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!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 25

But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

                                               Luke 15:20b

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

This is the grace that comes to us before we are aware of it.  It is the idea that God is pursuing us to let us know that we are loved and beloved.  

This grace can move us to repentance and salvation through Justifying Grace.  

But it also comes to us throughout our lives and reminds us that we don't walk this journey alone.

Sometimes God surprises us when we least expect it!

When I was pursuing ordained ministry by going to seminary, I mentioned in yesterday's post about being targeted for a possible position in ministry.  It was actually the Director of the Wesley Foundation at OSU.  This was where I went to undergrad and met Sheryl (my spouse).  It was where I began to recognize my call to ministry.  

Needless to say, I was more than excited to begin my ministry there.  I felt like I had lots of plans to reach the students on campus and began to think of students I already knew on campus from my days in youth ministry prior to seminary.

I thought it would be the perfect fit!

But the cabinet didn't see it that way and I was sent to Salem United Methodist Church in Drummond.  I was more nervous about this appointment and didn't feel near as capable.  I had some experience in rural Sapulpa growing up but this is so close to Tulsa that it doesn't count as real rural Oklahoma.  When I got to town, Sheryl was finishing up finals in Georgia and I called her and told her that our driveway actually backs onto Highway 132 going through town.  You could walk from one side of the town to the other.  I had never lived in a community this small!

This ended up being the perfect start to my ordained ministry career.   It allowed me to begin to refine my preaching.  I learned not to get too technical (okay, I still do that sometimes) and I realized that I needed to shorten my messages.  

I learned to care for families through hospital visits and funerals.  

We were able to grow this church each year I was there and during my last year, we led the district in the number of campers attending Canyon camp that summer.  We also led that year in professions of faith.  I don't think the two are unrelated.

What I learned about this was that God was walking alongside me and allowed me to thrive in a situation where I didn't feel as competent.  

I discovered that I wasn't bringing God to this community - God was already present!  My job was to point out where we saw God at work.  I find that evangelism works best when you show people how God is already a part of their lives rather than trying to lift myself up as the example they should strive to be.  It makes more sense in that God has created all of us to be different and diverse.

As you think back on the past, where have you noticed God walking alongside you?  Where have you been surprised with a call from someone that came at just the right time?  When have you thought things wouldn't work out and then seemed to come together in just the right way?

That may be preceding grace working on you!

And as John Rusco (at the OSU Wesley Foundation) would say, "Thank God for that gift!"

I'm pictured with Amanda Mason Arens' family when I baptized her son Kash.  I was fortunate to confirm Amanda in the faith when she was a 6th grader at Drummond.  I love the cycle of ministry!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 24

Today, I'm thankful for The United Methodist Church's teaching to attend upon all the ordinances of God.

This, of course, is the third of John Wesley's General Rules.  Bishop Rueben Job paraphrased this as "stay in love with God."  I have also paraphrased it, "work on your relationship with God."

Wesley defines these "ordinances" as:

•    The public worship of God. (Regular worship)
  
•    The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded. (Scripture based sermons)
  
•    The Supper of the Lord. (Holy Communion)
  
•    Family and private prayer. (No explanation needed)
  
•    Searching the Scriptures. (Bible study)
  
•    Fasting or abstinence. (Wait, what?)
  

When I was finishing seminary at Candler, I was brought back to interview for a particular appointment under the Stillwater District Superintendent, Dr. Grayson Lucky.  Now, I know we don't interview for appointments in The UMC but he wanted to visit with me prior to making the decision on who to appoint to a particular position.  So, I'm not sure what else you would call it!

If you've never met Dr. Lucky, he can be somewhat intimidating.  I had already passed the Board of Ordained Ministry with flying colors but Grayson was harder to impress.  

When he asked me about the third General Rule as to what I did on a regular basis, I recognized that I was woefully deficient in my practices.  I did hit the first three with regularity but missed on the last three for personal devotion time.  

The cabinet appointed someone else to the position in the Stillwater district!

