PK's CORNER

You Don't Ever Lose Your Mother

2011-03-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

My mom died last week. She was 92 and so ready to go. She just wore out. She was tired. The liturgy of Commendation of the Dying is so great when you pay attention to it. I have presided at more than 325 funerals in 40 years of ministry. Often I was able to get to the dying and use this liturgy with others so I knew it well. Yet, when people are grieving the words seem to pass them by. But I know the words well and know their comfort for it is in this liturgy that we release the dying to the arms of our Lord.

When it came time for my mom's release, I called upon my good friend and Pastor, Jim Gianantonio to pray this liturgy with us. I needed to be my mom's son on this occasion and not her Pastor. And the words did what they were supposed to do. They helped me release mom from this earth so she could "go and be with her people." It was then that I grieved.

Some folks talk about a person's death as a loss. I understand that. But you never really lose your mom. Her voice rings in my ears always. Her memory is very much alive in mine. Stories are shared by friends and family. You never ever lose your mom. I remember what she looked like when I was young. I remember what she looked like when I was in high school. I remember what she looked like in her old age. Those things are never lost. And, she is not lost, I know where she is and that causes me great celebration.

Those whom we love, we never lose. Do I wish she was still with us? Actually, no. While she wasn't suffering, she was miserable trapped in a body that didn't work very well. While she was often forgetful, her mind was still very sharp. Her sense of humor rocked on. She needed to be released. I cried because goodbyes aren't so easy. Yet, this goodbye isn't forever.

You never lose your mom.

I Almost Missed It

2010-12-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to go, work and all and I almost missed it. It was just a football game albeit an important championship game and I almost missed it. My sons who live in California asked if I was interested in going...they would fly out to see me and their aging grandmother, perhaps for the last time, who knows, but I wasn't sure if I was up to driving to Dallas, spending the money (I was going to have to spring for their tickets and they ain't cheap!). I almost missed it. I didn't have anything important to do in Church that Sunday, I had one more Sunday coming in vacation but I don't know...should I go? I almost missed it. Finally I thought, oh well, why not? We hadn't been together for a couple of years and I had in the past missed a lot with them.

It was a blast....from beginning to end...in the same hotel room, 3.5 hours at Buffalo Wings talking football, 7 hours early to the game at Cowboy stadium, bands, cheers, friendly taunting...I almost missed it. It wasn't about the game, it was about being with my sons who are approaching 40, and to think I thought about not going.

Life is like that for me at least. I have always let work (good work, but work) come first. When I did that, I missed my boys. I wonder sometimes what else have I missed out on in my 65 years? I have decided to not miss too much more for whatever reason...not in a selfish way, but in a soul satisfying way.

I remember preaching about 30 years ago and said "I think God will ask us some day when we are before His throne: "Why didn't you do what you wanted to do.?" Again, not in a selfish way, but in a way in which at the end of work (retirement) or life we don't have any regrets. If at the end of my time our Lord can say to me "Well done, good and faithful servant" then perhaps I can think about not postponing doing things waiting for a better time, more money, or a clear conscience. No, I don't think I want to miss any more. I will do my work and pay attention to the human gifts God has given me. I think I will quit for now and call my stepdaughter, Sarah. She is 19 almost 20--no more missing!

Left Behind Is Good

2010-11-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

We mainline churches have often let fundamentalists hijack our sacred scriptures with highly marketable interpretations of Revelation and other apocalyptic writings. Ever since the '70s we have heard of but haven't paid much attention to "rapture, left behind, premillenial or postmillenial" writings. Yet these books have sold millions of copies and have even found their way into the History channel.

The problem is while Revelation has been interpreted in so many ways, we mainliners interpret everything from the Gospels. So, when it comes to apocalyptic literature, we listen first to the Gospels where Jesus said "no one knows the time, not even the angels of heaven, no one but the Father." That pretty much settles it for us while others just love to speculate.

With regards to things like the rapture and those left behind, we listen to Jesus who said, "It will be like the days of Noah...." In the story of the flood, all were lost except Noah and his family....it seems to me that Noah and his family who was left behind, ended up in pretty good shape.

I am looking at two men in the field...one is taken and the other left; two women grinding corn, one is taken and one is left....and I understand that there are those in my life who die before I do...I am left behind...and Jesus says, stay awake you who are left behind and see me in each and every day. Don't miss my grace, don't miss my presence, don't miss my love you who are left.

Yes, I am thinking, left behind is a good thing!

