Remembering Who We Are

Growing up, I had a family culture that included going to church for worship on Sundays.  Prior to becoming United Methodist when I was eight, we also went to church on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.  When we went on vacation, if we were gone over a Sunday, we would visit a church for worship.

If you were sick, you either had to have a fever or be throwing up to miss.

This was a part of our family identity and the loyalty and values that I learned at church were reinforced in the home.  It clearly set boundaries on who I was becoming and what my expectations were. 

It is said that during times of stress or anxiety, we rely on the basics of who we are.  So when COVID hit our country, churches found that one of their best tools - being in relationship through the Holy Spirit with one another - was put on pause.  Since that pause, many people have not returned to regular worship across the country.  It seemed to speed up the de-churching movement going on in our nation.

Some say that they continue to worship online but I recently heard that this is somewhat like watching a fireplace burning on your television.  You miss out on the warmth of the in-person experience.  It is also hard for us to hold others accountable which is part of the Christian experience (it's not just about others holding us accountable).  Online worship continues to be essential, especially for the home-bound, but I fear that it has become a crutch for too many who are able to come but don't.  It seems to have led to being an off-ramp entirely for a lot of people today.  Fortunately, as we often highlight in the parable of the Prodigal, there is nothing theological that would keep us from coming back!

As we close down 2023 and move into 2024, one of the major Christian traditions during this time of year is to renew our identity through worship.  Historically, United Methodists have done this in Watch Night services around New Year's which is a part of the Wesleyan tradition.  It may be that you see some kind of covenant renewal service on December 31st.

If your church follows the liturgical year, the first Sunday in January will Baptism of the Lord Sunday.  Often, if there is not a baptism being celebrated on this day, the congregation will share in a baptismal renewal service.  In essence, the congregation renews their own baptismal vows each time a baptism is celebrated.  It helps remind us who we are as we share in the liturgy.

This new year will also bring us another presidential election.  I don't know anyone who thinks that the political discourse is very civil at this point in our country's history.  What if we could be part of a corrective course?  It could be that I need a reminder of who I am that will help me raise the bar on how I choose to interact.  If you get a chance to renew your faith over the next couple of Sundays, I would invite you to do so.  This helps us to set our identity even in the face of temptation to disrespect those with whom we disagree.

And if you attend a church that doesn't indulge in covenant renewal, I would invite you to pray the Covenant Prayer as adapted from John Wesley.  It is one of the prayers that I try to pray at the start of each day.  I pray that your new year is blessed and fruitful!

 

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

    

Photo by Tony Hall via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Obedience

Lectionary Reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Romans 16:25-27

Here we find the fourth Sunday of Advent lifting up the closing words from Paul's letter to the Romans.  It is a reminder that God's promise is to everyone - even the Gentiles.  This general premise, while a difficult proposition when it was written, doesn't seem as hard to those in today's generation.  But for those in Paul's day, it meant the good news was also for those widely considered the "other."

We certainly know what it means to keep the other at bay today.  We may not consciously omit them from God's favor as long as we don't have to deal with them.  They can reside in that part of God's kingdom reserved for the "other."

What does it mean for Paul to call us to an "obedience of faith"?

Sometimes our disobedience is pretty overt!

Certainly, I think back to Jesus' twin admonition to love God and love neighbor.  If Jesus names these as encompassing all of the law and the prophets, it would stand to reason that our obedience of faith is a call to love.

At Christmas, we most often see the love of God and neighbor intertwined.  Our walls are lowered and we find a peace in our hearts toward the other to even see them (for a moment) as family.

We may even find at this time of year that when the conditions are right, we can view the other as something more.  We remember that Jesus was able to hold affection for the other as Mother (and brother and sister).  May this be our call to obedience as Christmas comes again this year.

Prayer: Ever-faithful God, we give thanks that you reach out to all the world.  We find it easy to celebrate your grace when it is directed our way but we also must confess: we sometimes find it tiresome when your eye turns toward those to whom we feel do not deserve it.  Help us to discover that our similarities outweigh our differences.  And in this realization, may we be obedient to your gospel call!  We pray these things in the name of Jesus the Christ, who is born to give life to all your children.  Amen.

Photo by Jeremy Bronson via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Third Sunday of Advent - Gentleness

Lectionary Reading for the Third Sunday of Advent: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Today's reading has a lot of good advice but at times may be daunting.  There are certainly situations when it is difficult to "rejoice always" and I am also reminded by the words of the teacher from Ecclesiastes who also tells us that some circumstances call for weeping and mourning.

But I must also ask myself if this becomes a cop out to disregard the advice entirely.  If it isn't possible all the time, then I don't have to think about what it means in the in-between times.

Sometimes the size of our joy can be intimidating

Or do I?

What really stands out to me from our passage is verse 19 which states, "Do not quench the Spirit."  How often do we rain on the parade with our attitude?  I've encountered energy-vampires over the years who tend to turn an eye toward whatever negative possibilities might arise. 

To rejoice always doesn't mean to be over-the-top and insensitive to people who are struggling.  But rather, I see it as operating with a gentleness that allows the Holy Spirit to lift up others through our actions.  Rather than being irritatingly optimistic, what would it mean to tip the balance of a situation toward good cheer?  This often requires a gentle touch which may take some practice for some of us!

Prayer: Gentle Spirit, help us to remain in an attitude of prayer that surrounds us, lifts us, encourages us, and leads us toward the words that may be the most helpful in any situation.  And as we help raise the general mood in the room, let us rejoice as we wait!  We pray this in the name of the Christ who calls us to accountability even for our outlook.  Amen.

 

Photo by This Year's Love via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Second Sunday of Advent - Patience

Lectionary Reading for the Second Sunday of Advent: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Time is relative - not yet but already here

The lectionary readings for Advent often have apocalyptic themes in them.  Growing up, I had relatives and other adults that I would encounter that looked at the end times scriptures more literally and believed that we were living in the final days.  One way these folks would have adjusted REM's well-known song about "the end of the world as we know it" would have been to replace the refrain of "and I feel fine" with "and you should be more anxious about this!"

But there are ways to read these texts with a wider vision that calls us to stop and ponder our lives with a spiritual eye.

