It was time for an oil change in my car. I pulled into a tire store that has a big sign out front, “Oil Change $19.95”. I park the car and walk in the door – a man greets me and I hand over my car keys for the oil change – he walks away to get started.
As I am standing in front of the counter I notice a picture of someone on the wall behind the counter. I look at it for a moment and realize, though there is no label, this tire store has a picture of Jesus behind the counter. I was honestly surprised. I see pictures of Jesus almost everyday but this was a picture in an unexpected place.
I look at the women patiently waiting for her oil change and ask, “Excuse me, who do you think this picture is of behind the counter?”
“Ummmm, I don’t know – Jesus maybe?” She responded.
“Are you sure it’s Jesus?” I ask innocently.
“Well it could be a boss – but I’m pretty sure that’s Jesus.”
Then I sit down and we chat about a few other topics and a man who works at the store walks in. He goes behind a different counter and starts working. So, I ask, “Sir, sorry to bug you but I noticed the picture behind the counter – do you know who that is?”
“Huh, haven’t really thought about it before. Jesus maybe?” He responds.
“Are you sure it’s Jesus?”
“Well no – but when the manager comes back here we can ask.”
“Thanks.”
Later, the manager approaches the lady waiting to pay for her oil change and she leaves. Then I go for one more round of questioning.
“Sir, do you know who is in the picture on the wall behind you?”
“Yeah – that’s my boss!”
“Your boss?”
“Jesus.”
“Huh, pictures of Jesus in a tire store, interesting!” I state with a smile on my face.
“Yeah, the owner of this shop is very religious. Did you notice the name of the store? New Life Tires.”
As our conversation continued I eventually shared that I am a pastor in Naples. He then started to tell me his own personal faith story – including current struggles and how he has strayed from the church. I listened – eventually paid for my oil change and left.
I realized that most of us have an image of Jesus in our head. It’s a picture of a skinny white man with long hair and a beard. Yet, when I asked two unknowing bystanders in an unreligious setting if they were sure it was Jesus both questioned whether or not it was Jesus.
I am assuming if we were in a church there would have been no question about who was in the picture. Yes, Jesus is even in a tire shop.
Wonder where else we don’t realize God is present as I go about our day!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Office Walls
When I was moving down to Florida I was sharing with my friend, James, how I imagined my office would look and how I would decorate it. I told James on the wall above my Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity diploma I wanted to hang my baptismal certificate. I may have degrees that can prove knowledge – but it’s really my baptism that frees me to be a pastor.
I also wanted to hang a map of the world. I wanted this map to serve as a reminder that it’s easy to get wrapped up with how God is working in this community and at this parish – but Christ calls us to a love that reaches far beyond our small personal bubbles.
I have almost been here a year and as I was cleaning out Sunday School classrooms I noticed a map of the world. As I picked up the map I remembered how I imaged my office as I was moving to Florida. I still didn’t have a map on the wall nor my diploma’s – much less my baptismal certificate. I took the map as a sign that it is time to make my office as I had imagined it a year ago.
I walked over to my office and put the map in the cupboard planning to hang it later. Yes, another couple of weeks go by and I open the cupboard and there was the map staring at me. So, I finally dropped everything and started to hang the map – and the diplomas – AND the baptismal certificate.
Then the next week I went to Kennedy Space Center with a friend. As we were walking out of one of the exhibits I noticed a map of the Milky Way and it had an arrow pointing to a little dot, Earth that said, “You are here.” That’s when I knew my office decorating was not complete. I need a map like that on my wall next to the map of the world.
God is so awesome that a map of the world doesn’t even begin to reveal God’s amazing creation. How can a God who has created so many universes call me by name in baptism? It is when I ask questions like that that I sit back in awe and say, “My understanding of God is still too small.”
I also wanted to hang a map of the world. I wanted this map to serve as a reminder that it’s easy to get wrapped up with how God is working in this community and at this parish – but Christ calls us to a love that reaches far beyond our small personal bubbles.
I have almost been here a year and as I was cleaning out Sunday School classrooms I noticed a map of the world. As I picked up the map I remembered how I imaged my office as I was moving to Florida. I still didn’t have a map on the wall nor my diploma’s – much less my baptismal certificate. I took the map as a sign that it is time to make my office as I had imagined it a year ago.
I walked over to my office and put the map in the cupboard planning to hang it later. Yes, another couple of weeks go by and I open the cupboard and there was the map staring at me. So, I finally dropped everything and started to hang the map – and the diplomas – AND the baptismal certificate.