2010-08-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Gospel Lesson appointed for August 22 is Luke 13:10-17. In it, Jesus heals a woman who has been infirmed for 18 years. He is criticized for healing on the Sabbath; it was considered work. Jesus lashes out at the leaders of the synagogue because of their rules and regulations that allow a man to pull his donkey from a pit on the Sabbath, but not allowing a healing of a "daughter of Abraham." Thus Jesus put the needs above the interpretations of one of the 10 commandments: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. From that one command over centuries of interpretation came numerous rules and regulations about keeping the Sabbath day.

It has been a year since the ELCA passed a resolution that allows gay and lesbian clergy in lifelong committed relationships to serve as Pastors. Previously, gay and lesbian clergy could serve but had to be celibate. There are Lutheran folk who believe that even this was a stretch, but the straw that broke their backs was allowing lifelong committed relationships among those clergy.

In putting these two paragraphs together, it struck me that what the ELCA did was to put the needs of "these" people, children of God, above the centuries of interpretations including the Lutheran Confessions. Golly, that's what Jesus did for this woman who was "bent over" for years and that is what the ELCA did for those otherwise very qualified folks who have been burdened for years with old labels from centuries ago. In the 4th century, St. Augustine said, science informs faith, faith does not inform science. Our science today has shown that folks from the Old Testament and the New Testament didn't quite have the gay/lesbian thing right. They thought that the natural order of things was being perverted by "these" people. They didn't know that for a small percentage of people, this was the natural order.

In any case, Jesus set the standard, that the needs of the children of God take precedence over the religious rules of interpretation which by-in-large are good, but sometimes aren't.

Weird Dreams

2010-06-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Last night (June 28) I had a very weird dream that I actually remembered. Our Church had a big retreat center of about 30 acres and was hosting a business group over a weekend. On Sunday evening I was going to have a communion service for whoever wanted to attend, but the lights went out and I couldn't find any bread and wine. The business group split up into 4 different religious groups. There was a group of Muslims (who wore green head coverings) and were praying in a corner. There were some Hindus burning incense and chanting. There was a group of Buddhists who went into another corner and meditated. A small group of Christians stayed with me while we looked for bread and wine.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside as a group of protesters all with masks on were protesting loudly the presence of these other religious groups. I went outside and confronted the leader who was quite a bit bigger than I, but strangely I felt no fear and told them to leave the property. I young adult girl came and stood beside me and folder her arms and stared at the leader who made some obscene remark to her, but she held her ground. He went on about how he had a right to free speech and we had to love him because Jesus said so. I told him that Jesus rebuked anyone out of line (like Peter)and that I was rebuking him and telling him and his group to leave. They didn't.

I went to the phone and dialed 911. A lady answered "Hello?" I asked if this was 911 and she said yes, just a moment...and then hollered out "Jim, it's for you" He came on the line and asked my emergency. I explained that I was the Pastor at St. Martin's Lutheran Church and we had trespassers that needed to be removed. He asked my address and I told him, 1123 Burney Rd, Rosenberg. In a few minutes 5 patrol cars came and a helicopter flew overhead. I met a deputy at the gate and asked if he was the sheriff...he said yes, I shook his hand and said "Welcome to St. Martin's." He took off his jacket and with two other deputies punched out the protesters and the last I remember I smiled a lot.

I then woke up and spent a good part of the night trying to figure this one out. Dreams are best interpreted by the dreamer. Why no sanctuary? Why Rosenberg when we are in Sugar Land? What was with the 911? I had just read that morning that Martin Luther wanted all rebellious peasants killed...hmmm. For now I just laugh but know there is more behind it. Do I feel a need to defend other faiths? I think so. Do I get angry at intolerance of others? Yes..and what about not finding the bread and wine? Am I still looking for deeper meaning in my own traditions? I think so.

How are your dreams coming along?

Heartache in the ELCA

2010-03-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago Sean's (my son) church left the ELCA and subsequently his Bishop asked that he choose between being put on leave without call or resigning from the ELCA. Sean sent him a letter of resignation which he copied me. I knew it was coming but it still broke my heart. It felt like a death in the family. Sean is now rostered in the LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission For Christ). This group has about 200 churches. I sent him a note saying that while I disagreed with his decision and the decision of his congregation, I was proud that he had the courage of his convictions.

He didn't leave the ministry. He didn't beat his wife. He wasn't jailed for murder. He just left the ELCA. Why? It is over the interpretation of scriptures and an understanding of the Lutheran Confessions scripted in the late 1500's.