Today's passage tells us something about God.  As Christians under persecution in that day may have longed for the return of Jesus Christ to set things right, this epistle bids them to be patient.  The rationale is that God is interested in saving every last one of us.  

This reminds us of Wesley's prevenient grace that sees all people as children of God whether they acknowledge it or not.  As we approach advent, it may be that we need to exercise patience with others.  We are more irritable when stressed and less likely to respond with the understanding we need.  If others react poorly during this season, we might ask the question, "What kind of anxiety might they be under?"

Prayer: Loving God, thank you for being patient with me.  There are many times when "child of God" rather than "adult in Christ" unfortunately applies.  And as I recognize and receive the forgiveness in Jesus, may I seek to be patient with others, acknowledging that you are still working on them just as you are working on me.  May I be your instrument of love at just the right moments as we approach Christmas.  I pray this in the name of Jesus who loves me even when I don't acknowledge it.  Amen.

 

Photo by JD via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

First Sunday of Advent - Gifted

Lectionary Reading for the First Sunday of Advent: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

It's hard to believe that the Advent season has arrived.  This seems like it has been an extraordinarily busy year for me and my guess is that others have felt the same way.  I don't believe that I've done any Christmas shopping yet and may be in a bit of denial on where we are in the calendar!

As we share in the devotional readings each week from the epistle lesson featured in the lectionary for Sunday, I have pulled out themes from each reading to help us spiritually in our waiting for Christmas.

How do we express ourselves to others in the midst?

 

What stood out for me in today's reading of Paul's letter was the idea that we are already gifted in the Holy Spirit.  While Paul goes on to lift up charismatic gifts later in his correspondence, we also know about the fruits of the Holy Spirit from the apostle.  In the fifth chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians, he extols the following as attributes that Christians should be multiplying in their own behavior: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

How would it be to begin to define ourselves by these each day during Advent?  To remind ourselves that we are already gifted in the Spirit and have much to share with the world through these?

As I examine my own behavior, what would it mean to give these gifts to all we meet during Advent this year?  And if I am to take it a step further, what would it mean to begin to look for this fruit on display in others?

Prayer: Gracious God, we give thanks for this time of waiting.  May the fruit of the Holy Spirit flourish in us and may we begin to look for this fruit in the behavior we see all around us.  It may be that the more we look, the more that they abound.  Give us eyes to see!  We pray this in the name of the Christ, who was and is and is to come.  Amen.

 Photo by Anthony Quintano via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

 

What Does an Anchor Church Look Like in The UMC?

Now that disaffiliation is largely in the rear-view mirror for United Methodists in the Oklahoma Conference, I have enjoyed the conversations at various charge conferences on moving forward both locally and as an annual conference.

As we reconfigure the number of districts and look at their new boundaries, we want to have a certain number of healthy churches spread through each geographic area.  

While a healthy church is largely recognized by its multi-generational membership which is also reflected in its leadership, it is also one that is reaching its community in transformational ways.  Baptism is celebrated throughout the year and the church looks outwardly more than inwardly.

Prior to disaffiliation, I have always assumed that many of our healthy churches were serving as what I would call "anchor" churches in our conference, helping us to move forward as a whole.  Post-disaffiliation, I now realize that I misjudged some of them.  It's likely that we didn't expressly state our expectations for these churches and their leadership.  As I appreciate transparency, I thought it would be helpful for us in realizing our best future to share the characteristics of an anchor church in our conference.  We will need them in each district as we live into our future together.

1)   The Anchor Church understands its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

While a local church may have its own mission statement, it should be congruent to our denomination's understanding of our purpose.  Our mission is rooted in Wesleyan grace in that all people are called to discipleship through prevenient grace.  We would seek for as many to respond as possible to the grace of Jesus Christ through justifying grace.  The transformation of the world comes within our personal growth through sanctifying grace.  The truth of "for God so loved the world" reminds us of the diversity of the church at Pentecost and we seek to integrate that wider vision into our churches today. 

2)  The Anchor Church is deeply connectional as a congregation and excited to be a part of The United Methodist Church.

This is harder to define and we may "know it when we see it"!  We are living in an anti-institutional time where individuals mistrust larger organizations.  Currently in our society, the focus on the individual eclipses the focus on the community which makes it harder to work together.  But working together as the body of Christ is certainly Pauline as we look back to the early church and it is entirely Wesleyan as a part of our heritage.  Lately, in those churches that have remained with us, I've noticed less hesitance to live out what we have vowed to be.

3)  The Anchor Church offers both clergy and lay leadership to the annual conference and district out of its congregation.

A church that only has enough leadership for itself may be able to thrive locally, but it doesn't share with the congregation a connection to the wider world.  The opportunities of service together builds lasting relationships and it often spurs on new possibilities for local mission, programming and outreach.

4)  The Anchor Church regularly lifts up laity out of their congregation for consideration for professional ministry.

The culture of call is so important for who we are.  All of our churches have received pastors and staff from a wide variety of churches around our conference.  The clergy that emerge from anchor churches do not remain "at home" but are freely shared with the conference to strengthen the connection.

5)   The Anchor Church seeks to proudly pay 100% of its apportionments each year and often exceeds 100% for the more overtly missional items.

If congregations see their apportionments or denominational giving as a "tax", they are likely to promote apportionment hesitancy.  Many of our disaffiliated churches saw apportionments as money they could utilize locally and were blind to the larger picture of what it means to work together.  Those that understand this feel good about sending that final check to the conference each year.  This is because it represents their support of God's work in people's lives that they may never personally touch.

6)  The Anchor Church supports campus ministry in our conference and is active in the closest Wesley Foundation.

Providing ministry for college students allows us to be present in the lives of young adults when they are most vulnerable to dropping out of church.  Wesley Foundations allow students to continue in their faith journey as well as increasing the awareness of the connection.  Ideally, this leads young adults back to United Methodist congregations no matter where they land after college. 

7)  The Anchor Church sees itself as a leader among the churches around them and will offer space and hospitality for regional gatherings at little or no cost to the district or annual conference.

As congregations engage regionally, they gladly host United Methodist gatherings as a way to participate in the larger ministries of our shared work.  This comes out of a greater sense of welcome that all our churches should seek to enhance.

8)  The Anchor Church supports our United Methodist summer camping program, sending adult leaders, youth and children to our three campgrounds.