I recognized that I needed to do a better job in working on this.  Spirituality doesn't just come through studying for and writing sermons.  We have to practice prayer and read the Bible not for teaching or preaching but just for our own edification.  

I've managed to get these down on a daily basis and it has made all the difference.  I'm still not very good at fasting but maybe I can work on that in the future!

What practices have you added during Lent that you might continue to do throughout the year?  When is a time you can utilize for prayer during the day?

Oh, and I ended up being appointed as the pastor in Drummond a week later and this ended up being the best thing for me so things worked out!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 23

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

                                                           2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)

 

Today, I'm grateful that The United Methodist Church taught me to do good things for others.

"Doing good" is the second of three of John Wesley's General Rules for the church that United Methodists are supposed to not only memorize but to incorporate into their living.

As I've served United Methodist churches throughout my adult life, I've always been impressed by the amount of leadership shown in the surrounding communities by the people in the congregation.  

When I was in Drummond, it was the United Methodists who took on many of the volunteer roles for the community.  They even pressed me into service for a short season as a town council member.  This is a chance to do good for your neighbor when it comes to some of the basics of their lives.

In Piedmont, I've mentioned the Senior Lunch program which did a lot of good for those retired adults living in the surrounding community.

When I got to Edmond, I was surprised by the amount of programming the church did in regards to helping others.  It seemed that we were always announcing things we were doing on behalf of the community.  I had a hard time keeping up with all of it!

I think one of the last programs I heard about was the Boulevard Buddies that was led by Ellen Lyons. 

The Boulevard Academy is an alternative high school that sits across the street from Edmond First United Methodist Church.  From their website, it is designed for "High school students, who for one reason or another, have fallen behind on high school graduation requirements and need an alternative to the regular school setting to fulfill their graduation goals."

The Boulevard Buddies is a program at the church led by the laity who provide for the extra needs of these students whether that be clothing, school supplies or even food for meals.  Each fall, they would give the kitchen crew a break and provide a homemade Thanksgiving meal for the students.  As I got to serve this meal during my time as pastor there, I was so impressed with the student body coming through to receive it.  For the most part, they were thankful of our support, courteous and seemed genuinely happy to be there.  This was a joy to do and I so appreciate this organization for the work they do!

When we do good for others and they receive it well, it makes us feel good and it may give us positive feedback that encourages us to repeat the effort!  This is typical of any mission endeavor that seeks to help people.

But I have also been in other mission situations where people have not been appreciative.  This is where observing the second rule of Wesley becomes challenging.  

Have you ever served a meal to someone who needed it but did not seem grateful?  We may struggle with our feelings at this point or it may put us off entirely from helping others.  When this happens, we are letting those who are hurting (and maybe somewhat bitter) to become our teachers.  

As Christians (especially during Lent), we remember the suffering by our Lord and we recognize that he didn't seem to begrudge even those responsible for it.  Rather, we engage in doing good because we believe it is transformative.  We engage in doing good because it is the right way to be.

We engage in doing good because we regularly pray, "thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven."

How might you help God make this come true in your corner of the world today?

Photo taken by Ellen Lyons, used by permission.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 22

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

                                    Hebrews 13:7

Today, I'm thankful for the leaders who guided and shaped me within The United Methodist Church to become the person I am today.

On Facebook, there has been a posting that has gone Oklahoma Conference viral with the hashtag, #iamaproductofeffectiveumleadershipdevelopment.

The associated graphic has been used by people as their Facebook profile picture.  

It was started in response to a message from the leadership of St Luke's United Methodist Church.  They are seeking to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church (and the Oklahoma Conference) and have indicated that our leadership has been ineffective.

Various United Methodists have expressed their appreciation to those who have nurtured, taught and encouraged them through the years.  It is a positive expression of resurrection even amid the season of Lent.

As I think about my own experiences within The United Methodist Church, I was nurtured at Boston Avenue through Virginia Gray in the children's department and Lucinda Scheldorf in the youth department.  John Campbell was an adult volunteer for UMYF who was also instrumental throughout my adolescence.

