plagues and better

it has been an interesting late summer, leading to this autumn...i truly wondered what was going on in the world, as my home, usually very comfy and a haven of refuge and safety, began to be a source of concern and unhappiness.

i began to experience what felt like a plague...well, first one followed by another followed by another followed by another followed by another....what was going on?

it all began with my grass dying...well, turning brown, at least. not enough water? no, it was an infestation!

no sooner than i thought i had that pestilence cleared up, i came home to discover mice; yuck. i could probably stand them in the garage, although i would not be happy, but in the house? NEVER! either they had to move, or i did...and i have a mortgage to pay...it wasn't going to be me!

no sooner than i thought i had that pestilence cleared up, i came home t0 discover ants. uninvited; not part of my family tree. first one or two and then everywhere i went. i thought about putting little signs out that said please go to my yard, but, alas, i needed to be tough!

no sooner than i thought i had that pestilence taken care of, i came home to discover flies! i seriously thought about not coming home! fliesas big as my thumb! and they were tough! what was happening to my happy home?

no sooner than i thought i had that pestilence taken care of, the wind came up friday night in waves (fortunately, no water to go along with that), and i had one of my pieces of artwork blow off the wall! goodness gracious, what was my world turning into?

as i left early saturday for an out-of-town meeting, under a gloomy sky, this is what i saw:

after all those plagues, something better. for those of you in town, this was taken just beyond the railroad tracks on franklin, after turning left off of santa fe. awesome, no?

i didn't have as many plagues as pharaoh, and i didn't have to cross over the red-reed sea; only a railroad crossing -- and for that, i didn't even have to stop for a train! how unusual is that?!

so a group of us, seven as a matter of fact, leave today for leawood, ks to attend a leadership institute put on by the united methodist church of the resurrection -- they use to meet in a mortuary, hence the name! we'll be back in time to celebrate communion and worship with our congregation on sunday. very exciting.

hum...rainbow...kanasas....i'm hoping the rainbow is the sign that dorothy has truly discovered that 'there's no place like home'. honestly, i'm not prepared to face the pestilence of a wicked witch!

being 53 doesn't make me wise!

you know, as i headed to the church this morning, i got to thinking about what i was going to blog about today; then i turned on my computer. all that to say, being 53 doesn't make me any wiser than when i was 52.

what did i expect?! i was 52 on friday and 53 on saturday. what a difference a day makes...well, not really! my birthday celebration began on friday when a number of kind church folks took me out to lunch; lunch and dessert the pastor...what a grand idea. on saturday, the day of the anniversary of my birth, i traveled to be with family and friends for, well yes, lunch and dessert. another grand idea!

then on sunday, more dessert, as coffee fellowship had a cake and singing...for me; blush, blush, enough already! but so very kind.

today is tuesday, and i don't feel any more wise than i did on friday...although i am happy to report that by the time i got to the cake table on sunday, there was no more cake left. that may be the wisest choice i make now that i am 53 -- stay away from the cake table! at sunday school that day -- our new high school group with seven, count them 7(!) youth, there were carrots on the table; a healthier 53rd year beginning.

so, if i did have some wisdom, for all my vast years of experience, what would i share?

1. when your mom can't remember it's your birthday, don't take it personally. mom is at the point now that, at least she remembers the sound of my voice. she thinks she is moving, and she isn't, but she is preparing for it none the less. but she is happy, and perhaps since she has always been an active person, she can't handle being idle. i don't know what to suggest, as she won't get involved in the activities in her new home setting. but, taking things out of her drawers doesn't sound like a wise choice either. does someone have wisdom on this subject?

2. when you return to your office after a holiday, perhaps the first thing to do is NOT turn on your computer. read your mail first...over your recycling container. ease into the work-week by visiting the sanctuary for prayer, walking the campus to see how it looks, visiting with staff, checking on the construction progress of the indoor restrooms in the wesley hall -- finally, we'll have indoor plumbing!!! then, turn on your computer...play a game of solitaire...and when all else fails -- when you just can't stand it any longer -- check your inbox. and while that is coming on line, go for coffee! i'm not really been a procrastinator, but, at 53, maybe this is a good time to learn!