Our camping program has been very successful at strengthening discipleship in all ages as well as allowing many of our clergy to experience their call to ministry.  Furthermore, our United Methodist camping is one of the greatest vehicles for encouraging relationships within our conference.

9)  The Anchor Church is strong in active mission participation and regularly sends people on Volunteers in Mission (VIM) projects.

Volunteers in Mission programs have been the backbone of the outreach of many of our local churches prior to the pandemic.  Whether churches send a lone team or join other congregations, these projects allow our members to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to a hurting world that often challenges the participants' world-views while strengthening their discipleship.  Anchor churches will host VIM trips and invite other area churches to participate.

10)  The Anchor Church's discipleship programs regularly utilize United Methodist education materials.

We'll be looking for more than one!

Whether engaging in Disciple Bible Study or working through the latest Adam Hamilton study, utilizing curriculum developed by United Methodists provides a similar ethos across our churches that helps us in our shared vision.

An anchor church may not be the largest church in a geographic region but will be one that shares in these characteristics.  As an area church leads with these attributes, our stated virtues become contagious to the other United Methodists in their vicinity.  And as we strengthen one another, we begin to lift and support each other in our shared faith in Jesus Christ.  

If you are a United Methodist reading this, maybe this is a leading of the Holy Spirit for you to work towards your local church being an anchor for your area!

Photo by John Bugg via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Easter Sunday

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen."

                                                               Luke 24:5b (NRSV Updated Edition)

Today, I'm thankful that The United Methodist Church has given me an identity centered in the resurrection!

Technically, Lent ended yesterday but I always write one more to conclude these devotions - I think this is part of who I am.  I can't end on the Saturday where Jesus is buried.  This would go against my nature and the nature of the Gospel - I must finish with the resurrection because this is the defining piece of not only United Methodism but of all Christianity!

I've enjoyed writing these this year as a return to United Methodism's roots.  As I've gone through this strange season of disaffiliation, I've encountered United Methodists who have decided that they would rather be something else.

This is nothing new or unusual - often we have church members and even pastors transfer to other denominations.  The strange thing is that the legislation that is set to end this year allows for congregations to transfer en masse.  Of course, even when a congregation decides to do this, there have been members that felt betrayed by this decision.  

And while the only reason allowed for exit is one's viewpoint on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church, this has not been the presenting issue in many churches.  In many churches it is more about finances and property.  Others have lifted up core doctrines as being on the chopping block as if United Methodism was moving away from the resurrection.  

My thinking was to write each day to remind us who we are.  

This reminder would be nothing without the resurrection.

As I participate in an Easter sunrise this morning, I will once again be reminded that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is something that we can encounter on a daily basis.  It is as basic as the rising of the sun.

Resurrection colors our view.  It allows us and even encourages us to forgive one another.

Resurrection allows for reconciliation - even with those who would seek to part ways.

Resurrection calls for hope in the body of Christ - even when it appears that we are infighting (which is not an attractive look for outsiders considering Christian faith).

I believe that The United Methodist Church will come out of this smaller but more united.  We will adjust and right-size our budgets so as not to cause churches to have "bloated apportionment costs."  We will continue to furnish churches with pastors who are connected to one another through shared beliefs.  We will continue to set aside people from our churches to begin the journey toward licensing and ordination.  We will continue to baptize people in the faith.  We will continue to introduce people to Jesus Christ who lives and reigns today.

We will continue to share in the resurrection!

Thanks to all who journeyed this season of Lent with me - whether daily or occasionally.  I hope that this was helpful to you as we move forward.

The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that change is nothing to be afraid of - it is quite natural in the world we live in today.  A belief in resurrection means that we can handle whatever we face and being a part of the church reminds us that we handle it together.

May God bless you today through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we find on Easter and may God continue to bless and transform the world through The United Methodist Church!

Here's a picture of an Easter sunrise service
from over 2 decades ago.  My calling and
my love for the church has only deepened
through the years.  And I still preach
resurrection!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 40 (Holy Saturday)

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

                                Galatians 5:1

Today, I'm thankful for The United Methodist Church's teaching on free will.

As Christians sought to understand the sovereignty of God or how God is in charge of the universe, there is the difficult question of how do we account for all of the awful things happening in the world today?

While our standard answer might be the free will given to people by God is the cause of much of it, we may need to understand what John Wesley meant by free will.

It was his understanding that humanity's free will was lost in the original sin of Adam and Eve rebelling in the Garden of Eden.  This puts humanity in the state of original sin.  One way I try to explain this is that we all are oriented naturally toward the self rather than toward God.  This is true from infancy to old age.

Christian theologians from Wesley's time would say that people are unable to do anything toward their own salvation.  Calvin stated that Christians were predestined by God to choose faith in Christ.  This kept people from claiming to take part in their own salvation by saying something like, "Well, I did accept the grace Christ offered me."  A Calvinist might respond, "Well, since God knows everything and is really in charge of everything, God decided before you were born that you would make that choice."  This is an emphasis on God's sovereignty.

Wesley believed that God restores our free will through preceding or prevenient grace.  This allows us through divine intervention to make a choice to respond to the grace we have received.  But God is always the initiator of this salvation.

I've often explained it as a parent teaching a child to drive a car.  There comes a time when the child drives the car alone and out of sight.  We must trust that we have done the necessary work in training them.  This is similar to God restoring free will to us through preceding grace.  God is trusting us to make good choices!

As we think about the driving example, what happens to a child when the parent never lets them achieve this independence?  They never become fully functioning adults.

The downside of free will and independence is that we must take responsibility for our own actions.  No one forced us to choose poorly and we can't state that God pre-determined us to sin!

As we look toward Easter, we remember today that Jesus was in the tomb.  Human beings placed him there out of their own free will.  

How can we make sure that we utilize this gift with more responsibility?  One way is to voluntarily place ourselves into accountability with one another.  This is what it means to be the church.  When we are in Christ together, we help each other to re-orient to God.  May it be so!

The orientation toward the self
(and the free will to choose)
starts at an early age!

Photo by clurross via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 39 (Good Friday)

So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

                                                      John 19:16b-17

Today, I'm grateful that The United Methodist Church has taught me to see my own suffering from a different light.

