The Journey

“The spirit of the Lord will possess you…and you will be turned into a different person.”
Excerpt from 1 Samuel 9:27-10:8

We ought to be something we’re not. I should be smarter, more thoughtful, not so impatient, more self-confident, less risk averse, not so concerned about the approval of others. I should be able to attach a file to an email all the time. I should be able to send the right file. I shouldn’t make so many mistakes in typing. The list is endless. We’re never enough. So it seems.

We turn into whatever we need to be when first we know that God is with us, just as we are. Saul remained Saul but with a difference when he could believe that despite his weakness and inadequacy the spirit of God was with him. In his case, he became king.

While hard to grasp, God’s presence is not as far from us as we may think. As with Saul, awareness of this makes a difference: looking ahead becomes a lot more promising. In the words of the lead character in Wendell Berry’s novel, Jayber Crow: “Often I have not known where I was going until I was already there…Often my fairest hopes have rested on bad mistakes. I am an ignorant pilgrim, crossing a dark valley. And yet for a long time, looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led – make of that what you will.”

Maybe we should quit thinking of all the ways we should be different and be glad for the difference God has already made. The grace that has led us this far is not through with us yet… and neither is God through with any of us.

Dear God, “Finish, then, thy new creation,” O God. Change us “from glory into glory, ‘till in heaven we take our place.” Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…”
Ephesians 4:2

This morning before heading for Cokesbury I received a call from the funeral home letting me know about upcoming funeral plans and checking to see if all those plans were ok with me. That is a normal procedure just to make sure they have the pastor’s approval. I am sure they learned that the hard way somewhere in the past. We all learn some hard lessons that way.

The young man on the other end of the line, trying to make sure that everything was absolutely correct, wanted to know how to list my name. He said: “Is it S-t-e-p-h-e-n- Martin?” I replied; “Yes.” He then followed, “Do I list it as Reverend Stephen Martin and then add ‘D. Minister?” I laughed and replied “No, the D.Min. you are referring to is my degree – Doctor of Ministry… I am not a ‘D’ Minister.”

I got a good laugh out of that, especially when Shirley reminded me that I was, indeed, a “D” minister to some people down through the years. I know that she meant “Dear” minister.

People make mistakes about letters that follow our name and what we went through to get them. Circumstances come along that we cannot control. Systems seem to be put into place for someone’s agenda and not for the care and concern of the people that agenda may govern. When any of those things happen we have a choice on how we are going to react or respond. We can laugh, take it with a grain of salt, and not let it bother us or alter our course, behavior or thinking. On the other hand we can react with anger and insult turning the people and the situation around us into negative feelings. The better part is to take the higher road of understanding and tolerance. This always leaves the door open for more conversation and growing relationships.

Don’t close the door. May all your “D” moments be “Dear” moments

Lord, be with me in such a way that your Spirit may lead me to openness, understanding and tolerance in all situations. Help me to keep the doors of relationship building always open to those around me.  Amen.

Grace nad Peace
Steve

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“Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one can shut….”
Revelation 3:8

Have you ever had the feeling that Allen Funt with his hidden camera was hiding around the corner filming you as you were unknowingly caught in their trap? I have felt that way on many occasions, especially today.

I remember one day at Whitaker Rehab Center at Forsyth Hospital. I am on my way to the elevator to visit Maxine Hart on the third floor. I walk up to the elevator, push the “up” button and wait for the elevator to appear. In just a few seconds the door opens, I step in and push the #3 button. The door moves to about one inch of closing all the way, and opens completely. I again push the #3 button. Again the door comes within an inch of closing and then opens all the way. The third time I push the #3 button. For the third time the door comes within an inch of closing and for the third time it opens all the way.

Yes, I am scratching my head, looking around, wondering what in the world is going on. I get off the elevator, push the up button and (you are right) the elevator door closes all the way and the elevator goes to the third floor – while I am standing outside the elevator – in the hallway – looking to see if anyone had been watching all of this – or was there anyone rolling around on the floor laughing. With no one in sight in any direction I press the “up” button once more. This time the other elevator appears, the door opens and there is a maintenance man in there with his cart of tools and a ladder. I wasn’t about to tell him what I had just witnessed – I think for fear that he might tell someone who would escort me to the padded rooms.

