1 Timothy 6:6-8 (CEB)

Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have. We didn't bring anything into the world and so we can't take anything out of it; we'll be happy with food and clothing.

What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said?  That question is the subtitle of a book... the book^[1] is a dialogue by two authors, Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo, who try to live by the commands of Jesus in literal, practical, and real-life ways. I have not read the book - but I have tried to live into that question.

Yesterday, just how hard it is to live what I believe about Jesus became even more real to me and to my congregation.

Leonard Lynn, who was murdered last week, and the person who has confessed to killing him, Erick Niemi, are known to me. Leonard has attended worship at our church for over a year. Both Leonard and Erick have come to Soul Cafe, our church and community dinner on Wednesday evenings.

I knew Leonard better than Erick. Leonard was in church last Sunday and at dinner on Wednesday. Leonard was a lot like a street corner preacher - he was passionate about his love for Jesus; he had a deep, booming voice; but his theology made me cringe sometimes. When he shared in worship I could see a few people roll their eyes and you knew they were thinking, “Oh no, here we go again... another sermon....”   Even so, he endeared himself to us. He was a good friend to a group of people that met for bible study in each others’ homes; he shared money, time and resources whenever he could. In his own way, he too, tried to live as if Jesus meant what he said. We missed Leonard in worship on Sunday.

I know Erick only through our church and community dinner. He comes sporadically. I got to know him by name only a few months ago. He delighted in the fact that I remembered his name--his eyes brightened when I greeted him. The evening I asked his name I went and sat with him during dinner - neither one of us had much to say - we just enjoyed the food and the company. I will miss Erick on Wednesday.

You hear often enough, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” We reference the struggles of others - see those who are homeless, those who rely on day labor pools for work, those arrested for prostitution and shoplifting, those who struggle to feed their families and make their mortgage payments... “There but for the grace of God, go I” we tritely say.

I was preaching on grace this morning as I was also reeling from the news I’d received ten minutes before the start of worship: that Leonard had been murdered and that Erick confessed to doing it!

            Grace...

           

            Unconditional love....

 ...words fumbled out of my mouth while my brain screamed at me: Leonard! Erick!

I preached:

“One’s status and condition do not need to be altered in order to be invited into divine love... into this relationship with God. The nature of [God] is to be love, and the great conversion of faith is to let this love live in us.”^[2]

We set up obstacles between God’s grace and other people finding that grace.

It is this beautiful offer of unconditional love.

Let’s not mess that up.

Then we sang a hymn: A Charge to Keep I Have^[3]

  

verse 2 says:

            To serve the present age,

            my calling to fulfill;

            O may it all my powers engage

            to do my Master's will!

My calling to fulfill... this is taking all my strength and my power....

We prayed. And then I shared the awful news: Leonard! Erick! My voiced trembled; there was that horrible, collective, gasp! There were tears, and questions, and there was remembering.

What if Jesus really meant what he said? 

Oh God, help me not to mess this up!

This is hard! People are already grumbling about our church and about our ministry. What will they say if they know Leonard and Erick were here? That Leonard and Erick were one of us? I can hear them now...

There it is again: What if Jesus really meant what he said?

My brain is still screaming at me - and my heart aches: What if Jesus really meant what he said?

            Jesus said:  “...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”^[4]

            Jesus said:  “‘...Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’”^[5]

Sinners. Really? That’s me. That’s them. That’s all of us. Okay then... We will begin again from here:

“The Word became flesh and blood,

    and moved into the neighborhood.”^[6]

The Word... Of course he meant what he said!

And us? We will continue to let God’s love live in and through us, and move into the neighborhood.

---

^[1] Campolo, Tony and The Simple Way. Red Letter Revolution: What If Jesus Really Meant What He Said? Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012.

^[2] Farley, Wendy. “Galatians 1:1-12 Theological Perspective.” Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, Vol. 3. Eds. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Know Press, 2010.

^[3]  Wesley, Charles. “A Charge to Keep I Have.” The United Methodist Hymnal. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989. No. 413.

^[4] Matthew 5:44 The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

^[5] Mark 2:17 The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

^[6] John 1:14 The Message Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

What's An Amma To Do?!?!

