The Lot of Preaching and Pastoring

One of the problems in being a preacher is that you are always talking to others. Maybe the most frightening thing is that people actually listen to what you say. However, the second scariest thing is that they listen, but do not hear. As a preacher, teacher, and pastor I am willing to accept the fragile truth that I will spend a lot of time talking to people about important matters. I accept the fact that what I say can and often does make an impression on others who are in the course of making important decisions about their lives. It is often disappointing to know that what I say and what people hear can be so very different. I don't mind being quoted but it is rather frustrating to be misquoted. I guess the issue is taking responsibility. I am willing to take responsibility for what I say but I think it is proper to hold others accountable for hearing what is really being said.
Recently, the news reported the story of a young boy who called 911 to report his mother being ill. The operator heard his very young voice and chided him about calling the emergency line. The young boy was doing what his mother had taught him to do. The operator heard him but never really listened. A tragedy resulted. I get continually frustrated with news shows that bring in opposing "talking heads" to allow the discussion to be "fair and balanced". Those who debate the issues never listen to one another. They talk over one another and the resulting gaggle is indecipherable. It seems no one listens. How sad.
As I read the story of Jesus, I am constantly struck by how much he was listened to but how little those most interested in him actually heard him. The disciples were always listening but never understanding. The Pharisees asked tons of questions but couldn't accept his answers and decided to silence him rather than listen to him. God gave us two ears and one mouth. Maybe we should get the hint.

The Future

This past Sunday morning I informed the church of the plans that God has for us. It has been an exciting journey to this point. Here are the details. For nearly a year I have been working toward the idea of continuing my education at the graduate level. After applying to Vanderbilt, Southern Baptist, and Fuller Seminary I received word about two weeks ago that I have been accepted at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena in order to complete a Ph.D program in the field of Homiletics. For more than 20 years I have had two goals in my professional life. One is the subject of the previous blog (being published) and the other was to to Ph.D work. In the span of a couple of months, the Lord has given me both of these goals. I am convinced that God gives us not only what we need but the desires of our hearts, as well.
Joanie and I will be resigning from our pastorate here after 11+ years of service. This is the longest Joanie has ever lived in one place - one house. We will move sometime prior to September to the Pasadena area and spend the next 2-4 years living there as I complete the doctoral program. Joanie has graciously agreed to go to work full-time and support us so that I can be a full-time student. She is an amazing partner. If God works it out I hope to be able to find a way for her to continue her studies during this time and work toward a Master's Degree. I have no idea how that would be possible but we are living by faith and have been for months now. God has already worked out things I thought out of my reach that had passed me by. So, I am of a mind that God can and will do many things we believe to be impossible - even when we are people of faith!
To all who read this and desire to pray for us, we have some specific requests:
1. Pray for the transition time.
2. Pray for a job for Joanie.
3. Pray for a house or apartment to open up that will meet our needs and our budget.
4. Pray for me to be able to learn Hebrew, French and German - all have to be done in the next 15 months.
5. Pray for the continued move of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is an exciting time for us to be alive and following the Lord. Amen.

Finding an "Idea"!

