D.S. Mike

Future of the Church- Thought for Today

2011-03-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

I'm using a book of daily readings of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a part of my devotions. Today's quote spoke to me as we consider the future of the church. I find it easy to slip between pessimism and optimism. Bonhoeffer reminds us that both are illusions. There is the one reality for a believer; the reality of God. Here is the quote for your pondering:

As the New Testament proclaims life to the dying, as life and death collide in the cross of Christ, and as life swallows up death—only when we see this do we believe in the church under the cross. Only when we look at reality with clear eyes, without any illusion about our morality or our culture, can we believe. Otherwise our faith becomes an illusion. The believer can be neither a pessimist nor an optimist; both are an illusion. Believers do not see reality in a certain light. The instead see it as it is, and against everything and beyond everything they see, they believe in God alone and in his power. They do not believe in the world or in the capability of the world to develop and improve; they do not believe in their power to improve the world and in their goodwill. They do not believe in people or in the good in people that ultimately must triumph; they do not believe in the church in its human power. Rather, believers believe solely in God, who creates and does the impossible, who creates life out of death, who has called the dying church to life against and in spite of us and through us. But God does it alone.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What does it mean to reshape our view of reality to believe solely in God who does the impossible and calls a dying church to life?

Mike

Now What?

2011-03-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

I'm back from the Financial Forum. Interesting meeting. We didn't talk about finance much at all. We actually focused on the deeper issue, our need to change in significant ways. The financial situation is only a symptom of the larger issue.

Some interesting facts.
-During the 40 years of decline in the UMC, the per person giving went up. That is one reason we've been able to survive and maybe even avoid dealing with our situation. 2008 was a serious wake up call.
-The UMC membership average age is much older than the general population. In 2018, we will begin a period of in which most of our current membership will die off. Lovett Weems called it a "death tsunami."
-We have a window of opportunity with many options available to us now, but this will not continue. So the time to act is now. We can't wait.

In some ways the formula for change is very simple:
Recover our mission; "To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
Focus on our mission; measure all we do by how it helps us achieve the mission, from the local church to global mission.
Individually, live this life changing, world transforming way, so that it is not something we do, but a fundamental expression of who we are.

I'm still thinking, contemplating and praying about what I heard and learned. At times I feel discouraged because it seems impossible. But at other times I have hope, particularly when I see people in communities all over this region finding ways to bless their neighbors, to live as a Jesus follower. So fundamentally I have hope. Not my hope or hope in me, but hope in what God can do.

What do you think? Is there a future for the United Methodist Church? What might it look like? What might we become? What is the dream on your heart?

Blessings,
Mike

Financial Future part 2

2011-03-02T04:58:00.000-08:00

Quick thoughts after the first day of the financial forum:
-Lovett Weems (as did others) made a strong case that this is the time to act. We have many options now that will go away in the next 8-10 years. I speak more later about the upcoming death tsunami- when the baby boomer generation begins to die off.
-Circumstances are different and similar throughout the denomination in the US. We in New England have had to deal to financial realities which are just coming into view for some locations.
-This is not a time to panic, but a time to lead.
-Business as usual will not work.
-During the period where attendance has declined, giving has increased.

I off to more discussion today.
Blessings,
Mike

Financial Future of UMC

2011-03-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

I'm in Fort Worth, Texas for a financial forum regarding the future of the UMC. Representatives from every annual conference are gathered to learn and discuss the pension and health insurance picture. I ate breakfast with 2 laypersons from the West, both representing their conference pensions. One fellow, from Oregon, spoke of his small church trying to support a full time minister. The theme were the same I've heard in New England, declining attendance, little youth participation, frustration and concern for the future.

I'll try to pass on updates and reflections as I listen and learn. I believe this is a part of a larger attempt to build understanding and consensus in preparation for General Conference next year.

More later.

Blessings,

Mike

What Kind of Country Will We Become?

2010-05-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

The recent law regarding undocumented immigrants in Arizona raises a significant question; what kind of nation will we become? We are living in a time of deep, systemic change. In my life time our nation will become a country where whites are no longer the majority. The way we make this transition will speak volumes to the kind of nation we wish to become. Will we become a nation where a minority hangs onto power, instituting apartheid style laws to ensure control? Or will we become a nation that embraces the principle that all men and women are equal.

Nobel prize winner, Desmond Tutu, knows what it is like to live under an apartheid system. He also knows about transitioning to majority rule with peace, reconciliation and hope. I found his recent commentary on the Arizona law to be insightful and illuminating. What kind of nation will we become?

I hope you will read it and reflect on his insights as well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/desmond-tutu/arizona----the-wrong-answ_b_557955.html

Grace & peace,
Mike

Who Will Go To Them?

2010-04-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this video of Michael Frost:

What do you think? How do we respond to all those folks who are not interested, turned off or repelled by your church?

It seems to me we have a choice. We can be defensive and say there is something wrong with those folks. Or we can ask how can we reach them? If we can't reach them, who can? And how can we help them in their mission to those our church will never reach?

I believe the church of the future is not an either/or proposition. It is neither simple church as we know it nor something radically different. In fact this polarity gets in the way of a more deeper issue. The church of the future will at its heart live a very simple idea; we exist for others, particularly and primarily those outside our church. That simple idea shapes everything else. It changes all the questions. In that simple shift all we do becomes focused outside of ourselves. The kind of faith community we build together, the way we live our individual lives, and what we do with our resources will all be shaped by that simple idea.

Maybe this is too simplistic. Or just maybe the answer to our struggles is that simple.

What do you think?

Mike

Saved by a Trucker

2010-04-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

I was driving my friend’s pickup, pulling a heavy trailer load along interstate 78 in New Jersey. I think I am a pretty good driver. But I have limited experience pulling a heavy trailer As I accelerated onto the highway, the trailer started gently fishtailing back and forth. The more I corrected, the worse it got. Finally, a trucker pulled up beside me and motioned me to pull over. Just a simple gesture saved the day. I pulled over thinking there was something wrong with the trailer. But the problem was behind the steering wheel.

By stopping, I was able to talk it through with my friend. I realized I needed to adjust my driving to address the new situation. My driving reality had changed. Instincts for driving a passenger car would apply differently to pulling the trailer. I would need to be more attentive and vigilant to my driving. I was able to restart and drive on without further incident.

I thank God for the trucker who motioned me to a stop. He made all the difference.

Is there someone like that in your life who challenges you to stop what you are doing? Can you be that person for someone else, even a complete stranger?

Mike

Shoe Leather Prayers

2010-04-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

My friend and colleague, John, called me Thursday afternoon with an incredible offer. “Mike, I’m headed to Mission Central to pick up 500 flood buckets. Want to come along? I’m leaving in a couple of hours.” Mission Central is in Mechanicsburg, PA, about an 8 hour trip from here. It is a central warehouse distribution center for United Methodist Committee on Relief, sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference. It houses relief kits, representing thousands of persons putting prayers and caring into the form of health kits, flood buckets, birthing kits and more. As John puts it, we are putting shoe leather to our prayers. How could I turn down such an offer?

Good Friday morning, 1 AM, found us outside the warehouse, dropping off health kits assembled in New England (another story), and loading 504 flood buckets into a trailer and pickup bed. Eric, the director of the center, and another helper, were there to greet us and help us load. I couldn’t help but be inspired by their willingness to come out in the early morning, on their day off, to help out flood victims in New England.

By the way, a flood bucket contains things like trash bags, bleach, rags, detergents, gloves, and more in a five gallon pail with a lid on top. It won’t make everything alright for a flood victim. But it will help them get a start on the hard task of clean up. Just maybe it might also say that someone cares. (Prayers with shoe leather on them)

After a couple of hours sleep, we were off that same day to deliver the buckets to a food bank in Providence, RI and a Salvation Army church in New Bedford, MA. They would continue the shoe leather prayer, passing the buckets to persons in need.

All this made me wonder, what if we made shoe leather prayer a primary sign of following Jesus? What if Christians became known primarily is those persons who put flesh to their prayers?

Here’s hoping we all find ways to pray with our hands and feet.

Mike

Followers of the Way

2010-03-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

"The desire of the early Christians to experience and include Jesus in their daily lives explains why the very first Christian creed was “Jesus is Lord.” Clearly, the earliest Christians considered Jesus to be the object of their love, devotion, and life itself.

The best way they new to incorporate his teachings into their lives was by remembering how he lived and trying to reproduce it. Christianity was about a relationship, not a set of propositions or doctrines. They saw in Jesus a life worth watching. Thus, Christians were first called “followers of the Way.” The goal of Christianity was never about learning or teaching the Scriptures. It was about living like Jesus lived.” A Second Resurrection, Bill Easum

Followers of the Way. What if we began to describe ourselves as Followers of the Way? What if we understood following Jesus to be first about what we did, how we lived, not so much about what we believe?

Something this simple, following the Way, will change the church and transform our communities and world. It will change you and me.

I wonder who we will choose to follow?

Mike

Ugly Paint by a Wide Brush

2010-01-29T05:10:00.000-08:00

What is an average Christian to do? How do we respond when a "prominent Christian" makes outrageous statements like some made about the earthquake in Haiti? While there are some Christians who may believe the earthquake was an act of punishment by God, I doubt it is even a strong minority. Unfortunately, all Christians tend to get painted by this wide brush and the color is repugnant.

So how can followers of Jesus offer another view, another example of response to this tragic event? Already many churches are responding with an outpouring of concern embodied in financial generosity and the gathering of needed supplies. On our behalf, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has already shipped much needed health kits. Around the country congregations are assembling new kits to replenish the supply. They are partnering with schools and community organizations to collect even more. In so doing they offer another tangible way for individuals to offer assistance. And they offer a counter to the ugly remarks of persons claiming to speak for God.Each individual who gives of their time and resources witnesses to the love and compassion of our Creator.

Our actions speak loudly, but so can our words. When we find opportunities to explain how our actions connect to our faith in Jesus Christ, we provide a powerful alternative view of Christians. It is often this second part of acting we neglect, particularly in the mainline church. Our motivation matters. We don't gather health kits because we are good people. We act in this way because it is the will of our Savior. This is how followers of Jesus follow the example of Jesus. It is not that we are better than others, or earn anything from our actions. To act with compassion and mercy is simply the way of following Jesus. Sharing our motivations is a powerful witness.

Ultimately, each individual follower of Jesus repaints the public image of Christians. You and me together make the reality of the Gospel apparent and true in our living and our sharing. So get out the paint remover, scrub away the negative and let the colors those committed to serving Jesus shine through.

Mike

Hope

2009-12-14T05:20:00.000-08:00

As a follower of Jesus I am a person of hope. Today hope seems counter intuitive. Disasters of epic proportion lurk around every corner (and seemingly before the corners as well). Global warming, nuclear terrorism, epidemics, biological weapons, collapse of economies, ecological systems, food chains and more all appear likely in the coming decades.

This would seem like a great time for hope if we were all anarchists. But for followers of the Prince of Peace to stay firmly rooted in hope is apparently out of touch with current reality. It is. For my hope is not built on this reality, but one revealed in the birth, life, death and resurrection of a savior. In this event a different reality broke into our world. One which offers hope, not based on what I can do, but on God.

In this season I watch for signs and reminders of this new reality, the kingdom of God, slipping into our midst. It comes in unexpected ways.
One of my favorite Christmas stories is of the Christmas Truce in 1914 during WWI. John McCutcheon wrote a song about this event. Here is a link to a YouTube video about it. Christmas in the Trenches

Watch for the kingdom slipping in during this Advent season.
Hold onto hope. Live out of that hope.
Advent Blessings,
Mike

My Prayer Companion Died This Morning.

2009-07-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

June 30, 2009

My prayer companion died this morning. Each morning as I prayed, Sam faithfully and quietly sat with me, joining in my time of silence and meditation. This would not seem like much until you realize that Sam was our cockatiel.

Sam was a member of our family for almost 16 years. He came into our family one Labor Day weekend, after an extensive search for a hand tamed, hand fed cockatiel. He was the last one in the pet store. The pet store owner didn’t seem to want to sell him and tried to offer us a lovebird instead.

