March 2014 ~ Pastor's Reflection

Ash Wednesday is just a few days away, and with it the season of Lent begins. As we begin this year's Lenten journey, let us reflect on a few simple questions and answers that might help us with our journey:

        1. Reconciliation may be a great idea, but how do you reconcile with someone who has bitterly hurt you and refuses to even acknowledge that he or she has done wrong? Isn't forgiveness a two-way street? Forgiving those who hurt us is our business.

        If we make forgiveness contingent upon someone else's admission of guilt then we are simply demanding justice and insisting on our "rights." Remember, Jesus forgave his murderers even as they ridiculed him while he hung on the cross. His forgiveness was a free gift given without strings attached. We can't follow him unless we do the same.
        Although, there are times when a breach exists between two people that can't be healed unless both truly want it healed. Even then, someone or something has to offer the means of bringing them back together. That's what God's does. Reconciliation is the work of God. Seeking reconciliation is our work. (Matthew 18:21-22) We need to do whatever we can to make peace with others, and then leave the results up to God.

        2. If justice is one of the things that God calls us to (Micah 6:8), why shouldn't I expect it when it comes to my own needs? You should! It's perfectly reasonable to expect to be treated fairly and honestly in our dealings and relationships with others, and we are expected to treat others the same way. But in reality, you and I and every other human being are also sinners. 

        This means that at some point in our lives we are going to treat others unjustly and we are going to be treated unjustly. These sins can lead to relationships that are made up of a web of angry claims and counter-claims against each other, some of them just, and many irresolvable. The only way to break out of this entanglement is to forgive. Forgiveness is an intentional act that leads to freedom and creates new possibilities. Not only does it free us from the burden of our own pettiness and selfishness, it also allows others to forgive and to find freedom. Handing our claims over to God unburdens us of a huge weight which will cripple us if we carry it for too long, no matter how legitimate our complaints are. Interestingly, we work most effectively for justice on behalf of others and when it comes to our personal situations, the "self" gets in the way and our judgment gets cloudy. 

        The very real paradox of God's plan for each of us is that we can only achieve justice when we practice mercy. This is because mercy changes both - the giver and the receiver, and softens even the most hardened heart. Mercy encourages a change of the heart which leads to love (1 Cor. 13) and love leads to acts of justice which leads to peace. So if you want justice for yourself or for others - forgive. Put mercy first. Justice will follow.

        3. Why do I need to hold myself accountable to prepare for Easter? If Easter is the season of new life then where is the joy spending Lent as my own accuser? We owe ourselves the same mercy that we owe others. Berating and crucifying ourselves is not the point of Lent. Purifying our hearts is the point. Lent is the time when we can put aside the world’s teachings and learn the language of repentance and forgiveness. We do this by disciplining our mind, our spirit, our appetites and our desires, so that nothing gets in our way to prevent us from hearing God's voice and seeking him out. 

        The joy in Lent comes from the confidence we each have in the resurrection of a Savior who delivers us from our sin and restores us to new life. Of course we must understand our own sinfulness and the urgency of repentance and reconciliation or the Cross makes no sense; the Resurrection makes no sense. The joy of Easter is the joy of deliverance from sin and the promise of rebirth. If we don't believe in our very being that we really do desperately need these things, Easter is just another excuse for a holiday sale and another opportunity for over-indulgences! If we are honest in the silence of our own hearts, we know that we were created for more than our own selfishness and mistakes. We were made for glory! But we are empty of that glory until God's presence fills us. Lent is an opportunity, a means of grace, not a burden. My prayer for each of us is that we may use the weeks of Lent this year to cleanse and prepare our hearts to receive Jesus Christ this Easter, and that in so doing we may share in his life together throughout this year. 

In Christ, 

Rev. Pat

*Based on an article written by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia

February 2014 - Pastor's Reflection

        The end of January saw us completing our End-of-Year reports and reviewing the direction of the church through finances, ministries, and other measurable components. Although these reports are a difficulty at times, they are helpful in keeping the church focused on our mission. Some of these statistics and the information that the North Georgia Conference tracks on individual churches is generated from the weekly reporting of our "vital statistics"*.
       In 2011, the UM Conference of Bishop’s introduced a “Call to Action” titled “Vital Congregations”. It was developed to help promote a cultural change in the UM church from a mindset of “Maintenance” to one of “Mission”. They clarified the mission of the UM church with this statement: “The mission of The United Methodist Church is to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This expressed thought comes directly through the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) Jesus gave his disciples and the Great Commandment (Matt 22:36- 40) that he shared later. The Conference of Bishop’s also said that this unified mission will be achieved through vital congregations that equip and empower people to be Disciples of Jesus Christ in their homes and communities around the world.
       Through their efforts and with the input of many UM leaders, they identified vital congregations as those that are:
       * Spirit-filled, forward-leaning communities of believers that welcome all people (Gal.3:28)
       * Places where Disciples of Jesus Christ are made through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:18-20)
       * Communities that serve like Christ through justice and mercy ministries. (Micah 6:8, Luke 4:17-21)