3. do something that helps you be grounded. being grounded means knowing that everything doesn't have to be done in an instant, and that sometimes 'being swift' isn't as necessary as 'being thoughtful'. while i may text and facebook friends to congratulate us on overcoming another piece of sexism in our society -- at least in law, as 'don't ask, don't tell' eliminates the potential to do away with something the church has called 'homophobia' for years -- my hope is that it will actually become a reality, not simply a law. now, if the church could just get its act together, maybe we could really 'combat' things like poverty, malnutrition, and abuse -- to name just a few of the issues jesus pointed out over 2,000 years ago. i texted and facebooked friends, that's the swift part. but i have some notes to write...by hand, with a pen...that's the thoughtful part. that is what keeps me grounded. being grounded takes times. if we would only take the time....

well, another year hasn't made me any wiser, perhaps, but maybe more aware of my responsibility to respond to the ways of jesus. i have a friend, when he wants a yes or no answer, asks, 'what do you think'? in this case, not always wanting to be a polarized thinker, i would say, 'let's stay focused on what jesus said'. that would be the 'yes' answer he would want.

now, back to my mounting e-mails! no rest for the pastor. i guess this means that the dessert table is really empty!

F.R.O.G, 9/11, and such . . . .

not long ago, i received a series of e-mails that included FROG; there is a story to go along with the acronym, of course, that deals with a guardian angel that left a little ceramic frog by the bed of a woman in the hospital; her health improved, and a kind person helped her understand the deeper meaning: frog = forever rely on god...or frog.

we celebrated the 10th anniversary this week-end with a wonderful dinner; 10 years of support for wesley foundation merced; a spiritual ministry to the students, faculty and staff at our community college, merced college, and the newest u.c. campus, uc merced. what a relaxing evening; wonderful conversation, a short but informative and energizing program, and a low key but persuasive was to encourage support for this ministry for the years ahead.

at the end of a great meal and program, out came plate-fulls of frog cookies; a yummy reminder to forever rely on god...for a ministry that was only a dream 10 years ago! we now have a solid program under the direction of our half-time campus minister jennifer goto. and we have great determination to expand this ministry to full time, and be able to fully support our wesley student housing. this is truly takes the support of faithful people, and the full reliance on god. be sure and check out this ministry and lend your support . . . www.wesleymerced.org

not just one reminder of frog...but a whole plate full!

as we remember also this week-end, 9/11; September 11th will be forever a marker for change. as people share 'don't forget'; i'm hopeful that we will 'forever remember' the ways in which we can respond in the face of tragedy; through kindness, understanding, forgiveness, and with opportunity. People talk about where they were when this tragedy struck. I remember what people were like the week following this event; quiet skies, numbness, people going out of their way to be helpful, talking with strangers, taking turns and other acts of kindness; that was short-lived, unfortunately. but these 10 years have brought a continued energy to seek understanding and broaden our awareness of a culture and a people for whom most of us were unexposed. our spiritual capacity has broadened, and hopefully our ability to welcome dialogue and understand diversity in more welcoming ways.

i preached about our capacity to learn to forgive, both ourselves and others, for not being perfect; for being human, and for making mistakes that are harmful and hurtful. to learn how to do repair work; to explore how to expand the love of jesus in a more encompassing way. i utilized comments from a collection of letters complied by an organization called "tuesday's children", in a book entitled the legacy letters; messages of life and hope from 9/11 family members. how difficult it is to move on from tragedy; to live without guilt because you happened to survive. love empowers us to move on; not to forget. to allow life to continue to unfold in new and unimaginable ways. sadness, shock and pain give way to newness. it takes time. the 9/11 memorial in new york city will stand as a tribute that life flows on.

