No Doubt

 No Doubt

There is something you need to know about me. I lean towards being skeptical about some things. Easy answers, political promises, religious heavy breathing and snake oil salesmen. I must have inherited this from my father who had a sixth sense that could smell fake from a distance. I am a proponent of the “I am from  Missouri and you gotta show me.” Not a bad attribute for a pastor.

That doesn’t mean that I am not a believer. But my belief system is of a more organic nature. I like to probe and find out what lies behind things. When someone tells me that they are a “true believer” I tend to let my doubting side take the lead before I swallow hook, line and sinker.

I like the Bible story of Thomas, who after the death and resurrection of Jesus, was absent when Jesus appeared to the other disciples. Thomas wasn’t willing to take their word for it declaring that he would believe if he could see for himself. That happened the following week and Thomas believed. Unfortunately, Thomas gets a bad rap because he doubted. I think he was curious  and wanted to see with his own eyes.

Doubting is a necessary step to believing just as asking is an important step to receiving. For some strange reason, questioning what one believes is often seen as weakness. I find questioning refreshing. How can I grow if my mind and heart are in gridlock? There is nothing to fear by inquiring into that which I believe. Being teachable is at the heart of being a disciple of Jesus.

It is Jesus who reminds us “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you.”

No doubt this is true!

New Normal

New Normal

It was King Solomon who said, “there is nothing new under the sun.” That doesn’t take into account the new things I am experiencing. I haven’t been grounded since I was a teenager. Nor have I been called old so often by those who are concerned for my well-being. Most of my interacting with people is via texting, FaceTime or Zoom. I can’t shake hands, hug or kiss family and friends because of fear that I might be a Petri dish of disease.

Tell me there is nothing new under the sun. I grew up believing that people who wore masks in public were bent on doing me harm or eager to rob a bank. Now if you don’t wear one in public, you are shunned like you had the plague. I can’t take Daisy for a walk and stop to say hello to fellow travelers unless I keep the six feet social distance. Anybody care that it’s hard to hear what some else is saying at that distance even with hearing aids?

Enough of what’s wrong with the world. There is a new normal in our house. After almost twenty years of faithful service, our Sears Kenmore washer and dryer found a new home with our son. We purchased a Samsung set from Costco. Let me tell you, they are a thing of beauty. A lot of technical progress in twenty years. They are bold white with smoke glass doors and flashing blue lights when you hit the start button. There are soft musical tones when the cycle is finished instead of that awful buzzer. The washer tub is big enough to take a bath in. There is an option to operate them with bluetooth but that didn’t seem right. I am expecting great things to come from the laundry room.

On a more serious note this will be the new normal: “God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good, tears gone, dying gone, pain gone…Look! I am making everything new.”

Zoom

Zoom

I am a grey haired techie. I am proficient with iMac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch. I sufficiently navigate around the Internet. Facebook, FaceTime, Amazon Prime and Netflix are mastered. My most recent conquest is online banking: no more standing in teller lines. I even ventured into the mysterious world of online grocery shopping.

My newest challenge is Zoom. I heard about it sometime ago but never paid much attention. What possible need would I have for it? Hearing that word reminded me of my comic book days when the balloon above the fast car was “zoom.” How about the hot breakfast cereal with the same name made by Krusteaz.

My learning curve with Zoom was steep at the outset of the pandemic. Everybody was talking about it. People asked if I could conference on Zoom. I had no idea what they were talking about. It didn’t take long to download the app and enter the  land of Zoom.

Since I am on furlough as a hospital chaplain because of age, my first exposure to Zoom was the weekly Spiritual Care Staff Meeting with fellow chaplains. Seeing other people in their natural habitat made me feel like I was some kind of Peeping Tom. The most uncomfortable part was seeing myself on the screen.

For the past month, we had church on Zoom. People are invited via text to join in. About two thirds of the church are tech savvy and able to zoom in. Interesting to see people outside their normal Sunday morning go-to-church clothes. Last Sunday we had one couple join us from the comfort of their bed. Another just got out of the shower and was sitting down for a first cup of coffee. One had to mute their speaker because the kids were yelling. Praise God from whom all blessing flow.

I am now a full-fledged member of zoom land. If I could just figure out some way to look better on the screen. I wonder if there is something wrong with my Mac. I know I look better than that.

Restraint

Restraint

It was Thomas Paine who wrote, “these are times that try men’s souls.” Although he penned those words more than two hundred years ago, they speak today. More than a month of sheltered in place is enough to stretch not only the soul but the whole person.

Just as disconcerting is the abundance of pontification on social media and cable news. Unfortunately, we live in a world that is bombarded with opinions that appear to carry the same weight as truth. Accompanying these views there is little to filter their intensity or vulgarity. Have we forsaken common sense and decency?

