Dear Family,
A wonderful sister, of the faith, let me know that sometimes less is more. What she made clear was that these blogs, though at times insightful, can be too long, and she grows bored with them when they exceed a certain length. The more i thought about what she had to say, the more i realized something. She is right. In our world of go, go, go, who has the time to sit down and read a blog that exceeds most term papers? No one. It is time for me, as the one supposedly in tune with society, to pay attention to what society has been telling me all along, and i was just too prideful to hear it.
The blogs, from now on, will be as short as i can make them. I will do my best to condense my ideas and revelations into a few paragraphs, hopefully inviting you all to add your stories, your thoughts, and your insights to what would have been my filibuster. To my church family, i hope the shorter blogs will invite you to read more and get involved more. To my sister who brought it to my attention, thank you.
That being said, i should get to the point of this weeks blog. It is about relationships. More specifically Isaac's relationships, whether it be with God, with Abimeleck, or with the other nomads trying to find a good water source. Genesis 26 is about what healthy relationships can and do look like, when we make them a priority.
First. Isaac continues the long tradition of listening to the will of God. God, in the beginning of this chapter, makes it clear that God would further the blessing He had promised Abraham. Isaac would add his name to the stars, but more than that Isaac could have the assurance that God would add many more stars to Isaac's heritage. Isaac accepts God's call as if it were second nature. Isaac just goes with the flow, trusting that God would provide, God would keep His promises, and God is seemingly more wise than Isaac or any of us. As i look at Isaac's faith, i stand humbled by my own unfaith. Isaac trusts God, completely, and i have a hard time relying on God for a few dollars. Teach me, LORD, to trust in you more.
Second. Isaac is not immune to failure. Just like Abe, Isaac finds himself married to a woman more beautiful than he deserved. He names Rebekah his sister, because Isaac feared the men would take her and kill him. He wanted to preserve his life, even if it meant he would have to give his wife up, just like his dad did. Luckily he gets caught loving his wife by King Abimeleck, and the king calls him on it. No harm done, except the lying part. What this teaches me is that even the most faithful and ardent believer finds himself or herself falling short when times are trying. Isaac isn't the model for me, because he is perfect. He is the model of faith because he is human. Just like me. Just like all of us.
And lastly, Isaac's relationship with the other nomads, i think, sheds a lot of light where Isaac's heart rests. When asked, by the king, to leave because Isaac had grown too powerful, Isaac does. When others fill up wells, which he dug, robbing Isaac and his household of water, a much needed commodity, Isaac just moves on. And when he finds a good well, and other nomads, those less than he, come to fight for it, Isaac just moves, period. Isaac chooses to give up an incredible asset to preserve the integrity of the relationship. Isaac, even though he was incredibly powerful and wealthy, chose peace over violence. He chose to move instead of fighting for a piece of material wealth. He risked his very well-being to keep from harming anyone.
What this teaches me is that maybe, just maybe, we, too, could just move on instead of fighting for something material and temporal. What would happen if we, like Isaac, chose peace instead of fighting, love instead of hate, and building up instead of tearing down? What would our world look like?
Oh yeah, one more thing that proves Isaac is a man of God, an incredible man of God. When Abimilech comes to sign a peace treaty/oath, Isaac feeds him and accepts his treaty. The king kicked Isaac out, when Isaac was powerful and wealthy, and the king forced Isaac to journey for water into areas not that welcoming to him. Isaac had all the reason to say no. But he doesn't. He agrees. More than that, he invites the king in and cares for him. What does this teach us about being right versus living right? Some questions i hope together we can answer. Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Dull?
Family,
I heard something interesting this week on the radio. It was a sports talk show, and they were talking about some of the teams, in the NFL, that might need to change coaches. They named off the obvious lists of flops and teams that are gutter material, but then they named a team and coach that shocked me. The Tennessee Titan's head coach, Jeff Fisher, became the target of their debate. Should he stay? Or should he go?
Well, lets look at his resume. He took the team to the Super Bowl, and he was inches away from possibly winning. He has an incredible record, and in fact, last year, he won 13 games to only 3 losses, before losing in the playoffs to a strong Baltimore Ravens team. Looking at his resume, through the black and white script on a page, one wonders how his name would ever appear on a "hot seat" discussion, but then we have to realize that this year's team is 0 and 6, and this past Sunday they were embarrassed on national television.
But that's not what opened my eyes. I knew all this, what opened my eyes was the argument made by Trent Dilfer. They were talking about the fact that Fisher had been at Tennesse for nearly 15 years, the longest tenured head coach in the NFL, and maybe it was time for a change. I couldn't believe what i was hearing, until Dilfer said this, "Jimmy Johnson, (ex head coach for the Dallas Cowboys), told me, (Dilfer), that he feels that he should change jobs every five to six years, because the players grow dull of his voice." That opened my eyes. It was a powerful revelation that struck home.
And it made me think. Are you dull, or tired, of hearing what i have to say? I think so. To some degree, yes. We are creatures of habits, and i sense each person, whether they want to admit it or not, follows a certain personality type, and they repeat, in words, deeds, or whatever, things that speak to them. For me it is social justice, economic justice, community, radical discipleship, and sincere, authentic spirituality, and for the last six plus years, i have preached this, continually.
