Putting the 'M' in Maundy

        Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully.        Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God.4 So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing.        After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you?  You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am.  If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.  I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them.  Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.        “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.  This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

John 13:1-5, 12-17, 34-35

The prophets called them “beautiful,” at least when they belonged to those who brought good news. Beautiful feet?!? We hear of folks having great legs, or beautiful hair, or stunning eyes; but when have we ever heard of someone with beautiful feet?

Most feet are not only funny looking, they are also crooked, ugly, and sometimes even smelly. So just imagine washing someone’s feet—to peel off the mud and dirt that was caked onto their heels, and maybe between their toes!

It’s not very inviting, is it? It’s understandable why that particular job—always fell to the lowest servant of a household, to the “last hired, first fired,” the person with no seniority.

On his last night on Earth, that’s exactly what Jesus did. He got up during the meal, wrapped a towel around his waist, got down on his knees, and began to wash the feet of his disciples. It was so unexpected, so “un-Lord-like,” that when Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter crossed his arms and said rather emphatically, “You will never wash my feet.” Because in Peter’s mind, washing feet was clearly not the kind of thing Jesus ought to be doing.
But Jesus took on the servant’s role anyway. So why did he do it? Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, not because he had to, but because “he loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully.” 

That’s a hard task indeed for many of us. We can put up with folks for a while. But loving someone “fully”? That’s a different matter. When we don’t get any affirmation from our relationship or when another person is spiteful toward us, it’s tempting to just give up on them. We could understand it if Jesus, who “knew that his time had come to leave this world,” had been just a little distracted on that evening with what was about to happen to him. He didn’t really have time to put up with the petty arguments of his disciples, who were still fighting about who was going to sit in the places of honor at the meal. Who would have blamed Jesus, had he told them to just “be silent and sit down”?

But he didn’t. Instead, Jesus simply got up and took the servant’s role and washed their feet. Jesus wanted his disciples to understand that real love and real faith, and especially real leadership, means one thing and one thing only: it means serving… 

Even two thousand years later, nothing really has changed about what real love is, and how Jesus calls us to manifest it to others. Indeed, if you want to follow Jesus, the simple truth is that the line starts at the rear. Jesus said “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.” And that novum mandatum is the expression from where the term “Maundy Thursday” comes. 

If we want to know just what following Christ means, the mandate makes it clear: it means being willing to serve others, even if not just their feet, but their whole manner of being makes them genuine stinkers. 

Because it is by this that everyone will know that we are truly Christ’s disciples. Indeed, people will recognize that we are sincere in this whole faith business only if we actually love one another. So are we keeping Christ’s mandate to truly love those around us?

To be sure, feet may not be very glamorous. But they can say a lot about who is here to be served and who has come to serve. What’s more, as the prophet of old once told us, our feet can even be beautiful if they belong to those who bring good news. 

        Let us hear the call of our Savior speak through the centuries:“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” 

Grace and Peace,

No Longer Normal

The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 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

I have often asked myself how it is that a community had gotten to the place where they could share their resources so completely. How could they be so mutually focused?  I realized that the ‘secret’ is found in verse 42 and unpacked in Robert Quinn’s Deep Change Field Guide. 

We are used to normal.  That is the reason we call it ‘normal.’  Normal leadership tends to be driven by reacting and problem solving, by listening to others’ perceptions, by putting self interest first, and by staying in our comfort zone (DCFG 101).  We have experienced problems in the past and we assume that the good choices we once made will see us through the future.  Unfortunately, some might say, things are constantly changing.  The whole universe seems to know that we are all part of the dance to an almost inaudible song played by our Creator heard briefly in moments of Incarnation.  Whether we hear the notes or not, the rhythm pulses through every moment of every day giving life, and creation cannot help but sway.

With everything moving and changing, what was excellent yesterday has become ‘normal’ today. We replay past successes not realizing that we are now out of step with the tempo.  When things are different, we find ourselves reacting to life.  We feel that something is out of sync, so we look to the approval of others so that we know we are okay.  We even qualify the Good News by saying ,”and if we don’t first love ourselves, then how can we love others?” Our defense mechanisms shut out signals calling for change as we lie to ourselves saying things like, “I just didn’t have a choice.”