Kent Ingram saved my bacon at camp (another story for another time) and Virginia, Herman Ging and Charles Herndon gave me early leadership opportunities at 6th Grade Camp. 

I'm thankful for the sermons of John Russell, Mouzon Biggs, Eldon Moelling, Jim Gragg and Ken Tobler who helped shape me during my time as a lay person.

I got to serve as an intern for Boston Avenue and learned under Lucinda, Harold Reynolds, Art McGrew, David Wiggs and EvaMarie Herndon Campbell and then again as an intern for Stillwater First and learned under Terry Martindale and Kathy Dorr.  

John Rusco mentored me along with Mendle Adams (a great UCC pastor who officed out of the building) at the Wesley Foundation at OSU.

After Sheryl and I were married, her grandfather, retired United Methodist minister, Loren Heaton unofficially mentored me every time we talked.

My district superintendents have been Dick House, Stan Warfield, Phil Ware, Craig Stinson, Dan Pulver, Rockford Johnson and Tish Malloy.  All have taught me more than I could repay.

The great thing about connectional leadership is that the lessons I have learned have been shared many times over with a wide variety of people.  The majority of people I have touched with God's grace across Oklahoma and beyond through my ministry have never met the people I mentioned.  But the call of ministry that was answered by this list also extends through me.  

In every setting I've been in whether as a lay person or as clergy, I have been privileged to see people answer their call as well.  And we see God's grace extended even farther.  Most of the people they touch will not ever meet me either and that's how connectional ministry works.  

It is not about me.  It is not for my accolades.  It is not so that I might establish my own kingdom.  

It is about Christ in me.  And in you.  

And it blesses the world anew.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 21

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

                                                          Romans 13:10

Today, I'm grateful for The United Methodist Church teaching me to do no harm.

Of course, "Do no harm" is the first of John Wesley's General Rules.   It used to be something that all Methodists knew and tried to observe regularly.  As we consider the state of the world today, it might be a good one for all of us to revisit.

It doesn't sound all that difficult.  It's just a matter of not hurting anyone.  Most people do not want to hurt the people around them.

The problem comes when our actions unintentionally harm others.  

When I attended United Methodist Youth Fellowship growing up, I loved the real competitive games.  Capture the Flag may have been my favorite and we even had a regular game going at the Wesley Foundation in college.  

But youth group also taught us non-competitive games that allowed us to have fun where everyone wins.  They are more goal oriented where the group wins together rather than pitting one against another.  Sometimes these are time-sensitive where we are competing against the clock and sometimes they require us to complete a specific task together.  These are important because not everyone is athletic and some people actually hate competitive games.

 

 

When I led games at JEM Camp (our old version of Junior High Lead), not only did we play games but we talked about how we can tweak the rules to make sure the game is more balanced.  

We also talked about how we might sort out our teams to insure that no harm is done.

One of the most unintentional ways we do harm to our children or youth is to allow the old school-yard pick.  The most popular or athletic are chosen first and eventually a couple of kids are picked last.  This is not the kind of esteem-buster that we want to offer in a church activity.

So we talked about lining kids up by height and then putting every other one on a team.  You can divide by birthday months or grade.  You can divide a group into favorite toothpaste or fruit or pizza topping or any number of items and then tweak from there.  The good thing about some of these other ways is that they can also be ice-breakers if needed.  If lining up by height, have them do it blindfolded.  Or if lining up by age, have them do it without talking! 

And the best thing about these alternative ways is that we have done no harm in our division!

As we move through Lent, we understand that division can cause harm.  In what ways have you caused harm in the last month for which you would seek forgiveness?  Where has a time been in your life when you have intentionally avoided harm?  Just as we lament the times we missed the mark, we should celebrate the times we got it right!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 20

"But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness."

                                                             1 John 2:11

Today, I am thankful that The United Methodist Church has taught me about my blind spots concerning race.

I would guess there are only a minority of people who would actually claim that they are racist.  Most people feel that they would give others a fair shake no matter the color of their skin, the accent with which they talk or the cultural differences they may portray.