Literature described cockatiels having a sweet demeanor. Sam never read the literature. He was often loud, demanding and opinionated. He had specific likes and dislikes and wasn’t afraid to express them. He insisted visiting family members greet him shortly after coming into the house. He liked fruit, vegetables and pasta, particularly if it came off of your plate.

Each morning he sat with me as I ate my breakfast, drank my coffee and read the paper. When I prepared to leave the table and go to my home office, he’d recognize the signs and begin to lobby to be taken with me. When I would enter my time of prayer, he quieted down until I was finished. I think he prayed with me (or maybe even for me).

Sam believed he was a human. I think he considered us kind of slow, because we couldn’t fly. He loved to fly, including buzzing his grounded family members.

He liked his head rubbed by selected family members and was willing to sit on the shoulder of knee of persons he chose for that honor. He was content to sit in his cage in the room with a family member. When we’d forgotten this, he’d scream until we remember and brought him into our room.

He liked classical music and didn’t like Tobymac.

Sam died this morning and I’ll miss him. He was my longest living pet. But even more he was my different specie friend who was always glad to see me. His absence leaves an empty space in our home and in my life.

Mike

Traveling Adventure Near Miss

2009-02-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

In the middle of the week, I decided to check on the bus schedule to Logan airport. I planned to catch a plane on Monday evening to Richmond, VA and attend the Extraordinary Leadership Training. (The name is a bit audacious, I admit. My goal is to become a good leader or at least a good enough leader.) This is my third and last year in the program. So I’ve made this trip seven other times. I’d purchased my plane tickets last October and had this date in my Palm for almost a year.

It was in the midst of checking the bus schedule that I realized something wasn’t right. In the past I’d traveled on Presidents Day. But my plans were to leave a week earlier. This led me to check my datebook, a recent email for the training and the website for the sponsoring organization.

Imagine my shock when I discovered I’d entered the date incorrectly. I was only a few days from another “traveling adventure” which would feature me standing at a retreat center around midnight with no place to go and no one to help me. I’m sure it would make a great story and glad I don’t get to tell it.

So why share this little story? I guess because I’m grateful to have missed this latest adventure. I wonder how many such near misses I never even notice.

Also I wonder about the opportunities I miss because I am not paying attention: opportunities for acts of kindness, for words of encouragement, for sharing my faith experience with someone else.

Maybe I’ll pay more attention this week so I don’t miss the opportunity to give thanks for near missed miss-adventures or to help someone else who wasn’t so lucky.

Mike

Who is my neighbor?

2008-12-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weeks’ circumstances have me asking the question: “Who is my neighbor?” My family spent four days without electrical power or heat during a recent ice storm. There was lots of company as our entire street and much of our town of Amesbury, MA was without power. (Just a note, some folks in this region are still without power, two weeks after the storm.)

We learned during the outage that you can heat a room with candles, the old Coleman camp stove still works and cold showers lose their charm very quickly.

My older son and daughter–in-law stayed with us during those days as well. So they also learned that I snore. (According to them it was a toss up whether my snoring or a chain saw was louder.)

All through the dark nights the rumble of portable generators accompanied my dreaming and my waking. Of the seven houses near us, 4 had generators. (I wonder it that was the noise my family thought was my snoring!)

After the return of power, I had opportunity to reflect on the entire event. Here are some of my observations:

When you are cold it is hard to think of much else.
The novelty of candle light wears off after a while.
None of my neighbors, who had generators, checked to see if any of the non-generator folks needed help.
Before I become too smug, I realized I didn’t check on any of my neighbors either. I at least had a warm room and warm beverages to offer.

When I listened to the stories of some folks from one of the churches my wife serves, I realized what a lousy neighbor I had been. One fellow told of checking with his neighbors up and down his street to see if they needed help. He had borrowed a generator, but only needed it for a few hours at a time. So he offered it to other to help warm up their homes and cool their food.

I realized this fellow had demonstrated what it means to follow Jesus, to be a true neighbor, far better than I. I took it to heart and began to think of ways to help my neighbors. I’ve already snow blown a driveway and helped dig out a water delivery truck stuck by the side of the road, because I want to be a better neighbor.

See how one example can inspire us all to a greater good. I think that is what followers of Jesus are all about, living in a way that inspires the best out of others.

Who is your neighbor? Jesus had something to say about that. Those who follow Jesus have something to do about it.

Just one person trying to reform his neighborly ways,

Mike

Christmas Challenge for Jesus' Followers

2008-12-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

How does a follower of Jesus celebrate the birth of Christ amidst the onslaught of a cultural Christmas?

This time of year offers the greatest challenge for followers of Jesus to remain or become more faithful. As our culture kicks into Christmas high gear, Jesus followers are challenged to step back and slow it down.

Over the years an unease with Christmas has grown in me. As our society places greater and greater emphasis on buying, giving gifts and getting gifts, we’ve moved farther away from anything to do with the birth of Jesus. The pressure to support the economy, purchase more, do more seemingly escalates each year.

So this year I am trying to approach the cultural Christmas as an outside observer. My primary observation is that we approach Santa as a god. Listen to the language used around Santa. It is religious language. In November, Macy’s Department Store took out a two page advertisement in the Boston Globe exhorting us to “believe” in Santa. Stories and movies about Santa hinge on people believing. Belief is even encouraged by adults. Santa has taken on mythical and mystical characteristics.

In a culture that centers around consumerism Santa is a perfect god. What do you do with Santa? You ask for gifts. What does Santa do for us? Santa brings us things. If you do not believe Santa is a god, try saying that Santa is not real in church. Then step back and prepare for the backlash.

I do not begrudge our culture it’s holiday. I think there are many good things about it. But I do not wish to confuse the cultural celebration with the birth of Jesus.

I invite you to step back from Santa and our cultural Christmas. Ask yourself what is a suitable way to celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. Feel free to share your ideas. Find those who will join you.

Perhaps these words from Dietrich Bonhoeffer will help:

Who will celebrate Christmas correctly?

Whoever finally lays down

all power, all honor,

all reputation, all vanity,

all arrogance, all individualism

beside the manger.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Christmas Already?

2008-11-17T04:28:00.001-08:00

Have you noticed? The Christmas barrage has begun. Right after Halloween I began to hear Christmas songs in the stores.
I sense a deeper anxiety around Christmas this year. Stores are worried people won't spend. Shoppers are worried they do not have enough to spend or dare not spend what they have.

Recently four young adults have posted a YouTube video inviting folks to rethink their Christmas giving. It is called "The Gift of Presence." Click here for the link.
They invite us to give our presence as a present this Christmas.
Watch it and let them know what you think.

Blessings,

Mike

P.S. For the sake of full disclosure, two of the young adults in the video are part of my family.

Leaf Drop

2008-11-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

Carpet of leaves
Rose up overnight
Blanketing my yard
Covering imperfections
Hiding anything left behind

Carpet of leaves
Funeral shroud of summer
End of this life cycle
Leaving behind branches bare
Preparing for new possibilities

Carpet of leaves
Herald of winter
Time to sleep
Sleep to renew
Awaiting what is yet to be
Food for the future

Carpet of leaves
Leaving behind what has been
Letting go of what was
To make room for what will be
Release my grip on the past
Let what has been
Become the food for what will be

Mike

Not More-Different!

2008-11-02T04:23:00.001-08:00

I'm in the thick of church conferences. As a District Superintendent I lead the annual meetings of the congregations I serve. Between late September and Christmas I will conduct around 30 church conferences. Currently I am around half way done(some may think I am really just half baked.)

One theme I try to share at these meetings relates to our changed reality and how the church needs to respond. I speak about focusing on moving out into the community rather than waiting for folks to come to us. During the question and answer time of the meeting I'll often hear a question like this; "Mike, our plates are already full. We have trouble finding enough people to do the things we already do. How can you ask us to do even more?"

It is a great question. I believe the answer is not doing more, it is doing different.
These times challenge us to focus our energies where they will have the greatest impact. Frankly, that is not in our church buildings. More committee meetings, fund raisers and church suppers will not make our church strong. Neither will they advance the Kingdom of God. Now before I get too much hate mail, I don't object to committees, church suppers or fund raisers in principle. But if we have to choose between doing things in the church or being out in the community, then going out should win out.

It is time for us in the church to do differently. It may mean we need to leave behind some long standing activities in order to respond to God's call into our communities. Recently one church in our District stopped a 60 year old tradition of meatball suppers in order to find the time and space to do something new. It was a hard decision, but the right one.

What different focus is God calling you to? It is time to do different! Listen up, God is speaking to you.

Grace & peace,
Mike

Reflections on a Haircut

2008-10-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week I broke down and sought professional assistance for hair control. Translated, I had my hair, what bit is left, cut. Since moving to Amesbury, I’ve settled on the local outlet of a national hair cutting chain as the location for my hair control assistance.

Several times, a young woman, who clearly lives on the edge, has cut my hair. During those visits I’ve learned a little about her. She grew up in Amesbury, but now lives in a neighboring city. She has no church back ground and t is not intimidated by cutting the hair of a pastor. (Sometimes once they learn I am a pastor, most, if not all conversation ceases.) She usually forgets about me between hair cuts.

This time she asked what I do for work. I explained that I am a United Methodist pastor who supervises other United Methodist pastors and churches. I mentioned that the United Methodist church in Amesbury was one of the ones I served.

Then she asked me the question which has me thinking; “Do you have all of them?” By all of them, she meant all the churches in Amesbury. She went on to share that she’d been in one church in town which she thought was incredibly beautiful.

I believe in her mind the churches were all one. Each related to the other. She had no knowledge of denominations, traditions and all the other ways we in the church divide ourselves up.

That is when it struck me. For someone outside the church, the church is the church is the church. There is little distinction between different denominations. To carry this the next step, when a church does something, it represents for them the action of entire Christian church

If one church is caring, generous or welcoming, it reflects on all churches. If one church is bigoted, judgmental or arrogant, it reflects on all churches.

This young woman understood what we so often forget, the Body of Christ is one body with many parts. I think the Apostle Paul had something to say about this.

As we go on with our competitiveness, petty fights and serious disagreements, the folks outside the church see it all very differently. They see us as one entity.

My hair stylist has challenged me to let go of some of my old prejudices and find new ways to relate and support my brothers and sisters in Christ who are not United Methodist. She has given my much to reflect upon (as well as a decent haircut).

I hope it will get you thinking as well.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Hospitality

2008-08-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I worshiped at HopeSpring, a satellite church of St. Luke’s UMC here in the Orlando region. They offered us a wonderful welcome. They understand hospitality. The lay volunteer responsible for the welcoming ministry shared with us this explanation; “Every time we receive the Lord’s Supper we experience God’s incredible hospitality, how can we do any less for those who come to us.”

What an incredible, simple and deep understanding of hospitality and the Lord’s Supper.

Why do we welcome the stranger? Because God welcomes us each time to the table. Pretty simple isn’t it!

Blessings,

Mike

What If?

2008-08-03T13:33:00.002-07:00

Since last Wednesday I’ve been in Orlando, FL, at the School of Congregational Development. There are 9 of us from the Tri-State District attending this event. We are meeting United Methodists from around the country.

I’d like to share some musing or reflections stimulated by this time of conversation and learning. Most of my musings are in the “what if” category.

Marcia McFee lead a workshop around music and new starts, but it was really about good worship. The first “What if”; What if you or I could walk into any church in our district (or in the conference, dare I dream in the country?) and experienced truly “great” worship? My idea of great worship is fairly simple. In great worship the presence of God’s Spirit is experienced. Good worship moves me beyond my self into the reality of God and deeper into genuine community. Remember, God as revealed in Trinity, is Community by God’s very nature. In good worship we are moved, comforted, challenged and in some way changed.

