Extraordinary Hospitality

What if the church could show hospitality like the breast cancer clinic where my dear Mother-in-law is taking her chemotherapy treatments?  

It was her first visit to the clinic to receive chemotherapy for stage two breast cancer.  She has a few friends who have been through it so she's heard things.  I know she was nervous but she's a fighter and so she tried hard not to show her nervousness.  We walked toward the glass doors and my Father-in-law opened the door for her and motioned for me to follow.  Right inside the door was a sharply dressed woman, a volunteer wearing a badge that said, "Concierge."  Concierge?  I thought you only found those in high priced hotels.  She greeted us warmly, as warm as any person has ever greeted another person.  And she asked if it was our first time.  They had been there before to see the doctor a few times but for me it was a first trip.

The Concierge walked with us the 15 steps to the desk where another person asked my mother-in-law's name.  The attention to detail was incredible. The attention to the person was amazing!  It was as if they had been trained, schooled, and drilled on how to detect signs of fear and anxiety and then to provide comfort and reassurance.  Every word they spoke put us at ease.  Every facial expression made us more comfortable.  Then it was time to go upstairs.  The Concierge was waiting for us and she walked us the 4 steps to the elevator and pressed the up button for us.  She said goodbye but it was more like a blessing.


All I could think of, besides my concern for my beloved mother-in-law, was "What if the church demonstrated this kind of hospitality?"  What if our greeters at our front doors welcomed people with the same level of intentionality?  What if they said, "Is this your first time?"  "Let me show you to the perfect seat- not too close, not too far back.  This is Joe, he will help you with the page numbers because we know it's like a foreign language the first couple of times.  When it comes to communion, we welcome all the baptized so please feel free to join us at the Lord's table.  We have coffee and fellowship between services and if you like I could introduce you to some of our disciples here.  You can also join the Sunday School Class; they are very friendly and would love to have you.  Do you have any questions for me?  If you do please don't hesitate to ask.  Again, welcome, we are so glad you are here."

Now that may be laying it on a bit thick but you get the idea. People have fears you know.  And walking into a strange church can be a little scary and intimidating.  It's our job to put people at ease, calm their fears, make them feel comfortable.

 Have you ever been in a church where the greeters are too busy greeting each other to notice a stranger has entered the building?  Or a crowd of members is huddled together, deep in conversation about the latest news to notice someone unfamiliar is standing right there looking lost.  They might look up at the person but just as quickly dart their eyes away thinking that someone will surely come over and talk to that person (but never consider it might be their job to be the Concierge.)  I've been in those churches.  I'm sure you have too!  On vacation we usually visit other churches and let me tell you, EVERY church says, "We're friendly."  And that just ain't so.  (My grandmother told me ain't ain't a word, so sorry grandma but I just had to say it for emphasis!)

We Christians have to get out of our comfort zones and walk toward people.  We are ALL called to be Christian Concierges who practice extra-ordinary hospitality.  Share the joy of Jesus, talk to strangers!  They are VIPs to God you know!

Generational Community

I don't remember where I read it but it stuck with me as something worth remembering.  An author commented that the church is one of the last places on earth where multiple generations of people gather together and interact in a meaningful way.  One of the extraordinary aspects of our life together at TLC (and at other churches as well) is how the generations mix with one another each and every week.  The adults look for the kids, the kids run to and embrace the adults-- and you know what?  Everyone benefits!  

At Christmas time the Sunday School children and youth were preparing their annual offering for the faith community and this year we decided to go back to an old tradition of having the program in the evening.  We invited the whole church to come because we wanted to honor their faith and the commitment they had made and followed through with in regard to the promises made at each child's baptism.  I was never so delighted as I was that night. . . to see folks return to support the children as they played hand bells, sing and present the Christmas story.  People who don't have children or grandchildren in the church came back that night to support OUR kids.  Many said it was the best program we ever had; not because it was perfect certainly, but because everyone was there loving and supporting each other in their endeavors.

What a delight to see the kids gravitate to adults of all ages!  They have so much to learn from our oldest generation and our older folks LOVE to spend time with the younger people of the church.  Lives are enriched as the generations mix and mingle as equals, offering to one another the love of Christ.

We don't have to separate out our "youth" and "children" into special groups so as to make it look like we have special programming just for them.  They are a vital, integral, key part of the church just as our seasoned disciples who are now in their nineties (and everyone in between).  You cannot find that range of relationships anywhere anymore it seems.  Grandparents are often separated from their grandchildren by distance as families have become increasingly mobile.  But there is an untapped resource right under our noses and we have to ask ourselves if we have done a good enough job connecting the generations to one another.

