Comforting Words?

I have heard a number of people I’ve encountered recently say to me, “God only gives us what we can handle.” I know for many people these are comforting words. God will give us the strength to get through the current turmoil surrounding us. I often smile and nod when I hear these words. They are usually followed by a laundry list of health problems, financial problems, the growing pains of having children, broken relationships, and usually all of this has depression as the beautiful cherry on top. So in desperate need for comfort they say to me, “God only gives us what we can handle.” This means that whatever they are going through… God knows they can handle it, and it’ll be ok. Again, I smile and nod knowing there is something in this statement that gives them strength for the day.

Let me share a little insight into what’s going on inside my head when I hear the words, “God only gives us what we can handle.” I hear something completely uncomforting. I hear that every turmoil of life comes from God. God is out to test us and give us struggles so that we can grow stronger. God made you sick. God broke your relationship. God gave you depression. “God only gives us what we can handle.”

This often is followed by, “I know this will make me stronger.” Yes, it will make you stronger. I agree. However, that is because God is with you in the midst of the struggle. Not because you’re not strong enough yet. Not because God wants you to be some better version of yourself. Not because God is out to test your patience. You see, Jesus came to bring us life, not struggle. We are talking about a God of resurrection. A God who heals. A God who is the way, the truth, and the life. A God who humbled himself to wash feet. A God who took on death. A God who broke the veil between the Holy and the world. A God of resurrection and life. Now that’s something I find comforting! When we are surrounded by muck and mire we have a God who sets our feet on solid rock.

Happy Easter! God is with you.

Time is a Funny Thing

I can’t believe that I’ve only been in my new call for four months. I also can’t believe how fast the past four months have gone. Time is an interesting notion. Standing in the line at the grocery store five minutes can seem like twenty. Sitting next to a loved one you haven’t seen for awhile five minutes can seem like two seconds. I’m sure you’ve heard the quote or have even stated it before, “time is relative.”

A scientist would argue, what makes it relative starts with the assumption that the speed of light is the same for all observers… bare with me here. If a baseball was thrown by someone on a moving train, the speed of the ball depends upon the situation of the observer. Someone on the train would give one speed for the ball, while someone on the ground watching the train go by would give a different speed. The speed of light must be relative, depending upon the speed of the observer.

Are you still with me? Standing in line at the grocery store our mind is racing about everything else we could be doing. Sitting with a loved one our mind is in the moment and not wandering onto the next task. This changes our state of mind. Just as the speed of the ball depends on the speed of the observer; the speed of our day depends on our state of mind and if we are moving toward the future or living in the moment.

The Sunday this is published is Daylight Savings, we will change our clocks, and time will change. This year we experienced a leap year where we actually had Feb. 29, a way in which we try to catch up with lost time every four years. The structures in our world for time adjust. I believe many of us this Lent are working on some adjustments ourselves.

Maybe you gave something up encouraging yourself to be in prayer when you miss your old habit. Maybe you took something on trying to add a healthy habit to your life. These adjustments call us to experience our life in Christ differently. We live in time, but Christ lives in us. The truth of Christ living in us changes our essence. It means we live a resurrected life. We are Easter People!

Galatians 2:19-20 “…I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

A Poem

Man's essential pride
Seems to make him feel that the spot of the earth
Where he was born, learned to eat, sleep,
Speak, and think,
Was God's natural habitat,
And that to venture into another location
Or country,
Or, God forbid, another culture or social system,
Is to be in danger of entering the devil's territory.

But how exiting it is,
Once awakened to an awareness
Of the life of God within,
To look into the eyes of people
In the remotest corner of the world
And discover that there is no remote corners,
That all points are equideistant from center,
And to find oneself
Staring back at oneself,
Mirrors of this force of God
Called life.

Looking at people like that
Almost puts the devil out of business.

Faces of God (p. 94) by Gordon and Gladis DePree

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Behind the Altar as I removed the cover of the flagon to pour the wine into the chalice I noticed a little spider chilling on the spout. I looked at it briefly debating:
1. How to pour the wine without getting the spider in the chalice.
2. How not get the spider on me.