So, I am driving down the road a few blocks from home, two kids and three pizzas in the car and two other adults waiting for dinner at home, when on the side of the road I see a person in the ditch. Is it Ronnie or Forrest? I don't know. I stop and back up the car, put on the hazard lights and get out to check on him. I know him, but not his name; I know it now--it's Jerry. And Jerry is very drunk! What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I helped Jerry stand up, swaying, but standing none the less. His baby blue bedroll sits beside the ditch, his radio down in it. Before he falls down I get him to sit down by the bedroll. He repeats himself over and over again: "I'm sorry" "I can't get up" "I can't walk" "I'm sorry I'm drunk" "I need help". He wants to stand up again, so again I help him. What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I told Jerry my kids were in the car and I had to take them home before I could help him further. I asked where he "camped" and he couldn't exactly tell me. (Hmmm, when I come back where am I going to take him?) He kept repeating himself still... "I need help" "I need a ride" "I'm sorry" I told him again I would be back. He sat down next to the bedroll. He looked sad. I felt bad. What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I got back in the car. Thing One and Thing Two had lots of questions and lots to say: "What are you going to do" "What is wrong with him" "You have to come back and help him" "You are coming back, right" "He can't stay in the ditch... its raining". Back home we unload, go inside, and sit down for pizza. Thing One fills Hokie Fan and Nonny in on all the gory details... What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

After dinner I called a fellow Jesus Freak (Mrs. T) to see if she knew where Jerry's camp is. "He is passing through," she tells me, but suggests John (one of the "bench boys") may know where he stays. So I call John; no minutes on his phone, so no John. I tell Hokie Fan I am going to see if Jerry is still in the ditch and then ask one of the "bench boys" to help get him to a different place--where, I don't know. Hokie Fan does not like the idea, but doesn't have a better one. He makes me promise to call him in 15 minutes. What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I got in the car and went to find Jerry. He was gone. I drive a few blocks knowing he couldn't have walked anywhere. I am sad. Is Jerry in jail? My hunch is yes. When there is no place for our homeless neighbors they drink themselves silly and end up in the Sheriff's Shelter, the most expensive "shelter" in town. How sad is that! What is an Amma to do!?!?

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five: Lent Edition

What are some things you appreciate about the season of Lent? Perhaps you would share 5 of them with us. And for your bonus question feel free to share one thing you could do without.

1) Ash Wednesday - For the last two years a colleague and I have worked together to create a "journey through lent" booklet (not the best descriptor...) that has the gospel readings for the season of Lent and questions for reflection. Then we created prayer stations in the sanctuary to go with each gospel reading. So the Ash Wednesday service is more of a self-guided prayer walk, and folks leave with a "guide" for the Lenten journey. This year will be different - more in keeping with a traditional Ash Wednesday service of repentance but still utilizing a prayer station... tweaking an idea I found at a website called "Contemplative Prayer Stations," and the idea I am using from there is called "Confession with sand".

http://www.creativeprayer.com/index.php?blog=2


2) I love the more reflective services in this season: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday. I am challenged to be more creative and I love that! This year I hope to create a prayer station/prayer walk in the sanctuary for the Mon-Wed of Holy Week.

3) I am usually challenged in my own walk with Jesus in the season of Lent - as I challenge others to a more disciplined life, my own priorities are "in my face" and I am called to a closer walk.

4) Some of my favorite hymns are Lenten themed: What Wondrous Love Is This, Jesus Remember Me, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, Lift High the Cross, and more.

5) And I love that as we are moved in this season to consider our own walk with Jesus and his call on our lives - that we are reading and hearing of Jesus journey to the cross - and in the world around us spring is bringing the landscape to life promising resurrection.

Beautiful Ammas!!

The third of the "Templeamma Trinity" is ordained at this year's annual conference in Jackson, Mississippi!



And she has a trinity of "Templeammas in Training"!! Aren't they gorgeous!?!?

Praying in Color

Yesterday I spent my Day Apart "praying in color." That is the book title (see pic) and it introduces a visual and interactive way of praying. It is a very easy read - about a wonderful way to pray. Check it out! The book is by Sybil MacBeth

I So Want To Be Better At This...

a plea and a prayer...
My life has been so upside down for so long... I wasn't good at this before (meaning posting regularly) - it was all new - when my world turned. So my plea and prayer are for the discipline of taking time for the important things, for setting priorities. Blogging is not at the top of the list, by any means, but finding a way to give voice to myself - that is near the top.

Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.