|
|
Pastor Dana's Blog  THOSE BIRDSFriday, August 20, 2010 Well it was just a little bit TOO warm to mow the grass this morning and there was a heavy dew on as well. So, since I had already put on my "mowing clothes" and gone to the barn I decided to clean out the barn. (Our barn was once home to horses which belonged to the man who built our house n the 1960s) This was a good idea seeing that it has been about five years since I last cleaned it out! I started by sweeping the floor and throwing away a lot of trash. Then there was the matter of the pine straw. The birds had built a nest earlier this summer up under the edge of the roof and they did so by using pine straw from the neighbor's pine trees. Now apparently the birds did not realize that where they were attempting to build their next was actually inside a hollow wall and so the pine straw went all the way from the top to the very bottom. I guess they just kept brining the straw until they got to the top which was where the actual nest was.
I started pulling the straw out of the wall just inside the barn door and throwing it into a trash can. The stuff just kept falling out. My first reaction to this nasty mess was "stupid birds! Why do they have to come out here and make such a mess!" But I thought of this: These birds (or it could have been only one!) painstakingly made a home for their young ONE LITTLE PINE STRAW strand at a time! How long must it have taken them to build this? I can't even build an ice cream sundae without messing it up! My complaining immediately turned to wonder. Then I recalled what Jesus said on the sermon on the mount: "don't worry about what you should eat or drink or even wear. God sees each and every sparrow that falls. How much more will God look after you!" Wow! If God has given these little birds the industry to be so meticulous in their work building their nest how much more has He given you and me who have dominion over the animals?
Pretty amazing, really. But there's one more thing. Should not we be about the Father's work with equal vigor?
It is something to consider!
'til next time,
The Methmusician When We Pray..Thursday, July 22, 2010 I came across this wonderful statement by Gregory of Nyssa and thought I would share it with you. It is from one of his sermons on the Lord's Prayer.
"The effect of prayer is union with God, and, if someone is with God, he is separated from the enemy. Through prayer we guard our chastity, control our temper and rid ourselves of vanity. It makes us forget injuries, overcomes envy, defeats injustice and makes amends for sin. Through prayer we obtain physical well-being, a happy home and a strong, well-ordered society. Prayer is the seal of virginity and a pledge of faithfulness in marriage. It shields the wayfarer, protects the sleeper and gives courage to those who keep vigil. It will refresh you when you are weary and comfort you when your are sorrowful. Prayer is the delight of the joyful as well as the solace of the afflicted. Prayer is intimacy with God and contemplation of the invisible. Prayer is the enjoyment of things present and the substance of the things to come."
You know, even if we are separated from others, and even if there is no other gift that we can possibly think of to give, we can always surround them with the strength and the defense of our prayers.
Grace and Peace,
The Methmusician Like a TreeFriday, July 16, 2010 Last night I attended the dedication of a huge piece of property in Cookeville, Tennessee where Habitat for Humanity is building an entire subdivision of new homes. I am thrilled that son Daniel and his family are the very first family to be able to begin construction (in a month or so). They qualify for a new habitat house because of a disability of one their two boys.
Anyway, in the spot where the dedication service was held there was a huge tree. One of the pastors who participated in the event spoke of how the tree reminded him of how the roots being put down by all these families who will in due time be living in this subdivision. There was a wonderful prayer offered for the families of the New Hope Subdivision. The service of dedication was most inspiring and I'm glad I went.
But let's get back to the tree. No not that tree in Cookeville Tennesssee but the big ole pine tree that's in my front yard! I was out earlier today cutting the grass on my riding mower and noticed some small limbs from that tree on the ground. In fact every time the wind blows here there are some small limbs that fall from that tree. And I thought about how the tree reminds me of life. All these little limbs fall off and they are annoying when they're lying on the ground. But the tree still stands. And that pine tree may well be 100 years old as far as I know. It's been around for a long time and weathered a lot of storms. Like life. Like the church! We have weathered a lot of storms in the past 2000 years but we're still here! I am grateful that our "roots" are in the eternal steadfast love and grace of God! "Like a tree planted by the water" we are unmovable!
Now excuse me I have to go pick up some limbs out of the yard.
Grace and Peace,
The Methmusician The LIVING ChurchThursday, June 17, 2010 The other day I overheard someone say that the church is dying. I am not exactly sure in what context that statement was made but I do not agree with it! There are plenty of ministry opps in the church but I am absolutely convinced that there is a tremendous amount of ministry taking place OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH that we never ever hear anything about. One day recently I was busy in the church sanctuary when I heard voices coming from the room behind the worship area. Curiosity led me back to that room where I found two of our ladies from the congregation preparing to take communion to some shut-ins. As we stood talking for a moment two other ladies came in but they were college aged girls. They too were preparing to go serve communion to shut-ins in another town! This impressed me. Here are four lay persons doing the work of ministry (the pastor had already consecrated the elements for them) and it wasn't even Sunday!