Good Friday makes us contemplate suffering and mortality.  We name on this day that God is in solidarity with the suffering of the world and that God knows what it is to be alone and afraid and in pain with no hope in sight.

 

One could say that Jesus could have been buoyed by his own prediction of the resurrection but when one is dying while hanging from a tree, it may give little solace.

As Christians, we acknowledge that our faith is not insurance against suffering.  We recognize that bad things in life do in fact happen to good people.  

There have been times in my ministry where I felt that things did not go my way.  I've been in conflict with laity and clergy.  And even lately, I've been involved in what I would call highly anxious situations. 

Our faith moves us to continue to follow Jesus even when it is difficult.  I think Jesus said something more than once about taking up one's cross...

What has helped me during difficult times is the old Wesleyan prayer.  I try to pray this daily as I arise.

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things. Let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.

I think it is good for me to recognize that nothing is permanent or eternal except for God.  That includes our kingdom building.  It also includes our suffering.  All suffering will come to an end - even suffering on a cross.  

I think if Lent teaches us anything, it is that we can make a difference in easing the suffering of the world.  Lent should give us eyes to see when normally we would rather look away.  

On this Good Friday, how will you help ease the suffering of someone?

Photo by adonis paul hunter via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 38

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

                                                               1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV)

Today, I'm thankful for The United Methodist Church's stance of the Open Table for Holy Communion.

As we prepare for Maundy Thursday worship services today, many of us will partake of the sacrament (or have the opportunity to do so).  Tonight is a remembrance of the Last Supper, unless your church is going strictly with a foot washing service (Usually not the more popular choice with the masses!). 

I've always tried to impress that Jesus was willing to share this meal with those he knew would betray, deny and desert him.  This makes it difficult for me to seek to keep anyone from the Table.

Furthermore, John Wesley spoke of Communion as a "converting ordinance" where some might find the justifying grace of Jesus Christ while receiving this sacrament.  This moves us to an open table stance that allows anyone to come and partake.

I remember a particular congregant who joined our church largely due to our open table.  This person grew up in a different tradition and then moved away from town.  They continued to attend what they thought was the same denomination and joined that church where they lived.  When they went home, they were denied Communion because the church they joined was similar in name and historical roots but was deemed different enough to keep them from being able to receive.

This was hurtful enough to seek something different and a church with a doctrine that allowed anyone to come and receive seemed more Christlike.

Whenever I've served people on Christmas Eve, they have always been appreciative that their guests could join them whether they be friends or family from out of town.  

Some would say that our liturgical "Invitation" is conditional in that it reads:

"Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,  who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another."

It may be that a person is in the midst of divorce.  If they are not living in peace with their ex, does this keep them from communing with the rest of the congregation?  

What if the person is struggling with a particular sin and is not sure about how earnest they are in their repentance?

What if the person isn't a Christian and are not really sure about Jesus?

For me, the spiritual strength that can be gained may be just what the first two examples would need.  For the latter, the inclusion at the table may be just what this person needs to receive faith.

So while I do use this language, I've never had any Communion bouncers ready to question a person coming forward!

I do prefer the language of the "Invitation" found in the service for the sick or homebound in the Book of Worship which states:

"Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him and seek to grow into his likeness." 

 As we continue in Holy Week, what speaks to you about the Open Table?  How does this approximate what heaven should look like for you?  How can the church utilize this "converting ordinance" for a world that increasingly distances itself from who we are?

I like this photo because it is the only
one I have of Rev. Rick Cato and I serving 
together.  He passed away in April of 2020 when
we didn't get a chance to celebrate his life.
Rick always appreciated an open table.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 37

"My heritage is beautiful to me."

                        Psalm 16:6b

Today, I'm thankful that The United Methodist Church chooses to honor our Jewish heritage.

Since the celebration of Passover begins at sundown today, I thought it might be helpful to write about our relationship during Holy Week.

Some expressions of Christianity have often ranged into anti-Semitism in their theology.  One of the most dramatic was in 1980 when Rev. Bailey Smith, pastor at First Baptist in Del City and newly elected chair of the Southern Baptist Convention remarked that God doesn't hear the prayer of Jews.

His claim was based on the fact that God wouldn't be able to hear the prayer of one who disavowed Jesus as the Messiah.  He later backed up his claim using John 14:6 where Jesus claims, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Smith was unapologetically a literalist in his biblical interpretation.

When you don't interpret utilizing the overall mission of Jesus or how Jesus treated those on the outside, the Christian faith can often seem hypocritical or judgmental.

Fortunately, United Methodist doctrine is more nuanced as shared by our statement in the United Methodist Book of Resolutions entitled, "United Methodist Guiding Principles for Christian-Jewish Relations."

This statement acknowledges the difficulties of evangelizing while respecting people of differing traditions.  It is especially difficult since our religion emerged out of Judaism and started as a subset of it.

Our resolution calls us "to learn about the faith of one another and to build bridges of understanding."

I began to learn more about the Jewish community in college as the Jewish Student Association met at the OSU Wesley Foundation where I was the resident custodian my final two years of school.  They made arrangements to hold a Seder meal in our building which was my first encounter with this Passover tradition.  

In order for them to prepare it in our kitchen, they gave it a thorough scrubbing to ensure a kosher meal.  As the custodian, this was perfectly fine by me!

They were gracious in inviting any of the United Methodist students to attend.  I recognize this hospitality today as I imagine that it would be nice just to celebrate with your own people without having to explain everything to outsiders.  As a person in the dominant culture, at the time, it didn't occur to me that we wouldn't necessarily be a welcome addition for all those there!

It was a fascinating retelling using the different foods as mnemonic devices of how the Jewish people were led by God through Moses out of bondage and into freedom.  For instance, bitter herbs were used to remind the participants of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.

I feel that it is important for Christians to be guests at a Jewish Passover rather than re-creating one primarily for the Christian community where they reside.  When Christians are in charge, it feels more like playing at the Passover.  Of course, we also don't want to be spiritual tourists who try out experiences for our own self-interest.  The key for me would be the relationships established.  We are honored to participate with our friends so that we might grow closer in loving our neighbors.  We have a greater understanding of them and thus, of ourselves.  This is more likely to keep us from proclaiming that Jesus doesn't hear the prayers of our Jewish neighbors.