If you are parent who is reading this, think about whether or not your child has another adult in their life who takes a vested interest in their life.  If not, who in your congregation can be that person for your child?  Seek them out.  Ask them to be in your child's life.  Notice who your child is attracted to and help foster that relationship.  Kids need other adults in their lives to help them see how special and valuable they are!   They don't always believe us as parents when we say how amazing they are; they respond, "You're my mom, you have to say that."  But when it comes from another source, a person of faith, a person of character, a person who deeply cares. . . well then that makes a huge impact.

What a gift the church is for us. . . not only do we meet Christ there but we are surrounded by loving people who want the best for us, who encourage us to be all that God has in mind for us to be!  We are surrounded by people who actually see us and can mirror back to us our value in Christ.  So disciples, look around!  Be that person for someone else. . . and find that person for your child.  Everyone will benefit!

Scavenging versus Expecting and Experiencing the Fullness of Christ

Scavenger:  a person who searches for and collects discarded items.

This morning as I was drinking my first cup of joe a car outside our front window caught my eye. That's because it stopped right in front of our house.  I didn't recognize it.  I thought to myself, "Now who would be coming over at this time of day?  It's still so early and I'm in my pj's!"  As luck would have it, it wasn't someone looking for me; a tall man jumped out of his car and hustled over to our neighbor's trash pile.  You see in our neighborhood today is trash day. 

In our town trash day can be a very interesting day.  One evening as my husband and I were depositing our very first couch on the side of the road for trash pickup the next day, a truck zoomed in and two men jumped out and began to hoist that couch onto the back of their truck.  Our handprints were still warm from where we had carried it; the cushions were still in the house!  "Do you mind?' they asked.  A little stunned, I just stood there, speechless for  once.  Jeff replied, "Sure you can have it, obviously we were just getting rid of it."  And off they went into the night, perusing the rest of the neighbor's trash to see if therein lied any treasures for the taking.  

Back to the fellow this morning. . . I couldn't tell what he picked up.  In the dawn's breaking light it looked like a big plastic container, rather oddly shaped so I couldn't quite decide what it would even be used for, but he grabbed it and looked it over, turning it around in his hands deciding if he should keep it or put it back on the trash pile.  He must have thought it would be good for something as he tucked it under his arm and returned to his waiting vehicle just as the neighbor pulled out of her garage.

So, you might ask, what does that have to do with the Christian life?  Well at first glance, nothing I guess.  But it seems to me to be a metaphor for how we live with Christ.  Are we content with just the crumbs and scraps and leftovers of what God has to offer?  Are we even interested in what God has to offer?  Perhaps when we need something, then we think about God.  Are we happy with simply taking what we need if and when we need it? Isn't there more to life with Christ? What would it be like to go searching for God and God's activity in the world with purpose and intent like that man searched for junk?  If we do look, what do we expect to find?  Dusty, dirty, cast offs that no one else wants?  Or do we expect something greater from the Lord of life?  Can we expect the best out of Jesus in our lives?

I think we can- I'm just not sure that we do.

Where can we find the best of Christ for our lives?  Where can we find the true treasure, rather than the dross that is left over (if Jesus would even have anything left over)?  Maybe that's the point!  What the world offers us if fleeting. . . it is garage sale fodder. . . someone's trash is another's treasure they say.  But where is the REAL treasure?  Where is the REAL stuff of faith?

Martin Luther calls the sacraments a "treasure."  What do you think of that as a description of baptism and the Eucharist?  A treasure that can be experienced each and every Sunday in worship.  The Word of God is also a treasure-- that can be accessed anytime, anywhere!  Eternal life is the ultimate treasure!  Will we go in search of what the world offers, scavenging around taking whatever we can find that might look interesting or useful, or will we search instead for what gives life, love, faith, strength, endurance, joy and eternity?  The real treasure awaits us. . .

What do you think about that??

Eucharist image credit:  fanpop.com

God Chatter

I had a long drive to make earlier this week so I spent several hours listening to the various offerings on the radio, switching between channels to find something of interest.  As I neared the big city there were significantly more choices, not necessarily better choices if you know what I mean.  I zeroed in on a Christian Talk Radio Station and the woman being interviewed was saying how so many of us as Christians in the world go about our daily lives and never mention Jesus.  We have so much other stuff to talk about like the weather, the news, the latest crisis in our lives . . . but rarely do we get around to talking about what God is doing.

One of my pastoral mentors, Dr. Dave Daubert, has said to our leadership group on many occasions, "Christians live most of their lives in the world and yet when they enter the church suddenly they have lost the ability to think or talk about the world."  (My paraphrase of his words- hopefully I did them justice.)  His point is that as disciples of Christ we have to learn how to talk about God in our day to day activities.  God is active and loose in the world and who better to see it and point out God's activity than Christians?  Perhaps we don't talk about God because we aren't paying attention to the kingdom of God that is constantly breaking in all around us! (Even in our own lives.)

