A thought

It is amazing how fast a day can come and go. Before you know it, the days become a week, then a month, and then a year. Tonight I am not thinking about this day and it's highs and lows. Instead I am thinking about each moment, for it is moments that make each day. So I am taking this moment to think and give thanks. Perhaps reading this will inspire you to take a moment too.

A Prayer for Interpution

O God,

who interrupted the darkness of timelessness with the words, "Let there be light,"

interput the darkness of our lives with your perfect light.

You who interrupted the silence of the space and time with the sounds of creation

interupt the silence of our lives with your new creation.

You who interrupted the course of human history with the mystery of incarnation

interupt our story with your incarnate presence.

You who interrupted the evil's destructive campaign by the power of atonement

interput the victory of evil in our life with the power of forgiveness.

You who will interrupt life with the new creation,

interupt our lives with the new heaven and new earth.

Amen. 

Kmart and the Church

Kmart and I have an unhealthy relationship.  We have the kind of dysfunctional relationship that makes interesting afternoon television on programs like Judge Judy and Dr. Phil.  There was a time when Kmart was good to me.  That time is a distant memory.  Things have changed.

As I child I loved going to Kmart.  Kmart was the only general merchandise store in our town.  We went to Wal-Mart on special once a month trips.  A trip to Wal-Mart required driving from Conyers to Covington, Georgia.  And let me clarify, this was an old school Wal-Mart not one of these mega, super, jumbo sized get all you need Wal-Marts. 

Looking back I remember the wonderful toy section at my childhood Kmart.  The shelves were full all my favorite toys: GI Joes, Transformers, MASK, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and LEGOS.  I remember well going to Kmart to spend my birthday and Christmas money on wonderful new additions to my toy chest.  When I was ten you could purchase four or five GI Joes for $20.00. 

These are memories of the Kmart I used to know.  That Kmart has changed.  I don’t know what happened, but something significant happened.  The changes were subtle, but some weren’t so subtle.  Kmart got rid of the Blue Light Special and lay away.  The product lines changed.  Layaway became a Christmas only program.  The sports department stopped selling guns and ammo. 

Then the day of awakening came.  I went to Kmart and realized this store wasn’t the place for me to shop any more.  A super Wal-Mart moved into our town and I became a Wal-Mart shopper.  When I felt worthy enough, I would shop at Target. It seems that I wasn’t alone in that decision.

The Kmart near me is closing.  The store couldn’t turn a profit, so to keep the larger retail chain alive corporate leaders decided to shut it down.  I knew this would happen a long time ago, so I wasn’t surprised when I saw the store closing announcement in the local paper.

This Kmart has problems.  It is dysfunctional.  They never had in stock what I was looking for.  If they happened to have the product it was significantly more expensive than other retailers.  Customer service was never to be found.  Whenever I would go shop at Kmart I would leave asking, “Why do I ever come back here?” 

So the other day I went to the going out of business sale at my local Kmart.  Everything was on sale, but there was a problem, everything was much more expensive.  20% percent off an item that was 30% more expensive than the same item elsewhere is no deal.  Once again I left Kmart asking “Why do I ever come back here?”

Then sadly it dawned on me.  I wonder how many folks raise the same question when they visit the local church.  Has the church lost the connection and the influence it once had?  Or as in the case of Kmart, has the church lost marketshare?  Has the church changed so much to keep up with society that it has lost what made the church the church?  Or maybe this is the most important question, “Is the church using price tags when everyone else has gone digital?” 

I only ask these questions and now I ask you to answer them. 

Salem 2012

Salem 2012 is over. The final bell has rung and the meeting of friends and families at this historic holy place will be a memory. Each year is different to each who attends and doesn't. For some this will be a year that you struggle to recall anything that happened. For others this will be the year that they will never forget.
The two preachers offered many opportunities for meaningful spiritual memories to be made. I am grateful. Salem is special to me. It gives me a place to belong and challenges me to become less of who I am now and more of who God desires and expects me to be. I am fearful for the rest. I am grateful for new friends. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit at work in my life despite my own faults and failures.
I hope to stay connected with the young people I have mentored this week. I pray For God to do great things. I pray that I too will be open to God's grace at work in my life. Amen.
If this rambles please notice I am writing this in an IPhone at 2:30 am.

A poem for my dog

I look for you from time to time in the places you should be
Sleeping on the couch
Running down the hall
Or reclining in your chair.
I listen for you from time to time in the sounds you should make
A scratch on the door
A beagles bay
A jingle of a collar.
Then I remember you are gone and must recall the memories of sight and sound.
But I will still look for you not where you have been
But where I know where you will be found.

The Day I Said Good Bye To My Dog

On Friday morning I slept in.  Friday is my day off so I didn't feel bad waking up at 6 AM and going back to bed.  I wanted to enjoy that nice spring coolness that comes when your bedroom windows are opened to the April morning.  It was really nice to have the dog jump in the bed and cuddle with me.  Really nice.

Then so suddenly the day changed.  In less than an hour I would be saying good bye to my dog Dallas.  How quickly life can change for the two-legged and four-legged alike.

Dallas was pure Beagle.  If he could get loose and chase a scent he would and on Friday morning he did.  He chased freedom until he ran right up to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

I am just glad that I was there to tell him good bye.  As a chaplain with the Fire Department there were several times when I was called to help families who stumbled upon a loved one who died alone.  It was rough.  Lord if possible don't let me die alone.  Again, I am just glad I was there to tell Dallas thank you and good bye.