As we move through Holy Week, what differences of religious tradition have you encountered?  Some might be within the Christian faith and some might be outside it.  There is a significance in how Jesus conducted the Passover meal.  John's Gospel tells us that Jesus preceded the meal by washing the feet of those who followed him.  How might we bring this humility to our religious conversations with the people we meet?

I remember a lot of wine being drunk at the Seder.
While drinking four glasses is also representative,
they told us that we didn't have to drain each glass.
I think this was the only time alcohol was served
in the Wesley Foundation!

Photo by Suzie Tremmel via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 36

A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.

                                                   Proverbs 17:17

Today, I'm grateful for my cabinet colleagues within the Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church.

2022-23 Oklahoma Conference Appointed Cabinet 

When Bishop Nunn called me in the spring of 2021 to go on the cabinet, I was taken aback.  Our son, David, was finishing his junior year in high school and I didn't feel that we would want to move at this point (I have PK friends that could point to their own move before their senior years).  

When he stated that it would be to the Crossroads District and that I wouldn't have to change homes, this took away that exit ramp.  I did have an idea of what would be coming regarding disaffiliation and the issues surrounding The United Methodist Church.

Strangely, I felt God's call on my life to get the church that has nurtured and cared for me through this rough season and so I accepted this appointment.

The issues surrounding disaffiliation have taken off at a greater pace than I anticipated.  As I spoke to my spouse Sheryl (who teaches marketing at the college level), she indicated that because there is an end date to disaffiliation, it induces a type of fire-sale mentality.

"You've got to get this deal while you can!  Act now because our churches are going fast!  Make sure you get yours before time runs out!"

She indicated to me that many people make purchases under this type of advertising that normally wouldn't if there were not a limited time frame involved.  When this happens, people often later will have buyer's remorse!  

This type of thinking usually captures the short-term gain without looking at the long-term consequences.  You may have heard about the small town church that disaffiliated that later asked the superintendent, "When are you going to send us our next pastor?"

As the cabinet has sought to stem the tide, there have been conversations that have tried our patience.  There have been things said to us verbally and in writing that are hard to set aside.

Fortunately, God has not left us to our own devices.  Because we are in a connectional system, we have each other with which we can process these things.  We start every cabinet meeting with a devotion led by one of our colleagues.  Usually, they hit right where they need to.

There have been tears but there has also been laughter.  It may be that the laughter helps us to stem the tide.  There's something about shared conflict that draws people close to one another.  When we add the element of faith, this becomes the church.

Our faith allows us to not only handle it but to see a day when we will be thriving.  

During Holy Week, we remember that the disciples blew it when Jesus was in his greatest need.  But we also will soon tell of how they came back together.  And the world was changed.

As you think about difficulties in your own life that you have overcome, where has God placed people along the way that have helped you see past it?  When have you shared something deep and meaningful with others that has drawn you closer to one another?  How does this speak to the resurrection to come?

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 35

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

                    James 2:13b

Today, I'm thankful that The United Methodist Church emphasizes grace over judgment.  

At some point fairly early in my career, I remember Oklahoma's resident bishop at the time, Bruce Blake, leading us in a series he wrote entitled, "What's Different about The United Methodist Church."

In particular, I remember his point that we lead with grace over judgment.  

I have experienced Christian judgment many times in my life.  Sometimes they have come from within the denomination and sometimes from without.  So it would be hypocritical to say that we never judge.  Rather, it is like the bar we raise to an impressive height.  We are working on clearing the bar but we recognize that we'll need some help.

If we don't continue to seek to employ grace, it is much too easy to fall into being judgmental.  I'm not sure why this is a fall-back position but it seems to be.  This may be due to the fact that secular life employs a lot of judgment.

As a district superintendent, this season of disaffiliation has been difficult to say the least.  My job is to hold pastors and churches accountable.  What does that look like in a season that allows churches the possibility of leaving?  Can clergy or lay leadership of a local church lift up options of other denominations as possible destinations or is this going against the vows we take?

Based on the inclusion of paragraph 2553 in 2019, this seems to be a gray area.

I've tried to lift the idea that true discernment should include self-critique.  But if it is only critique without lifting up the positive, it has become a sell-job.  This is where I try to hold the line.

Unfortunately, when I do try to hold this process to more of a discernment, I get accused of being too harmful to those simply seeking to leave.  If the church in question was going out at over 90%, I am more lenient.  But where there are a larger number of United Methodists, in a sense, I become their pastor if the appointed pastor is moving them to an exit.

This gets back to the accountability piece.  I do try to be gracious but at the same time, I also expect local leadership not to use manipulative tactics such as "United Methodists no longer believe in the resurrection" or "the conference is not being transparent with its finances."  These are both untrue statements.

The grace I try to employ at this point is that I've not filed charges against anyone.  You may not feel that this is a very high bar but there are times I would disagree.  I'm writing about this to try to show our very real struggle with the concept Bishop Blake has outlined.

As we enter Holy Week, where do your own points of grace and judgment intersect?

Maybe it will be helpful for us to remind ourselves how Jesus treated those around him this week!

My faith tells me that grace takes precedence

Photo by Tori Rector via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 34

"I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

                                                    Joshua 1:9

Today, I'm grateful that The United Methodist Church gave me the leadership tools to deal with change and the anxiety that comes with it.

These days, I often hear our United Methodist pastors say, "Seminary never had any courses on disaffiliation."  I may have even said it a time or two.

And while this is technically true, I was instructed in our church's polity.  I was also given tools as a leader to deal with change which is usually accompanied by anxiety from those impacted by it.

I remember vividly in my church administration class of a particular anecdote that was lifted up as a true story:

A pastor (this was in Georgia) was appointed to a new congregation.  He discovered that there was a tree that had grown so large that it effectively blocked one of the entrances to the church.  This pastor took it upon himself to get his chainsaw and remove the tree, thus allowing greater access to the building.  What could go wrong?  He found out after the fact that this particular tree was planted by John Wesley.

As students, we were to answer the question, "How would you handle this?"

I think my answer of "Ask for a new appointment" was probably the most logical!

But seriously, these kinds of exercises show us that we may run into all kinds of issues.  Most of them have to do with the local culture and history of a particular church.  How many times would it be better to listen and learn before rushing to action?

