I have a favorite saying, “You have a marvelous grasp on the obvious.” This statement is reserved for times when someone notices a very apparent fact. I recited this statement when my children made a non-spectacular observation. I teased my wife when she pointed out an important issue to me. Sometimes, I used this statement in an antagonistic way to point out the simplicity of a comment of a person I did not particularly like or with whom I totally disagreed.
For some unexplainable reason, I thought about how my statement applied to many areas in my life as I drove to Austin for worship last Sunday. I thought about how the authors that I like are those who have a marvelous grasp on the obvious in their subject area. As I have pointed out over the past several weeks, I am working through a biography on Luther. It is the fifth biography that I have read of this reformer. The author of my current biography tries to explain why leaders of the Reformation made the decisions they made. For example, Frederick the Wise (Duke of Saxony) did not turn his back on Luther in the years immediately before the Reformation. The reason was Frederick had just founded Wittenberg University in 1502. Luther was his star lecturer. And, Luther was the main reason that the admissions office had more applications from bright young students than it had a right to expect. To protect the university, Luther had to be kept safe. After reading this explanation, I said, “What a marvelous grasp on the obvious. Why didn’t I make that connection?”
After thinking about that particular insight from Luther’s biography, I began to muse about other authors. By my definition, a good book is one which agrees with me. Sometimes, a good book can be written by someone with whom I happen to agree after reading his or her work. In both cases, many times the author has a marvelous grasp on the obvious. (By the way, how do you define a good book or author?)
Having fun on my drive, my mind turned to a statement by Pastor Sara. In one of her sermons, she hit the nail on the head as she communicated the way the church at Corinth actually practiced communion in the first century. In this setting, the communion experience was radically different depending on your social class. Communion was administered around a church dinner. The rich were treated first class while the poor received minimal attention. In Pastor Sara’s words, “It is like those sitting in first class on an airplane and those sitting in coach.” In its simplicity, what a brilliant explanation. I will tell you that statement has become part of my teaching vocabulary on First Corinthians.
I have learned a lot from the people who point out the obvious because I often just overlook that which is in plain sight. I have learned a lot from simple illustrations that have me saying “wow” that is exactly right.
To top things off, the confession in the order of worship at Austin included, “We are blind to the obvious. We disregard the subtle yet powerful ways you (God) try to communicate with us.” My conclusion, having a marvelous grasp on the obvious also influences my relationship with God.
So let me ask, who in your life has an occasional marvelous grasp on the obvious. Is it a close friend? Is it a 7 year old who said something so simply that it struck you as being utterly profound? Heaven forbid, is it your spouse? Imagine that. We can all learn something from a friend, a 7 year old, and a spouse. All of us are capable of having a marvelous grasp on the obvious. Share them when you do!
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Aurora Shooting
As we were sitting at the dinner table last night Joyce asked, “How do you answer the people who are looking for a perspective about Aurora?” My answer, “No one has asked.” She responded, “It is an important and timely topic.” After some silence, I answered, “I might consider an answer this way.”
N.T. Wright in his book, EVIL AND THE JUSTICE OF GOD, writes that today’s world has three reactions to evil. First, it tries to deny or ignore it. Since the advent of the enlightenment, the belief has been growing that evil does not exist and if it does exist it is being defeated by human goodness. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, we are just not going to acknowledge or deal with evil in our world.
Second, if evil occasionally happens, we are surprised. We are surprised at the shooting at Aurora. But why are we surprised? Have we forgotten the Oklahoma bombing, or the Columbine shooting, or Virgina Tech, or the shooting of Gabby Gifford and others outside of Tucson? The current news stories do not report the increase of gang activity and violence in the Denver area that has put residents on edge before the Aurora shooting. Aurora is not an isolated incident. We just want to make it an isolated incident.
Third, when evil occurs and we are willing to acknowledge its occurrence, we blame someone else. For example, Aurora would not have happen if we enforced gun laws. Aurora would not have happened if James Holmes’ friends reported the signs of abnormal behaviors. Aurora would not have happened if politicians of both parties were not so afraid of the NRA and its refusal to permit reasonable gun control.
If asked what I think about Aurora, I would take a page out of Wright’s book and say, “We as Christians and as a secular nation have to acknowledge the presence of evil and fight against it.”