Then the next week I went to Kennedy Space Center with a friend. As we were walking out of one of the exhibits I noticed a map of the Milky Way and it had an arrow pointing to a little dot, Earth that said, “You are here.” That’s when I knew my office decorating was not complete. I need a map like that on my wall next to the map of the world.
God is so awesome that a map of the world doesn’t even begin to reveal God’s amazing creation. How can a God who has created so many universes call me by name in baptism? It is when I ask questions like that that I sit back in awe and say, “My understanding of God is still too small.”
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Poverty and Wealth
I asked high school students where they saw poverty throughout the week. I received three answers.
- While I was watching COPS on t.v.
- When I drove by a man who was homeless
- At the Café of Life when the group was gathered under the banyan tree for their daily bread.
Then I asked, “Where have you seen wealth?” The response could have gone on forever. In our own homes, in the homes of those I visited, in the pool, the big screen t.v. I watched, the gate I drove through to get home, the car I ride in, the three large meals of my choice, the stores…
Being wealthy and being surrounded by wealth alters the way in which we view reality. The prophet Nehemiah was a man of wealth yet the Spirit led him to be a passionate organizer and advocate for the poor. In Nehemiah chapter 5: 1-13 he offers an “economic stimulus” plan where the rich no longer take advantage of the poor in order to get the city of Jerusalem rebuilt.
Living in an area where wealth flows through the streets does not mean that the Spirit of God isn’t at work. However, it does call us to be more aware of the power it wields. Wealth does alter the way we view reality – Jesus even challenges a man who wonders what he can do to receive eternal life to go and sell everything he owns and give the money to the poor – Jesus explains that he will receive his treasure in heaven (Mark 10:21).
I think we need to be inspired by prophets like Nehemiah who the Spirit led to have a heart for the poor. Maybe we will someday learn to not use our wealth to get what we want – when we want it – but, instead, to use it to change the life of our neighbor who needs it.
After all when Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment? He responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).”
Let the Spirit lead us to notice our abused neighbors and give us the heart and opportunity to reach out with the love first given to us through Christ.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Baby Steps to Being Still
By Sarah Teichmann
Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
The writer of Psalm 46 truly knew how to express God’s power—God is God and we are not. God is exalted among the nations and in the earth.
I hear this sentiment and I think of the words to a favorite hymn of mine Earth and All Stars. Some of the verses include phrases like “Earth and all stars! Loud rushing planets! Sing to the Lord a new song! Engines and steel! Loud pounding hammers! Sing to the Lord a new song! Classrooms and labs! Loud boiling test tubes! Sing to the Lord a new song!” I love this hymn because it absolutely captures the harmony of God’s creation and all that God has done in our world. What energy! What loudness! What joy! I can really appreciate the Psalmist’s words that God is exalted in the earth.
However, I must admit that I have a slight problem with the first part of Psalm 46:10—actually I have a problem with the first two words of that verse. Be still. Wow. Is that hard for anyone else?
Are you like me in that stillness can be very difficult? I often feel that my deadlines at work, my obligations at home, and my attempts to have fun or relaxation keep me from the ability to just be still—to not have 500,000 (more or less) stimuli coming at me in one day.
Sometimes I day dream about going off to some enchanted place where there are no deadlines, phones, email, text messages, televisions, movies, newspapers, computers, radios or internet access. Now I quickly realize that I would go stir crazy if I did not have some of these things, so perhaps I should not attempt to go live in some remote mythical island. Perhaps I should try taking baby steps. Baby steps toward stillness.
I realize that the Psalmist never wrote “O Lord, help me take baby steps to being still,” but it is a good prayer anyhow. Perhaps when you and I take these baby steps to being still we will have a growing appreciation to God’s power in our life. Perhaps we will hear the words “Be still, and know that I am God” more clearly as we press onward and outward in our lives.
I pray that your day is filled with the awareness of God’s goodness in your life—whether it is in moments of energy and loudness or in times of stillness and silence. This is the day that the Lord has made—let us truly rejoice and be glad in it!
Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
The writer of Psalm 46 truly knew how to express God’s power—God is God and we are not. God is exalted among the nations and in the earth.
