Living into the New Year

Once again the news stories are ominous. There are those who want to hurt, maim and kill innocents to make their terroristic political points. IUD's in Afghanistan and Iraq have become commonplace, but two attempts at taking planes down in the U.S. and over the Christmas celebration are not coincidental. There is evil in the world and there are those who would point out that the hands of the governments of the U.S. have not been free of blood. Darkness seems to be the common denominator of humanity.

The greater danger is that we, Christians, will begin to follow the lead of those who seek only to destroy. Christianity has a specific message for us to live. Our message is that Light has come into the world; that righteousness, mercy and justice are the wave of the future. Our message is that the love of God is more powerful than the chaos of evil. We believe history has an end point; that history is the story of God searching for and finding God's lost children.

And in the now of everyday? As we struggle with an economy that simply refuses to recover, as we deal with the realities of war over seas as well as those who would attack us at home and as we anticipate a New Year that will be more of the same, how shall we live?

Resolutions for the New Year of 2010

1. Let us redouble our lives of prayer. Let us truly pray for our nation, for our enemies and for wisom for the leaders of the world.

2. Let us treat those around us with mercy, righteousness and jsutice.

3. Let us see individuals as children of God and refuse to paint everyone with the same brush.

4. Let us do acts of kindness.

5. Let us determine that the year 2010 will find us at worship celebrating the new life God is ushering into our lives.

Peace and Joy

Religous Displays

Well it is almost Thanksgiving and the "Separation of Church and State Police" are out in full force. I have a question and then perhaps a solution. My question is simply, "Are we a pluralistic Nation or not?"

It seems to me that the only people permitted to speak in the market place are those of the agnostic persuation or those of no faith persuasion at all. In today's world, especially in these United States, I am permitted to be as offensive and crass as I care to be - BUT - I am not permitted to display my faith in school or in the market place. It seems to me that there are those who are afraid of an honest discussion. Please prove me wrong.

Let me offer a suggestion; perhaps one that might be heretical in nature. In the town in which I live, there are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Native Americans and folks of Eastern Religions. There are also athiests and agnostics. I suppose we all vote and I suppose we all pay taxes.

So why not display our heritage of faith as well as those of our nationality? Why not a Manger Scene as well as Jewish Booths as well as a celebration of Id al-Adha or the Great Spirit or Buddha. It doesn't bother me for someone to say "Allah bless you" and it certainly brings joy to our merchants for Christmas Carols to be sung.

How offensive can it be to rejoice in the heritage that has brought us together? If we all have equal opportunity and we all speak of peace, what harm can there be to my knowing about Christians or Jews or Muslims or any other of the religions of this world? Where would this Nation be without the people of faith who have been willing to die for the right to express that faith? How sad that the Nation they have served so well now says "NO!"

Wings for Prayers

Last week a friend, a former parishoner and just a neat lady named Kim said thank you for prayers. With her family: husband Nick, 2 daughters and a son; Kim treated us to wings in exchange for our prayers. What a wonderful idea!

You see Kim has been waging a battle with cancer for over a year. And it looks like God is granting her wholeness. Many people, many churches - strangers who are friends who haven't met yet have been and will continue to pray for Kim. Through the medium of the Internet and an organization called "Caring Bridge" Kim has kept us updated on her progress. We, in turn, have written her notes of encouragment and we have prayed.

It looks now as though Kim has gone over the top, and so she wanted to say thank you and threw this wonderful, crazy "wing party." The firehall was packed and was ringing with laughter as people were drawn with the common thread of love for Kim. All glory was given to God and that'll preach.

You know, tomorrow will bring Kim many different things, maybe even more cancer. But last week love had the final say. Regardless of what her body does, Kim is already a winner. Her prayers have been answered.

Now I want to say thank you to Kim - it's been good for this old preacher to see God with skin on.

Pastor Bill

Death Comes Calling

My best friend died last week. I don't guess it was unexpected, Harold has been struggling with his health for several years. I just wasn't prepared. But are you ever prepared?

Harold was a man of God - he brought the Word with power and conviction. He preached in word and in song and he lived what he preached. So he was prepared and he lived as he died.

His fmaily and friends loved him. In the words of Scripture he has received the "crown of righteousness." In his families words, "we do not grieve as those without hope." But we do grieve.

I shall miss his laughter. I shall miss his obvious love for his West virginia bride of 50 years. I shall miss the opportunity to match his wit or probe his thoughts. I shall miss his love for the Church and I shall miss his love for me.
Once a month we would take over a restaurant and "catch up" with our families. He was an unrelated uncle to my children. Simply put, I shall miss him.