Carol Howard Merritt (tribalchurch.org) opened my eyes to the reality lived by young adults today. She challenged us to see the challenge many young adults face today and the incredible gifts they offer to the church. The second “What if”;
What if we embraced our young adults and youth(they are not the same) and made place for them in leadership in our churches? Of course that means change and letting go of power. I wonder if we can do it. I know we can not afford to not take the chance.

One theme I’ve heard is the importance of disciple making. This includes new persons coming to a life changing relationship with Christ and all believers growing into persons guided by Christ in all they do (disciples). A small group of faithful disciples could change a community. “What if” number three; What if each of our churches understood as a primary task to grow every participant to the fullest spiritual maturity possible for that person? Our churches would dramatically change. They’d become places which followed God’s lead into remarkable, risky ventures of mission and ministry. Buildings would no longer tie them to their spot or continually sap the energy and focus of a congregation. The old tension between personal piety and social witness would be mute.

What if? Here are some of my “What ifs” for now. More may come later.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Wall-E Go See

2008-08-03T13:33:00.001-07:00

Wall-E. Who would of thunk it! A garbage picking robot who teaches us about friendship, dedication, change and hope. Sure enough, Wall-E the star of the movie with the same name, does all of these things while entertaining us and making clear social commentary.

I won’t give away the plot or present a detailed review. There are folks who have already done this far better than I can. I will offer an endorsement. If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to go. You can even take your kids. It is a story about the earth literally buried in our garbage. It is a view of the future which is bleak but also hopeful.

Wall-E is fun. Wall-E is provocative. Wall-E will spin off all sorts of toys, etc. which ironically is a great example of what Wall-E warns us against.

Wall-E – go see.

Mike

(Enjoying the rapid growth of his garden and two weeks of vacation)

Off To Annual Conference Again!

2008-06-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

This week is the yearly meeting of the New England Annual Conference. I have attended sessions of annual conferences since 1974. My annual conference experiences include Western PA, Troy, Maine and New England. Some of those sessions were deeply political and sometimes deeply divided. Others contained inspiring worship and times when the agenda was interrupted by the unexpected in-breaking of the Spirit. Some sessions were engaging and some boring. Some times the annual conference contained all of the above.

Personally I long for a time when annual conference sessions are short on business and long on inspiration. I’d love to see delegates go home empowered, equipped and excited. I dream of annual conference becoming a launching pad for new energy and ministry for the coming year.

Now some of this occurs in our current form of conferencing. I appreciate the dedication and hard work of all who make our gathering possible. I do not believe our gather is a waste of time (at least most of the time). Still I dream of something more.

With all this said I’d like to make some simple suggestions for annual conference attendees. I think these may enhance the entire experience.

Make a new friend, particularly someone from a setting different from your own.

Learn something helpful for the ministry of your local church. Take advantage of the resources available in workshops, information tables and the people present from around New England.
Talk with someone who has a strongly held opinion different from your own—really listen to them and seek to understand their thinking. Seek them out with the attitude of learning from them. You’ll be richer for it. Our churches will be healthier if we learn to listen to each other and treat people with respect. Remember each person present is a beloved child of God and a person of faith.
Watch for Holy Spirit moments. You never know when the Spirit will break in.

If you are attending this upcoming session of the New England Annual Conference, I look forward to seeing you there. If not, please pray for us and pray for the church.

Mike

30 Years Ago

2008-05-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

This past week Jan and passed a mile stone, our 30^th anniversary. Please excuse me if I indulge in a little history. Jan and I met in 1976, on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, in the cafeteria of Conneaut Lake Amusement Park. Over a summer of working together we fell in love. A few months later we were engaged, and two years later, on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend we were joined in marriage. Little did we know what our married life would bring. Our plans were for me to finish my undergraduate degree and then attend seminary (Jan had graduated before we were married).

We’ve learned since those early days that plans change, particularly if you wish to follow God. During my final year of undergraduate school, Jan responded to a call to ordained ministry. So in 1979 we both started our studies at Drew Theological School and began the experiment of job sharing. This new plan grew from our desire to respond to our call to be parents and to be pastors.

Well the experiment has lasted 29 years and continues. Our calling brought us to Maine (a state I had never even visited) to serve churches in Newport and Detroit. We were the first United Methodist clergy couple in the Northeast to job share. We were warned that it would not work (“someone had to be in charge”) and our children would be seriously warped (“they needed to bond with their mother”). Still we chose to followed our calling to co-parenting and co-pastoring.

Again, after 23 years in the parish, following God took us places we never expected to go, to become co-district superintendents. This is the most challenging position I have ever held.

Looking back over these thirty years, I do not regret any of it. We’ve weathered challenges from within and without. Our children have grown up to be well adjusted, creative, caring, incredible adults (okay, so I am a little biased).

So is there some point to my nostalgic ramblings? Probably not. Maybe there is an invitation and a warning. Following God is an incredible way to live! God leads us to places we never imagined and to do things we did not know were possible. If you are a person who wants life all carefully laid out with an iron clad plan for the future, be forewarned, following God will make a mess of your plans. It has of mine and for that I am forever grateful.

Thirty years ago. Who would have thought it possible? I wonder what the next thirty will bring, probably something amazing, challenging and wonderful.

Blessings,

Mike

Teaching About Change

2008-05-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have a question for the five of you who read my blog. How would you teach a group of people about change? I mean the reality of change, the need for change and the way to change? Have you seen a video or watched a movie that invites people to recognize our changing reality or offers new ways to think about the world in which we live?

I am part of a team of people designing a presentation to share with over 700 people who are a part of United Methodist churches in the Tri-State District, where Jan and I serve. The presentation will be shared with groups as small as a dozen and as large as five dozen. Most will be over 45, many over 60 with a few under 30. The presentation will be 15 to 20 minutes long with additional time for discussion. It is intended to stimulate thought about the changing reality in which the church exists today.

So I’m looking for your thoughts, ideas, suggestions for video clips or entire videos and whatever resources you think might be helpful. Please post them here to stimulate our conversation.

Mike

In the Dirt

2008-04-20T04:45:00.000-07:00

I have cultivated vegetable gardens for over 20 years. When I move to a new parsonage, locating a garden plot and starting a compost pile are always high on the to-do list.

Gardening is something which grounds me to my past and connects me to mystery. Gardens were a part of my childhood experience. Some of my relatives are farmers. All of my grandparents had gardens. My family had gardens from time to time. Some of my earliest chores involved weeding in the garden and flower beds. A home seems incomplete for me with out vegetables growing somewhere.

Each spring, when I drop a teensy tiny seed into the earth, I am struck by mystery. There is no logical way some speck of a seed can become a tomato plant, a head of lettuce, a bush of beans, a exhaustive supply of zucchini. Yet, a few months later I enjoy the bounty resulting from that tiny seed. This is an encounter with wondrous mystery!

My garden keeps me grounded in the dirt. It helps me mark the passing of the years as I watch the soil grow dark and rich from years of compost. It calls me out of my work routine since even for a low maintenance gardener as my self must take time to pull weeds, tie up branches and pick produce.

The image of gardening permeates my understanding of ministry. In seminary my “theology of ministry” senior paper used gardening as the metaphor for pastoral ministry. (My professors were not overly excited by this.) Yet it remains my primary metaphor focusing on cultivating grow and new life, recognizing the possible fruits, balancing mutually beneficial relationships and practicing selective weeding. Some people have suggested I excel in the production and distribution of fertilizer. I’m not quite sure what they mean.

The garden reminds me of my part in the larger picture. It reminds me of mystery. It reminds me of my own limits and my partnership with the Giver of Life.

So as the days grow warmer you may find me more and more in my garden. If I talk to much about the wonders of compost or seem to proud of my pile of shredded leaves, please be patient. (Don’t even get me started on the profusion of earthworms!) See, it is part of who I am and how I stay connected to the Creator of this wondrous, mystery laden earth.

May you find your way to connect to the mystery of creation and the Creator.

Mike

A Sterile World: Pastors, Parishioners, Candidates

2008-03-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

A Sterile World: Pastors, Parishioners, Candidates

I’ve watched the debate over Sen. Barack Obama and his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright with some dismay. I’m distressed that our country, particularly politicians and media persons have such a limited understanding of the relationship of pastor and parishioner. In most Christian traditions one is not asked to check their brain and free will at the sanctuary door. Rather, preaching is meant to stimulate our thought, to challenge our complacencies and move us to respond. There is no assumption that the preacher’s word is the last word or the only word. I feel bad for the political figures in my former congregation if they were somehow held responsible for every sermon I preached!

While the lack of understanding of pastor-parishioner dynamics is disturbing, it points to something of greater concern. The standard we seem to hold for our highest political leader seems to be one which devalues exposure to a differing ideas. We ask our president to think in a narrow box. But we know that engaging ideas which are different (even opposite) our own broadens our world view and sharpens our own beliefs.

It is no different when it comes to faith. Engaging new ideas does not weaken our faith, but rather gives it new depths as we are forced to think more fully about our beliefs.

What would have happened if the media (and we) focused on what we could learn from the experience out of which Rev. Wright preaches. Those of us who are white would benefit from understanding the experience of those who are black. If we set aside our fears, imagine the new levels of understanding and empathy we might gain.

Also, the pressure to repudiate Rev. Wright speaks of a narrowness of relationship reserved only for those with whom we agree. In my own experience I have benefited greatly from friendships with persons who were on different sides of heartfelt issues. In the community of the church we recognize that we do not have to agree about our ideas to remain in Christian fellowship. (Of course sometimes we forget this in the church as well.)

I was impressed that Senator Obama was able to separate out the ideas from the person, rejecting one while still embracing the other. Do we really want leaders who only relate to people like themselves? Do we want leaders who are afraid of exposure to different, even radically different ideas from their own?

I for sure don’t!

Grace & peace,

Mike

A Test of Love

2008-02-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

I’m preparing to attend Quest Church Planter Training Intensive, a three day training around new church starts. A part of the pre-training preparation includes the reading of “A New Testament Trilogy”. I’ve not yet completed the book, but the following quote leapt out at me.

“The homogeneous church is not a picture of heaven but of earth dwellers who find it hard to relate to those who are different. Loving those like you, as worthy as it is, is not an award-winning activity. Jesus made it clear that even the Pharisees greet those that greet them. Or as Dallas Willard boldly asserts, the Mafia is nice to those that are nice to them. Loving those who are not like you and even those who abuse you and use you (Matthew 5:48) requires a supernatural Jesus-like love. This kind of love can only come from the person of the Holy Spirit in yielded hearts that long to reflect the truth and grace of God and exists between the persons of the Trinity. Maybe this has something to do with why the Church is America is so impotent to change our cities and communities. The love we employ is natural and centered more on the self than upon God, geared more towards personal fulfillment than the extension of God’s Kingdom, and tends to decline when not received, rewarded, or acknowledged. In this respect we are much more like the world in our practices and lifestyles. That is, those who have a sense of morality in the world.” A New Testament Trilogy, Our God, Ourselves, Our Community. Tom Johnston & Mike Chong Perkinson, pp.31-32.

Does this describe your church, your walk with God. I’ve seen it at work in many churches. We’ve learned to love those who are like us. Some congregations are very good at loving each other, but those who are unlike us, that is a more difficult proposition.

Try this simple test:

1. Imagine you came to church next week and someone was sitting in your pew (I know most of us have a regular pew). Your choice is to sit somewhere else or share the pew with this stranger. Imagine the kind of person with whom you would choose to share the pew. Imagine the kind of person with whom you would choose to sit somewhere else. In this scenario it is not an option to ask the person to move (even though I’ve heard and even witnessed such actions).

I suspect if we are truly honest there is a long list of persons we might choose to avoid. The are likely different from us in some way; age, sex, race, dress, hygiene, etc.

This could be a simple test of love. Are we willing to love them, not from afar, but right up close, shoulder to shoulder? By loving I do not mean a warm, fuzzy feeling, but a way of acting, behaving that is accepting, welcoming and caring.

1 John 4 reminds us:

My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God's children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him… But if we say we love God and don't love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don't love the people we can see?

I pray the time will come for you and me when others will know us as followers of Jesus by the way we love others, particularly those who are not like us.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Is this the place you would come if you did not already belong here?

