Welcome Summer!

Summer officially begins Memorial Day Weekend. Students and parents are set free from the demand of daily assignments and stressful schedules. Some people go to the lake and others take long anticipated vacations. This Summer we hope to inspire you to experience God in new ways and not let your faith take a vacation. We will identify practical ways to grow your faith and grow more devoted to God as you go to the beach, on a road trip, or grill in the backyard. This series is based loosely on Barbara Brown Taylor’s book An Altar in the World.

Disrupting the normal rat race routine can be the best thing for us. Many people say nature is the best place to experience God. Most of us move so quickly through our regular routines that our surroundings become no more than the blurred scenery we fly past on our way to somewhere else. We pay attention to the speedometer, the wristwatch, the cell phone, the list of things to do, but while on vacation it becomes easier to live in the moment and pay more attention to the present.

We’ll look to the story of Jacob this Sunday as he travelled far from home and was amazed to encounter God in a new way. Imagine setting out for your destination and upon reaching a certain place along the way you decide to stop for the night. You watch the sun set and turn-in for a good night's sleep. During the night, you have a dream. Not just any dream. God speaks directly to you about how to make a direct connection with him.  Jacob experienced God in an unexpected and supernatural way. Jacob was fleeing for his life, away from his father's house, burdened with the choices he made and ignorant of the fact that God was near him and wanted to save him. A ladder was Jacob's direct connection with God like Jesus Christ is our direct connection with God. Jacob awoke from the dream and consecrated that space as holy. He secured the profound meaning of his experience by making an altar and a vow.

Could a similar experience happen for you this Summer? The last place most people look for God is right under their feet. God is close. He is in the everyday activities, accidents and encounters of life. Ask yourself what significance a trip can make to your faith. Could your soul be affected by experiencing God outside your normal routine? Consider the crises that always develop as opportunities for God's grace to work. May you wake up with a renewed sense of God's presence in your life and commit fully to his loving provision of everything you and your family will ever need.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth. Genesis 28:20-22 NIV

Love's Redeeming Work

'Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? (Charles Wesley, 1739)

Early Days

Charles Wesley was the eighteenth child born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. He was born prematurely in December 1707 and appeared to be dead. He lay silent in the midst of the clamor of the Wesley household for weeks. Charles survived infancy and later joined his other siblings for daily classes with his mother, Susannah, who knew Greek, Latin, and French. He learned methodically along with the other Wesley children for six hours a day. Charles then spent 13 years at Westminster School, where the only language allowed in public was Latin. He added nine years at Oxford, where he received his master's degree.

Into Adult Years

While at Oxford University, Charles formed the Holy Club. John Wesley joined the Holy Club after his return to Oxford University in 1729. Holy Club members fasted until 3 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays, received Holy Communion once each week, studied and discussed the Greek New Testament and the Classics each evening in a member’s room, and visited (after 1730) prisoners and the sick. They each systematically brought their personal lives under strict review. The members of the Holy Club were called "methodists." In 1735 Charles and John, ordained clergy of the Church of England, set out as missionaries to the colony of Georgia.

Crisis of Faith

The missionary expedition to Georgia was a failure. Charles experienced a crisis of faith and was in deep need of conversion. After returning to England, Charles taught English to Moravian pastor Peter Böhler. Peter prompted Charles to consider the state of his soul more deeply. May 1738, Charles began reading Martin Luther's volume on Galatians while recovering from a serious illness. He wrote in his diary, "I labored, waited, and prayed to feel 'He who loved me, and gave himself for me.'" He shortly found himself convinced, and journaled, "I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoice in hope of loving Christ." Two days later he began writing a hymn celebrating his conversion.

Musical Theology

Charles could be considered one of the founders of contemporary Christian music. Hymn singing was very important to the evangelical revival in the eighteenth century. Hymns became a means of expressing joy and teaching scriptural truth. Charles Wesley's hymns often paraphrased scripture as well as the Anglican Prayer Book. Charles was said to have averaged 10 poetic lines a day for 50 years and was able to capture the universal human experience in singable lyrics. He wrote 8,989 hymns, 10 times the volume composed by Isaac Watts. Watts is considered the world's greatest hymn writer composing such hymns as "Joy to the World" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."

Charles Wesley created some of the most memorable and lasting hymns of the church: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "Can It Be," "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing," "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today," "Soldiers Of Christ, Arise," and "Rejoice! The Lord Is King!"

Happy Marriage and Legacy

Charles married Sarah Gwynne in 1749. The age gap between Charles and Sarah Wesley was nearly twenty years but they were both attracted to each other. The Wesleys were not known for their happy marriages. But from all accounts, Charles and Sarah were very happy. They had a number of children but only three survived to be adults. Following Charles' death, Sarah Wesley was cared for by William Wilberforce, the leader of the movement to abolish slave trade.

"Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight-the battle won. Death in vain forbids him rise, Christ has opened paradise, Aleluia!" (Charles Wesley, 1739)

Be inspired. Be awakened. Be transformed.

"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn." John Wesley

His travel was immense.

John Wesley travelled about five thousand miles a year. He travelled 290,000 miles in fifty-four years. This is a distance equal to circumnavigating the globe about twelve times. Most of this travel was on horseback. Think of riding around the globe on horseback twelve times!

His preaching was prolific.