When the ELCA meet last August, the assembly voted to accept the sexual statement of the Church and further voted to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian Pastors in healthy and committed relationships. At each point the assembly deliberated, and prayed many times. When the vote was taken, it passed by the 2/3s majority.

This was the final straw for some churches and Pastors. Their fundamental belief is that homosexuality is a sin. The folks in the Old Testament thought so (along with other "sins" that no longer concern us like eating shell fish, pork and the like). The precious few passages in the New Testament point that way as well even though Paul in Romans lumped those people with idolators. In each case, the people in those days didn't have an understanding of homosexuality in the sense that they had no category of people who were homosexual. They believed that all were heterosexual and some of those heterosexuals would engage in homosexuality for "something extra."

We have learned some things since those writings. We call that contexual understanding of the scriptures. In the context of ancient people and writings, homosexuality was sinful. In today's context we know something different. St. Augustine in the 4th century said "Science informs faith, faith does not inform science." (City of God). When the Lutheran Confessions came out in the 16th century, there was still no understanding of the issues before us.

Those on the other side of the issue today do not believe that modern context should inform or be on an equal footing as the scriptures. Really fine Christians are divided on this. I am sure we have in our congregation at St. Martin's people who might side with the more traditional view, but to their great credit they have not let it divide us and our mission for Christ which is far more urgent than figuring out what is going on in the bedrooms of our people!

Are there sinful gay and lesbian people? Of course. Do they sometimes engage in sinful sexual behavior? Of course. Are there sinful heterosexual people? Of course. Do they sometimes engage in sinful sexual behavior? Of course. Any behavior is sinful that takes the gifts of God and misuses them in selfish and dehumanizing ways. We do not expect that behavior out of Christian committed people straight or gay.

My second son, Joel serves in a Lutheran church which will also leave the ELCA. I am ready for that. What remains is that they are my sons; I love them and respect them but I don't agree with them! I suspect I am not the first parent to be in this position nor will I be the last. Thanks be to God that they are Christian men, raising Christian families. I follow Christ, they follow Christ, its just this understanding the Bible thing that gets in the way!

Peace

The New Cathedrals

2009-12-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, December 13 I took a day off from being a presiding pastor and went to the Houston Texas football game with my wife and friends. I get 4 Sundays off per year and I had only taken 2 up to this point so it was good! As we walked from our overpriced parking space way out in the boonies we passed hundreds and hundreds of people completely surrounding the stadium doing the tailgate thing which is really a misnomer. It isn't tailgating so much as it is huge party tents and hundred and hundreds of magnificent BBQ's going. This isn't an exaggeration. We walked around the old Astro Dome and there is was--huge and imposing--Reliant Stadium. On this Sunday morning more than 70,000 men, women, and children of all ages pouring in.

That is when it struck me. Our beautiful football, basketball and baseball stadiums perhaps have become our new cathedrals. Here is where people pay outrageous prices for tickets, parking, food and beverages. The BBQs must be the new places where animals are sacrificed and eaten!

The new huge TV that hangs in the new Dallas Cowboy stadium cost more than the new co-cathedral of the Catholic Church in Houston!

I enjoyed myself that Sunday. Our Texans won the game. I noticed that most of the people around us only glanced occasionally at the game and spent most of the time eating, drinking and talking with their friends.

Sometimes it causes me to wonder. Our worship services can't competed with the carefully choreographed (and very loud)pregame, halftime and post game activities. But it is in the Church were I hear the glorious Gospel of Christ and God's love for us all. Come to think of it, the first Christmas wasn't all that choreographed. Thousands didn't attend...just a few to usher in the king of kings and lord of lords.
Man builds all kinds of cathedrals to house what seems important to them. God builds the lives of all who worship Him. I'll stick with God.

I will still go to football games because I like football, but on most Sunday mornings I will be in worship except when on vacation when I usually visit other chruches.

Halloween and the Church

2009-10-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Halloween is a Church festival! In midieval Europe it was called ALL Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints Day. All Saints Day was a huge festival that has been all but forgotten in most Churches. It was an entire day set aside to honor those whose life on this earth had ended and had gone on to be with the Lord in heaven. To prepare the town for the festival, it was necessary to rid the town of all evil that would be lurking to spoil All Saints Day. People put on masks as gruesome as they could find and go through the town to scare evil away. Midieval Churches had gargoyles (ugly faces) carved in stone around their churches for the same purpose of scaring evil away.

