Stand Off

President Obama and the Democratic congress are at an impasse with their Republican counterparts over health care. Like many Americans, I am frustrated and cynical and it seems that we still have the same old politics.

There are fundamental difference about the role of government in dealing with the issue of health care. However, both sides must admit that when they want a particular issue dealt with they are willing to have the federal government involved. The ideological differences and the need to defend their party and viewpoint have us at a stand still; little progress is being made.

Of course such stand offs exist within churches as well. Persons on opposing sides of issues such as abortion or gay rights often cause the church to be at stand still and unable to do the work of the kingdom. As I recently read, there are thousands of churches that are still having music wars and debates over screens in the sanctuary. Pastors and laity struggle to move the church forward and young adults are absent from our churches. God must be weeping and the devil laughing.

A key to resolving differences is the ability to find common ground and not simply want to defend or demand our own viewpoint. But our philosophical or religious views often blind us from seeing the common ground and the possibilities. Some times it requires a mediator, a counselor, or a consultant to break the impasse.

What is at at stand still in your life or your congregation? Can you let go defending your viewpoint and find the common ground?

SNOW !!!

Our area has been hit by two snow storms in four days with 3 feet of snow!!!! A Facebook friend reported that one church sign board read "Whoever has been praying for snow , please stop!"

It is amazing how nature can put a 'hold' on all the things we thought we just had to do and were important! Even our national government came to a halt and yet the country still goes on...

While it has been inconvenient and tiring --all that shoveling, it has also been interesting to note how adults begin to act like children again and have fun in the snow. News reporters making snow angels! Parents taking time to go sledding with the kids; snow caves constructed; snow men/women built.

Yes, I have had enough snow and am tried of digging out, but thank you Lord for the snow's beauty and for a chance to be a kid again and let go of what I thought needed to be done ( never did take out the work I took home on Tuesday!!!)

Lancaster Roots

This weekend I will participate in a worship service "Festival of Roots and Music" that is the first program in a year long celebration of the 300th anniversary of the first permanent European settlers in Lancaster County. Entitled "Lancaster Roots 300" the programs will not only celebrate the arrival of the early Mennonites to Lancaster County, but also the contributions of the Native Peoples who lived here before and after 1710 as well as the rich diversity that is Lancaster County today.

The worship service will share the music of several religious traditions as well as historical moments that recall the arrival of other faith traditions. The service is sponsored by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Hans Herr House, and co- sponsored by the Lancaster County Council of Churches and the Parish Resource Center.

The early Mennonites came to the New World to escape religious persecution. As they settled here they followed their peaceful ways and co -existed with the Native Peoples. They lived together with their diversity, religiously and culturally. Programs through out the year honor the Native Peoples . Land has been set aside at the Hans Herr House for the building of 'long house' and burial grounds for Native Peoples.

This early model of life in Lancaster could serve us well today as we live in very a diverse and sometimes divisive culture.

I commend the Mennonite Historical Society and Hans Herr House for sponsoring this year long celebration . Visit their website at http://www.lancasterroots300.org

Martin Luther King & the Church

The church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 1963

God is not merely interested in the freedom of brown men, yellow men, red men and black men.He is interested in the freedom of the whole human race.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)

This weekend we remember Dr. Martin Luther King whose life and witness changed not only the American social scene , but also the church. Dr. King moved the church out of its pews into the streets. He took the teaches of Jesus and made them flesh in the cities and rural areas of America.

Dr. King sought to continue the good news that Luke recorded that Jesus came to proclaim: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ Luke 4:18-19

Dynamic churches today are taking seriously the message Jesus and the practice of Dr. King and seeking to minister to the needs of the community in which they reside as well as the global community. They are spending less time in the pews and more time on the pavements of cities and towns. Bringing good news to the poor and release to the captives. While we need to fold our hands in prayer, we also need to reach out our hands to heal and help.

Resisting Change

As I was preparing to write this Blog on resisting change , I checked my Facebook page and Len Sweet had one of his TD quotes "If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less." General Eric Shineski.

I was reminded on Epiphany how the establishment hates change. When the three wise men came to Jerusalem and inquired as to where the new born King of the Jews was, Matthew tells us that King Herod and all of his cronies were fearful. King Herod plotted to try to prevent the coming change of a 'new king' by seeking to have the wise men return and tell him where the new born king was (supposedly to worship him, but as we learn, he murdered innocent children in his search).

