Pastoral Thought--March 31

I am sitting in a Panera Bread restaurant sipping a cup of coffee on this rainy morning and my soul is a frantic mess. My mind is racing. . . My heart is beating a bit faster than normal. The quiet music playing over my earbuds that is intended to both block out Panera’s music and still my heart is not working. So that I don’t jinx or spoil the events of today that brought me to this restaurant, I will keep the reason for this ‘mobile pastoral thought’ a secret—for now. (Let me just say that it is a good reason, don’t worry). 

But as I drink my vanilla cold brew coffee, I must confess Easter-centric feelings bubbling up in me as I wait that I want you to think about this rainy, cool morning. 

Let me say that I do not feel especially overjoyed or excited today. I do love a rainy day. I find that rainy days are some of the best days to read and write that God offers me. But the events of today are overshadowing that choice and so writing is harder. . .  I also cannot say that I am feeling dread or the heavy weight of life pressing down upon me as some might feel during Holy Week or another dark time in their spiritual lives. My mood is light and I am full of this Easter feeling.  

Today I am feeling anticipation. 

It is an interesting feeling or emotion to experience if we are honest. Something is happening around me and my emotions are a mixture of many feelings and choices—all of them are trying to distract me from the things in my day that are necessary and that I must attend to. Yet all of these emotions center on, or gather around, feelings of anticipation. And this is also an Easter feeling to express today, and one to wonder with you about.

Tomorrow the sad, heavy feelings and choices of Holy Week will come to the forefront. The story will progress as it does each year. Tomorrow we will gather for the Seder meal at church. We will have communion together in the sanctuary. As we partake of the elements we will remember that Jesus is going to die soon for us. He will choose this. We will extinguish the candles that we normally might light during Advent. It will become dark in our the church—symbolically. But in the midst of that we cannot forget the anticipation that Easter is coming. 

The resurrection is going to happen again very soon. The miracle of Jesus’ return will transform the sad, dark, mourning church into a new, vibrant, joyful place. And we anticipate this happening.

And so I wonder today, on this rainy day, how are you feeling, and how are you expressing the feelings of anticipation? 

Something wonderful is about to happen for the church. What is that calling you to do or become? 

Blessings

Rev. Derek

Pastoral Thought--March 30

Who doing the work for Christ that is meant for you? 

In Matthew 27 we read these words: 

"When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.” (NRSV)

By itself asking for Jesus’ body so that he might burry it seems like a sacrificial act of discipleship for Joseph. Remember this man, this Jesus of Nazareth, was just crucified based on accusations of sedition and blasphemy against God and society. Both the Roman leaders and the Hebrew authorities wanted to silence him for their own reasons. He was a threat to the status quo. The gathered crowd bayed for his blood when days earlier they celebrated his entrance into Jerusalem by laying their cloaks and palms down before the colt on which he rode. 

Into this space, Joseph of Arimathea serves God in an unexpected way. Joseph would have been a wealthy man in society—how else would he have afforded a familial burial tomb in a lush garden? From tradition we also know that Joseph was a Pharisees; a teacher of the law. Probably he was standing near the cross of Jesus when he gave up his spirit and may have been present at Jesus’ show trial witnessing the suffering of the Messiah. Like his friend Nicodemus, Joseph risked a great deal in following the teachings of Jesus. Social pressures and expectation that comes as a religious leader in that time was great. Yet, Joseph does something extraordinary. . . something that someone was supposed to do and we cannot forget this lesson. 

In the book, Power and Passion: Six Characters in Search of Resurrection, Samuel Wells writes these words: 

"He [Joseph] becomes the disciple who takes the place of Peter, James, and the rest. John the Baptist’s disciples were on hand to take his body away, but Jesus’ body requires a new figure, emerging from the shadows. In burying Jesus, Joseph does what the rich young man in Matthew 19:22 fails to do: he puts his life at risk and gives to the poor."

As I read those words I have to say that I had not thought of the story from this angle. . . He takes the place of Peter. Think of that for just a moment. Joseph does what Peter, the Rock upon which the church would be built, was called to do. The burial of Jesus was Peter and the disciple’s task, and yet, they ran from it. They hid in fear behind a locked door. The pressure of following Jesus drove them away—all except John the Beloved who is entrusted the care of Jesus’ mother at the time of his death. The cherished followers of Jesus were not on hand to care for their teacher one last time. . . Joseph does the work of a disciple. I don't suspect that when Jesus was arrested Joseph thought he would be needed in this way by God. But he was. And so are we.

Who is doing the work for Christ that is meant for you? 