What really worried me most was that from Whitaker Center I was headed for the jail to visit Mark. If this was happening in the hospital – the rehab section – there is no telling what could happen in the jail. (Only problem at the jail was a 35-minute wait to see Mark). I wasn’t locked up….

It wasn’t Allen Funt waiting around the corner watching me scratching my head in wonder. It was Jesus. A Jesus who was saying even when strange things happen I am with you. I need to be reminded of that, and apparently Jesus is hard at work reminding me quite often.

Lord, thanks for allowing me to laugh at myself. But thank you even more for being there when those Allen Funt moments happen to remind me that you are always there with me.  Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world….”
Excerpts from Matthew 5: 13-16

In The Sermon on the Mount Jesus offers two simple but very powerful images of the role of His disciples in the world – to be salt and light. At first sight, salt does not seem very glamorous – but anyone who has had to go on a low-salt diet knows the difference it makes to a meal! The job of salt, though, is not really to be tasted itself – but to bring out the other flavors in the meal. In Jesus’ time, it was also important in preserving food – a vital job in a hot country where food would quickly become dangerous.

In a similar way with light – the job of light is not to draw attention to itself – it is there to allow people to see things that would otherwise be hidden in the darkness.

So it is with Jesus’ disciples – that is us… Like salt, we are not to overwhelm the world – but to bring out the goodness – or preserve the goodness that we find in it.

Like light, we should allow the Light of God to shine through us – not so that we dazzle people with our radiance – but so that they can see the light of truth.

We may be tempted to hide the light – especially when it might get us noticed – or where people would not understand. That is a risk of discipleship – but, Jesus says, that by allowing our light to shine, other people will see clearly and give praise to our Father in heaven.

Another point worth noting is that Jesus was not speaking to the great and the good – He was speaking to a crowd of people who had followed Him to the hillside. He was also speaking about what He saw as real in the here-and-now – not something that would come about when everyone was perfect. Jesus looks at the people before Him – then and now – and says, “You are the salt of the earth…You are light for the world…”

Our role as salt and light for the world is something we are called to do right now – however imperfectly. The little flavor we bring – the small light we can offer – all make a difference to the world. Without us – life is tasteless and dull!

Dear Lord, help me to be the salt and light you called me to become that I may more fully share in the advancement of your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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“Tend to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Excerpt from I Timothy 4: 10 – 20

Down in our neck of the woods, in the recent past, when asked what time the Duke football game started the response was “What time can you be here?” It is amazing to me – and Shirley has to keep reminding me – that we need to honor those Duke football players because they go out there every Saturday – with very little fan support – and play their hearts out.

When asked by media about the week’s upcoming opponent, the coach typically says something like, “It’s not about them, it’s about us. It’s about us playing our game. We have to stay focused on our own work. We just need to play the way we’re capable of playing and the rest will take care of itself. Our focus is really ourselves.”

When Paul wrote to the young pastor, Timothy, he urged something similar. “Tend to yourself,” Paul advised, “and to your teaching.” Paul was definitely not urging that Timothy coddle himself or be self-absorbed. He was saying, “Mind your calling and work, do those faithfully and well. That’s the first order of business.”

In some ways, it’s odd advice, whether for a football team or for Christians and church leaders. We want to pay attention to others, whether to an opposing team or the many needs of other people. We imagine that being Christian means being concerned only about others and their needs. And at other times we pay far too much attention to how or what other people are doing, to their advancement or income, especially when they appear to us to be doing better than we are!

More important, as Paul tells Timothy, is to focus on your own particular work, your own particular calling. “Tend to yourself,” be responsible for yourself and the service to which God has called you. Pastors, tend to your work as leaders and teachers of the faith. Do your own work and leave the rest to God.