My plea is restraint. Yes, we have the right to express opinions. This is part of our freedom as Americans. However, can’t this be done in a way that reflects maturity beckoning others to at least consider our point of view? Plain speaking used to be a trait of our culture. Now it’s my way or the highway

I remember my grandmother telling me: “You catch more flys with honey than with vinegar.” For the uninitiated in grandma wisdom, this means you persuade more people to your point of view by talking nice rather than crude or rude. If the point is to persuade rather than to vent, restraint in speech is always preferable.

Here is a little restraint from the Bible.

The book of Proverbs:

“The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.”

The letter of James:

“We get it wrong every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone who speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person in perfect control of life…. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything or destroy it!”

Sabbatical

Sabbatical

Five weeks and counting! Who could have guessed? Judy and I are sheltered in place. Our lifestyle has not changed a whole lot. I miss the Sunday morning gatherings at Foothills Fellowship and the two days a week as a hospital chaplain. Grocery shopping is orchestrated by our children. Now that Ross’s, T. J. Maxx and Kohl’s are closed, Judy focuses on QVC and the Hallmark channel.

A sabbatical is a period of a paid leave given for study or travel; traditionally one year for every seven years of service. Wow!  It’s a designated time to step back from work and focus on personal and spiritual enrichment. The Bible is full of  exhortation for sabbath rest. A good idea seldom practiced

Is this the sabbatical I have always wanted? I have the time, the money and gas is cheap but like a wayward teenager I’m grounded. My daily walk with Daisy takes care of exercise. I have read five books. We watched all there is of the Masterpiece Series on Amazon Prime. The Sunday morning Zoom gathering with our fellowship rounds out my week.

Next month marks my fiftieth year of ministry. I can hardly wrap my mind around the fact that I have been a pastor that long. That’s half a century of caring, praying, and encouraging people in the Lord. I sense I am only beginning to understand what it all means. Only by God’s grace have I made it this far.

These weeks have been the sabbatical I always wanted. It is not what I asked for or imagined. However, the Lord graciously has provided a season of rest. Let these words of Jesus encourage you today:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me; watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Nec Aspera Terrent

Nec Aspera Terrent

At the outset I want to apologize for using a foreign language title. Whenever I see a phrase in a different language, curiosity gets the better of me, especially Latin ones. This has to do with my ecclesiastical education which majored in an ancient language. Although it is obviously not my mother tongue, I enjoy the challenge of translation.

During this season of shelter in place, I am privileged ample amounts of time to read. My literary taste spans the spiritual to fiction with a strong emphasis on the latter. In one book I read the phrase nec aspera terrent. Immediately I consulted Google, my source for all things unknown. I was surprised to find this is commonly used as a military motto. I found the phrase in a commentary on the Old Testament book of Job. A timely read I must say.

The literal translation is do not be terrified by adversity. A blunter rendering is “difficulties be damned!” An appropriate word for the season. I do have a choice here. I can be caught up in the hysteria of what’s happening or what could happen to me and mine. Or I can direct my thinking and speaking to the positive. I am a firm believer that too much information about a situation in which I have limited ability to change leads me down the path of frustration. I choose life and let the difficulties be dammed.

Over the years I have found the Book of Proverbs to be a source of strength in time of need. I leave you with two verses to encourage you today:

If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of adversity.

Now back to that novel!

Routine

Routine

Judy and I  are “sheltered in place” for two weeks. Not that we don’t get out for a walk around the neighborhood or a leisurely drive through town with the windows rolled up. Our kids have been a great help. They make sure we are well stocked with the essentials of groceries and wine. I just received a double shipment of Gummy Bears. Life in confinement doesn’t get any better.

On a more serious note, it has been my experience that in times of trouble, anxiety or fear, routine is a friend. Years ago, when I had a nervous breakdown and in subsequent seasons of stress and uncertainty, routine kept me alive. Being the type A personality, mopping around with no focus is a real killer.

Routine is the repetitive activity that gives purpose to the day. In the past we called it chores; those things that needed to be done in order to maintain mental health and a clutter free life. The discipline that doesn’t allow life to slip through the cracks. For some, routine is a dirty word that speaks boring, tiresome,  monotony and unexciting. For me it’s sanity.

Interestingly, the word routine comes from the French meaning “a travelled way.” A well worn path of getting up and going to bed at a set time,  Bible reading and prayer, household duties, staying in touch with family and friends, a long walk with the dog, a nap, reading a book, watching Amazon Prime with Judy, and eating healthy are components of my daily routine. Opps! I forgot the glass of wine.

Here is an encouragement from God’s Word:

“Exercise daily in God: no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gym are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart.”

Now back to those Gummy Bears.