Pastoral Ponderings— Do you Hear…

“Said the night wind to the little lamb—‘Do you hear what I hear?’” For a long time, this was one of my favorite Christmas songs—but not so these days. It’s still a lovely tune with a lot of wonderful renditions, but have you noticed the lyrics? They’re an imaginative re-telling of the Story—and there’s nothing wrong with that—but this retelling goes way off base. The Grinch does another imaginative re-telling, and though a children’s cartoon, it has much more substance than this one!

This song presents a merely feel-good Gospel, but there’s SO much more to Jesus’ Gospel than just a warm nostalgia to ward off winter’s cold, so much more than merely “tidings of comfort and joy,” as another song puts it. I had a New Testament professor in seminary who said he would only teach a Gospel course so often (rather than from Romans or one of the other NT letters), because when you really encounter Jesus, it can be dangerous, scary, and dramatically life-changing, whether we’re looking for that or not!

“Do you hear what I hear?” we could all ask—but the night wind’s whisper tells not just about a child sleeping in the night. Sure, this is where the story begins—but Jesus’ story also takes us through the transforming teaching, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus—calling us not to the toy store, but to the altar. When we truly hear Jesus’ call, we recognize that, as Jesus’ hands and feet in the world, we’ve got a lot of big jobs ahead of us! It’s so much easier, though, just to buy more Christmas gifts, send a few off to Toys for Tots to help us feel better about ourselves, then turn the Christmas music back on.

Another question that distracts us and leads us in the wrong direction, is “What do you want to GET for Christmas?” Shouldn’t we instead, in following Jesus’ example, be asking something more like “What do you want to GIVE for Christmas?” Perhaps we should ask again, “Do you hear what I hear?” and be as eager as that little lamb or shepherd boy to keep on telling the REAL story of Christmas.

Keep being a blessing this season of great blessings- Pastor Jim

Pastoral Ponderings—Dreary

“’Tis the season to be … dreary?”—not quite how the song generally goes, but it certainly could be an appropriate song hereabouts for this time of year. Someone I was talking with recently we bemoaning the weather, and I quipped back, “We’ll likely get to see the sun again around the middle of March…” For some strange reason, she didn’t find my response very helpful.

Sometimes it’s more than just the weather that feels dreary in our lives—whether your life situation, an illness, depression, current events or whatever. I was feeling a bit of that on one of the more dreary days recently when I took the attached picture, with the intent of the reminder that the sun will shine again, and that poem I recently mentioned floating through my head—“I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining, I believe in love even when no one is there, I believe in God even when He is silent…”

I’ve been in an airplane more than enough not to doubt that the sun still shines, when, on dreary days like that, taking off and climbing in altitude until all of a sudden we break through into the brightest of sunshine. The sun does still shine—even if to say so is a statement of a faltering faith.

Thanksgiving reminds us that it is in GIVING thanks—not in “feeling” thanks—that we find the blessings! (Besides, a holiday called “Thanks-FEELING” just doesn’t have much of a ring to it!). Have you noticed how much it lifts your own spirits when you deliver a smile or laugh to someone else who needs it too? Give it a try if you haven’t lately!

Find someone to bless this Thanksgiving, and find yourself even more blessed! After all, the sun IS still shining, even when we don’t see it, and it always starts to shine through the clouds when you help others see it too. Let your little light shine!—Pastor Jim

PS—Though we’re still eager to clearly discern and share the kind of vision that helps us better share with others, we’ve not had any takers on the leadership retreat, so we’ll need to pray, discern, and talk more about it among ourselves—which we can continue both in informal conversation, as well as in our times together, so keep on praying!

Pastoral Ponderings—What’s next?—Nov. 5, 2024

So the big day is upon us—time to vote!  The way things have been looking in the past few weeks and months, no matter what happens, many of our friends and neighbors will be happy, many will be angry.  Yet some way or other, we’ve got to move forward.  No better time than this to remind all, ourselves included, of our Campaign for Kindness—and the bit of wisdom on our sign, and similar signs from more than a thousand other churches around the country—“Do unto others” as you would have them do unto you.

