Being Known By Your Voice

For fun in the local high school basketball season, I announce the home games. I have the pleasure of introducing the starting line-ups, naming the coaches and officials, and doing a play-by-play throughout the game of who is in, who scored, who fouled, etc . . . and I have a blast doing this. The members of the teams (and their parents) like hearing their names announced in the gymnasium and it provides a certain 'home court' advantage to our players whose 'made shots' are given a little extra emphasis.

The other evening, following a game with a Conference rival, one of the fans from that rival school (who was a high school classmate of mine) came over to the scorer's table and said, "Man, I didn't realize that was you until the last minute or so of the game! I saw you in the gym earlier, but didn't realize where you were until I happened to glance over at the table just before the end of the game. You do a great job! Thanks for giving all the kids a boost! That was fun!"

It was nice to receive a pat-on-the-back from an old friend and classmate, and I am glad that they appreciated the effort which was made for both of the teams but, what caught my attention and made me stop and think were his words, "I didn't realize that was you until the last minute or so of the game!"

Now, I will grant you it has been a while since last the two of us had spoken and, really, he had no reason to even be thinking that the announcer might have been me, yet, that he didn't know it was me by the sound of my voice reminded me that this is a relationship I with which I need to spend some time. When friends don't remember the sound of your voice, you haven't been in conversation with them lately.

My congregation knows the sound of my voice. My Confirmation Class knows the sound of my voice. My wife knows the sound of my voice. My children and granddaughter know the sound of my voice. Many in this small community know the sound of my voice. Most of the kids on the teams here in town know the sound of my voice . . . but an old friend did not know the sound of my voice, and that made me think.

In the 10th Chapter of John, Jesus says, "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." (New Revised Standard Version. Italics added for emphasis)

Of all the voices sounding in our busy world, of all the politicians, church leaders, announcers, television and radio personalities, musicians, vocalists, and the like, how are we to specifically recognize the voice of the Shepherd and follow him exclusively, running from strangers who would do us harm? I suspect, we are most likely to recognize the voice of the Shepherd . . . if we have been listening to it, for it, all the while.

My old friend didn't know my voice precisely because he hadn't heard it in a long time. I'm not sure if that is my fault or his . . . or if such things just happen, but the fact remains, he didn't know my voice and had no reason to come to it had I called him. I pray, though, that more than knowing my voice, folks in the gymnasium, in the community, in the church, and in my home, will hear in my voice the voice of the One who is the Shepherd . . . and will recognize the Shepherd because they are in regular conversation with Him every day. I know I am not the Shepherd, but I pray that in the faithfulness, inclusion, love, and caring present in my voice, others will hear the voice of the Shepherd and heed His call to follow Him on the way. People might hear my voice and not recognize that it is Pastor Don, but I pray when they hear my voice, the words and actions which become the tonality of my being allow their ears to hear the Shepherd calling them by name - and that they follow Him because He is the friend with Whom they meet and share the journey every day.

I am humbled and excited be the announcer for basketball games here in our fair and lovely town, celebrating the accomplishments of young men and women who are growing into what God is birthing them to be. Yet, more than hearing my voice over the sound system, I pray that these same young women and men (and all of the parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and fans at large) hear the voice of the Shepherd calling their name, calling them into faith, calling them into service, calling them into life . . . and I pray that they know His voice because they are walking and talking with Him every day.

I am going to spend some time with an old Friend today, to be sure I know His voice in all I hear every day. I pray you do, too. How embarrassing will it be for any of us to reach the end of the game and not know the One whose Voice leads us home.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

Jesus Died to Take Away Your Sins, Not Your Mind

Saint Louis University's Men's Basketball Coach, Rick Majerus, made a mistake (at least a mistake for the vocational position he currently occupies . . .), he spoke his mind. He expressed his own studied opinion. He articulated a personal belief . . . and Archbishop Raymond Burke dissented.

Dissenting with another person's opinion, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, it is upon such freedoms that our nation is built. But when dissent with another's opinion is expressed with the implied expectation that the other be 'corrected' or 'brought into the party line' for what they personally choose to believe, well, that is quite another story. Don't tell that to Archbishop Burke, though, he is still waiting to see what Saint Louis University is going to do to bring Majerus into something of a 'true and right spirit' (which is implied to be the full line of Catholic beliefs as interpreted by Burke).

At a gathering for Hillary Clinton, Majerus is quoted as being in support of Clinton and a supporter for 'choice' and stem-cell research (according to this morning's St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Burke has taken exception with Majerus' stands because they do not reflect the spirit or fullness of Catholic teaching and should not be verbalized by a person with standing at a Catholic institution like Saint Louis University.