After several minutes (probably seconds), I added to the conversation, “I have been reading Derek Wilson’s biography of Luther. This past weekend, I read Wilson’s discussion of Luther and the peasants' rebellion. Luther was a great proponent of freedom, spiritual freedom. Luther never fathomed that some would take his teachings on spiritual freedom and apply them to civil rebellion against the tyranny of the church and the state. In the midst of the discussion, Wilson quotes (John) Milton; “None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom but licence.” Wilson’s quote of Milton raises the question, “Do we love freedom or do we love freedom’s license to do whatever we want without regard for larger consequences?”
Both Wright and Milton have the backing of scripture. There is an enemy of evil in this world (some times evil is named Satan) and human beings use freedom as a license to gratify their own selfish desires. Stating that is easy. But for me the real questions are, “What can I do about evil?” “What can I do to fight evil in my life and backyard?” Until I answer these questions, evil is just an academic exercise which has little or no relevance in my life.
To address and fight evil, I am going to do the following. First, I am going to pray for the victims in particular and Aurora in general. I am also going to pray for James Holmes because both Jesus and Paul tell me to do so. My prayers will be for God’s peace on them all.
Second, I am going to continue to ask if my behaviors are motivated by prejudice or bias. Prejudice has no basis in fact while bias is based on past experiences. I will work to reject all prejudice in myself and in those around me.
Third, good morals originate in respect for another. I am going to continue to follow Luther’s explanation of the 4th and 8th Commandments. I will respect those who are in authority as Luther calls us to do in the 4th Commandment and I will put the best interpretation on another’s actions as Luther calls for in the 8th Commandment.
Finally, I am going to support current and future laws that are best for the community even if these laws limit some of the things that I like personally. The Bible continually calls for behaviors that build community rather than behaviors that are primarily for my self-gratification.
Will the four steps in addressing Aurora stop another Aurora from occurring? No. As long as there is evil in this world, another Aurora is a high probability. But I refuse to be resigned to the idea that evil exists and there is nothing I can do about it. So I continue to fight the good fight with God’s help.
Pastor Pete
N.T. Wright in his book, EVIL AND THE JUSTICE OF GOD, writes that today’s world has three reactions to evil. First, it tries to deny or ignore it. Since the advent of the enlightenment, the belief has been growing that evil does not exist and if it does exist it is being defeated by human goodness. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, we are just not going to acknowledge or deal with evil in our world.
Second, if evil occasionally happens, we are surprised. We are surprised at the shooting at Aurora. But why are we surprised? Have we forgotten the Oklahoma bombing, or the Columbine shooting, or Virgina Tech, or the shooting of Gabby Gifford and others outside of Tucson? The current news stories do not report the increase of gang activity and violence in the Denver area that has put residents on edge before the Aurora shooting. Aurora is not an isolated incident. We just want to make it an isolated incident.
Third, when evil occurs and we are willing to acknowledge its occurrence, we blame someone else. For example, Aurora would not have happen if we enforced gun laws. Aurora would not have happened if James Holmes’ friends reported the signs of abnormal behaviors. Aurora would not have happened if politicians of both parties were not so afraid of the NRA and its refusal to permit reasonable gun control.
If asked what I think about Aurora, I would take a page out of Wright’s book and say, “We as Christians and as a secular nation have to acknowledge the presence of evil and fight against it.”
After several minutes (probably seconds), I added to the conversation, “I have been reading Derek Wilson’s biography of Luther. This past weekend, I read Wilson’s discussion of Luther and the peasants' rebellion. Luther was a great proponent of freedom, spiritual freedom. Luther never fathomed that some would take his teachings on spiritual freedom and apply them to civil rebellion against the tyranny of the church and the state. In the midst of the discussion, Wilson quotes (John) Milton; “None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom but licence.” Wilson’s quote of Milton raises the question, “Do we love freedom or do we love freedom’s license to do whatever we want without regard for larger consequences?”
Both Wright and Milton have the backing of scripture. There is an enemy of evil in this world (some times evil is named Satan) and human beings use freedom as a license to gratify their own selfish desires. Stating that is easy. But for me the real questions are, “What can I do about evil?” “What can I do to fight evil in my life and backyard?” Until I answer these questions, evil is just an academic exercise which has little or no relevance in my life.
To address and fight evil, I am going to do the following. First, I am going to pray for the victims in particular and Aurora in general. I am also going to pray for James Holmes because both Jesus and Paul tell me to do so. My prayers will be for God’s peace on them all.