I realize the logical conclusion would be to smash the spider and again two thoughts:
1. I really don’t like spiders and am a little freaked out to kill them… if I had gathered the courage it would have included a little shriek that I’m pretty sure would have distracted the worshiping community.
2. There just seemed to be something wrong with killing a little spider at the Lord’s Table. I like to preach that all are welcome…

I did manage to not kill the spider and serve communion to the gathered congregation. However, in the midst of this the spider moved its way to my worship book. This is the book I carry with me during the service. I watched the spider closely as I held the book. I didn’t want to miss any move otherwise it might have ended up on me and a shriek – followed by some jumping and hitting myself would likely follow.

The spider and I made it through the rest of the service together sharing my book and trust me I knew where that spider was at all times.

In truth, I wish I spent that much focus and time paying attention to how God is at work in my life and in the world around me. So for this new church and calendar year, I give thanks for that spider who has inspired me to watch more attentively to the Spirits movement.

Baby Steps

November has long gone and December is nearing its end for the 2011 year. I guess that means my blogging starts anew with the new church year and soon the new calendar year. The transition in calls has been blessed and bumpy. Thank you, loyal readers, for your patience during this transition. I will most likely not start weekly blogging again until March which will hopefully be the launch of our new website at Immanuel!

As for now… I’ll blog as the inspiration hits… instead of forcing it to hit by Wednesday at 9 am. ;)

Dear Friends

I write briefly today to inform my loyal readers that I am still alive despite not posting last week and posting later than normal today. However, I am in transition between saying goodbye to my current congregation at Christus Victor Lutheran Church and saying hello to a new call at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Michigan. I am not planning to post during this transition time unless the Spirit moves me otherwise. I hope to be back writing weekly devotionals starting in November. Thank you for being a loyal reader!! Please pray for me during this transition.

Blessings!
Pastor Dana

Ten Years Ago

Breath

Today I’d like to share with you something I read recently that transformed my idea of God. Again.

Meaning… every time I think I can grasp a bit of who God is I learn something that changes my understanding. I realize that most say God is never-changing… but I can tell you that my understanding of God is ever-changing.

An excerpt from Father Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See (pp. 25 & 26)

I cannot emphasize enough the momentous importance of the Jewish revelation of the name of God. It puts the entire nature of our spirituality in correct context and, if it had been followed, could have freed us from much idolatry and arrogance… formally the word [Yahweh, YHVH, God] was not spoken at all, but breathed! Many are convinced that its correct pronunciation is an attempt to replicate and imitate the very sound of inhalation and exhalation. The one thing we do every moment of our lives is therefore to speak the name of God. This makes it our first and our last word as we enter and leave the world.

For some years now, I have taught this to contemplative groups in many countries, and it changes peoples’ faith and prayer lives in substantial ways. I remind people that there is no Islamic, Christian, or Jewish way of breathing. There is no rich or poor way of breathing. The playing field is utterly leveled. The air of the earth is one and the same air, and this divine wind “blows where it will” (John 3:8) – which appears to be everywhere. No one and no religion can control this spirit.

Busyness

I was at a celebration this past weekend. We were housed in a multi-million dollar (more than 4 mil) home on Sanibel Island with a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico. Some people have never stepped foot in a home quite this size and beauty. Let’s just say on the top floor alone had five bathrooms. There were only seven of us and between both floors we could all have our own restroom. There was a beautiful spiral staircase and of course a view that is breathtaking (or as I would say breath-giving).

I am sure you’re asking what one does in a multi-million dollar home for the evening. Play sardines of course. If you have never experienced sardines it’s a version of hide-and-go-seek where one player hides – everyone seeks – as you find the hider you hide with them until everyone is hiding together.

When it was time to move onto other games, it was drop a Kleenex from the top of the spiral staircase and see if you can get to the bottom and catch it before it lands on the floor. Next, use the cool doors that have a glaze, turn the music up, and dance oddly or move bodies as such to create cool shadows for the amusement of those on the other side of the door. Each room had its own unique way to become play. It was a group of 30-somethings turned into childlike-imaginative-play.

