So, I've been thinking... A LOT

borrowed from the Liturgy Nerd

I realize that I’m pretty late in writing about the events and outcomes of the United Methodist Church’s General Conference.  Honestly, I wasn’t going to write about it all.  I was just going to leave it up to all those who are way smarter than me and much more knowledgeable about all this than me … but I had a long drive yesterday and well, I turned on a playlist of praise and worship songs and God and I just had our own little private worship service together right there in my car.  I cried, I laughed, I car-danced (it’s a thing, try it) and I heard God clearly saying to me – “love, love, love, grace, grace, grace. I love all my children, I created each and every one of you in my image.  No one is perfect and that’s on purpose. Each one of you is unique. I love you and if you love me, go out and share that love with the world.  I offer you grace every morning, noon, and night, now go out and offer that same grace to the world.”

One of the arguments I hear in support of the traditional plan is that practicing homosexuals are sinning every day and that’s why they shouldn’t be allowed to lead and receive ordination.

Well, I’m not ordained but I am often encouraged towards seminary and eventual ordination and like I said above, God offers me much needed grace morning, noon, and night for my sins.

Now, I am not calling homosexuality a sin.  Please do not think that.  Who am I to name sin?  But I do feel like I can name my own sin.

The bible speaks about laziness often in the Bible – Proverbs (A LOT), James, 2 Thessalonians, Romans, Timothy and more and I’ll be honest, I have been known to binge watch TV and movies – A LOT.  I sit in my chair and just veg to Hallmark movie after Hallmark movie or I catch up on several weeks of Bull, NCIS, and This Is Us.  I've been known to spend an entire day... or two... in this manner.  That's pretty lazy.

The 9^thcommandment talks about how we shouldn’t covet what our neighbor has and I’m going to be honest, one of my neighbors just remodeled her kitchen and yeah, I’m really coveting that new big kitchen with lots of counter space and cabinets and new gadgets.  Another neighbor has a REAL laundry room, not a laundry closet, but a whole room!  Yep, you guessed it.  I envy that room.  You can often find me on Realtor.com or Zillow looking at houses I can’t afford but would love to have. (More laziness? or at least idleness?)

Oh, what about gluttony? It is mentioned several times as well, and also there's something about our bodies being a temple and how we are supposed to take care of it and yet… I love junk food!  I love rich creamy pasta, chocolate, French fries, butter, potato chips, ice cream and more and I could stand to lose 30 or 40 pounds!  

There are probably many more sins I could name for myself, anger, pride, and so on but I think you get my point.  AND I wasn’t born with this, these are choices I make each day.  No sin is any worse or better than another.  Sin is sin is sin and yet the church would allow me to be ordained and does allow me now to serve as pastor to two small congregations.

I was born and raised in the United Methodist Church, a preacher’s kid.  I am proud of my United Methodist Heritage and our stance on social justice and mission in the world.  I’m proud of our being a global church!  And I love the Wesleyan theology of grace, grace and more grace.  This week I have been heart-broken and ashamed of this church I love.

I was taught, through the UMC, to love everyone, not to judge anyone, and that God CAN and HAS and WILL and DOES call whomever he wants to serve his people.  Who are we to answer NO to their call for them? 

And don't even get me started on the whole marriage thing...

Knock knock. Who's there?

Revelation 3:20 English Standard Version (ESV) 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. I just love this verse.  The thought of Jesus knocking on my door and joining my family for dinner… Wow.  I’d probably die trying to run around and clean up real quick!  But that’s another story.  I wonder though, would I even hear his knock?  Have I heard it and not answered?  That’s something to think about it for sure.   Dear God, We long to know you, to see your face, to feel your presence with us and yet… how many times have we ignored your knock on our door?  Give us courage to risk answering your knock.  Give us ears to hear it.  Amen.