       They further defined a disciple of Jesus as persons who: worship regularly, help make new disciples, are engaged in growing in their faith, are engaged in mission and share by giving in mission. The Conference of Bishops also provided 4 areas of focus and importance in developing a vital church. At the top of the list was establishing small groups (including ministries with children and youth), followed by leadership training for our laity, leadership training for clergy, and worship. And lastly, in order to monitor how our churches are responding to their “Call to Action”, they set up a means to establish goals and for pastors’ to provide weekly updates for their churches (* our "vital statistics"). These areas include:
        * Weekly Worship Attendance
        * number of Professions of Faith
        * The number of Small Groups
        * The number of persons participating in Small Groups
        * Members in Mission and
        * Dollars given to Mission

        Our church is responding in bold and wide-ranging efforts to move the church toward its mission for Jesus Christ in the world. There are opportunities for every one of us to support the work of the church and to be a vital congregation in the transformation of the world. Christ is counting on you, what will you do to make disciples of Jesus Christ?

In Christ, I am
Rev. Pat

January 2014

Happy New Year and Many Blessings!

December 2013 - Pastor's Reflection

There is a song that played on the radio about a man with a message on his home phone that had been there for many years. The message was for his rebellious daughter in case she called home when he wasn’t there.

The words said something to the effect “whatever you have done, wherever you have been, I love you and want you to come home.” He hadn’t talked to her in many years but the song said when she called she heard the message that she needed to hear.

Remembering the message of the song lyrics mentioned above, I can’t help but think that God has that message on his answering machine for all of us all of the time. I think that’s what Jesus came to tell us with his birth and through his life and message. The prodigal son story says that clearly. When I reflect on what it means to be made in the image of God, I think it means that we can love people the way God does, we don’t do that all the time, but we have the capacity to do so when we are at our best; when we are most in touch with God. The lyrics of that song display the capacity we have to love as God does.

During the holiday season we all think about gathering with friends, coming home to loved ones, or remembering those times when we did. But let us be attentive to not miss the call of the gospel, the message from God, the reason for the season. We are welcome to return home all the time, no matter what we have done and no matter where we have been. God loves you, and even me.

May your Christmas be blessed,
Rev. Pat

November 2013 - Pastor's Reflection

Donuts and Donut Holes        

Years ago I stumbled on a series of parables written by William Barton. As a pastor, Barton wrote extensively from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. He died in 1930.

He wrote one column from the point of view of his alter-ego, Safed the Sage (SAY-Fed) and his wife, Keturah. Although the parables are written in the King's English, they have much to share in this modern world. One article especially spoke to me this season.

In this particular one, Safed was watching Keturah make doughnuts. Keturah mixed the dough, rolled it flat, cut out round shapes and then removed the holes. After frying the doughnuts in hot oil on both sides, she gave one to her observing husband. The donut tasted so good that it prompted Safed to question what could be the advantage of having a hole. If the donut is good without the hole, how much better it would be if the entire donut, hole included, were dough! Keturah explains to him that without the hole, the donut would require an extended bath in the hot cooking oil. This process would make the outside rock hard while the center would remain uncooked. Safed then applied this idea to life.

Rather than simply give thanks for all the good things in our lives, we often worry about the missing holes in our lives. The donut hole reminds us of the difficult and painful gaps in our lives. We may be thoroughly blessed, but seeing someone else with more, we wonder what we are missing.

As I reflected on that parable I was reminded that my job will often require me to be concerned with the holes in the ministry. Which visitor or new believer is slipping through the cracks? What small group is needed to help disciple those not connected in Sunday School? What programs are working for those who attend regularly and what programs do we need to create to reach those who have stopped attending? How should we reach out to those in our community without a place of spiritual rest? If I only focus on the holes, my life would be that of a spiritual fireman, putting out one fire after another.

