I got home about an hour ago from our Conversation Group. The discussion centered around “What is Success?” You know, our culture places a high value on individual success and personal fulfillment. Success is often measured in money and fame. But even in the culture of Jesus’ day, there were ideas floating around about what it meant to be successful. Jesus’ friends thought following him would lead to greatness. But Jesus surprised them all. He had his own ideas about what and who defined success. Jesus taught us that our greatness begins and ends in our service to others.
I had such a good time discussing this topic in the context of our New Day community. Our “success” as a church hinges on our ability to reach out beyond ourselves and respond to the needs of others. With this definition, our Conversation Group is a success. The women are so easy to talk to and I really enjoy their company. We have been there for one another during times of stressful transitions: family estrangement, illnesses, job loss, moves, even death. We have also experienced great joy together. We went out for an unplanned lunch together after our disussion today. One lady who had some errands to run said, “You know, those things can wait until tomorrow. There’s no place I’d rather be right now than here with all of you.”
In high school, I was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” Now, I don’t have a lot of money or drive a big fancy car (unless a 1999 Chevy Suburban is considered fancy in your circles). People from far and wide do not come to hear me preach. I am not a Hollywood celebrity featured on “E” television. But I am a success. I am serving God and spreading Christ’s message of forgiving love and acceptance. And yes, it’s true. There’s no place I’d rather be right now than here with all of you in the presence of God.
How do YOU define success?
“You need me. I need you. My broken world needs you. Many a weary troubled heart needs you. Many a troubled heart will be gladdened by you, drawn nearer to Me by you.”
“Health-Peace-Joy-Patience-Endurance, they all come from contact with Me. Oh! It is a glorious way, the upward way, the wonderful discoveries, the tender intimacies, the amazing, almost incomprehensible, understanding.”
“Truly the Christian Life-Life with Me-is a Love Story. Leave all to Me.”
From the book, God Calling
I’m really excited about the following activity I’m planning with New Day. On Thursday, June 11, at 6 p.m., we’re going to meet at the Mansfield Activities Center (MAC), 106 S. Wisteria, Mansfield, TX 76063. Then we’ll go door to door collecting food to donate to Mansfield’s Feed the Kids for Summer. Feed the Kids is a program to provide a daily meal to kids who would normally get a free lunch while they’re in school, but obviously will miss out on that during the summer months.
We’ll wheel up driveways with a wheelbarrow to collect the food so neighbors will have a visible reminder of what we are doing. Any of you who would like to join us that evening are more than welcome. Since we are a brand new church in the city of Mansfield, we will also be passing out invitations to participate in our monthly worship gathering at the same time.
I starting thinking about how much good we could do if we could organize these “wheelbarrow food collections” for Feed the Kids all over the city on this same night. What do you all think? I am very excited about the prospects!
I attended Community of Hope United Methodist Church this morning. What a fabulous experience! Joe (the pastor) mentioned that we really are celebrating Easter every Sunday. In our worship gatherings we come together as a community and celebrate that God raised Jesus from death to new life. If someone you loved had flat-lined and then come back to life, wouldn’t you throw the biggest party imaginable? For me, worship is a celebration of God’s love for us and our love for God. A love that is engaging and energizing! A love that brings us back to life.
But before we only look at the obvious, let’s not forget what else happened that Easter day. Jesus did not just rise from the dead and that was the end of it. No, he had a pretty busy day! Later on Jesus appeared to his closest followers and he said, “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
“I send you.” The resurrection signaled a new beginning. A new day. God raised each of us from the death caused by our self-centeredness. God gave each of us a new life of Christ-centeredness. But why? Could it be so that we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, might go to our families and friends, maybe even to strangers and enemies, spreading the great news of God’s loving forgiveness and hope for the future? So that we would be sent out to make a positive difference? So that we might even resemble Christ himself?
A week has passed since our “official” celebration of Easter, but every day we wake up can be an Easter of sorts. Every new day is a gift from God to continue to bring about God’s kingdom on earth by simply doing and being the people God wants. A people with love and kindness at the very center of our being. A people for which the phrase “What would Jesus do?” is more than just a trite question.
How do you feel knowing that you have been sent on a mission that is so much bigger than yourself and your desires? Don’t be intimidated. You’re not on your own! Allow the Holy Spirit to bring you peace, comfort, and guidance.
In whatever situation you find yourself in today, peace be with you. Happy Easter!
I just finished emailing a friend of mine. She’s a female pastor, too. I asked her to say a prayer for me, especially on Tuesday. I’m going before the Board of Ordained Ministry for my Spring Interview in order to continue my residency. You see, I’m a provisional elder for 3 years before I’m ordained and this is about to be the end of year one.
I don’t know what it is, but I just hate being evaluated. I don’t think fast on my feet, I put my foot in my mouth at times, and I’m afraid I’m going to say something really stupid. I’m just not comfortable for some odd reason. I can walk up and talk to any stranger on the street, but when I’m talking to 4 pastors that hold my future in their hands, I get a little intimidated. I just need to remember that God holds my future in God’s hands. If God is for me, who can be against me, right?
When I was done with my email, I opened up a book of daily readings and the title said, “The Spirit Will Speak in Us.” Listen to what it says, “When we are spiritually free, we do not have to worry about what to say or do in unexpected, difficult circumstances. When we are not concerned about what others think of us or what we will get for what we do, the right words and actions will emerge from the center of our beings because the Spirit of God, who makes us children of God and sets us free, will speak and act through us….Let’s keep trusting the Spirit of God living within us, so that we can live freely in a world that keeps handing us over to judges and evaluators.” (From the book, Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen)
I’m free to trust the Spirit of God. Will you?
“Trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
Jesus
Well, I made 132 phone calls this afternoon inviting people to attend our Easter gathering this Sunday night. I got to thinking that some people would think this was a big waste of a pastor’s time. Out of 132 calls, I might get 1 or 2 people to show up, some would reason. I couldn’t help thinking of the story of the starfish when I thought of what “some people” might think.
“Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf’s edge and and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.”
“The man was struck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf. As he came up to the person he said, ‘You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference.’”
“The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, ‘It sure made a difference to that one!’”
Out of all the calls I made today, there may only be 1 person who shows up Sunday night as a result. Who knows? But I pray our remembrance of the last few days of Jesus’ life on Earth and the celebration of his resurrection will make a difference, even if it’s just to that one.
I went to a surprise party last night. The guest of honor said he had no clue. He was totally shocked to see all the guests there celebrating. I suppose that’s how Jesus’ followers felt, too. They were totally clueless, even though Jesus told them ahead of time that he was going to suffer, die, but then be raised to new life again. When it actually happened, they were shocked.
Jesus also clued in his followers on what the new life would look like. The new life that they, too, could experience. “Love one another,” he said. “In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my followers—when they see the love you have for each other.”
Like those first followers, Jesus has clued us in: “Love one another.” The words sound so simple and yet in practice, they can be so complex. I recently read that love is not reciprocal. It is sacrificial. Are we willing to make the sacrifices God asks of us? To turn from our selfish ways and turn toward God? Are we willing to follow Christ, even if doing so takes us to a cross? Will we stop being clueless and take God’s words to heart?
“Love one another.” That’s all God asks.