ERC - Week 1

What if a blog was just a blog?  You know, or maybe I don't - a web log.

Emmanuel Reformed Church - Week 1

Saturday, Jan 25, Installation Service, 4:30pm.
Wonderful service, great participation, amazing reception - a God glorifying evening.

I'm so grateful for those who participated in the service, previous pastors of ERC, previous co-laborers, members of the Reformed Church of America, pastors from the area, musicians, and many brothers and sisters in Christ.  I couldn't picture a better installation for me and ERC.

What do I want to remember?  That it was a nasty cold, snowy night - but the room was still full.
Wes Van Ort took the time to thank people who had gotten us all to that night.  Linda Baker who calmly pulled it all together with me.  And this list of pastors who participated in the service.

Rev. Glenn Van Oort, ERC Pastor 1974-2000

Rev. James Brumm, Blooming Grove Reformed Church

Rev. David Corlett, Delmar Reformed Church

Rev. Abby Norton-Levering, Regional Synod Staff

Rev.  Matt Eachus, Temple Baptist Church

Rev. Rick Behan, Third Reformed Church

Rev. Amanda Nesvold, Trinity Lutheran Church

Father Gregory-Francis DesMarais, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

Rev. Roger Krutz, Professional Interim Pastor (ERC from 2001-2012)

Rev.  Adam Egan, St. Stephens Episcopal Church

Wow, I'm humbled by the fact that they all took the time to be there, and participate, and then there are the people who came, supported, prayed, and celebrated who are not named!  All in recognition of what God is doing in this little part of a very big world.

What do I want to remember?

• Put your hand to the plow and don't look back.  Guide the plow, let the church family pull it.  Again, humbling - who am I?  Break up the surface and see what God grows.
• Work with ERC like I worked with Dave Corlett.  Serve the congregation, in trust and cooperation.
• Listen to the church.  Actually the charge was for the congregation to speak to their pastor, but my part is to remember to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

Then the unforgettable reception, the food, the lighting, the sharing, the warmth of the room!  What a great evening, including that my kids wanted to be there, had a blast playing with other kids, and feeling genuinely welcome.

Then, 13 hours later it was worship service #1 - Don't get stuck, and if you are, get spiritually unstuck.
        Read the Bible and reflect on what God is saying to you and your life.  Simple but true.  I know only Christ and him crucified - the foundation.

www.ercrca.org 

You never know - unless you ask...

Two cardboard signs spelling out his plight.  I looked him in the eye, said hello, and swept past.  He was standing at a rest stop along Interstate 5 in Oregon, literally with his hat out (white hardhat to be specific).  After all the Gieser boys were done in the facilities, we headed back out to the fresh air.  I felt compelled to acknowledge his existence - I asked what was going on in his life.

Short story even shorter, a job possibility didn't work out in Oregon and he was trying to get back to Colorado.  True or not, I gave him some cash.  Life was hard and he wasn't there for fun...  But then he continued - seemingly out of nowhere with a gush of "my son is a missionary in Mexico."  To be clear, I laid no bait for this information, not even a 'God bless you', or mention of prayer.  I was just a guy who took the time to ask what was important in his life. And I learned that more than a guy in the midst of hard times, he was a proud father.

In a matter of a minute or so I learned that not only was his son a missionary in Mexico, but a Christian rap artist with a youtube hit.  "Look up Sean Cates, S-E-A-N  C-A-T-ES, you'll find him, his video 'to know you' has over a million hits."  My family was heading back to the van, so I did as well.  However, not everyone was there, so I pulled out the smartphone and started searching.

I don't do well comprehending things spelled out for me - I didn't have his son's last name in my head.  Now I was curious so I opened the door to go ask again - before I had my foot on the ground he was dropping his cardboard signs and heading my way.  We met in the middle, he gave it to me again, then we each returned to our different worlds...

Not a beggar - a proud dad.  I'm glad I asked.

Don't Ask - Don't Tell (remix)

I have never watched Duck Dynasty and just about everything I know about it I have learned in the past day or so.  That said, the suspension of Phil Robertson over the GQ article "What the Duck?"  has got me wondering...

Have we developed a new national policy of 
"Don't ask, don't tell"?  The military policy of a few years ago is openly mocked, but it has been quickly reworked and reapplied.  Now you can be anyone you want to be, hold any role you want to hold, be popular in the public eye - just don't tell us what you really think about homosexuality if it isn't approved by the LGBT community.  We won't ask, please don't tell us if it is something with which we disagree.

You are absolutely fine, as long as there is no proof of holding any beliefs which challenge the newly developing societal norm.

