Practice Precedes Progress

 "The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.  A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything.  They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.  Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.  They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47

In a seminar I attended years ago, Dr. Stanley Ott told a story. He had gone for a walk with his son.  Being  drawn to a  large puddle off the path, his son quickly ran to it. “It’s moving!” the boy exclaimed.  As they looked, the pond was filled with thousands of tiny tadpoles.  His son asked if they could take some home, and Stanley agreed.  They scooped up several dozen in a clear plastic container and kept them in a place that they could watch them change into frogs.  They kept the water fresh and fed them fish food every day, but nothing happened.  After a few weeks, they returned to the puddle to see how the other tadpoles were doing.  Much to Stanley’s surprise, the puddle was empty. That’s when he noticed hundreds of tiny frogs hopping nearby.

He asked a scientist friend why his tadpoles didn’t change into frogs.  The answer? “It matters what you feed them, Stanley.  Not everything they eat will make them grow.”

 If we want to be disciples, it matters what we feed our spirits.  Would we expect to eat only ice cream and doughnuts 6 ½ days a week and eat vegetables once a week and be healthy? Of course not.  Neither should we expect to fill our minds and hearts with all sorts of junk during the week and have Sunday morning make everything alright. 

  The early believers spent their time doing specific things.  They learned about Jesus from the apostles. Christian fellowship,  praying together, and having communion occurred whenever they met.  They demonstrated sacrificial giving, worship every day, shared joy and praise, and extended hospitality to others within their homes. (Acts 2:42-47)

They were growing in grace through the practice of spiritual disciplines. We do not become disciples overnight, but it takes time for our lives to more closely reflect Jesus. Practice precedes progress.

Miss Mary Lou Couch taught me piano for about 6 years through instruction and by example.  Mostly, she taught me through making me practice.   Thirty years ago, I promised Mary Lou and my mom that if I quit taking lessons, that I would continue to play and learn. I grew in my ability to play by spending time sitting at a bench. Practice preceded progress.

  We, too, are instruments that have been created to play a song for others that reflects the love and grace of God.  But not all of us are pianists;so, what can we do?  God offers us many different ways to grow as disciples, but we have to take the time to work on them – to practice – to allow the Holy Spirit to shape us over time.

Being a disciple doesn’t happen by magic, it happens as we live the faith we believe.  We cannot just dress up, attend worship, and grow. We have to allow Jesus to change us daily to be like him.  

I received a beautiful, antique harmonica that is prominently displayed in my office.  You might think that I am quite a gifted player if you see me hold it.  I have not, however, taken the time to practice. Holding a harmonica does not make me a player. Sitting in church does not make us disciples. 

 I am not saying that what we do makes us Christian.  No, only knowing Christ makes us Christian.  Think of being a Christian like being married.  Once we say vows, we are married. Once we profess our faith, we are claimed by Christ.  Whether that relationship is a good one depends on the effort we give to growing in that relationship.  Works do not save us.  However, spiritual disciplines do draw us close to the heart of God.

 If we are faithful to practice, God will grow us in grace.  Practice precedes progress.

Food Pantries Need Help!

 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.  I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.  I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’...
... ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
Matthew 25:34-36, 40

The news spreading today was no surprise.  Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Stimulus) was enacted, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ('SNAP' /food stamps) has received additional federal dollars to distribute to those in need.   These additional monies ended as of October 31, 2013.  The net result is a decrease in the amount received each month to be used for food.  Again, this was the original law; the federal government and the states have seen it coming for a long time.

What was not seen, nor expected, was the content of a letter mailed to South Carolina SNAP recipients.  According to a source connected with a local food pantry, those receiving food assistance through SC were encouraged to go to their local food pantry to help with the decrease in funds.  The problem? No one bothered to give the food pantries a 'heads up' that they will likely see a marked increase effective immediately.

Food Pantry Shortage February 2009

I am not writing today to spark a conversation about food assistance programs; my focus has always been
on the faith side of things rather than the political.  My concern is that our churches, soup kitchens, and local feeding ministries may not have the resources to handle the foreseeable surge in need within their communities.  I will not get 'preachy' today.  I will simply refer us to Jesus call to feed the hungry. It is part of our call as disciples of Christ.

What should we do?
1. Plan food drives in your local congregations - Have them spaced throughout the year in order to continuously stock the shelves. Have groups within the church "compete" to see who can give the most.  Always buy at least one can extra to donate every time you buy something for yourself.