As April is about to dawn, I am reminded that it was about a year ago that I began contemplating the idea of writing a book. Here's the story:
Around this same time I had informally spoken to Joe Allison at Communications and Publishing about the idea of writing. It was during a March meeting of the Ministries Council in Anderson that I found out that One Voice Magazine had just published my very first article. At the time, I was surprised to find that it had been published. They distributed copies of the magazine to the Ministries Council members and I had opened it up to find the article published (these were advanced copies and Joanie told me they were trying to contact me at home at the same time to let me know that it was published). I decided to talk to Joe about writing since this was one of my dreams and goals and had been for many years.
Joe was a great inspiration. He was excited to learn of my interest in writing and inquired about what kind of writing did I want to do - books? magazine articles? devotionals? What was my interest. Not knowing what I was really saying I told him that I wanted to write books. Joe seemed surprised and told me, "I don't have a lot of people who want to write books". He then encouraged me to write but his encouragement was to let me know what it would take. He gave me a sheet of steps to accomplish before I could even consider writing. Research, comparisons with other materials, an expanded table of contents, and hours in front of the computer all lay ahead. What I was facing as I looked at that paper from Joe was . . . an idea. What would I write about? What was my "idea"?
Over the course of the next few weeks and months I contemplated what I would write about. Finally, before we left for Sabbatical, the idea came to me. I decided to write about something that I knew about, something that I had practiced, something that I had done a lot of - I decided to write about preaching. But, what did I have to say about the subject of preaching? What unique idea did I have to present to others who had spent the same or even more time practicing the art of homiletics than I had? What was my "idea"?
It was an idea that arose out of a lifetime of interest in preaching. What was the most unique and compelling idea that I had about preaching that could impact how others viewed their role in the pulpit? Over the course of many years, I have done a few first person, narrative sermons. In every case, the congregation had responded very positively to the presentation. I had donned outfits, used props, made them into more of a theatrical presentation. Never the less, they had been accepted very well. Back in the fall, however, I had attended a conference where a presentation on storytelling had taken place. Interested, I attended a small session with the seminar leader. It was very revealing. For the first time in my life I was being taught basic principles of storytelling. Now, for years I had been told that I was a good storyteller. But, in my limited creative thinking, I had never looked at the art of storytelling from the perspective of those who practice it in libraries, coffee houses, women's groups, VBS programs, storytelling conventions, and a myriad of other outlets (including the church). Suddenly, though, the whole arena of preaching took on a new look for me. As a result, I went back and preached a series of sermons during Advent that were all storytelling in nature. They were a huge success. And an "idea" was born. And that "idea" became the book whose picture accompanies this post.
I believe that you, too, have an idea. It may not be for a book or a new invention, but an idea that can change the world around you in some significant or small way. My father was a "Mr. Fix-it" kind of guy. He never wrote a book or invented a new widget, but he had ideas that he turned into projects that changed the neighborhood around him. He fixed things and developed projects that others needed. He changed things slightly - but he made a difference. So can you. Let the creative side of you come out. Share your idea in some way. Sharing your idea can change the world around you . . . and it can change you, too!

Sickness and American Idol

I have been sick today. The flu takes its toll and you spend the day coughing and sneezing and wheezing. Tomorrow I go to the doctor (at Joanie's insistence) to get a flu shot and something to try and knock this out.
The result of all of this is that you spend the day napping and watching TV. Tonight, Joanie and I are watching American Idol. I don't always watch the final competition of this show, though I think the tryouts are a scream. Tonight they are down to 10 contestants and we've watched the first 3-4 performers and all I can ask is, "Why?". Why is this show so popular and so addicting? There are blogs, websites, and weekday fans that swear by it - watercooler talk that goes on in almost every office. And I am trying to figure out, "Why?" I have a few reasons that have come to me but I warn you, I have the flu and may not make sense.

1. The American Dream - We love to watch those who go from rags to riches, from obscurity to fame. The only thing we like more is to watch them fall. How sad. I think the best show on television today is Extreme Home Makeover Home Edition because it is rags to riches story based not on talent and some hyped up call-in format but is based on the sacrificial giving of families who care for others or who have special needs. TV is never better than when it helps others rather than tear others down. Queen for A Day had it all over The Gong Show because it lifted people up. So does Extreme Home Makeover - it has it all over Simon Cowell.
2. Drama - My son, Jonathan, and I watched this show together one night at his apartment in Indiana. I enjoyed spending time with him. We got to discuss who we liked and argue about who should be voted off and who should be kept around. It was fun - and it had a sense of drama. We live in a time when we love to watch drama. I don't mean we like to watch dramas on TV, the movies, or on the stage. We love to watch drama in real life. In the church we often make a sport out of watching drama take place. The greater the drama the greater the spotlight. We like to watch drama in other people's lives, I think, because it allows us the opportunity to be distracted from the drama in our own lives.
3. Performance Under Pressure - I love sports in part because it is performance under pressure. Last second shots during the NCAA tournament, the last chance at bat during the World Series, the final drive at the Super Bowl - performance under pressure. I think we judge these Idol contestants on whether they can perform under pressure. That may be the most important draw of the show. After all, we all know what it is like to have to perform under pressure whether it is at work, on a test at school, on a date with someone we want to impress, or during a worship service solo or choir number or sermon. The problem is that our lives are not always judged by one moment under pressure. Or, at least, they shouldn't. I've missed my share of foul shots, incomplete passes, flunked tests, and poor sermons. One of the nice things about preaching is that you get another chance in a week. Maybe we should remember that about life.

