A Pastor Ponders

As part of my formal education, I learned that the Hebrew people believed that a once a word was spoken, it put into action powers that would make the “word” prove true. The Hebrew people took their words seriously.

Yesterday, I was taking my own words very seriously as I offered a challenging vision to our congregation at Stout Memorial for 2009. Although I do not believe in the magical power of speaking something into existence, I do believe that once we speak something like the vision I offered yesterday, then we must move forward. I fully intend to lead that charge.

For those who might have missed it, or for those who thought they misheard it, and even for those who thought I didn’t mean it, I will restate the challenge once again in written form. “I believe that God is calling for the people of Stout Memorial UMC to bring 300 new people to Christ in 2009.” Three hundred. 300.

For some people, that sounds like a lot – one person asked me “Where are we going to put 300 new people?” For some people who heard the challenge, it wasn’t enough. One person at the early service replied, “We can do that easily. You should have shot for a higher number!”

One of the things I know is this – it will not happen just because it has been said. We have to work with God to make this happen. One of my first hopes and dreams in making this vision a reality is that at least 30 people from our congregation will sign up for Commission Possible in September. I fully intend to call upon that many of our leaders to make that commitment. This event will not answer every question we have about evangelism but I hope it will fire us up for the task ahead of us.

Secondly, I know that I touched upon a nerve in congregation yesterday as I tied this vision to the need for us as Christians to be completely vulnerable in our lives as we share how Jesus has touched us. Several people shared with me how suicide has touched their family or friends. Others shared with me the real struggles they have seen in family members or themselves with the problem of gambling and the hopelessness that this leads to. I know we need to be vulnerable enough to share our stories – the very stories of being beaten, robbed and stripped and left on the road for dead – if we ever want to come close to touching those around us with the Good News.

I know it is painful to look back at the hurts of our lives but sometimes this is the place where God’s grace is the most real. And for “300″ to happen – we are gonna have to be very real in our understanding and experience of God’s grace.

God knows I also know how painful it is going to be to reach this vision. But if you run into me sometime and I am just muttering “three hundred, three hundred, three hundred” to myself, do me a favor and don’t think I am crazy. It is just me praying about what I know God wants us to do.

Peace,

scott

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I recently finished reading Jodi Picoult’s book, The Tenth Circle. I read it partially because I know that there is a movie coming out based on the book and partially because my wife Pam, who is a big fan of Picoult’s writing, did not want to read the book. She was worried that it would be too disturbing.

It was a fairly disturbing book for the father of two girls getting ready to enter their teen years to read. It was disturbing to read about the things that my children may be facing in this world and even within their own families. Yeah, the sex parties, the cutting, the drug and alcohol use and the attempted suicides were all disturbing to me but even more so was the way the parents in this novel were “blind” to not only what was taking place around them in their home and with their child but even more blind to the things that were taking place in their own minds. The father was dealing constantly with being on the edge of rage and the mother was dealing constantly with trying to be connected or disconnected from the ones she loved. That stuff really scared me.

I was especially fond of the way that the author couched all of this story around Dante’s Inferno and even managed to work in some graphic novel sections to the book. To learn about Dante’s Hell even as I witnessed a family going through the various levels of Hell as their story unfolded was powerful stuff. It made me think about where in Hell I would be right now if not for the grace of Jesus Christ. (To take a Flash tour of Dante’s Hell, click on the picture to the right.)

I don’t know if I recommend the book or not. It really is a good read. Picoult is a fine story teller. For those who are ready to take a look at their own demons – read it. For those who are wanting to understand how Hell can be a reality in this world – read it. For those who can’t stand to look at the human condition and especially their part in it – don’t read it.

On second thought, maybe as a pastor I should recommend that everyone read this book. Getting people to look in the “real” mirror is one of the hardest tasks I have as a pastor. Jodi Picoult did a fine job getting me to look, so for those who dare, go ahead.

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As I spent most of yesterday driving on the road to Durham for a Course of Study meeting, I got to listen to a lot of music in the car by myself. I know I have heard the song “Moments” by Emerson Drive before, but I don’t think I ever really had the chance to listen to it. It was playing as I drove down “seven mile mountain” on I-77 and as a rainbow was forming in the valley down below.