I find it hard to believe that any A&E executive was even slightly surprised by Phil Robertson's views expressed in the GQ article.  Seriously, they didn't think that their self-proclaimed "Bible-thumper" from the sticks held to a progressive re-defined Christianity?  Everyone of them knew, and most likely held their collective breath hoping no one would ever ask, and no one would ever tell.  Even if the executive who issued the suspension was so clueless to have no idea about the "vile" "outdated" "stereotypical" "homophobic" views of their star, there was a group of motivated people who had developed a pretty good guess of his views of the matter, and they were just waiting...

The activist groups which jumped on this within moments clearly knew what to watch for.  They clearly knew that this Christian family undoubtedly clung not only to their guns, but also their faith.  And not just any faith, but a pretty traditional one - all the activists needed was one video clip, one paragraph in print, one GQ interview.  The Robertsons just had to step out of the closet.

All was fine as long as the family abided by the new "don't ask, don't tell" policy.  The message seems to be getting clearer - keep your beliefs in your closet!

Marriage Blog

Obviously I haven't been doing much with this blog since my Lenten journey of daily blogging.  I'm sure I will use this one from time to time - but I have also started a new blog.
http://www.beforefigleaves.com/
Before Fig Leaves is dedicated to marriage stuff.  For those who are interested in having a better marriage.

Fortunately I live in upstate NY, it is April, and daffodils don't smell. The saying is to "stop and smell the roses," but they are a long way from blooming - and it would have to be a whole rose garden to catch the scent these days. Yet, this time to pause and type when I could be packing for a trip, unpacking from a move, or considering how to be ready for all which lies ahead, I am able to get a wiff...

There are times when taking an extended time to consider the wonder in the smallest details and the slightest nuance is fully enriching. There are also times when the blur of life allows one to see things in its impressionistic beauty. Our Seder dinner tonight was wonderful. Sharing it for the first time with everyone around the table reminded me of when it was new to my mind. It wasn't a time to ponder, but to remember and refeel. There is so much more to Jesus - just how he fullfilled the century old traditions within the Jewish Passover is absolutely amazing! And tomorrow the fact that he rose from the dead, got out of the grave, and still lives - well that is beyond amazing.

In the blur of it all, the picture of God's love and the life He has blessed me with is breath-taking. The swirl of color, energy and texture - it's a beautiful thing!

He is Risen!

A very good Good Friday

A Catholic Priest, Orthodox Priest, Episcopal Priest and Reformed Minister walk into a room... It's no joke, it was my day. This afternoon I was honored to help lead a prayer and worship time like no other I have ever participated in.

Initiated by an Episcopalian Priest in his thirties, held in a Catholic church which seats 800 people, joined by a Priest from a branch of the Orthodox church I had never even heard of before meeting the man (Antiochian), and welcomed in as a Reformer - together we held a Good Friday observance of the Stations of the Cross. A time of hearing from 14 Bible passages recounting Jesus' crucifixion, joining our voices in song, and honoring the One who redeemed us by the cross. It was a simple yet powerful time, punctuated by the 8 different voices showing the powerful underlying unity of the cross throughout all Chritianity.

It was all made possible by relationship. The ministers involved all gather monthly to have lunch. In this simple act of grabbing a sandwich, meeting in a church basement, and getting to know each other - something which might seem like (and sometimes feels like) a waste of time - we were able to make a large and profound statement within our community. And once again my mind returns to discipline.

It is yet another discipline in my life - one that I have done since becoming a pastor - to gather with other pastors when invited. This is the fourth group I have been part of: the first was primarily mainline pastors, the second primarily evangelical independant pastors, and now there are two I make time for. One being younger pastors, many are in newer churches often of a Baptist leaning and the other a gathering of primarily Catholic/Orthodox ministers. Each group has enriched my life, and leads to activities where God's hand is clearly at work. It is not always easy to take the time, but by remaining faithful... you never know.

PS. Jashton was an acolyte, carrying a flame to each Station of the Cross in the sancuary filled with hundreds of people - he did great and now knows what a cassock and a crucifix are.

Life is moving by - two days at a time!

It seems that I'm ending this Lenten journey two days at a time. It certainly seemed that I had written an entry yesterday, but unless tonight is actually Wednesday, or yesterday was...it has been two days once again between entries.

But rather than fitting one days worth of activity into two, I think it is much closer to putting four days worth into two - and somehow that collapses all sense of time. After a wonderful worship service tonight I finally made it to my office - only to discover 11 hours late that I had completely bypassed an important event in my day.

And as compressed as life has become this week, everything will not get done. Even with all time task continumes collapsing into a fluid mess - it still won't all fit. And that is okay. So many good things are happening I can't get too bent out of shape by what isn't. The house is becoming a home, Holy Week activities are blessing many, I've had time to connect with each of my boys, many things will be ready before I head out on the missiopn trip, and so much more.

All this to say that my deepest thought I can force through my finger tips is that two days at a time is a fine pace for a special week. Whatever that means....