I went to seminary at the Candler School of Theology on the campus of Emory University which is a United Methodist institution in Atlanta, Georgia.  But I grew up in Oklahoma...

I didn't have a black classmate in elementary school until I was in the upper grades and even then, he was a classification younger.  We didn't have any black students in my grade.  We did have one student who was Korean and two that were Jewish.  This was out of about 60 or 70 in my grade in Tulsa in the 1970's.

I first experienced being a minority as a white person while visiting seminary in Atlanta.  It was on board the Marta train - as I got on, I realized that I was the only white person aboard the train.  No one said anything or acted unusual.  I made my way to my stop and got off.  But I remember it feeling different and I thought to myself, "This is what black people feel like in Oklahoma all the time!"

In seminary, I took a class by Dr. Noel Erskine entitled, "The Theology of Martin Luther King" and it was eye opening.  I was in the racial minority for this class as well and I think this helped with my perspective.  

 

This class was in the fall of 1995 and The United States was also absorbed with the trial of O.J. Simpson at the time.  On October 3, the jury's verdict of "not guilty" was released to the public.  While the white people I knew were stunned at the decision, the black people I knew were supportive of his release.  

In our class, we discussed it and one black student in particular tried to explain it to the white students present.  He tried to help us understand why black Americans were celebrating what seemed to white people to be someone getting away with murder.   He said, "A lot of black folks don't actually believe that O.J. is innocent.  But they also know that historically, there have been plenty of white people with money who haven't paid for their crimes.  It is refreshing to know that if a black man has enough money, he can get off today because its not always been that way."

I was able to better understand this viewpoint because of the conversations we had.  If I was only talking to white people, I'm sure I would not have gained this same perspective.

I have since had more opportunities because of the UMC to expand my horizons and my friendships interculturally.  

As we move through Lent, we recognize that Jesus suffers in solidarity with all peoples (not just those of my particular culture).  How does being in relationship with people that are different than ourselves help us as people of faith?

How do we truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves?

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 19

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

                                                                     Ephesians 4:32

Today, I'm grateful for the second chances I've received from The United Methodist Church.

In May of 1996, I had recently graduated seminary and was ready to come back to Oklahoma and take an appointment.  I had already been approved by the Board of Ordained Ministry for probationary membership and had been seated by the cabinet at Salem United Methodist Church in Drummond.  On Monday of Annual Conference, I was approved by the clergy executive session and was ready to go.  I would be ordained on Wednesday night.  

On Tuesday morning, I took a leisurely breakfast while visiting with my parents at their house in Tulsa. Unfortunately, I was also missing annual conference which at the time was introducing all of the ministerial candidates on the floor.

I got a phone call from my friend Kristi Swink who asked me where I was.  

Once she actually convinced me that I was missing a second vote, I frantically scrambled to get to the church.  

Carol Cook Moore (who I now serve with on the cabinet) was on the Board of Ordained Ministry and met me at the back of the sanctuary and escorted me down to the front.  

Randy Maddox was our conference teacher that year and was speaking on grace for the end of the morning session.

Carol took me up to Bishop Solomon to present me and I remember saying something trite like "I'm sure glad he was teaching on grace today."

Bishop Solomon looked at me without smiling and replied, "One can always hope."

We then had a lunch break and I was presented in the afternoon.  The conference approved me (again) for ordination and later at Gridiron (the conference's unofficial roast of all things conference) they sang "Get me to the Church on Time" while parading me down to the front.

I was very nervous through most of Tuesday.  I was hopeful that they would overlook my transgression and they did.  Since that time, I have tried to be present for the business of the annual conference!

When we think about second chances, we all have stories where we needed them.  What may be equally helpful is to recognize where we have given them.  

As we move forward in Lent, how does this season allow us to recognize the help we've needed in life?  How does this help us to extend it to others?

 

Notation from page 121 of the 1996 OK Conference Journal

 

 

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 18

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

                                                                     John 13:35

Today, I am grateful that The United Methodist Church is a part of the greater Wesleyan movement through our activity in the World Methodist Council.

