Completion and Preparation

I am in the process of completing one appointment and preparing for the next pastor appointed to Arlington. Such is a loving process in concluding months giving a healthy completion of my work primarily in listening and overseeing good preparation for the one who is being sent to Arlington UMC. Such preparation includes things such as Lay Leadership lists, church and community demographics, lists of member's contact information, etc. And I will be inviting the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) to give me a final evaluation of my work at Arlington. Such will help me walk toward Christian perfection--becoming more like Christ Jesus.

And then there is completion and preparation for the next appointment as well. Completing research of both the church and community setting of where I am being sent in preparation for becoming a trusted friend to both the church and the community. I will need to take time to slow down and ponder what actions will be most effective there. Such is required for gaining such a trust-level that I can be a part of winning people to Jesus and teaching them to faithfully follow him. Indeed, such actions need to be custom-fit to the place and the time.

In both cases, such completion and preparation includes Scripture lessons, prayer, caring for my family, caring for myself, research of where I am going, making a rough draft of first steps after the move, coming to agreement and adjustment with the SPRC there on those first steps, and, of course, ultimately listening well to God. The dream begins.

a phrase I like ...

The church has left the building ...

Wrestling with Jesus

Jesus preached a lot about the kingdom of God, or the rule of God. For me, in the teaching of Jesus the rule of God boils down to love. That is, love God, neighbor, enemy, and self. For me, it is in that order for before I can love myself I believe I must love God and others. Is that because of low self-esteem? No, not for me. That is because of what I see as the model of Jesus' behavior that expressed the love of God at its highest point when he gave his entire life for love. He healed the sick, raised the dead, hung out with those that society rejected, and this radical behavior cost him his life. Somehow or another because of that fully expressed love of God alive in Jesus that love sets us free to love.

What I believe is that solely because of what Jesus did I am set right with God. Yes, that is for sure. Yet, at the same time because of that "setting right with God" act in Jesus I am called to strive at living a holy life. This, for me, is more like the striving, the journey toward holiness, godliness, a sinless existence. Do I even have a sinless existence? For me, it is a now and then, here and there experience. That is, when just for a moment -- a site -- all is right with 'the world'.

As I am wrestling with Jesus for those moments when all is right with the world I read his demanding "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew, chapters 5-7, where he says, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect".

"Anger is the attack on the brother's life
for it refuses to let him live and aims at his destruction ..."

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 1937. p. 127)

Brief ponderings of Psalm 19:7-14

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
¹³ Keep back your servant also from the insolent;^*
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The law of the LORD? It is basic -- love God neighbor, self and enemy. Such revives, makes wise, brings joy, enlightens, and endures.

Salt, light, and law

Just listening to Sunday's sermon text which is from Matthew 5:13-20. It goes like this:

‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,^* not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks^* one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Such raises in my own mind these questions:

• What are the various ways salt is used? How does this add to the meaning of Jesus' words: 'you are the salt of the earth'?
• What are the various sources of light? uses of light? What does this say about Jesus saying, 'you are the light of the world'?
• How are we living out the law--the love--of God? What needs to be taken away or added to our behavior so that we live out the love of God for all the more?

Let's just say Jesus represents, and ultimately is, a challenging love for all.

"And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God" (Exodus 29:46).

The phrase that grabs a hold of me this morning is "that I (the LORD) might dwell among them ...". The setting of this verse is a journey. The people of God are following God's leadership on their journey. The way God is leading in this setting is as a 'cloud by day' and a 'fire by night'. Questions pop into my head:

• How is God leading us today?
• In what directions is God leading?
• What is he leading us toward?
• What are the ways that God is 'dwelling' with us?

Such questions like these I do seek to answer as I walk through my mission and vision to my goals and actions. My prayers are to follow God well. May it be.