Such a simple rule, yet so powerful, you might even call it “golden”!  I’ve a professor whose life’s research was focused on truth, beauty and goodness across time and cultures.  One of the books he wrote coming out of this life of research, was focusing on the fact that most cultures and religions around the world have some version in their own words expressing that same virtue—to treat others in kind, respectful ways, as we ourselves would like to be treated.  Regardless of whether we agree with those others or not, whether they are friends or not, whether we like them or not—still, treat others with the same respect and kindness that we ourselves might want.

And regardless of which way the election goes.  Isn’t that what Jesus would do?  And isn’t that our primary calling in life—to be like Jesus?  Regardless of how this or any election, or any worldly mess turns out.  Be like Jesus.

So what’s next?  I don’t know, but whatever it is, I hope it includes loving your neighbor, regardless of how you or they voted!

Do unto others.  It’s the Jesus way.  And no matter what, keep on praying!–   Pastor Jim

Pastoral Ponderings–Clinging to the Good

Darling Wife Karol has been preparing for a hike that I don’t get to go on.  Karol is helping our Army kiddo move across country for the new assignment in California—and they’re doing a stop by the Grand Canyon for a hike to break up the drive—I’m jealous!  So we’ve been taking some hikes to help her get ready, and rediscovered I suppose you might say, the Nelson Ledges trail, only about a half hour from our place.

I’ve always found such rocky wonderlands fascinating in so many ways, not the least of which is how huge trees can seemingly defy gravity, and cling to the walls of such cliffs.  Is there a message in that phenomenon for us?

If huge trees can defy the powerful forces of gravity to cling to rock walls, can’t we perhaps do the same?  Our faith proclaims in so many ways, to cling to the GOOD, live a love that encompasses everyone, including our enemies.  Is our faith as strong as these kind of trees, or will we instead, lose grip on the good, and fall away?  Which is stronger, our faith, or those pernicious forces that would glorify the language of hate, prejudice, fear-mongering, and other nasty things?

Dig our roots deeply into the good, into the grace that God offers, into the love God calls us to, whether in good times or bad, whether we agree or disagree, whether we are welcomed or disparaged, this is the way Jesus showed to “hold fast to the good” (I Thes. 5: 21)!

Keep on keepin’ on in our Jesus walk—Rev. Jim

Pastoral Ponderings—Liquid Church?

Have you ever wondered what is so mesmerizing about the beauty of a river scene, especially at sunset?  This attached photo is of the Cuyahoga River at sunset from our recent hike in the CVNP.  Many of my favorite pictures are water scenes at sunset, and as I’m looking at it, I’m thinking that part of what is so mesmerizing is the interplay of the different facets and colors in the image, and that it almost feels like you can see the movement and hear the gurgling and the breeze, even though it’s just a picture.

You may have heard Karol or I mentioning something about “Liquid Church,” and been wondering what that might be about.  You have the chance to begin to get the feel of Liquid Church this Sunday, when we are beginning to demonstrate facets of what that might mean.  The label “Liquid Church” is what was used at a service we attended during our continuing education time away this summer.  Maybe it earned that name because it is a way of doing church that builds on the beauty of the interplay of different reflections of light, in the same way that the beauty of a river scene grows out of the interplay of different reflections of light on and around the river.

“Break-Out Church” was suggested for what may be a more helpful description of Liquid Church, because in its full-blown format, it may have two, three or even four break-out sessions running at the same time, exploring different facets of the same theme.  We’ll only be looking at one of the ways that these break-outs might look this Sunday, but each facet is intended to be a bite-sized piece of the theme under discussion that can be led by most anyone.

