I live about 90% to 99% of my life by routine or sometimes called habit. If this was not so, I could not function. Without routine I would debate and then decide what to do each morning when I wake up. One action would not automatically follow another. It would take me hours to get to the bathroom, get my cup of coffee, head down stairs to my “prayer and study” chair, eat breakfast, and then debate whether or not I was going to drive north to Epiphany. I suspect without my routine, I would spend the whole day deciding what I now do automatically with little or no thought. Routines save a lot of time and energy.
My routine at Epiphany is just as predictable as my routine at home. I always park in the lower lot which forces me to enter the building with Preschool children and their parents. Here I get to see faces, say hello, and watch the toddlers play at the feet of Jesus’ statue. On Monday and Tuesday, I stop to say hello to the Pantry volunteers. Yesterday I met a new volunteer and welcomed her to this vital ministry. Climbing the stairs, I get to say hello to the volunteer at the welcoming desk in the Gathering Space. Upon entering the office, I walk to each office and cubical to say hello to my fellow workers. It takes up to a half-hour to get from my car to my office. I could go on with additional paragraphs laying out my routine for the rest of the day but I think you get the picture.
My routine is such a part of me that I don’t think about it very much unless someone asks about what I do with my day or I am writing a blog. On these occasions, I am forced to ask myself: What does my routine say about me? Does it reveal what is important to me? Does it accomplish what I think is important in being myself and in being your pastor? Finally, do I need to change my routine because it no longer serves the purpose I want to achieve?
Ministry By Walking Around has always been my philosophy and has served me well as a parish pastor. I believe that if the disciples at Epiphany see me outside of my office, encounter me with a hello in the parking lot, laugh at a joke in the Pantry, or say hi when I am walking up the stairs, those same disciples will be more apt to stop me with a question about the Bible, the position of the Lutheran Church on a social issue, or inquire about the Church Council’s recent meeting. My routine is designed to make me accessible. I do not have to think about it. I just do it.
So let me ask, What is your routine when you get up? What is your routine when you prepare to take care of the children for the day, go off to school, or head to the office? Does your routine help or diminish the relationships that you have with other people? Does it help you accomplish your purpose as an individual, as a member of a group, or as a disciple of Jesus? If you are like me, you probably don’t think about your routine very much. So break the routine for a few minutes and ask yourself, What do I do automatically and is it working for me?
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Mountain Top Experiences
As I was driving to the office on Monday morning my mind kept thinking about Jesus and the Mt. of Transfiguration. On top of the mount, he met with Moses and Elijah. These two Old Testament leaders represent the law and the prophets. They are the dominate figures of Old Testament theology. In addition, God had spoken to Peter, James, and John directly affirming that Jesus was God’s son. As I put myself in the midst of Mark’s account of the transfiguration, I see Jesus as being absolutely exuberant. What a great experience and what a great day! Jesus had to be asking, “Does it get any better than this?”
When Jesus came down the mountain, he found a large crowd gathered around his disciples. Jesus would immediately enter once again into the daily grind of ministry. A father had brought his son for healing. His son had seizures which caused the boy great bodily harm. Jesus’ disciples tried to cast out the demon but their efforts were a failure. Jesus intervenes and the boy is healed, the demon is gone.
While the transfiguration happened two thousand years ago, I know that story well from personal experiences. On Sunday, over 1,100 people gathered at Epiphany to hear about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead through singing, preaching, and the sacrament of Holy Communion. From all reports, Sunday went extremely well. On Monday morning, I greeted by three of our members. The first words out of their mouth were, “Yesterday was just great. Pastor Sara had a wonderful message. She brought Jesus resurrection into our day.” What more could one ask from an Easter celebration?
As I went to my office, I read the e-mails that had accumulated over the weekend. We are getting a new server for our computers. We will not have internet access for several days next week. How will the staff communicate with each other and all of you? The first quarter of the year is in the record books. Financial statements have to be prepare and sent to each of you. Then there is the letter that accompanies the statements which is my responsibility. One of my e-mails had suggestions for who we might consider as a candidate for senior pastor. The e-mail was forward to the Call Committee. Gary Shooter was in with news about the new roof for the sanctuary. Then, of course, there is a sermon for next weekend. As I sat at my desk, I thought that Jesus only had one issue on his plate, the healing of a little boy, when he came down the mountain.
We all need mountain tops, be they a transfiguration, a great Easter celebration, recognition for a job well done, or a hug from someone who loves and understands us. We probably would like to have more mountain tops than we actually get. But mountain tops are not where life is lived or ministry occurs. It is at that base of the mountain that a boy is healed, the daily operation of the church occurs, recognition and rewards are received and hugs are given. The mountain top experiences give us a resolve to live at the base of the mountain where we do God’s will for our lives.
I pray that you all had a blessed celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and that it was a mountain top experience that will be with you at the base of the mountain; i.e., in your home, at you job, with your friends, and in your church.