What I have realized, is that my main job is to stay close to the Lord. My strength, my hope, my vision, and my ability to love all come from God. My job as a pastor, shepherd, and spiritual leader is to help open the eyes of those people God allows me to encounter to the beauty of Jesus Christ by pointing them to the many blessings around each of us every day. My life - personal, pastoral, church, and spiritual - are filled with holes. There are always problems to address and something else to do. But, there is so much good happening around me - if only I will take the time to see it.

The Psalmist probably wasn't thinking about doughnuts when he wrote, "O taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8), but the comparison works. One way we stay close to the Lord is to "give thanks in all circumstances." Let us enjoy what we have rather than mourn what is absent from our lives. As we prepare for this season, let us reflect on the good that is present in our lives and give thanks.

In His love,
Rev. Pat

October 2013 - Pastor's Reflection

The Parable of The Fisherman And The Banker

             A Banker was taking a much-needed vacation in a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. The boat had several large, fresh fish in it.

            The Banker was impressed by the quality of the fish and asked the Fisherman how long it took to catch them. The Fisherman replied, “Only a little while.” The Banker then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish?

            The Fisherman replied he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs and to share with another. The Businessman then asked “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

            The Fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, spend time with my wife, serve people who are needy, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends: I have a full and busy life, sir.”

            The Banker scoffed, “I am an Ivy League MBA, and I could help you. You could spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats until eventually you would have a whole fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to the middleman you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You could control the product, processing and distribution.”

            Then he added, “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to The City where you would run your growing enterprise.”

            The Fisherman asked, “But sir, how long will this all take?”

            To which the Businessman replied, “15-20 years.”

            “But what then,” asked the Fisherman?

The Businessman laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You could make millions!”

            “Millions, sir?   Then what?”

            To which the Banker replied, “Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, spend time with your wife, serve people who are needy, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends.”

            

I love this simple parable. It brings clarity to what life is all about… and definitely not about. It brilliantly illustrates the illusions we so easily fall into when pursuing wealth and the riches of the world. It is far too easy to build incessantly and forget that the purpose of life is about our relationships and service to others. It is equally easy to forget about all the goodness we are surrounded by today. The truth is it doesn't take a lot of money to have a truly wealthy life, but it does take freedom. Remember, we are freed from the burdens and expectations of this world through the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

So here are some questions for each of us to ponder …

* What do we really need to be happy and fulfilled?

* What is the price you are willing to pay for simplicity? Complexity?

* If you died tomorrow what unfulfilled dreams would you regret having never lived?

* What is keeping you from living those dreams today?

Be a blessing, as you have been blessed -

Rev. Pat

September 2013 - Pastor's Reflection

They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" - Exodus 32:8 

In April during our daily Bible reading we spent a week focusing on worship. Our readings encouraged us to worship with gladness, to put aside inhibitions and to be joyful. We were also reminded that when we come to The Lord in truth, God meets us wherever we are and inspires us to worship. The week ended with a reading from the book of Leviticus. 

As one of the books of Law in the Bible, a lot of folks do not find it to be as “inspiring” as some of the other books we find in the Bible, but there is much we can learn from studying it. In the first seven chapters of Leviticus we read how God defines worship. Many of the rituals we read of in the time of Leviticus seem really strange to us today but lead us to the heart of what God wants from us in our worship. The rituals that were laid out for the people reminded the Israelites of just how much God had given them and allowed a means for them to remember, to celebrate and to teach their children what God had done. God took special care to help his people be holy and taught the people that what he simply required for worship was an offering of one’s very best. Although God took steps for us to be made right with him after our sin, we need to do our part to be in covenant with God. 

Our worship, when done the way God desires, allows us to put our focus on God and to give him our best - through our prayers, our presence in worship, our money, our sacrificial gifts, our service to others, and our witness to the community. Not simply our leftovers of our time, financial resources, or our energy. Worship allows us to remember whose we are and what he sacrificed to make a way for us to be made right with him. Let us prayerfully evaluate if we are living out our end of the covenant - are we giving OUR best, or are we giving from our leftovers? 

The Psalmist asked the question, "What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?" Then the Psalmist answered his own question, "I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord and I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people in the courts of the house of the Lord in your midst O Jerusalem." (Psalm 116:12-13) 

That is how GOD defines worship. 

Let us ask ourselves, what is my worship costing me? What am I willing to sacrifice so that I may worship in the house of The Lord? And am I willing to give my life to him as a living sacrifice?

May God help us to examine our worship. 
~ Rev.Pat