In the same way that a river scene is a thing of beauty to draw you in, Liquid Church (or “Break-Out Church”), while a little different, is also designed to be a thing of beauty to draw you in—in this case, to better draw you into the experience of the Gospel in our worship setting.  I look forward to this experiment in worship with you, and to the opportunity to experience many more reflections of the light and beauty of God’s Good News as presented in this form of worship.  See you Sunday!—Pastor Jim

Pastoral Ponderings—Sourpuss

Have you ever been somewhere that’s supposed to be a healing, helping place, but instead, was a place that exuded negativity and a sour feel?  We had an emergency room visit recently where I want to use the word “curmudgeon” to describe the staff, but while that would fit the men (seems to be a masculine term), there were many “sourpuss” types of all kinds “helping” as well.

That was NOT a very helpful experience, so when it looked like it would still be untold hours until we got real help, we went to a different emergency room, and got in right away.  At this facility, the security guard was the first one to greet us with the biggest of jovial smiles, and his kindly greeting was only the first of many, where the whole staff greeted us and helped us with the most caring, positive of spirits.

You’ve likely experienced this kind of dramatic difference that attitude makes in places of hope and healing.  We’ve used a Bible study in recent years called “Lord, Change my Attitude,” that you’ll be hearing more about in the coming months, and which recognizes that some attitudes can not only get in the way of our walk with God, but hurt others as well, while other attitudes can bring the hope and transforming grace from God—just with a change of attitude.

What attitudes are you expressing and living?  How do your attitudes impact yourself, your loved ones, even strangers? Do your attitudes bring hope, healing and grace, or  might they put obstacles in peoples’ lives, and in their relationship with God?  And did you know that you can change your attitudes, to bring blessings to others, rather that wounding?

Sometimes we wonder if we really can have much of an impact on others, wondering, “who do I know,” but even when we might feel like we’re hermits, our paths do, and CAN cross a variety of others’ paths each day!  Though living alone for 8 years, my mom blessed countless dogs (and their people!) every day with her daily walks, with only the expense of a hot dog or two each day (broken into bits for her canine friends…).  Most anyone can take a walk—and share smiles and blessings each day—with both two-legged and four-legged friends.  And that can be all it takes and change sourpusses into smiles!

Might not be easy to change attitudes—but as with the title of this study, we can all pray—“Lord, Change my Attitude,” to bring divine help to this difficult challenge.

Lord, change my attitude—that I can shine the Light of Your blessings wherever I am!

—Pastor Jim

Pastoral Ponderings—Wild Turkeys

It may seem strange to think of a sighting of something as ugly as wild turkeys the kind of blessing to get excited about, but I’ve been called wors

e than strange before, and I get it naturally from my mom.  During her visit, she’s been eager for any sighting of wildlife other than the typical squirrel, chipmunk or bird, and she’s been disappointed not to have seen any deer yet.  But yesterday, I was excited to be able to share a sighting of turkeys wandering across our yard yesterday.

I’ve seen turkeys wandering around a few times each year, and this time with my mom here, I got more curious, so looked up a bit about their roosting habits and more, and found a posting on the yelps and cackles turkeys make in their version of “Good morning” to their turkey families, and realized I’ve heard that a number of times before without even realizing what it was, and in fact heard it again this morning, though without a sighting.  Blessings I’ve been missing from just not knowing what to notice!

Isn’t that the way with so many other blessings—we miss so many from just not noticing, or not knowing what to look (or listen) for!  In generations past, it was pretty common for people in their ordinary conversations to share about God’s blessings around us, but as our society has become more secularized, that kind of language has fallen into disuse, with the consequent loss of our being as aware of, or of noticing God’s blessings in our ordinary lives.

Jesus often used the phrase “he who has eyes, let them see,” or likewise, “he who has ears, them them hear.”  Maybe we’re not the only ones who have a hard time noticing what God is up to around us!  I challenge you to keep your eyes open—learn the signs of how to see or hear God’s blessings, as I’m learning more about recognizing the presence of wild turkeys around me, to be able to be more aware of how God is at work today, even in our ordinary lives—might even make for some good “God sightings” to share!

Keep your eyes peeled or you might not see it!  Pastor Jim