Christ didn’t come to give us life that we might be okay.  Christ gave us life that we might have abundance and joy. He gave this good news to be shared through the disciples who had lived with him for 3 years. They knew firsthand what his leadership was like. And “the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.” The believers were not worried about comfort, they were centered in the resurrection of Christ that gave meaning and purpose to their lives. In the apostles’ teaching, they would know about Jesus’ call to “love one another as I have loved you” being willing to lay down their lives for another. By being so focused on others, they could nurture trust and put the common good and welfare of others first (DCFG 103).  They had formed a creatively adaptive system which could adjust to our constantly changing world.

When we are no longer normal, can put vision and purpose before self, we find that the extraordinary is possible.  Starting with the apostles, the change would have moved throughout the early Christians as their normal lives were transformed into something so abundant that their lives overflowed to others.

May we be so transformed that the world will look at us and be amazed at the power of God’s grace that moves among us.

Grace and Peace,

Loving Like Jesus

          “Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I’m telling you: ‘Where I go, you are not able to come.’         “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

John 13:33-35, The Message

Years ago, I was working on Sunday's worship service on a Tuesday afternoon in the Monaghan UMC church office. I spent time selecting hymns, reading over scriptures again, and asking God for guidance and insight.  I have often hears the expression "be careful what you pray for…"

My office door was open and I heard noise coming from the hall.  I glanced up to see bird swooping over my head and smash into my office window that faced outside.  Needless to say, I quickly left office, ran down the stairs and found the custodian working on the church grounds. To remove our fine feathered friend from the office would take teamwork. I told him we should close all the doors in the church first, and then try to get the bird outside. Since this was a multi-level building, I went down the steps and he went up.  I closed off all the downstairs doors and reached the top of the stairs back at ground level.  The custodian told me that the bird was now in the secretary’s office. 
Before could do anything else, bird flew down the hall, and instead of going toward the open, beckoning doors, the bird flew into the doors of the sanctuary. This was a traditional, rectangular sanctuary with high, vaulted ceilings and exposed beams.  It was beautiful to see, but a puzzle with a bird flying around inside. What a scene we made! Two grown men, waving brooms, yelling, making noises into microphones -- we did anything we could to keep that bird moving so that it would fly out the front doors…I remember saying more than once, “I don’t want to hurt the bird, but we have to do something to get it out of here…” After over an hour, the bird landed on a back pew, saw the light of day through the front doors, and quickly flew to freedom once again.  

I have thought about that experience many times. I didn't want to hurt the bird and yet had to get it out of the building. It would die without food and water. I wonder what bird thought about these two huge monsters waving sticks, making noises.  I am sure that it was scared to death and could not recognize what we were doing.  We were not trying to hurt and scare the bird out of feelings of hate. Instead, we were trying to help as an expression of love for one of God’s creatures.The only problem was that in order to truly love this bird, we had to frighten it.; we had to keep it moving toward the doors and keep it off of the high rafters and from plowing into the stained glass windows. This was not what bird wanted, but love’s call was to do what the bird NEEDED.

Jesus says to his disciples “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another." Jesus points to a love that goes far beyond our wants to our deepest needs.  The love of God in Jesus Christ saw us buried beneath the burdens of sin and death.  Instead of bringing us a life of temporary happiness filled with empty and passing pleasures, Jesus loved us at a much deeper, and much more painful level.  Our need was to be reconnected to God – our sin had severed our relationship.  The end result of our sin – certain death.  

Jesus could have chosen to love us in two ways. We could have remained in sin and been (as I call it) doted upon by our benevolent Santa from on high. Our days could be filled with fun and totally carefree; our nights an ongoing celebration…and yet in the end we would all die and spend forever separated from God.  So instead of giving us what we might have wanted, Jesus offers us what we need.  He took death upon himself, what was supposed to be OUR punishment, and then destroyed death in rising again from the dead. Through his self-sacrificing love,  we receive what we truly need  -- a restored relationship with God through faith in Christ.  Our faith may not save us from this world, but it insures that death is not the end, but only the beginning of our life forever with him.