we can be embittered; we can be held hostage by fears and pains. and we can allow our past experiences to inform our current reality, so that we may make a difference. we can speak out against oppression; we can name racism is unacceptable; we can work to overcome injustice; we can lean to find understanding on a topic that is new or unexplored by us, each and every day.

bitterness and anger can be the death of us, if we choose to live in that reality. may we choose not to live in that reality, but f.r.o.g. as micah 6:8 reminds us -- what does the lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your god.

may this be our reality . . . .

may this NOT be your experience

i am on a number of lists...one of which is a united methodist pastors list, that allows us on facebook to have our own private page with a zillion pastors posing questions and writing answers. pastors never seem at a loss for words.

this appeared yesterday (pastors working on labor day?), and is a youtube musical reflection of how our culture can sometimes be a bit self-centered. of course, i do not know anyone who would be singing this seriously in worship!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJp98hoqy5I&feature=player_embedded

even though labor day marks the official end of summer for many of us, i was delighted and pained to go see 'the help'. based on the best-selling book, 'the help' focuses on life in mississippi in the 1950's when racism was blatant, the proper way to behave was expected, and 'the help' was invisible. a powerful story; humor, sock, injustice...all the things that make for a compelling story. if you have not had a chance to see it yet, plan to go to a matinee soon.

it is 2011, and racism is still evident. how to we find our words, our inner-strength not only to stand up, but to speak/act out against this tide that continues? closely associated with this era, both now and then, is sexism.

when do you find yourself holding back, swallowing a comment, resisting the urge to muddy the waters or disturb the status quo? or, what has caused you to find your voice and not hold back, or not swallow down a comment or a retort, or willingly gone against the tide that kept the waters clear and the ripples from being disturbed?

i am preaching on 'answering life's difficult questions' this month. sunday's question deals with forgiveness; 9/11, ten years later. join us, won't you?

from humidity to sunshine; home again, home again....

from humidity (cleveland, ohio) to sunshine (merced, california); home again, home again . . . .

i am home, as are my two traveling companions, from 'sing a new song'; this bi-annual event, co-partnered with reconciling ministries network (rmn), and methodist federation for social action (mfsa), was held at the sawmill creek resort in huron ohio, just outside cleveland. this was my first event.

amazing worship with music by mark miller; amazing preaching by garlinda burton, amy delong, sean delmore, and jennifer battiest; amazing speakers such as (retired) bishops joseph sprauge, judith craig, and clifton ives, and active bishop yvette flunder who is doing amazing ministry in san francisco; bible study by althea spencer-miller; and many other amazing things!

amazing to have over 700 people attend this event. the three of us from merced were able to attend through the generosity of our social action team, and the benefits of a long-standing endowment fund.

the emphasis was intended to help make sure that the united methodist church will one day be fully inclusive, including our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, et al folks. the struggle for inclusion has long been a struggle for immigrants, people of color, women and persons with disabilities. currently, all mainline denominations are fully inclusive of pastors and marriage, with the exception of the largest denomination -- united methodist. we are working to change that stance at general conference in tampa, april 24-may 4, 2012. i invite your prayers for a fully inclusive church, as we move toward that time.

making change not only takes prayer, as if god needs to know what needs to be accomplished in ministry (!), but a change in the human heart, and active ways to make that heart be changed by the grace of god. in this day and age, the emphasis will not be so much about standing with signs and shouting, but about telling our stories.

story-telling is nothing new. the bible is full of stories that helped faith experiences change. jesus was the master of telling stories, in the form known as parables -- stories with a twist! if anyone could change hearts and minds, it was jesus.

using jesus as our model, i invite you to being to share your stories of personal faith with others. those working toward change in the church at general conference will be making their stories of change known to every delegate who will attend...988 people from all over the world.