John Wesley preached not less than fifteen sermons a week—frequently many more. These sermons were delivered mostly in the open air [outdoors], and under circumstances that tested the nerve of the most vigorous preacher. He preached for fifty-four years, fifteen sermons a week, making in all 42,400 sermons. Wesley delivered numerous exhortations and addresses on a wide variety of occasions. A minister in our present day may preach one hundred sermons a year. At this rate, to preach as many sermons as Wesley did, such a minister must live 424 years. Think of a minister preaching two sermons each weekday, and three each Sunday, for fifty-four years. Wesleyan theology and doctrine is distilled from John Wesley's voluminous sermons and personal writings.

Wesley's ministry was considered controversial. 

Wesley and the early Methodists were persecuted by other clergymen of his day and discriminated against by political leaders such as local magistrates. John Wesley was attacked during sermons and mobbed by the common people. No matter what his circumstance, his outreach continually connected with the poor, neglected and needy. Wesley and the early Methodists were particularly concerned about inviting people to experience God’s transforming grace and to grow in their knowledge and love of God through disciplined Christian living. They placed primary emphasis on Christian living. They met in small groups and put their faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as “practical divinity” has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.

Grace.

Many believe John Wesley’s finest contribution to theology was his understanding of grace. Grace is the unmerited favor and love of God which is available to all whether we realize it or not. In simpler terms, grace is the love that God has for all his creation. John Wesley believed that grace affects us in primarily three (3) different ways: prevenient grace, justifying grace and sanctifying grace. Our Christian faith is perfected daily by meeting the tests and challenges to our faith in a manner that is pleasing to God. The theological and doctrinal foundation for the most vibrant and exciting churches of our day can be traced to John Wesley's development of the theology of grace.

"The best of all..."

One of the most comforting truths for the Christian is the ever-present reality that God is with us. God’s presence is one of the greatest gifts he gives his people. He is personally near. I believe we can all agree that his presence isn't always felt. But, for those who learn to trust God in all circumstances, his divine presence with us is absolutely true. The best of all is that God is with us. These words are credited to John Wesley as his final words. The reality of God’s presence was what Wesley held onto in his final moments. God is best. He can give us no more that himself. He has promised to be with us-- even in the worst moments of life. God’s presence is no guarantee that worse will not come, but that God’s best for you will never leave.

We will celebrate our Wesleyan legacy Sunday with our Confirmation class, their leaders and families. Come, be inspired. Be awakened. Be transformed.

Believe it and behave it.

There are two things to do about the gospel. Believe it and behave it. Susanna Wesley.

Everyone has a backstory. The saga includes courageous stories of valor we never heard and pioneering contributors we never met. The ongoing narrative expands throughout history long before us and will continue to carry on into the future long after us. The image of the number line I used in grade school extending both ways into infinity comes to mind.

Wheatland has a backstory too. Some of us may be acquainted with the Wheatland story from the time we were a country church located at Route 59 & 95th Street. Chuck McPheeters helped reclaim our history by mentally capturing a nostalgic reminiscence and painstakingly applied them onto canvas. You may see these historic watercolor renditions in the hallway at the Naperville campus.

Methodism's backstory includes courageous stories of valor and pioneering people we've never met. The early Methodists' contribution laid a foundation for the Church that continues to flourish to this very day. Many independent mega churches of our time can trace their theological foundations to grace, which John Wesley amplified as the hallmark of theology. John Wesley fought publicly and behind the scenes against the politically distinguished and thoroughly entrenched academic theological heavy weights of his time. Wesley preached in open-air gatherings, created Sunday schools to educate the children of the Industrial Revolution and was a champion of God's love toward the lost. He and his brother Charles considered the world as their parish. They evangelized the 18th century from Urban England and rural Britain, to the deep forests of the New World in Georgia and Caribbean Islands like Antigua.

Susanna Wesley, John and Charles' mother, is often identified as the 'Mother of Methodism.' It is fitting we learn more about her on Mother's Day. Ten of Susanna's nineteen children lived to maturity. One scholar described the Wesley children as 'a cluster of bright, vehement, argumentative boys and girls, living by a clean and high code, and on the plainest fare; but drilled to soft tones, to pretty formal courtesies; with learning as an ideal, duty as an atmosphere and fear of God as law.* Susanna's best legacy was indeed her children, particularly John.

Our new series is titled Heart Strangely Warmed. These are John's own words: 'In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."**

Join us Sunday for worship. We can celebrate all Christ has accomplished as we baptize three new lives into the Christian Faith, commemorate Mother's Day and perhaps find our own hearts strangely warmed.

Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish for spiritual things then it is sin for you, however, innocent it may be in itself. Susanna Wesley

*historyswomen.com, Susanna Wesley Mother of Methodism. Anne Adams
**ccel.org, Christian Classics Ethereal Library

What do you value?

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 NIV

My paternal grandparents were very influential in my life. I remember holiday Sundays at noon meant the entire family gathered for a special meal with card playing afterwards. My paternal grandmother would select one of the grandchildren to sit on her lap so we could learn how to play the card game. My family called it 'cut-throat' cards which meant if you made a mistake you'd hear about it. Being invited to play with the parents was considered a rite of passage and an easy way for the adults to steal your money.

My maternal grandmother was clearly a matriarch and she raised three daughters with strong matriarchal qualities. Summers at the cottage meant fishing before dawn so we could clean as many crappie, bluegill and perch to fry to eat for breakfast with blueberry pancakes requiring real maple syrup. My mother's family were society people with a network that included business owners, farmers, politicians and teachers. All the grandchildren were athletes so Summer swim meets were a family staple. Cousins held state records for certain swimming events.

