Category Archives: People

Food for Thought, LifeSpring Church, People

Watching My Grandfather Snore

Bean Sleeping in ChurchTwo of the “characters” in my childhood church were a couple of sisters. They were in their sixties or seventies at the time and well-respected by the rest of the congregants.

When anyone wanted a good illustration of what being faithful or serious about faith was, these two sisters were often mentioned because they were so consistently present in the life of the church. We children were told, “even when they don’t feel well they are present at worship services.” Continue reading Watching My Grandfather Snore →

Food for Thought, People

Two Human Beings Standing Side-by-Side

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World FlagsForeign accents invite questions.

What events brought you here? Are you a resident of America, on a business trip, or just on vacation?
What is your occupation? How many family members do you have, and are they with you? If you are here as a permanent resident, what do you miss about your homeland?

Bev and I were in a hotel in Berkeley, California enjoying a little R & R. While Bev was getting ready for the day, I headed down to the restaurant for my morning coffee and daily news. As I was about to press the down button on the elevator a lady walked up. Continue reading Two Human Beings Standing Side-by-Side →

Editorials, Food for Thought, People

The Road to Emmaus

The story of Cleopas and his wife Mary in Luke 24 has always been fascinating to me.  Two people are approached by the now-resurrected Jesus, and they don’t recognize him.  See John 19:25.

Luke lets us see the the pain and confusion that Jesus’ death had caused them.  The Renovare Bible, in a footnote on this text, said, “How many times on our network of roads have we lurched with broken spirits because the unexpected seized the place of the expected and that with a wrenching disappointment?”

So Cleopas and his wife were headed home to the security of Emmaus.  Away from the stress and confusion of Jerusalem.

Frederick Buechner says that “Emmaus is the place we go to in order to escape–a bar, a movie, wherever it is we throw up our hands and say, ‘Let the whole damned thing go hang.  It makes no difference anyway…’ 


“Emmaus may be buying a new suit or a new car or smoking more cigarettes than you really want, or reading a second-rate novel or even writing one.  Emmaus may be going to church on Sunday.  Emmaus is whatever we do or wherever we go to make ourselves forget that the world holds nothing sacred:  that even the wisest and bravest and loveliest decay and die; that even the noblest ideas that men have had–ideas about love and freedom and justice–have always in time been twisted by selfish men for selfish ends.”

Emmaus begins with disappointment, confusion, and sorrow.  But it ends with surprise and worship.  The surprise comes when Jesus reveals himself to Cleopas and friend in a simple meal.  Cole writes that Jesus comes “in the ordinary place and experiences of our lives, and in the places to which we retreat when life is too much for us.  The story warns us, however, that the Lord may come to us in unfamiliar guises, when we least expect him.”


I like preaching from this story because it reminds me that things are not always as they appear.  That holy things are sometimes cloaked and unrecognizable.  That when we least expect it, the hood is pulled off and Jesus stands before us.

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Editorials, Food for Thought, Life in general, People

People on a Quest

In the Gospel of Luke there are several “quest” stories.  These are stories about people who were trying to find something, and they include a paralytic person, a soldier, a woman with a medical condition, a
leper, a rich ruler, a tax collector, and a criminal.  In every case these individuals had some condition which they could not personally change.

I like these stories because they are a microcosm of the whole world.  In them you will find powerful people who find themselves in perplexing and impossible situations.  Who can only say, “I give up; I need help.”

There are people who are so hated by society that they are entirely alone and powerless.  People who have medical problems so great that they can’t work in gainful ways, nor are they even allowed to have relationships with their respective communities.

These stories sound like they could be lifted off the front pages of our newspapers:  the politician who is barbecued in the political sector because of a daliance with a prostitute.  What’s he to do to put his life back together?

Or the single mother who’s just lost her job and has no medical insurance for a sick child.  Where is she to find employment or assistance?  Will she end up homeless?

And of course, the person who realizes that there has to be more to life than what they are experiencing.   This is the person who is asking the hard questions, but may not be willing to pay that cost just yet.

Quest stories are, in my view, a true picture of the human condition.  Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we’re all on a quest.  This is the subject of my sermon this coming Sunday.

 

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Editorials, Food for Thought, Life in general, People, Uncategorized

Writing a religion column

I’m in a writing queue of seven pastors. We write a rotating, weekly column for the Merced Sun-Star called “Religion 101.” It’s fun to be able to make the occasional contribution, but it’s also a challenge.

Many people have mental stereotypes of what they think they will find in the column–doctrinaire, dogmatic, preachy, and moralistic. Such stereotypes function as hurdles to understanding, both for the reader and the writer.

Writing in a way that surprises, intrigues, and even irritates is a challenge. For example, how can a writer surprise if what is written is only what the reader expects?

That is what made Jesus’ parables so powerful. A listener would ask Jesus what he thought was a simple-enough question. Jesus typically responded with a story that turned the questioner’s world upside down.

This week’s Religion 101 article is meant to be oblique and indirect. Rather than saying, “We should stereotype other people,” it tells a simple story. Check out this link and see what you think.

Editorials, People

Interviews

Interview 03Recently I got to participate in a two-day set of interviews for openings at a local agency.  The candidates were each given a one hour appointment during which they would make their presentation and receive questions from our group.

This was the first time I had ever participated in a process like this one, and I was fascinated by how the interviews were conducted as well as by how much could be learned in only one hour.  I was also impressed with how uniform the observations of the group were.

Continue reading Interviews →

Church planting, People

Donations Down

Let's Have LunchIt was in the newspaper on Monday.  Contributions to non-profits are down because of the economy.  That is not good news if you are a non-profit and exist on the largesse of others.

I just attended a workshop on the subject of building relationships that will, in turn, result in a strong financial base.  Let’s Have Lunch Together was written by Marshall Howard who was the workshop presenter.

Continue reading Donations Down →