2. Glean - Connect with an organization that is saving food that would otherwise be wasted.  The Society of Saint Andrew is a great example of one such organization in the southern US.  Full disclosure: my wife, Ashley, serves as the Program Coordinator for South Carolina (if you would like to help you can email her).

3. Volunteer - With increased demand will come increased numbers of people seeking help.  Every local pantry will need additional support of people like you and me to collect, sort, and distribute food.

4. Tell others - People need to know that there is a need that is likely to grow.  I believe that most of us are generous and, shown the opportunity, will give to help others.  Even those who complain loudest about "government intervention" in this area seem to agree that the private sector should meet the needs of the hungry.  Here is their chance to do something to make a difference

Let us join together as we seek to show the love of Christ to our brothers and sisters!

Grace and Peace,

Why I Don't Fold My Underwear

I know; I know. It's a terribly provocative way to start my blog.  The title seems far too personal, but it's something that has me thinking about the way I choose to discipline my life.  

A few months ago, I was listening to a time management person talking on the radio.  She was sharing various hints to cut corners and save time where we can. "And for another thing," she said, "I never fold underwear; it's just a waste of time." She explained that our underwear is rarely seen (I might amend, should not be seen), and even if it were, who could tell whether or not it had been neatly folded in a drawer?  Folding underwear is just one of those activities that consumes our time without producing measurable results. We should spend our valuable and precious time doing those things that matter most.

So, I don't fold my underwear anymore. I wish that I could say that in all my life I have lived by the same motto, but I have fallen far short.  The Scripture reminds us that our life is short and fleeting -- that we should make the most out of the few moments that we have. In the words of the Psalms..

“Let me know my end, Lord.  

    How many days do I have left? 

    I want to know how brief my time is.”
You’ve made my days so short;
     my lifetime is like nothing in your eyes.
     Yes, a human life is nothing but a puff of air!

 Psalm 39:4-5

  As a United Methodist pastor, I stand in a long line of people who have all been given John Wesley's terribly clear instructions to clergy: 

Be diligent. Never be unemployed for a moment; never be trifingly employed. Never trifle away time; never spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.

--John Wesley

Many times we keep doing those unimportant things, not because of a conscious, intentional decision, but because we have always done them. The phone rings while we are eating dinner with family or friends, and we cannot help ourselves.  We answer the call, or at least look to see who is calling.  

Instead, our mission, our true call, is to "seek first the kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33).  Our time and effort should be spent so that we "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." (That's the mission of the United Methodist Church, by the way : www.umc.org.) Anything else should be questioned and set aside if deemed non-essential to our mission in life. 

The problem is that we are so used to doing certain things in certain ways that we no longer know why we do them.  It's just what we do.  It's tradition.  It's written in stone.  If you don't believe me, then try to avoid doing some of those expected "time wasters" and see the response -- sometimes from yourself, but also from others.

Just a couple weeks ago, I had someone over at the house who was offering to help straighten and organize.  Since we are still recovering from our recent move, I gladly accepted help.  "Would you mind folding that basket of clothes?" I asked. "Oh, but, when you see my boxers, just set them to the side in a pile.  I don't fold my underwear."

A look of shock and disbelief crossed the face of my kindly helper.  After a few minutes, I looked over to see a pile of neatly folded underwear.  "I'm sorry. I just can't pile them up.  I'm just not used to leaving things in a mess," she said meekly.

As we seek to be faithful to God's mission, many people will try to distract us with the "tyranny of the urgent" (a phrase I remember from Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People).  Just because something feels pressing, does not mean that it is important. It is difficult for people to deal with change in any form, even if that change is necessary.

Again, I do not always live up to the Wesleyan directive, but thanks to God's grace, I am still a work in progress.  With God's help, we can focus more of each day doing those things that reflect who Christ is in our lives.

And at least for now...I won't be folding any underwear.

Grace and Peace,

By All the Means You Can

 "I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means." -- 1 Corinthians 9:22b (Common English Bible 2012)

Reel Mower (no motor)

I have two lawn mowers.  Okay, actually the church owns one, and I own the other.  Mine is one of the old-fashioned, self-propelled reel mowers.  I bought it once I realized that it might be possible to push the lawn at the new parsonage. As you can see from the picture to the right, I have had some fun cutting the grass with this mower.  When the grass is not too thick, when the yard is fairly smooth and weed-free, I enjoy using this mower.  I guess that I technically could mow all the grass with this mower, but the truth is that it cuts some grass  well and some it doesn't.