Sheryl and I had the opportunity in 2011 to attend our first World Methodist Conference in South Africa with Rev. Jeremy Basset who is a native of that country.  There were a number of us from the Oklahoma Conference who attended and we shared in our common heritage with other sister denominations around the world.  

In the opening worship ceremony, the various churches that participated marched in while holding their denominational banners.  It wasn't a competition so much as a celebration of John Wesley's influence around the world.  We didn't look to fight over our differences but rather lift up the things on which we agreed!

One of the highlights for me was during worship when the liturgist asked us to pray the Lord's prayer in our first language.  It was a Pentecost moment as you heard so many languages praying in rhythm together.  We started at the same time and mostly ended at the same time.  It gave me a great sense of peace and unity.

Since that time, I was able to serve as a delegate to the World Methodist Council (which helps to lead the World Methodist Conference every five years) in Houston in 2016 and plan on going to Sweden for the next gathering in 2024.  While the Council has named delegates, the Conference is open to all who would like to attend.

I don't believe that the current divisiveness within The United Methodist Church is indicative of our identity.  It is also to be noted that there are no independent churches that hold membership in the World Methodist Council but they are denominations of multiple churches.  It isn't in our Wesleyan DNA to become singular or disconnected with our brothers and sisters around the world.  I'm grateful for the connection through this worldwide body.

As we move through Lent, where do you find divisiveness tugging at your heart?  What voices are calling to you for a movement away from your neighbors?  Why is this tempting?  How is Jesus moving us to love even those who may disagree with us?

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 17

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you."

                                                                            Matthew 7:7

Today, I'm thankful that The United Methodist Church taught me that asking questions deepens one's faith. 

My denomination of origin was the Assembly of God and in the era of my childhood, they were rather leery of The United Methodist Church.  Outsiders often accuse United Methodists of not really having any firm beliefs surrounding Christian doctrine.

This is not true.

Our doctrinal standards are located in our Articles of Religion that were passed down (although edited and abbreviated) from John Wesley and the Church of England.  We also inherited the similar Confession of Faith from our Evangelical United Brethren Heritage in 1968.  These core beliefs haven't changed but our usage and interpretation of them is more contextual through time.

United Methodists are encouraged to ask questions and we are less likely to lift up doubt as a sin.

I remember my campus minister at Oklahoma State University, Dr. John Rusco, telling his own story about how he came to faith in The UMC.  He also was raised in a different tradition and as an adolescent, when he started asking questions, he was told, "We don't ask those kind of questions here."

This discouraged him enough to stop attending church.

He was driving by a United Methodist Church one day and saw the message on their marquee after the sermon title, "Questions welcomed following the service."

He attended that Sunday to determine if this was, in fact, true.

After worship, he visited with the pastor who seemed delighted to engage in theological discussion with the young Rusco.  John said that he found a home that day.

If our faith is true, we needn't be afraid to ask questions.  It will stand up to testing and the testing of doctrine or Biblical interpretation is not the same as testing God (which of course, Jesus frowned on).

As I pursued my studies, I found in Family Systems Theory that questions and especially probing questions, were helpful in breaking down unhealthy triangles (small relationship dynamics between three people). 

As you move through Lent, what questions do you have about the stories of Jesus that we study?  We become especially mindful during this time about suffering and the human condition.  How do we participate in suffering and how can we help alleviate it?  How does this effectively share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world today?  

This was taken from the Marysville UMC website.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 16

"Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths."
                                                    Colossians 2:16

Today, I am thankful that The United Methodist Church doesn't see Halloween parties as things to be feared.

Growing up, I remember going to a Halloween party at Boston Avenue - maybe late elementary.  I dressed as a Jawa costume from the movie, Star Wars which my brother Bob designed for me.  It even came with a battery pack and I had glowing eyes.  I think that I won the costume contest that evening.

The best part of the evening was the box maze they put together.  We got to crawl around through all these cardboard passages in the dark and it was a ton of fun.