I wish that I could say that living Jesus’ words “In the same way I loved you, you love one another” would be easy, but they’re not.Look what Jesus’ love for you and me cost him; his love cost him his very life. So too when we go to live our love, putting our faith into action sometimes hurts. It can cause us pain…

Years ago,  an older gentleman came to our door who had gotten lost and needed a ride home.  He said that he needed to get back home from a hard day’s work, that he was new in town, and all he could remember is that he lived in an upstairs apartment across from the Berea Plaza.  He said he would recognize it when he saw it.  After crisscrossing Berea, it quickly became evident that he did not recognize anything. He had no ID, and his memory was extremely fuzzy about any details.  My wife suggested that we call the police, which she did while I returned home.  After the police arrived, they confirmed that this man had actually been missing for several hours, and his family was extremely worried.  His son-in-law came to our house and picked the wanderer up.  Once they pulled away, the police officer informed me that the man has Alzheimer’s disease and that this was not the first time he had strayed from home.

“Usually we find him in a neighbors’ yard or within a block or two of the house,” said the officer, “We have told his daughter that they should really consider some additional care for him, but they say everything will be fine.  He’s never wandered this far before.  I just hope they’ll do something before something happens to him.”

Sometimes loving like Christ loves is admitting that a parent or spouse is unable to care for themselves like they could at one time.  Sometimes loving like Christ loves is taking a loved one to rehabilitation.  Sometimes it’s removing life support after someone’s body has finally failed.  Sometimes it is telling a child that they cannot come home until they clean up their act. Sometimes loving like Christ loves means risking embarrassment to openly share our faith with another.

Sometimes loving like Christ loves us is the hardest, most painful thing that we can do. But, in the words of Jesus, “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Grace and Peace,

Things I learned from Granny

          My grandmother, Eldora Leaphart, was a terribly interesting person.  If you had met her over the last few years as Alzheimer’s eroded her memory, you would not have gotten a true sense of who she was.  How many people do you know that could stand on the seashore and get sea sick, but be fine on a boat deep sea fishing? Why didn’t she learn to swim?  Because her father told her not to get in the water until she knew how.

          She wouldn’t see doctors (She didn’t “go for that.”), she was “allergic to all medicine,” but when she was told by a dentist that she might lose her teeth, she began a vitamin regimen that cured her gums. Oh, and a couple tablespoons of sunflower seeds a day will cure cataracts.        

          As I began my reflections about Granny, I realized that many things that are true in my life I learned from her. I do not want those life-lessons to be forgotten; so, I have chosen to share some of them with you so that her lessons might live through others.

          It’s about People never Pretense -- Granny, as she was known by most people, was WYSIWYG before computers created the term– What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get.  She had no pretense, and did not dress nor act to please others.  Until my mom absolutely insisted, I know that Granny wore the same blouses that she had for 30 years. Even then some of her clothes had to disappear before newer ones would be worn.  Once she found a comfortable sweat suit, you could just forget getting her to wear other clothes.  Again, she didn’t dress for appearances or for others, she dressed to be comfortable. 

          Any excuse to take a trip – She was always ready for a drive somewhere.  Some people saw bills, Granny saw opportunity.  Duke Power? We need to drive to Piedmont. Oconee County Taxes? It’s time to make a trip to Walhalla. There was always another person to see from Oteen to Dacusville to Gray Court to Lexington and beyond.

Variety can be fun – But she didn’t just drive any way.  Following in the pattern of her Aunt Jennie she never came and went the same way on a trip.  She loved seeing different and new places – remembering who lived where.

Faster is not always better – And when you traveled with Granny, she did not like to travel the interstates AT ALL.  She knew they might be faster, but they weren’t better (and she would tell you so).

