The Journey

Yesterday I received a phone call informing me of the death of Richard Shutt. He had been in declining health for some years now, especially after the death of his wife, Shirley. I reminisced with his son for a few moments and we said our goodbyes.

I sat there for a few moments more thinking about Richard and R.J. and all those Shutt boys growing up and becoming the people they are today. Richard and R.J. were part of what we call the “Greatest Generation.” These were people who pulled together during the toughest of times to make this country great. They gave their all to see that we fulfilled all our obligations and kept our word. They were also the ones we talk about when we use the terms like “his word is his bond” meaning you really didn’t need contracts written down… just take him at his word… it is as good as gold.

These are the people that built a great community, nation and world based on honesty, integrity, and hard work. They pulled together in war and peace with everyday, down to earth, practical thinking and caring actions.

Richard and R.J. were men of great faith and influence… but that greatness didn’t come overnight nor was it awarded lightly. It was earned through a lifetime of integrity, honest compassion for and work in the community. They cared and worked to build a better place for all people to live. Day by day, step by step they grew their faith and legacy in such an honest way that people started looking to them for leadership. The Shutt’s never let us down.

I am honored to have known such men as these. Just being around them, talking with them, learning from them helped to make me a better person. There are more generations of the Shutts coming along… step by step, day by day following in the footsteps of the greatest generation.

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I have served in the United Methodist Church for 40 years. Every year has presented itself with many opportunities and challenges. Each church has had its wide variety of Saints and sinners. Of course, we are all sinners and some are more saintly than others.

I have been blessed to have served churches that were filled with Saints, people who were always willing to give, sacrifice, do the hard thing in order that others may experience the love of Jesus Christ. Every church – every church has blessed me by allowing me to work alongside these Saints.

You could always tell who the Saints were in every church. They were the ones who were more understanding, more quick to forgive, more eager to be involved, less put out by what seemed to be failures to others, more positive in their approach to all situations, more prayerful, more dedicated, and more loving in every way. They were the ones who seem to live on a higher plane, closer to God than us ordinary Christian people.

Last night I learned of the passing of one of those great saints of the church, Peggy Sizemore. If there ever was a saint it was Peggy. She was a hard worker, constant supporter, forever giver, who tirelessly gave her all to help the church be a better place. I will always remember Peggy’s smile and laughter, her great humor and her devotion to the Lord. She was always busy, always going, always helping.

At our church we had something called the pumpkin patch each year. We sold thousands of pumpkins over the years. People would stop by, look through the pumpkins, get a warm welcome from the patch workers, receive a little candy, buy a little pumpkin, and go on their way having been touched by the love of God. Peggy led the pumpkin patch for many years. It was a fundraiser for the before and after school program, and other missions of the church.

Yes I will remember her for the pumpkin patch. But most of all I will remember her as a kind, sweet, devoted Christian saint who took the time to allow Christ to live through her and touch the lives of all of us who came into her presence. Thank you God for your St. Peggy and the many ways she touched our lives and made us better. Amen.

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Please also take the time to leave a good review with Amazon. After today, these books have been published in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

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 This past Sunday I had the great privilege of attending worship service at a church I served for eight years. During the worship seven youth were confirmed and one was baptized. Several things were special to me in this service: the first being that I baptized most of these youth when they were infants. It was special to be able to watch them grow up and be involved in some of the events of their lives. And now here they are, all these years later, making this great commitment of their lives.

The second thing that was so very special was my grandson was one of the confirmands in this group, and that made it very special indeed. This was the day he stepped beyond the faith of his parents, stood on his own two feet, and declared: “This I believe! This I am! This is the manner in which I will always seek to live! I am a Christian… a follower of Christ!”

All the church celebrated this day of commitment… for all had participated in the Baptismal vows (all those years ago) to give these children every opportunity to grow up and make this decision for Christ Jesus on their own. Parents, mentors, family members, and the church stood behind each confirmand. Each have sought in their own way to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ before these children. This day we thanked everyone who assisted in their growth in faith, love and charity.

