for that day.

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In this story from 2 Samuel, King David, God’s chosen leader of the Israelites has become lost and confused.  He has turned his back on God.  According to Lewis, he is living in his own personal hell.

I think this is a place most of us have experienced.  It is never a fun or pleasant thing to reflect on these times or the circumstances as to which we are there, but I think it is something we can all relate too.

Now, shifting gears for just a moment.  Have you seen Michelangelo’s painting of the Creation of Adam?

There we go.  I only want to focus on the hands for this part.  Did you know Michelangelo got into A LOT of trouble for this painting?  Can you see why?

In the painting, God is reaching, almost straining to reach Adam.  Meanwhile, Adam just kind of nonchalantly holds his hand out.  At the time, not too many people in the Vatican were pleased with this visual.

Now, back to David and 2 Samuel.  Sometimes, we all may wander and turn our back to God.  I can say it has happened to me personally and just about everybody I know!  It is part of being human! 

It is during these times that we experience one of the greatest gifts of God!  While we may turn our backs and nonchalantly hold our hands out, maybe we don’t even have our hands out at all.  During those times, God never stops reaching.  God never turns a back us.  For it is during these times that we are blessed to receive this great gift of God’s grace!  Sometimes it is not an easy gift to receive.  It requires that we humble ourselves.  Yet, it is a gift that has already been given to us.  It is a gift that is being given to us.  It is a gift that will be given to us.  How will you accept it?

The Silent Evangelist

This past Friday I was one of the lucky 20,000 people that witnessed our very own Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Los Angeles Floppers, I mean Clippers, to move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs.  As I was leaving the Forum I saw something that was a daily nuisance for me as I walked to class in college. 

Evangelists.

I slowed down a little because I always find it interesting to hear what they have to say.  As usual, it was filled with anger and judgment as I began to chuckle and walk away.  It is always entertaining to hear some of the things they have to say.

This morning a heard something on the radio that made me think of these evangelists that I encountered near the Forum.  Westboro Baptist Church has announced that they will be protesting Graceland.  According to them, Elvis is an evil drug addict and a false idol, which makes Graceland hell.

As Episcopalians, we often times do not focus much on evangelism.  We shake our heads at the people who do the things mentioned above.  “They make a bad name for all Christians” we say.

One great thing about being Episcopalian though is I can say that I strongly disagree with not only the way these evangelists go about preaching the Gospel but also the interpretation of the Bible that they are preaching.  I think it would be safe to assume that I am not alone in saying that either.  Now I am no scholar or academic theologian but my understanding of the Gospel is a little different, a little more loving.

However, all of this made me think about what it is we are called to do as Christians.  We often simplify down to a simple set of dos and don’ts.  Do- treat others nice, respect your parents Don’t- lie, steal, murder.  Is that all it takes to be Christian then?  Why then do people all over the world who do not identify as Christian also follow these rules?  Does simply being a person with good morals make you Christian?

In a previous post I wrote about how that first golden rule often gets glazed over.  We focus a lot on the love your neighbors as yourself.  However, that first one that says love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might!

It cannot just be simplified into a set of rules or guidelines!  If we love Him then it means so much more than just following orders.  The definition of a sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.  We all know the 7 recognized sacraments already but if we change how we think about what it means to be a Christian, change the thought of I should do this to I WANT to do this, imagine what that would mean for you in your spiritual life!  You have changed from simply playing the part to being a living sacrament of God!  Your life would be a visible sign of the glorious and wonderful Grace of God!

What else are we asked to do in our lives as Christians…

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Isaiah 6:8

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying ,”Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I!  Send me.”

If you look, it clearly says that we are called to be evangelists.

But I don’t want to stand on the corner yelling at people!

“Preach the gospel of the Lord at all times, and when necessary, use words.”  St. Francis of Assisi

You do not have to be the person condemning and yelling at others to be an evangelist.  You can simply be you.  Being an apostle to others, lending a hand to someone who is down, listening to someone who has had a rough day, there are countless ways that you can carry out this mission in a positive way.

This past week we talked about ministering.  How do you minister to others?  How have people ministered to you?  This year, the ministering I have received from the wonderful families of this congregation has blown me away. 

I am utterly speechless as I look back and think of the group of youth that go out every month to prepare food for More than a Meal, the group that gave up a Saturday to do yard work at Shady Grove Elementary, seeing how supportive everyone is especially when bad things happen in their lives or the lives of their friends. 

So this week, the challenge is to go out and be an evangelist.

If necessary, use words.

How do you minister?

Who is your role model?

Who do you look up to?

Who has been there for you through thick and thin?

Who calls you out on the stupid things you do and is honest with you, but in that caring way, you know?

Who is your mentor?

Sometimes using that word is not the one we choose to use when we think about this stuff.  A lot of times we choose not to even really think these things.  Because these deep emotional thoughts and feelings reveal vulnerability…and that is something that is just not accepted in today’s society.

