The World's Okayest Pastor

Today’s reading from the book of Job ends the lectionary’s readings for the book and we won’t see it come up again very much for a couple of years. Job is a book that should cause us to pause and wonder about what is going on with our canon. Why was this book included in the 37 that became the Christian Old Testament? We begin the Christian Bible by reading of the good works that God does in creation (noting that they are all good and that God was pleased), walking with God’s chosen people, and taking care of the people. And although God does get upset with God’s people, much like a parent gets upset with their child; God never stops loving all of creation. Then we hit the book of Job and well the image that one can read doesn’t sound like the God we’ve come to know and love. God has taken a pious man, a man who has done well for himself and his family and seems to put him through the ringer. Job’s family and wife are removed from him; he loses his possessions, and just seems to be a ...

Luke 17:5-10The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea', and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'" This section of Luke is part of a 4 part saying series of Jesus in the Gospel. This particular section is Jesus questioning the Disciples. Now as we’ve seen throughout several Gospel accounts the disciples are a group...

This summer has been one for a lot of reflection; some good and others bad. Everyone has their own obstacles to overcome and I'm no stranger to this. This has been a summer full of people coming and going. Some have caused me tears and frustration while others have been a breath of fresh air and nourishing to my soul. To borrow a saying from Tyler Perry's movie/play "Madea Goes To Jail" people are like trees. Some people are like leaves, the wind blows they're over here and then the wind blows again and they're over there. At the end of the season they wither up and go away. Some people are like the branches, they may appear to be strong but once you go out there with them they break and you're left hanging or falling. But other people they're the trunk and the roots. They're grounded; they're looking out for you and your best interest. When something doesn't go so well between the two of you they at least find a way to say sorry. Not many ...

One of my favorite drinks is a Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade from Sonic. And in thinking about why I love this drink so much it occurred to me that it could be used as a metaphor for God. So bear with me because here we go. The Route 44 is something that is known in one form in the beginning, like God the Creator. It is good just the way it is, perfect really. It doesn’t need to change but because this drink (God) is so good it does change. When you finish consuming your Route 44 Limeade you are then left with the ice, a lime wedge and a cherry in the bottom. The ice begins to melt and you get a bonus drink, a new way to experience the drink. You get flavored water (would be like God deciding to dwell on earth in Jesus Christ as a new way for creation to know God). And then when the water is finished you are left with a new way to experience the drink – the consumption of the cherry and sucking on the lime wedge. This drink gives us a third way to experience the goodness just like God ...

Communication has gotten easier some say with text messaging, cell phones and all of the stuff on the internet. I use them all and love them. Probably would go crazy (yes I know some are saying I already am crazy) without it. With all of this communication stuff around us, why does it seem like the Church and churches still can’t communicate? Once upon a time churches used letters, newsletters and calling trees and people seemed to know what they needed to know. Today we have even more means of contacting people and they still want to claim that “I never knew that.” Ironic. Another issue I see the Church having is that people want to take social media forums that are designed to help promote the churches using them and turn them into places to vent frustrations and their problems with the church. I was never marketing major but from what I understand don’t you want to put your best self image out there? What would attract someone to a church were the social media page is littered wit...

I am an American; born here in the USA, lived here all of my life. I do like this country. I don’t always agree with the way it works or who’s running it but I’m here and I know that there are millions of people who are less fortunate in the world then me. I am thankful that I have the rights that I have and the access to so much. I know the “Star Spangled Banner” and I sing patriotic songs and like most of them. However, on July 4th Sunday (or the Sunday closest to the 4th of July), I find it hard to be in worship in congregations that structure the theme around God Bless the USA/America. I find it hard to sit there and look at church chancels that are adorned with the American flag and if people noticed where I sit it’s so it’s not in my eyesight while I worship. It bothers me that people get all festive, wearing red, white and blue to worship, but can’t remember the colors of the liturgical year. This bothers me because as Christians we are called to worship the God of all people ...

As I watch a congregation I’m very familiar with spiral out of control I’m forced to sit and reflect on what went so wrong? Why does it seem like the only options are to either fire the minister or close the doors? When I think back the problems began before this minister was even hired. This is a congregation that wants to and likes to say that it’s a welcoming and friendly place. But in reality it isn’t and hasn’t been for the 20 some years I’ve known it. Groups of people made sure that other people knew that they were below them. They were operating then on the mentality that we did this 50 years ago so we need to keep doing it. And as for being welcoming… well with you weren’t middle-class, preferably upper middle-class and white well don’t bother walking through the door. These are all issues that existed 20 years ago and were never addressed. And shockingly these are still issues in the congregation today. Clearly this church has decided to put its head in the sand and live in th...