As the church deals with disaffiliation, this has a lot to do with identity.  As a connectional church, we have a lot of shared identity that is then shaped by local culture.  This is why United Methodist churches all have similarities but each have their own flavor as well.  Currently, many churches are feeling that their own flavor is sufficient for their identity and they are discounting or ignoring how the connectional identity influences them.  

These situations remind me of those who declare that they are self-made when in fact, they have received so much help along the way - even from the standpoint of having parents who taught them a work ethic.  If we see the gratitude from this person (or church) missing, it does cause us to wonder if they need more humility in their lives.

Having a strong sense of one's identity is good armor for the anxiety that emerges from our society today.  It allows us to see outliers as just that rather than normative.  It allows us not to panic when someone else makes a decision contrary to ours.  It allows us to be in relationship with those who disagree and still respect them as children of God.

One of the greatest advantages in being in a connectional system is that we don't face the changes (and the anxiety that comes with them) alone.  We have greater resources on which to draw.  This network includes leadership that has also been trained to look at larger systems.  Unfortunately, this is one part of our identity that is being overlooked by some.  I hope these don't end up like the pastor who unknowingly cut down the Wesley tree!

As we move through Lent, what are some of the basics of your identity in  Christ?  How do naming these help with stress or anxiety?

Humor is also a tool to lessen anxiety!

Photo by Oatsy40 via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 33

"Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding." 

                                                                  Jeremiah 3:15

 

Today, I'm grateful that The United Methodist Church has high educational standards for its clergy.

I think about my own education and I wonder if I would have gone on to get a masters degree if it were not required.  I was already working as a lay person in the church with an undergraduate degree.  But because this was a requirement for ordination, I went on to complete my degree.

Later, I went back to school to complete my doctorate of ministry degree.  If I was not in a church that valued education, would I have done this?

While I was in school this last time, I found that my preaching and leadership improved while I was pursuing this higher education.  

I believe that education is key to so many things.  

As we examine poverty, we discover that education is invaluable for helping people to escape this morass.  Our own Project Transformation program is designed to help children catch up to their age-appropriate reading levels.  This is shown to be a wonder in helping them throughout their classes for years to come.

Education helps us to overcome racism.  Last year, our cabinet went through educational opportunities regarding race.  We had readings but also immersion experiences that helped us to encounter different viewpoints.  When we discover the basics of the human experience as universal, it helps us to celebrate the differences that we each bring to the table and not be threatened by them.

For ordination, The United Methodist Church requires a Masters of Divinity degree.  This advanced degree averages around 80 hours in most institutions.  For licensing, we require an initial local pastor's school but also that they follow up with course of study taught by people with advanced degrees.  What difference does it make to be a part of a denomination that has this requirement?

It means that we take our spirituality seriously and we expect our leaders to have some knowledge and understanding before entering the pulpit.  Of course, we also have expectations of spiritual depth as well but we believe this is developed through regular study of the scriptures.  The pursuit of education can help us to be disciplined in our prayer life as well as our study of the Bible.

When you hold your leaders to higher expectations, this usually trickles down to the congregation.  We have expectations of our laity studying the word as well.  We want them to see the meaning behind the obvious that will add life to their lives.

What is something you've discovered about the Bible that has deepened your understanding and helped you as a person?  What standards do you hold for yourself about your own knowledge?

I probably wouldn't have achieved the education
I did without being pushed by my colleagues
and the expectations of The UMC

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 32

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

                                                             3 John 1:4

Today, I'm thankful that The United Methodist Church has helped raise my children.

Both are now adults and I'm thankful for the people they have become.

As they grew, both were baptized as infants at Piedmont United Methodist Church.  Kyla was baptized by Scott Sharp and David was baptized by Craig Stinson.  Neither remembers it but both know about it and have seen pictures of the people who came and promised to support them in their faith.  I was fortunate to preside at their confirmations when they were sixth graders.

Both were active in the children's programs and were in lead roles in children's plays we produced at the church.  They also performed in a Christmas play after we got to Edmond.

The church afforded both leadership opportunities that they wouldn't have had in school.  Both loved going to as many church camps as they could during the summer months.  These also included our leadership camps.  Kyla was the CCYM (Conference Council on Youth Ministry) youth chair her senior year and was then an adult co-chair in college.

Kyla has also led in worship each Sunday through singing and her violin since high school.  Kyla gets in two worship services each week as she also plays at Wesley Worship every Monday night at Oklahoma City University. 

David recently got back from helping to lead the youth on a mission trip to Texas while serving as an intern with Edmond First.  I continue to hear good reports on how he handles the youth and doesn't let them get away with all the things he tried when he was their age!

Both of them relate well to adults and can carry on a conversation with no difficulties.  David attributes this to being raised in the church where lots of adults regularly checked on him growing up.

Their faith in Christ through the church has made them kinder people who are more sensitive to the outsiders among us.  They both have really good senses of humor and while I would like to take credit for that, the joy also can come from being nurtured and loved. 

As they continue to move into adulthood, I hope that their faith continues to be a priority for them.  Sometimes we take for granted the things that helped shape us for who we are today.  

What are ways that the church has shaped your life?  As we reflect on our own identity, I think we can all point to special people and experiences provided through the church that have touched our lives.

Maybe today for Lent, you could send them a note, an email or a text message letting them know they made a difference!

Kyla and David are helping with our 
Skyline Urban Ministry collection at church circa 2005.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 31

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the Lord!

                                   Psalm 134:2

Today, I'm thankful for United Methodist houses of worship.  Particularly, the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Duncan.

This may sound strange as I was not raised here, and I've never worshipped regularly here or been appointed here.  

I was married here though.

Duncan FUMC informed my spouse as she was raised in the faith and she blesses me all the time.

After we married, I received a scholarship for seminary from this congregation while I attended Candler School of Theology to become a pastor.  Someone in this congregation was forward-thinking in their support of the future.

I was also blessed by Rev. Phil Wahl who was Pastor Emeritus at this church.  If you never met Rev. Wahl, you missed out.  He has lots of great stories associated around his ministry.  A notorious speeder late in life, I was told that he would tell the secretary to call the Highway Patrol.  "Tell them not to stop me - I'm headed to the hospital!"

He established a Lenten series where they would bring in different speakers each year and he invited me to come and fill this spot while I was still early in my career.  

