Reflections on May 1, 2010

There is a lot going on right now! Last Wednesday the Southeast US was ravaged by tornadoes and storms. This morning, we kicked off our 90 Day Challenge. I have many things I want to share with you. But all of that was overshadowed tonight by the news that US Special Forces had killed Osama Bin Laden.

I don't know that I can put into words my reaction to this news. It is overwhelming. I know that there are more terrorists out there, and that this not the end of threats to our country. But Bin Laden, the architect of 9/11, is a powerful symbol of how our lives have changed since that September day.

I am relieved that Osama bin Laden is dead. Its my earnest prayer that his death allows some of the scars & pain of 9/11 to heal, and brings some closure to ten years of grief. I believe that is a good thing that his evil can no longer affect the world.

I am also immensely grateful for & proud of our military, who have and who continue to risk their lives for our safety. May God bring you all safely home to your families.

I am also reminded of Jesus' command to pray for enemies. That's not easy for me, especially when I think of someone as evil as Bin Laden and those who continue his work. And so I start by asking God to give me the strength to pray for those I call enemies.

Pastor David

What's Going On

For the past 5 years, this blog has served multiple functions. It has been a professional blog, used for announcements and news for the congregation of St. John. It has been a personal blog, where I have shared news about my family and life. And, it has lived in the twilight in-between where much of a pastor's life is lived.

As my fifth year as the Pastor of St. John - Prairie Hill draws to a close, my use of this blog has evolved. Postings from Prairie Hill will remain and will become more intentionally the blog of the congregation of St. John. It will be used for news, announcements, and information for our congregation -- sort of an extension of our Facebook page.

I have set up a new blog, Called to Passion, which will be my personal blog. It will be the space for my writings, thoughts, and ideas. Some previous posts from this blog will be migrating over there in the months ahead.

Again, Postings from Prairie Hill will not be going away. It will just be slightly more focused in purpose.

Bach's Coffee Cantada

In honor of the 326th birthday of the Fifth Evangelist, here is J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata (Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211).

Written for and performed by Bach's Collegium Musicum, at Zimmerman's Coffee House in Leipzig. The libretto (text) was penned by Bach's frequent collaborator, Christian Friedrich Henrici.

Narrator (Recitative)

Be quiet, stop chattering, and pay attention to what's taking place: here comes Herr Schlendrian with his daughter Lieschen; he's growling like a honey bear. Hear for yourselves, what she has done to him!

Schlendrian (Aria)

Don't one's children cause one endless trials & tribulations! What I say each day to my daughter Lieschen falls on stony ground.

Schlendrian (Aria)

You wicked child, you disobedient girl, oh!

When will I get my way? Give up coffee!

Lieschen (Aria)

Father, don't be so severe!

If I can't drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.

Lieschen

Mm! how sweet the coffee tastes,

more delicious than a thousand kisses, mellower than muscatel wine.

Coffee, coffee I must have, and if someone wishes to give me a treat, ah, then pour me out some coffee!

Schlendrian (Recitative)

If you don't give up drinking coffee then you shan't go to any wedding feast, nor go out walking.

Oh! when will I get my way? Give up coffee!

Lieschen

Oh well! Just leave me my coffee!

Schlendrian

Now I've got the little minx! I won't get you a whalebone skirt in the latest fashion.

Lieschen

I can easily live with that.

Schlendrian

You're not to stand at the window and watch people pass by!

Lieschen

That as well, only I beg of you, leave me my coffee!

Schlendrian

Furthermore, you shan't be getting any silver or gold ribbon for your bonnet from me!

Lieschen

Yes, yes! only leave me to my pleasure!

Schlendrian

You disobedient Lieschen you, so you go along with it all!

Schlendrian (Aria)

Hard-hearted girls are not so easily won over.

Yet if one finds their weak spot, ah! then one comes away successful.

Schlendrian (Recitative)

Now take heed what your father says!

Lieschen

In everything but the coffee.

Schlendrian

Well then, you'll have to resign yourself to never taking a husband.

Lieschen

Oh yes! Father, a husband!

Schlendrian

I swear it won't happen.

Lieschen

Until I can forgo coffee?

From now on, coffee, remain forever untouched! Father, listen, I won't drink any.

Schlendrian

Then you shall have a husband at last!

Lieschen (Aria)

Today even dear father, see to it! Oh, a husband!

Really, that suits me splendidly!

If it could only happen soon that at last, before I go to bed, instead of coffee I were to get a proper lover!

Narrator (Aria)

Old Schlendrian goes off to see if he can find a husband forthwith for his daughter Lieschen;

but Lieschen secretly lets it be known:

no suitor is to come to my house unless he promises me, and it is also written into the marriage contract,

that I will be permitted to make myself coffee whenever I want.

