Pastor's Notes

No doubt you are familiar with this quote in these or similar words. It is from the Old Testament book of Proverbs. It means arrogance and over confidence is likely to bring about failure.

It is said that Christians are to be humble. As those called to be servants, is it possible to be a servant without humility? Yet some of the most prideful people I have known have been Christians. It is not as though many Christians strut around bragging about themselves, their deeds, or abilities. Often times pride is disguised as false humility, display of knowledge or expertise, the amount of framed documents on a wall, or name dropping. Much Christian boasting is preceded by the phrase, “I know I am a sinner, but…..”

Is there a role for pride in the Christian faith? Do you see instances or quotes of Jesus being prideful? Jesus did refer to himself as Son of Man, Son, and acknowledged he was the Messiah. Is it prideful when one simply acknowledges a truth about oneself? Do you and I want our doctor to say, “Really, I’m not much of a physician”, or would we prefer a doctor who acknowledges their gifts and training, without dwelling on them, to bring about healing?

Perhaps, like so many things in life and discipleship, the issue is not whether or not we have some pride, but how we might use it. I remember as a new pastor standing on the porch of a member’s home waiting for someone to answer the doorbell. Looking around I saw trash, cobwebs, clutter of all kinds, and a very unkempt house and property. I was to learn over time the great dysfunction in this family. Perhaps a dose of pride may have helped. Certainly pride was lacking and this was not a good thing for the parents or their three children as I was to find out over my years with them.

It is certainly possible to have a certain amount of pride while acknowledging imperfections in ourselves and our family. Pride need not deny flaws. Pride, for Christians, can allow us to admit exactly who we are: gifted, loved by God, not up to God’s standards for us. Right there is the sole reason for any pride labeled Christian. We are God’s child, we, as children failing to act as such, are yet redeemed by God. And, like our own earthly parents whom we did not choose, we did not choose God, God chose us.

Our Christian pride is not to be in any elitist way. That is, we are somehow better than others, or more loved by God. We are simply those with some understanding of who we are and who God is. That is, we are fortunate and appreciative ones. Those more fortunate than good need to exercise humility.

I confess that one of the things I have most enjoyed in ministry is large building projects. Why? Because most everything else in ministry is relational and it is hard to judge one’s effectiveness. With a building we can see something concrete (no pun intended), that has been accomplished. In ministry, dealing with people, such a feeling can be rare and not very affirming of one’s efforts.

I recall a book I read in Jr. High School titled, “Death be Not Proud”. As I remember it, there was a young man with a terminal illness. The book seemed to be almost taunting death as if to say, “You think you have power over me? I will not be remembered for having died. I will be remembered for having lived”. This is the pride of grace, the pride of faith. Something horrific may be happening, or I may be a person whom neither I nor God intends me to be, but ultimately God has the final word, the final verdict. Not because of who we are or were, but because of who God is and always will be. We can be content with a humble trust: “I am a child of God.”

I have noticed one thing many who call themselves “Bible Believing Christians” have in common with critics of Christianity, faith, and God. It is often the need to actually read the Bible. Many of those professing to believe in the Bible have read it once, or read it “cafeteria style”, picking and choosing what lines or texts they wish to read. Still others are content to listen to other quotes or paraphrases, thinking then they know “what the Bible is about.” For example: “God helps those who help themselves.” That is actually not in the Bible.

Honestly, I am not sure how to best read the Bible. Genesis to Revelation is one way. Going through the books in groups (Gospels, letters, wisdom literature, prophets, etc.) Perhaps reading first Mark’s Gospel would be a good beginning. Just read it. And read entire books, not portions.

To be fair, many of those professing belief in the Bible do read it and read it constantly and well. Yet I have had so many over the years quote back to me what the Bible says when indeed it does not say the quotes nor concepts they claim. When pressed by me for chapter/verse I receive only repeats of “It’s in there,” or some similar “evidence”.

You and I can’t be smug about this. I have heard people on the left and middle make similar comments regarding what is “biblical.” We too need to actually read it. If the Bible is a living Word of God, speaking new things through old words, reading it through once is not enough. That may suffice for a book of history that just spews back facts, but not for a writing that lives in all contemporary times.

When is the last time you read the Bible or did some very intentional reading of a biblical book or books? Yes, I understand busyness and how hectic and pressure-filled 21st Century and pandemic living has become. Perhaps some time for reading may actually help. Lamentations could be one book. It may be a sort of “holy whining”, but it seems quite acceptable to do such. That in itself can be of some comfort. Psalms praise God, yes, but many also express a depth of human feeling that with which you and I can identify.