The Bible includes a gazillion references to family. I believe I can open the Bible to almost any page and somewhere there will be an important biblical principle about family. There are stories about regret, success, failure, forgiveness, exclusion and sacrifice. There are story lines of horrible fathers, meddling mothers and children that are just plain nasty. Sometimes grandparents save the day. Other times children save their parents and rescue entire bloodlines from disappearing.

Family doesn't have to be biological. God designed it to be so much more. Belonging to God's eternal family begins when we invite Jesus Christ into our heart. We initiate God's influence in our ordinary-everyday lives. There is no other way to gain access to this family or achieve its benefits. Our commitment to live according to God's way of life is tempted and tested. Maturity of faith and belief in God develop over time as he attends to the messiness and triumph of the ordinary-everyday life. Our relationships reveal the evidence, the ultimate credibility factor, where we reap the rewards of living out what God intends for his family. Each generation is responsible for living into God's purpose and vision for their lives.

Generations are extremely important in the bible. There are whole sections dedicated to identifying the blood lines of a particular family. In the old days, we used to call that section the "begat" section. God is interested in how we invest in the next generation. The biblical record includes tales about generations that followed God and were blessed by God's favor. It also includes accounts about generations who did what they thought was right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6) Within every generation there is a story, a claim of identity and the answer to the question, “Who are you?”

Wheatland values the next generation. We invest spiritual and financial capital into Adult, Young Adults, Youth and Children's ministries. Several generations participate in worship, leadership, administration and serving. We diligently commit to learning how to live according the values of God's kingdom. This means our Wheatland story will include the sometimes painful but often redeeming record of what it means to belong to the family of God. Join us Sunday as we celebrate the Children's Musical at our Oswego Campus at both services. You may join us for worship and holy communion at the Naperville campus at all services. Why not invite your whole family to come along with you?

You, O LORD, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19 NIV

What has your attention?

Am I compelled by Jesus' mission?

Jesus entrusted his followers with a God-sized purpose. He promised to be with them and to develop the plan together. According to Matthew's account in chapter 28, Jesus gave a clear and concise command. He said, "therefore, go and make disciples." (Matthew 28:19a NIV) Jesus identified defining actions such as baptism and teaching others to obey his commands that would distinguish his community from the secular culture. Christ followers are called to take part in this mission and commanded to discover what Jesus meant for every age when he gave his instructions.

Consider all the ways you have made an impact in the lives of others for the Kingdom of God. Think about all the people that are influenced by your willingness to put aside your fears and focus on what Jesus Christ has trusted you to accomplish. You are carrying out his mission every time you encourage someone to follow Christ's command. The exhilaration of witnessing others fulfill God's greater plan rallies the community and builds momentum to reach out toward the greater needs of the lost and broken world.

Am I captivated by GC2?

The heart of Jesus’ message and the church’s calling is summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. From the GC2, we derive the Core Values of Wheatland Salem Church: worship, relationships, personal transformation, missions, and future generations. Years ago, we may have heard the mantra "money follows vision.' I believe ministry is different today. There has to be more than a great idea to inspire people to get onboard with Jesus. "Money follows mission” is the paradigm for churches that are making an impact.* Evidence of a transformed life is crucial not only for individuals or the community but also to Jesus Christ. Jesus has skin in the game. He expects the same of his followers.

You don't have to be around long to figure out that reaching the world with the news of Jesus Christ is part of our DNA. Wheatland takes Jesus' command seriously by reaching people in far off places and in neighborhoods nearby. Wheatland is part of the on-going Christian transformation in countries such as Poland, Jordan, Haiti, Tanzania, India and China. Christ has also called us to make a difference in our local communities surrounding our campuses in Naperville and Oswego. One way you can respond to God's call to transform the world locally is to be part of Serve the Community Day May 7. Missions is our fourth Wheatland value. I am proud of what we have accomplished. I eagerly anticipate what we will accomplish in 2016-2017.

Sunday is Commitment Sunday. The pastors, staff, and leadership teams have been challenged to grow 10% in our personal giving. If you give $10/week--give $11. If you've not given financially to church, begin with small steps you can increase over time. Baby steps of faith make huge impacts for the Kingdom.

*So, what's the trend for United Methodist churches? Could we have greater impact?

Here is a link that will give you some statistics about the fastest growing UMCs. http://lenwilson.us/top-25-fastest-growing-large-umc-2016/

Here is a link that will give you some analysis of the data.https://tonymorganlive.com/2016/03/08/fast-growing-umc-churches-part-1/

Ready to be changed from the inside out?

We are created in God's image for relationships. In fact, we are designed to become more holy because we are in relationship with others. Now that may sound crazy to some but we are discovering together what it means to live in the Christ-centered, counter-cultural community. So, we strive to live our one and only life in God-honoring ways. We believe a life dedicated to Godly pursuits creates personal transformation, which is our next Wheatland value.

Truthfully, all of our relationships reflect who we are becoming.

The relationship trend over the past one hundred years is toward the pathway of least resistance. We want things to be simple and easy. But, relationships are hard work. They require us to address our selfishness. If all we want is someone to love, appreciate or respect us we are working from selfish motives. There will never be enough. But, we are to be working from a desire to become more Christ-like. We are to be personally transformed by the renewing of our mind. We are not to fade into the self-focused culture but stand out as examples of what it means to work through the challenges of sin in our lives and overcome the obstacles sin produces. Sin can never be satisfied. It can only be crucified.*

The Apostle Paul revealed this truth to the Christian community in Rome. Rome was the epicenter of self-fulfillment culture. Yet, God called Paul to preach Christ and Christ-like living to the Roman community. Yes, Jesus healed and comforted people but he also confronted and convicted them of their sin. Paul identified the way we reveal the sins we need to work on perfectly in Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. OUCH!