2008-02-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

This great question is posed in a weekly email newsletter, “Leading Ideas”, created by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The Lewis Center is part of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. (Here is a link to their site: http://www.churchleadership.com/).

Is this a place you would come if you did not already belong here? This question invites not only a “yes” or “no” response, but an additional question; Why?

Why do you attend the church you attend?

Why would someone else wish to attend?

Is your (or my) reason for attending the same as someone who does not currently attend?

If you didn’t attend this church, would you attend another?

If so, which one? Why?

I invite you to think deeply and move beyond the simple first response. Share the question with others and listen to their response.

See what you can learn.

Mike

Where Are The Youth?

2008-02-01T05:29:00.000-08:00

I get asked that question all the time. It comes in many forms. Some ask why there are no youth in their church. Others ask why parents don’t bring their kids. One church even asked how they can make the kids like what they do.

I find it frustrating. Last time I checked most of our communities have schools and those schools; elementary, middle, high schools and colleges all have kids and young adults in them. I drive through communities and see kids playing. I drive by soccer fields and see all ages running around. So the problems isn’t that we’ve suddenly stopped having children. People in New England are still perpetuating the species and a reasonable rate.

This rant isn’t about blame. It seems we get hung up on blame. We blame parents, society, kids, sports, schools for the lack of people under 25 in our churches. But blaming hasn’t increased their numbers in our pews. If it did we’d have run out of space long ago.

So where are the youth? Maybe that is the wrong question. Rather where is the church? Do we really want youth in our church? What are we willing to do to reach them and bring them in? One church in this district provides a place for teens to hang out on Friday’s? Another has an active group which engages in mission activities. Some even have worship services geared to reach youth and young adults.

I am beginning to suspect that most of our congregations (of course that is us) don’t really want youth. We want the “idea” of youth who will then continue on what we are doing. But we are not willing to learn what they need or invest the time and resources to really reach out to them. How many of us have had a conversation with someone between the age of 12 – 18 in which we asked about their interests, listened to their ideas and paid attention to their concerns?

What kicked this off for me was another request from someone looking for a United Methodist church with youth or young adults. They are looking for a congregation who care about young adults and youth. I find it frustrating when I can not direct them to a place within 30 miles of their home, because none of our churches around them reach out to people between the ages of 15 and 25.

Does it frustrate you? Do you have a heart to do something about it in your church? Well, what are you waiting for?

Mike

Hey, if you are already engaged in an exciting outreach to youth, share it here. Talk back, let’s hear it.

Handle this Prayer with Care

2008-02-01T05:23:00.000-08:00

Wesley Covenant Prayer

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Do you realize, Lent is coming?

Two weeks from today is the beginning of the season of Lent. Traditionally, Lent is a time of preparation, preparation for Easter. It is a great time to take on a new spiritual practice. Many use it to do something that will refocus their lives closer to God. The tradition of giving up something for Lent, is really about shaking up the normal routine to refocus our lives on God.

Lent is a great time to try out fasting, tithing, intentional Bible study, service to others, prayer, daily devotion or many other spiritual disciplines. I’d like to offer one here, the Wesley Covenant prayer. This prayer, from John Wesley, offers a radical refocusing of life. It challenges us to dependence upon God. To place ourselves completely in God’s hands.

I offer it to you as a daily Lenten practice. Pray this prayer each day during Lent and see what happens. It is the kind of prayer we grow into. We might first pray with the intention that we will someday really mean it. That is okay. That is honest. The prayer challenges us to grow, to let go, to become more fully what God wants us to be.

Please be warned, this prayer when practiced regularly, will change your life. Pray it with care.

Blessings,

Mike

New Year

2008-01-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

New Year resolution. Hmm. How many New Year resolutions have I made in my life? A bunch. Actually bigger than a bunch. Maybe a whole bushel. (Been looking at seeds for my garden, can you tell?)

There are the usual resolutions: lose weight, eat right, take time off, watch less tv, read more, pray more, …

Some of those I’ve kept, some I’ve not.

But this year I feel the need for something different…something… well new! I resolve this year to learn something new: a new way to see the world, a new way to be a leader, explore some new way for the church to be a church, or maybe something about how I order my own life, my own priorities. I suspect you will hear about it if I do learn something new.

Do you have any resolutions you’d like to share?

One thing I do know is if we share them with someone else, we are more likely to keep them. Mutual accountability can be a wonderful way to keep us on track. Do you have someone in your life who holds you to your word? Who reminds you of your commitments? Who offers support, encouragement or a needed kick in the pants to help you keep on track?

I value those persons and those relationships in my life. They help keep me on the right path and call me back when I stray. In my life, the church community has often been a place of mutual accountability. It involves speaking the truth in love. It includes appropriate boundaries combined with tenacious (stubborn) commitment to relationship. It means loving someone enough to tell them the truth (particularly when it is hard and painful) and then sticking with them through the messy process of change. It means moving through forgiveness to real change and transformation.

Change. Maybe that is what the new year offers me (and you). The chance to change, to start over, to begin again, to move on, forward.. New year, new day…

“Behold, I make all things new.”

May this be a blessed new year.

Mike

Musings on Christmas Eve Day

2007-12-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve day. For most of my adult life it included frantic (okay sometimes it wasn’t frantic) preparation for multiple worship services, for Christmas day travels or meals, and all the last minute preparations I’d left till…well the last minute. There was the late night communion meditation to prepare. What do you say at 11:30 on Christmas Eve that will add meaning to the already wonderfully mysterious service? I love the late night communion service, where we are all mellowed by the activities of the day. Tired out, our defenses which keep the holy at bay, break down. God’s mystery and wonder slips in unannounced and unexpected to grace our gathering.

Since becoming a district superintendent I no longer have worship leadership responsibilities on Christmas Eve (or most other times). For the first time in my adult life I am free to travel and be with family or friends. Also for the first time I do not have a church home. As I reflect on those holy Christmas moments I recognize that most happen in the context of a community of faith where I know others and am known by others intimately. God breaks in most fully in my life through others. So while I attend services of worship celebrating the birth of our Savior, something will be missing for me. I will enjoy the time worshiping with my family. But I will miss the connection that comes from sharing tears, struggles, laughter and celebrations in a community of faith.

Tonight, folks will show up at your church who have not been there in a year. Some will come simply seeking a connection with their past or because it is a tradition. Some will come out of a longing for an experience of the holy, of God breaking into their midst and their lives. Still others will come because somewhere deep inside they long for the type of loving community the idea of church offers, even if it doesn’t always live it out.

I hope in the midst of this holy day you will find time to invite someone into the fellowship of your congregation. And I pray you will experience the holy moments which come with this day. Even if you read this after Christmas Eve (all three of you who read this blog) it isn’t too late to welcome the stranger, the guest, the visitor into your community of faith. For you have something mysterious, wonderful and holy to offer.

Blessed Christmas to you all.

Mike

Tis the Season

2007-11-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well the orgy of shopping, eating and spending has begun. Let me confess that I struggle with this time of year. It is not that I am a grinch (at least I don’t think so). I feel the tug toward indulgent spending (more like a push) coming from stores and institutions. Heck, one of my traditions is to go out with one of my sons on Black Friday to grab great deals (usually the computer type deals).

But where does it all end? When is enough stuff, enough stuff? Is there more to this “season” than shopping?

What if we in the church were willing to use this season to set us apart, counter to the prevailing culture (actually the prevailing religion of consumerism)? First, it would take brave souls to tackle Santa and gift giving. I know from personal experience that in many churches Santa is sacred. I think Santa is actually the perfect representation of a ‘god’ for our culture. Santa is one who encourages us to ask for “things”, particularly things for ourselves. We protect the belief that Santa is real by lying to our children. Movies show us miracles of caring and getting that Santa performs. (Those who know me, know I could go on and on and on about this…)

What if we gave up the presents and gave away the money we would have spent? If an entire church fellowship did this, think about the mission possibilities! How many mosquito nets would that buy for Africa? How many heifers would it purchase to feed hungry families for years to come? How many micro loans would it provide to help families work their way out of poverty? (For the answers look up : Nothing But Nets, Heifer Project, Kiva.org)

I wonder if we are willing to make these kind of changes. To use this season teach our children and grandchildren that Advent and Christmas is a time to share our wealth to improve the lives of others. Would we dare to show the world how followers of Jesus seek to live as disciples?

Now I know some will find these ideas disturbing, even insulting. Yet it seems to me it is time for the church to be different, to show our neighbors and communities our true values. To walk the walk of Jesus.

A couple of decades ago a campaign started by asking, “Who’s birthday is it anyway?” Well that is still a great question and a good place to start. In answering it are we willing to do something bold for Jesus.

Mike

Will We Get It? Part 2

2007-11-12T17:08:00.000-08:00

847

847 leaders of the United Methodist Church (UMC) gathered last weekend for 2½ days of meeting together. (see prior posts for more about this.) Will it make a difference for the future of the UMC?

That is one of the questions. But first and foremost, will it make a difference in me? That is the fundamental question. Will I do my work differently? Will I view my superintending with different goals in mind? Will I live my discipleship in a more focused manner?

Why is my own response the first issue? There are several reasons. First, ultimately there is only one person I can change, me. I have the ability to adapt, grow, adjust, mature, and grow into the person God made me to be. This is my first responsibility.

Secondly, as I have learned about human systems, I’ve learned that when one person changes it affects the entire system. What I do truly makes a difference. So my changing will help change everything. (This is not unique to me, it is just as true for you!)

So maybe I am beginning to get it. I will in the next days and weeks seriously contemplate and strategize the ways I wish to change myself and my leadership. I will look for ways to empower the pastors and churches I serve. I will seek greater openness to God’s Spirit at work in our midst. When doubt and fear arrive, I will not run away, but turn to the one who has conquered the worst the world can throw at us.

So let me invite you to begin a conversation. (The “you” are the two or so people who read this blog.) What do you imagine as ways superintendents could better support, equip, and nurture change in your setting? If you could design the role of DS what would it look like? Would you do away with superintendents? Would you remake the role?

And if you have suggestion for this specific superintendent, lets hear them as well.

Help me, help all of us, to “get it!”

Mike

Blessings at 35,000 Feet

2007-11-12T17:04:00.001-08:00

I am writing this from seat 28F on a 737 zipping through the airspace between Cincinnati and Boston. It is a beautiful day at 35,000 feet. Of course I expected to be traveling this route last night instead of this morning. We (my traveling companions and I) enjoyed a stay a the Marriot last night, complements of Delta Airlines.

Air travel helps me practice letting go of the illusion of control. It is almost always an adventure. I have no control over when a flight leaves, a computer crashes, or air traffic backs up. I can’t guarantee my arrival or departure time.

But I continue to learn from my traveling companions how to practice graciousness and friendliness. I’m learning to find a kind word for those who are serving me and my traveling needs. (Amazing how far a kind word can go.)

This morning I realize what I have that so many do not. I had a place to sleep last night, a meal (even if a 10:30 supper is not a normal part of my schedule) and knowledge that I would eventually get home. While Delta provided some of those things, if push came to shove, I could have provided them for myself. How many people do not know where they will sleep each night, or when they will get another meal? I am truly blessed.

There is a little ditty which goes; Count your blessing, count them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done…

When I remember to count my blessings, I cultivate gratitude in my heart. Gratitude for the blessings in my life and the One who blesses me.

Gratitude leads me to compassion for others who are not as blessed. Compassion leads me to acts of mercy. All lead me to God.

So here I am, 35,000 feet above the ground, saying thanks to my Maker for the blessings of this day.

I pray you find blessings in your day.

Mike

Signs of Hope!

2007-11-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

I’m at the gathering of extended cabinets from around the world. There are 847 church leaders meeting this weekend to worship, learn, share, and pray together. I’ve heard excellent speakers from around the world challenge us to reclaim our center and to embrace the United Methodist Way. Today we were challenged to begin change with ourselves.