As i reflected on Dilfer's words, i sensed something in our church needs to change. I came up with two options, and the first, really, isn't an option as far as i am concerned. But here's what i came up with. First, i could, like Coach Johnson, resign and go somewhere else. Some where that would not know my core values and core faith statements, and i could preach a new message. Well not so much a new message, as preaching what speaks to me to a new audience. This could be an option. But i think its the cowardly/easy way out. It says that instead of growing and adapting and rethinking who i am, i will refuse to grow, refuse to learn, and assume that i know it all. I dont feel that way. So i thought about option two.
This option requires me to look at our ministries and church family with a new set of eyes. I can't get a new set, literally, but what i can do is listen to the voice of you, my church family, and be attentive to ways to reach you, in a new voice. A voice that you haven't heard from me yet. A voice that hasn't bored you to tears. This is the option i chose. It is a tricky choice. A difficult one. And one marked with a lot of chances of failures, because it means i have to get away from what i have grown accustomed to and operate in a space that isn't familiar or known by me. But on the other hand, it is in this space, in this unknown realm that i sense the greatest growth for me and for us as a church family is found. But i still need your help.
I need your voice. I need your input. I need your ideas. I need your fresh set of eyes helping illumine my own journey so that i can see things differently. I need your wisdom. I need your support. And i need your patience. No journey, especially one involving faith communities, is possible without the real support of our sisters and brothers. We need each other to thrive in the unknown spaces we call life. If you will join me, assist me, i will do my best to refresh my voice, and what ideas and revelations God shares, so that boredom is the farthest thing from your minds. I dont want to see anymore heads nodding off during worship, and i abhor watching people do "lists" while worshipping. To a certain degree, when these happens, it is my fault, and i have to recreate myself so that it stops. On the other hand, it isn't my fault. We, each of us, bring ourselves to worship for different reasons, and if the motivation isn't sincere or to honor God, well nothing anyone does will move us.
What does this have to do with Genesis 25? Nothing. And yet everything. Genesis 25, at least in one of my readings of the text this is what i gleaned from it, is about legacies. It details the end of two stories: Abraham and Ishmael, and it describes their family trees, the heirs to their fortunes. As i reflected on what a legacy is and what kind of legacy i want to leave, i realized that right now, at the West Milton Church of the Brethren, i am not leaving a very good legacy. I am not making a path for greater things to happen.
When i look back on the past six plus years, i feel a lot of joy and gratitude over how far we have come, but then i also feel a lot of sorrow and anxiety. Why? Because we are not where i expected us to be, at this point. I felt called, by God and this community, to lead us into deeper faith, life changing faith, and amazing ministries, and i believed we would be packed with worshippers, every Sunday. This hasn't happened. Not totallly. And i lament that i have not lived up to what i expected of myself. I have not honored my legacy, not yet.
Genesis 25 reminded me that we have but a few years to create a legacy that outlives us. Well, actually, we all have a legacy that will outlive us, but we have a few years to make sure that legacy is a positive one with Godly ripples. I want to return to my passion for this church's story and ensuring that we regain our momentum and honor our vision and mission statements. I felt a deep sense of remorse over losing some of that steam, and i hope you can forgive me for becoming comfortable and even apathetic with my role as your pastor. As much as i can help it, it wont happen again.
So we find ourselves at the end of Abe's story, rehearsing a powerful legacy that he left for all who follow. As i meditate on Abe's legacy, i wonder what my legacy will be. And i wonder what our legacy, as a church family, will be. Will we pave the way for a golden age at the West Milton CoB? Or will we allow the cultural tides to move us into irrelevancy and obscurity? I dont like being irrelevant, and i despise the idea of our church being obscure, so let's buck the trend of other churches and recreate our legacy that will not only outlive us, but it will cause others to tell our story for generations to come. Not only that, but it will empower future generations to add their legacy and their story to what we started. Amen.
Shalom and Salaam Meleikum,
jerry
I heard something interesting this week on the radio. It was a sports talk show, and they were talking about some of the teams, in the NFL, that might need to change coaches. They named off the obvious lists of flops and teams that are gutter material, but then they named a team and coach that shocked me. The Tennessee Titan's head coach, Jeff Fisher, became the target of their debate. Should he stay? Or should he go?
Well, lets look at his resume. He took the team to the Super Bowl, and he was inches away from possibly winning. He has an incredible record, and in fact, last year, he won 13 games to only 3 losses, before losing in the playoffs to a strong Baltimore Ravens team. Looking at his resume, through the black and white script on a page, one wonders how his name would ever appear on a "hot seat" discussion, but then we have to realize that this year's team is 0 and 6, and this past Sunday they were embarrassed on national television.