Think on this.

Where is the place of your dissatisfaction? What recently got your goat, ticked you off or made you blow your top? Paul would say, it isn't them. It's you. Because you do the same thing. Work on you before you try to work on someone else. Jesus said it only as a master can, You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5 NASB)

I believe marriage is designed to make us more Christ-like. Marriage can be the proving ground or battlefield of our personal transformation. Over time we become more committed to our covenant because we've received the benefits that come along with living a life of holiness. We reap the benefits of the presence of God in our lives like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. It's easy to become more devoted, connected and generous because we live each day in holiness's reward. Husbands and wives help each other work through our short-comings and what the bible calls sin. I believe this is the way God designed it to be.

Challenges bring out the best or worst in us.

Challenges reveal areas we need to work on. You can usually tell how long someone has been a good friend or married by listening to how they talk or complain about their friend or spouse. Ugly situations in life can make us ugly people. But, Christ-like people can make life more Christ-like. Don't ever underestimate the power of positive example. And when you have two friends or spouses that are seeking to grow in holiness, it really does become geometric. You inspire each other. You lift each other up.

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 The Message)

*Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More than to Make us Happy? Gary Thomas. 2015

Is anyone paying attention?

God has a plan for us. It's clearly outlined in the bible. Each book of the bible includes applicable story lines of how people made God-honoring choices about their relationships and what happened when they choose to indulge themselves, other people or other things. It's possible to have great relationships, set Kingdom-building goals and follow God where ever he leads when we understand and reap the benefits of a flourishing relationship with him. The next generation inherits God-centered behaviors, confirms a belief in Godly character and applies Godly living to their life choices no matter what the circumstance they may face. Trust, confidence, commitment, and assurance are all natural by-products.

To anyone paying attention, it's obvious that human relationships are bearing the brunt of the new moral code's repercussions. *If virtue becomes irrelevant and traditional morality is considered extreme, the next generation pays the price for the relational world without boundaries. Relationships are designed by God to help us define who we truly are and how we relate to others. Learning about how to have good faith relationships requires training, practice and follow through if we are to become God-honoring in them. Faithfulness is not easy in a society that continually encourages behaviors that are focused on self-fulfillment.

Relationships will lead to the painful death of the self-focused pursuits. Relationships require us to care about someone other than ourselves and can help release us from the self-inflicted prison of self-gratification. An unhealthy preoccupation with self has always been and continues to be a constant threat to humanity's flourishing. We were created in God's image. We were created for relationships. We have a heart, mind and soul. This is the arena of relationships. I believe Jesus' command shook-up the first-century crowd and continues to impact us as we hear it today. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. This is the greatest command. We are invited to imagine life beyond our limitations and to search the richness of a relationship with a God who created us. Who knows what He has in store for us?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
 so are my ways higher than your ways
 and my thoughts than your thoughts."  - Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

*(David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons. Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You're Irrelevant and Extreme. Baker Books,2016. Page 120)

What's trending now?

Interior design: black wrought iron, rounded furniture, old-world ornamentation, Mexican Midcentury Modernism and Scandinavian flat weaves. (WSJ)

Technology: FBI opens Shooter's IPhone-Drops Demand on Apple, Infosys Engineer was Among the Brussels' Victims (WSJ)

Parenting: Financial Instability is Major Factor in Success or Failure of Children-Violence and Teen Pregnancy Next on the List (Pew)

Smaller Share of Women over 65 Living Alone: the Trend is Older Adults Living with Family Members (Pew)

2016 Election: Most Americans Say Government Doesn't Do Enough to Help Middle Class (Pew)

Presidential Race: Evangelicals Least Likely to Pay Attention to the 2016 Campaign (Barna)

Christianity: Five Ways Christianity is Increasingly Viewed as Extremist (Barna)

There is an endless supply of information out there. You may find research on almost any topic. The trick is to find reputable sources. Numbers are numbers but how we interpret the numbers is the game. The trends I found above are from the Wall Street Journal, Pew Research and Barna Research. Researchers investigate topics, gather data, analyze the data and report trends. Trends help researchers discover change.

Discovering trends can help us understand reality. The story we make up in our head or the hunch we are willing to invest in rarely match reality. In order to make the best decisions possible, we believe it's important to know the trends generally in the American church and specifically to Wheatland Salem Church when we are preparing for an all-church generosity series.

Trending is the title of our April series. We will be learning from experts like the ones I used above and leaders like Ed Stetzer who is a researcher, prolific writer and national speaker. He is one voice among many that continues to educate, prepare and help leaders make decisions about anything that has to do with church. Mr. Stetzer writes for Christianity Today but also has his own website, blog, and social media outlets.  Check him out. It's illuminating what his research reveals.

Here's why I believe it's important to know all this information.

Jesus issued two important directives to his followers. The heart of Jesus’ message and the church’s calling is summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. From the GC2 we derive the Core Values of Wheatland Salem Church: relationships, personal transformation, mission, worship, future generations. This series will also serve as our “generosity series.” We believe “money follows mission.” By discovering how we are actually doing with Jesus' GC2 initiatives and telling stories of what we value at Wheatland, we believe can inspire generosity. We hope to educate the congregation on the types of givers, challenge people to consider prioritizing their giving and inform the congregations on the trends research reveals from American churches, United Methodist Churches and our own Wheatland Salem campuses.

Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:4-6 CEV

Courageous Followers Wanted

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. Luke 24:1 NIV

My heart aches for the people of Brussels, Belgium. I pray for the people who desperately searched hospitals and social media outlets hoping for any signs of life from beloved family and friends only to find out their person was included in casualty reports from the airport or subway. CNN reported witnesses to the carnage Tuesday in Brussels endured scenes of panic, smoke and horrific injuries. Travelers, commuters, European Union officials and baggage handlers alike were caught up in the deadly terrorist attacks. All of them going through their normal routines of everyday life.

Not long afterward, family, friends, colleagues, and strangers created a memorial to honor the lives of the victims. They brought small tokens of remembrance to identify with the loss. Belgians displayed a banner of solidarity that read "I am Brussels" in French and Flemish on the steps of the old stock exchange building in Brussels following bomb attacks. People from around the world will venture to the crime scenes searching for internal answers to deeply personal questions.

So I pray.

I pray for courageous followers of Jesus to move toward the carnage and make their way to the battlefield once again. I pray for God to blanket Brussels with forgiveness, love and mercy this Easter weekend. I pray the whole world is a witness to the glory of His resurrection. I pray for Europe and the world to have the tenacity to hope and believe God in the midst of their intense feelings of loss, grief and pain. I pray the great veil of darkness that shrouds Europe to be ripped to shreds and for a time of unprecedented revelation of God's magnificent beauty to be restored once again. I pray for people to accept what God has already done and prepare themselves for what He can do in their personal lives today. I pray for a holy confidence to rise along with the sun on Easter morning and a blessed assurance of faith in Christ to blaze in the hearts and minds of anyone who dares to believe God could do something miraculous in the dark embrace of fear, pain, suffering and death.  

I believe we can be the Easter People Christ called us to be and like those two men in dazzling clothes ask, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!" Happy Easter! (Luke 24:5b-6a NIV)

Is your heart prepared?

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38 NIV

Passover boiled up strong religious and political expectations among the people yearning for a Messiah. Thousands of pilgrims lined the streets crowding the close confines of the walled cobblestone streets of Jerusalem. There was always occasional violence even in the midst of security detail from the Temple police, Herod Archelaus' palace or from the Roman Antonia Fortress. Tempers ran high in a large city filled to capacity with outsiders. Jewish historian, Josephus, chronicled a brutal episode of Jerusalem's history by documenting the clash between Herod Archelaus' armed guard and a mob of unruly pilgrims. 3,000 pilgrims died in the conflict. You may read more about this history in Wars.*

Jesus' appearance in Jerusalem had serious religious and political overtones which set many on edge. It must have been like expectantly listening and waiting for the match to strike in a drought season. A holy fire was about to be set. The implications of which no one could invent or imagine. I've always sympathized with the Roman soldier whose sole responsibility was to watch and report any indication of trouble from the tower of the Antonia Fortress, which was securely fashioned to the eastern end of the Great Wall on the Temple Mount. I imagine his adrenaline rush or his heart pounding as he saw the boisterous crowd emerge over the East hill. They shouted loudly. They waved Jericho palm branches in the air. A central figure rode on a donkey. There are churches that commemorate that entry into Jerusalem to this very day.

Holy week is saturated in violence from beginning to end but we rarely talk about it. Jesus warned the disciples about his gruesome death three times in Luke's gospel. They did not understand. As Jesus ended his journey to Jerusalem, he narrated parables about hating an appointed king and killing a vineyard owner's son much to the crowd's delight and the authorities' horror. Jesus wept as he approached Jerusalem and predicted the destruction of the Temple. "They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." Luke 19:44b NIV

The Journey Lenten Devotional will not have commentary for the Holy Week. I designed it that way. I hope you read the scripture for yourself and allowed the Holy Spirit to captivate your imagination and heart. I pray God opens your mind to his truth and Jesus becomes more to you than an historical figure. The Messiah changed the world and has great plans to continue changing the world until he arrives again for his final victory. May you deepen your resolve to become more committed to God's mission and values no matter what the cost.

Prepare our hearts, O God, to accept your Word. Silence in us any voice but your own, that, hearing, we may also obey your will; though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. **

*Josephus, Wars, 2.10-13

**The HarperCollins Book of Prayers: A Treasury of Prayers through the Ages. Edison, N.J.: Castle Books, 1997.

Sometimes, I just don't get it.

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. Pooh? he whispered.
Yes, Piglet?
Nothing, said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. I just wanted to be sure of you. ~ A.A. Milne

I don't understand everything. Sometimes I just don't get it. It often takes me years to accept the meaning or purpose of an experience or event. The story I make up in my head is usually clouded by my own irrational judgment, lack of wisdom or blinding ignorance.  

My irrational judgment is often ruled by chief emotions like shame or guilt. As a leader, I don't want to m­­ake mistakes. So everything I do becomes a performance indicator-a measurement of my leadership abilities or disabilities. Being a woman leader can often be a heavy weight to carry. If I make a mistake as a woman leader, somehow I feel like I am letting down women all over the world. Remember, I said, irrational judgment.

A true scholar somewhere once said, "Wisdom comes with experience." Frankly, I don't want some experiences. As a matter of fact, I will often tell others to keep the receipt from their experiences because wisdom can be expensive. It just makes me feel better to make up a story that I have a money-back guarantee. If I am not totally satisfied, I can return my experience and receive a full refund. A receipt for my wisdom can be the only thing I walk away with but at least I have a date and time of purchase.