Is the church dying?
I believe you will get a diffrerent opinion about the life of the church when you ask that recently widowed middle-aged man who tragically lost his wife to cancer about the support he received from fellow Christians. Or ask that mom and dad who have gone through the horrific ordeal of losing an 18-year old son in a car accident. Or ask that single mom who has trouble finding a job but receives the blessing of having a bunch of youth and adults come to her house to work on it. Talk with those children in Matamoras, Mexico who used to live next to a dump, but now, through the efforts of people who have given money to missions and to some who have even traveled themselves to Mexico to work there how that area has been cleaned up and is more suitable for families to live there. Or ask that worried grandfather and grandmother who have requested prayer from their church family for a grandson who was born with a life-threatening illness. Ask those grandparents about the incredible power of prayer for that little boy who will turn two in a couple of months and see if those now thankful and proud grandparents don't tell you that we SERVE A LIVING GOD WHO HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYER! Don't tell me the church is dying! Yes all of these examples are true and are from the church that I gladly serve. A churchwhich is very, very much alive and, by the way, represents and is a part of the church world-wide which is in the world making a difference. I am blessed to be a part of it!
The Methmusician
The Value of FriendshipMonday, April 05, 2010 I have been blessed in my life with a lot of things. I have a wonderful, faithful and caring wife, five great kids, great in-laws, five precious grandchildren. And I have always had good health. It has only been in the past few years (since I hit 50 come to think of it!) that I've noticed a few more aches and pains in places where there were none before. And I've had to go visit my doctor for check-ups more regularly and begin taking a couple of prescription drugs for hypertension and cholestorol. But I really haven't been hospitialized for much in my 56 years.
I can remember having pneumonia when I was a boy. I spent a couple of days in a hospital then. And in my 30s I had a short hospital stay for something called "diverticulitis" which my doctor at the time said I really shouldn't have until I'm 60. Yeah, I'm getting there. So I had this ailment early in life to just "get it over with" I suppose.
But then there was last Saturday. I had been having these sharp pains in the abdominal area for a day or two. But it got so bad that I had to go to the local ER on Saturday afternoon. I spent about 8 hours there. After x-rays and a CT scan they told me I had "colitis" which is inflamation of the colon. Consequently the doctors loaded me up on anti-biotics and steroids. Steriods-really? But the worst part of the weekend was that I had to miss Easter Sunday services in my church, which was probably the first time in about 40 years that THAT has happened!
So here it is the Monday following Easter and two days after my ER experience and I'm taking the day off to recuperate a bit before attempting to go back to work on Tuesday (hopefully) And this morning I get a call from someone from the church who wants to bring over a meal today. Then I get a call from a good friend of mine from church who is just checking up on me! He says to me before he hangs up "make sure that YOU take care of YOU!" Makes sense! Then, just now, I received a voice mail from my senior pastor and colleague in ministry who is just checking to see if I'm ok. And our Youth pastor just left me a message of good will. And the day's not over!
So this is what I'm thinking right now: who am I to have such wonderful friends? What have I done to deserve this love? I know the answer. It is because "He first loved us!" My wife was right there with me the whole time at the ER and several of my kids even came and waited in the waiting room (hence the name). Our church organist/accompanist came by to see me that night as did one of our youth from church and our youth pastor. Additionally there were several musically-inclined lay folk who did my job for me Sunday morning in worship! AND they did it WELL! Wow. Guess I am really not indispensable! And it's not that you cannot CARE outside of Christ-plenty of folk do that. But there is something wonderfully powerful about love given and received within the body of Christ. It is, as the song goes, the "bond of love."
I beleive that all these people care because what they say and do is a reflection of their own love for God and comittment to Christ. It is a way for them to be doers of the Word. It just so happens that at this time I am the recipeint of their "doing!" And that makes me grateful and blessed. It's good to know that love "goes around and comes around!"
Thank you, Lord for the valuable gift of family and friendship. It is big part of the process of healing and wholeness!
The Methmusician Going the extra mileFriday, April 02, 2010 Recently my wife and I and two of our grown children had to attend a funeral in Eastern Kentucky (see the blog entitled "Paul"). We went first to my wife's dad's home in southern Ohio, right on the Ohio river in fact! On the morning of the day of the funeral my wife's dad and step-mom left long before we did to make the 85+ mile trip to the town in Eastern Kentucky where the funeral was to be held at 1:00 PM. Unfortunately for us, my wife's step-mom accidentally picked up my wife's car keys obviously by mistake and took them with her. Once we discovered that our car keys were NO WHERE to be found we were left with the very likely possibility that we had just driven 350 miles and would not be able to attend the funeral after all. What a bummer!