But actually think about it. 

Think of someone who you would consider a mentor…

Maybe you are thinking of one person maybe you are thinking of a couple.

I think of a lot of different people.  At various times in my life when I needed someone there, someone always seemed to be there.  More often than not, I didn’t even know it.  But looking back I am so grateful of all of them.

Can you think back to times like that, when you felt like everything was going wrong and you didn’t’t know where to turn, and out of nowhere someone is there.  It can and more often than not is just a tiny little gesture that helps in a big big way. 

I have been very very blessed and fortunate to have wonderful Youth Ministers growing up.  Paul Canady, Trone Sawyer, Beth Powell, Katie Brownyard, John Burruss, and many others that I knew through various events around the Diocese.  Many of whom I remain dear friends with to this day.  And am now colleagues with these people that I looked up for so long!

One person who has always seemed to be there and have the right thing to say, even when that thing may not have been what I wanted to hear, is Trip Gintz.  Many of you may know him from St. John’s or from Episcopal Day Camp.  As a youngster, I remember being in 6^th grade and going on a rafting trip with Trip (ha, trip with Trip) with him as my leader.  About two years ago he asked me to chaperone a mission trip to the Gulf of Mexico with him.  I made the mistake of letting him know that going into Youth Ministry was something that I had been considering.  I had gone from youth, to more like a student.  We are now peers.  Colleagues.  Soon we will be planning another rafting trip…together.

That’s a pretty neat story Matthew, but what’s the point.

When I was in 6^th grade, I never thought that these experiences would have such a lasting impression on me.  When I was I confused 22 year old who had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and you casually say, “Yea, I mean I’ve thought about it.” When asked about youth ministry, I seriously doubt Trip thought the simple gesture of asking me to chaperone would confirm, answer, and raise many many questions about my future.  All these things seem like such random events but in the long they all come together and make us who we are.  Everything that happens has an effect on us and slowly shapes us and molds into the people that we will become.

Now think back to those people that you said are your mentors.  Those are the people that are shaping who you are.  You may not even realize it.  Perhaps it has already happened and you don’t even know it.

Want to hear the scary part…

Somewhere out there, someone is looking up to you as a mentor.  Kind of makes you think twice about how you treat everybody, doesn’t it?

Someone out there, someone is looking up to you, as a mentor, a role model…

How are you mentoring to them?  You can be a positive influence or a negative one.   That is called ministering.

Normally we think a minister is just someone with a collar.  But you my friend, are a minister as well.  A definition for a minister is a person serving as an agent for another…

We are all ministers.  Everyone of us.  You may be a positive role model in someone’s life or may be treat someone poorly and talk about them behind their back.  Either way you are ministering to them.  Good or bad, you are ministering.

How are you ministering to others?

You never know, it may mean more to others than you would ever think.

Knock, knock

Knock, knock.

I'm guessing most of you just thought, "Who's there?"

Some of you probably even said it aloud.  I know I did as I typed it.

Also, I think this sometimes can be what our relationship with God is like, “Knock, knock…”

But is anyone even there to respond?  Do we even hear the knocking?

While I do think God has a fantastic sense of humor (if you don’t believe me just look at the platypus.  I mean…come on)

However, in this case, I don’t think it is really a joke.

This past Sunday I became upset as I was sitting in church.  I found myself becoming fidgety.  I was going through checklists in my head of what I had to do following the service.  Making plans for later that day.  Thinking of what I had to do that week.  Taking notes on my service leaflet.

I was there.  But my mind was a million other places.  I was simply going through the motions.  When I realized this, I hurt.

How often does this happen to you? 

How often are we fully present?

In our Sunday School classes, we often times use a video series by Rob Bell called NOOMA.  In one of the videos, Bell is talking about our actions and why we do things.

Why do we go to church?  Why do we do all this stuff?  Who are we doing this for?  What is the point!?

Is it to simply make our parents happy?

Is it so you don’t feel guilty because you didn’t go to church?

How many times do we sit in those pews on Sunday and simply recite from memory these sayings that come so naturally we can knock it out without even using our brain.

We simply regurgitate these prayers…

One that was written by over 300 Bishops and priests at the First Council of Nicaea that outlines our faith!

Another prayer that’s beginning comes directly from Jesus breaking bread with his disciples before being given up for crucifixion.

Another one taught to us by Jesus himself over 2,000 years ago…

Yet, just about every Sunday we can just recite it from memory as if it were the Alphabet Song or Mary had a Little Lamb.

That is not what it is all about!  There has to be more to into than that!

Matthew 15:8 says, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

I did not like this feeling.  I needed to make a change. 

We always seem to be moving through life way to fast, never truly being in the moment.  We do things and say things, but how much of that do we actually mean.  How much of ourselves are actually behind these things we say. 