Isn’t it beautiful when the church works and people surround each other in the arms of a loving God? People lift one another and the language of love is spoken. Thank you for the gift you have prepared for these youth all these years and for sharing in this day when they said “Yes” for themselves.

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Please also take the time to leave a good review with Amazon. After today, these books have been published in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

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A church that I have served in the past and dearly still love today has been going through some very difficult times. I am not all that sure what has gone on but I know that, like any church, things have been said, people have been hurt, and none of us really know how to respond.

Many have reacted by going to Facebook to air our concern, call out the bullies, and ask for prayer. Even as well intended as this has been I believe that it is not the best thing for us to be doing – that is I don’t believe it will accomplish what we desire but may very well produce just the opposite results. Instead of bringing us together it may, in fact, make the divide all the greater.

If we were asked (all of us) what we want right now, I believe most all of us would say: peace and understanding, forgiveness and restoration, and a new direction that will place us on a higher plane. I don’t want things to go back like they were before all this stuff happened because apparently something was brewing underneath it all. I want something new – a new spirit from which, through which we can build the church in a way where Jesus is indeed the sweet, sweet Spirit in our midst.

Plow Point Ministries is coming in to help us find that place where we can be the church again. I have known Reverend Beth Crissman for many years now. She is one of the most spiritual persons I know. Her calling is to help us (the church) find a way to settle our differences in a Biblical and Christian manner, and start us on a path to where we actually treat one another in a Christian way all the time. Please look forward to her being with you and don’t fear the process.

In order for us to prepare our hearts and minds for Plow Point and all that it has to offer, as your friend, I think it would be better not to post anything to Facebook about any of the problems at the church. Instead, let me suggest that we start preparing our own hearts and minds for what we seek: peace and understanding, forgiveness and restoration, and a new direction that will place us on a higher plane, by spending daily time in prayer and meditation.

To prepare ourselves to be receptive to the Spirit of God through Plow Point let me suggest that we use this prayer as our daily meditation:

The Prayer of St. Francis

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen”

Allow this prayer to guide your thoughts as you prepare for that which is to come, and even as you prepare for each coming day as you pray it several times a day.

Grace and Peace to all of you. Amen.

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A few years ago I was visiting in the home of one of my members after she returned home from the hospital. It was my first visit to their new home. I was in the den with John and we were talking about all sorts of stuff. Over their mantle is this large flat screen television, and beside it is a little hole. Being inquisitive, I asked, “John, what is that? (pointing to the hole.) John replied in very slow, deliberate words: “Steve, that is a Teeee Veeee.” Man did I leave myself wide open for that or what. To this day I can never think of him without thinking about the Teeee Veeee episode.

Last night, Shirley and I went to Kernersville for dinner. There is a nice place on 66 named the Plaza Restaurant. We have found it to be a really nice place with good food. We had eaten there once before. At the previous trip I had their baked pork chops. They had some kind of different taste to them that I couldn’t quite figure out. Last night, not wanting the same surprised taste, I inquired from the waitress; “Do the pork chops and the country style steak have the same taste?” (I was looking for her to say that there is a special seasoning they add to the chops.) Instead she says very plainly… almost like John said Teeee Veeee… “No, they have a different taste because the pork chops are pork and the country style steak is beef.” I just said “thank you” and bowed my head. Now I am not sure I can go back to that restaurant because there is a waitress who knows me as the man who doesn’t know the difference between pork and beef.

With all the woes in this world and all the ones that seem to surround and influence our own personal part of it, we need some time to lighten up, chill out, and laugh. I am fortunate to have grown up in a family that loved to laugh, and to be married to a woman who laughs at me and with me every day.

Take some time today to laugh… it will do you good!!!

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Please also take the time to leave a good review with Amazon. After today, these books have been published in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

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In the United Methodist Church pastors are appointed to their places of service by the Bishop. Our appointments are usually one year at a time. I spent 40 years in the ministry and I am still sure I have no clue what goes into the decision about who is appointed where. It has always seemed like baseball teams trading players. Someone needs a fastball pitcher another team needs a good second baseman. Somehow the players are traded. Or it is like trading cars. Someone wants a cool sports model while another needs a mini-van. If the players and the cars all work in concert with the team… then it is a good match.