I was honored to do this but also a little intimidated.  But I was able to develop some teachings and lectures on the biblical exile and how this relates to our current faith.

This moved me into a greater confidence in developing the word for congregations.

As I mentioned, I've never served here or worshipped here regularly but Duncan First United Methodist Church has served me throughout my ministerial career.  That's just a part of the connection at work.

Where are those places that have impacted you along your journey?  Places that may be tangential to your life rather than directly associated with you?

I don't know why but it seems that God just works through some places for us more than others.

As we move through Lent, how can you invest in a place so that others might see God at work through this space?

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 30

"God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.  That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart"

                                                Psalm 46:1-2a

Today, I'm grateful for the worldwide disaster response of The United Methodist Church.  

In February, layperson Suzanne Parker while speaking at St Luke's United Methodist Church, reminded us that we had United Methodists at work on the disaster relief across the world recovering from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.  The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is a proven network of global disaster relief.  Even where we don't have United Methodist churches, we have ecumenical partnerships that we work with to offer recovery.

On Friday, tornados devastated communities in Mississippi and Alabama taking the lives of over two dozen people.  Mississippi's governor communicated this to the world:

At least twenty three Mississippians were killed by last night’s violent tornados. We know that many more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still active.

The loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends.

— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 25, 2023

UMCOR is already responding.  They have a way to contribute (you could have done so on Sunday morning at your local UMC - you can always earmark UMCOR or "disaster relief" on your check even when it isn't mentioned).  They are looking to mobilize for long-term recovery efforts using our connections.

When I was the pastor at Piedmont, we were on the receiving end of United Methodist disaster response.  While I was on the front-lines, I never felt as if I were in this alone.  I knew the Oklahoma Conference was behind me as well as countless United Methodists across the world.  

This is one of the best things we do.  It is also important to offer a theology that clearly states, "God did not do this to you because of something you have done."  Jesus reminds us in Luke 13 that people crushed by a falling tower were no more guilty than any of us.  

As we continue through Lent, one thing you might organize for your local church is to pack cleaning buckets.  These are utilized for natural disasters and offer God's love to people who are feeling lost.  It is powerful to offer this gift for someone you'll never meet.  In a way, this is what we do by putting money in the offering plate each Sunday.  God surely uses the power of the connection in ways we'll never see.

When we are on site, we offer what
we can for strength.  When we can't be there,
we have other ways to show we care.

Picture taken by Holly McCray.  Used by permission.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 29

"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you."

                                                    Song of Songs 4:7

Today, I am thankful for the United Methodist Church's commitment to campus ministry.  It was at the Wesley Foundation at Oklahoma State University that I met my wife, Sheryl!

I was active in our campus ministry all through college.  After my four years were finished, I moved to Tulsa and began to work at New Haven United Methodist Church.

In campus ministry, the opening week is crucial.  You have to have lots of activities and the building needs to have an "open house" feel with snacks and people hanging out that first week.  That's when college students usually set their routines and the majority decide where they will be involved at this time.

During my senior year, we had lots of freshmen who were active and these made up much of the leadership after I graduated.  I came back from Tulsa for the activities that first week when the sophomores were leading.  I was so used to greeting people when I was there that I realized I had failed to train anyone left to do the same.  When people came through the doors, I was encouraging them to leave their seats and welcome people as they entered.

I was telling them to do this when a young couple entered the building.  Everyone stared at the two of them and I waited, thinking, "Come on, come on... Get up!"

No one said anything and the couple started to turn around in the awkward silence!  I jumped up and invited them in and began showing them around the building.

I noticed the young woman was quite striking and soon found out that she was with her brother!  My friend Van began to show him around and I had time to visit with her.  Her name was Sheryl Heaton and I encouraged her to return for the activities that week.

I managed to make the drive in the evenings after work from Tulsa and Sheryl was at each event.  We started dating and this has been the relationship that has sustained me throughout my life.

Not everyone meets their spouse through The United Methodist Church but it is a place where we find relationships that build us up and give us life.  I find that it is a place where we can hold common values as simple as "do no harm, do good, continue daily in your walk with God."

As we continue through Lent, how often do you greet those who are new who come through our doors?  It becomes easy to become comfortable with those we already know.  We need to remember that it can be a spiritual discipline to draw our circle wider and include those we meet along the way!

And you never know how the blessings of this discipline may rebound on you!

These are the hostesses from our wedding shower at
New Haven UMC in Tulsa.  L to R, you have Janice Hannon
(daughter of a UMC minister), Bobbi Neal (whose
daughter became a UMC minister), Linda Harker (later
became a UMC minister), Sam and Sheryl
(granddaughter of a UMC minister), Sue Hay
(whose husband later became a UMC minister) and
Deb Dermyer (friend and youth sponsor).  
The United Methodist connection is pretty amazing!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 28

Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 

                                                   1 Samuel 3:4

Today, I'm grateful for God's call upon my life through The United Methodist Church!

It didn't come all at once for me like it did for Samuel although I did have a children's book on this from a very young age.

My call came through various adults seeing something in me that I didn't necessarily see in myself.

I was tagged by Virginia Gray and Lucinda Scheldorf as a youth leader in training in junior high at Boston Avenue.  This allowed me to help at Nite Owl Camp and Day Camp during the summer months (which were day camps for our elementary students).  This led to me helping as a small group and cabin leader at 6th grade camp in high school and college.

I began to be active at the Wesley Foundation at OSU and John Rusco always made sure I visited with seminary representatives even though I had made no indication of going on for any kind of graduate studies for ministry.

As I neared graduation and was trying to determine what kind of job I would pursue, I started thinking more and more about ministry as a career.  Was God calling me to do this?  I certainly enjoyed my summer jobs working with youth at Boston Avenue and Stillwater First.  

I remember thinking to myself, "Maybe I should try out ministry by working in a church as a youth minister."  I prayed about it and kind of made a bargain with God.  If I could find a job as a youth minister, it would let me see if I was being further called to be an ordained pastor.

No sooner had I finished praying than the phone rang.  It was my friend Lynn Tegeler who I probably hadn't spoken with for over a year.  We had worked together as college interns at Boston Avenue several years prior.  She indicated that New Haven United Methodist Church in Tulsa had asked her to apply for their youth minister position.  Lynn told them that she didn't feel called to be a youth minister but she had given them my name.  