But I could be wrong. I have the flu.

Hollywood and Theology

Joanie and I just returned from watching the movie, "V for Vendetta". It is an average film with a theme that attempts to update the principles of Nazism by assuming that Britain is under the control of a Hitleresque Chancellor and the country is under the thumb of a group of oppressors. Part of the updating of the story is to portray the church as corrupt and immoral - duplicitous with the immoral regime. Unfortunately, that smacks of truth closer than we may want to think. During the reign of Hitler the German Church not only was controlled by the Nazi's but was supportive of the Reich. Men like Dietrich Bonhoeffer were few and far between in protesting the sad state of the church during that time. Likewise, in the movie, the Archbishop is a sexual pervert who, for the sake of money and power, lends credence and support to the immoral medical procedures of the government.
It may be uncomfortable for those of us who have a strong faith both in the church and in the moral fiber of clergy to grapple with the image of an immoral church compromising with an immoral power. But we should wrestle with this image a little more than we do. The church, like every other person or institution, is not above being corrupted by the forces of evil and the power of sin. Clergy are subject to the same temptations and moral failures of those who sit in the pew or walk the streets. As my mentor always used to say, "Feet of clay, we all have feet of clay". It is harder to stand up for what you believe than it is to compromise your principles for the sake of expediency. Churches don't become corrupt over night. They lose their souls over years and years of compromise and giving into immorality nugget by nugget. After some years of "little white lies" the dark and foreboding ones seem smaller and more harmless than they are. The Devil's pitchfork seems humorous and the sin of society palatable. And no sooner have we acquiesced to the popular culture than the sound of hoofbeats can be heard in the distance. We must always be vigilant - standing for something, lest we fall for everything.

Recovering My Voice

It has been months since I have written anything on this blog. It is not out of a disinterest with writing or a lack of time or interest. Mostly, it has been about a fear of expression. So much has happened over these months since I have returned from my Sabbatical. Expressing myself in any forum that others might read could have been (and may still be) a risky proposition. However, I am in a place where my need for expression is greater than the need to keep things private. So, if anyone wants to listen in, that's fine. If not, the expression is valuable none the less.
In the midst of life when things seem less than secure, knowing that the first two ministry goals of my life have been accomplished is extremely fulfilling. My marriage to Joanie is approaching 31 years and we are more in love today than ever. It is a fulfilling kind of love that keeps us enjoying the pleasure of each other's company and the joy of spending hours in each others arms. God had been gracious in giving us these years together. We pray for just as many more in the future. My second ministry has been my boys. To see them married, creating homes, moving forward in their journey of life, and serving Jesus is rewarding beyond measure. How do you say thanks to God for giving life, health, and opportunity? He has, indeed, done great things.
I continue to wonder what God has in store for me in the future. Whatever He wants to do with me is just fine. I am His to use. I cannot grasp His full intent for my future. I am grateful for the years of ministry that He has given me. This new door of writing is a wonderful outlet for me and I appreciate the chance to fulfill a dream. I was just approached by One Voice Magazine to write an article (on a severe deadline) and I was able to do just that. Maybe, someday, I can be a full time writer. It would be wonderful.
As the old saying goes, I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds the future. That's enough. Amen.