How can we get better at this?
We spend only a few hours inside the church where we might be more comfortable talking about God and don't, so then what will we do when we leave the church building and go out into the mission field?  Inside church, amongst fellow believers is where we need to practice our God Chatter!  If we can't do it there, how will we ever be able to do it at work, at school, at a play date with our children's friends and parents?  We can practice with each other so that we will be ready when an opportunity presents itself in our daily life.  Talk to the person who sits next to you in the pew.  Ask them, "What is God up to in your life?"  "Where have you seen Jesus this past week?"

Practice makes perfect, or almost perfect which is good enough!  So what's holding us back?  Perhaps it is a matter of fear:  fear of rejection, fear that people will think we are weird, fear that they will argue with us or simply walk away.  Ask yourself, "What keeps me from talking about God? "

God talk is not idle chatter or foolish prattle!  It is blessing another with your words, pointing them to the life giving love of Jesus.  Don't be afraid!  Don't worry about what others will think of you.  They will probably be impressed with your conviction and boldness!  Start simply. . . say "Have a blessed day" as you leave the checkout counter at the store.  Mention giving thanks to God for such a beautiful day.  Say things like, "I will pray for you" when a person shares their struggles with you.  Listen intently for their story and respond with a loving attitude- that shows Christ in a wonderful way.  Develop a relationship first and then slowly share your faith so you don't overwhelm the person.  Say to someone, "God loves you and so do I!"

The more you talk about God and what he is doing in your life and in the world, the more comfortable you will become.  You will see people come toward you for a word of hope and encouragement.  They will see Christ in you and be drawn to you knowing that you will pray for them, that you are concerned about their well being.  AND, God will become nearer and dearer to you in the process as you become more committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Be blessed!  Share your love of Christ with your friends, neighbors, coworkers etc.  Notice what God is up to all around you and don't be afraid to chat about God!

Photo taken from:  americancorner.hu

Beauty

Tea at Dusk

 Beauty can be seen almost anywhere.  Images can capture our imagination and draw us in to a deep appreciation of life, people, and God.  Art is something to behold, to inspire, to challenge, and of course to appreciate.  I once was a student of art, well I minored in it. . . I can draw more than stick figures anyway.  But studying it in high school and college was beneficial, it fed my creativity.  I enjoy looking at other people's work, even the work of young children who may or may not ever be artists in the formal sense.  I guess I just like to see what human beings can create.  God has given us to much to look at, so much beauty to spark our creativity that I am thrilled to see what people come up with when the creative juices are flowing within them.  I think it's a reflection of God's creativity, somehow, some way.

I can't explain it but ever since I first saw the work of Austrian born, Israeli artist Itzchak Tarkay I have LOVED it!  I actually acquired a print that now hangs in my living room but if I could have more I would fill my whole house with them.  It's not that I am being greedy, just that they do something to me.  The colors are so vivid, they jump out at me and invite me into the scenes of friends gathered around the table for socializing and companionship.  And yet, there's something else in them that haunts me. . . no one ever touches another person, no handshakes, no pats on the back, no hugs and even the faces of the sitting ladies are non-commital, expressionless.  The images draw me in, entice me to look at everything- every beautiful outfit, vivid background, hairstyle or hat; I wonder what each lady is thinking as she sits there.  In each piece, even though it draws me in there is a mystery that cannot be quite figured out.

Little Round Table

We see beauty all around us- if we are looking that is.  It can draw us in, remind us of the Creator's wonderful imagination, and yet there can be something very mysterious, even haunting about such beauty.  If we stop to notice each leaf, each pine cone, each set of animal whiskers then we see something of the creativity and perfection of our God.  The patterns that are present, the repeating sequences of lines and swirls and fractals all point us to the beauty and majesty of our heavenly Father.

May you notice things in a way that you have never noticed them before.  May you look for a long time, taking it all in, wanting to miss nothing.  May you appreciate the Master Artist's work all around you.  Amen.

Cafe Marina

Images are from http://www.parkwest-tarkay.com/ex_gallery/

Walking with God

^"1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4: 1-6)

As a congregation we have been working through St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians.  One thing that we have been talking about and that I have been preaching about is from this verse above, that as disciples of Christ we are to walk with God.  The Greek word here is peripateo and like other words with the prefix "peri" (like perimeter, pericardium, periscope- you get the idea) it means to go around, in this case "go around walking with God." But Paul doesn't start that way, no, first he has to remind us that we are chosen.  We are chosen for a purpose- God's purpose!  We are made alive in Christ; we who were dead in sin are now alive in Christ Jesus!  That's important to remember to. . . chosen, and alive!  Then he reminds us that it is by God's grace that we have been saved-- just so we don't think it was because of our own brute strength!  Furthermore, those who were "out" are now "in."  Good news for us who are sinners!  