When you go, take a friend – When Granny drove, she preferred to have someone with her.  She carted us boys around more times than I could count.  As the grandsons grew older, she developed groups of friends – most of whom could not drive themselves – that she would take on her long adventures.  When I moved to Dacusville, I met a man named Emory J***.  As we spoke, I told him about where I grew up, but it was mostly small talk.  When I mentioned “Eldora Leaphart” his eyes widened with recognition.  “Eldora used to scare me to death,” he smiled as he told me. “Your Grandmother used to pick up my mom, Kathleen J***, and they would disappear for the day.  When they got back, I’d ask her where they’d been, but she could only say, ‘ it seems like we’ve been about everywhere.’”

If you love it, share it – Granny taught me that if you love something, share it with others …that means everyone.  An unsuspecting customer waiting to check out at the store became the subject of a barrage of evangelistic information.  No, not your normal tracts, but with information about sun dogs (within 3 days there will be a change in weather), kudzu (the young, tender leaves are best to eat), apple cider vinegar (with the muther in it), Possum Pie (no, not any meat in it), Pinto Bean Pie (you can make 3 for 1 pecan pie – can’t tell the difference), green lipstick (from Wilson’s 5 and dime that turns red on lips and lasts all day), and so much more.  She delighted to share the things in life that fascinated her, and she wanted you to love them like she did.

          A pastor was driving through town one day and stopped his car.  He saw a little lady in a white car flag him down.  She pointed to a bright, small rainbow in the sky.  “That’s a sundog,” she said.  After hearing Larry talk about Granny, the pastor told him, “That must have been your mom.”

Extend an open invitation – She taught me how to be gracious in extending invitations. "Come see me" were words that left her lips near the end of every visit.  She invited children to come see her in a different way, sometimes misunderstood. “I'm gonna take you home with me,” she would say.  No, this wasn’t about kidnapping.  She wanted all the children to know that she really did want them to come and visit her house – and to stay a while.

Expect them to come – I learned that when you invite people to come, mean it, and expect that they will visit.  I asked her a few months ago on a visit to her house, “Granny, whatcha been doin'?” Her reply? “Waiting for you."

Be Prepared to be Hospitable – If you invite people and expect them to come, be prepared for them. Every Sunday afternoon, we knew that we would eat lunch at Granny’s house.  We also knew that we were to bring anyone, and I do mean ANYONE else that we wanted.  Many of our friends quickly became adopted grandchildren as they were warmly welcomed at her table.  If there weren’t enough space at the table, she’d set the kitchen table.  If there wasn’t enough room there, she would pull out a folding table. Everyone always had a place at Granny’s table.

I’m going to stop with this last thing.. in Isaiah 43 the prophet says…

But now, says the Lord—the one who created you, Jacob,  the one who formed you, Israel: Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;    I have called you by name; you are mine.

          With her Alzheimer's disease, Granny was remembering less and less.  She called  me George (we don't know a George in the family), and  she called me Bill (her youngest brother's name). Last month, my mom asked if Granny knew who I was.  She looked at me and said, “He’s mine.”  She might not have remembered my name, but she always knew that I was hers…

          So many of us gathered over the last few days to remember and celebrate her life. Through the years she called us by name—we were hers.  

          Today, I am confident that God says, “Eldora, I have called you by name; you are mine.” Love has now called her home.

          May that same love which blessed so many through the life of Granny live in each of you, and may you be a blessing for the world today.

Preview for May 13, 2011 sermon

Here is an excerpt from Phillip Yancey's book  What's So Amazing About Grace?

During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods' appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. "What's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace."

          After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law -- each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional.

          Aware of our inbuilt resistance to grace, Jesus talked about it often. He described a world suffused with God's grace: where the sun shines on people good and bad; where birds gather seeds gratis, neither plowing nor harvesting to earn them; where untended wildflowers burst into bloom on the rocky hillsides. Like a visitor from a foreign country who notices what the natives overlook, Jesus saw grace everywhere. Yet he never analyzed or defined grace, and almost never used the word. Instead, he communicated grace through stories we know as parables.

          -Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace? (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), 45.

Enjoy God's beautiful gift of grace in Jesus Christ!