But that's not what opened my eyes. I knew all this, what opened my eyes was the argument made by Trent Dilfer. They were talking about the fact that Fisher had been at Tennesse for nearly 15 years, the longest tenured head coach in the NFL, and maybe it was time for a change. I couldn't believe what i was hearing, until Dilfer said this, "Jimmy Johnson, (ex head coach for the Dallas Cowboys), told me, (Dilfer), that he feels that he should change jobs every five to six years, because the players grow dull of his voice." That opened my eyes. It was a powerful revelation that struck home.
And it made me think. Are you dull, or tired, of hearing what i have to say? I think so. To some degree, yes. We are creatures of habits, and i sense each person, whether they want to admit it or not, follows a certain personality type, and they repeat, in words, deeds, or whatever, things that speak to them. For me it is social justice, economic justice, community, radical discipleship, and sincere, authentic spirituality, and for the last six plus years, i have preached this, continually.
As i reflected on Dilfer's words, i sensed something in our church needs to change. I came up with two options, and the first, really, isn't an option as far as i am concerned. But here's what i came up with. First, i could, like Coach Johnson, resign and go somewhere else. Some where that would not know my core values and core faith statements, and i could preach a new message. Well not so much a new message, as preaching what speaks to me to a new audience. This could be an option. But i think its the cowardly/easy way out. It says that instead of growing and adapting and rethinking who i am, i will refuse to grow, refuse to learn, and assume that i know it all. I dont feel that way. So i thought about option two.
This option requires me to look at our ministries and church family with a new set of eyes. I can't get a new set, literally, but what i can do is listen to the voice of you, my church family, and be attentive to ways to reach you, in a new voice. A voice that you haven't heard from me yet. A voice that hasn't bored you to tears. This is the option i chose. It is a tricky choice. A difficult one. And one marked with a lot of chances of failures, because it means i have to get away from what i have grown accustomed to and operate in a space that isn't familiar or known by me. But on the other hand, it is in this space, in this unknown realm that i sense the greatest growth for me and for us as a church family is found. But i still need your help.
I need your voice. I need your input. I need your ideas. I need your fresh set of eyes helping illumine my own journey so that i can see things differently. I need your wisdom. I need your support. And i need your patience. No journey, especially one involving faith communities, is possible without the real support of our sisters and brothers. We need each other to thrive in the unknown spaces we call life. If you will join me, assist me, i will do my best to refresh my voice, and what ideas and revelations God shares, so that boredom is the farthest thing from your minds. I dont want to see anymore heads nodding off during worship, and i abhor watching people do "lists" while worshipping. To a certain degree, when these happens, it is my fault, and i have to recreate myself so that it stops. On the other hand, it isn't my fault. We, each of us, bring ourselves to worship for different reasons, and if the motivation isn't sincere or to honor God, well nothing anyone does will move us.
What does this have to do with Genesis 25? Nothing. And yet everything. Genesis 25, at least in one of my readings of the text this is what i gleaned from it, is about legacies. It details the end of two stories: Abraham and Ishmael, and it describes their family trees, the heirs to their fortunes. As i reflected on what a legacy is and what kind of legacy i want to leave, i realized that right now, at the West Milton Church of the Brethren, i am not leaving a very good legacy. I am not making a path for greater things to happen.
When i look back on the past six plus years, i feel a lot of joy and gratitude over how far we have come, but then i also feel a lot of sorrow and anxiety. Why? Because we are not where i expected us to be, at this point. I felt called, by God and this community, to lead us into deeper faith, life changing faith, and amazing ministries, and i believed we would be packed with worshippers, every Sunday. This hasn't happened. Not totallly. And i lament that i have not lived up to what i expected of myself. I have not honored my legacy, not yet.
Genesis 25 reminded me that we have but a few years to create a legacy that outlives us. Well, actually, we all have a legacy that will outlive us, but we have a few years to make sure that legacy is a positive one with Godly ripples. I want to return to my passion for this church's story and ensuring that we regain our momentum and honor our vision and mission statements. I felt a deep sense of remorse over losing some of that steam, and i hope you can forgive me for becoming comfortable and even apathetic with my role as your pastor. As much as i can help it, it wont happen again.
So we find ourselves at the end of Abe's story, rehearsing a powerful legacy that he left for all who follow. As i meditate on Abe's legacy, i wonder what my legacy will be. And i wonder what our legacy, as a church family, will be. Will we pave the way for a golden age at the West Milton CoB? Or will we allow the cultural tides to move us into irrelevancy and obscurity? I dont like being irrelevant, and i despise the idea of our church being obscure, so let's buck the trend of other churches and recreate our legacy that will not only outlive us, but it will cause others to tell our story for generations to come. Not only that, but it will empower future generations to add their legacy and their story to what we started. Amen.
Shalom and Salaam Meleikum,
jerry
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Only as Good as My Word
Dear Family,
There is the story of two men who made a verbal agreement with one another. One agreed to sell a car to the other, for a mutually agreeable price, and when it came down to determine how they would seal the deal, the buyer grabbed the hand of the seller. Deal done. In response to this, the dealer said, "Well don't you want to come in and sign some papers, do some research, look at other cars?" The buyer said, "Nope. Don't need to. You shook my hand, testifying that everything you told was true. I trust you, and i made the deal official when i shook your hand."