I have a friend who owns a nerf dartboard that uses it regularly and another who will gladly walk on his hands when asked. There is something in us that when we connect with our childlike-imaginative-play we feel free and a little more whole. The world is easier to deal with and a smile develops easily. Being connected with our Creator can have a similar and even more powerful effect.

When we attend a moving worship service, look at the beautiful creation of God, sit in prayerful meditation, or experience a “God moment” we feel free and a little more whole. The world is easier to deal with and a smile develops easily. It took a multi-million dollar home to remind me to play. Imagine what it takes for us to remember to connect with God.

Just as I don’t naturally say during my day, “Hey can we take a break for a game of Hide-and-go-Seek?” We don’t naturally say during our day, “I’m going to sit under a tree in prayer.” We’re busy. Sadly, busyness is something we make up. I met with a pastor this week who said, “I wish we could get together more often. I guess we’re too busy pretending to be busy.”

God didn’t create me to be busy. He created me to love. So I choose love. You?

Grace

An Anxious Heart

By Jessica Maske

I remember walking into the church two weeks ago with an excited yet anxious heart. Being my first Sunday at Christus Victor my head was racing with all the possibilities and responsibilities that would come with being an intern.

Anxiety seems to be a problem for many in today’s fast paced world and it seems to become all consuming in many cases with the tasks and responsibilities that we find ourselves in. But the thing with anxiety is that it is always pointed to the future and what might happen. We seem to get ourselves worked up about the future and what might occur that we never take the time to stare at what is right in front of our face in the present.

Jesus begins in Matthew 6:25-34 stating “Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life.” He goes on to describe how God provides for all that we need just like God provides for the lilies of the field and birds of the air. He ends this section giving such great wisdom and yet stating it so simply, “so do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus is saying something very profound to us here. I had a mentor who explained it to me very well once when I was full of hopelessness about the future. She said, "sometimes we are just called to leave our worry, our anxiety at the foot of the cross and walk away from it. We have to leave our load and give the anxiety over to Jesus and just live for today."

I will admit that this sounds a lot easier than it is. I have struggled with the over-consuming power of anxiety and worry to the point of great despair, but what has always kept me going was the fact that God is present now. God is right there walking along side you and me, ready to bear those thoughts because we can’t do it alone and thanks be to God that we don’t have to!

The Little Things

A man without a home walked through our church doors. We greeted Jim (which is not his real name) and he said, “I am not looking for money or a handout I just need to talk with someone.” I guided Jim into my office and for the next hour listened to a story. His life story was full of hurt and instability. He explained that as someone without a home has to stay on the move. Shelters only welcome you for so many days or weeks then you have to move onto another shelter. He talked about nights in the woods on the ground being covered with red ants and how a shower was a blessing when the circumstances gifted him with facilities.

As we continued to talk he shared that he has many broken relationships because of addiction, and he was proud to share that he is now 2 years sober. Yet, many of the relationships are so broken his apology goes unanswered. He was getting to a point where he wanted to drink again and that is why he walked in the doors of the church. He walked in wanting to continue on the path of sobriety and in the midst of this he wanted to know where God was.

I was blessed to recap his story. Remember when you stole the chicken from the grocery store and the manger said, “We can’t put a man in jail for needing to eat?” Remember when you were in the woods covered with ants and something in your head said go to the Homeless Veterans Home? They greeted you with kindness and you found out that there is actually a pension in your name and they guided you on how to start receiving it. Remember when the bank said you couldn’t open an account to receive the pension payments and suddenly someone stepped in on your behalf and they waived the rule? You didn’t have the $10 to open the account, but there was a grocery store across the street and you were able to pan handle the $10 you needed to open your account. Remember when you walked in the doors of the church instead of picking up another drink?

He responded, “Yes, but why do I have to suffer?”

I responded, “I think Jesus would look at you and me and say to me, ‘Pastor Dana, Jim gets it. He knows why I had to suffer on the cross. Listen to his story.’”