But my wife had an idea. She called a couple who attended church with my in-laws to inquire where we might find a Kia dealership (since my wife's car in which we had made this trip is an Optima). The church lady told my wife "you don't have time for some dealership to send someone with spare keys. We are bringing you a car right now!" And within 15 minutes she pulled into the drive way of my in-law's home in her Chevy Impala. My wife, daughter, son and I DID make it to the funeral after all-in fact with time to spare.
Now here's the thing. These folks who loaned us their vehicle are people that we have known for probably 40 years. So it wasn't like they were complete strangers. Nor did my wife just beg them for a loaner car. They volunteered their vehicle for our use with no strings attached. I think this is a direct reflection of their love for Jesus and willingness to go the extra mile to help someone in need. You can imagine how grateful we were to have a couple of retired school teachers come to our rescue! It is a "GOD" thing! We're thankful for these servants of his who just did the right thing. Isn't that how the kingdom is supposed to work?
'Til next time,
The Methmusician PaulFriday, April 02, 2010 I actually got aquainted with Paul about 40 years ago. It was when the beautiful girl who was to become my wife in 1974 invited me to eastern Kentucky to meet some of her relatives! Paul at that time was teaching in the public school system. When I first met him I was a little bit afraid of him for two reasons. One was just his size and demeanor. I mean this guy had made several voluntary tours in Viet Nam (in the US Air Force) and he was rather tall and commanding. But the other reason was that he was just so "well read." Sure he could quote Emerson or Poe but he knew a ton of quotes from people I never even heard of! And yet there was something congenial about Paul that made me feel at ease around him. He had a good sense of humor and was the model "family man." So that first visit with Paul began what would turn into a lifetime of visits with him and his family in Eastern Kentucky.
Now after my wife and I were married I was already serving churches in the pastoral ministry and Paul knew that I was just a young, enthusiastic pastor who honestly thought that I could somehow make a difference in this world. He was always interested in knowing just how things were going for me in the churches I served and even "loaned" me books and bible helps that he felt would assist me in my ministry. But perhaps the greatest gift I received from my wife's uncle Paul was just the consistent encouragement that I needed so often while being a pastor. He told once "If you're going make someone mad at you, make sure it's someone who is outside the church because they will be more apt to forgive you for stuff!" I think he may have been correct about that!
I always enjoyed going to Paul's house. His family was and still is my own. About 10 years ago Paul was diagnosed with cancer. He died on March 26 this year. We drove to Kentucky for his funeral. I told my wife's aunt (Paul's widow) that I hoped that Paul knew what a profound influence he had on me when I was younger. I am a better man and I believe a better minister because of my having known Paul. I will look forward to thanking him in person when I see him in Heaven.
So give thanks for the persons in your life who have paid enough attention to you to show you love!
'TIl next time,
The Methmusician Darth Vader had Sleep ApneaTuesday, March 02, 2010 A few years ago I was diagnosed with a condition called "sleep apnea." It is, I believe, a fairly common sleep disorder nowadays. As a result of the diagnosis I have to sleep with a CPAP machine each night (CPAP is an acronym for "Continuous Positive Airway Pressure"). It helps me rest during the night but mainly it keeps me breathing properly while I sleep.
I am convinced that Darth Vader of Stars Wars fame had sleep apnea (of course they don't tell you this in the movies). How do I know this? Because I sometimes get that same creepy "lock and load" sound effect with my CPAP that Vader had when he would breath in and out! (My son-in-law who is also our youth pastor at church says it's good to make Star Wars references when I am preaching-or in this case writing). I don't think Vader had too many serious issues with his "sleep apnea-like" apparatus contained in that really cool but eerie mask he was wearing. In fact i don't think he ever slept at all. But the problem I have with mine is that sometimes the water reservoir goes dry sometime before day break and I get these annoying leaks around the edge of the face mask. That's bad enough but the leaks sound sort of..well..gross. And so I struggle to find a comfortable and suitable position that will fasten that mask to my face and keep the air that is supposed to keep my airway open INSIDE that mask instead of escaping with a sound similar to that of air being released from a pinched balloon.
How is this relative to anything spiritual you might ask? Well, I liken my struggle with my CPAP to that of what I refer to as the "spiritual birthing process" within the body of Christ-the church.