The Bible is to be more than a bookshelf or coffee table setting. God’s address through its words can add challenge. They also can bring relief, comfort, and joy. Perhaps the best time to read it may be when life’s challenges are most pressing. What word might God have in store for you? What reminder, what new thought, what prod? We cannot get by with quoting what we think we know. We need to let what we hear the Bible say speak to us now. The quotes will take care of themselves

In a recent magazine article, an Iowa columnist described a chance encounter with his homeless brother. While visiting and shopping in Chicago with his wife, he happened upon a man rooting in a trash can on Michigan Avenue. When the man’s head popped out of the trash can, the columnist recognized him as his brother, whom he had not seen in over three years. A conversation ensued, then both went on their respective ways. The columnist wrote that every detail of that chance encounter remains etched in his memory. Furthermore, he wrote that on his frequent trips to Chicago, whenever he walks by that trash can it is “a kind of sacred relic that calls out my name every time I walk by.” I am sure it is.

What things, and I do mean things, in your life are a kind of “sacred relic” that points to something greater than itself to you? I suspect we may have multiple things that do this for us. I have the hunting knife of one grandfather, whom I knew, and a Bible of another grandfather who died long before my birth. One of the more unique things for me is a palm tree growing in our front yard. I did not put it there. I suspect a bird “planted” it. The Washington palms, common in Arizona, grow like weeds as their seed scatters. The reason, however, that I like palm trees is because prior to moving to Arizona, every time in my life I was where palm trees were growing, was a time I was on vacation, relaxing and having fun. Somehow all these palms around us here seem to
act subconsciously on me to lighten my mood. I allowed this one to sprout and grow. It is now almost 40 feet tall.

Having recently celebrated Christmas, the birth of God incarnate in the baby Jesus, I am reminded though this is God’s primary way of relating to us, through each other, God is not limited to human flesh or words. God is not above using things, material goods, even, to touch us. In worship we use water for baptism, bread and wine for Holy Communion, material matter to come and touch us in powerful ways.

I am not sure it is God using the Chicago trash can for that columnist or palm trees for me, but I do trust God is not above using anything at God’s or our disposal to bring some word to us. Who has not ever thought of God at least once while watching a beautiful sunset? Can we not see the grandeur and beauty of God as we gaze down and look around while standing on the Grand Canyon’s rim? While you and I might find strange those who speak of vortexes in Sedona, we can share with them the beauty of creation surrounding that Northern Arizona community.

Churches have always used art to communicate particularly back in the days of great illiteracy. Stained glass windows, sculptures, and paintings told the stories of the Bible through art. Even now in our literary days, such artwork can communicate not only the biblical stories to us, but above all, communicate the story and beauty of God to us.

Often, we long for the spiritual in our faith. We long for that which cannot be seen but may be felt or somehow experienced. We long for that which might, if only for a moment, take us away from and out of life’s struggles and transport us to some, however brief, place of peace, solace, or joy. Well and good. But don’t miss that which might be right around you.

Ours is a very material faith, finding it’s grounding in the stuff of the world and in this very life. Rejoice, too, when God is not too proud to reach out to us through the very materials of the world. We can say it was God who created such things as palm trees and inspired authors to write the Bible. I’m not sure God wants credit for hunting knives or trash cans. Yet God’s creativity passed on to us has produced these and so much more. God is so desirous of reaching out to us, God is unafraid to stoop to any level, anything to do so.

By now, I am assuming, your Christmas tree is down and either stored somewhere in your residence or by the curb awaiting a bulk collection day from your city’s trash services. Decorations are down and yet, like ghosts of Christmas past, a few pine needles, a couple shiny flecks of glitter, and the one small candle you forgot to put into the Christmas decoration box, remain to both annoy you and remind you of a special time now passed. Family and guests once gathered are gone, and home seems a bit empty now.

January is like one, long, Monday, isn’t it? The month can be a bit of a downer, perhaps more so in pandemic times when rates rise. When I worked in a Lutheran nursing home, the Executive Director of Lutheran Welfare Service that operated the home, always had a big party in January for all the staff. He titled it, “The “After the Holidays Blues Party”. His thought was to not compete with all the parties and busyness of December, but to have something to do and look forward to in a month often devoid of celebration and joy.