Trio

A cat won't stop from catching mice, and maidens remain faithful to their coffee.

The mother holds her coffee dear.

The grandmother drank it also.

Who can thus rebuke the daughters?

(Translation found on Wikisource, and assumed to be public domain)

A Prayer in time of Tragedy

A prayer, offered in response to the earthquake off the shores of Japan and the resulting tsunami.

O God, we stand in awe of the power of your creation; deal mercifully with your world, especially this day the people of Japan and all affected by the waves of destruction. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, give courage to those filled with fear, and stir up all your children to respond with the love and justice of your Son, who lives & reigns with you & the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Lent: Repentance

"The world, as we live in it, is like a shop window into which some mischievous person has got overnight, and shifted all the price-labels so that the cheap things have the the high price-labels on them and the really precious things are priced low. We let ourselves be taken in. Repentance means getting those price labels back in the right place."

-- William Temple

Fear Not!

Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil comes out his burrow; if he is frightened by his shadow we are in for more winter, if he is not, then spring is coming. This day has me thinking about fear, and how we are like that rodential harbinger of springtime. It seems to me that much of our life is dominated by fear in one way or another. So much so that, as we run from place to place seeking safety and security, we seem to even be scared of our own shadows.

There is everyday worry and anxiety. Will we make enough this month to pay the house note? Will my boss be impressed with my work? Will I be able to get that project done one time? Every day, there a thousand and one little doubts that fill our hearts and minds with worry.

Then there are the big things of life. Fear of abandonment and loneliness. Fear of rejection. Fear of death. Fear of the loss of loved ones. We may not consciously think about these as often - but they loom large in our lives nonetheless.

Between the little worries and the big fears, how much of our lives are devoted to our fears? How much of our time and energy is spent on fear and worry? And how much are we able to really be attentive to the people in our lives and to our faith while the background music of fear is running through our minds?

The question I have is this: What does fear have to do with faith?

Certainly, there is a certain expression of Christianity that I would call a religion of fear. You know the type. "You could die at any moment - are you right with God". Religion that uses fear of hell, fear of damnation as the primary motivating factor. "Or else" religion. Of course, it does not have to be that overt, I think this religion of fear creeps into faith in lots of different ways. Do you rightly understand the sacrament? Do you have enough faith, or strong enough faith? Do you rightly understand the creed? And on and on.

So what has fear to do with faith?

__________________________________________________

When dealing with the fears of life, I conclude that fear and worry are a first commandment issue. Luther says of the first commandment:

A "god" is the term for that to which we are to look for all good and in which we are to find refuge in all need. Therefore, to have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in that one with your whole heart ... The intention of this commandment, therefore, is to require true faith and confidence of the heart, which fly straight to the one true God and cling to him alone.

We worry because we look for security from our jobs, from our income, from our retirement accounts. But as people of faith, we are called to turn to God alone for our security. We worry because we gauge our worth on acceptance by others, or on our accomplishments. But as people of faith, our worth comes from being adopted as children of God.

You see? Worry and fear are what result when the things of life supplant the place of God in our hearts and minds. Not that they aren't good things - family, vocation, friendship. But when those good things take the place of God in our lives - when they become the things we cling to and turn to for worth and security and comfort, then they have become our gods. Isn't this what Jesus is getting at?

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

(Luke 12:22-32)

So, the worries and fears of life are really what happens when we turn from God and toward our idols. That much seems to be fairly clear to me. But what about fear in the house of faith? What about fear used in the name of God? After all, aren't we taught that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"? Doesn't Jesus preach about those who are cast into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth?

If, by fear, we mean respect, reverence, and awe - then yes, I think there is a place for such fear in the life of faith. But that is not how most of us mean fear. I come to rest in the words of 1 John:

God is love ... There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

If God is love, then God must be perfect love. And perfect love casts out fear. And, as children of God, we dwell in God and God dwells in us. Therefore ...

Simply put, I distrust people who peddle fear - whether it is the politics of fear, the marketing of fear, or the religion of fear. We worship the God who created all things, and provides us with all that we need. We worship the God who conquered sin and death by the power of the cross. We worship the God who has called us beloved children. We worship the God who is love, who casts out all fear.

Fear Not!

Saint Nicholas

I love the feast of Saint Nicholas, for many reasons.

First, this day marks the beginning of Christmas celebrations for me. Yes, we have usually had one or two Sundays of Advent before the Feast of St. Nick, but Advent is not Christmas. No, with the feast of St. Nicholas, we have the coming of the gift-bringer and wonder worker - the beginning of the season of miracles, wonder, and generosity.