Like my apnea condition, the church often finds itself being diagnosed with "spiritual" conditions that threaten her health. (I say "her" because the church is the BRIDE of Christ and Brides are traditionally female). The good news for the church is that God has provided us a way to renew our health through the breath - no pun intended - of the Holy Spirit. The big difference is that the life and work of the Spirit in us not only keeps us alive but AWAKE and ALERT! Our problem is not that we are having trouble sleeping it is that we ARE SOMETIMES SLEEPING! It is in these times that God's Spirit moves in people to wake us up and get moving again. It is often not an easy process but one that is necessary for the work of the Kingdom of God.
And so I pray that God will wake me up and open my spiritual eyes to all the possibilities that lie ahead. Help me, Lord to be a part of your great Plan for revival in the church. Will you join me in this prayer? Now let's pour that coffee and grab those donuts -er - rice cakes and roll up our sleeves as it were and get to work!
Grace & Peace
the Methmusician When Did This Happen?Monday, February 22, 2010 I'm driving down the road the other day when I heard this ad on the radio for a local restaurant-"Seniors, 55 and older can now get HALF PRICE on .." whatever meal it was. Wait. Hold on a second. Did you say "SENIORS, 55 and older?" I AM 55 and older! When did this happen? I mean just last Sunday I was "sprinting" up the stairwell at church (which should by the way be an Olympic event) when one of my choir members (whom I had just sprinted past in "Anton Ohno" fashion) said "You're in good shape!" And I thought "yes ROUND is a shape." But I replied "for the shape I'm in!"
But then I got to thinking about this being a "senior adult." This explains a lot of things like:
-why my hair is thinner (ok MUCH thinner) than it was a few years ago;
-why I now have TWO medicine cabinets in my bathroom;
-why, when standing up straight and looking down, I lose sight of my feet;
-why I have a cataract (I also have a Ford-get it?);
-why I no longer make fun of people who say that they have trouble driving at night time;
-why I have discovered new places in my body where aches and pains exist!
These are just to name a few.
My mother, who is 79 years old, tells me that "getting old is not for wimps." Man I'm in BIG trouble! Now if you will excuse me I'm headed to McDonalds for that reduced cup of coffee!
Grace and Peace,
The Methmusiican My NeighborTuesday, December 29, 2009 When I first met Mrs. Mildred she was about 75 years old. I learned that she was a widow. And I learned that she had a tremendous work ethic. I would see her out in her yard mowing the grass even on the hottest (or in the late fall/early winter) coldest days. She absolutely loved working in her flowers and I can't tell you how many times she has changed the layout of her flower beds over the 10 years that we were neighbors. But I can tell you that she must have had two "green thumbs" becuase she always had the most beautiful flowers. I don't think I've ever known anyone her age who worked any harder in her yard.
When we first became neighbors she had just had her drive way paved. Unfortunately there was some sort of pitch problem with her finished drive that caused water to back up and pool in her detatched garage behind her house. She came over one day and asked me if it was ok for her to have a drainage pipe laid beside her drive way. She was concerned because if she did this the work would require someone digging the ditch line on our property. I told her that was perfectly fine. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Mrs. Mildred was doing all that work herself!
She would thank me for taking the time to blow off all the grass clippings that I would sometimes get on her beautiful paved driveway after cutting my yard. She would love to make "small talk" and she would just tickle me when she said "I don't get out to go to church but I DO listen to those Methodists on the radio." (which happens to be the Methodists I worship with!). I'm not sure if she ever really knew it was me helping lead those radio services!
She would wash her car just about every time she drove it. Not only that, she would take a water hose to her riding lawn mower everytime she cut her grass! I honestly don't know how that mower has lasted all these seasons but I had noticed this past summer that it SOUNDED like her mower needed a new muffler!
In recent months Mrs. Mildred's health began to fail critically. In fact back in the fall my wife and I got worried because we had not seen her for a while. Then one day while out in my yard I looked over and saw her getting out of her daughter's van - but she had a walker. I went right over to talk to her and she said she had been in the hospital a few days. We talked a few mintues and I wished her well and told her that I would be praying for her.
We would see her occasionally after that coming and going with her daughter. But then during the recent Christmas holidays we had not seen Mrs. Mildred for a couple of weeks. And then, tonight, my wife said to me "I just some folks taking furniture out of Mrs. Mildred's house. We both got very worried about her and wondered if something had happened. Sure enough, after checking our local radio station's obituary report we discovered that Mrs. Mildred had died just before Christmas. We were both numbed by this news. Mrs. Mildred was one of the best neighbors that we've ever had. Quiet. Unassuming. Friendly.
We feel terrible because we did not know about her passing until now. We certainly would have attended her graveside service. But then, I think Mrs. Mildred would understand how we feel. She was a person without fanfare and I don't think she would want us to make too "big a fuss" over her life or her death.
I am really going to miss her. She was our (GOOD) neighbor! Thanks for your friendship, Mrs. Mildred.
I'm the Methmusican,
'Til next time
|
|