Second, I am going to continue to ask if my behaviors are motivated by prejudice or bias. Prejudice has no basis in fact while bias is based on past experiences. I will work to reject all prejudice in myself and in those around me.
Third, good morals originate in respect for another. I am going to continue to follow Luther’s explanation of the 4th and 8th Commandments. I will respect those who are in authority as Luther calls us to do in the 4th Commandment and I will put the best interpretation on another’s actions as Luther calls for in the 8th Commandment.
Finally, I am going to support current and future laws that are best for the community even if these laws limit some of the things that I like personally. The Bible continually calls for behaviors that build community rather than behaviors that are primarily for my self-gratification.
Will the four steps in addressing Aurora stop another Aurora from occurring? No. As long as there is evil in this world, another Aurora is a high probability. But I refuse to be resigned to the idea that evil exists and there is nothing I can do about it. So I continue to fight the good fight with God’s help.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Bless The Lord For Blogs
I begin every Tuesday morning with the recitation of Psalm 103: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not his benefits, He who forgives your inequity, who heals your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” The Psalm continues with all the ways that God loves us.
It is easy to recite all 22 verses of this psalm. The psalm is very affirming as the author continually points to a loving God. The difficulty of the psalm is to re-write it by substituting the benefits God gives today for the benefits the psalmist lists throughout his hymn of praise. The re-writing of the psalm using today’s benefits forces me to see how much God is still part of our world.
Tuesday morning is the normal time that I write this blog. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to share with you. At other times, I struggle all Monday night trying to come up with a subject of interest for both of us. In one sense, what I am trying to do in each blog is re-write Psalm 103 by talking about the benefits God gives to Epiphany, to individual disciples at Epiphany, and to me as your pastor. Each blog as well as each devotional in the e-news letter, each sermon, and each class is a deadline to define what the Lord has to say to us and how each item is a benefit that the Lord gives to us.
On my list of benefits today is an e-mail I received yesterday from a senior citizen stating that the sermon series on the teachings of the church was a wonderful way to review what was learned and treasured many years ago in confirmation class. That sentiment was also expressed yesterday by a 22 year old. “Bless the Lord O my soul for those listen and digest your word, ...”
I quickly add to my list the preparation that I am doing for Vacation Bible School this year. I am going to be exploring the “Puzzles In Life.” Yesterday, I was thinking through all the ways that God views each of us as individuals. The thought process led to God seeing us as partners in creation and human history, as part of God and Jesus’ family, and as Jesus’ ambassadors on earth. The exercise reminded me that the relationship we have with God and Jesus is dynamic and exciting. “Bless the Lord O my soul for viewing me as your child, ...”
The list continues with the joy that I receive each day as I share lunch with the staff. We share some personal things that are happening in our lives, we get into conversations about what is happening at Epiphany, and occasionally we talk a little about church history. “Bless the Lord O my soul for lunches with those who love and serve you, ...”
As I said above, writing this weekly blog forces me to define how God has blessed me and Epiphany over the past few days and weeks. So let me ask, What is your blog (figuratively) that pushes you to bless the Lord for the benefits that God has given to you? Is your blog a discussion about Sunday’s worship and sermon as you drive home from church? Is your blog reading a biography about a biblical or church leader? Is your blog a walk by yourself with the purpose of looking for God’s hand in the flowers and trees that line your path? With these questions, I probably should add, “Bless the Lord O my soul for weekly blogs that reveal your presence in my life and in the life of the church I am privileged to serve, ...”
Pastor Pete
It is easy to recite all 22 verses of this psalm. The psalm is very affirming as the author continually points to a loving God. The difficulty of the psalm is to re-write it by substituting the benefits God gives today for the benefits the psalmist lists throughout his hymn of praise. The re-writing of the psalm using today’s benefits forces me to see how much God is still part of our world.
Tuesday morning is the normal time that I write this blog. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to share with you. At other times, I struggle all Monday night trying to come up with a subject of interest for both of us. In one sense, what I am trying to do in each blog is re-write Psalm 103 by talking about the benefits God gives to Epiphany, to individual disciples at Epiphany, and to me as your pastor. Each blog as well as each devotional in the e-news letter, each sermon, and each class is a deadline to define what the Lord has to say to us and how each item is a benefit that the Lord gives to us.
