Caught in the eye of a storm

I grew up along the eastern coast of the U.S. on the shores of North Carolina. I am familiar with the power of storms like Sandy

“For all the Saints…”

This Sunday (October 28) is Reformation Sunday and the following Thursday (November 1) is “All Saints’ Day” on the Church calendar.

Loosening my grip

Those who follow my blog have noticed the absence of frequent posts lately.  I’ve not abandoned this forum but have engaged in an intentional hiatus – a desert/wilderness exercise – to regain a sense of focus in my thought and writing.  I’ve been busy during this wilderness experience so my time has not been spent adrift, aimlessly lost in thought.  I’ve encountered some surprising things during my wilderness journey.  I’m pretty sure I am not out of the wilderness yet.  This experience has been exhausting because it requires me to be and function within the tension of emotion and action.  

I’m ready to begin posting again.  I recognize the time away was needed but I also realized that writing is healing and restorative for me.  I missed it.  

On Discipleship

I recently posted a short message about the topic of discipleship. “What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus today?” I asked.  I’m still struggling with this question since, it appears, the answer isn’t quite as simple as I once believed.  I’ve read the gospels and I shake my head at Jesus’ disciples.   Repeatedly they just don’t get it – discipleship was within their grasp yet they questioned, quarreled, and quit rather than follow.  “How could they be so dense?” I ask myself.

I breathe my own self-righteous prayer of “thank you God that I am not like other people…” smug that I have it altogether.  I know what it means to be a disciple while others have no clue.  I can recite verses of scripture, repeat prayers from rote memory, and robustly sing the hymns of discipleship.  Yet, within me there is the persistent question, “Is this all there is to discipleship?”

So here’s what my wanderings have reaffirmed for me:

Discipleship means letting go of my need to control or loosening my grip in order to follow Jesus.  I’m much more conscious of attitudes like the one portrayed in a worship presentation at this summer’s General Assembly in which a paralyzed character is asked, “Don’t you want to see Jesus?” and her reply was, “I don’t want to see Jesus.  I’ve got to go to church.”  Discipleship isn’t about the number of attendance stars on a poster board, but about following and trusting the One who warns us that following will not be easy.  Reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer has helped me immensely in this regard.

Discipleship is an ongoing journey.  There is no Commencement ceremony but a continuous commencement in the way of following the Risen Christ.  Our discipleship journey will bring us into contact with the best and worst moments in life.  Discipleship will seat us at tables of plenty and scarcity.  It will fill and exhaust our resources.  Discipleship will bring us joy and sadness – sometimes confusing us by the places and times when these emotions happen.

I’m still wrestling with the notion of discipleship in our day.  I’ve come to realize that I’m no different than the first disciples.  I have more to learn and thank God, I have a patient and loving Master who is willing to teach me.

You’re where?

It’s October, a busy travel month for me. I began October in Louisville, Kentucky attending the meeting of the Association of Executive Presbyters, or AEPs (pronounced “apes”), followed by the Office of the General Assembly’s Fall Polity Conference. These annual events provide resources and information to Presbytery Executives and Stated Clerks about upcoming programs and summaries of actions at the General Assembly as we prepare to discuss and vote on them in our presbyteries.

Today I am in San Francisco for the beginning of the 105th meeting of the Synod of the Pacific. Commissioners to the Synod of the Pacific will spend the next three days working in committees and in plenary to discuss mission, finance and personnel matters. I serve as a staff resource to two synod committees- the Committee on Representation and the Mission Personnel Committee.

Upon my return to Boise Friday night, I will prepare to leave the next day for a meeting of the Camp Sawtooth board at the camp. Camp Sawtooth provides a wonderful and important ministry for Boise and Kendall presbyteries. The board works hard to see that we have a good camping program and staff.

Then, on Sunday October 14 I will be part of a commission to install the Rev. Andrew Kukla as the Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Boise.

Later this month I will be joining with the congregation of First Presbyterian Church, Emmett to say farewell to the Rev. Betty Beck who will be retiring at the end of October and I will be joining with friends in Kendall Presbytery as they say farewell to James Kennedy, their Presbytery Administrator and Stated Clerk and my friend.

Oh, and by the way. I have a week of jury duty this month!

“You’re where?” is something you may wonder about my work as a mid council leader. Sometimes I have to stop and ask myself, “where am I?” I recognize that despite my travel and busy schedule there are many who faithfully remain at home living out the gospel. Thank you to all who serve Christ and the Church wherever you are.

A table for the world

Today is World Communion Sunday. It is one of the most significant days of the church year – at least in my opinion. Today I was joined at a table spread for me and others around the world. I heard the words of institution and tasted the bread and drank from the cup alongside my family in North Carolina, friends in many states, and colleagues who serve in a variety of capacities throughout the church.

World Communion Sunday becomes the day when John 3:16 becomes tangible. God so loved the world…my presbytery…my worshipping community…me and I can touch it, taste it, and remember it.

I hope that you, too, celebrated this Sacrament. I looked for you at the table and I am sure that I caught a glimpse of you there.

The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!