Dallas entered into my life on News Year 2010.  I was deciding what to buy myself for Christmas.  The options that year were a new HD television, a sofa, or a dog.  Because I moving to a new church in June was very likely I opted for a dog.  I had always wanted a dog.  I thought a dog would be a good addition to my lonely life in a rural parsonage.  Little did I know what a blessing my dog would be.

Some people ask how I came across Dallas.  Let me briefly share that story.  When I decided to get a dog, I began taking only questionaries that would help you find the perfect dog breed.  One selector that I used was connected with a local animal shelters.  They really suggested that you recsue a dog.  This selector connected me with the Dalton, Georgia Humane Society.

The Dalton Humane Society had two dogs that were top on my match list.  One dog was a little Jack Russel named J.R.  The other dog was a two year old beagle named Dallas.  I took this as a divine sign, for at that time I was watching my way through the entire television series Dallas.  Of all the dogs there were two with names connected to my favorite tv show at that time. 

When I arrived at the humane society I was told JR, my first choice, had been adopted a few days before.  They suggested I give Dallas a chance.  I remember well our first meeting.  He came up, put his paws on my knees and licked my hand and face.  He liked me.  I gave it a chance and decided to adopt him.

After I had filled out all the adoption papers and paid the adoption fee, I discovered Dallas' story.  He was a true rescue dog.  The Whitfiled County Animal Control had found him walking the streets.  When I told that news to Billy Dycus, trustee at the church I was serving, he said, "Preacher done brought a streetwalker home!"  The Humane Society resuced him from being put down.

Three different families had adopted Dallas, but each family had returned him before the end of a week.  Dallas has escaped from one family and ran off to a local grocery store.  This family gave Dallas away to a man who found him in the parking lot.  The Humane society rescued Dallas from a life limited to being chained on a tree.  He needed a good home. 

As we drove off, I wondered if I would be returning this little beagle by the end of the week.  I gave him a chance and I am glad I did.  They first few months were hard, but I learned and he adjusted.  We had good times together.  A few weeks into ownership Dallas escaped and was hit by a car.  He wasn't severly injured, just bruised.  However, I was always fearful that the next time wouldn't turn out so good.

In June, Dallas and I moved to Madison County, Georgia.  We adapted well to life in Comer and Colbert.  Dallas and I walked to the Post Office and the Bank.  I would often tie him to the Post Office Flag Pole, so I could go inside and get the mail.  He went with me to visit shut-ins.  He really enjoyed visits to the nursing home.  He was a good at pastoral care. 

Dallas was a real escape artist.  He would often get out of his maximum security pen.  I even had three locks on it.  Over the past few months Dallas had earned the privledge of staying inside.  He was doing really well. 

I wish I could have spent many more years with Dallas, but I am grateful for the time we did share.  He was a good dog and a good companion.  I think he even helped me become a better pastor.  My four legged friend taught me much about love, compassion, and patience.  He taught me about responsibility and what it means to have others depend on you.  I am forever grateful for his lessons. 

I am glad I was there when the time came for him to leave this world and go onto the next.  I told him thank you for being a good dog and friend because he was. 

Some people wonder if Dogs go to Heaven.  A lot of people think they do, I am one.  As a pastor I believe and yearn for the day when God will bring a new Heaven and a new Earth.  I believe animals will be part of God's redemptive work.  If you disagree think about this...

In Genesis, we find two creation accounts.  Both stories describe how God deliberately made the animals of the earth.  If animals were a vital part of the first Creation, then why would they not be part of the second or new Creation?

When God decided to flood the earth and start things all over, he commanded Noah to build an Ark and rescue animals from the impending disaster.  If God resuced the animals in the Ark why won't God rescue animals in the new Creation?

The Bible is full of many descriptions of God's love, some of the most common are those of a Shepherd.  Shepherd take care of sheep.  Jesus speaks of God being mindful of birds in the air.  These are just a few examples that tell me that God has a fondness for animals. 

On Friday I said good by to my dog.  I said "Good bye Dallas."  However, deep in my heart I know he waits for me with a lot of other four legged friends and critters in the eternal care of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all that is seen and unseen.  So really "Good bye" is actually what I told Dallas before I would to work or run errands in town, "I love you Dallas, I will be back home soon.  Be a good boy."

Pastoral Prayer for April 8, 2012

Almighty God on this Easter Sunday we raise thankful hearts to you. We join in creation’s celebration and adoration of our Risen Lord. Almighty God we give thanks that by the life, death, and resurrection of your precious Son you have opened the flood gates of grace and mercy and begun the work of your new creation!
God we ask that you would help us to live in the promise of this good news.  Help us to be Easter people.
Help us to be Easter people: people who can truly live only because Your Son lives.
Help us to be Easter people: people who can truly love only because Your Son lives.
Help us to be Easter people: people who can show mercy only because Your Son lives.
Help us to be Easter people: people who can face the uncertainty of today and tomorrow because Your Son lives.
God we lift up to you the cares and concerns we have spoken and those that have remained unspoken.  We lift up to you the sick, the suffering, the troubled, and those in need.  As Easter people may we minister to their needs with the grace and mercy you have richly given us. 
We lift up to you the concerns of this world, the war-torn, the impoverished, and the oppressed.  As Easter people may we minister to their needs with the hope you have richly given us.
We lift up to you the concerns of your church.  Help us be the people you have called us to be.  Help us to witnesses of your resurrection.  Help us to share the good news of this day to the ends of the earth until your kingdom comes and your will is made full.

Almighty God as Easter people we now lift up the prayer your Son and our Risen Lord gave us as we pray...
Our Father...