What I believe about what Majerus said is of little consequence, but what Burke believes of what Majerus said is monumental: If you don't buy into all of the Catholic law (as Burke interprets it) then you obviously aren't Catholic and should not be involved in Catholic education.

Have I missed something here? Is there a new reality television show in town by the name of, "How Parochial Can We Be?" Isn't Saint Louis University self-described as an institution of 'higher education'? Is not Saint Louis University an environment which is multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and international in scope and teachings? Is Burke now prescribing the scope and offerings of this wonderful setting for advanced learnings? Are the faculty members of Saint Louis University now having to undergo vocational and personal litmus tests for religious acceptability before being allowed to exercise their God-given gifts?

I fully understand that Saint Louis University is a Catholic institution and I have absolutely no problem with that identity. What I see at stake here, though, is the very freedom of expression that our Constitution guarantees being subjugated by Church Law. The Christ of our faith died that in God's grace our sins would be forgiven. Christ is risen from the dead that our lives need not be lived in fear of those who would oppress the body, but cannot kill the soul. In all due respect, Archbishop Burke may well be within the bounds of his office to voice an objection, but his expectation of disciplinary action regarding the voicing of personal beliefs goes beyond the pale of both his office and the basic tenents of Christian faith as modeled by Jesus Christ Himself.

If Saint Louis University, in any way, silences the voice of Majerus, or any of its faculty, from expressing personal belief and studied experience in whatever personal setting they choose, then the death knell of all that is holy in the Church is being sounded at the very expense of personal human dignity and liberty as articulated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Saint Louis University administrators, faculty, staff, and students must give this latest expression of repression their fullest attention, for once the voice is silenced, once the mind is harnessed, once the spirit is broken, then all which is produced are pack animals of the party line, and that is not the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any tradition.

Knowing How To Drive On Snow and Ice

We received barely a covering of sleet and snow last night and, after arriving at work, Nancy called to let me know that the roads were fine, though there were a few cars off of the road . . . and one car had rolled over. She saw no-one around them, so the accidents must have happened much earlier, but the cars remained as a stark reminder to those who came after: Be Careful! Later in the day, while in a doctor's office, the nurse who was doing my preliminary work made the comment, "People in Southern Illinois just don't know how to drive in the sleet and snow. They are always in such a hurry and, to make it worse, insist on making cell phone calls while driving . . . no matter what the weather." Her words struck a cord with what Nancy had relayed to me earlier, but I had to wonder, 'Is it that we don't know how to drive in varying weather conditions? Or is it that we expect everyone else, including the weather, to accommodate for us and whatever it is we are doing while we are driving, no matter what the conditions?' Hmmmm.

Okay, God, what is it that You are trying to say here? Yes, I think I have a pretty good handle on how to be faithful. I believe that, at least most of the time, I am attentive to what You are calling me to do and, try always to go where You would have me to go, when You want me there. But, do I give the changing conditions of the surrounding environment the attention I should, especially when it would save my life? Or is my expectation that everyone else should make accommodations for me, that oncoming traffic in a snow storm should give right-of-way to my vehicle no-matter-what, so that I can go as fast as I want, whenever I want, wherever I want? Have we gotten so engrossed in the immediate gratification culture that it has now spilled over into our attitudes regarding driving? 'The road should be dry for my tires.' 'The curve should straighten out for my speed.' 'The ice shouldn't form anywhere I might be driving.' 'The snow should pile up in the ditches and let the roads clear for me.' Hmmmmmmm.

And how does this translate into living the faith? Lord God, how we must test You! The snow is no more designed to upset our lives than prayer time is meant to stop life from being lived, yet both serve to slow us down and give us an opportunity to reflect on the goodness of all that is a part of God's creation. The question is not of the snow or of spiritual disciplines, the question is of whether or not we are willing to paid heed to either, even when our soul is on the line.

Unfortunately, our spiritual time with You, O God, more often than not, finds itself on its' roof, like the car which has rolled over on the side of the road. We were too busy with getting somewhere 'right now', too occupied with making sure the radio was on the right station, too busy multi-tasking while driving, or too tired to pay attention to what we are doing because we stayed up late the night before trying to get everything done that will make our living 'successful'. In gaining the miles, we lose our lives. In getting everything done, nothing is finished. In trying to complete everything at once, we become more incomplete by the second.