On my list of benefits today is an e-mail I received yesterday from a senior citizen stating that the sermon series on the teachings of the church was a wonderful way to review what was learned and treasured many years ago in confirmation class. That sentiment was also expressed yesterday by a 22 year old. “Bless the Lord O my soul for those listen and digest your word, ...”
I quickly add to my list the preparation that I am doing for Vacation Bible School this year. I am going to be exploring the “Puzzles In Life.” Yesterday, I was thinking through all the ways that God views each of us as individuals. The thought process led to God seeing us as partners in creation and human history, as part of God and Jesus’ family, and as Jesus’ ambassadors on earth. The exercise reminded me that the relationship we have with God and Jesus is dynamic and exciting. “Bless the Lord O my soul for viewing me as your child, ...”
The list continues with the joy that I receive each day as I share lunch with the staff. We share some personal things that are happening in our lives, we get into conversations about what is happening at Epiphany, and occasionally we talk a little about church history. “Bless the Lord O my soul for lunches with those who love and serve you, ...”
As I said above, writing this weekly blog forces me to define how God has blessed me and Epiphany over the past few days and weeks. So let me ask, What is your blog (figuratively) that pushes you to bless the Lord for the benefits that God has given to you? Is your blog a discussion about Sunday’s worship and sermon as you drive home from church? Is your blog reading a biography about a biblical or church leader? Is your blog a walk by yourself with the purpose of looking for God’s hand in the flowers and trees that line your path? With these questions, I probably should add, “Bless the Lord O my soul for weekly blogs that reveal your presence in my life and in the life of the church I am privileged to serve, ...”
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Taking The Last Step
The last step in visioning, planning, and implementing a program or ministry is evaluation. Evaluation determines if a program or ministry met its goals, what went well, what barriers had to be overcome, recommendations for using the program in the future, and finally what were the surprises. Surprises are the unexpected good things that happened and negative things that occurred. (I believe that we learn more from the good surprises than almost anything else.)
In my experience, evaluation is often forgotten in the planning process. This is especially true if the program went well. When things seem good and fine who needs to rehash what has taken place? I know that when something really goes well for me, I am ready to say “Thank you God” and then to move on to new things.
For the past five weeks, I have preached a series of sermons on the major teachings of the church. The series included knowing God through: 1. the trinity, 2. the Bible, 3: the church, 4. the 10 Commandments, and 5. prayer. The purpose of this series was two-fold. The first was to introduce those who were not Lutheran, or Christian for that matter, to some of the basis teachings of the Lutheran Church. Second, the series would refresh the memories of those confirmed in the Lutheran church about their studies of Luther’s Catechism. In essence, I was bringing a five week new member class to the pulpit on Sunday morning. I was trying to condense at least an hour’s worth of material in each sermon into a 20 minute presentation. I should add that I have never done this type of sermon series in the past.
I have thought a lot about how to evaluate this series without it appearing that I am looking for compliments. Should a printed survey be included in the bulletin next week? Should a survey be placed in the e-newsletter this Thursday? How do you do follow-up to the information that you get from a survey in the bulletin or e-newsletter? Is there another way to get the information that you want?
I have decided that the evaluation of the last five weeks would be personal conversation with those who were at worship for at least three of the five sermons. I will stop those I encounter in the office, the Gathering Space, and those I meet when I walk around the church. In these encounters, I will simple state the information I was looking to gain. I will ask each person if they heard the series, did the series achieve its goals, and should similar series be planned in the future. I also decided to write this blog as an invitation to you to participate in the evaluation process. (For those who worship mainly at the Austin campus, the series will be repeated over the next five weeks and you will have a chance to evaluate it at its conclusion.)
So far, I have had three such conversations. The feedback is as follows. “Initially I would have said I know the material but the series made me think on a much deeper level.” “The series certainly made me remember my catechism which was a good thing.” “The series has given me a simple way to explain to my friends what the Lutheran Church stands for.” All three were in favor of occasionally preaching another series.
This is your invitation to weigh in on the evaluation. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Pastor Pete
In my experience, evaluation is often forgotten in the planning process. This is especially true if the program went well. When things seem good and fine who needs to rehash what has taken place? I know that when something really goes well for me, I am ready to say “Thank you God” and then to move on to new things.