I hear this sentiment and I think of the words to a favorite hymn of mine Earth and All Stars. Some of the verses include phrases like “Earth and all stars! Loud rushing planets! Sing to the Lord a new song! Engines and steel! Loud pounding hammers! Sing to the Lord a new song! Classrooms and labs! Loud boiling test tubes! Sing to the Lord a new song!” I love this hymn because it absolutely captures the harmony of God’s creation and all that God has done in our world. What energy! What loudness! What joy! I can really appreciate the Psalmist’s words that God is exalted in the earth.
However, I must admit that I have a slight problem with the first part of Psalm 46:10—actually I have a problem with the first two words of that verse. Be still. Wow. Is that hard for anyone else?
Are you like me in that stillness can be very difficult? I often feel that my deadlines at work, my obligations at home, and my attempts to have fun or relaxation keep me from the ability to just be still—to not have 500,000 (more or less) stimuli coming at me in one day.
Sometimes I day dream about going off to some enchanted place where there are no deadlines, phones, email, text messages, televisions, movies, newspapers, computers, radios or internet access. Now I quickly realize that I would go stir crazy if I did not have some of these things, so perhaps I should not attempt to go live in some remote mythical island. Perhaps I should try taking baby steps. Baby steps toward stillness.
I realize that the Psalmist never wrote “O Lord, help me take baby steps to being still,” but it is a good prayer anyhow. Perhaps when you and I take these baby steps to being still we will have a growing appreciation to God’s power in our life. Perhaps we will hear the words “Be still, and know that I am God” more clearly as we press onward and outward in our lives.
I pray that your day is filled with the awareness of God’s goodness in your life—whether it is in moments of energy and loudness or in times of stillness and silence. This is the day that the Lord has made—let us truly rejoice and be glad in it!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Rainy Season
By Sarah Teichmann
The other day I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I wanted to get some exercise, get out the house, and get some fresh air. Great! I put on my sunscreen, grabbed my sunglasses, and put on my walking shoes—I was ready to go. The one element that I did not think about was the weather. I grew up in New England and am still getting acquainted with Floridian weather patterns and the particular season known as “the rainy season.”
Well, there I was—walking around the neighborhood when a low rumble could be heard from the east. I looked up and to my chagrin I saw a wall of cumulonimbus clouds (e.g. the really scary, dark, ominous clouds) coming westward. My walking pace quickened as I hightailed back to my house and I barely got inside before the wall of rain came pouring down on me. Oh, the rainy season! I feel as though this title effectively labels climatic trends, behavioral moods, and the overall periods of life when you feel that you are being perpetually dumped on.
What do you do when the rainy season comes? Sometimes these rainy seasons seem so bad that we fear being flooded by disappointment or being swept away by chaos. It’s during these times that I think of a text from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and his disciples are in a boat crossing a body of water when a furious squall comes up and pounds the small boat with waves. The boat is nearly swamped. The disciples rush to Jesus and in panicked voices, they ask, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Perhaps you know how this story ends. Jesus calms the storm, the boat is not swamped, and the disciples stay afloat. The answer to the disciples’ question is this: Jesus cares.
Jesus cares for us. During our rainy seasons when we may feel as though we are going to drown or be swept away we may find assurance in God’s love. Jesus Christ is with you, and when all seems dire and lost, I pray that you may find God’s steadfast love keeping you afloat.
The other day I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I wanted to get some exercise, get out the house, and get some fresh air. Great! I put on my sunscreen, grabbed my sunglasses, and put on my walking shoes—I was ready to go. The one element that I did not think about was the weather. I grew up in New England and am still getting acquainted with Floridian weather patterns and the particular season known as “the rainy season.”
Well, there I was—walking around the neighborhood when a low rumble could be heard from the east. I looked up and to my chagrin I saw a wall of cumulonimbus clouds (e.g. the really scary, dark, ominous clouds) coming westward. My walking pace quickened as I hightailed back to my house and I barely got inside before the wall of rain came pouring down on me. Oh, the rainy season! I feel as though this title effectively labels climatic trends, behavioral moods, and the overall periods of life when you feel that you are being perpetually dumped on.
What do you do when the rainy season comes? Sometimes these rainy seasons seem so bad that we fear being flooded by disappointment or being swept away by chaos. It’s during these times that I think of a text from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and his disciples are in a boat crossing a body of water when a furious squall comes up and pounds the small boat with waves. The boat is nearly swamped. The disciples rush to Jesus and in panicked voices, they ask, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Perhaps you know how this story ends. Jesus calms the storm, the boat is not swamped, and the disciples stay afloat. The answer to the disciples’ question is this: Jesus cares.
