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Some Winds Bring Fear: On Discernment, Scripture, and Grace

Sometimes fear blows onto your doorstep. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a piece of paper had blown onto the path near my office’s back door. The only word I could read was REPENT! Intrigued, I could not tell if it was for me or not. But I could not help but walk outside and pick it up. Wiping off an ant and some dirt, I noticed it was a two-sided handout from a church calling itself “The Gathering of Christ Church.” The handout listed their beliefs. Honestly, I found some of them disturbing. They were adamant that “Heaven’s Door is Closing,” so repent now. Interestingly, they listed several scriptures to support each point. But just as interestingly, there was no mention of grace or mercy anywhere in the pamphlet.   There was nothing about loving neighbors, serving the vulnerable, or participating in God’s healing work in the world.  It spoke far more about escaping punishment than participating in God’s redemption of the world. There was a description of hell and an i...
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Now there is something you don’t see very often!

After the halfway point on my walk this morning, heading back towards home, I saw something you don’t see every day.   It was a mockingbird chasing a hawk.   The hawk was probably five times the size of the mockingbird.   But the chase was all in the attitude.   The mockingbird was squawking and chirping in a language that would make a sailor blush.   The hawk wanted no part of it and was trying the flee but could not get away from the mockingbird. What had the hawk done?  What had agitated the mockingbird so much?  Had it been a transgression?  Was the hawk just too close for comfort?  Or did the two have a history.  I was walking a bit later than normal and had not yet seen this routine.  The unusual scene distracted and entertained me as I reflected on a myriad of permutations. As I’ve felt like the one receiving the squawk most of my life as a leader, I was surprised at how proud I was of the little mockingbird.  Maybe ...
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Who Is My Neighbor?

Lent begins this Wednesday, and I am eager for the journey ahead. Our Lenten sermon series,   Iconic , invites us to explore stories and teachings of Jesus that have become deeply embedded in our culture. This week, we begin with the parable of the   Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) —Jesus’ response to the question,   “Who is our neighbor?” This question remains just as relevant today. Jesus’ answer was as surprising then as it is now: the hero of the story—the Samaritan—was the least expected to stop and help. Cultural biases and stigmas of the time made this story jarring. And yet, Jesus doesn’t simply answer the question outright; instead, Jesus poses one of his own:   “Which of these was a neighbor to the man?”   The lawyer who initially asked the question is confronted with his own biases and is forced to acknowledge the shocking conclusion:   “The one who showed mercy.”  Jesus then commands,   “Go and do likewise.”   Too often, devotional...
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Casting Nets into Deep Waters: A Call to Transformative Faith

Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions, tending to your daily tasks while missing out on something greater? Perhaps you've heard the call to step out in faith but hesitated, thinking, "What difference can I really make?" If so, you're not alone. This sentiment echoes the experience of Simon Peter, a fisherman whose encounter with Jesus would change the course of his life – and offers profound lessons for us today. Picture this: A crowded shoreline, people pressing in to hear a teacher speak. The teacher, needing space, borrows a fisherman's boat to address the masses. After finishing his lesson, he turns to the boat's owner, Simon, with an unexpected request: "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Now, Simon and his crew had been fishing all night without success. They were tired, frustrated, and probably eager to call it a day. Simon's initial response is one we might relate to: skepticism tinged...
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The A.I. Assisted Sermon: Hello world!

By now, you have probably seen reporting on A.I. (Artificial Intelligence).  The format of the reports are almost humorously consistent.  There are a few moments of explanation on how computing reached this point.  There is a mention of A.I. being the quickest technology to reach one hundred million users. Then, the report often concludes with the pundit explaining that a portion or all of the report was written by A.I.  So, before I proceed. No, this blog was not written by A.I. Viewing these developments with some level of skepticism, I thought I would test A.I. out myself.  I had worked as a UNIX architect for almost a decade before responding to my call into ordained ministry. I still enjoy using technology to accomplish tasks.  Recently, I attended a Board of Ordained Ministry meeting where a few of my colleagues posited that A.I. performed better on some of the commissioning questions than several of the candidates.  Could this be right?  So...
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A Bible, a smile, and a prayer of hope…

A Bible, a smile, and a prayer of hope guide the chaplains of Maua Methodist Hospital. Rev. Solomon and Rev. Joyce are amazing in their love and care for those they serve. Their daily challenge is complex. How do you share the love of God with the suffering? And how do you share the love of God with the staff ministering to these needs? How do you faithfully serve the administration, doctors, nurses, staff, and patients all concurrently?    I was blessed to walk with Rev. Solomon through his day on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.  Although we worked until the late afternoon, what I share below all occurred before 10 a.m.  The experience we shared blessed me abundantly with reminders from a Bible, a smile, and a prayer of hope. The morning began early. As we arrived at the chapel around 7:15 a.m., I noticed Rev. Solomon and Rev. Joyce rearranging and wiping down the pews. They do not simply proclaim; they serve. Like so many pastors I know in so many settings throughout the wo...
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Walking the walk...

It began with a testimony.   Speaking with a friend about a dozen other shared items we were working on for the church.   They took a moment to share about something special to them.   This friend had just finished a virtual half-marathon over the weekend.   Due to the pandemic, runners in Marathons run on their own and then report their times in.   As he shared this accomplishment there was joy in his voice not just of his own, but his son had also ran and completed the whole marathon.   It has been a twenty-two year tradition with this family of Marathon runners.   It would be an understatement to describe how impressed I was by the casual intentionality of the statement.  There was no judgement in my friend’s voice.   There was no hint of “look at what I’ve done.”   Only a testimony of what this annual discipline had brought in his life and family.   This morning, as I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.  I knew that ...
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