Honestly, I know that the cabinet tries their best to match up the needs of the churches with the gifts and graces of the pastors… and then prays for them to work out a good marriage.

A good friend and colleague of mine, Reverend Mark Reisinger (my former Duke Student) will be moving this year after a seven year stay at his present church. I remember back all those years when he came to our church and brought with him a love for Bishop Story, the South African people, and a heart for missions. He was such a kind and thoughtful person. We had many good Duke interns and a couple who just wanted to skate by. We were thankful for them all… for we all learned and grew in each time of ministry together.

This is a tough time of the year when we, as pastors, have to say good bye and prepare to be welcomed into the hearts of another congregation. It is a time when the past must find its place there and the present come to the forefront so that authentic ministry may take place.

Grace and peace to all the clergy moving this year and to all the churches who will be receiving new pastors. May both enter into this new chapter with an open heart, a loving spirit, and the real grace of Jesus Christ. God’s Speed to all.

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Please also take the time to leave a good review with Amazon. After today, these books have been published in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

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In the contest for Mother of the Year, we have a winner. A woman caught on video, who has been identified as a mother disciplining her son, is the hero of the Baltimore riots.

There is more positive news coming out of the recent unrest in that U.S. city, where — in multiple days of rioting — protesters smashed windows, looted stores, set fires, destroyed property, and attacked police officers with rocks and bricks. What started as public anger over the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, whose spinal cord was nearly severed while in the custody of the Baltimore Police Department, has morphed into a free-for-all where roving gangs seem intent on creating chaos and taking control of parts of the city.

Yet, amid all the violence and mayhem, there was one thing to feel good about: Hero Mom. Toya Graham has become an instant celebrity. She has even been held up as a model by Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Watts, who said he wished more of the city’s residents took their responsibility to control their children as seriously as this woman does.

So what did Graham do that has everyone buzzing? What could be that extraordinary? It’s called tough love parenting. Good ol’ fashioned, no-nonsense, no-excuses parenting. This is what it looks like. The sad part is that we see so little of it these days that we no longer recognize it.

According to news reports, Graham was home watching television coverage of the riot Monday night when she saw a young man in a black hoodie, throwing rocks at police officers. And although his face was covered, she recognized him. It was her 16 year-old son. She ran out the door and into the street, and she found the young man. And that’s where his troubles began.

The video shows Graham furiously grabbing her son’s sweater, yelling at him, and shoving him away from the crowd. It also shows her slapping him in the head and ripping off his hoodie and mask, as if to say: “I’m your mother! You’re not going to hide from me!” The same young man who — just a few minutes earlier — hadn’t been afraid to hurl rocks at police was frantically trying to get away from his mother.

Scenes like these warm my heart. I’d like to see more of them. Where were the parents or guardians for the rest of these kids? They need to step up, too. No more tolerating lawlessness, or making excuses, or blaming misbehavior on societal ills. Normally, this young man might be arrested, put in a cell, and hauled into court. In this case, Hero Mom was the police, prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner — all rolled into one.

Many have a message for Graham: “Good for you, ma’am. You did the right thing. Because of how these things can escalate, you might even have saved your son’s life. You also did a public service by reminding other parents that they have a duty to control their children. Parenting is our most important job. Thank you for doing it well.”

When people catch a whiff of anarchy, and think they can misbehave without consequences, all is lost. I have been surprised how smoothly things have gone in Baltimore so far. It could have been much worse, and still could be. But I think this mom standing up for her son sent a powerful message. I believe she probably changed his life, saved his life, and set him on a better path. I hope the kids at school will allow him the room to be the son his mom wants him to become.

Consequences many times take different forms. And sometimes, it’s not the authorities that a young person needs to worry about. Sometimes the most effective arbiter of justice is much closer to home. Sometimes it is MOM!!!