Later, when I was appointed to Piedmont, we perfected the box maze in the old white building that we had converted for the youth to occupy.  We collected boxes for a couple of weeks and then we began to put it together.  The youth would work on it a few hours at a time on Wednesdays and Sunday afternoons.  When we finished, it ran though multiple rooms and even had a tunnel that went upstairs and down the other staircase.  

During the church's Halloween carnival, kids had the best time going through the maze.  If some of the kids were too scared to go, one of the youth would go with them with a flashlight.  While they may have been scared going in, they all looked jubilant upon coming out and most wanted to go multiple times.

While a lot of pagan holidays have been converted by Christianity, we've never really tried to do much with Halloween.  The name originates from All Hallow's Eve which refers to the night before All Saints Day in the liturgical calendar where we observe those who have died in the previous year on November 1. 

When I was growing up, I did hear a lot from some churches about the evils of Halloween.  I wasn't buying it as a kid and loved the dressing up and the free candy!  I didn't see it as any kind of demonic influence (although today, the leftover candy at the house might qualify) but more as a fun time that came around once a year.

Today, most United Methodist churches seem to embrace Halloween as an outreach for the community.  Many provide pumpkin patches for people to decorate while others observe Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot for the kids in their neighborhood.

Rather than promoting fear, we are saying, "We want to walk alongside you in your celebration."  Our hope is that they'll want to walk alongside us for other things as well.

How does your church help you celebrate throughout life?  How is this a part of sharing God's love with the community?

I still enjoy a good Halloween party.  If you need help with a box maze for your church, let me know!

This is the original box maze crew in Piedmont!

 

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 15

"God sustained Jacob in a desert land, in a howling wilderness waste"

                                                    Deuteronomy 32:10a

Today, I am thankful for the times of wilderness journey experienced in The United Methodist Church.

As a less metaphorical understanding, I have become known for leading excursions through the back woods at Canyon Camp affectionately known as "death hikes".

To be clear, no one has ever died on one of these hikes and we've always brought back everyone who went!

Now sometimes we have had to make stops at the nurse's station on the way back - usually for scrapes, bug bites or poison ivy. 

Most of the time, we take the group through the swamp and up to the next ridge.  It is a beautiful view and my favorite thing is to see the turkey buzzards flying around at the same level as you're looking as they soar above the valley below.

When we get that far out and away from recognizable trails, I usually get a lot of nervous questions.  The main one is, "Are you sure you know where you're going?"

I usually answer, "Yeah, pretty much.  Sometimes the trail changes but overall, I know where we are in relation to the main camp."  

This answer is sometimes not assuring enough for some!

The wilderness experience is to remove oneself from civilization.  No cell phone coverage or WiFi!  When you are out and can see nothing made by humans, it is a bit freeing.  Now we are walking through the living area of wild creatures.

Once, we came across a mother turkey buzzard on a ledge that was feeding her babies in their nest.  I saw her hack up something she had partially digested and the smell was really bad!  Then she saw us and started hissing - we moved on pretty quickly but it was an honor to intrude for a moment on their life together without knowing we were there.

A lot of kids never sign up for this hike.  Some who go find it very challenging and don't ever go back.  Others have found it refreshing and it feeds their soul to leave everything behind for an hour or two.  

Some youth find out that getting wet or muddy or scraped or scratched won't kill them.  After they come through it, they feel more like a survivor.  

This is important for us to remember as we face the more metaphorical wilderness times in our lives.  For those facing divorce, it may feel that they have been abandoned.  For churches going through disaffiliation, it may feel like this as well.

As a pastor, I've said that my current work as a district superintendent is the most challenging I've ever faced in my ministry.  There are times I may be asking God the same question that youth ask me on the hike.  "Are you sure you know where we are going?"

God's answer may be similar to mine, "Yeah, pretty much.  Sometimes the trail changes but overall, I know where we are in relation to the main camp."

I may get bruised or scratched along the way but in the end, I'll trust God to get us through.  And along the way, we may discover resilience that will help us confront something in the future.