This was necessary work. Sure it would be painful. There would be tears as the prayers were said and the body was wrapped and anointed with spices. However, it would also be a final act of caring. There is always another aspect of service and caring that calls to us because God needs your hands. I hope that when the chance is presented before you to become a minister of care in your community that you will remember this story, and as you remember it, you notice how you ability to care is needed.  

Blessings

Rev. Derek

Pastoral Thought--March 29

As we begin Holy Week, I want to share with you the words of Jeremiah 11:18-19. While you may not be familiar with the citation directly, I know that the words of the text will speak to your heart. And so let us being Holy Week by remembering who Jesus is and how he defines his relationship to us. 

18It was the LORD who made it known to me, and I knew; 

          then you showed me their evil deeds. 
19  But I was like a gentle lamb 
          led to the slaughter. 
     And I did not know it was against me 
          that they devised schemes, saying, 
     “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, 
          let us cut him off from the land of the living, 
          so that his name will no longer be remembered!” 

The “gentle lamb led to the slaughter,” is an image we associate with Jesus. The Hebrew word for “gentle” or “docile,” as it is translated, carries a connotation of friendship not subservience. Not only is the Lamb mentioned in this verse not aggressive toward those around it, but that same Lamb is a friend to the people who live in proximity to it. They share a common purpose and mission because they are in relational union. A similar modern day image that Jeremiah’s language might support is one a friendly or tame pet living among a family for a long period of time. 

The gentle Lamb that Jeremiah writes about was well aware of the sins and choices of those around him. The Lord made this information known to him, and yet, that same Lamb was willing to persist. He was willing to be led to slaughter while knowing that the lives of the people whom he loves and serves are sinful. There is indeed an element of surprise in Jeremiah’s words: “I did not know it was against me.” 

Yet, the Lamb persists. 

Those who lead the Lamb in our text to its death think that his name will be remembered no longer, but God has the last laugh. Death cannot swallow up what God has began! Death will not have the final word.

As you begin Holy Week, consider your relationship to the Gentle Lamb. Notice the work that he has continued in your life even when your sin could drive him away. . .

Blessings

Rev. Derek

Pastoral Thought--March 25

As our Lenten season ends this weekend, I want to share with you the words of Jewish philosopher Saadia Gaon that are found in the beginning of a book that I am currently reading. His words address the truth that God exceeds our mind's ability to fully speak about God. We can know or comprehend all of the aspects of God’s nature and personhood. We marvel at how God, who is greater and more caring than we can imagine, would willingly come to earth and suffer as Jesus did for us.

God’s will can also be a mystery that we are living and working at understanding. . . God far exceeds our ability to reason or rationalize. Gaon wrote: 

"Were we, in our effort to give an account of God, to make use only of expressions that are literally true, it would be necessary for us to desist from speaking of Him as one that hears and sees and pities and will to the point where there would be nothing left for us to affirm expect the fact of His existence."

So much of our devotional life is dedicated to understanding, even in a small sense, the nature of God. We want to understand who God is and why God acts in the manner in which He does. Countless hours have been spent trying to figure out how God chooses to move in our lives. But there is just some information that we are not able to fully assimilate into our minds correctly or clearly. Yet we still try. . . 

Throughout Lent this year I have tried to make some sense of the sacrifice of Jesus—besides just saying that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I cannot fully grasp the nature of God being willing to come down from the heavenly kingdom and suffer for us. My only recourse is to fall back onto the fact that God loves me, loves us, so much that He will willingly do this for us. 

I have wondered about how he felt as the days grow closer to Good Friday. . . 

I wondered what he thought about when Jesus and His Heavenly Father were together communing in worship while he was on earth. . .  

We know that the disciples did not see the pain in Jesus’ eyes each day of Holy Week. I wonder what anguish was on his face in those days? 

There is a lot to consider and reflect upon. And so I hope that as Lent ends, you will let the mystery of God’s choice and God’s presence wash over you. He willingly did this. . . What does that make you want to say or how does that call you to live? 

Blessings

Rev. Derek 

Pastoral Thought--March 23

When was the last time that you heard someone talk about ’timing’ to you? Maybe they said something like, “now just isn’t the right time” or were more positive by saying, “time flies when you’re having fun.” While these two statements are different in their meaning they both carry with them a sense of time and speed. Life has an aggressive pace that we are beholden to. 

Add to that idea issues and considerations of “God’s timing,” and the complexity of time, speed, and God’s will becomes an expectational-mixture that we can find hard to handle. You might just become bogged down in wondering if God hears you or is attentive to your needs. 