I take risks. I expand my horizons. But, by the very nature of exploration, I venture into unchartered territory. I may attempt something for the first time, make mistakes and then beat myself up for not knowing better. Blinding ignorance reveals my vulnerability. I can land flat on my face which is a dangerous place to be. My vision is limited to the boundaries of my colossal failure. I can't take in the big picture. Pushing up from a major defeat takes courage, strength and fortitude. These qualities all sound like wonderful attributes for an investment company or academic institution. And maybe that's the point. That's life-an investment and a university.

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. A noisy crowd was going by. He asked what was happening. Someone told him Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. The blind man immediately called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Although the disciples tried to hush him up, the blind man shouted out louder. Jesus stopped. Jesus asked that the blind man be brought to him. Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Lord, I want to see. Lord, give me your eyes to see.

Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Luke 18:42 NIV

The Border

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. Luke 17:11 NIV

Identifying what village, town or city where Jesus did something noteworthy enough to be recorded in scripture has become kind of a game for me. Identifying the location where Jesus travelled can be like a game of Concentration or Word Search. Sometimes scripture very clearly states where Jesus publicly pops up and other times I scour the scripture for his location. The passage from Luke 17 takes place along the border. The phrase 'along the border' captured my attention.

Bill and I have travelled to Israel-Palestine many times. One trip we were given permission to enter the Temple Mount. There are only certain people that can experience both the option to pray at the Western 'Wailing' Wall and walk the sacred ground of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. Some people say that piece of real estate is the most volatile in the world and with good reason. There is a wooden covered bridge that connects the entrance to the Temple Mount with the two-thousand year old city street below. Security checkpoints greet anyone attempting to enter these areas.

About halfway up the walking bridge I stopped to watch about a dozen Orthodox Jewish men covered in the black and white prayer shawls dance and celebrate during a Bar Mitzvah. A twelve year old boy read aloud his Torah passage in the center of the swirling chaos of black and white stripes. There was hundreds of other praying Orthodox men covered in black and white prayer shawls packed into that sacred space. I felt their exuberance as I observed like a voyeur from within the covered bridge. I knew I had experienced something very special. I witnessed firsthand something a boy's own mother would only hear about in bits and pieces as her son recalled his story to interested listeners.

 A thought entered my mind as I turned away from the raucous scene to walk a little further toward the threshold of the Temple Mount. My belief in Jesus and my citizenship as an American allowed me the privilege to travel between these two holy places. Jews claim the Western Wall as the most sacred holy place and Muslims claim the Temple mount as their third most holy site. Jews and Muslims are forbidden to enter the other's sacred space. But, I was allowed to travel to both places. I travelled along the border. 

Imagine all the intricate borders Jesus travels. Jesus is Son of Man and Son of God. Jesus navigates the borders of divinity and humanity as God Incarnate. He is most holy yet a friend of sinners. Jesus is sinless and pure the Passover Lamb whose blood takes away the sins of the world. Jesus lived among the poor yet resides as a King in a Kingdom where borders belong only to the human heart. I pray you continue to identify the border regions Jesus travelled. Perhaps the most important border is the one we have yet to cross. Jesus died yet he overcame death so that we might live.   

The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst. Luke 17:21-22 NIV

You almost persuade me to become a Christian.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:28 NKJV

The Almost Christian is one of the most impactful sermons I've ever analyzed. John Wesley delivered deep soulful prose to listening ears at St. Mary's, Oxford, before the University, on July 25, 1741. Mr. Wesley delivered his message with deliberate, elegant and convicting style similar to that of Jesus before the Pharisees. This message still disturbs me. Mr. Wesley's elegant poetry challenged me to explore my own motivation for being a follower of Christ.

Evidently, there were many 18th century Christians who practiced a solid outward religion. One may even define it as living a life of good solid morality. For example, self-professed religious people practiced regular prayer times with family, actively participated in church and abstained from behaviors unbecoming to a Christian. But, for Wesley, there needed to be one more thing in order to distinguish someone from being almost a Christian to being a Christian altogether and that was, sincerity of heart.

Wesley unabashedly drilled deeply into the bedrock of belief. He asserted, 'Good men avoid sin from the love of virtue; Wicked men avoid sin from a fear of punishment.'* This statement alone is like electricity to my bones. For years, the pulpits of well meaning churches preached the message of 'Turn or Burn.' Wesley investigated the motivation behind our desire to avoid eternal damnation and hellfire. In one poetic sentence that continues to convict me, I am challenged to contemplate whether I am good or if am I wicked. Do I preach, pastor and lead from a heart full of the love of Christ or from the fear of punishment? Which of these is God-honoring?

Sunday we continue the exploration of Luke's Travel Narrative. Jesus went through towns and villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone from the religious crowd inquired of Jesus if only a few will be saved. Jesus responds deliberately. Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. Salvation is exclusive. It requires a crucial conversation. So, a religious person may ask if the saved will be few. Jesus responds with the question: will the saved be you?

May we all thus experience what it is to be, not almost only; but altogether Christians; being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus; knowing we have peace with God through Jesus Christ; rejoicing in hope of the glory of God; and having the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost given unto us! The Almost Christian, John Wesley 

*Read the entire transcript here.

Are you ready for the journey?

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 NIV

You are invited to accompany Jesus as he makes his way toward Jerusalem this Lenten Season. Luke’s gospel includes a section called the Travel Narrative. However, there is neither map nor itinerary. Join the entourage as Jesus meanders throughout the towns and villages of Galilee region, turns up in Jericho and eventually arrives in Jerusalem. Scripture notes geographic locations but they may or may not be the focus of Jesus’ message.