God, would You do us a favor? Please continue not getting out of our way. Please continue in your creative work of raining, sleeting, snowing, sunshining, praying for us, coming to us, being with us, and inviting us to be with You in all that is Yours. Make us careful drivers in our journey with and for You. And, one more thing: when our lives are out of control, sending us skidding into the ditches or into each other, preserve our lives and the lives of those around us from the callousness of our actions. For, though we may sometimes act like it isn't so, our lives are forever rooted in You and now is the time to remember and savor that precious gift. Sleet and snow on the well-laid highways of our plans remind us we are not always in control, and we are grateful You are. Keep us in your grace and on the road, a feat accomplishable only in You.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2008

It makes me wonder what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would say if he had any idea how his passions for justice, equity and peace were being appropriated in the 21st Century by current political pundits. Today, in local area newspapers, civic leaders were asked to comment on how they perceive MLK's life continuing to impact current social and political arenas. Suffice it to say, nearly all of them expressed belief that MLK's life and vision powerfully continues to transform our culture's understanding of how the world is to be ordered, how equity is to be achieved and how peace might possibly be experienced. But, what was amusing - and disturbing - was how many of the people also confidently asserted that MLK's life and vision included whatever part of the world they, personally, happen to occupy, as though begging the blessing of a saint for the work they do. Much of it was political pandering at best, personal harlotry at worst. It makes me sad for the Rev. Dr. King, for he who dared to stand at the forefront of injustice and cry out in the wilderness for redemption now, in the words and claims of publicity hounds and ladder-climbers, becomes little more than another step on the way up, another name to be dropped, another legacy to be usurped for personal gain . . . and maybe that is the worst sort of injustice.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted God's call in his life, he followed the Spirit's leading in his ministry, and he carried the mantle of prophetic orator in his soul. He looked into the bowels of the hell that racial, ethnic, social and economic injustice inflicts upon every every man, woman and child on the face of the earth, and he called forth the good which God plants in every human soul to act in solidarity for change. Where others imposed oppression, he saw the makings for liberty. Where others inflicted fear, he saw the windows of hope. Where others worked to institute segregation, he saw the doors of the heavens opened for inclusion and welcome. The Rev. Dr. King dared to go to the mountain and share the vision - while the rest remained in the valley and questioned what it was he was seeing. The Rev. Dr. King stood before the Pharaoh's of the world and said, 'No more bricks!', while the very mass of humanity he sought to free continued to say, 'How many? And, for how long?' Not unlike the very Lord and Savior he worshipped, Rev. Dr. King saw the good in others, even in the oppressors who most violently challenged him, and he did not relent his faithfulness in serving for the good of all humankind . . . even unto death.

We would do well, today, to remember his simple and profound example. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not our Savior, but he lived that we would know Him. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not our Lord, but he served that we might be touched by Him. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not the Messiah, but he gave his life that we might be transformed by Him. To appropriate his legacy for anything less than introducing the Kingdom of God here on earth is to disgrace the very Spirit of God alive in those who continue his work in so many places around the world. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not live for himself, but for others, so we, too, would be well served to remember the very commandment his life embodied: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two are based all the law and the prophets." In our so living, his legacy is honored and remembered in the righteousness for which he lived, respect is given for his accomplishments, and his dignity stands upon the faith he claimed: in the One Lord of all.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died giving you and me 'a hand up' from that which would pull us down. How could anyone ever consider using his memory as a step on their own personal ladder of success? Thank you, Rev. Dr. King, for your witness, for your service, and for your passions. For, in who you continue to be, we find the strength to live into what God has created all people to become.

The Opportunity to Comment

Driving home last night from a basketball game, I had some time to ponder the discipline of writing this blog. Remembering the articles written and the time it had taken was easy. Knowing whether or not those articles are making a difference to others is not so clear. There have been only a couple of comments in nearly a month of articles, which got me to thinking about today: Sunday.

Worship is our opportunity to speak with the Author of our faith, face to face. Worship is our corporate opportunity to voice in community that which we have been thinking or speaking privately. Worship, as a community of faith, is our time to lift to God our, "Amen!" "So be it!" "I disagree!" "I don't understand!" "I love you!", as well as our, "Why did this happen?" "Are you with me in this?" "What did you mean when you spoke those words?" and "Do you even hear what I say?"

Worship with the gathered faith family is that one unique moment in time when we sit face to face with the cross of God's voice, when the quiet of an empty grave permeates our questions and comments, and when the resurrected love of Christ quietly fills our hearts with God's own message for our days. Worship is Comment Time. Yes, without doubt, God loves to hear our voices lifted in adoration and wonder for all that God does on our behalf, for all that God speaks into life, for all that God ponders into being. But, God is also big enough, merciful enough, and gracious enough, to hear our puzzlement and doubts, our anger and our sadness, our fear and our brokenness. For all of this, worship exists as an eternal gift of God. In some ways, worship is an unending blog, written by God and open for all of us to read and comment.

We are never forced to open the page, neither are we chastised if we do not respond, yet, I cannot fathom it being any easier for God than it is for me when so few enter into the conversation: Is there anyone even listening? Is there anyone who cares?

