14 November 2010

We weren't expecting it.

Traffic was flowing slowly along main street as we approached Earl Avenue. The light was green, but the cars pulling away from the light had not all moved, yet, so the cars ahead of us suddenly stopped. I hit the brakes hard, and we stopped with several feet to spare between us and the car ahead of us. Unfortunately, the Jeep behind me didn't get stopped in time. Neither did the Chevy Cobalt behind him. Crash. Then crash again.

It wasn't a hard hit. No one was injured. The Jeep was pretty much unscathed. The Cobalt got a smashed nose. Our Camry got a dented rear bumper. It was not the end of the world. The other drivers were polite. No one was torqued off.

But the accident did alter things a bit. We waited a few minutes for the Lafayette police to arrive. The officer was very business-like. We waited a while longer while she took our licenses, insurance cards and registrations and filed the report from a laptop in the patrol car. Finally, she presented us with printouts of the accident report. Technology DOES have some nice advantages!

We were told we needed to contact our insurance agents within the next 24 hours so they could confirm with the State of Indiana that we all three had insurance coverage. Finally, about an hour after the accident, we drove off. I went to my insurance office to report the accident and ask them to file the required proof of insurance.

It was the first time I had been in the insurance office since I moved to Dayton.  I had done the transfer from Kokomo by phone. I walked in to find three desks. A delightful young lady name Carrie at the center desk began to process the proof of insurance on-line (did I say that technology DOES have some nice advantages?). Suddenly the young man at the desk to the left said, "I'm glad you weren't hurt, Pastor Mike." I turned and found he attends Dayton Church! And the young lady at the desk to the right also said, "I've been coming on Monday nights." I recognized her once I really looked her way.

It turns out they have been "working on"  Carrie to get her to try Dayton Church. We ended up having a delightful conversation about the things our church offers, and our Monday night service. It sounds like she's going to give us a try. Go figure.

The interruption of our morning ended up in a winsome, invitational conversation with one of the staff at my insurance office that may lead to her coming to Church. Isn't God amazing?

In the meantime, we wait for the insurance company of the driver that hit our car to contact us and let us know about the procedure for getting estimates, getting the work done, renting a replacement car and the like. And we pray for Carrie to come to Church. And we thank God that the thing that looked like an interruption was really an opportunity.

God is good...all the time!

7 November 2010

I can't tell you how many times I've heard the expression. I've seen it in print. I've heard it from people who don't attend a church. I've heard the complaint when I speak about money in a sermon.

"All that Church wants is my money."

Many times, I believe these words are spoken by folks who feel like they have been forgotten. When we don't feel cared for, it can be easy to begin to think we mean nothing but money to others. Like the dad who has teenagers and sometimes feel like "daddy ATM."

Other times, I know the statement is defensive. We can begin to think along these lines: It's my money, the Church wants it, and I have to protect it. If I give substantially more to the Church than I am now, I would have to change something in my life. We end up accusing the Pastor or Church or Jesus of something that is simply not true.

As a Pastor, the truth is that the people of my Church mean FAR more to me than money. I don't want more folks to come to my Church so there will be more money. I want more folks to come to my Church so God can love them and they can discover the love and forgiveness and hope that is in Christ. People matter. Not their money. THEY matter. To God. To the Church. To me.

But there's another sense in which that statement, "All the Church wants is my money," has it wrong. Jesus is interested in far MORE than our money. He wants US. He wants the kind of love relationship with us that NOTHING becomes more important to us than He is. He wants us to find victory over EVERYTHING that keeps us in chains of addiction, fear, evil and death. He wants our SOULS. Not to destroy us. Not as trophies. Not for selfish glory for Himself. But for all the love and joy and peace and forgiveness and hope we find when everything is given over to Him.

So yes, the Church is interested in our money, because money is an important component of life, and all of life is meant to be lived in relationship to Jesus. So don't let money keep your heart from Him. Get to know some real, live Christians in a real, live Church, and you just might find that God has a real, live love for you.  All of you.

I'm just saying...

26 October 2010

Next Tuesday is Election Day.  Whatever party one favors or positions one adopts, it calls for prayer.

Politics in the United States has, perhaps, always been contentious. But it seems to me in my lifetime we have become increasingly polarized and argumentative. Debate has given way to debasement. A candidate who simply states their own position and respectfully points out where they differ from their opponent seems to have become a relic.

These elections will be fascinating to watch and very, very important in their outcome. The results could leave us with Democratic majorities in tact in the House and Senate, and a mandate to continue the present course of our nation. Or the results could leave us with the House or Senate, or both, having a Republican majority, which would put a huge check on the direction we are headed. While the hot issue of the 2008 election was the war on terror, the hot issues now are certainly the economy, and particularly jobs, along with the increasing national debt/deficit.

I do not have the gift of prophecy, but I will predict that our country will remain deeply divided, no matter what the outcome of this election. The huge problems we face will take all the commitment and creativity we can muster to find solutions that work. And whatever solution is tried, one side or the other will rail against its chances of success and even its fairness.

So in this time of history and this political climate, how does a Christian vote? Prayerfully. Thoughtfully. Humbly. I believe God calls us to inform ourselves and pray before we cast our ballot. I believe God would have us vote by our convictions, not just by self-interest. I believe God calls us to pray for WHOEVER is elected. They will need guidance and direction from God to tackle the huge issues of our day.

I'm going to vote next Tuesday. I'm going to pray before and after I vote. I'm going to remain respectful in any conversations I have about the election and the issues. I'm going to do my best to act like a Christian-citizen who bears the right to vote with responsibility and courage. I hope and pray that others will do the same.

17 Oct 2010

In life, active people simply get more done.

The active voter makes a difference in an election. The non-voter does not.  It's better to vote! The active parent builds stronger relationships with their children, and has more influence in their education, their character development and their lives. The uninvolved parents does not.  It's better to be active!  Physically active people have less trouble maintaining healthy weight and strength. Physically passive people have more trouble. It's better to be active.

What is true in so many areas of life is also true in faith. Active followers of Jesus are happier and healthier in their faith. Passive followers wonder why they never quite reach deep levels of trust and belief. It's better to be active.

Active Christians intentionally carve time out of busy lives to read Scripture, to pray, to worship and to serve. Passive Christians allow the rush of the world to carry them along to the point of frustration and frazzlement! (I know frazzlement is not a real word, but I like the sound of it, and I hope you understand my point.) Active believers invest themselves in service and growth. Passive people hold back and say, "But no one asked me..."

Becoming active can seem like a mountain when one is used to being passive. But God will help us if we want to change, and mountains can be conquered one step at a time. Just as I might ask myself, "What is one step I could take to organize my desk or eat more healthy food?" I can ask, "What is one step I can take to be active in growing my faith?"

I can take time to pray today. I can find a church and attend (No, the roof will NOT fall in.  Really.) I can volunteer at a food bank or help build a Habitat for Humanity house. I can turn off the TV for an hour and read the Bible. (If you never have, look up "Gospel of John" in the table of contents and start there.) I may not be the Richard Simmons of faith (don't even say it!), but I can do something to grow closer to God.

And I promise, if you actively seek God, you will find Him. He says so! (Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.")

Active or passive?  It's really up to each one of us. But the truth is:  it's better to be active!