Is the Glass Half Full...or Half Empty?

The answer is yes.  It is both.  So which part do YOU focus on?  I heard a quote once that has stuck with me for several years now.  "You find what you're looking for."  For example, have you ever noticed when you're having a bad day, you discover more and more reasons why it's a bad day?  Or when you look for God working in your life, you discover more and more little blessings that may have otherwise gone unnoticed? 

I have recently stumbled across a website promoting the idea of eating non-processed, organic, whole foods.  After I found the website, then I realized two people in my life were doing the same thing, and then a stranger came by the church who teaches this way of eating.  I noticed my drive to my child's school passed right by a Trader Joe's where I could purchase many of these items.  More and more I was looking for people and places that promoted this idea.  Lo and behold, I found them.  

Has that ever happened to you?  Have you gotten involved in a new hobby, a new way of life, a new stage of life, or just in a certain mood, and suddenly you are stumbling upon people and situations that resonate with that mood or new chapter in your life?  It's not a coincidence.  We find what we are looking for.

If you look for reasons to be upset, dissatisfied, frustrated, disgruntled, you'll probably find it.  If you look for the good, the beautiful, the miraculous, the loving, you'll probably find that too.  There is so much in this world and the people we meet, that our minds have to find a way to filter some of it out.  So it filters out what you're not looking for.  But what we look for can also be an intentional choice we make when we wake up in the morning.  Choosing to start the day with a positive attitude can make all the difference in your day.

So when you wake up tomorrow morning, will you choose to look for the half full part of the glass...or the half empty part? 

Who Is Welcome in Church?

"We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no hablo Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds.  We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism.  We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.

We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” because many of us have been there too.  If you blew all your offering money last night at the club, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.  We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!  EVERYONE ACCEPTED, UNCONDITIONALLY!"

I'm putting the above welcome on the front cover of the bulletin this Sunday.  It's not original as many of you may know.  It was "borrowed" from another church and has probably metamorphosized along its internet journey.  As I conclude a five week sermon series on Peter and Cornelius, it seems fitting.  I can see Peter endorsing this statement, as well as the Holy Spirit.  When did the church start becoming a "members only" club?  When did the church start putting restrictions on who is in and who is out?  Is this statement really that radical?  Is it really that strange for the church to welcome ALL people? 

I suppose for some it is.  I suppose Jesus' teaching is radical, radical enough to get him killed.  And although we think we have advanced so much as a human race, the things that are really the measure of society: acceptance, love, compassion, have not increased all that much in 2,000.  So while I should not be surprised that the welcome statement on the front cover of the bulletin this Sunday will be a complete shock and most likely cause some criticism, I will be.  I will be because I believe if Jesus were alive today, he would have "liked" this facebook status.  What about you?

Church: Bringing Different People Together?

The story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10-11 is my new favorite Bible story.  Maybe that's because I'm preaching on it for five weeks in a row and see so many ways it relates to life today.  The basic premise is that Peter is going from town to town sharing the Gospel when he and Cornelius have visions.  Cornelius' vision is to send for Peter and listen what he has to say.  Peter's vision is to eat the forbidden animals that appear on a white sheet.  But what's hard for us to really understand is that this devout Jew and devout Gentile weren't supposed to associate with each other.  Not talk to each other.  Not go into each other's houses.  They were as different as different could be in race, economics, religion, profession, and on and on.  Except for one thing.  They both had faith in God.

Seems to me that that's what church and faith and Christianity should be all about: bringing different people together.  People you might normally never associate with, or run into, or talk with.  That's what the early church did.  Rich and poor.  Jew and Gentile.  Slave and free.  Male and female.  Christianity brought really different people together.

I'm not sure Christianity in America still does that today.  Sociologists have called Sunday mornings the most segregated time in America.  Stories abound of homeless people coming into wealthy churches only to be told to go away.  When you walk in to a majority of churches, they are homogeneous.  Similar skin colors.  Similar backgrounds.  Similar class.  Why?  Well, birds of a feather...