During Lent, what wilderness journeys have you faced in your life?  Where did God help you along the way?  Who did you have to help guide you through?  How did they make you a stronger person?  

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 14

"I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

                                         Isaiah 49:6b

Today, I am thankful that I learned to see wider systems in life and in scripture - taught to me at United Methodist seminaries.

It was in my pastoral care class at Candler School of Theology that I was introduced to the text, Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue by Edwin H. Friedman.  His application of Murray Bowen's theory has helped churches and relationships to re-center on their mission when they have become stuck.  A large part of this theory revolves around knowing your identity.

As we see larger systems at work in the world, we can see patterns emerge.  This is also true of scripture.  Within the Bible, we have larger themes at work and we may use these to interpret the rest of the Bible.

One is the theme of holiness.  God's people have been set apart.  Leviticus 20:26 states, 

"You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mine."

 There are lots of examples of this throughout the Bible.  God's royal priesthood language comes out of this in 1 Peter 2:9,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

This notion of holiness is strong in Wesleyan thought within United Methodism and emerges in the doctrine of sanctifying grace.  The root word literally means holy.  It is the grace by which we are to become more holy in our inward and outward lives.  Wesleyans believe that we are all to work with God toward sanctification.

Another overarching theme is "Light to the Nations."  This is the idea that God is not only calling us to be holy for our own salvation but to share this understanding with all creation.

While John's Gospel has Jesus declaring "I am the light of the world," Matthew 5:14a has Jesus advising, "You are the light of the world."  Both are true - the first reminds us of our source.  The second gives us our mission.

Christianity has a strong focus in being a "Light to the Nations."  We see it in probably the most famous verse, John 3:16 which tells us, 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."

For Wesleyans, we are reminded of John Wesley's famous quote, "The world is my parish."

This idea is rooted in the doctrine of prevenient (or preceding) grace.  God's love is for all people.  They may not realize it yet but we believe God is working on them.  It is our job to share that love in a variety of ways so that they may come to believe.

Sometimes these two themes clash.  For instance, in Jesus' day, healing someone was thought of as work and was frowned upon on the Sabbath.  This was the theme of holiness - we are to dedicate this day to God and refrain from work - even from healing.  Jesus heals on the Sabbath, reminding us that our mission to be a light to the nations sometimes takes precedence.  

The clash people of faith have over same gender relationships may depend on which theme of the Bible they are utilizing.  Those with a strong holiness approach may see celibacy as the only alternative for someone who is gay.  Those with a strong light to the nations approach may see same-gender marriage as appropriate given the knowledge we have gained in psychology and human physiology.  The desire is to shine the light to all people.

Both holiness and light to the nations are present within The United Methodist Church.  The divide we see over LGBTQ issues is not so great when we understand what ties prevenient and sanctifying grace together.  It is the justification we have in Jesus Christ.  

Ah, and now we have come back around to remind us that knowing our identity helps us when we are stuck!

During this Lent, where do you see holiness at work in your life and where do you need to be more Christ-like?

How is God calling you to be a light to the nations?

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 13

‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink?

                                                              Matthew 25:37b

 Because of The United Methodist Church, I am thankful for my love of mission trips.

When I was in youth, I can still remember my youth minister, Lucinda Scheldorf, calling me to ask me if I would consider going on the youth mission trip.  We were going out of state to the Appalachia Service Project. 

I can remember thinking at the time, that I had a job and not only would I have to lose money the week I wouldn’t be working but I would actually have to pay money to go work for someone else!

An overall Christian ethic was just not breaking through my personal sense of economics.  The idea of the mission trip makes no sense from a strictly capitalistic standpoint. 

My other reluctance was that I was not handy.  My brother Bob seemed to have pulled all of this DNA and didn’t leave any for me!  I didn’t want to embarrass myself on the job site.

So I politely declined and missed out on the opportunity.

It wasn’t until college that I went on my first mission trip.  It was during Spring Break with the Wesley Foundation and we worked around Oklahoma City on a Habitat for Humanity project.  I didn’t do anything too pitiful and even learned some things while I was at it!