Now, when their own child misbehaves, other parents need to do the same thing. I know for sure had this been me back in the day… my mom would have been right there hauling me home for even more detailed discussion.

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Today I am simply befuddled at the happenings of our world. On one side of the world in a place of relative poverty on Saturday a 7.8 earthquake in Napal has claimed the lives of over 4,000 people. This old country is in shambles because, even though it has been near the top of the list for an expected devastating earthquake (not one in 80 years), the infrastructure of the country simply could not provide its people with the safety of earthquake proof buildings.

Nepal’s Home Ministry said the country’s death toll had risen to 4,010. Another 61 were killed in neighboring India, and China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported 25 dead in Tibet. At least 18 of the dead were killed at Mount Everest as the quake unleashed an avalanche that buried part of the base camp packed with foreign climbers preparing to make their summit attempts.

At least 7,180 people were injured in the quake, police said. Tens of thousands are estimated to be left homeless.

Rescue workers and medical teams from at least a dozen countries were helping police and army troops in Kathmandu and surrounding areas, said Maj. Gen. Binod Basnyat, a Nepal army spokesman. Contributions came from large countries like India and China — but also from Nepal’s tiny Himalayan neighbor of Bhutan, which dispatched a medical team.

Two teams of U.S. Army Green Beret soldiers happened to be in Nepal when the quake struck, and the 26 Americans — who were training with the Nepalese army — are staying to help with search-and-relief efforts. The 11-member crew of a C-130 cargo plane that brought them also will remain to evacuate any American citizens if needed, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. A second U.S. cargo plane carrying members of a Los Angeles urban search-and-rescue team was due to arrive Tuesday, he said.

As the death toll from Nepal’s devastating earthquake climbed past 4,000, aid workers and officials in remote, shattered villages near the epicenter pleaded Monday for food, shelter and medicine.

Help poured in after Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 quake, with countries large and small sending medical and rescue teams, aircraft and basic supplies. The small airport in the capital of Kathmandu was congested and chaotic, with some flights forced to turn back early in the day.

Buildings in parts of the city were reduced to rubble, and there were shortages of food, fuel, electricity and shelter. As bodies were recovered, relatives cremated the dead along the Bagmati River, and at least a dozen pyres burned late into the night.

Conditions were far worse in the countryside, with rescue workers still struggling to reach mountain villages two days after the earthquake.

Some roads and trails to the Gorkha district, where the quake was centered, were blocked by landslides — but also by traffic jams that regularly clog the route north of Kathmandu.

Truly these people are in desperate need. What can we do to help our brothers and sisters around the world?

The news turns from this great need to the insanity going on in Baltimore. It is true that our country is being awakend to the policies of injustice toward black people in our country. But we need to recognize that a small portion of law enforcement are involved in this. Yes, there are people who have been killed and harmed who should not have been treated in this fashion. But to kill the police, to burn police cars, to burn and loot places of business is NOT the answer. In fact, it is making the point that some people respond in the wrong manner and make things worse.

I believe there is an orderly way to bring about change… It is the Martin Luther King way of NON-VIOLENCE… not the Malcom X way of violence. Martin’s way brought the change we have… Malcom X would have us still involved in a black and white war.

I pray for peace and healing in our land and in the land of the great quake. I pray that while thousands upon thousands die underneath the rubble of a shaking world, here in the U.S. we wake up to and participate in being peacemakers who finally do actually care for one another.

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Please also take the time to leave a good review with Amazon. After today, these books have been published in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

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Thursday I visited with Mark at the prison. I try to do that once a month because I don’t ever want him to feel that the church has turned its back on him. Sure he made a mistake… we all have… but we don’t throw him away because he made that mistake. No, we gather together to love, support and care for him in his time of great need. Thanks to all in his relationship circle, family and friends, who continue to send those cards and letters. They mean the world to him and give him the courage he needs every day. You are making a difference. Keep up this good work.