For the past five weeks, I have preached a series of sermons on the major teachings of the church. The series included knowing God through: 1. the trinity, 2. the Bible, 3: the church, 4. the 10 Commandments, and 5. prayer. The purpose of this series was two-fold. The first was to introduce those who were not Lutheran, or Christian for that matter, to some of the basis teachings of the Lutheran Church. Second, the series would refresh the memories of those confirmed in the Lutheran church about their studies of Luther’s Catechism. In essence, I was bringing a five week new member class to the pulpit on Sunday morning. I was trying to condense at least an hour’s worth of material in each sermon into a 20 minute presentation. I should add that I have never done this type of sermon series in the past.
I have thought a lot about how to evaluate this series without it appearing that I am looking for compliments. Should a printed survey be included in the bulletin next week? Should a survey be placed in the e-newsletter this Thursday? How do you do follow-up to the information that you get from a survey in the bulletin or e-newsletter? Is there another way to get the information that you want?
I have decided that the evaluation of the last five weeks would be personal conversation with those who were at worship for at least three of the five sermons. I will stop those I encounter in the office, the Gathering Space, and those I meet when I walk around the church. In these encounters, I will simple state the information I was looking to gain. I will ask each person if they heard the series, did the series achieve its goals, and should similar series be planned in the future. I also decided to write this blog as an invitation to you to participate in the evaluation process. (For those who worship mainly at the Austin campus, the series will be repeated over the next five weeks and you will have a chance to evaluate it at its conclusion.)
So far, I have had three such conversations. The feedback is as follows. “Initially I would have said I know the material but the series made me think on a much deeper level.” “The series certainly made me remember my catechism which was a good thing.” “The series has given me a simple way to explain to my friends what the Lutheran Church stands for.” All three were in favor of occasionally preaching another series.
This is your invitation to weigh in on the evaluation. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Connecting Faith To Life
Since Thursday, I have received many more comments than usual about my e-news thoughts concerning the need for play in a relationship. (You will remember that I said couples marry because they play well together. Couples do not marry because they had to work at their relationship. I also said that Joyce and I continue to date (each other!) after 45 years of marriage.) Some commented that they could not meet a request of mine because they had a date that conflicted with what I wanted them to do. Others said that they were passing my comments on to their kids. Others said they were going to be more intentional about scheduling play in their lives. It has truly been fun for me to have some quote me correctly as a reason to say no to my request; to use me as the outside expert so their kids would listen; and to hear that play in a relationship was being considered.
On Sunday, I stated in the sermon that the average married couple talks to each other 28 minutes a week. Since that statement was made, I have been asked if the 28 minutes includes a wife doing all the talking while the husband listens? (The comment did not say while the husband pretends to listen.) I have also been asked, Is it acceptable to stop talking to your spouse after 28 minutes because you have now reached your average for the week? By the way, the people who made these comments were teasing me. Again, it is fun having the banter about a quote that is correctly heard. It also means that someone was listening.
There is something deeper behind the comments to last week’s e-news letter and the sermon. These comments reveal the importance of connecting a meditative thought and a sermon to “real” life. The question that I constantly raise is, If faith does not relate to the life that I am living today, does it really make a difference? These comments confirm my belief that what is said in an e-news article and in a sermon has to connect concretely to Monday morning’s chores and tasks at home, at school, in the office, and on the playground. Faith is not a spectator sport. Faith is a participant sport for those who are a part of God’s family as they live and contend with the life God has given.
Thanks for connecting an e-news devotion and a sermon to your life.
Pastor Pete
On Sunday, I stated in the sermon that the average married couple talks to each other 28 minutes a week. Since that statement was made, I have been asked if the 28 minutes includes a wife doing all the talking while the husband listens? (The comment did not say while the husband pretends to listen.) I have also been asked, Is it acceptable to stop talking to your spouse after 28 minutes because you have now reached your average for the week? By the way, the people who made these comments were teasing me. Again, it is fun having the banter about a quote that is correctly heard. It also means that someone was listening.
There is something deeper behind the comments to last week’s e-news letter and the sermon. These comments reveal the importance of connecting a meditative thought and a sermon to “real” life. The question that I constantly raise is, If faith does not relate to the life that I am living today, does it really make a difference? These comments confirm my belief that what is said in an e-news article and in a sermon has to connect concretely to Monday morning’s chores and tasks at home, at school, in the office, and on the playground. Faith is not a spectator sport. Faith is a participant sport for those who are a part of God’s family as they live and contend with the life God has given.
Thanks for connecting an e-news devotion and a sermon to your life.
Pastor Pete
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