The United Methodist Way is summarized by three general rules:

Do no harm.
Do good.
Stay in love with God

I’ll unpack these later, but they are simple rules from our heritage which center and ground us as disciples of Jesus Christ.

I haven’t decided if we in leadership “get it.” But I hear more people asking good questions and willing to at least begin to change. There is much for me to think about. I hope to share more and reflect more later on.

I’ve enjoyed worship. Incredible singing and great preaching can do a lot for my soul.

Watch for more reflections in the coming days.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Will We Get It?

2007-11-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Will We Get It?

This weekend United Methodist Cabinets will be gathered at Lake Junaluska, NC for a meeting titled: The United Methodist Way: A Convocation of Extended Cabinets. As I understand it the reason we are meeting is “To strengthen our diverse congregations through connectional leadership and to learn to adapt conference leadership roles to the 21st century.” (Here is a link to the resources we’ve used to prepare for the meeting; http://www.gbod.org/extendedcabinet)

I am interested to listen and learn from my colleagues from other conferences. How do they view the present situation of the UMC? What changes do they see necessary for the future of the church? What innovative ideas and approaches will be generated by this gathering? Ultimately will it make any difference.

During these two years of superintending I’ve spent a lot of time reading and listening to present day thinkers about best management practices, new ways to approach our changing situations, leadership, ministry etc. Out of this has come a growing conviction that change is not only necessary but possible.

Here are some of my thoughts about the needs and future directions of the UMC. They carry no official weight. They are not policy or polity. They are not even complete developed ideas. I reserve the right to change them at any time, as new information arises. So with all those disclaimers let me share:

Everything begins at the local church level. Any significant change will happen one congregation at a time. Ministry and mission begins between two people in relationship with each other. So the appropriate focus for change is the local church.

It is time to reconsider guaranteed appointments. I surprise myself with this idea. Guaranteed appointments have opened doors for persons who might have been pushed aside in ministry. I know this to be true for women in ministry. But the guarantee of employment has taken the drive out of some of our pastoral leaders. Once in the club (ordination and full membership) then the incentive to continue to learn, grow, adapt and change is diminished. Few pastors were trained to provide the type of innovative leadership churches need today. Almost all pastors need to be retrained and retooled. Guaranteed appointments is a disincentive to do this hard work.

I believe it is time for a change. For persons unwilling or unable to make the necessary changes to become effective pastors we need to offer a graceful way to help them discover new ways to live out their discipleship outside of pastoral leadership.

I grieve our failure to continue nurturing our church members in their discipleship. We seem to believe that once confirmed or out of high school the work of disciple building is over. The result is a lot of church folk with arrested development as followers of Jesus. Disciple building is a life long process. It never ends. Remember we are the folks who believe that we are “going on to Christian perfection!”

I’ll share my rant about how we treat youth in the church in another blog, but let me just say, it is another area that needs significant change.

We have to find ways to streamline the administration of the church at all levels so it can be nimble and able to respond rapidly to changing needs as well as new opportunities. This includes finding new ways to use information technology to share information and to reduce time spent on paper work.

I would love to see the work of the district superintendent move away from a focus on administrative paperwork /report gathering and responding to complaints. I’d like to see more time and focus on assisting churches who want to grow and change.

Well, I invite you to comment, to add to the list.

I will try to blog next week about the gathering. Please keep the meeting and the extended cabinet in your prayers.

Grace & peace,

Mike

What Does the Church Have to Offer Patriot Fans?

2007-09-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

For at least 40 years I have been a football fan. I am a one-team-at-a-time fan. During my formative years I followed the Pittsburgh Steelers (during the 1970’s). Those were great years to be a Steelers fan. I watched as the team grew into a powerhouse. During my Pittsburgh time I celebrated four Super Bowl wins. When I moved to Maine, in 1982 I transferred my loyalties to the New England Patriots. It took a little while, but once more I was able to follow this exciting team as they won three Super Bowls.

Why do I follow football (and baseball and basketball)? I’ve wondered about that. I spend hours watching different players as they play hard, improve and sometimes even mature into superstars. I’ve always admired those who give it their all. I especially like those who have to try harder because they are too short, too small, too slow or just do not fit the ideal model of a professional athlete. (It could be because I’ve always been most of those “toos” in my sporting activities.) I give my allegiance to a team. I try to stick with them through the joy of victory and the pain of defeat, through the ups and downs which come to every team.

So this last week I found myself hurt and disappointed when I learned my football team was cheating. Now before we go into all the rationalization about “everyone does whatever it takes” and “pro sports are about winning at all cost,” let me say I’m hurt. People I have admired have fallen in my eyes. They have cast doubt on a remarkable team and on the validity of my loyalty. So I am hurt.

What does my faith and my church have to say to all of this?

First, we all fall short. No one lives a perfect life. No one is immune to the pressures of fame and the fear of failure.

Secondly, what we do affects other. This cheating scandal does not merely affect the head coach. It splatters all the coaches, players and employees of the New England Patriots. We fans wear a bit of it as well. I am reminded that we are interconnected, one to the other. We do not live isolated lives. So when we sin others are hurt by our sin.

Thirdly, there is a place for repentance and forgiveness. This does not mean forgive and forget. Rather forgive and care enough to help see it does not happen again. To repent is to change, to turn around, to go a different way. Only time will tell if true repentance takes place. But, at its best the church is a place which offers both forgiveness and the possibility to change. True Christian community doesn’t simply let it go, but encourages and supports persons on the hard road to change.

Finally, trust is something which is earned. Following a betrayal it has to be re-earned. This takes time. Christian community is a place where we take the time to be committed to each other through the long process of forgiveness, repentance, change and renewal of trust.

On the grand scale of things, this incident in the life of a football team is not that important. After all it is only a game. But it reminds us of the importance of honesty, of maintaining trust, the power of sin to hurt far beyond the individual and the possibility for new life.

What does the church have to offer the Patriot fans? Certainly not a place where everyone is perfect and no one sins. But just maybe a place where we can heal together. At its best it offers a community who sticks by each other, honestly, lovingly helping each to grow into the person God has made them to be.

This week I am hurt and angry that the team I’ve given my loyalty has betrayed my trust. But I’m going to hang in and watch for signs of change. I bet many fans will do the same.

If a church or someone in the church has failed you, betrayed a trust, fallen short, I hope you will give it another chance. Seek out a community of faith which seeks to be faithful and loving to each other. It will be marked by truth telling, mutual accountability all shaped by compassion and love. They are out there. Such communities of faith are a gift from God. They are a gift for you.

Grace & peace,

Mike

To Screen or Not to Screen: That is NOT the Question!

2007-08-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship maintains a worship resource page , http://www.gbod.org/worship with many wonderful and thought provoking resources. Recently in their “music” section, Dean McIntyre released a music musings titled: “To Screen or Not to Screen.” His article has sparked this rant, I mean these thoughts. The article is about the pros and cons of using projection screens in worship. Unfortunately, from the beginning the article seems destined to come down on the cons side. I invite you to read the article and decide for yourself. (You can find the article at www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45224&loc_id=17,823).

I have serious problems with the article which I could address point by point, but will refrain in this blog. ( I invite both of you who read my blog to read the article and post what you think.). You see for me the question is not whether or not to use video projection but rather a deeper question; Are we willing to step out of the 1950s and create worship which speaks to most people today? That is the real question.

We live in a visual, video age. In 1950 only 9% of U.S. households owned TVs. Today over 98% own TVs. On average households watch over 8 hours of TV a day. It does not matter whether we think this is good or bad (that is a topic for another blog). Rather this is simply our reality. To ignore the use of projection, video and other forms of communication is to be irrelevant for a significant portion of our population.

For me the issue of projection or not projection is only the symptom of a greater problem; our failure to adapt to these changing times and to find ways to creatively use these new resources in worship and ministry. Adding projection to our worship only brings us up to the technology and reality of the 1980s (which is an improvement over our current 1950s practices). To completely ignore the use of this technology is to write off at least two generations of potential worshipers.

All of this illustrates the need for us to wrap our heads and hearts around change. We can no longer afford to pretend the changes in our world do not exist or will simply go away. They keep on happening and leave us farther behind.

I am not suggesting video projection is a fix for lousy worship. It is not. Done poorly it is a distraction and detriment to worship. But done well it enhances and enriches the worship experience.

By the way, in my experience projection does not simply appeal to youth and young adults. I hear older adults, particularly those with vision difficulties talk about how they can now see the words. I’ve seen adults who can not read music begin singing because they can follow the words. Persons new to the church can sing the songs and prayers “everybody knows” because the words are in front of them. (Remember we are rapidly approaching a time, if we are not already there, when the majority of people do not even know the Lord’s Prayer.)

I hope you will think about creative ways to respond to the changes in our world including the use of current technology to enhance the worship and ministry of the church.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Homesick-- Camp—Community

2007-08-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

I spent last week with 8,9 and 10 year old boys and girls at Camp Mechuwana as a counselor. It was a great time, though I am still recovering from my sleep deficit. This group of campers were much easier than prior years.

Each night I read to my cabin of boys “The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. They enjoyed the story. Each day one of them would ask if I’d read to them again that night. Reading out loud is a powerful experience. In this age of video games, DVDs and television there is still room for a story read to a group of kids. I read by flashlight in a dark room so they were free to let their minds picture the entire story. It took me back to days when I read to my sons, perched on my lap, soaking in each word. We spent hours together like this. Time well spent.

I was privileged to walk the journey of homesickness with some of my campers. You may remember those days. The strangeness of a new place and the longing for the familiar which strikes in waves of sadness and tears. As I listened to my campers, I shared my own stories of being away from home and the techniques I used to combat my own homesickness. I was reminded of the intensity of feelings and how an understanding ear would make such a difference.

I wonder about our own homesickness. Do you ever feel that longing to be in a familiar place, a place where you are loved, a place where you are simply you? I feel it from time to time. Even though I am now two years in my new town and new home, I find myself longing for what was but is no longer my home.

Sometimes, I find myself wondering if there is any place of home for me? Sometimes it is as if there is no place I truly fit in.

I’ve read authors who suggest this is a part of our longing for the Kingdom yet to come, the new heaven and new earth. That could be, I don’t know. What I do know is it raises a longing in me for community. I think lost of folks long for true community, where others care for us, where we are accepted as we are, where there is commitment to love and sacrifice for one another. I’ve experienced that once in a church. I believe it is what the church is meant to be. It is one thing the church can offer our world. And perhaps that is why it is so disappointing when a church community is characterized by bitterness, prejudice, anger, selfishness, mistrust and strife. The loss of potential community feels so much greater then.

Maybe this is why the camp experience is so powerful and transformative. For a week we get to live in community as we hoped it would be. Even if it is short lived, it changes us.

So I’m a little tired this week. But it is a comforting tired, because for a week I was privileged to be a member of a camp community. I’m better for it. So are the kids.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Car Dealers Do a Better Job!

2007-07-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

Jan and I bought a car this Saturday. The purchase was the culmination of over a month of research, email conversations and planning. It has been a while since we purchased a car and much has changed since then. The biggest change is the internet. All of our research was done on the net. No more visiting lot after lot. No more subjecting ourselves to multiple salespersons playing the car purchase game. Instead, I reviewed the available cars from dealers in a 30 mile radius of our home without ever leaving my study. I entered my desired make, model, price, and mileage parameters and out came my selection. I read reviews of different dealerships from customers. All in all it was a good experience (not something I’ve often said about car buying.)

On Saturday night I tried to decide which church to attend for worship on Sunday. I selected a congregation and sought the most basic information, the time of the service. First, I searched the internet for a webpage and found a page which was two years out of date (even had the wrong pastor listed) which told me summer worship was at 9 AM. I called the church and the answering machine told me 10:30 AM. I checked the conference website which confirmed 9 AM. I looked up a listing in the local paper which offered 10 AM as the option of the week. It took a phone call to the church on Sunday morning to find the correct worship time.

If this was a unique experience I’d would not even mention it. But this is a common experience for me. As a district superintendent I have incentive to be persistent and stubborn. Usually I find out the correct information. Of course I have also arrived at a church to find out I am a half hour too late or an hour early.