Once he has all of that groundwork laid, he comes in with the part about living a life worthy of the calling.  We have to understand ourselves, first and foremost, to be "called."  Once we get that, and I mean REALLY get that, then we begin the walking around with God.  That walking according to St. Paul has a distinct look to it:  it is a humble walking, a gentle strolling, a patient sauntering, a loving and unifying journey.  

Almost everyday I take my Labrador Retriever, Martin Luther, on a walk.  It's as much for me as it is for him.  That time spent on the biketrail with my dog is a time when I daily focus on "my walking around with God."  My spiritual director, Pamela, has taught me over the years to keep up with that walking- not just for the sake of exercise which is a good thing- but to be intentional about time spent with my Lord.  (I think she can tell when I've missed my walks!!)  Part of being a disciple is making time every day to intentionally be in the presence of God.  We call it prayer. . . but think about it as spending time with the one who loves you most.  Remember the early days of courtship with your beloved?  All you wanted to do was "hang out," to be together.  It didn't matter if you were watching TV, riding in a car, playing basketball, or whatever, you simply wanted to be near that person.  That is what God wants to do with each of us because he loves us so deeply.  He wants to be near us. . . do we want to be near him?  Simply inviting God into your presence so you can experience his holy presence is easier than you think.  He's already there!  Say his name.  "Lord" or "Jesus" or "Christ" or "Holy One" and you are making your intentions known to God that you want him to draw near to you.  That is prayer!  Simple, eh??  

Walking with God is about our discipleship; discipleship has a prayer component to it that strengthens us and reminds us that God is always near.  The two go hand in hand.  Bless you on your walking around with God, in your quiet time and in your service, in your humility and in your patience, in your words and in your silence.  

Photo:  Firelands Rails to Trails, February 4, 2011

Identity: Disciple of Christ

Would you self identify as a "Disciple" of Jesus Christ?  No, really, I am serious here.  I can remember a time when I would have said, "I go to church."  Which then dissolved in my college years to "I used to go to church."  Then upon graduation from college God found me again! (Hallelujah!) In those days I would have called myself a "Christian."  But my self understanding was not one in which I thought of myself as a disciplined follower of Jesus of Nazareth.

Yesterday I read a very interesting article by Dr. Timothy J. Wengert of Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia called "Martin Luther's Movement toward an Apostolic Self-Awareness as Reflected in His Early Letters." In it, Dr. Wengert makes the case that Luther moved in his own self understanding from "obedient servant" of Christ to "Apostle."  Luther thought of himself as a preacher and teacher to be sure, but noted that he became a reformer of the church quite by accident.  God was behind that one.

After the Diet of Worms (1521) where the Church Leaders demanded that he recant (which we know he did not) his self understanding begins to change.  With the struggles in Wittenberg that followed the Diet, Luther's call as a reformer of the church begins to grow and  change as he has to respond to "false brethren" around him, such as Karlstadt, Muntzer, and Agricola to name a few.  The greetings in his letters become more and more Pauline as he begins them with "Grace and peace" rather than the name "Jesus" that usually marked the top of his writings.  He added a Thanksgiving to his letters in the way that Paul did as he wrote to (most) the churches in his ministry.  Rather than signing his letters with the title "Augustinian" as he had before, Luther closes his letters with a Paul-like blessing.  His growing awareness that he is an "Apostle" for Christ and that through the gospel he has been given apostolic authority is evidenced by growing self identification as an evangelist.

So back to YOUR self-identification. . .  do you see yourself as a Disciple?  One who is a follower, a student, a worker for Christ in the world?  To be a disciple is to be obedient to Christ.  It is not a casual thing, something to say for the sake of conversation.  There has been put a call on your life; at your baptism you were adopted by God and now you are being trained for work in God's kingdom.  Each week in worship you are sent out to do God's will-- at your job, in your family, with your neighbors, at the school where your children attend, in the community.  You can do that however you like, the possibilities are unlimited!  But it all boils down to how you see yourself.  Do you simply "go to church?"  Or are you a "disciple" of Jesus Christ?  There is a qualitative, spirit-filled difference.
Peace be with you as you go out into the world with Jesus and for Jesus!  Amen.

Image Credit:  http://www.luther.de/en/worms.html