It is tragic, but often it is persons in positions of leadership ( but who do not really lead) who resist change the most. They are threatened and feel the need to protect the status quo. Herod had his leaders search the scriptures, but it was not for wanting to hear the truth , but to protect his power and position. Scripture is sometimes distorted and used in the church to protect the status quo. Some times persons act in 'un-Christ like' ways to prevent change.

I mentioned in my previous Blog an on- line devotional. This is the current 'benediction'

Look all around you and see what is real.
Hear what is true and be sure what you feel
Touch someone near you in love if you can
Give all you have and be part of God's plan.

Are you, (am I) , a part of God's plan or do we protect our own plans and positions? Will we resist change that is needed and become irrelevant?

A Plan for the New Year

The past two weeks the Parish Resource Center has been closed for the Christmas holiday. However I have been coming into the Center to use the 'quiet' space to catch up on some work, check the mail, but mostly to do some reading and planning for the coming year.

One of the things I did was to go over several legal size note pads on which I have been taking notes and doing work over the past few months. I tore off the pages no longer needed and made some new notes to follow up on things I said were good ideas to do. I also put on my calendar some of the ideas/items so I will do them and not just keep them as ideas on paper!!

I came across some notes from a video by Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg UMC that I watched on line last fall. Mike uses the acronym DRIVE as a plan for what he wants to do each day. It is easy to remember and yet provides for a holistic approach to daily living. It can serve as a plan for resolving to live better in the New Year.

D- Daily Devotions- Begin the day with God in prayer and scripture - or a devotional discipline you enjoy. Recently I have enjoyed using the Book of Common Prayer.

R -Read for Life Learning - In this ever changing world we need to keep up in our field as well as read some of the classics. My personal challenge is to read outside on my work field!

I - Invest in key relationships - Do you spend quality time with family and people who nourish you? Often we spend too much time dealing with persons who drain us.

V- Visioning- Do you spend your time just catching up and checking off the 'to do list'. Do you give yourself time to dream and work on the vision you have for yourself and your church/work/organization? A vision un-acted upon is only a dream or words in a strategic plan.

E-Eating and Exercising - Ouch!!! Once again I need to review what and how much I eat and to set aside time for exercising -other than pushing back my chair from the desk or exercising my hands on the keyboard or remote control.

D.R.I.V.E into the NEW YEAR and the road should be an enjoyable and effective one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Following the Star

I have been using an online Advent meditation, "Following the Star" http://www.followingthestar.org/.
The meditation music along with the reminder to "Be Still"

in this busy season has been very helpful and inspiring.

When I was serving in the local church I usually read a story to the pre-schoolers about "Quintilius" the star. It is a cute story of small, insignificant star in the universe that is chosen to shine on that first Christmas night. Little Quintilius had to work extra hard to shine that night, so hard in fact that he burst into a million pieces. The story suggests that Quintilus still shines in each of us as we share the news of Jesus birth today. (It is one way to explain why Quintilius no longer shines. )

What was the Christmas star? Planets aligning? It is a matter of debate. Another Advent resource I have used is the Hubble Advent calendar and offers views into the mysteries of space. www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/hubble_space_telescope_advent_1.html
It provides spectacular pictures of our galaxy and galaxies beyond. It shows the beauty and vastness of space. The power and majesty in those pictures suggests the first Christmas Star could have been a unique galactic event. The pictures also serve as a reminder that planet earth is not even a pin head in the millions of galaxies. Yet God chose to come to earth and dwell among us in Jesus Christ -Emmanuel. Whether that first star was little "Quintilius" , planets aligning , or a unique cosmic event, it served as a sign that God was doing something special on planet earth.

Like many of you we have a star on our tree. As you look at the star on your tree( or perhaps an angel), let it serve as a reminder that God not only did something special that first Christmas night, but God can and wants to do something special in our lives even today. That God still desires 'peace on earth to all of good will' . That God can use the least of us as well as the vast universe to share good news to the poor and release to the captive. That the promise of "Emmanuel" is still ours today.

Have a Merry Christmas and Hope Filled New Year

Hubble Advent December 23