But what if I were a visitor coming to your church for the first time? Well frankly, I probably would not even come. I’d chose some place with a current website and a clear time for worship.

At the dealership where we purchased our car one salesperson told me they are required to answer all emails within 3 business hours. This was my experience. Even emails sent late in the business day were almost always responded to within an hour. The information on their web pages were up to date and included times for business, contact information and directions.

Frankly, compared to most of our churches the dealerships do it better. They really want visitors to come to their showrooms. They try to make the showrooms hospitable with refreshments, play rooms for kids and more. Someone greeted us at the door and more than one person inquired if we were being helped.

Car dealers know that they exist for those outside their business. If no one new came to their business they would go out of business. When someone new walks through the door, they try to do everything in their power to make a sale. They are passionate about selling cars.

Golly-gee couldn’t we in the church have at least this much passion about the Good News of Jesus? Don’t we have something far more satisfying than cars to offer people? We have the life changing, transforming power of Christ which can make any life new, heal any hurt, give meaning to any life. We have a community of grace and love to offer them. Yet we won’t even bother to make sure they can easily find the time we worship together! (I won’t even go into how we welcome them.)

Some churches are doing a good job, a small few are doing an excellent job at this simple task of basic hospitality and welcome. Most are doing a poor job.

Right now car dealerships beat us, hands down at this very simple and basic task. Good for them, not so good for us.

By the way, when people ask, I will tell them about the good experience we had with this dealership. Visitors do the same thing with your church. This old adage is true. “If a customer has a bad experience they tell 20 people. If they have a good experience they will tell 2.

So what are visitors telling others about your church? How many never even make it to your doors?

Grace & peace,

Mike

It is Not Small versus Big

2007-06-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Every year, since I have been attending sessions of Annual Conferences (over 30 years now) I have heard some speech regarding how the small churches are not being treated fairly and the big churches have it so much better. Usually the topic has something to do with the cost of keeping a full time pastor. This year it struck me, perhaps for the first time (which shows how slow I am) that the very framing of the question misses the real issue.

Somehow most of us in the church have come to believe that the goal of smaller congregations is to have their “own” full time pastor. The sign of success and health became supporting a full time pastor. Tied to this belief is a second belief that if the church has a full time pastor then she or he will grow the church and take care of the ministry needs of the congregation.

Now as a district superintendent I have witnessed what happens when a church tries to support far more pastoral ministry than they can afford. The church ends up spending most of its time struggling to raise the needed dollars and less time on ministry, fellowship, evangelism and mission. When the pastor, sustained by these heroic efforts, does not provide the desired growth and stability, the congregation becomes disheartened, frustrated and angry. Often there is a sense of failure on the part of the congregation and the pastor. Sometimes it feels like we cast around for the perfect match of pastor and congregation which will make this formula work. This rarely happens because the formula is flawed.

I believe we need to look at this from a different angle. Our problem isn’t that the cost of supporting a pastor is too high. The truth is, at the current levels of financial support, a congregation needs a minimum of 120 persons in worship to support a full time pastor. We do not have enough people in most of our churches to support full time pastoral ministry. Our answer to the problem is not simply to shift ministry costs to other congregations. It is to change our understanding of what success means for a local church.

The model of the pastor as the person who does the ministry of the church simply does not work in most of our churches. In fact, I think it is harmful to the growth of disciples for Jesus Christ within our congregations. Rather than the church empowering one person to do its ministry, let the church, with the help of its pastoral leadership empower its members to be in ministry to the community, the world and each other.

This is a dramatic shift in our thought processes and our values. It recognizes our goal as making disciples for the transformation of the world, not growing congregations large enough to support full time pastors. It honors the ministry of all believers. It measures the health and vitality of a church by the lives changed not simply the pastors supported. It calls for a different focus by pastors as they become the leaders responsible to help equip, nurture and send out new and renewed disciples.

I hope to live long enough to witness the session of annual conference when small versus big is not even mentioned. I dream for a time when we wrestle how to deploy in ministry to the world an over abundance of enthusiastic, committed disciples of Jesus. I imagine at the same time we will struggle to figure out the best ways to use all the extra money we’ve receive as well.

Maybe I’m a dreamer. I do dream of that new heaven and new earth, the Kingdom of God Christ invites us to participate in now and into eternity.

Won’t you dream the dreams of God with me?

Mike

Do we get it yet?

2007-06-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting around to some more reflections on the recent session of annual conference. There was much to celebrate, some of which I mentioned in the last blog. This time I want to share my unease. I was disturbed by our voting for delegates to General Conference, in particular the clergy votes. I guess I am naïve, but I really long for a voting process which is open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and not one dominated by lobbying groups. I do not intend to make disparaging remarks about any of the elected persons. After all, I was elected an alternate to the Jurisdictional conference. My concern is the way we went about it. I long for a day when voting is done free from the lobbying and organizing I witnessed this year. I wonder what our methods for insuring “our” candidates are chosen says about our trust in God.

Yes I was endorsed by an lobbying organization. No I was not consulted before the endorsement. It is not that I am opposed to the organization, but that I do not wish to be label as anything more than one who seeks to follow Christ and to be a faithful member of Christ’s body. More and more I find our labels like liberal, progressive, conservative, evangelical, pro-… to be of little value. I don’t fit into any one of those categories very well. I fit in most of them somewhat.

The elections are over. And so is this little rant. What I invite persons from every stripe to do is pray. Pray for each other. Pray for the church. Pray for those different than us. Seems to me the church needs it. I know we need it.

Will you join me in prayer for the church?

Mike

Bleary Eyed at Conference

2007-06-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

I’m not a marathon runner, but conference often feels that way. Fatigue sets in. But it is not a weariness of spirit. It is from a lack of sleep and long days.

I’m reminded of the community of which I am a part. A community which is diverse, compassionate, and generous. The singing is incredible. The laughter is contagious.

I’ve been surprised by times of tears. Must be getting older. I watch the ordination service, knowing the journey some of those new pastors have traveled and my eyes filled with tears. They are filled with such joy, such enthusiasm, such hope. I pray they hold onto it and build upon it.

I listened to the names called in the memorial service and recognized far to many. Lives lived so well. Friends who have gone on. Churches which are no more.

The preachers have moved me to hold onto hope, broaden my perspective, listen for new life coming to dry bones.

Most of all, I am reminded of this community of faith. Long time friendships renewed. New one formed. Acts of compassion. Words of welcome. Hugs of hope. This is what it is finally all about for me. To be in community, relationship with others. Even though we do not agree on many things, we are community. Community communing with the one God.

The mystery of the Trinity reminds me that the very nature of God is community. I have come to believe that community is an essential component of being a Christian.

So where do you find community? Where can you create Christian community?

More reflections later.

Bleary eyed but still awake,

Mike

News from AC or I Should be Paying Attention

2007-06-07T05:43:00.001-07:00

I'm at Annual Conference the rest of this week. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with our system, this is the annual gathering of New England United Methodists, with lay and clergy delegates. We worship, pray, discuss, report, learn, network, shoot the breeze during the next 3 days. This year we also elect delegates to national and regional quadrennial gatherings.

I come to conference with mixed feelings. It can be an interesting, exciting, inspiring time. It can also be numbingly boring. Most likely there we will have some of both.
During the week, I will try to blog, with some thoughts and reflections. For both of you who read my blog, I hope it offers something worth reading, or at least a way to waste 10 minutes of your day.

More to come.
Mike

We Just...

2007-04-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve been thinking about the phrase, often used in prayer. It goes; “God, we just ask…” “We just.” What does this phrase say about how we think of God or about prayer? “We just” sounds like it is something insignificant… But Mom, we just went down the street for a minute.” “I’ll just whip up something for supper.”

So what does it imply when we address the Supreme Being of the all existence, the Source of all life, the Holy One, and say; “We just…” It suggests a lack of seriousness, of respect. Seems to me prayer is a little more significant than “just” would imply. a

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not a big fan of long, elaborate prayers using language I barely understand. ( Maybe I’m not a fan of such prayers because I can’t create prayers like that or because they bore me.)

I like the idea that prayer is conversation with God, spending time with God. (I don’t believe we have to say anything to pray.) But this is not an insignificant activity! Spending time with the Creator of the universe seems pretty significant to me.

Or if I pray to Jesus, my friend, my brother, I still think it is deserving of the same respect I’d give to any other friend or family member. (“Gee I had nothing better to do so I thought I just spend a little time with you.” Somehow that just doesn’t do it for me.)

If I am praying for the healing of someone who is sick, do I want to say, ‘I just ask you to bring healing to ____” as if it really isn’t a big deal or that important. If I long for God to intervene then my prayer ought to reflect it. I can’t recall any of the Psalms saying “we just”. They speak with passion, energy and conviction.

Ok, I don’t want to make too much of this. But you get my drift. Don’t “just “ pray. Pray from the heart. Don’t “just” come into God’s presence, really be present with God.

Does it bother God? Some how I doubt it. But it says something about me when I “just” God. So I’m going to try to be conscious of what I say when I pray.

Just think about it, okay?

Grace & peace,

Mike

Panera Ponderings

2007-03-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

Panera Bread in South Portland is my office away from the office. They offer me coffee, free internet, a lively spot to meet folks and do work between meetings and meals. The place is set up to encourage folks to sit and visit (and of course eat.) The food is good, the coffee hot.

Now I don’t receive a kick back from them, but I must say I like their model. I am impressed by the folks who end up here. There are always lots of young adults. Some on computers, some studying, lots just talking with friends. There is a far representation of middle aged folks as well. Almost every time I am here I see people conducting business meetings and interviews.

I don’t know much about their business model, but they have found a niche for a successful business. According to their website there are now more than 1020 Panera Bread bakery-cafes in 38 states.

So what can we learn from Panera:

1. Atmosphere matters. The atmosphere we create makes a difference. It is true for restaurants, meeting places and for churches. What is the atmosphere in your church? If I came into your church would I feel welcomed or excluded? Would my first impression be of a place long past its prime or a place hopping with life, energy and vibrancy?

2. Know your niche. What is your niche in the community? Who is it that you wish to reach? Does the atmosphere of your church appeal to the folks you wish to reach? For instance if you want to reach people with young children is your nursery the nicest room in the building?

3. Offer something others do not. I eat and work at Panera because of the free wireless internet and the no hassle attitude. What does your church offer that others do not. It might be a program, class, service, unique mission opportunity, etc.

4. Don’t be afraid to change and rearrange. I’ve watch this Panera remodel, rearrange their seating and reconfigure their process for ordering food. How often do we change the way we do things in the church? Is the attitude in your church “Let’s give it a try and see what happens!” or “We’ve never done it that way before!”?

5. Be genuine. Don’t claim to be what you are not. If you are not a welcoming place for visitors, don’t claim it. If you don’t really value children or are afraid they will mess up your building, don’t claim to be child friendly. False advertising creates hard feelings.

Of course, the church is not a store, restaurant or bakery. But we can learn from those places and how they reach out to persons. Pay attention to the atmosphere, advertising, service of the establishments you frequent. See what you can apply from those places to your own situation. I bet it will make for interesting conversations.

So for now, I’m sitting in Panera, drinking coffee, writing and checking my email.

Blessings,

Mike

10 Ways to Keep Your Church Hidden

2007-03-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

My son Ben pointed me to a blog the other day titled Church Redone. The author identifies himself as “Joshua, a twenty-something guy on the east coast’ who is about figuring out what it means to follow Jesus. In a recent blog, “10 Ways to Keep Me from Discovering Church”, he identified 10 ways many churches (maybe your own) makes it hard for young adults (and just about everyone else) from connecting to a church. . The link is; http://www.churchredone.com/ where you can find all the details. Here is the list:

Don’t have a website .
Be completely inactive in the community
Don’t answer your phone
Allow misinformation :
Lack clear signage :
Have insufficient parking/seating
Ignore Visitors :
Respond half-heartedly to inquiries
Be evasive about your beliefs
Lie to me

I hope you will take Joshua’s experience to heart. How can you help other discover your church. Many of our congregation are wonderful but simply do not reach out to those outside their doors. Long gone are the days when most people will simply walk in off the street. Long gone are the days (if they ever were) when “everyone” knows the time of services, that worship changes times in the summer, even which door to enter to get into the sanctuary.