Pastor Pete
When Jesus came down the mountain, he found a large crowd gathered around his disciples. Jesus would immediately enter once again into the daily grind of ministry. A father had brought his son for healing. His son had seizures which caused the boy great bodily harm. Jesus’ disciples tried to cast out the demon but their efforts were a failure. Jesus intervenes and the boy is healed, the demon is gone.
While the transfiguration happened two thousand years ago, I know that story well from personal experiences. On Sunday, over 1,100 people gathered at Epiphany to hear about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead through singing, preaching, and the sacrament of Holy Communion. From all reports, Sunday went extremely well. On Monday morning, I greeted by three of our members. The first words out of their mouth were, “Yesterday was just great. Pastor Sara had a wonderful message. She brought Jesus resurrection into our day.” What more could one ask from an Easter celebration?
As I went to my office, I read the e-mails that had accumulated over the weekend. We are getting a new server for our computers. We will not have internet access for several days next week. How will the staff communicate with each other and all of you? The first quarter of the year is in the record books. Financial statements have to be prepare and sent to each of you. Then there is the letter that accompanies the statements which is my responsibility. One of my e-mails had suggestions for who we might consider as a candidate for senior pastor. The e-mail was forward to the Call Committee. Gary Shooter was in with news about the new roof for the sanctuary. Then, of course, there is a sermon for next weekend. As I sat at my desk, I thought that Jesus only had one issue on his plate, the healing of a little boy, when he came down the mountain.
We all need mountain tops, be they a transfiguration, a great Easter celebration, recognition for a job well done, or a hug from someone who loves and understands us. We probably would like to have more mountain tops than we actually get. But mountain tops are not where life is lived or ministry occurs. It is at that base of the mountain that a boy is healed, the daily operation of the church occurs, recognition and rewards are received and hugs are given. The mountain top experiences give us a resolve to live at the base of the mountain where we do God’s will for our lives.
I pray that you all had a blessed celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and that it was a mountain top experience that will be with you at the base of the mountain; i.e., in your home, at you job, with your friends, and in your church.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Recurring Dreams
One of the ways that God speaks to us is through dreams, recurring dreams. For the last two weeks, I have awakened to mentally reciting the 19th Psalm. I am not sure why. I am not sure about the message. But there it is again and again.
Psalm 19 begins with proclamation; i.e., the heavens are telling ... the firmament proclaims ... and they do it without words. I have long been an advocate that our deeds must be accompanied by words. Paul says to us, How will the world know if we do not tell it about Jesus. But in Psalm 19, there is loud proclamation without words. Is God asking me to rejoice in deeds and behaviors without verbal witness?
The Psalm goes on to talk about God’s creative power; i.e., making a place for the sun. In the ancient world, when polytheism was accepted by everyone including the Jews, the god of creation was the most powerful god in the council of the gods. I believe that God (Yahweh in the Old Testament) is powerful, the most powerful force on earth. By remembering that God is all powerful, is God asking me to trust in God’s power to provide for Epiphany and me what is needed for our future growth?
The Psalm goes on to talk about the law, testimonies, precepts, commandments, fear, and ordinances of God and how they revive the soul. I have always believed that God has expectations for the way I think, for what I say, and how I behave. I also believe that our behaviors determine our feelings. Are these verses God’s way of saying I have to change, in some way, the way that I am behaving?
Finally, the Psalm concludes with a prayer request; i.e., keep your servant back from presumptuous (arrogance) sin. I think all of God’s people have to continually remind themselves that it is not what they do but what God does through them that really counts.
I am not sure why I continually dream about Psalm 19 but I do dream. I am also wondering if you have the same experience; i.e., having the same recurring dream. If so, at what point did/does the proclamation and revelation of God become crystal clear for you?
Pastor Pete
Psalm 19 begins with proclamation; i.e., the heavens are telling ... the firmament proclaims ... and they do it without words. I have long been an advocate that our deeds must be accompanied by words. Paul says to us, How will the world know if we do not tell it about Jesus. But in Psalm 19, there is loud proclamation without words. Is God asking me to rejoice in deeds and behaviors without verbal witness?
The Psalm goes on to talk about God’s creative power; i.e., making a place for the sun. In the ancient world, when polytheism was accepted by everyone including the Jews, the god of creation was the most powerful god in the council of the gods. I believe that God (Yahweh in the Old Testament) is powerful, the most powerful force on earth. By remembering that God is all powerful, is God asking me to trust in God’s power to provide for Epiphany and me what is needed for our future growth?
The Psalm goes on to talk about the law, testimonies, precepts, commandments, fear, and ordinances of God and how they revive the soul. I have always believed that God has expectations for the way I think, for what I say, and how I behave. I also believe that our behaviors determine our feelings. Are these verses God’s way of saying I have to change, in some way, the way that I am behaving?
Finally, the Psalm concludes with a prayer request; i.e., keep your servant back from presumptuous (arrogance) sin. I think all of God’s people have to continually remind themselves that it is not what they do but what God does through them that really counts.
I am not sure why I continually dream about Psalm 19 but I do dream. I am also wondering if you have the same experience; i.e., having the same recurring dream. If so, at what point did/does the proclamation and revelation of God become crystal clear for you?
Pastor Pete
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)