Well, this Thursday was one of those days I believe could only happen to me. The first problem was that I decided to go over the top dressing in DUKE championship apparel to rib Mark – an avid UNC fan. I wore a Championship Tee shirt, a long sleeve white DUKE shirt under that, and a DUKE visor to complete the look. One of the guards was a UNC fan and the other pulled for Kentucky. I was lucky I didn’t get locked up. When they learned that I got my Master of Divinity at DUKE the UNC fan said he would cut me some slack. No quarters from the Kentucky fan… I think it is still the Laettner fall out… love to hate Laettner bunch from Kentucky. Finally the UNC fan – the nice one – said the Duke thing is the least of your problems… there is an even bigger issue.

You see, it was such a nice day outside that I decided to wear sandals. Little did I know that sandals and visiting inmates at Piedmont is a No No. You’ve seen that sign on the door of businesses that reads “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.” Well at Piedmont Correctional there should be a sign that reads no open toed shoes – no visit. They said I could not visit Mark. Wow, an hour’s drive, Mark is waiting, and I am standing there talking with the guard about how we can make this visit happen. Do you have any shoes or socks in your car?” No, I don’t think so. “Can you just put duck tape on my toes?” The guard’s strange response was a humorous “No, we can’t go that far.” We talk some more as I ask him if I can improvise with stuff I find in the car? He said “Go try. Come back and the Lieutenant will make a decision.”

I go to the car, look through all the stuff, and find only a box of clothes brought back from a consignment sale. I find a pair of black knit shorts and my little pea brain says… ugh, pockets can cover up toes. I find the pocket knife in the center console and cut out both pockets. Sure did!!!

I walk back to the entrance, go inside, sit down, and put on my pocket-socks and sandals. The Lieutenant comes over and says he will let me in this time – he likes to give the benefit of the doubt to ministers. But, he says, next time wear closed toed shoes. I thanked him and visited with Mark.

I do want to thank these guards for allowing me to visit with Mark even though my attire did not fall within the lines of proper protocol. Mark and I got a good laugh out of this. I am glad we were able to adapt, improvise and complete the mission (old USMC proverb). We got to visit, pray with one another and be the church in action.

Adapt, improvise, be the church… take the love of Christ with you to people in all conditions and circumstances and places.

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Please also take the time to leave a good review with Amazon. After today, these books have been published in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

Filed under: Faith | 3 Comments »

A couple of weeks ago our dishwasher (not Shirley) went out… stopped working mid-cycle. We didn’t realize that it had not finished the cycle until we tried to unload it and found the dish washer powder still in the little containers and the dishes still unclean.

We twirled the knob to no avail. Nothing worked.

Shirley led me to our favorite Lowe’s store and we purchased a new Bosch dishwasher. The electrician came out in a few days only to find that the electrical hook ups for the Bosch and the old Whirlpool were different. So it was back to the store to order the additional parts to meet the codes for this machine.

Finally, today the electricians came back out and guess what… at three o’clock this morning there was a wreck on Wendover at Battleground and all the electricity is out in this area. So our guy is working in the (so-called) dark using battery powered tools. We just have to let him know when/if the power comes back on before he gets the voltage.

Here is the scary part of this story. He takes off the front of the old Whirlpool and discovers that the electrical parts were fried. He said; “It could have caused a fire.” Wow! The best we can recall is that Shirley started the dish washer running around 2:00pm as we left to go take care of the kids. When we returned around 5:00pm the machine was not running. We didn’t think much of it… it had just finished its cycle.

Just think, this thing could have burned the house down. Shirley and I were very lucky. It made me think of an old time movie line: “Some One Up There Likes Me.” Well, being a pastor for 40 years, I know there is some One up there who loves us all… and today – Good Friday – is proof positive. And even if the house had burned down I still believe he loves me and you… and all the rest of us. His death on Good Friday was the assurance of the love of God made real to all of us through Jesus Christ.

Today, we all can say: “Some One Up There Loves Me” and know that it is the Gospel.

You will notice at the bottom of the header (above) are a list of my books. I have added the last one so you can order The Grieving Heart in paperback form. All the other books are eBooks. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read these and I hope they will help to bring you comfort and grace in time of need.

Filed under: Faith | 1 Comment »