Some scholars suggest Jesus' journey to Jerusalem might be an internal one. As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51 NIV) What does 'resolutely' mean? Allow your imagination to help you be drawn into these passages more as a pilgrim journeying along the way that goes beyond Jerusalem and includes the ever-expanding borders of the Kingdom of God. Travel with Jesus as he experiences unique cultural challenges and colorful social situations. Be with Jesus as he triumphs over political tests and boldly threatens the longstanding relational authority between the Temple and humanity.

There is something uneasy about Jesus’ call. Jesus doesn’t explain fully what ‘follow me’ means or even how following him will work. His call demands imitation and it demands you start today. The journey can be a combination of terror and joy for pilgrims. Jesus’ story follows an arch that can both resonate with and confound the hearts of those who participate with it. The story contains complexities of life, death and resurrection. There is power but also weakness. There is leadership and surrender. Could six weeks really transform your life? Come and see.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:45-48 NIV

Are you loving your enemy?

"Here you are sitting in my house. I am having a hard time believing you are here because everything I've ever been told about you is whirling around in my head. I was told you and your country are evil. You and your country are responsible for the violence, turmoil and destruction of my country. I was taught to hate you and America. Now you are sitting in my house drinking tea." (Mohammed, Syrian refugee currently living in Jordan)

Six of us sat together in silence for a few moments and stared at the steam rise from the hot tea in our glasses. I felt unusually calm. No racing heartbeat. No rapid searching for words of reassurance or encouragement. I listened as the Arabic tones modulated from high to low like an ancient melody being sung. The three Syrians chatted softly with each other as we three Americans sat in peaceful silence. They were refugees. We were there to listen to their story and offer them some basic items like blankets, tea, sugar, lentils, rice and diapers for their children.

There is a great temptation to remain cleverly disguised as a Christ follower while merely loving the people who love us in return. The action that sets a follower of Jesus apart is the love of their enemy. Jesus leaves no room for debate. He clearly sets out the strategy of how and why to love our enemy. Matthew's gospel incorporates Jesus' details in chapters 5-7.  

Enemy-love is not self-evident. We have to be carefully trained. Every culture throughout time has its own methods of identifying, resisting and destroying enemies. We can generalize about the process but eliminating the enemy is universal. Enemy-love confronts our human nature. It challenges us to seek other ways of being with each other. When it comes to enemy-love, Jesus confronts more than our human nature. He confronts our sin nature. It is the purple elephant in the middle of every relationship and situation.

Enemy-love begins with examining our own heart for motivations that are to be God-honoring and for purposes greater than our own. Enemy-love crushes stereotypes, erases past hurts and employs all of us to do the work of eradicating what was believed to be irreparable damage. We get a glimmer of what Jesus was able to accomplish every time we fight the good fight we are called to fight. Enemy-love is the reward in itself. It is for those who may feel the awkwardness of learning something new or the terror of confronting evil in whatever form it presents itself.

Eugene Peterson's translation, The Message, describes it like this:

I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. Matthew 5:44 

Are you using your 'Super Powers'?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 NIV

Jesus has some very clear directives when it comes to loving people. Jesus actually says there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for their friends in chapter fifteen of John's gospel. It's tempting to think, “I love my friends but I am not ready to die for them. That sounds like the kind of thing a super hero might do, but not me." Fair enough. But consider this: Can you lay down your life or can you set your life aside, for a few minutes? This might be all it takes to make a difference in someone else's life. You may not be called to die but Followers of Jesus understand the call to intercede. We are all called to do something. None of us are exempt.

To intercede means to intervene. 

For most of us in the church, we’ve heard about Intercessory Prayer. It can bring up strange ideas for some people. It's easy to think it takes a holy roller or spiritual super hero to get involved with such a super-charged issue. We can redeem the exercise of Intercessory prayer by simply defining it in a way that makes sense to an everyday believer. For example, Intercessory Prayer invites you to focus on a child living anywhere in the world. Place yourself in the position of blessing them. Focus on their daily needs, spouse, favor, career path, friends and life in general. Pray for their protection from evil. Do this exercise daily for a week or commit to it for longer. Write down anything that comes to your mind as you pray and keep a record of answered prayers.

Intercession does not require power. It simply requires a refusal to turn your back on need.

It's pretty simple. When it's your turn to act--ACT! Jesus said, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." (Luke 10:19 NIV) With God's help, do something in whatever way you possibly can. Don’t overestimate what you can achieve but don’t hide behind tired excuses either. Responding to a need can be challenging and awkward at first. It can even make you feel shaky inside. Emotions and adrenalin are gifts from God but we cannot allow our emotions to run our lives in such a way that keeps us hidden in a prison of fear. For the sake of the everyday hero that lives inside you, it is best if you assume that God will not intercede without you. There is no one about to come down out of the sky, cape fluttering, and relieve you of what you are called to do. It is your responsibility to do what must be done.

Now the God of peace, who brought back from the dead that great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of the everlasting agreement, equip you thoroughly for the doing of his will! May he effect in you everything that pleases him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Hebrews 13:21 Phillips            

Are you ready?

“Wholeness and purpose do not happen in a vacuum— to be fully healed is to be reintegrated into community."  Aric Clark

Don was the first District Superintendent I worked with when I began the United Methodist ordination process in 1994 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a seasoned, well-formed Christ follower and avid basketball fan. March madness was a holy time for him. He was unabashedly enthusiastic about Jesus and basketball. As a retired pastor, Don was appointed to become the temporary senior pastor of the parish I served as Director of Christian Education and Youth. He mentored me into the candidacy process and I learned more from him about parish ministry than I could ever include in this blog.