The simple act of grabbing another's hand and shaking sealed the deal. No need for papers. No need to check up. One man's word was good enough.
My how things have changed. How many of us would have acted the same way? Do we still value the power of a handshake, the value of one person's word? Or do we question motives, so we put things in place to ensure that we get what we want without the worry of being taken advantage of? If we cant trust people, with a simple handshake, how can we ever be in community with them? If we cant take people at their word, how can we ever join in the journey of faith? And if we cant let people go, believing they will honor our agreement, without watching every step they make, how can we honor God with healthy relationships? I don't think we can.
And yet, the lack of trust emerges from previous experiences, doesn't it? We don't come into the world as raging cynics, doubting every motive of every person who walks. Do we? Was there ever a time when we believed someone, wholly, and we didn't need "proof?" We trusted them, so we accepted them as they were, and we gave them the benefit of the doubt. Didn't we? So if we are born trusting, believing the best in people, what happens? Where does our journey go that leads us all to points of mistrust and cynicism?
People let us down, don't they. I know, because i have made promises to so many people, and not intentionally meaning to let them down, i fail to keep those promises. I say i will be somewhere, only to not allow for my other commitments. I rushed into saying yes, before i took the time to make sure i could honor my commitment. And all too often, i have hurt many people, in the church and outside, because i didn't honor my word. In truth, i sense it becomes hard to trust in my word, after awhile, because we will let someone fail us only so many times, before we refuse to let them in. So. I have failed and will fail people. I will break promises. I will fail to show up. I will.
Its not because i don't care or am aloof. It's because i can be, at many times in my life, rather impetuous. I say yes, wanting to experience new things or make the person happy, without weighing the full compacity of what i commit to. This doesn't mean i have bad intentions. It doesn't mean, as some suggest, that i am irresponsible. It reflects a personality that is who i am: impetuous. I live in the moment. I live in the now. But there are drawbacks to being spontaneous. We jump without thinking.
Perhaps what we need is a way to seal the deal like the two men in the beginning or like Abraham and his senior servant, who Abe trusted to find a wife worthy of Isaac. Abe sat him down and made it clear to the servant how important this was, and Abe described the expectations, and then they sealed the deal by having an intimate pact. Having the servant place his hand under Abe's thigh illustrated an intimate moment with two close people. This was something Abe wanted to ensure the servant didn't drop the ball on. And he didn't. The servant saw the task through. He honored the agreement.
But Abe helped the servant see the fullness of what was expected. We don't always get that benefit, do we? Do we always have all the information before we agree to do something, join someone, or answer a call? Not always. We say yes, not always comprehending what our journey will be like. We say yes, wanting to make our friends and family happy, our God happy, our church happy, without "counting well the cost." And unlike Abe's great servant, we, or at least i know i do, find ourselves failing once again.
So how do we stop from falling into this trap? Take a step back. Take time to reflect on what's expected. Get all the information and determine if we can or cannot honor the agreement. Write it down. Make an intimate treaty with the person asking something of us, and make sure we keep that pact close to our hearts, so that we will do whatever it takes to honor that which we agreed to.
A person is only as good as his/her word. When we violate that trust, and we all have and will do, then it becomes a long journey of rebuilding bridges and reconciling relationships. It is a tedious process but one that we must also go through when we harm our friends and family. We have to be willing to dive into that space and go through the painful process of repentance and confession. But on the other hand, no matter how wronged one might have been, the other person must also join us in that space, ready, willing, and able to not rebuild that bridge, not only forgive and forget, but also offer their hand, once again, affirming their willingness to offer their trust to us.
When we dishonor a vow, a pledge, its not easy to rebuild that trust, but if we are to be a healthy, thriving church, it is a necessary step to go through. And its even more difficult, i sense, to offer that trust again, but this is, once again, a necessary step for us to go through if we are to truly be the Body of Christ. And it might seem impossible to not want to micromanage our friend or family member, ensuring they honor their pledge, but that only proves that trust was never there in the first place. Without trust, any relationship is doomed to fail.
So extend your hand to each other in honesty and honor, and let your handshake be the final witness to a verbal agreement between fellow pilgrims on a crazy journey. But if you aren't sure what you are getting yourself into, its ok, not it is right to step back, pray about it, and discern what God has to say. When you do, you will have the confidence that as you shake your family members hand, you have the blessing of God upon you. Which is really what governed Abe's servant--God.
When God directs, guides, and blesses, God also brings to fruition, as Rachel proves so mightily.
Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
There is the story of two men who made a verbal agreement with one another. One agreed to sell a car to the other, for a mutually agreeable price, and when it came down to determine how they would seal the deal, the buyer grabbed the hand of the seller. Deal done. In response to this, the dealer said, "Well don't you want to come in and sign some papers, do some research, look at other cars?" The buyer said, "Nope. Don't need to. You shook my hand, testifying that everything you told was true. I trust you, and i made the deal official when i shook your hand."
The simple act of grabbing another's hand and shaking sealed the deal. No need for papers. No need to check up. One man's word was good enough.