Second, Nicholas serves as a reminder that what we see celebrated as "Christmas" all around us is simply nothing more than crass commercialism; Americans worshiping at the Baal of capitalism. No, St. Nick does not fly through the sky, or live at the North Pole, or drop in at the local mall. He was a very real person, who lived a life shaped by the values of the Gospel. He does not endorse your favorite brand, and he does not keep a list of who is naughty or nice. Instead, he strove to love his neighbor as himself.

Finally, Nicholas represents in many ways what I believe the Christian faith should look like. His was a life of compassion: caring for "the least of these." Making sure that those on the edges of the society had what they needed; caring for children, handing out money to keep families off the street. The acts for which Nicholas is known are what might be called social liberalism today. And yet, he was also a firm defender of orthodoxy - best known through his encounter with Arius at Nicea (aka, the Santa smack-down). For me, Nicholas shows us that orthodox faith - i.e., truly following the Gospel - leads to compassionate living.

Questions for God

Recently, while meeting with a small group in our congregation, I asked the participants what one question they would ask of God if they had the opportunity. I found their questions to be very insightful, and thought I would share some of them with you.

* Why do bad people seem to get good things in life?

* How long do you expect me to turn the other cheek?

* Why do bad things happen to children – and how do you deal with the people who do those things?

* I know we will spend eternity with you – why do we have to spend a lifetime on earth first?

* How can I hear your voice?

* How am I doing?

* How long will I be here?

* How much of the Bible is written the way it actually happened?

* Why my dad?

* How can I know what to do?

* How can you love me so much? And why do you seem to not love others as much?

* You said the first shall be last. I look at the world, and I wonder, when I get to see you, will I be last?

* What is my purpose?

* Why are you like we were taught when we were children?

* Why is there suffering?

* Why is there cruelty?

* Why did you make me so that I love sin so much?

* Why is there disease?

* How can I know what to do in life?

From the mouths of babes

Hanging out with my 3 year old:

"You have coffee at church - it makes you feel better. You're so happy."

This is most certainly true.

Shack Discussion Guide

I have started reading Wm Paul Young's The Shack with two groups at Prairie Hill. In anticipation of our time together, I am putting together a little study / discussion guide to give shape to our conversation. While I did look at other guides out there, ultimately I decided to just write my own questions.

Those of you in the Pastor's Book Club will find updates to the guide here, as I write questions for our future discussion sessions (just return to this link - hit reload on your browser if the new questions don't show up at first).

Other pastors and friends who happen upon this discussion guide are free to use or modify this material as suits their situation (for those who pay attention, I release this under a cc-by-sa-nc).

Reading The Shack: A guide for discussion and study

Welcome! This study guide is written to help you get the most out of your reading of The Shack by William P. Young, and to facilitate our discussions together.

Some of you may have read The Shack already, some of you may have read it in anticipation of this study, some of you may be reading as we move through the book together. That’s ok. Those of you reading as we go, please make sure that you keep up with the reading.

Due to time limitations, when we get together to discuss we will usually not have time to discuss all of the questions in this guide. I hope that you will still find them beneficial in thinking about your own faith. Before our group meetings, think about what you might like to spend the most time talking about.

A couple of thoughts before you get started. First, The Shack is a work of fiction. It is not a statement of theological doctrine, nor is it inspired Scripture. I have personally found the book to be helpful and insightful – and I certainly hope that you will, too – just be sure to check that insight with what we know to be true about God as made known to us in the Bible. Or, you may find that you greatly disagree with this book, that’s ok too.

Second, this book deals with tragedy and faith. As we explore our own understandings of tragedy, faith, and how they are related, you will be invited to share your own experiences and thoughts. Please be respectful of the experiences of others as they share them, and know that you will never be asked to share more than you are comfortable with.

Then the man said to Jacob, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have
wrestled with God and with humans and have prevailed.” ~~Genesis 32:28

But Mack had already left the room to wrestle with his dreams; maybe tonight there would be
no nightmares, only visions. ~~ p. 23

A we read the story of Mack’s wrestling match with God I pray that you will find your own shack, a space in your life where you can fully encounter God, experience the reality of what God desires for your life, and wrestle with the God who called you as his own.

Pastor David


Forward

* The author admits that the story that follows is fantastic, unproven, and even difficult to believe. In life, are there important truths that you cannot “prove”?

* How do you decide that some one is reliable or credible?

* The author describes Mack’s early, very bad experiences in the church (and the horrible experiences at the hands of his “church-going” father). Are we (the church) responsible when people experience the church in this way? How can the church share the Gospel with people who have experiences like this?

* Despite the experiences of his early life, Mack is a pretty ordinary guy – living in the world we know, working a job, spending time with friends and family. What do you like or dislike about Mack as he is described here? How can you relate with him?