"I'm leaving for Germany!" He said one morning with his usual buoyancy. I figured he and his wife were finally taking their dream vacation on a Viking Cruise. But, as I listened, he shared a great story of courage and reconciliation. Don grew up in West Texas, became a pilot and served our country during World War II. He and a bunch of his friends all flew air raids over Germany. He recalled the exhilaration and terror he felt as his squadron ran bombing raids in the midst of serious dogfights. His countenance fell as he named several of his West Texas buddies that didn't make it home.

Don and several of his pilot-friends planned to travel to Germany to walk the land where their bombs landed decades earlier. His somber mood intensified as he spoke about the seriousness of his decision. It was different seeing the world from the pilot's seat. He could remain physically, spiritually and emotionally detached from what happened during the war or he could do the hard work of connecting with his past actions. He chose to do the hard work.

Our relationship with Jesus doesn’t change our outer circumstances. We still have our past. Our story includes wounds and scars. Jesus cannot miraculously erase parts of our story. But, he can change us. He calls us into a new creative way of being, seeing, acting, speaking, thinking. The resurrected Jesus still had wounds. They didn't go away but the wounds took on new meaning. When we take responsibility to stand and rise into the resurrection life, we can discover we have somehow miraculously transformed. Sometimes incredulously words fail us and we are engulfed by an overwhelming sense of greater purpose. Healing can take place.

Healing doesn’t necessarily make life easy or mean we no longer have to deal with the circumstances of life. Healing can redefine our circumstances. Maybe the circumstances and situations become more manageable as we engage them from a place of grace and forgiveness. We are no longer imprisoned but set free. What better news could there possibly be?

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. John 5:8-9 NIV  

What leaves you breathless, vulnerable and longing for more?

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15NIV

It's very early in the morning and I am in my home office. The wind is howling outdoors whipping up the 3 inches of light snow we received yesterday. The temp is somewhere below zero. So it feels like way below zero if you're outside.                                                                           

Bill and I talk and debrief about our trip to Jordan constantly. We chitchat about moments shared or lost depending on how conversations developed or didn't. Brilliant images of people and places flash in my mind as we unpack the suitcases of our souls. It can feel like I am watching old-fashioned reel to reel movies edited together to make a romantic adventure movie. This practice helps keep the experience close to me. It constantly places me within a web of complex memories I desperately hold onto for fear of them draining into the Sea of Forgetfulness.

Everything in the Middle East is intense for me. The weather, language, food and music are intermingled resembling an original exclusive script written by ancient authors that defy the limitations of time and space. The desert is the great keeper of secrets. Espionage, agreements, love, war, blood and money drift atop the sand or rock revealed to those who are willing to witness. The heart of the Middle Eastern people can be discovered in their incessant commitment to their code. My experiences always leave a God-sized stamp on the passport of my heart. 

Maybe there is a place like this for you. It's the place where the environment is rich beyond measure perhaps not in quantitative elements but more in the elegant qualities of soul. This is a place where people share a commitment to honesty and others are bold about exposing their inadequacies and struggles. This is a place where life and death are close. The intense passion can leave you breathless, vulnerable and longing for more.

For those who follow the Way, the Truth and the Life, nothing less will do. But, strangely, I think we settle for engaging an emotive placebo that dangerously tempts us to believe how we feel is somehow connected to what we believe about God.  Maybe that's what we call spirituality or Christianity. I don't believe for one second Jesus came to bring us a lackluster life.  Jesus said, "A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest." John 10:10CEV

Are you living the life you want?

Does what you believe about Jesus intensify your passion, leave you breathless, vulnerable and longing for more?

Do the demons that addict, enslave and oppress scare you or bring you alive as you reach for your sword and put on your armor?

They say confession is good for the soul. Maybe life is meant to be more than an old-fashioned, reel to reel film. Maybe life is meant be more real than you ever possibly dreamed or imagined.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 NIV

Are you awake?

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14 NIV

Have you ever wondered if people who say, "I will pray for you," really do pray for you? I have to admit, secretly I've wondered. Sometimes people say those words with conviction and I know they will spend time standing in the gap for me because they've experienced first-hand the awesome results of answered prayer. I think others may misuse that phrase because they think it's the right thing or even the polite thing to say. I've even wondered if people say they pray and do pray as an excuse not to do something more. Like prayer can be their shield against truly getting involved.

We begin a new series this Sunday called Activate. It's really about being sure your faith is active not passive. The series is based on a book, Never Pray Again: Lift your Head, Unfold your Hands, and Get to Work. I do not ascribe to the politics of the book but I endorse the active Christ-like behaviors the authors suggest as a remedy for flat, dispassionate, exhausted Christianity.  

The authors are deeply committed to become the type of witnesses Jesus would be proud of and endorse a type of Christianity that makes an impact for the Kingdom of God. I found an interesting blog while I was reading through the gozillion emails I missed over the Christmas weekend. The title captured my attention, The Vicar of Baghdad Witnesses Christ Amid Danger. You may read it here.

Awaken is the title for the first Sunday message of 2016. Imagine what an active faith in Christ can do and what stories you can tell as you cross the ultimate finish line. I pray the devil gets nervous just knowing you're awake. There is much to do and I believe God is looking for people to carry through with His directives. I've included a snipet from the book:

            “The domesticated sheep are those who have been changed over time to become passive, but we are invited by Jesus himself to do greater things than he did. We have been lulled into a specifically Christian form of passivism, bending our knees and folding our hands and waiting for someone else to do what needs to be done. The slumber of Church has not only kept us from being of use to others, it has kept us from being truly awake to God.”

Howard Thurman said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”