Voices

We heard from our son, Joel, today. He called us on Thanksgiving all the way from Liverpool, England. Homesick and missing his family he was able to speak to us and share a few moments together. It was so rich and rewarding that he purchased a phone card and called again on Saturday for a longer, more extensive call. It was heartwarming and rich to speak to him.
As I write this blog I am very conscious of the fact that the written word cannot replace the warmth and joy of the spoken word. Today in my sermon I used the illustration of Helen Keller who was once asked if she could recover only one of the senses she had lost (speech, hearing, and sight) which one would she choose. She replied that she would want to hear because it is so lonely in here. I believe that hearing the voice of someone you love is a joy beyond measure. I know to have spent the week with one of my sons and to hear from the other across "the pond" was an exciting week (I called my other son, Doug, but we have not made contact yet). Nothing can replace the excitement of hearing someone's voice.
In the Bible we have the written Word of God. It is a priceless gift from God. Yet, there is an even more priceless gift He gives us - He makes the written Word come alive when He speaks it into us. To hear His voice and to know His will for my life is to hear the Living Word of God. All of scripture cries out to us to hear the Word of the Lord. We dare not go through our spiritual lives without hearing His Voice. Nothing can replace that joy.

Thanksgiving

Today part of our family arrived. I have three sons who live in three different places. My oldest son and his wife live in NE Ohio and my youngest son and his wife are living in Liverpool, England for the year while they do graduate work. But today, my son Jonathan and his "wife" Maria came in for the week. They had flown into LA and spent two days with her folks and then her Mom, Dad, and brother brought them up to Fresno and we will share the holiday week together (although Maria's family will go back tomorrow).
I find that it is far more fulfilling to be with family than for Joanie and I to be by ourselves. Don't misunderstand, Joanie and I are very much in love and we love being "empty nesters". What we don't like is being alone. Ministry can be a very lonely experience. I don't mind being alone and enjoy the idea of solitude very much. I don't like being alone when it feels lonely - and both ministry in general and the lifestyle of California work against spending large amounts of time with others. Growing up in an atmosphere where visiting and fellowshiping together were normal occurrences, it has been hard since the boys left home to get used to not having people around the house. We are both very social creatures and enjoy the sharing of ourselves with others.
If I had one desire in my life at this point it would be to find myself in a social setting with others where being pastor was not an issue or a prerequisite. I don't mean to equate myself with Jesus, but I do have an inkling as to what he felt like at times. The crowds crush in for an official word and you seek solitude. Then you have a desire to spend time with others and they don't have time to share. It can be a lonely existence. Thanksgiving will be a special time because the loneliness will be gone and the ability to share together will be at the forefront. I am very thankful for that privilege. Amen.

Back to the Future

Life is full of difficulties. Some are real and some are imagined. Some are big and some are shadows that make you think they are bigger than they really are. Like a shadow they get smaller the closer they are to the light. Some like living in the shadows - making mountains out of molehills. I do not. I accept the reality that there are difficulties and that difficult situations need resolution. I just don't want to spend my life putting out smoldering piles of leaves when there really are houses on fire. Know what I mean?
Why do people like problems? Difficulties? Discontentment? I have never really, fully understood why people like reveling in the dusk and dredging up those things that try to drag themselves and everyone around them back to what used to be or to difficulties that are in the past. But they do. You will pardon me if I choose not to go in that direction. I was always fascinated by the movie title, "Back to the Future". The premise seemed to be that if we could go back to a pivotal moment in our past, we could change the outcome of the present and, by acclimation, the future. It was a great movie (series of movies) that I enjoyed immensely. But it was a movie. It was fantasy. You can't go back and you can't change the future by living in the past. We must go forward. For us it is "Forward to the Future" and not "Back to the Future". God, help us not to get stuck in the loop of a past that cannot be changed by dwelling on it. Amen.