How to handle the mundane? How to handle down times in life? These can be challenges for us all at times. Most of us do okay and bounce back, often with the help of being with others and/or having something meaningful to do. Some struggle with issues far deeper than moving past the holidays and often need someone or something very specific to help them move forward.

As I listen to Christians, particularly many pastors and church leaders, often I hear in one form or another we are called to be positive. Think positively and the world will be your oyster. Others seem to think we are called to spread fear. “If you die today, do you know where you would go, “is often the beginning of the kind of fear distributed. Which are you? Eternal optimist? Negative naysayer?

Whatever our makeup, I don’t think God calls the followers of Jesus to be positive or negative thinkers. Jesus seemed to be all over the place. “Your faith has made you well; Go tell that fox, Herod!…” Jesus seemed to be appropriate to the time and occasion. Jesus seemed to respond with proper emotion and attitude to each person and happening. Perhaps this is what God calls us to do. Perhaps this is how God created us to be.

Certainly, for Christians who follow the one of the cross, we can be honest with how we might be feeling. While we may not have to jump and shout for joy, our happiness at a given moment can be displayed. Likewise we need not scream and carry on because we are angry, but it is more than fair….often necessary….that we not let anger build, but instead acknowledged and admitted. A definition of depression that has stuck with me is that depression is “anger turned inward, usually triggered by a loss either real or perceived.”

So, mope around a bit in January. Acknowledge you miss the warmth of your decorated home during the holidays and those gathered. Find something worthwhile to do. Create your own version of “Blues Party” if only for yourself. Pretending January is just like December won’t help unless you actually are relieved once holidays pass. Be yourself. Be who you are. Be real. And don’t worry, Jesus will come again. The good news is we don’t have to wait eleven months for Jesus to come. Jesus walks through both blue times and times that are brightly lighted. From time-to-time Jesus will surprise us and come. While our decorations may be in storage, the joy of an incarnate God has not been shelved away. Now go clean up those needles and glitter and don’t let that forgotten candle bother you.

As fireworks bombarded and lit up the New Year’s Eve sky, I wondered. I wondered what the fireworks mean. Are they celebrating the year past? Are they celebrating their gratitude that the year has passed and are hopeful the next year might not be as bad as the last? Or are they simply celebrating it is now a New Year full of possibility?

Most likely what is being done is simply a New Year’s tradition of many, many years past with little or no thought regarding the fireworks’ connection to hope, regret, beginnings, or endings. Or, perhaps the meaning, if any, is dependent upon the individual person or the person’s past year or the future envisioned by an individual person. Do you look up into the New Year’s sky with deep thoughts? Or like me do you mostly appreciate the fireworks, or, instead, dislike them because they make the dog a nervous wreck?

Certainly some years are better than others. We probably realized that even pre-pandemic times. Some years begin with very specific hopes or goals for the coming months. A new birth, graduation, a new job, retirement, or a special trip planned.

Yet in looking back, most years contain ups and downs; success and failures, hopes dashed, hopes come to fruition, and surprises, some upsetting and some quite joyous. A lot can and does happen in twelve months, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and, do your own math on how many seconds….
A lot of time; quite a lot can occur.

However, in the greeting, “Happy New Year” it seems what, for the Christian, might be the most operative of the three words is “New”. Most everyone wants a happy year. Those who begin a new year are quite aware of its length. For very young ones, the year seems like forever. For adults, the time seems to go faster with each passing year.
But “New”. Many want actually a year with little or no changes. Life seems to be moving along okay, let’s just keep it going that way.

Christians are aware God is at work in every year. Where God is at work, life is not static. There is always something new. Sometimes the newness comes as unpleasant recognition of something we need to do or change. Sometimes the newness comes as complete surprise and gift, removing or lessening some fear or burden. What is certain is that God is busy. God is busy listening to the prayers raised. God is busy responding, it seems, not to exactly what people may want, but to what they may need. God is busy responding to allow us to be those whom God created so we might be able to try to figure some things out for ourselves.

In the early days of 2022, we need reminding God’s calendar is not our calendar. God does not use the Julian calendar, the Roman calendar, the Byzantine or any other calendar. Instead of focusing on months, days, years or minutes, God’s focus is on God’s people: you and me and the billions of others gathered on Planet Earth. God’s hope is less for some future, and more for the present as relates to us. The Rolling Stones may have sung, “Time is on my Side” but for God, all time is opportunity for God to act. Time, for God is opportunity to relate, to bring and do graceful things. It is not that time is on God’s side, it is for us, that most of all, God is on our side. Sounds like Happy New Year to me!