My how things have changed. How many of us would have acted the same way? Do we still value the power of a handshake, the value of one person's word? Or do we question motives, so we put things in place to ensure that we get what we want without the worry of being taken advantage of? If we cant trust people, with a simple handshake, how can we ever be in community with them? If we cant take people at their word, how can we ever join in the journey of faith? And if we cant let people go, believing they will honor our agreement, without watching every step they make, how can we honor God with healthy relationships? I don't think we can.
And yet, the lack of trust emerges from previous experiences, doesn't it? We don't come into the world as raging cynics, doubting every motive of every person who walks. Do we? Was there ever a time when we believed someone, wholly, and we didn't need "proof?" We trusted them, so we accepted them as they were, and we gave them the benefit of the doubt. Didn't we? So if we are born trusting, believing the best in people, what happens? Where does our journey go that leads us all to points of mistrust and cynicism?
People let us down, don't they. I know, because i have made promises to so many people, and not intentionally meaning to let them down, i fail to keep those promises. I say i will be somewhere, only to not allow for my other commitments. I rushed into saying yes, before i took the time to make sure i could honor my commitment. And all too often, i have hurt many people, in the church and outside, because i didn't honor my word. In truth, i sense it becomes hard to trust in my word, after awhile, because we will let someone fail us only so many times, before we refuse to let them in. So. I have failed and will fail people. I will break promises. I will fail to show up. I will.
Its not because i don't care or am aloof. It's because i can be, at many times in my life, rather impetuous. I say yes, wanting to experience new things or make the person happy, without weighing the full compacity of what i commit to. This doesn't mean i have bad intentions. It doesn't mean, as some suggest, that i am irresponsible. It reflects a personality that is who i am: impetuous. I live in the moment. I live in the now. But there are drawbacks to being spontaneous. We jump without thinking.
Perhaps what we need is a way to seal the deal like the two men in the beginning or like Abraham and his senior servant, who Abe trusted to find a wife worthy of Isaac. Abe sat him down and made it clear to the servant how important this was, and Abe described the expectations, and then they sealed the deal by having an intimate pact. Having the servant place his hand under Abe's thigh illustrated an intimate moment with two close people. This was something Abe wanted to ensure the servant didn't drop the ball on. And he didn't. The servant saw the task through. He honored the agreement.
But Abe helped the servant see the fullness of what was expected. We don't always get that benefit, do we? Do we always have all the information before we agree to do something, join someone, or answer a call? Not always. We say yes, not always comprehending what our journey will be like. We say yes, wanting to make our friends and family happy, our God happy, our church happy, without "counting well the cost." And unlike Abe's great servant, we, or at least i know i do, find ourselves failing once again.
So how do we stop from falling into this trap? Take a step back. Take time to reflect on what's expected. Get all the information and determine if we can or cannot honor the agreement. Write it down. Make an intimate treaty with the person asking something of us, and make sure we keep that pact close to our hearts, so that we will do whatever it takes to honor that which we agreed to.
A person is only as good as his/her word. When we violate that trust, and we all have and will do, then it becomes a long journey of rebuilding bridges and reconciling relationships. It is a tedious process but one that we must also go through when we harm our friends and family. We have to be willing to dive into that space and go through the painful process of repentance and confession. But on the other hand, no matter how wronged one might have been, the other person must also join us in that space, ready, willing, and able to not rebuild that bridge, not only forgive and forget, but also offer their hand, once again, affirming their willingness to offer their trust to us.
When we dishonor a vow, a pledge, its not easy to rebuild that trust, but if we are to be a healthy, thriving church, it is a necessary step to go through. And its even more difficult, i sense, to offer that trust again, but this is, once again, a necessary step for us to go through if we are to truly be the Body of Christ. And it might seem impossible to not want to micromanage our friend or family member, ensuring they honor their pledge, but that only proves that trust was never there in the first place. Without trust, any relationship is doomed to fail.
So extend your hand to each other in honesty and honor, and let your handshake be the final witness to a verbal agreement between fellow pilgrims on a crazy journey. But if you aren't sure what you are getting yourself into, its ok, not it is right to step back, pray about it, and discern what God has to say. When you do, you will have the confidence that as you shake your family members hand, you have the blessing of God upon you. Which is really what governed Abe's servant--God.
When God directs, guides, and blesses, God also brings to fruition, as Rachel proves so mightily.
Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Friday, October 9, 2009
New Day is Here
Dear Family,
I realize that this blog might cause some waves, but i ask that any and all to read to the end. Please do not stop after one paragraph or sentence, but take in the totality of what i feel moved to write about. It is a new day for America, a new and glorious day. A day where we can begin to dream about a world where we do live in peace and not fear. Today is a new day, a day of hope, a day of promise.
Why? Because President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this morning. This is monumental. It is key. And as one of the historic peace churches, this should be a sign, for us, that the Gospel of Peace, one which we adhere to, has the possibility to coming true. I dont want to talk about presidential politics or policies or even universal healthcare. That is not why i am blogging this morning. I am writing out of my own sense of joy and excitement, and i hope it can be shared by all.