At his funeral my daughter said, "Dad, death seems to come in three's, I wonder who is next." I guess that depends on where you are in life. For the folks at Bridgeville, PA it came in the form of a deranged shooter who simply wasted life. For people in Afghanistan is comes with the suddenness of a missle or an IED. But who is next, my daughter, I simply don't know.

They say death sometimes comes as a friend, I have not experienced that.

When death has touched my life it has been through the tragedy of a mistake or an accident. But death does come calling; it is the end point of life as we know it. But I want to shout to the world and to death itself - death is not the final word.

Hard as death can be and has been for me, God is the final word. And God's word has been life. so yes, death comes calling - but God's love carries me even through that final breath.

News or Editorial

How do you define "NEWS?" I'm a bit confused. Is the opinion of "talking heads" news? Do editorial comments form news? Does a blog like this one represent news? Or is there a difference between a breaking story and what someone says about that story?

Seems to me that most of the "News" channels, whether they are on radio or TV or the internet, are editorial comments rather than distributors of what is happening in the world or even in my neck of the woods. I guess some people want to know what an athelete or a movie star or other celebrety think about a story but I don't think that makes it news.

What I am experiencing on most of the news channels or all news radio stations or the internet is not news but opinion. Sadly that is also beginning to seep into the printed page. Newspapers and news magazines are following the same track.

So here is my suggestion. Let's separate and accurately label the sections of our programing or reporting as either news or editorial. If you are covering a speech by the President give the viewer, listener or reader the story but if you want to tell us what you think he said, label that as your editorial coverage.

Well that is my editorial comment for today - thanks for letting me share.

Bill

Susnset on a Treasure Island Beach

I watched the sun make its slow descent into the ocean; like a golden orb plunging slowly - nothing - not even waves impeding its demise. It went with purpose, there was no faltering; a touch on the waves, half way down and then it was gone. Even the golden spear flashed upon the ocean died out - fire embers burn longer - last to go was a hint of glory, sun reflected upon a cloud suspended high above. Then came the darkness; but not complete.

Tonight an evening breeze rocks a sliver of the moon - there are no clouds, the sky remains a darkening blue.

But the darkness deepens. As it does, so also appear points of light - stars and moon shout out that darkness is not the last word.

I sit and wonder, "O God, how many sunsets have you given this planet? How many parables of the coming night bounded by moon and stars? Lord, is the setting of this sun a reminder of sure death or does it point to light that cannot be overcome?"

My thoughts grow more pensive, "Lord, I wonder how many sunsets lie ahead for this writer?"

Then I pray that someone observing my life plunge into its darkness will also catch a glimpse of your night time light. "Lord, may my sunset, when ever that may be, point another to the hope of your tomorrow."

Easter

Every Sunday is a little Easter; I don't remember the origin of that thought but it is so true. Every Sunday Christians participate in the greatest drama known. It is the battle between good and evil; between death and life. Easter is that assurace that at the end of the valley of dark shadows there is hope. So in our current world how do we celebrate Easter?

Well first of all we don't deny the reality of dispair. There are so many problems to day, problems that affect nations and not just individuals. While we may rejoice at successes that occur the economy continues to hurt innocent people; war continues to raise its ugly head and slavery as well as sex trafficing are in full swing.Yet Easter dares to say there is hope.

That's true becasue our hope does not reside in a paycheck or in military arms or even in the accident of birth. Our hope is forged out of the crucifixion. Our hope is forged out of the steel of death.

In the resurrection God has formed a new community - a community of people who serve others; a community whose basic value is to love one another; and community that seeks to grow through sevice adn not by dint of arms. We believe that God is at work in our world and that God has chosen to love the least. God has chosen to love us.

That is not an earned love, rather it is a gift given to all who will come. Jesus said, "Come unto me all who are heavy laden and weary; I will give you rest." That's the promise of Easter.

Bill

Varient thoughts

Since I'm new at this I thought I would start in a safe mode.

Let me comment first on the tragedy the occurred today at the Baptist Church in Illinois. As I understand it, during a worship service the pastor was shot and killed by an unknown man. Motive is not for me to discuss. But how sad a commentary on the world today. For that congregation, and really for all of us, it is a dark day. But shouldn't that be true when any life is taken violently? Shouldn't that be true for all families that have lost loved ones through wanton tragedies such as this? Shouldn't that be true . . .?

In my mind, God must cry as God's children destroy the most precious gift given. Christians are on a journey through Lent, a journey through death and into life - my prayer is that life will once again be lifted up. May your journey through Lent lead you to life, a life that only God can give.

Bill