 

Power Push Mower

Enter the church's mower (stage left).  It has recently been replaced and does a fine job.  It's engine is strong and easy to crank.  It even has a bag to catch the clippings as I cut them.  I guess that I technically could mow all the grass with this mower, but the truth is that I don't.  It can be quite loud, uses gas, and gives me a lesser workout compared with the reel mower.

So, I am back where I started...I have two lawn mowers, and I plan to keep it this way.  There never has been the need in my mind to strictly choose one over the other.  Each has it's place; each has it's function.  I think that all too often we set up artificial win/lose scenarios when the answer was never "either/or," but it's "both/and."

The Apostle Paul understood the need for both/and. He never felt like he was confined to one way of sharing the good news with the world.  Paul used any and every method that he could to reach a hungry world.  In his words:

 I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law).  I act like I’m outside the Law to those who are outside the Law, so I can recruit those outside the Law (though I’m not outside the law of God but rather under the law of Christ). I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.

 --1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (Common English Bible 2012)

He was willing to work within the long standing traditions of the Hebrew faith for those who found comfort in the familiarity of where their families had been for generations.  At the same time, Paul was quite comfortable reaching out to the "unchurched" who had never seen the inside of a house of worship.  His philosophy seems to be that he has to be flexible in being in all places since the gospel is already there.  Why else would Paul say that he does these things "for the sake of the gospel so [he] can partner with it"?  

The Holy Spirit is hard at work in the lives of everyone -- from long time Christians to people who have not yet responded to God's prevenient grace. (Prevenient grace is the United Methodist way of describing God's work in our lives that comes before we say 'yes' to God.  The Spirit tugs and leads, without compelling, each heart to turn to Christ.)  God works in our lives in the ways that we can most easily hear that still small voice speak to us.  Every person describes a unique journey of faith, a distinctive experience of guiding grace that led them from darkness and into God's light.  God doesn't choose one way to work, but works in many different ways. 

Too often in serving God, we set up a false dichotomies.  We act as if we need to choose between two options so that we dismiss one and cling to the other until the end of time. Sometimes it's not about doing either one or the other.  Sometimes we need to reach out with both.

Should our ministry include a web page or a Facebook page? Yes, both.  Should we share prayer concerns by email or phone tree?  Yes, both!  Should we look to our traditions or embrace new ones? Again, yes, both!  Our God is big enough to celebrate our past and our future faithfulness.

Should the pastor visit the sick and homebound or the laity? Should we care for those within the church or reach out into the community? Should we develop maturity of faith and learning or should we focus on mission and outreach?

Yes, Yes,  and ... YES!!!

We must "become all things to all people, so [we] could save some by all possible means."  This is how we make disciples for the transformation of the world.  It's not one way or the other. It's the right tool at the right time in harmony with the Holy Spirit...and in every situation, that may look different.

Or, to quote the founder of Methodism, John Wesley:

 

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

I have two lawn mowers.  Each serve a purpose and have a function.  I plan to keep, and use, them both.

Grace and Peace, 

The Roads Paved with Good Intentions

I have been reflecting on the announcement that President Obama will receive a Nobel Peace Prize. As I have examined the rationale, I have noticed that many of the reasons point to his positions, his assertions, his statements -- in other words, who President Obama may be in the future. Personally, I do not have a stake in whether or not our current President receives this honor. I do find it very interesting that President Obama is being judged, it seems, by his intentions rather than his actions.

There is a chronic disease in our society that has been festering for years -- our words are lofty, our intentions are great, but our actions are weak and inadequate. In the early 1860s, Charles Dickens created a character just like this in his novel Great Expectations. Herbert Pocket was a young man who had grand plans, but instead of fulfilling his dream, he spent his time "looking about him." He made plans for years without doing anything about them.

Over 100 years before that, John Wesley preached a sermon called The Almost Christian where he addressed the path of intentions directly...

...do good designs and good desires make a Christian? By no means, unless they are brought to good effect. "Hell is paved," saith one, "with good intentions." The great question of all, then, still remains. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart? ... Do you then love your neighbour as yourself? Do you love every man, even your enemies, even the enemies of God, as your own soul? as Christ loved you? ..."

In other words, in the eyes of God, it's not our good words, our great intentions, that matter -- it's our lives that count. What really matters is the way that we live out the love of God in the world.

• Not "we intend to feed the hungry," but "we have given the hungry something to eat."
• Not "we want prejudice to end," but "we have begun to break down the walls."
• Not "we are hoping for world peace," but "our actions have brought the peace of Christ into places that were once torn by war."

Why does it matter? Because in the end, we will not be judged by what we intended to do, but by those things we actually did.