No president had to face what President Bush faced. Within nine months of his first term as president, a bunch of radical jihadists crashed planes into buildings, proclaiming God's justice. And it put a new president, still trying to find his way, into the international spot light. If he acted too slow, the warhawkish citizens, seeking revenge, would scream that Bush was too soft, too weak to lead us. If he acted too quickly, the left leaning peace activist, such as was the case at Bethany Theological Seminary, would proclaim Bush was acting out of malice, and that Bush needed to be more patient. Give diplomacy a chance. Some even went so far as to blame Bush for the attacks, suggesting that our foreign policies created the 9/11 catastrophe.
I found solace in neither camp. But now, here we are, eight years later, and the war in Afghanistan shows no signs of stopping. The war in Iraq has claimed thousands of lives. Our sons and daughters have given their lives, sacrificing for what they believe in, and it has to stop. But not only our children, but the children of Afghani citizens and Iraqui citizens, those who never supported the Taliban or Hussein, find themselves running for shelter as suicide bombers kill more and more, without caring who they kill. Thousands upon thousands are the victims of these two wars.
But the ripples continued outward. The overall sentiment, towards Americans, was incredibly low. We were, whether you care or not is another discussion, hated by most people in the world. The sentiment was incredibly low, and as i traveled, internationally, twice during these eight years, i can attest, from personal experience, that Americans were not accepted nor looked favorably upon. We were quickly becoming the ire of most of the world. Why?
Because most of the world viewed us imperialist trying to force an ideology upon the rest of the world, especially those parts of the world which promised a huge gain for us--oil in Iraq for example. So we were hated, well more specifically our government was despised. It was so bad that in 2003, when i traveled to Germany, right before the invasion of Iraq, we were warned not to go to Europe, because we would not be welcomed. Needless to say, our image, internationally, was tainted. But now that has changed.
I dont care which side of the fence you find yourself, or if you find yourself on either side, but when a political leader is awarded a prize for making peace, in a world being ripped a part by violence, oppression, and war, then it has to give us hope. I empathize with President Bush. He made choices out of his desire to protect American interests. He is a patriot with deep roots in the American ethos. But my allegiance, my identity, my pledge is not, first, to America, it is to Jesus. And Jesus calls me to love my enemies and pray for those that persecute me.
Loving my enemies makes it hard to fight them. Praying for those that persecute me empowers me to love them. And when i seek peace, instead of violence, i create spaces for healing and reconciliation. Today is a good day for all Americans. We are closer to having peace, living in peace, and being peaceful than we have been in eight years. I dont blame President Bush for the wars. I blame hate and religious zealots for the wars. And President Obama doesn't deserve all the credit for laying foundations for peace. He has a slew of advisors helping him see the world differently.
But the groundwork has been laid, and peace is possible. That is something we, as peacemakers, should all celebrate. Today Americans are seen favorably in the world. Which is to say that through the efforts of diplomacy and working towards healing with our Muslims friends, the world sees America as being that leader in peacemaking. Something our world needs desperately. And for that, we all should shout, AMEN!
Shalom,
jerry
I realize that this might, or at least i hope it does, cause some great conversations about why peace is important. I hope, down deep, that it doesnt become a political debate. I am not writing this to support Obama. I am writing this to support peace and the possibility of peace. Please offer insights, thoughts, and questions. Thank you for being the most amazing brothers and sisters i could ask for...
I realize that this blog might cause some waves, but i ask that any and all to read to the end. Please do not stop after one paragraph or sentence, but take in the totality of what i feel moved to write about. It is a new day for America, a new and glorious day. A day where we can begin to dream about a world where we do live in peace and not fear. Today is a new day, a day of hope, a day of promise.
Why? Because President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this morning. This is monumental. It is key. And as one of the historic peace churches, this should be a sign, for us, that the Gospel of Peace, one which we adhere to, has the possibility to coming true. I dont want to talk about presidential politics or policies or even universal healthcare. That is not why i am blogging this morning. I am writing out of my own sense of joy and excitement, and i hope it can be shared by all.
No president had to face what President Bush faced. Within nine months of his first term as president, a bunch of radical jihadists crashed planes into buildings, proclaiming God's justice. And it put a new president, still trying to find his way, into the international spot light. If he acted too slow, the warhawkish citizens, seeking revenge, would scream that Bush was too soft, too weak to lead us. If he acted too quickly, the left leaning peace activist, such as was the case at Bethany Theological Seminary, would proclaim Bush was acting out of malice, and that Bush needed to be more patient. Give diplomacy a chance. Some even went so far as to blame Bush for the attacks, suggesting that our foreign policies created the 9/11 catastrophe.
I found solace in neither camp. But now, here we are, eight years later, and the war in Afghanistan shows no signs of stopping. The war in Iraq has claimed thousands of lives. Our sons and daughters have given their lives, sacrificing for what they believe in, and it has to stop. But not only our children, but the children of Afghani citizens and Iraqui citizens, those who never supported the Taliban or Hussein, find themselves running for shelter as suicide bombers kill more and more, without caring who they kill. Thousands upon thousands are the victims of these two wars.