Even when the issue is raised to consciousness, people withdrawal with excuses, "Well, THEY have their own worship style.  THEY have their own churches."  THEY could refer to old or young, black or white, English speaking or Spanish speaking, gay or straight, poor or rich, etc.  THEY simply means anyone who is different. 

How about we go back to Peter's day when he came to the realization, "God shows no partiality" and (I might add) neither should we?  If the Spirit was all about bringing different kinds of people together back then, shouldn't it be so today? 

So if you go to a church or are looking for a church, make sure it's one that is intentionally inclusive of ALL people or at least moving in that direction.  That's the only way this vision will become a reality.  As Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world," and (might I add) in the church.  

Between the Dreaming and Coming True

We all have hopes and dreams.  Dreams of what we want to be when we grow up.  Dreams of who we will marry.  Dreams of our children and their lives.  Dreams of certain accomplishments in life.  Dreams of how this world should be.  Dreams of how we can improve our lives, our houses, our families, our careers. 

I have lots of dreams.  Dreams of serving a vibrant, healthy, active, growing church that welcomes all people.  Dreams for my children to be healthy and discover God's love and purpose in their life.  Dreams for myself of being a more faithful follower of Christ.   

But the very nature of dreams means they are not a reality, at least not yet.  So what happens between the dreaming and the coming true?  Naturally, we're supposed to work toward making that dream a reality.  If we have a dream of graduating from college, we work hard for four (or more) years in order for that dream to come true.  But is making our dreams a reality just about hard work and our own efforts?

Between the dreaming and the coming true, there's something else we need to do.  Pray.  I don't mean pray that our dreams will come true, although some people do and I don't judge them for that.  But maybe our prayers should be more about if our dream is in line with God's dream and intentions for our lives.  I mean, lots of people dream of being rich and have all their material needs and wants met, but God knows that is usually not the path to being happy or finding purpose in life.  Maybe between the dreaming and the coming true we must focus on aligning our dreams with God's will for our lives and this world.

What our your dreams for your life, your family, your church, your neighborhood?  Have you asked God if those dreams fit into God's plan for you?  Are those dreams really in your best interest?  Or might there be another plan yet to be revealed?  Can you pray, "Not my will but your will be done, O Lord"?

Keep dreaming and praying...and praying and dreaming, with lots of faith and trust and hard work, you might be blessed to see that dream come true.  If not, then you'll be blessed anyway!

Why Is It So Hard to Love?

Do you remember those black billboards with white lettering that had "messages from God"?  I think my favorite was, "That love thy neighbor thing...I meant that." - God.  And yet 2,000 years later, it's still so hard to love our neighbor.  I'm not talking about smiling and saying hello and "being nice."  I'm talking about really loving each and every person because they are made in the image of God.  I'm talking about seeing and treating each person as a worthwhile, inherently good human being that deserves my love and respect.

The PCUSA, of which I am a member, has just had its General Assembly, a bi-annual national gathering.  Nowhere is that "Love Thy Neighbor" thing missing more than at that meeting.  While I did not attend, I watched some of it live and read first hand accounts of the experience.  I am ashamed to admit I did not see a lot of love, real love that shows compassion and demands justice for all people.  Sure, many talked about love, how they love all people, but actions failed to back up their words.  How can we love our Palestinean neighbors and yet not divest from companies that are literally tearing their houses apart?  How can we love our gay and lesbian neighbors and not allow their pastors to perfom wedding ceremonies legal in their home states?  How can we love the nominated vice moderator and then literally blackmail the General Assembly in threats until she resigns?   How can we love those who hold opposite opinions than "us" and then demonize them?

Why is it so hard to love?  At both the national level and local level.  In my experience, trying to intentionally create a church of love and acceptance has ironically led to anger and withdrawal.  O Lord, help us all.  Save us from ourselves.  And give us the strength to love our neighbors, ALL our neighbors.  Everyone loved, unconditionally.  Everyone accepted, unconditionally.  May it be so.  Amen.