With Easter around the corner, how will you be more welcoming to those seeking a faith connection?

Blessings,

Mike

Practice, Practice, Practice

2007-02-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

This week I skipped town for a continuing education program in Richmond, VA. The program is titled “Extraordinary Leadership Training.” Now I signed up, not because I am or will ever become an extraordinary leader, but I’d like to become a better leader. The three year program will teach me about Bowen Family Systems Theory. The theory challenges me to work on myself and my family connections. I can sum it up briefly and inadequately as “learn, learn, learn, practice, practice, practice.

The program has taught me that leaders offer non-anxious presence and by doing so reduces the anxiety of the entire group. Little did I know how much I’d get to practice on my trip home. Fortunately for me, my colleague traveling with me, is well versed in offering a non-anxious presence.

Let me simply say, we arrived at the Richmond airport over 2 hours before our scheduled departure. We were flying to Cincinnati, in order to fly to Boston. (I could write a series of blogs regarding the special logic of air travel including simple ideas such as: to travel east you must first go west and it is cheaper to fly round trip than one way. I believe air travel log makes up a entirely separate branch of philosophy, logic, mathematics and physics!)

Upon arrival I went to a handy check-in kiosk only to discover it could not find our reservation. So we stood in line. After 20-30 minutes of non movement in the line, the long line, security personnel asked everyone on our side of the terminal to move to the other side of the building. We waited for probably 45 minutes before we were allowed to return. Two hours later we had missed our flight, while waiting in line but had lots of practice of non-anxious presence.

After enjoying a night (well really about 2/3rds of a night) at a local motel, compliments of Delta Airlines our saga continued. I’ll spare the rest of the details, but it proved to be a wonderful opportunity practicing staying calm, focused and finding humor in the entire experience.

So where am I headed with my ramblings? How often do we approach the challenges of life as an opportunity to practice what we believe? Do you see each day as a chance to become a little better person? I’d like to say I see each day this way, but one of my principles for living is to tell the truth. Still, I’d like to approach each day as a learning opportunity and each challenge as a chance to grow a little more.

The same is true for our faith. How do saints become such wonderful, solid, grounded persons who seem to exude the love of God? They practice. Their lives and ours are made up of individual opportunities to live what we truly believe. We become a sum of those opportunities.

This week I’m going to practice, practice, practice being a follower of Jesus Christ. How about you?

Grace & peace,

Mike

Miracle Stories

2007-02-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

The other day as I attended a worship service in one of the churches I serve,
a guest preacher, shared about the miracle of healing in her life.I have seen dramatic healing, so I have no doubt such miracles occur. But as I reflected, I realized how limited our view of miracles can be. The miraculous, life giving power of God is not limited to the dramatic removal of a dreaded disease. Nor in my experience is the removal or the continuation of such a disease determined by the amount of faith of the victim and/or their loved ones. Too often, there seems to be an equation, “faith x prayer = healing.” The theory goes, if you just have enough faith then the healing happens. I call it the vending machine approach. You put enough currency into the slot, pull the selected lever and out pops the miracle.

I have lots of problems with this approach. First, it suggests we have some control over God. That is, if we just insert the correct spiritual/faith currency then God will have to do what we want. My life experience tells me it doesn’t work this way. God is God. We are not. Seems to me this is important to remember.

Secondly, the corollary to the first belief implies if there is no miracle, as we sought, then the problem is ours. We simply do not have enough faith. If we’d had enough faith then God would have healed the loved one, performed that miracle. So it is our fault. This belief suffers from the same faulty reasoning as the first because it still places us in control of God. It has the added feature of assessing blame and assigning guilt to the person who sought the miracle.

Finally, for me, this approach to God’s power forgets the reality of mystery. Miracles and healing are a mystery. Mystery is a critical part of faith. Life is mysterious. We do not have it all figured out and that is a good thing.

Before I leave these musings, let me say that I believe in miracles. I’ve seen dramatic healing of body, mind, spirit and relationships which clearly involved the mysterious life giving power of God. I have experienced them in my own life and participated in them in my ministry.

Where do you find the miraculous in your life?

Where have you seen the incredible, life giving, healing power of God at work?

Are you open to mystery?

Grace & peace,

Mike

Reflections on 50

2007-01-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

Today I reached a sort of milestone in my life, I turned 50. I am not sure what to feel or think about such an event, but a few things come to mind.

-Fifty is not as old as I used to think. I remember when 50 seemed ancient, but not any more. It does take a little adjustment in my mental clock, but just minor. Sure my body has changed, but it has been changing all of my life.

-After fifty years of living I think I’ve learned a few things: like how to make a good pizza, change the oil in the car, identify an albino chickadee (there is one which visits the feeder daily), how to say “thank you”, the simple pleasure of a walk in the woods, how to laugh and not take myself too seriously.

-After fifty years you’d think I’d learn not to: always look at my stomach in the mirror, get intimidated by angry people, over eat, worry about things I have no control over, leave piles of papers all over my office.

-Some other things I’ve learned; beauty is truly from the inside out, God is faithful and trustworthy, some kinds of grief always hurt, there is no greater treasure than the love of another, love gets better with practice and time, forgiveness is a gift which keeps on giving, gossip is also a gift which keeps on giving, a loving family is priceless…

So here I am, 50, over half way in this life. Today I know 50 is a great age to be (but so is 51, 61…). I feel so blessed.

I hope this day will be a blessing for you.

Grace & peace,

Mike

Why I am a Christian, part 2

2007-01-28T05:33:00.001-08:00

In an earlier post I offered a challenge to create a response to the question; "Why am I a Christian?" of 100 words or less and could be understood by someone who was not familiar with church, Christian faith and all the special language of faith.

Here is my most recent attempt to answer the question in 100 words or less. As I reflect on the true core of my faith it has come down to this expression.

What do you think?

I invite you to give the exercise a shot as well.

So here it is. Why I am a Christian.

I am a Christian because of Love. The Bible says: “God is love.” I have experienced the love of God in Jesus Christ in my own life. It has come when I was most unlovable and least deserving of love, as followers of Jesus loved me anyway.. Love inspires, challenges and motivates me to love others, particularly those who I would rather not love. I am continually changed by this love and I see it change others. It is in the church I experience and participated in this kind of radical loving. I choose to follow Christ because of love.

Grace & peace,
Mike

Why are you a Christian? -100 Words or Less

2007-01-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Can you do it? In 100 words or less can you state why you are a Christian?

To make it even more challenging, write it as if you are sharing your statement with someone who is not a Christian. So you can’t use unfamiliar theological or church terms. It has to make sense to someone with little or no experience with the church or Christian faith.

It also must be from the heart and not preachy. This is not why someone else should be a Christian, but why you are a follower of Jesus.

When you think you’ve completed the statement, share it with someone else and ask them to critique it. Then go back and perfect it.

If you’d like to share your final version with us, post it as a comment to my blog for others to see.

Finally, I challenge you to memorize it, so when the opportunity arises you can share it with someone who is not a Christian.

Right now, my statement is down to 300 words, so I’ve a ways to go before it is ready to be posted.

Will you take the challenge?

Grace & Peace,

Mike

Prayer for the day

2006-12-21T05:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a prayer for today I found in "A Time to Pray: 365 Classic Prayers to help you through the year." This prayer is by Huub Oosterhus.

Let us pray for all those, throughout the world, who believe in the Gospel:
That they may grow in grace and humanity.
Let us also pray for all churches, that they may not lay up treasures on earth or become
monuments to a past age,
Clinging to what is already dead and remote from people of today,
But that they may be converted and receive the spirit of Jesus, our Lord,
who is the light and life, hope and peace of this world, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessings,
Mike

Cultural Christmas or Christian Celebration

2006-12-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday while traveling along coastal Maine I passed what looked like a church building with a big sign outside proclaiming “pictures with Santa”. I was moving along and didn’t see if it was an active church or just a church like building turned into something else.

What struck me was the juxtaposition of a religious building and Santa. This symbolic joining crystallized in my mind what I’ve know for a long time; Santa and Christmas are perfect representatives of our cultural religion. If we step aside and pay attention we can see it plainly. The Holiday celebration now fully represents our cultural values and beliefs. These include the necessity to buy things, the spiritual satisfaction of gift giving and getting, the appropriateness of over-spending to name a few.

A colleague of mine shared the news story at the end of this blog. Briefly, the Hillsboro, NH, Christmas Tea was cancelled after the pastor of the church hosting the event asked to read the Christmas story from the gospels along with “The Night Before Christmas.” The quote below comes from an article published by the Concord Monitor (see the link below):

"Andrea Kaubris, administrative assistant to the Chamber of Commerce, said sponsoring a religious event would violate the Chamber's bylaws, which require it to remain nonsectarian. Even though the holiday is Christian, Kaubris said the celebration is "a commercialized treatment of Christmas just because that's what the whole Christmas season has come to. It's about the kids, and it's about the merchants in town."

Rather than bemoan the loss of Christmas to the culture, I suggest we reclaim it in our homes and churches. Let the culture have its Holiday celebration, but let us offer something different. Let us offer Christ, Emmanuel. Leave Santa and all his trappings to the culture and offer the real Hope of the World to our communities.

Let us use this time as an opening to share the good news. For many know the secular holiday does not satisfy their spiritual need. Buying lots of things does not fill the hole in our soul. Christmas parties does not quench our longing for true community. Mistletoe does not meet our needs for intimate relationships.

We are bearers of the light of Christ, heralds of Hope, voices crying out in the wilderness for the people of our community and world. There is still time in this season to find ways to share the coming of Christ to others. How will you celebrate Emanuel? Will others see the difference?

Grace & Peace,

Mike

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/REPOSITORY/611300334/1025/LIVING04

Secret Santa-- What about not so secret Christians?

2006-12-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

Below is a news story in the Chicago Tribune which has me thinking. It is about Larry Stewart, secret Santa. I do not know his religious preference or if he even has any. What I do recognize is his desire to bring joy, unexpected joy, to people in the Christmas season. Take a look at the article.

While I have grave concerns about the commercialism of this time of year and about Santa, I am moved by the acts of generosity which we often witness between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This season seems to call out the best and the worst in us. We will read stories like Larry’s as well as stories of fist fights in store isles over some popular toy.

Stories like the one below are wonderful. But Jesus challenges us to live this kind of compassion and concern year round, not just for the last 6 weeks of each year.

I wonder what we as followers of Jesus have to offer to this annual event. I wonder what we will do to safeguard ourselves from turning the birth of our Savior into a orgy of shopping, buying and eating. Sometimes I want to celebrate Christmas after the hoopla is over and the sales have all come to an end. I long for a Christmas celebration of the holy moment in history, when God chose to become one with us.

I can go on and on about Christmas, but I’ll spare you. If you’d like, feel free to respond in the comments section by sharing a way you keep Christ at the center of your Christmas.

Grace & Peace,

Mike

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0611200186nov20,1,7295152.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Forget Kriss Kringle-- Santa's name is Larry

By Maria Sudekum Fisher

Associated Press

November 20, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa has roamed the

streets every December quietly giving people money.

He started with $5 and $10 bills. As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret

Santa has been handing out $100 bills to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots.

So far he's given out about $1.3 million. It's been a long-held holiday mystery: Who is Secret Santa?

But now, weak from chemotherapy and armed with a desire to pass on his belief in random

kindness, Secret Santa has decided it's time to reveal his identity.

He is Larry Stewart, a 58-year-old businessman from the Kansas City suburb of Lee's

Summit, Mo., who made his millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service.

His holiday giving started in December 1979, when he was nursing his wounds at a drive-in

restaurant after getting fired.

"It was cold and this carhop didn't have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think

I got it bad. She's out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,"' he said.