But the ripples continued outward. The overall sentiment, towards Americans, was incredibly low. We were, whether you care or not is another discussion, hated by most people in the world. The sentiment was incredibly low, and as i traveled, internationally, twice during these eight years, i can attest, from personal experience, that Americans were not accepted nor looked favorably upon. We were quickly becoming the ire of most of the world. Why?
Because most of the world viewed us imperialist trying to force an ideology upon the rest of the world, especially those parts of the world which promised a huge gain for us--oil in Iraq for example. So we were hated, well more specifically our government was despised. It was so bad that in 2003, when i traveled to Germany, right before the invasion of Iraq, we were warned not to go to Europe, because we would not be welcomed. Needless to say, our image, internationally, was tainted. But now that has changed.
I dont care which side of the fence you find yourself, or if you find yourself on either side, but when a political leader is awarded a prize for making peace, in a world being ripped a part by violence, oppression, and war, then it has to give us hope. I empathize with President Bush. He made choices out of his desire to protect American interests. He is a patriot with deep roots in the American ethos. But my allegiance, my identity, my pledge is not, first, to America, it is to Jesus. And Jesus calls me to love my enemies and pray for those that persecute me.
Loving my enemies makes it hard to fight them. Praying for those that persecute me empowers me to love them. And when i seek peace, instead of violence, i create spaces for healing and reconciliation. Today is a good day for all Americans. We are closer to having peace, living in peace, and being peaceful than we have been in eight years. I dont blame President Bush for the wars. I blame hate and religious zealots for the wars. And President Obama doesn't deserve all the credit for laying foundations for peace. He has a slew of advisors helping him see the world differently.
But the groundwork has been laid, and peace is possible. That is something we, as peacemakers, should all celebrate. Today Americans are seen favorably in the world. Which is to say that through the efforts of diplomacy and working towards healing with our Muslims friends, the world sees America as being that leader in peacemaking. Something our world needs desperately. And for that, we all should shout, AMEN!
Shalom,
jerry
I realize that this might, or at least i hope it does, cause some great conversations about why peace is important. I hope, down deep, that it doesnt become a political debate. I am not writing this to support Obama. I am writing this to support peace and the possibility of peace. Please offer insights, thoughts, and questions. Thank you for being the most amazing brothers and sisters i could ask for...
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Nothing Lasts...
Dear Family,
There is one constant in this world: change. As information continues to become available, at rates beyond our comprehension, the world around us continues to change. The migration from "hometowns" to where jobs are proves that life has changed. Fifty years ago, after the children were raised, most stayed close to home. But as the recent trend, specifically Ohio, illustrates, children aren't staying home. Though the population of Ohio grew from 2007-2008, by nearly 8269, that number represents new births and foreign immigrants, the statistics for migration prove that adults are leaving Ohio, by a rate of nearly 40,000 in that year alone.
Why? Some might be for retirement, we are a mobile people, we can go to any part of the country or world, within a 24 hour plane ride, so we have more freedom to move as we need to. Jobs are a key issue. Ohio focused its economy, for so many years, in the industrial sector, those jobs have moved elsewhere as GM, NCR, and many more illustrate. The jobs are no longer here. They are in India, China, Mexico, or states that offer better tax breaks. Needless to say, the jobs leaving creates a need for young families to follow the jobs. No jobs. No families. It adds to the migration as well.
Why all this talk about migration from Ohio? Because whether we want it to or not, change comes. As life evolves from our birth to our death, change continues to occur. I bring it up, because we have choices to make as change comes to us. We can embrace this change as a reality, as part and parcel of what it means to be human, as a stage in our evolution as humans, or we can bury our heads in the sands, denying the change, refusing to accept what is inevitable. One breeds peace. The other choice brings turmoil. Which one do you think we should choose?
How does this connect to Genesis 23? Well in this chapter, Abraham and his household are facing change, real change. For the first time, since we have joined Abraham on his journey, real, painful, difficult change has come to him. Sarah has died. His partner gone. His soul-mate no longer walking with him. The mother of the promise no longer gets to see the pride of her life: Isaac become the man he soon will be. This change could have crippled Abraham. But it didn't.
He chose to honor her. He chose to give her a place of eternal rest, one which will be the home for all of his family, that honors her story and her legacy. He recognizes that this was inevitable, and he has to continue living. He decides, though not easily, to make a positive outcome out of which was a painful experience. He proves, by his faithfulness to her story and her legacy that good can come from what appears as total darkness.
Psalm 30 reminds us when talking about God's anger/wrath and our pain, David writes, "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Italics added) Whatever momentary struggles, trials, difficulties, growing pains, or mourning we may be engulfed in, no matter how dark it seems, we have a promise, from God, and Annie, that the sun will come out tomorrow. We can bet our bottom dollar. That tomorrow, no matter how far off tomorrow may be, there will be sun.
We can face the changes that life brings, if we have our eyes focused on God, just like Abe did. He wept over Sarah. He had plenty of reasons to do so, she had been beside him through many seasons. They shared an amazing journey. He was justified in weeping. But Abe also realized that he must continue going on, must continue living, must continuing honor God, and the best way to do that is to live a life of praise. A life which knows that though our darkness be great now; praise comes with the morning. And the morning always comes on time.