After all, since ’time flies’ in our lives, that concept must also relate to God. He must be a prisoner of timing issues as well. Therefore the logic follows that God must not be paying close enough attention to your daily struggle in Lent because God is too busy being productive to notice you. Again, ’now is not the right time.’

But this is wrong thing to focus upon in Lent. 

I wonder what might happen in your day if you stopped being worried about timing issues and instead focused on the fact that God hears you? These issues do not melt away suddenly because we remember that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Instead, as we notice these thoughts and feelings taking root in our minds, we can deliberately give them over to God and allow God the space the continually mold and shape us.

As an Irish proverb reminds us, “God made time, but man made haste.”

We are the ones who worry and fret about the time not being right. God does not operate like this. 

So as the days of Lent come to their end, I hope that you will remember that God is not beholden to our formulas or our ideals. God does not respond as we do to presenting issues of our day. Rather God is with us in a more personal, more deliberate way. As such, God is never in too much of a hurry to spend some time listening to your heart and caring for your needs. 

Blessings

Rev. Derek

Pastoral Thought--March 22

Today I had another wonderful opportunity to read a bible story to the children at CNS. For five classes we sat together for an ‘Easter’ story. For everyone was excited to see the Easter bunny’s work and be with their families, but not one of them was familiar with this part of the story—or at least they didn’t think they were. Today’s story was about Joseph of Arimathea and talked about his role in Jesus’ death. . .

As you know Joseph is the person who provided the tomb of Jesus following his death on the cross. We know that it was Joseph who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus so that he could perform the Jewish rites of purification and burial before the Sabbath began. Tradition tells us that Joseph and Nicodemus undertook this work as part of their on-going relationship with Jesus. They, like we, believed that he was the Messiah. So this became their final act of caring for Jesus. 

Of course the story has a happy ending. . . But what I want to share with you is how the children at CNS responded to the story. 

They sat curious as I showed them a picture of a man carving out a cave (tomb) as was tradition. They wondered who he was. They wondered why was he spending his time in a cave carving it out. When I showed the picture of Joseph and his friends watching Jesus die on the cross, the children became quieter and a bit sadder. This is story that they knew. The children commented on a tear that fell from the eye of a character who they said looked sad. The usually curious children and passionate children sat still as the great stone was rolled across the opening of the tomb and as Pilate posted guards. 

And of course they were happy because three days later Jesus left that cave for us! 

But it was how they listened that I am sharing with you. They heard a familiar story of Jesus’ death and resurrection through new ears. They knew the story I am sure. After I was done they said as much. If I asked them to talk about how Jesus died I believe that they could get the essential parts of the story clearly articulated. But when I said, “Who was Joseph of Arimathea?” They did not know. 

I wonder what might happen in your life when you stop to listen to God’s story, from someone who you least expect? I wonder what revelation God might be providing for you if you, like the children of CNS, listen with new ears? 

Blessings

Rev. Derek

Pastoral Thought--March 18

In 2011 the University of Miami conducted a research study that I found fascinating and wanted to share with you. The implications of this study are diverse and offer the church an opportunity for ministry—if we are willing to move toward it. Published in The Journal of Behavior Medicine, this study assessed the relationship between [the] View of God and changes in cellular structure by medical patients. The section of the study and report that caught my eye said this: 

"Among patients better immune functioning is found among those who have an image of God that is more compassionate and loving than those who have images of God as more judgmental and punitive. . . Changes in God image changes [cells] in randomized trials."  

This study poses a tremendous challenge and opportunity to us as the church if we stop and think about it. 

If it is true that our relationship with God impacts our health and our body’s ability to heal and be restored, then it stands to reason that the church can and should work to help people of our community enrich and develop their personal relationships with God. While we are not called to just ‘wish’ away the suffering of people and encourage them to on a smile and believe in God, we can effect a change in their lives by giving them room and grace. . . We can provide a safe emotional space for one another—without judgment or ridicule. We can help people learn to address how they imagine God being with them in a more helpful way. Again, we do not look down upon their pain or just ignore it, instead when room is created for the other person, ministry opportunities are also created. 

As I read this study I being to think wonder if the church is being invited into the healing work of God in the lives of their community. I wonder what our community would look like if we suspended judgment and helped one another find God positively? 

As you continue through the rest of this week, and in Lent, take some time to notice how other people express their image of God. When you find someone who sees God only as angry and judgmental, don't necessarily chastise them. Instead, press in. . . Linger with them. . . As you linger you might just challenge their image of God? Who knows you might just become an agent of healing as well. . . 

Blessings

Rev. Derek