* Mack and the author seem to be quite good friends. Who are those friends that you talk about everything with? Do you have friends that you talk about your faith with?

Chapter 1: A Confluence of Paths

* “There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddenly releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules.” If we dislike all the demands, expectations, and schedules of life, why do we continue to live busier and busier lives?

* Have you ever wished you could hit the “pause” button on life? What do you do to slow your life down when it gets going too fast?

* When your life gets busy, are you able to hear God’s voice?

* Read the story of the call of Moses. Do you see any similarity between the story of Moses and the story of Mack?

* To get his attention, God sends Mack a letter. How does God get your attention? Is it gentle, or jarring? Obvious or subtle? How do you verify that the message is from God, and not from Tony the mailman?

* “There it was. Papa was Nan’s favorite name for God and it expressed her delight in the intimate friendship she had with him.” How is the similar or different from the way that Jesus addresses God (c.f. Mark 14:36)? Is it acceptable to use our own language/names to talk to God? How do you picture God in your mind when you pray or worship?

* Nan talks about wishing that God would hurry up with the answer to her prayer. When we pray for God’s will to be done, do you think we really mean it? Are we content with God’s schedule, or do we try to put God on the schedule of our busy lives?

* Can you see how – despite her impatience and without her knowledge – God was already answering her prayer? How can we learn to trust in God’s will, instead of our schedules?

Chapter 2: The Gathering Dark

* Mack describes “The Great Sadness.” Have you experienced a “Great Sadness” in your life?

* Mack & his family have many traditions, including telling stories. What traditions does your family have?

* What are the similarities between the story of the Indian Princess and Jesus? Missy asks about the truth of the story of the Indian Princess. Does it matter if the story is true?

* Missy & Mack talk about the similarities between “Papa” and the “Great Spirit.” How do you understand the relationship between our God and other religions?

* So is Jesus dying a legend? How do we share the faith so that our children know the difference between the legends of childhood (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc) and the Gospel?

* Missy has many questions, about the legend and about Jesus. What questions do you have about God and faith? Is it ok to have doubts?


* Will God ask me jump off the cliff to prove my love? How would you answer a child like Missy’s question? What if an adult asked that question?


* He was a rich man, he thought to himself, in all the ways that mattered …He prayed a silent thanks to God. At the end of a hard day, what can you thank God for? Do you?


Chapter 3: The Tipping Point

* Mack, his children, and their new friends all seem to be drawn closer by their shared experiences on this trip. It is often outside of “everyday life” that we are most able to connect with others and God. What are some experiences in your life that have drawn you closer to friends and family?


* As Mack describes Nan to his new friends, she seems like Super Woman, without any flaws. Do you think we most often seem the positive or negative traits in our family and friends? What about coworkers? What about those we have conflict with? How do you think those same people would describe you? Which way would you want to be described?


* In many places, Scripture uses the analogy of family to talk about our relationships with God and one another. Mack points out that this is difficult for those who came from difficult family experiences. Do any of the biblical ways of speaking of God give you difficulty? Should the church change how we talk about God for the sake of those who have trouble with it? Why or why not?


* Overnight, things went from great to rotten for Mack. Life often changes suddenly, and tragic most often comes in an instant. How do you prepare yourself for the sudden changes of life?


* In the canoe, Josh’s panicked struggle to save himself almost prevented Mack from being able to rescue him. How do we try to save ourselves? How does it prevent God from saving us?


* After the incident with the canoe, Emil apologizes repeatedly to Mack. Was he in any way responsible for what had happened?



Chapter 4: The Great Sadness

* This is a difficult chapter to read. Give yourself time to read it, and really absorb it.


* The “if-only” game (p.64) is a common response by the survivors of tragic events. Do Mack’s if-only questions help him in any way? Why do you think we spend so much time asking ourselves “What if …”?

* Mack asks God how this could have happened (p. 53). Implied in that question is how / why did God let this happen? If you were Mack’s friend, how would you answer his questions?


* Missy’s siblings respond very differently to the tragedy, almost becoming the opposite of their normal personalities: Josh becomes more emotional, Kate becomes more in control. How would you have responded? How do you prepare for something like this? Why do you think people respond so differently in crises?

* Life would never be normal again, if any time is ever normal (p. 65). Think about what is “normal” in your life; How has it changed from the “normal” of your life ten years ago?


* God’s voice had been reduced to paper … Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book (p. 65-66) Mack was taught that God no longer speaks directly to us, but only through the Bible. What do you think? Does God write notes? How does God speak to us today?


* Even as he grows further from God, Mack wants more from God – and that more is not what he sees in church – the little religious social clubs that didn’t seem to make any real difference. What do you think of Mack’s opinion of the church? Do you share it? Do you think others do?


* Have you experienced God’s voice in your life? How?