To Tear down...or Build Up?

     Although it states in Ecclesiastes 3 "there is a time to break down, and a time to build up," it seems to me that we have focused far too much on the breaking down part of this phrase in our society.  In fact, it seems like all we do these days is break people down.  Our media, our politics, even our religious institutions all seem to thrive at breaking people down.  After all, it's a lot easier to break down and tear down, rather than build up.  Gossip, criticism, negativity, complaining, whining all contribute to breaking people down.  Amendments to constitutions, bullying in schools and on facebook, even some sermons are aimed at tearing down, excluding, judging, criticizing.

     Quite frankly, I've had enough of it.  Enough of people using religion and God to tear down other people.  Enough of "Christians" being even more vicious, ugly, hateful than atheists.  Enough of the Holy Scriptures written to show God's love and compassion to all people USED to keep people second class citizens, whether it's people from a different race, different gender, different sexual orientation, different economic status.  I'm tired of hearing "tearing down" comments.
     I read scripture and I see Jesus building up.  Building up the woman caught in adultery.  Building up the disciples even though they continually miss the point.  Building up the little children.  Building up the women, the Samaritans, and all those who were different in any way, shape or form.  All I see is Jesus affirming people.  So how in the world can followers of Jesus act in ways so contrary to the One they follow?
     I don't know.  I don't think I want to know.  All I know to do is to keep speaking the truth in love.  Keep surrounding yourself with people who want to build up.  Avoid lengthy contact with those intent on tearing down.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Keep being a voice for Christianity that tries to imitate the One it follows.  It's a crazy, messy, chaotic, human kind of world out there.  Look for the good, the positive, the beautiful, the inspiring.  The Spirit is at loose and at work among us.  And believe me, the Spirit's in the business of building up!

Nothing Hard is Ever Easy

  Somehow I always delude myself that after Easter life will slow down.  It's the same delusion I have in May and December, "After Memorial Day (or Christmas) life will slow down."  But it never does.  This year we have inadvertently embarked on a variety of changes at the same time: changing emails, changing phone and internet providers, changing routers, changing technology in sanctuary, changing direction of music program, changing the use of our building facilities, changing programs for our worship visuals.  Changes are hard.  And as I am fond of saying, "Nothing hard is ever easy."
     Each of these changes have come with hours of unforeseen work, meetings, troubleshooting, phone calls, communication, etc.  None of which seminary ever prepared me for.  Finding the IP Address for the copy machine was a class I must have missed.  I continually struggle with the notion of balance, how do I balance all of these responsibilities, with responsibilities of family, with responsibility to myself.  How do I fulfill my obligations to work and family, while still finding some "me" time?  Nothing hard is ever easy.
     I'm afraid I have not been succesful at that balance in recent months.  I put "me" time aside for work and family thinking "It's only until Easter.  It's only until the summer.  It's only until that project is done."  Of course after that time comes, there's always something to take its place, always something else to do. 
     If I am ever going to achieve any kind of healthy balance in my life, I can't wait until "nothing else is going on."  I have to make time, now, and not apologize.  I have to find ways to restore my energy and keep that a priority.
     I did that on Monday for one hour.  I decided to take a walk in the gorgeous sunshine.  My son, Christian, wanted to go with me.  What a precious time we had together!  It was the first time we had a chance to just walk and talk.  Still four years old for a few more weeks, he shared with me what he was doing in school, the life cycle of a frog and a butterfly, words he was now reading, math work he was doing, the continents, planets, and months of year.  As we held hands, he held my heart, while he shared his life with me.  He wants to be a singer when he grows up, or a superhero.  He hasn't decided yet.  That one hour together renewed me like no other and I will cherish that walk for months and years to come.
     What can you do to renew yourself this week?  Have at least one event every week, if not two or three times a week, that you look forward to, that you enjoy, that re-energizes you.  Don't wait until there's nothing else to do, or it will never happen.  Just make the time.  It may be hard, but remember...nothing hard is ever easy.