If you are not familiar with the song, it starts with the singer standing on a bridge as a homeless man approaches him. He gives him a handful of change since “he really didn’t need it.” The homeless one goes on to talk about how his life was not always as bad as it seemed at the time. He had had his “moments” – coming back from a war, watching his son’s birth, giving up alcohol to marry the love of his live – “He had his moments.” The singer said the man just wouldn’t go away but kept talking till the singer walked off the bridge.

In the final verse, the singer believes that the homeless man would continue his story at the fire he gathered around that night to keep warm. He would share all the old moments and add one new one – the time he stood beside the man who was ready to jump off a bridge until he decided better of it.

I know I have heard that song before but I never caught the point of it.

I wonder how many times we really need to pay attention…to songs, yes, but even more so to the people around us. We could easily ignore that person just standing around unless we actually remember some of the dark times that we have gone through. Yeah, things may be rosy for most of us right now but I hope it doesn’t take a homeless person to notice the pain that exists in this world. And if it does…well, thank God.

Perhaps for me, I need to remember that in this world, I am homeless and can keep looking around for that hurting person too and remind them of my “moments” also.

peace!!

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AT THE RIVERSIDE
OLD MAN RIVER’S MISSION
BACK-TO-SCHOOL DAYS 2008

An old adage is “many hands make light work.” No truer statement has been made when it comes to the many outreach services provided through OMRM. Some local companies and organizations sponsor food, clothing, back-to-school and/or toy drives throughout the year to help with various Mission projects; not to mention the many individuals and churches who generously give donations and their time.

OMRM is now in the planning stage for Back-to-School Days which helps 1,000 children in Kindergarten through 12th Grade prepare for the 2008-09 school year. To make this particular outreach a success we need Donations and Volunteers. Ten helpers are needed each day to register students and help them shop, as well as for traffic control. The OMRM Back-to-School store will be operating Monday, August 18th through Friday, August 22nd from 10 AM to 4 PM.

If you are interested in being a volunteer during that period of time for any amount of time, you are encouraged to call OMRM as soon as possible and sign up to help. Their number is 428-6677. (Also, if you do sign up to help, we would appreciate it if you would also give Barbara Smith, our Missions Coordinator a call so we can track all our “mission work.”)

OLD MAN RIVER’S MISSION
BACK-TO-SCHOOL DAYS 2008
DONATION LIST

Backpacks—small to Extra Large
Scissors/Fiskars—Blunt and Sharp Tipped
Glue—Bottle and Stick
Pencils—Regular #2
Pencils—Colored
Erasers—Pink Pearl
Highlighters
Ink Pens—Blue, Black and Red
Rulers
Markers—Regular and Washable
Folders—Pocket
Paper—Wide and College Ruled
Pencil Boxes
Pencil Bags
New Socks — All Sizes
New Underwear—All Sizes
New Shoes—All Sizes
New Jeans and Shirts—For Men, Boys and Girls

In order for us to have these items to Old Man Rivers Mission in time for the Back-to-School Store, we will need them brought to Stout Memorial UMC by August 3rd. A drop off location for the items will be provided on the Stage in Fellowship Hall starting July 13th.

Last year, Stout Memorial was a huge part of the Back-to-School store at OMRM and this year we hope to extend our generosity!!

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I hate getting a head and chest cold in the midst of summer. It is beautiful weather…I could be out in the garden, but instead I am stuck inside hacking my head off with every cough and falling asleep every couple of hours. Oh well, I am getting caught up on some computer stuff. I set up a Facebook account today. (Several of our youth have been after me to do that for a while.) I am also sorting through about 400 pictures of our church’s Mission Trip to Tyrand last week in order to put together a presentation for worship on Sunday. If I ever get to the end of that task, well, I think I will have to take another nap.

In the process of doing all of this, I discovered a hidden talent in one of our church members. Alex Constantino is a wonderful videographer and editor.

Alex is bringing a unique and fun filled perspective to the lighter side of a Mission Trip and I really appreciate the work he did. Love the them music too!!

Okay, it is back to sorting photos and getting them in a movie format.

peace,

scott

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