Change is coming to us, in many different forms, and we can lament these changes, or we can trust that God is in control of every facet of our lives together. If God cares for the birds of the air, the grass in the fields, the flowing streams, and the changing seasons, won't He care for us too? Aren't we more valuable to God, who created us in His image, who breathed His breath into us, who sent His only Son to die for us, who walks with us even now, won't He care for our every need? I think so. No. I know so. And knowing that grants me the peace to embrace the changes that come in this life, because I know the author of change is behind the changes that come our way.
He is the God of the universe, and He is the God of the atom. Nothing that exists stands outside His control or His presence. Nothing happens without His knowledge. He is in control, brothers and sisters, and we can have peace knowing, like Abe, that even the most grevious change in our lives can be used to glorify the Creator of all things. So. Will you join me in this journey of highs and lows, valleys and mountaintops, and of joys and sorrows? I hope so. Because though i know God is in control of my life and the change, it is so much more enjoyable to go through these life cycles with family. Amen..
Shalom,
jerry
There is one constant in this world: change. As information continues to become available, at rates beyond our comprehension, the world around us continues to change. The migration from "hometowns" to where jobs are proves that life has changed. Fifty years ago, after the children were raised, most stayed close to home. But as the recent trend, specifically Ohio, illustrates, children aren't staying home. Though the population of Ohio grew from 2007-2008, by nearly 8269, that number represents new births and foreign immigrants, the statistics for migration prove that adults are leaving Ohio, by a rate of nearly 40,000 in that year alone.
Why? Some might be for retirement, we are a mobile people, we can go to any part of the country or world, within a 24 hour plane ride, so we have more freedom to move as we need to. Jobs are a key issue. Ohio focused its economy, for so many years, in the industrial sector, those jobs have moved elsewhere as GM, NCR, and many more illustrate. The jobs are no longer here. They are in India, China, Mexico, or states that offer better tax breaks. Needless to say, the jobs leaving creates a need for young families to follow the jobs. No jobs. No families. It adds to the migration as well.
Why all this talk about migration from Ohio? Because whether we want it to or not, change comes. As life evolves from our birth to our death, change continues to occur. I bring it up, because we have choices to make as change comes to us. We can embrace this change as a reality, as part and parcel of what it means to be human, as a stage in our evolution as humans, or we can bury our heads in the sands, denying the change, refusing to accept what is inevitable. One breeds peace. The other choice brings turmoil. Which one do you think we should choose?
How does this connect to Genesis 23? Well in this chapter, Abraham and his household are facing change, real change. For the first time, since we have joined Abraham on his journey, real, painful, difficult change has come to him. Sarah has died. His partner gone. His soul-mate no longer walking with him. The mother of the promise no longer gets to see the pride of her life: Isaac become the man he soon will be. This change could have crippled Abraham. But it didn't.
He chose to honor her. He chose to give her a place of eternal rest, one which will be the home for all of his family, that honors her story and her legacy. He recognizes that this was inevitable, and he has to continue living. He decides, though not easily, to make a positive outcome out of which was a painful experience. He proves, by his faithfulness to her story and her legacy that good can come from what appears as total darkness.
Psalm 30 reminds us when talking about God's anger/wrath and our pain, David writes, "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Italics added) Whatever momentary struggles, trials, difficulties, growing pains, or mourning we may be engulfed in, no matter how dark it seems, we have a promise, from God, and Annie, that the sun will come out tomorrow. We can bet our bottom dollar. That tomorrow, no matter how far off tomorrow may be, there will be sun.
We can face the changes that life brings, if we have our eyes focused on God, just like Abe did. He wept over Sarah. He had plenty of reasons to do so, she had been beside him through many seasons. They shared an amazing journey. He was justified in weeping. But Abe also realized that he must continue going on, must continue living, must continuing honor God, and the best way to do that is to live a life of praise. A life which knows that though our darkness be great now; praise comes with the morning. And the morning always comes on time.
Change is coming to us, in many different forms, and we can lament these changes, or we can trust that God is in control of every facet of our lives together. If God cares for the birds of the air, the grass in the fields, the flowing streams, and the changing seasons, won't He care for us too? Aren't we more valuable to God, who created us in His image, who breathed His breath into us, who sent His only Son to die for us, who walks with us even now, won't He care for our every need? I think so. No. I know so. And knowing that grants me the peace to embrace the changes that come in this life, because I know the author of change is behind the changes that come our way.
He is the God of the universe, and He is the God of the atom. Nothing that exists stands outside His control or His presence. Nothing happens without His knowledge. He is in control, brothers and sisters, and we can have peace knowing, like Abe, that even the most grevious change in our lives can be used to glorify the Creator of all things. So. Will you join me in this journey of highs and lows, valleys and mountaintops, and of joys and sorrows? I hope so. Because though i know God is in control of my life and the change, it is so much more enjoyable to go through these life cycles with family. Amen..
Shalom,
jerry
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