Lord, when I become scattered, preoccupied with other things, call me back to your calling for me, your purpose for me. Help me to “tend to myself” in the right way. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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I believe that I will see the goodness of the LORD in this world of the living.
Psalm 27:13

The other morning I was in Starbucks as I do on occasion. I made my order, gave them my card and moved “soup-Nazi-style,” to the end of the counter to wait for my decaf. Before me the barista saw this man in line and automatically started making his drink because she knew what he would order… what he likes… so she takes the initiative and made his drink without even asking him. The response from the man was more than simple appreciation. This was a person who felt as though someone – even a barista at Starbucks – knew him in some way. It probably changed his whole day.

One simple act – It hit me as I was watching this unfold that this is what life with God is like. We sit in line, waiting to get to the front so we can make our demands known. We impatiently wait for the line to shorten so we can say what we need to say, get what we need to get.

Once in the front of the line, before we can even finish our order, we see that what we were going to order is already made for us. Many times, what we get is way better than what we were going to order. God knew what we liked and already had it ready for us. He thought ahead and acted intentionally.

Piping hot. Fresh. Sweet. Made specifically for us. This is the goodness of God. David says: “I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.” I can officially say that I saw the goodness of God the other day while waiting in line at Starbucks.

What about you? Seen God lately?

Dear Lord, help me to see You where ever I am and where ever I look… for as I see you in circumstances around me I am more apt to express your presence through my living. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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(Jesus said) “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 11:13

Did you ever watch the face of a little boy who just received socks for his birthday?

I think that look was the look, which flashed across the face of Sister Virginia Muller when she received the baseball card. I mean, what is a nun going to do with a baseball card? Even worse, this baseball card wasn’t a new card; it wasn’t the rookie card of some famous player who is currently making billions and billions of dollars.

Nope, this was a very old card and it carried the name of a player of whom she had never heard. The name on the card was Honus Wagner.

For those of you who don’t know, Honus Wagner played in the early years of the 1900s. He was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. And there are only 60 of his cards in existence. This is why, when his card was auctioned off by Heritage Auction Galleries of Texas, it sold for $262,000.

That story, which was carried by the Associated Press, is a reminder that many of God’s gifts are like that card: unappreciated. For example, God’s Son came to us as a baby and was placed in an animal’s feeding trough. If you had looked at that child, would you have understood what He would do?

The final price for our salvation was paid on a skull-shaped hill outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Would you have guessed that cruel cross was God’s way of giving you forgiveness of sins, reconciliation and eternal life?

What other gifts has the Lord bestowed upon us, which were delivered in a simple and unassuming way? Each of us will answer the question differently, but each of us should have an answer.

And that answer should make us give thanks.

Dear Lord, open my eyes so I may see the many blessings and bounties you so liberally give to me. Then, having seen, may I be thankful. This I ask in the name of your best and my most needed Gift. Amen.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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Last Sunday’s massacre of 26 men, women, children… and even the unborn as they gathered in a “Sanctuary” for worship may have finally awakend the church to how vulnerable we are as we worship on Sunday mornings. A 32-year-old former Air Force airman Court Marshalled, given a year’s confinement and a Bad Conduct Discharge walked into the church of his ex-wife and mother-in-law and fired over 450 deadly rounds.

I know a lot of my clergy colleagues will disagree with me, but, for me, the time has come for churches to protect its members. We have a requirement in the United Methodist called “Safe Sanctuary” which is basically to make sure that children and women are safe from assault and/or abuse. This came out of the tragic events of the Catholic Church. It has been mandated and yet many Methodist churches have yet to take it seriously or do anything whatsoever about this.

Now a new threat has crossed the horizon… a lone guy coming into a Bible Study in South Carolina or a sanctuary with 15 magazines filled with 30 rounds of ammunition. Some good old church people will say “Jesus will take care of us. So we don’t need to do that.” Let me share with you where I come from. I spent four years in the United States Marines. I am qualified as an expert with a 45 and a M-14. I am pretty good with both, haven’t practiced much in the last 50 years, but I can get back to an expert level rather quickly. I was at Khe Sanh during Tet in 1968. We lost a lot of men. I was so very fortunate not to have lost any of my men. To me that is one of the hardest things to imagine… losing someone under your leadership, training and responsibility.