Praise Gathering

I am spending the week in Indy at Praise Gathering. Three days of Ministry Council meetings and two days of Praise Gathering makes a full week. It has been great to see Maria and Jonathan - they were out in California last week to visit with her family as her Dad was installed as the pastor of the Church of God in Long Beach, Ca. She is doing well but cannot return back to work for another week. Her sternum has to heal before she can return to the Coronary ICU unit. They will continue to struggle financially for quite a while. Anyone who would like to assist them in paying doctors bills, hospital bills, regular bills while Maria is out of work, etc., please let me know! Jonathan is doing well and continuing with his graduate education. They are both still in love and planning a wedding for the spring-summer time.
Last night I spent 3+ hours in a concert at Praise Gathering. Talk about diversity! From Randy Travis to the Katinas to Steven Curtis Chapman. Wow. I am continuing to learn that style of music is not commensurate with the act of worship. I am not a country western music fan but loved listening to the Isaacs blue grass and Randy Travis' music. Message means more to me than anything else and they all had a great message. I am not sure that it is even appropriate for a Christian to worry about the packaging of the message - I think it is only appropriate to evaluate the quality and truth of the message. The packaging always changes but the message does not. I remember the disciples telling Jesus that they stopped someone who was healing in the name of Jesus because they didn't know him. Jesus rebuked them because he was not concerned about the packaging but he was concerned with the message. We do not all praise God the same way. So what? We do not all hear the same way. So what? Let's concern ourselves with message, substance, and truth and not volume, style or beat. It will change the mood of the church and help us to live out the call of God.

A Fresh Look at the Church

I am fascinated by the church. It is a beehive of activity, mostly because it is the intersection of people's lives. Lives are being lived out from birth to death in the midst of this weekly gathering of folks. Cancer, births, deaths, successes, minor concerns, major debacles - all come together in one place. They include the young and the old, the graceful and the ham-handed, the mature and the young in the faith, the hopeful and the downtrodden - all coming together to share the commonality of life in Jesus Christ. This week I have talked to cancer patients, young and old; I have shared with those serving in Iraq and getting ready to return to the War; I spoke to those going through the devastation of Katrina and those getting ready to go and help with the cleanup; I spoke with some who are struggling with personal and family problems and with those looking forward to having a family or a family addition; I listened to laughter and sadness; hope and confusion; prayers and dreams. All that in one week.
Ever since I got back from Sabbatical it has been a whirlwind of activity. Meetings to attend, decisions to be made, people to recruit, training to be done. If you don't like people, you won't like ministry in any form. But if people energize you and fascinate you - then you will love ministry. Tomorrow I will be attending a meeting of ministers from around the Valley to talk about Hispanic Ministry and starting Hispanic Churches. With the addition to our staff of a Hispanic Pastor and his vision to start a new church using our facilities, we are really hyped to take an in-depth look at Hispanic Ministry. We have such a diverse area that we live in and such a diverse ethnic city in Fresno, that having a Hispanic Ministry is almost vital to our ability to reach out to the whole community. It is creating a fresh new look at the church and at Kingdom building.
How do you view the church? Is it colored by the struggles you have been through? (I've been there) Or can you see the church with a new view, a new insight, a new perspective? The church is new every morning. Each generation adds to and changes the dynamic of the ministry it shares in that moment. Take a fresh look at the church. You may find it is more amazing than you first thought.

Life's Escalators

Life is peppered with big dreams. When I was approaching 40 years of age I took stock of my life's goals. I was married to a special woman and had 3 wonderful sons. My ministry seemed to be going well and I was about to graduate with a M.Div degree (one of my goals when I turned 30 was to get a seminary degree). What was I going to do with the next decade of my life? Two of my goals were to get a Ph.D. and to be published. Well, the Ph.D. is still on hold (two sons and their college tuitions took care of that as did a year out of ministry and a distinct lack of funds). Who knows, though, maybe someday I will be able to accomplish that one. However, on Sunday night I started down a road that will lead to the fulfillment of one of those big dreams of my 30's. During a Sunday night Fellowship Dinner at the church, I took time to tell the congregation a few of the details about my Sabbatical. At the conclusion of the report I told them about giving to Church of God Ministries a book proposal and that I was going to be given the chance to become a published author. I then took out an envelope and produced a contract from Chog Ministries for me to sign. I signed on the line over the word, "Author". What a rush. I am actually going to be published!
I don't know where you are in life. Some people stop dreaming when they hit middle age. Some young people never dream and some old folks seem to have an amazing capacity to see more ahead than they have behind. All I know is that you should never give up on your dreams. Dreams are the escalators that take you to higher places. Dreams are the colors that liven up the black and white plans of our lives. Dreams are as necessary as air and as important as water to the body. They are the stuff of life. Dream on. I still have a few more dreams to dream and goals to achieve. How about you?