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Don't be a know-it-all

Proverbs 3:5-7 The Message (MSG) 5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;     don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;     he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.   Don’t assume you know it all…  That sounds very human, doesn’t it?  We like to be in charge, in control, but we need to learn to trust God.  To listen for his voice.  Sometimes we can hear his voice in our thoughts and sometimes we can hear his voice through the people around us.  We just have to open ourselves to him. Gracious God, Forgive us for being control freaks, for thinking we know best.  Help us to slow down and listen for your guidance.  Amen.

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Listen

Acts 16:6, 9-10 Common English Bible (CEB) Vision of the Macedonian 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit kept them from speaking the word in the province of Asia. 9 A vision of a man from Macedonia came to Paul during the night. He stood urging Paul, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 Immediately after he saw the vision, we prepared to leave for the province of Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. Our word for this week is Listen. Paul was open to the leading of the spirit.  He was heading to Asia to speak the word there, but the Spirit stopped him and sent him another way.  I can’t help but wonder how they knew the Spirit was stopping them?  Were there roadblocks?  I have no idea and I’ll probably be wondering about it forever, but the point isn’t really how did they know, it’s more just that they listened. They were open to the Spirit’s leading and followed.  Are you open to the Spirit’s leading?  Are you listening? Holy God, Open our ears to hear your voice, open eyes to see your creation, open our hearts to love all your people. Amen.

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A Great Blessing

On Fridays, my devotions are a reading from the Psalm and I let that be my prayer.

Psalm 32 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) A maskil of David. 32 It is a great blessing     when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done,     when their sins are erased. 2 It is a great blessing     when the Lord says they are not guilty,     when they don’t try to hide their sins. 3 Lord, I prayed to you again and again,     but I did not talk about my sins.     So I only became weaker and more miserable. 4 Every day you made life harder for me.     I became like a dry land in the hot summertime. Selah 5 But then I decided to confess my sins to the Lord.     I stopped hiding my guilt and told you about my sins.     And you forgave them all! Selah 6 That is why your loyal followers pray to you while there is still time.     Then when trouble rises like a flood, it will not reach them. 7 You are a hiding place for me.     You protect me from my troubles. You surround me and protect me,     so I sing about the way you saved me. Selah 8 The Lord says, “I will teach you     and guide you in the way you should live.     I will watch over you and be your guide. 9 Don’t be like a stupid horse or mule that will not come to you     unless you put a bit in its mouth and pull it with reins.” 10 Many pains will come to the wicked,     but the Lord’s faithful love will surround those who trust in him. 11 Good people, rejoice and be very happy in the Lord.     All you who want to do right, rejoice! AMEN

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Use Every Opportunity to Do Good

Ephesians 5:15-17 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 15 So be very careful how you live. Live wisely, not like fools. 16 I mean that you should use every opportunity you have for doing good, because these are evil times.17 So don’t be foolish with your lives, but learn what the Lord wants you to do.   Use every opportunity you have for doing good.  I wonder how many opportunities we have each day to do good, to make a difference, to love.  I imagine they are countless!  You don’t even have to leave your house to do it these days.  You can send an email or letter to someone who has been on your mind, you can even call them!  You can spread love and joy on social media instead of divisiveness.  You can love those in your home in a way that they go out and share it themselves.  Use every opportunity to do good! Holy God, Thank you for opportunities to do good with and for you.  Open our hearts and minds to these opportunities.  Amen.

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Even When It Hurts

2 Timothy 1:6-7 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

⁶ That is why I want you to remember the gift God gave you. God gave you that gift when I laid my hands on you. Now I want you to use that gift and let it grow more and more, like a small flame grows into a fire. ⁷ The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.

I don’t know about you, but there are a few people in the world who I really have a hard time offering grace too.  They are people who have a history of hurting me and so it’s hard to let them in again, but I have to risk it.  I have to keep on loving, keep on offering grace so that it can grow knowing that the spirit of God is with me, giving me strength and courage to love even when it hurts, even when it’s hard.  I need to love and let God do the rest.

God of courage and strength,

Fill us with your spirit and strengthen us to love the way you love – unconditionally, no matter what.  Help us to be more like you.  Amen.