N.T. Wright has a book called The Lord and his Prayer.  In it he says there are theologians that say that the reason we start the Lord’s Prayer with “we are bold to say” is because the prayer is so perfect that if we say it and truly mean it with our whole heart, then we are completely converted and completed Christian.  Meaning that the Holy Spirit has finished the work that God began.

Of course, this is not true, therefore we are bold to say it.  To come together in the celebration of the grace of God and say this prayer!

But should we so bold to say it emotionless…heartless…

God does not want the empty ritual, God wants our hearts.

Knock, knock…

WoW

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Feed My Lambs...Tend My Sheep

This past Sunday the Gospel reading came to us from John.   John 21:1-19.  A very very interesting story.

Here we have 7 of the disciples, who have gathered in Galilee, just sitting around, hanging out, probably just doing dude stuff.  They find themselves by the sea of Tiberious.  What are they doing?

“Sitting by the dock of the bay…wasting time.”

Preach it Otis!

So we have 7 of the disciples doing nothing and finally Peter is like, “I am going fishing.”  (Yes, that is a direct quote from the Bible.

For anyone who has not gone fishing, it is truly one of the greatest ways of killing time and having a good time.

Well, the other 6 disciples don’t want to be left out so naturally they say, “We will go with you.” (another quote).

Now they were fishing for a long time.  Like all night.  This is not the fishing as we know it today.  They did not simply cast their line, sit back in a comfy chair and nap until they catch something. 

Nope.  This fishing was hard work.  This style of fishing was called cast net fishing.  They would take a net about 20 feet in diameter that had lead weights attached to the borders.  They would then fling this whole weighted net contraption off the side of the boat, very skillfully mind you, because you have to throw it in a way that the whole net spreads out and lands flat on the water.  As the net sinks, the weighted edges come together and trap the fish in the middle.  Then, more often than not, someone had to jump in to catch the net and help lift it back up and into the boat.

That is a lot of work!  Imagine how tied you would be if you did this for an entire night!

Now imagine you did that and you caught nothing!

No fish.  None. Zero. Zilch.

Can you imagine?!  So then, at daybreak, this man is standing on the shore and tells them cast their nets on the other side of the boat.  Naturally, when someone 100 yards off in distance and you’re not sure who it is, you listen to them.  Good thing too, cause that was no ordinary man.  It was the Risen Lord!  This is the third time that Jesus appears to them!  Remarkable!

So skip ahead in the story a little bit, Jesus and the disciples cook the fish and eat breakfast together.  Then Jesus looks to Peter and asks, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

This is a special, very intimate conversation.  If you remember, Simon Peter is his name, however, Jesus called him Peter.  Peter was his nickname.  If you actually go back and look at the origins of the name, it comes from the Greek Petros, which means stone.  Remember when Jesus told Peter that he would the “rock” on which he built his church?  Well, hence his nickname, which is pretty much like calling him “Rocky”.

So in this dialogue, it is the first and only time that Jesus refers to Peter by his full, formal name.  And he asks him, “Do you love me more than these?”

More than what, more than the other disciples?  I don’t think that is what he was referring to.  They had just returned from fishing, the job he left when he began to follow Jesus.  That was his old life.  That was a certain life that he grew up and understood.  After the crucifixion of Jesus, what was he suppose to do? 

He responds, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

“Feed my lambs.”

Jesus asks again, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Again he responds, “Yes Lord; you know that I love you.”

“Tend my sheep.”

A third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Hurt, Peter replies, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

“Feed my sheep….”

Three times he is asked…and it was three times that Peter denied him.

But did you know that the Greek words for “love” that are used in the passage are two different words?

When Jesus asks the first two times, “Do you love me”, he uses the word agape.  A word that means unconditional love.  A love that we don’t fully understand and a concept that we struggle to grasp.  The third time Jesus asks, “Do you love me”, he uses the Greek word filee.  Each time Jesus asks this question, the intensity grows, he use of the word “love” is stronger and stronger.  In his responses Peter says “You know that I love you.”  However, he is using the word fileo.  Also a Greek word for love, but more of a friendship love, more of a loyalty.

Each time Jesus responds.  Feed my lambs.  Tend my sheep.  Feed my sheep.  But what does that mean?

Feed-tend-feed, lambs-sheep-sheep.

That was the order given.  Many people interpret these in different ways.  Some claim this a call of the importance of youth.  Lambs are young sheep.  Feed my lambs.  The first thing we are to do is to look to the young.  Many call Jesus one of the first youth ministers.  He hung out with and preached a lot about youth.  And he, he calls us to feed his lambs.  Tend his sheep.  Feed his sheep.

He ends with this invitation.  An invitation that is still offered to us today.  An invitation we may still struggle with accepting.  But no matter what, it’s there. 

“Feed my lambs. 

Tend my sheep.

Feed my sheep…

Follow me.” 

Worship on Wednesday

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