When I served as a summer intern at First United Methodist Church of Stillwater, we took the senior high down to San Marcos, Texas for kind of a mission camp experience.  We met with all kinds of other United Methodist youth groups and divided into work groups that were mixed with all the other youth and adults.  We all stayed together in the local high school gyms, sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags and showering in the locker rooms.  As hectic as that sounds, it was really quite fun!  Once again, I learned some new skills and continued to take youth to this location after I became a youth minister at New Haven UMC in Tulsa. 

Some of the skills I learned were roofing (not the coolest activity in south Texas during July) and sheet rocking.  I discovered that on these trips, there were more people who knew less than I did!  Fortunately, for the home owners, we had excellent skilled teachers at every site. 

These trips helped to teach me about God’s economy.  I learned to sweat on behalf of others with no expectation of monetary compensation.  You actually learn that it is a privilege to do so.  This is a spiritual truth that has to be lived out to be understood.

Sometimes this truth takes a while to set in.  In most mission trips, you may encounter people that don't seem grateful for the help.  You may feel that some are taking advantage of the help offered.  Or they may not lend a hand to help in the project when you feel like they could.  Sometimes when we are helping others, we may experience compassion fatigue.  

Fortunately, one of the great things about mission trips is that we gather in the evenings after the work day for devotional time.  We talk about the difficulties and read scripture and pray and remind ourselves that we are not doing this alone.

What kind of mission activities have you experienced through the church?  

It is likely that these experiences have helped us recognize that with God's help, we can begin to see differently.   Now that's a trip!

 

It was like this when I got here, I promise!

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 12

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

                                                                 Romans 13:8-10 (NIV)

Today, I am thankful for The United Methodist Church's interpretation of scripture (and life) that I learned through the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.

This happens to be when we utilize Scripture, Tradition, Experience and Reason to help us form a more disciplined opinion of a subject or a more precise interpretation of scripture (and how it might apply to something concrete in life).  It was posited by United Methodist seminary professor, Albert Outler who was a Wesley scholar and deemed that John Wesley utilized these regularly as a disciplined (methodical) approach.

The first time I remember utilizing this was in college.

 I was on a spring retreat for United Methodist college students active in Wesley Foundations across the state.  We were at Canyon camp and were involved in what is called a fish bowl exercise.  This is where you have four chairs in the middle and everyone else observes.  Only those in the middle chairs can speak.  If you have something to interject, you have to tap in just like in the pro wrestling arena.  

We were discussing Lawrence Kohlberg's Heinz dilemma.  This is a fictitious situation where Heinz's wife has a fatal disease.  An experimental drug has been developed as a cure but it is very expensive.  Heinz has exhausted all legal options for obtaining the drug.  The question is, "Should Heinz steal the drug?"

We were arguing for and against it using Christian values in the fish bowl.

As you might imagine, I took to this like a duck to water.

My position was that Heinz should steal the drug based on the fact that physical objects can be replaced but human life is sacred.  

Much of the opposition revolved around "Thou Shalt Not Steal" being one of the 10 commandments.  

I argued that this commandment was superseded by the sacred value of life.  The Romans passage referenced at the top of the page speaks to this in my opinion.

When one of the pastors (now withdrawn) asked me how I could determine to toss aside one of the 10 Commandments, I replied that I used other scripture, my reason, the traditions of the church and my experience.  Since this was essentially the Wesleyan Quadrilateral and is featured prominently in our Book of Discipline, he was stumped.

Today, I would stick with this rationale and would steal the drug.  But I would also take the punishment after the fact and go to jail if necessary.  I would use the court trial to highlight the injustice of someone dying if a profit could not be reaped.  

How does the Wesleyan Quadrilateral aid you not only in your interpretation of scripture but in your looking at decisions you have to make?  If you have something big you are trying to discern, why not make four columns and see what you come up with?

From ¶ 105 of the Discipline on "Our Theological Task"