I about fell over.  

It seemed to me that God was giving me a definite sign!  Of all the interviews I had ever had, this one worried me the least.  I did get the job and began to understand an internal call that went along with the external one I was receiving from others.  

As a part of our denomination, one's call to ministry must be verified by the community.  This is a helpful part of the discernment process.  

Of course, people are called by God all the time and not necessarily to ordained work.  Some people feel that their vocation is a call.  Others feel called to more short-term tasks or work.  We like to say that our baptism calls all Christians into ministry.  Some of these feel that God is setting them apart for ordained work.  The majority are called to others things through the church and beyond.  Whether lay or clergy, the community helps confirm one's calling.

As we continue to move through Lent, whether you are a lay person or a pastor of some sort, what is a short-term task for which you may feel God calling you to do?  It may be helpful to talk to someone else about it - get some outward confirmation for that inward call.  The advantage of telling someone about it is that this makes it more likely we will follow through!  This may be why when God called Samuel, his mentor Eli checked up on him.  

So maybe the short-term task you are being called to do is to help someone else with theirs!

 

Sometimes my calling has led to some strange situations!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 27

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

                            Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5:48

 

Today, I'm thankful for The United Methodist Church's teaching on Sanctifying Grace.

When I was being brought into full connection as a clergy person in Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church, I remember  the bishop asking me the historic questions.

The first is, "Have you faith in Christ?"  Of course!

The second is harder, "Are you going on to perfection?"  Um, what?  Does this mean, am I a perfectionist?

Those who have studied our doctrines in seminary understand that John Wesley asked about Christian perfection with regards to love and not perfectionism which is a more modern psychological understanding.  In fact, within our Book of Discipline, ¶ 102 on "Our Doctrinal Heritage" has this to say about it:

Sanctifying grace draws us toward the gift of Christian perfection, which Wesley described as a heart “habitually filled with the love of God and neighbor” and as “having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked.”

So, clergy are expected to answer "Yes" to the second question as well.

Then the bishop asks the third question, "Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?"

Please note that this question includes the clause, "in love" because we all answer "yes" to this as well.

As we look at the quote from the Sermon on the Mount I posted above, this is a great example of why we don't take the Bible literally in all places and why we do put it into context of the rest of the passage.  Within this scripture, Jesus is talking about loving your enemies.  The perfection he speaks of is in regards to how we love those who would do us harm.  This is not an easy thing to do and so Jesus sets the bar high for his disciples.  

As I think about what this means for my life, I look at it as trying to wish for no harm to come to anyone.  The difficult piece of this comes when you feel attacked.  You may actually (at least in the short term) wish that they would get what's coming to them.  

Can I bless them instead?  

This is what sanctification means to me.   It means that we become more Christ-like in our lives.  Please know that we do not attempt this outside of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  

If we remember Paul's words to the Galatians, he writes that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is exemplified in "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  In other words, Christians should strive to show these characteristics more than not.

I think it is important that we teach that this is a process and that we don't get there overnight.  

This is made clear in the fourth historic question that clergy answer, " Are you earnestly striving after it?"

Our answer is yes.  There's no way we could reach perfection in love in this lifetime unless we work at it.  And we work at it with God's help.

I'm not there yet.  But I do believe that I'm closer today than I was when I first answered these questions all those years ago.  This may come as a surprise to some people but there you go!

How do you work on becoming more Christlike in your life?  What are the barriers that keep you from getting there?  Are there people in your life that you find difficult to love?  It is important to remember that these people do not instruct us how to live.  Rather, we look to Jesus Christ.  

Ah, the first question which all of us may need to answer: Have you faith in Christ?

Some days this is what my spiritual life looks like!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 26

 “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

                                                         Exodus 3:5b

Today, I am grateful for The United Methodist Church's teaching on Justifying Grace in Jesus Christ.

One of the things we teach about the forms of Wesleyan Grace (Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying) is that they come to us multiple times in life.

Since I was raised in the church and never knew a time where I felt excluded from God's love, my sense of justification did not come in a single moment growing up.  I remember my baptism at age eight and while I knew this was an important rite in the church, I would not say I fully understood it at the time.  At this age, we would likely say it was more about prevenient grace although baptism does contain elements of justification (and sanctification) in it every time it is administered.

There was a sense of being justified the first time I took Holy Communion (at an even younger age).

There was justification certainly in my confirmation and especially when I answered in the affirmative to the vow, "Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?"

As we grow in maturity, we sometimes begin to ask tougher questions about our faith.  

I remember being at Camp Egan in high school for Tulsa District Camp.  We were in the chapel doing a guided meditation and I started thinking about hearing God's voice.  I wondered why I had never heard God's voice like they did in the Bible.

So I decided to put God to the test (sorry, Jesus but I was a teenager!).

I wanted to hear an audible voice (or at least one in my head) communicating something to me.  If I didn't hear a voice, I was going to write off my belief in God.

I wasn't unreasonable though and did give God to the count of ten.

I counted backward because that's what kids who were raised with NASA countdowns did in those days.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

I wasn't worried yet - plenty of numbers left.

"Seven, six, five..."

Okay, God's probably just being a little dramatic, not wanting the reveal to come too soon.

"Four, three, two..."

Okay, anytime now, God!

"One.  Zero."   Nothing.

At first, I was crestfallen but then I began to have what I later learned was a mystical experience.  I began to hear all of the sounds of the camp outside the chapel.  I heard the creek flowing and the crickets chirping and the birds singing.  I heard other youth on the slab playing.  It was uncanny and a deep sense of peace washed over me.

It was as if God was saying to me, "I don't always speak on demand and I may not manifest myself in ways you expect.  But I'm always here if you are willing to stop.  And listen rather than count!"

It was a profound moment of justifying grace in my life.  I felt chastised and accepted and loved all at once.

This experience has helped me to understand that my stewardship is also tied to caring for God's creation.  John's Gospel teaches us from the first chapter that Christ is a part of this as well.

How have you experienced the love of God in your life?  It may not come in a mystical moment and in fact, it probably comes in more ordinary ways on a daily basis.  To reflect on this is to find forgiveness and love and sometimes even meaning.

May you be blessed today and know that God loves you!