Power of Poems

Connecting with our Creator

I happen to be back from a two week vacation. It was a perfect mix of friends, family, celebrations, transitions, and food. I had days floating on the river laughing with friends. We did not watch the clock. We did not stress about the health of the next meal. Our bath was in the river and most of us did not stare at the screens that usually take up a majority of our day. And instead of the internet entertaining us it was creation.

I was entertained by God’s creation the water, bugs, dirt, wood, fire, fish… I can actually say that I walked on the earth everyday during vacation. In my normal routine I can’t say the same. I usually go from the garage to the car to the parking lot to the church via a sidewalk. Even if I run errands I don’t tend to walk on the actual earth.

I suppose I don’t really have to wonder why I always feel so much better after a vacation with my friends at the dirty outdoor log cabin. There is a quote by John Burroughs that comes to mind, "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in tune once more." I have renewed a connection with my Creator. My senses exude with extravagance. Yet, after two weeks I was overjoyed to rinse off in good old city water. And even though I am clean today I look back and say, “I may have been dirty, but I was whole.”

Leaving your garbage at the Cross

By: Joseph Murdy
This past Sunday our scripture reading was from Matthew, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” What a wonderful and liberating opportunity Jesus offers us, to give him all our burdens. Our burdens, sins, and guilt can build up like garbage. Sometimes it can get so overwhelming; we get lost and can’t find our way through the clutter. We hold on to our garbage, and become like “spiritual hoarders of sin and shame.” I sense a new TV series.

There is a story about a pastor who was counseling a couple. For weeks, they came into his office, an office which also had a door leading to the furnace room. For weeks, they pointed fingers; they blamed each other and brought up decade’s worth of accusations. Until one day, the pastor had enough, and had them write all of their complaints on long sheets of paper. After writing and writing he then brought in a trash can. “Now, put your garbage in here,” he said, “I’m going to put it in the furnace room, if you ever want your garbage back again, you know where to find it. But today, youre walking out of here and leaving your garbage behind.”

When Jesus carried his cross to Calvary and took upon himself the sins of the world what he essentially did was take all our garbage with him. Jesus tells us that if we are tired of carrying our heavy burdens, if we are tired of carrying the shame and guilt of always messing up, then he will take it ALL from us. Why carry your sins around with you today. Ask God for forgiveness, and it will be yours. If it helps, write down what’s been weighing on your heart. Write down all of the garbage you have been holding on to and carrying all by yourself. Crinkle it up, and put it where it belongs…in the trash. With God, forgiveness is not only possible…it’s a promise we have every day when we turn to God. If you are tired, turn to Jesus, and find “rest for your souls.”

Is Your God Too Small?

The Hubble Space Telescope snaps pictures of beautiful images of other places. The picture I have included with this blog entry is a picture of a spiral galaxy. It is an amazing gift to be able to look into space and see the beauty of God’s creation. But what really gets me is that the picture was taken in 2010. That means that in 2010 we took a picture of something 72 million years old. We actually snapped a shot of history.

If you’re saying, “What?” let me explain: The spiral galaxy is 72 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. A light-year is the distance a particle of light (photon) will travel in one year. The distance light travels in one year is about 9.461 × 1015 meters (9.461 petrametres), or about 5.879 × 1012 (nearly six trillion) miles. This means that a picture of something 72 million light-years away shows the way things were 72 million years ago.

That means that in 2010 we took a picture of something 72 million years old?

Now when we think about time as humans something like that almost seems impossible. I mean, how often do we say, “There isn’t enough time in the day?” How often do we rely on calendars, clocks, daylight, and death to determine the amount of time we have. Yet God doesn’t work on the same time schedule. God is actually beyond time.

We occasionally experience time differently too. We have those days that fly by so quickly it’s as if it never even began. Then we have moments when 5 minutes seems like 5 hours. Time is a funny thing and changes with our prospective on life. God never changes. God is beyond time, beyond daily pressures, beyond our understanding of life and death. God is Awesome!