He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change.

"And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She

said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me."'

Stewart went to the bank that day and took out $200. He's hit the streets each December

since.

He allowed the news media to tag along. Reporters had to agree to guard his identity and not name his company.

NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus will join Stewart this year in Chicago when Stewart hands out $100s in honor of Buck

O'Neil, the first African-American coach in the major league baseball.

Doctors told Stewart in April that he had cancer of the esophagus and it had spread to his liver.

Now Stewart wants to inspire others to be generous. "That's what we're here for," he says, "to help other people out."

Joy

2006-11-08T05:41:00.000-08:00

As I travel around to local churches I am often struck by the difference I find in congregations. It has little to do with the order of worship, the condition of the church building, the size of the congregation or the geographic location.

When I enter a church and watch the interaction of its participants I look for signs of joy.

Is there laughter in the air? Do they seem to have fun? Do they take themselves too seriously? Do I find JOY breaking out among them.

Such a simple thing, yet so telling. John Wesley once said “Sour godliness is the devil’s religion.” I think he was right. We are people of the resurrection. What greater joy is there!

Joy is not flippant, unspiritual or disrespectful. It is a sign of the Spirit at work in our midst. God brings joy to our lives. God invites us to bring joy to others. One sign of someone who is deeply in love with Christ is the presence of joy in their lives. They bring it with them. It seeps out of them where ever they go.

Sometime, when you are in the midst of your congregation, close your eyes and listen. Do you detect signs of joy? If not, it is time to have some fun together, to laugh together, celebrate together, give thanks together. Often little children can help us because joy comes so naturally to them. Include them in your worship, in your gathering times, in your conversations and let them lead you into joy.

May the joy of the Lord be upon you!

Grace & Peace,

Mike

What If?

2006-09-17T05:54:00.000-07:00

The scene is repeated in some form across many of our churches. Groups of teens and young adults congregate, in parking lots, on church lawns or front steps. Sometimes they are noisy. Sometimes they are skateboarding. Sometimes they are smoking. They talk, they joke around, they run around, they listen to loud music.Some where unusual clothing, sport physics defying hairdos,

Adults are often intimidated by them. Usually someone tries to run them off. We talk about them in negative ways We strategize how to get them to change or adapt to us or to leave. .

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

What if we saw those kids not as a nuisance, but as an opportunity? What if we thought of them as the most important people in our community?
What if? What if we saw them as Jesus waiting outside our doors?

So many churches bemoan that there are no kids in their church. What if we saw that as our fault rather than the fault of parents, children or society? I do not know of a single church in our district who have no children or youth in their community. Even if the “kids” are not gathered on our lawns, but in a local park, at the strip mall parking lot or some local hangout, they still represent a mission opportunity.

What if we made it our mission to reach those precious children of God? Why, we might just change our communities. I know it would change us and our congregations.

What if you decided today to make it your mission?

Grace & Peace,

Mike

Tipping Point— More Ruminations at School of Congregational Development

2006-08-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

8-7-08

Yesterday I attended worship at First UMC, Chula Vista, CA. Following worship, we learned about the church, their history and the ministry.

First impression was their welcome. Greeters met us outside the sanctuary, inside the vestibule, at the door. They were there to answer questions, direct us to important places like the sanctuary and rest rooms. Printed information was everywhere. Their men’s ministry even had a poster in the men’s bathroom. (I don’t know what was in the women’s restroom.) Many of the regular worshipers went out of their way to welcome us as well.

Worship was celebratory and upbeat. The hymns, some traditional and some more contemporary, we sung at a tempo quicker than I was accustomed. It contributed to the feeling of life and vitality. (Just a thought to us at home.)

In the afternoon, I learned about their history. About 12 years ago, the congregation reached a crossroads. They were in a slow & steady decline. The neighborhood around their location had changed dramatically. They had few children or youth present. (Does any of this sound familiar?)

The congregation began visioning for the future. A realtor reminded them of the significant equity they had in their property. On the east side of town significant growth was projected. After a process that was less than perfect, but well intentioned they came to a time of vote to stay or not. The vote to move passed by 2 votes! They decided to move forward with the move and when they did, a third of the congregation stayed behind.

Now, I would not move forward on such a critical decision with such a close vote. I would have required a much larger majority. In talking with the folks from the church, it was not clear they believed they could have reached consensus in a short period of time. It is clear if they had waited till now, their congregation would have lost the chance to move to their present location because of the cost of land.

I think about how slow we in the church make decisions. Sometimes I fear we use our indecisiveness as a way to maintain the status quo. What opportunities have your congregation missed to be in ministry because they waited too long?

There has to be ways for congregations to make quicker decisions, while allowing time to discern and build consensus. Do you have ideas about this? How has it worked in your experience?

Ultimately, it is about taking risks. And our fear of risks taking is a reflection on our faith. Do we believe all things are possible with God? Do we believe God is faith, whether we succeed or fail?

I do not have any simple answers. But just wanted to share my ruminations.

What do you think?

Grace & peace,

Mike

Ruminations from San Diego

2006-08-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ruminations from the School of Congregational Development

Friday, August 4, 2006

I’m currently attending the School of Congregational Development of the United Methodist Church in San Diego, California. This 6 day gathering of over 600 United Methodists features speakers and workshops designed to help revitalize churches. There is a special series of workshops for District Superintendents. I’m hoping to come back with new ideas to help me be more effective in my ministry with congregations and pastors I serve.

I have no intention to even try to summarize or capture all that is happening. Rather, here are some random thoughts and musings.

First, what good planning, to come to San Diego, where there are gentle breezes and balmy days, just as a serious wave of heat and humidity hit New England.

Last night, during supper we were entertained by Tongan dancers, demonstrating dance styles from many different South Pacific cultures. What a treat and a reminder of the broadness of the UMC. In fact, this entire event reminds me how much larger the United Methodist Church is than our little churches.

Today, in morning worship, we prayed in a way different to me. We sang a simple song, then during singing interludes let projected news clips call us to prayer. It was a powerful way to pray.

What are we so afraid of? Really, what are we so afraid in our churches that we will not take risks, risks to minister in new ways, to try new styles of worship, to try something different. We are so timid. It causes me to pause. Dare I suggest for us all, me included, it is really an issue of faith. I am reminded that when faith is called for in the Bible, when messengers from God arrive on the seen, the message often begins; “Do not be afraid.”

Perhaps we need to hear that for ourselves; Do not be afraid.

From San Diego,

Mike

Engagement Announced -Life Changes

2006-08-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

Blog 8-3-06

My oldest son, Ben, announced his engagement to his long time best friend, Melissa, last weekend. Jan and I are very excited. Melissa is a wonderful woman. We’ve come to know her over the last few years and welcome her into our family. Their plans call for an August 2007 wedding.

Ben & Melissa’s announcement has given me pause about phases in life. Their impending wedding brings changes in our lives as well. Our time of active parenting is coming to an end with Ben. He is ready to step out an be an independent adult. We, while always parents, will serve in a more consulting/support role. Not that we haven’t functioned that way before now, but the emphasis is different.

Parenting has been for me an incredible challenge and a wonderful gift. As a parent I’ve helped shape two wonderful children into exceptional adults. (Hey, parents are not required to be unbiased!) In the process, Ben and Matt have helped shape me. They’ve helped me be more compassionate, open, joyful, disciplined, and humble. They showed me the wonder and mystery of our world, helped me heal from old childhood hurts, challenged my long held prejudices, and even taught me how to whistle. While parenting them I’ve seen my best side and my worst side. I’ve learned what is to be loved and forgiven even when I didn’t deserve it.

I’ve not been a perfect parent. None of us are. But I hope I’ve learned to be a good parent. I’ve also come to appreciated, even more fully, those who parent under difficult situations.

Parenting is not for everyone. That is not a judgmental statement, but just the way it is. Parenting is not intended to be a solitary occupation. Along the way, our parenting has been supported and supplemented by many caring adults; family members and church community members.

So while parenting is not for everyone, everyone can be a friend to a child and support for a for a frazzled parent. We all know a child who needs an adopted aunt or uncle. We know a teenager who needs someone who will offer a listening ear and unconditional acceptance. We know a parent who needs a break for a little while or a word of encouragement when things are going hard.

(If no one comes to mind for you, then I challenge you to begin looking in your neighborhood, in your church, at work, at school, wherever you spend time. They are out there.)

As I look back over this blog, I could have talked about the joys and challenges of marriage. Oh well, maybe another time.

Wishing God’s richest blessings on Ben and Melissa, and all who are entering married life together,

Mike

A Week at Camp

2006-07-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

I recently spent a week with 9, 10, and 11 year olds at Camp Mechuwana, a United Methodist camp in central Maine. I’ve wanted to be a counselor at the camp for years, but never quite worked it out. So this summer, I found myself, responsible for 6 boys in my cabin. Our cabin held the distinction at one point of the lowest score in the “cleanest cabin” daily contest. I believe I can say, without a doubt, I had the dirtiest, loudest and smelliest cabin. We scored a whopping 5 points out of a possible 17.

The week was tiring and rewarding. We were on the go much of the day. Each adult counselor shared responsibility for the safety and nurture of each camper. My most commonly used phrases included:

“Walk!”

“It is time to quiet down.”

“Put down that stick.”

“Wow that looks great!”

“Nice job.”

“Please pass the______.” ,

“You guys were great!”

I think you get the idea. Camp counseling for me is an exercise of offering nurture and grace while keeping the campers safe. Sometimes a difficult task. It seemed the kids that were the most challenging were often the kids who needed love, acceptance and grace the most.

I want to tell you about one camper. I’ll call him Tim (not his real name). Tim lives in foster care. I do not know his circumstances, but could tell right off he would be a challenge. Tim loves creepy crawling things. He spent hours hunting for moths, slugs, beetles, crawfish, and frogs. His single-mindedness enabled him to be quite successful in his hunting. It also led him to wander off, to not relate well to other children and to keep his counselors always on guard.

He had a hard time staying with the group. More than once we were dispatched to find him, after he had disappeared. It is not that he sought to be difficult, but rather he marched to a different drummer than the rest of us.

A couple of times, I had to speak with him about staying with the group. I explained that he was important and special to us. We didn’t want to lose him or have him become injured. His reply each time was “I’m not important.” “No one thinks I’m special.” I assured him that we did. But he did not believe me.

Much happened during the week for Tim. A particularly heart wrenching episode involved forcing him to give up the live frog someone discovered in his pocket. You see, Tim considered his captured creatures his only friends. Tim was heartbroken and furious at the loss of his friend. Once again, in our conversation, he stated that no one thought he was important.

Saturday morning the parents began to arrive. Some couldn’t wait to get out of their cars and run up to their kids. I watched several big hugs and remembered the times we had done the same with our sons.

When Tim’s foster parents arrived it was a different story. Neither got out of the car to give Tim a hug and ask him about his week. In fact, it was only after his counselor had trouble opening the van door that any attempt was made to get out. Before Tim left, I got down and hugged him. I said, “Tim, I am so glad you came to camp. You always remember you are a special boy.” I think he said yes. But that may be wishful thinking altering a painful memory. As he rode off, to my surprise tears blurred my vision.

I do not know what will happen to Tim. I’d like to hope he’ll remember my words, the fun at camp, and that at least for a week a bunch of adults thought he was special.

Tim reminded me why camp is such a vital ministry of the church. A week at camp, for some of campers, is the best week of their year. That alone makes it all worthwhile. Camps like Mechuwana are only possible because adults choose to share a week of the summer as a volunteer counselor. I thank all of you who have ever been a camp counselor. You have touched my life, and the lives of kids like Tim.

Maybe you have a story of a church camp experience, as a camper or a counselor. I invite you to share it with us as a response to this blog.

New Wine Skins

2006-06-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I keep talking to the churches I serve about the changing world and our need to adapt and change. So this is an experiment in new technology. I'll use this blog to share musings and invite your comment. My hope is we will engage in a fun and fruitful dialog. Remember in blogs, spelling doesn't count!

Mike