I have given a lot of thought about losing people I am responsible for in the church to some person coming to the door with long rifles, pistols and a whole bunch of rounds intent on doing as much harm as possible. It would be unforgivable for me personally to have had the chance to prepare and failed to do anything about it. That would be hard to live with.

My last church had it right – took responsibility – made a plan and carries it through every Sunday and whenever the church meets. Additions we made after I got there was to respond to two break-ins by adding inside motion detectors and night vision cameras. We were fortunate to have a former Assistant Police Chief in our church who helped to lead and train us to take care of our members. It all began with the ushers. They were not just people who gave out bulletins, they locked all outside doors, except the main entrance, once the service started, walked the halls, checked classrooms, bathrooms, and the parking lot looking for anything out-of-place. In addition to these things there was always at least one person in the narthex and … and there were several trained people in the congregation who were conceal carry trained who carried a weapon every Sunday. This program and these people opened my eyes to the need to actually and practically care for and protect the people of my congregation. 

If you really care about your people and want them to be safe in worship, meetings and studies then get your leaders (at least a couple of level-headed ones) and meet with a police official who could give you insight and help you with your planning – talk about the good and the not so good of putting a safety plan into action.

Okay, the answer you may have been waiting to hear is “No, I am not a supporter of the NRA. The NRA is about selling guns not protecting people.” Back in the days before guns it was called the National Rock Association and their tag line was “Rocks Don’t Kill People… People Do.” Hey, but if the rocks were not nearby we would be throwing flowers at each other. We are going to hurt people with whatever is near and easily accessible when rage gets out of hand. If it is rocks we will do a lot less harm than we will with an AK-47 with a 50 round magazine.

So, do some deep soul-searching about you standing there seeing many of the people you baptized lying dead in the sanctuary…. that is if you are not one of them. Many times they will go after the preacher first. May God be with us all as we ponder what God would have us do.

Grace and Peace
Steve

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A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule ‘braying’ – or – whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened…and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical!

But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he should shake it off and step up!

This he did, blow after blow.

“Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!”

He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows of dirt, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought “panic” and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!

It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well.

The dirt that seemed would bury him, actually blessed him. All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. Shake it off and step up….

Grace and Peace
Steve

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“And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard,
neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard;
thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger:
I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 19:10 (KJV)

These days, there is a certain tyranny that accompanies utmost efficiency and accountability. When every single seat on every single flight is booked, those on standby are always left stranded. I was very fortunate back in the 60’s traveling from Greensboro to California and back, there was always that one seat in all those airports. When every slice of bread is sold to those who can buy it, those who can’t afford it are left wanting. When every minute of the day is planned and prescribed, there is no time for unexpected interventions of the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever decided to attend an event at the very last minute, but it was so well-planned and executed that when you arrived there was not an empty seat to be found? Then, suddenly, you spot just one. You rush over and timidly ask the person seated next to it, “Is anyone sitting here?” The person smiles and says: “Yes, someone is sitting there. You are.” And if the person is extra kind, she might add, “We reserved this seat just for you.”

In our concerns over balanced budgets and fiscal accountability, how well are we planning to accommodate those who just arrived in our midst; those, who for countless reasons didn’t feel welcomed until very recently; or those whose names were for so long either omitted or deleted from the invitation list; or those who got lost and just made it in?

In the book of Leviticus, God’s call for holiness among God’s people was a call for compassion to strangers and generosity to the poor.  So important was this principle of holiness that God did not leave it up to individuals to come up with their own notions of what compassion and generosity in society meant. God’s instructions were clear: generosity and compassion were to be built into the system of reaping and harvesting. Grapes and grain were to be intentionally left behind, and that which was left behind was not considered waste or entitlement. It was really a divine reservation for the poor and the unexpected stranger.

How prepared are we today to accommodate the strangers, the poor, and those in desperate need whom God sends along our paths?  Someone is standing and looking for a seat.  Is there room near you?

Dear God, we thank you for not leaving generosity and compassion up to chance. Thank you for reserving a place for all of us who missed the first invitation by circumstance or neglect, for those of us who have just arrived. In and through Jesus you have made a seat for us all. Help us to do the same. Amen.

Grace and Peace 
Steve

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