Take this opportunity today to worship the God of our Salvation, to respond to God's Living Word being spoken lovingly in your ears. Take this opportunity to listen to God's wisdom poured out for you - and in prayerful love and humility, take the time to speak back of where you are on the journey. God is still speaking. God is still listening.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Don

The Sounds of a Cold Morning

Have you ever really listened to a cold morning? Not a 20 or 30 degree morning, but a single digit or sub-zero cold morning? Have you heard the sound of the air, the rush of the wind, the beating of a bird's wings, the chatter of a squirrel, the bark of a dog, the mooing of a cow, the crunch of your footsteps, the sound of another person's voice, or even the enormity of the silence in the profound absence of heat? It is an incredible experience if for no other reason than the clarity of tonality which becomes apparent in the chill of the Winter.

I am not a fan of cold temperatures, but Winter provides our senses its own share of powerful wonder: the sound of an ice skate's blade on smooth pond ice, the slickness of a sled's runners as it courses down a hill, the quacking of a pair of ducks as they pass over their favorite haunt now frozen and inaccessible to them, the beating of mourning dove wings as they settle into a spot for feeding, the laughter of children heaving snow balls at each other, the solitude of fields laying quiet as they rest from a hard year's production, and haunting reverberations of a coyote's howl piercing a dark night's soul. All are part and parcel of this gift God's gives in the season we come to know as Winter. Each adds its music to the cacaphony of instrumentation which becomes the symphony of the 'Midwinter's Night Dream'. Each is cued into the composition at the direction of the Maestro's baton flicking gracefully from one to the other. Each bears a witness to the fullness of the Composer's imagination and joy. Each is a stark celebration of what Winter is unveiling for listening ears and open hearts to receive. Each is its own forethought of the One who breathed them into being and, here, commands their music to fill creation.

Now, I will grant you, much of this seems rather 'romanticized' in world often filled more with the sounds of guns cracking and spirits breaking, of blood flowing and war raging, of hatred spewing and discrimination oozing, of justice distorted and greed rewarded, yet, maybe the issue isn't with what our ears seem always to hear, but rather to Whom we are willing to give our attention. For this day, this cold Winter's day in January, I lean my ears towards God and listen for what God would have me to hear of God's capacity to give life. Call it what you may, I call the sounds of a cold morning the music of Peace . . . and pray from their concert I will be given the heart to become a peacemaker.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don

God Is In Change

Where did the idea come from that 'change' is not good? That 'different' is not desirable? When folks ask me if I know why I am loosing my hair, I tell them, "Oh yes! It's from beating my head against the walls of tradition that people in the church construct to keep them safe!"

Last night I met with an amazing group of people: Vacation Bible School representatives from churches throughout the community. First of all, God bless the dear ones who, in a moment of weakness, consent to represent their church on the Vacation Bible School Planning Committee. Secondly, God especially bless the ones who, once on the Committee, consider it a responsibility and privilege to convey the Word of God to the children of the community in ways that will excite them, not bore them to death. Lastly, God abundantly bless the ones who consider it the norm to change Vacation Bible School to meet the needs of the children today.

This small group of God's servants decided to change the time, from morning to evening; to change the dates, from the heat of July to the cooler times of June; and to birth a new schedule which favors 'blocks of time' for family group participation, rather than set classroom schedules. When the meeting was over I offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the Spirit's work in removing the timidity of tradition and instilling a courage of conviction. As surely as children learn in multi-media, multi-dimensional environments every day of their lives so, too, must the Church move towards fully embracing a multi-faceted presentation of the Word of God in this new age. Flannel board presentations will likely make for finely bored children. In the new paradigm, film strips should make for great craft resources, just as chalk dust should be found outside on the hands of children allowing their imaginations and faith to run wild on the sidewalks. Digital photography and videos enable new, nearly immediate viewing of young minds interpreting the scriptures in new ways, even as the 'old, old story' erupts from music more nearly geared to the children than their grandparents.

Sir Winston Churchill, in the throes of the Nazi bombardment of England is quoted as saying, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." I'm not so sure Churchill wasn't speaking to the Church when confronted by the opportunity for change,"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Must we, through our traditional way of doing things, maintain such control and decorum as to never allow the Spirit room for 'a new thing to happen here'? (Sometimes it makes me wonder whether, if Jesus' crucifixion happened here today, the people who lobby so adamantly for tradition in the church wouldn't be the ones found holding the large stone to the door of the tomb in place so that Jesus couldn't come out, fearing that an empty tomb would signal the need for dollars having to be spent updating curriculum and methodologies!)

I am grateful to God for God's chosen servants who lead God's people to new faith, freedom, and service, people like Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Elijah, David . . . and the visionary people of the Community Vacation Bible School Committee with which I met last night. God is still speaking in ways we can understand, and God is still inspiring a new and right Spirit in the hearts of those open to God's change in our world. Thanks be to God for their witness!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don