but i think the church in general needs to be sharing their faith stories with one another. when people ask you why you go to church, my i suggest that you don't just simply say "it's what i've always done" or "the week wouldn't be complete without it" or even "i like the music and it's where i see my friends". while all of those reasons may be true, people don't ask the "why" question to receive that information.

people not connected with the church, or who have been hurt in some way by the action of the church, want to know the deep "why" answers that speak to the heart...why it is that you are kind to people, why it is that jesus makes such a difference in your life, and why caring for others makes a difference in your life.

i met some amazing people; people who are living their faith-stories every day! people who are making a difference in this world for justice and inclusion because someone has made a difference in their life. be the face of jesus in this day and age; lend a jesus hand; walk in the steps of freedom that jesus lived and died and rose again for. . . . you'll never know the impact of your story of faith and life, unless you share it with others. some of the information from the convocation can be found on the website www.sans2011.org

and just to give you some additional information. while i did not feel the earthquake of the new england area, many of our folks did; earthquakes just don't happen in washington d.c.! then irene came to town; they've had it rough; including transportation back home, delayed. so in your times of praying, lift up the care of others who have struggled with 'natural disaster' kinds of issues as well. i, thankfully, had good flights, nice weather, good food, great dancing and fellowship, and opportunities to write letters -- by hand! -- to those who can make the necessary changes to the church at general conference.

the theme for general conference, by the way, is "love your neighbor". go, jesus says, and do likewise....

0hi0...i made it, singing a new song!

so, i haven't flown since my trip to europe last year! i decided to fly to ohio for the 'sing a new song' convocation, utalizing a red-eye special. the airport doesn't have much to offer in the way of dinner yummies, but i did manage to get the basic food groups, with the exception of veggies...but, better than nothing....my flights went well. i would await two other mercedians who would follow...one with an awful flight experience, and the other with good luck!

so, what does one do in ohio before the workshops begin? take a hike to see lake erie. here it is!














below is the 'sing a new song logo, and the workshop visual for my workshop today with clergy. we are working to help make the church more inclusive....even the issue of marriage! to be the kind of church god wants us to be...we have to be open, inclusive, and willing to be instuments of god's peace. here's hoping!!!!

going to sing a new song

i leave in a little while -- after i pack and drive two hours to the airport and wait for a red-eye special! -- to a convocation entitled 'sing a new song'. sponsored by methodist federation for social action and reconciling ministries network, we will converge on the sawmill creek resort in huron, ohio, about 1/2 an hours outside of cleavland.

bishops sprague and craig will be there. we'll sing, of course -- what united methodist event do you know of that does not include at least a bit of singing?! we will participate in workshops that no doubt will inspire and guide us to teach. Three from our community will join over 600 others at this event, so that we may re-affirm our ability to be a united faith -- including our gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, trangender, diverse racial and differently-abled sisters and brothers.

we will also have worship and fellowship and participate in small groups. we'll share stories and 'mobilize for mission, turning our faith into action, so that we might seek peace and continue to work toward affirming god's creation and ending poverty and hatred.

i've never been to ohio. but i do love ohio states' marching band! the weather report includes a thunder storm! there are very few things that don't get me excited. i've always loved a good thunder storm with lightening, of course. and music!

i was juicing up my walk-person for the trip, and wondered what was taking so long...all that to discover that my computer was downloading all my pictures too...well, if that is the only thing that happens on this trip that is negative, i'll be a very happy camper!

so, please take a few moments to pray for traveling mercies upon all of those who will be attending and, while you are at it, simply pray for god's presence -- for yourself and for those around you, and for those whom you may never meet.

the daily devotional i received recently has this to say -- from jesus calling by sarah young:

"entrust your loved ones to me (jesus says); release them into my protective care. they are much safer with me than in your clinging hands....when you release loved ones to me, you are free to cling to my hand....watch to see what i will do."

i kind of like that image. sometimes when we hold on too tightly, we restrict and dis-empower. but when we release and 'let god', we no longer have to be anxious about the results.

so, here i go. bless you and your journey as well . . . .