Today, Halloween is still the night before All Saints, but has taken a life of its own. No longer is it a festival of the church, but a time of parties, costumes, masks, and candy. If All Saints day falls on any day but Sunday, most people pay no attention. Liturgical Churches like St. Martin's celebrate All Saints on the Sunday closest to November 1. This year, All Saints falls on a Sunday. Today people spend a lot of time protecting their children from the evil that might lurk on the streets of our cities by taking their children to supervised and safe parties or by walking with them in local neighborhoods.

It is appropriate to take time on All Saints Day, Sunday or not, to remember those who have lived their lives on this earth and for who " from all their labors, rest."

Discipleship

2009-09-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

The word discipleship has been around for a long time in the Church, in fact since the very beginning. Jesus gathered disciples, that is, those who would follow him all the way. Jesus taught them publicly and privately. Then after three years when they had witnessed all that Jesus had for them, he left them and told them to go into the world and make disciples, baptizing and teaching. We are so very used to these words.

What we are not used to is how to make these words a reality in today’s church. I was never trained in discipleship, that is, making disciples. I didn’t know the “technique.” I was trained to be a Pastor who would preach, teach and administer the sacraments. It was pretty much for those where were already there in the churches where I was to be called.

But Jesus didn’t do any of that as an end to itself. Now, more and more, churches outside of Lutheranism are talking about making true disciples. Notice the word “making.” There is no “born” disciple. Disciples are made. It is a long process, not a quick program. It is a process designed to mold a few folks into those who will in turn, mold a few more folks…so forth and so on. I understand that it take almost 5 years before a congregation begins to see any “result” in discipleship training. Congregations who have been doing this for several years actually have a full time staff person who does only discipleship.

As I reflect back on my years in ordained ministry, it would have been great to have had discipleship training at the core of the churches I have served. That is now for the next generation of Pastors in the Lutheran Church which still doesn’t teach how to make disciples. We have the words, but not the substance. I believe God will open the door for me and a few others to take the steps toward making disciples and in the mean time, I am standing in front of that door.

2009-09-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

In the weekend Wall Street Journal there was a two page "Man vs. God" article featuring on the atheist side, Richard Dawkins, a respected physicist and Karen Armstrong, a noted theologian. I have read Dawkins' book, The God Delusion. It is a book I would not recommend for those weak in faith. His arguments could well quench faith in folks. It is about Ms. Armstrong’s article that I write today. It was great. Here are some quotes: "But Darwin may have done religion--and God--a favor by revealing a flaw in modern Western faith. Despite our scientific and technological brilliance, our understanding of God is often remarkably undeveloped--even primitive."

In the 17th century Christians began to read scripture with a literalness that is without parallel in religious history. Most cultures believed that there were two recognized ways of arriving at truth. The Greeks called them mythos and logos. Both were essential and neither was superior to the other. They were not in conflict but complementary. Logos was reason. It was the pragmatic mode of thought that enabled us to function effectively in the world and had therefore, to correspond accurately to external reality. But it could not explain or help human grief or find ultimate meaning in life's struggle. For that people turned to mythos, stories that made no pretensions to historical accuracy but should rather be seen as an early form of psychology; if translated into ritual or ethical action, a good myth showed you how to cope with mortality, discover an inner source of strength, and endure pain and sorrow.

Religion was not supposed to provide explanations that lay within the competence of reason but to help us live creatively with realities for which there are no easy solutions and find an interior haven of peace; today, however, many have opted for unsustainable certainty instead. When authors like Dawkins attack relgious faith or a belief in God, it is the "unsustainable certainty" that he is attacking, and frankly, that is good. The good news for us is that the God he is attacking doesn't exist. When I talk to people who say they don't believe in God, I ask them to describe the God they don't believe in and discover that they have described a God that in fact doesn't exist. When I tell them that, they are relieved! But then they ask about the God that does exist and I have to use words like "the God beyond God." Now we get into religious philosophy which will leave all of us beaten but better.

Thus we have the stories of the Old and New Testament. When we take many of them literally, we make an idol out of certainty and thus violate the first commandment. What does it mean "Christ is Risen!"? Read the New Testament and all the disciples knew that Jesus had risen, but they all described the experience differently. We don't on Easter go and "prove" that Jesus rose from the dead, we proclaim his resurrection, and each worshiper lets the proclamation work it mysterious wonders in each of them.

Ms. Armstrong will be publishing her latest book "The Case for God" later this month. I will be buying a copy.