I AM

A plaque I recently read said:

I was regretting the past
and fearing the future.
Suddenly God was speaking:
“MY NAME IS ‘I AM.’”
I waited. God continued:
“When you live in the past,
with its mistakes and regrets,
It is hard. I am not there.
MY NAME IS NOT ‘I WAS.’
When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
It is hard. I am not there.
MY NAME IS NOT ‘I WILL BE.’
When you live in this moment,
it is not hard. I am here.
MY NAME IS ‘I AM.’”

I don’t know how many sleepless nights you have had. You know those nights when your mind is racing. It could be about something that happened in the past – it could be about what is to be. So, in that rare moment you actually have to sleep your mind simply does not shut down. It takes you back or it takes you forward. It simply does not let you live in the moment.

When I read the plaque above I thought: On those sleepless nights I can change my thoughts from

I am Dana
I am unable to sleep
I am worried about what the future will bring

to

I AM has named and claimed me
Isaiah 43: 1 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

I AM gives comfort to those who need rest
Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, for I will give you rest.”

I AM calls us to seek first the kingdom
Matthew 6: 34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Maybe my meaning of “I am” needs some tweaking!

Need a hand?

By: Joseph Murdy

Have you ever tried to do everything yourself? When you do everything on your own how does it work out in the end? Are you satisfied with the results? How do you feel when you do something all on your own? When I try to do things on my own the results are usually the same, I get tired, cranky, overwhelmed and in the end eventually lose interest. When you work with someone, talk it out, or even take advice the results are always so much better. This kind of thinking is vital in relationships. I use the word “vital,” because without partnership the relationship suffers; it lacks life. This is just as true for all human relationships, as it is in our relationship with God.

Just the other day I was talking with someone who is about to get married. Just weeks away from the big day, you can imagine the stress and small details that still need done. My advice was not to forget that she is not alone in all of this. Planning a wedding takes team work. I told her, “Remember to ask for help.” Has anyone ever said that to you? Maybe in school when you were struggling with a difficult math problem or facing a challenging obstacle? How about when it comes to your faith?

If you find yourself struggling with prayer, struggling with self-worth, faith, discipleship, relationships with others, and even your relationship with God…Ask for help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! No one ever said that faith and prayer were things we had to do all by ourselves. Prayer and faith require partnership. Remember you are not alone. If you are struggling, look to your fellow disciples, ask for help. Don’t forget, we have a God who has promised to always be with us. Look to God when you need help, and remember…you are not alone.

God's Chisel

We made it to May 22!

What were you doing May 21, 2011 – the supposed day of the rapture?

Isaiah 65 leaves us with the warm fuzzes ready to experience this reality of the New Jerusalem (The wolf and the lamb shall feed together). Then we read Luke 21 (Earthquakes, war, famines, plagues, persecution…). That doesn’t leave us with quite the warm fuzzes. As a matter of fact it leaves us with quite the opposite feeling. The people love their Temple – admire its beauty. They don’t want it to be rubble. Thrown down to pieces? This strikes fear into the people they need to know the outcome… they need to know when will this come to pass? As people long for the glory of their beautiful temple Jesus points out the reality of the broken world.

Earthquakes, war, famines, plagues, persecution, prison… all the things that as Christians we want to end - yet we can’t. These calamities happen every day and make us long for Isaiah chapter 65 to truly come to fruition.

I don’t believe that Jesus is trying to instill fear in the people, but I do believe that Jesus it trying to wake the people up to the reality of the world around. It’s not about the temple – it’s about God’s kingdom. Jesus sends the people with hope. Though the darkness of this world has not been overcome we can let our light shine through it – these calamities give us the opportunity to testify. Testify to the glory of God.

Out of the rubble comes new life. The same can be said of most disasters – in the wake of recovery, those who survive are often stronger and more appreciative than ever of the simple gifts of life.

Isaiah leaves us longing for the future the New Jerusalem – Luke leaves us fearful of the future. Isaiah say’s we’ll forget the past the pain – Luke says we’ll gain our souls.

Jesus came to declare the kingdom of God is at hand! Let’s stop setting dates for the “end” and start working for the kingdom today.