From Panic to Peace

2009-08-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America last Friday (August 21) approved the implementing resolutions to the human sexuality statement of the Church passed earlier in the week. Basically the resolutions stated that the Church would find ways to ordain gay and lesbian candidates in healthy committed relationships and who are otherwise qualified to be Pastors in this Church. Ordination can only happen when a congregation calls a candidate. Because of all the dissension in other denominations over this issue, there is concern that about a third of Lutherans in the ELCA are opposed to these actions. Some churches and members will leave. The resolutions call for respecting those on both sides of the issue who are bound by conscience.

At St. Martin's I have been surprised that this whole issue has been somewhat a yawner. There are a few folks that would not have voted to go in this direction, but don't plan to leave the church. They do recognize that there are gay and lesbian churches in our more metropolitan areas who would benefit from clergy of the same persuasion. Back in the early 70's we ordained our first Chinese Lutheran Pastor (not a sin, btw) and placed him in a congregation in northern Wisconsin. It didn't work out very well! Later they placed him in a Chinese community where he thrived and grew the church. I spent a lot of time teaching some of the viewpoints from the scriptures on homosexuality, how they viewed it in the early centuries and why they wrote as they did inspired by God. The classes were well attended and only one family left as a result believing that homosexuality is a sin and not a part of the creation of God. That is usually what it boils down to.

Of course the media did not say anything about the more spectacular resolutions from a Christian perspective--full communion with the United Methodist Church; the multi-millon dollar Aids and Malaria initiative, continuing emphasis on youth and evangelism....all lost because when we talk about sex, people listen.

The sun will rise tomorrow; the Church isn't going down the tubes; some folks will leave; and we who stay will continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. We will leave the judging to God. Our youth throughout the ELCA said "It's about time!" So, in the last 150 years, we abolished slavery; in the 60's got rid of segregation; in the 70's ordained women; and in 2009 knocked down the walls that keep ernest Christian gay and lesbian people in committed relationships from ordained ministry. The Church is lead by the Holy Spirit; there are wonderful Lutheran people on both sides of the issue. Both love the scriptures, yet seem them differently.

But, the sun will rise tomorrow, God willing

We are not here for ourselves

2009-07-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

We are knee deep in VBS with 65 enthusiastic children and a good host of adult and youth leaders. Children are crying because they don't want to go home at noon! One boy was going to miss today so he could celebrate his birthday with family and friends, but yesterday, asked his mom if he could cancel the birthday celebration and come to Bible School. Wow! Our crew of adults and youth have not only made this a fun time for the children but also a spiritual time. Monday's lesson was "Don't be afraid, God is with us." Do you remember Monday night with all the thunder and lightening? One mom reported that her youngest child reassured the family "Don't be afraid, God is with us!" How about that!!

Daily, visitors are talking with me about St. Martin's. Pray that those who do not have a church home will "come and see."

Last Sunday, we had 5 new families visit us at the 11:00am service. Many of you made them feel welcome and introduced them to me (remember, that is our protocol here!). Visit with your friends here, but keep a close and watchful eye for those coming through the front door who appear to be visitors. Introduce yourselves to them, then them to me. This is our hallmark here at St. Martin's....and it takes everyone to notice.

THIS SUNDAY WE BEGIN 2 MONTHS OF JUST ONE SERVICE @ 9:30 AM. We know in advance this will reduce the number of visitors we get, but it will be good to combine the two services for a short while for more energy and fellowship. But always remember, we are not here for ourselves. The church is the only organization that exists for those who are not yet here.

This is a great time to invite unchurched friends, or better yet, bring unchurched friends to hear the Gospel.

My family and I will begin our annual vacation after the service and Sunday School this coming Sunday. We will be away for two weeks. (San Francisco, the wine and gold country of California, then on to Holden Village in Washington for a week).

Two of our trained and certified preachers will bring the message while I am away.

Irvin Smith will preach on the 12th, and Chris O'Sullivan will preach on the 19th.

If you need emergency Pastoral care during this time, call Stephanie in the office and she will contact either Pastor Morrell (retired) or Pastor Albertson (Peace, Rosenberg) to assist you. For the week at Holden, I will be out of touch with the known world (no landlines, cell towers, TV or radio--which is the point!).

Continue to support generously our church not only in finances, but also in your time and talent. We have incurred unexpected expenses because of theft, graffiti, and having to spend on additional security measures...etc.

Continue to bring your Bibles to church; more and more of you are doing this, marking them up during the message, and taking notes. Lutherans hold the scriptures and the study of scriptures in highest esteem....we just haven't been in the practice of using them during worship....slowly that is changing.

Be sure you get your rest, I will get mine!

Blessings

Pastor Kelly