Jesus cares for us. During our rainy seasons when we may feel as though we are going to drown or be swept away we may find assurance in God’s love. Jesus Christ is with you, and when all seems dire and lost, I pray that you may find God’s steadfast love keeping you afloat.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Emotions are Powerful!
I was talking with a friend last night about relationships. We were noting the different expectations and ways in which we treat our friends, lovers, and family members. I have some friends who can hurt me and I immediately forgive; and friends that can hurt me the same way and I hold onto a harmful grudge. I treat my father different than my mother; and my sister different than both parents.
My reaction in these different relationships isn’t something I have control over. Actually, I often try to react with my head; “Don’t treat mom like that, she doesn’t deserve it.” “Why am I getting so mad over one word in an email when I don’t even know if they meant what I read?” “Don’t get upset that person isn’t ignoring me on purpose, they are busy with their own life.”
Even if we have good control over our emotions we cannot ignore them. I have heard many times throughout life, “I wish I had an on/off switch for my emotions. It would make life so much easier.” All of us spend a great deal of energy trying to control our emotional reactions.
In the Gospel of Mark we read a lot about the humanity of Jesus. Jesus’ emotions are weaved throughout the gospel: pity 1:41, anger 3:5, wonder 6:6, compassion 6:34, indignation 10:14, cranky 8:17, love 10:21, distressed and agitated 14:33, grieved 14:34… these emotions help us identify more with Jesus. They also, show us the power of God to identify with us.
Emotions are what make us react to injustice so we can reach out with love. They help us empathize with one another so we can share in joy and sadness. We may want to turn off our emotions but they have the power to move us forward. They have the power to help us reach out to be in relationship with others. In a sense our emotions keep us connected with God and with one another.
Our challenge is to make love our driving emotion. Jesus is asked, “Which commandment is first of all?” He responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
My reaction in these different relationships isn’t something I have control over. Actually, I often try to react with my head; “Don’t treat mom like that, she doesn’t deserve it.” “Why am I getting so mad over one word in an email when I don’t even know if they meant what I read?” “Don’t get upset that person isn’t ignoring me on purpose, they are busy with their own life.”
Even if we have good control over our emotions we cannot ignore them. I have heard many times throughout life, “I wish I had an on/off switch for my emotions. It would make life so much easier.” All of us spend a great deal of energy trying to control our emotional reactions.
In the Gospel of Mark we read a lot about the humanity of Jesus. Jesus’ emotions are weaved throughout the gospel: pity 1:41, anger 3:5, wonder 6:6, compassion 6:34, indignation 10:14, cranky 8:17, love 10:21, distressed and agitated 14:33, grieved 14:34… these emotions help us identify more with Jesus. They also, show us the power of God to identify with us.
Emotions are what make us react to injustice so we can reach out with love. They help us empathize with one another so we can share in joy and sadness. We may want to turn off our emotions but they have the power to move us forward. They have the power to help us reach out to be in relationship with others. In a sense our emotions keep us connected with God and with one another.
Our challenge is to make love our driving emotion. Jesus is asked, “Which commandment is first of all?” He responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
We Can Make a Difference!
This past week our congregation took a trip to Immokalee. We spent our time listening to a typical day of a tomato picker. We heard the story of the sweat, muscles, and time it takes for these children of God to do something we take for granted – as we sit back and enjoy the tomato on our burger or BLT.
We heard the cry of how it is a thankless job. They pray daily to find work – it is not guaranteed. There is no medical, dental, or retirement. They receive .42 cents per bucket that holds 32 pounds of tomatoes. This means to make $50.00 a day they need to pick over 2 tons of tomatoes a day. I write these statistics as I sit in a comfy desk chair making over $50 a day with benefits. I worry every year if I’ll get my cost of living – or if I’m lucky a raise – and the farm workers pay rate hasn’t changed since the 1970’s.
Sometimes we don’t know about an injustice, but when we hear about one it is easy for us to recognize. We can identify injustice. Injustice angers us. Yet, we feel like there is nothing we can do. We say, “Sadly, that’s how the world works and I don’t have the power to change it. I can’t change the mind of the growers. I can’t change the way people are treated. I am a Christian who worships – I care – I pray – but other than that these things are out of my control.” And when things seem too large or impossible or out of our control – power changes into doubt. This is when we need to look to the witness of others who didn’t let the “impossible” stop them from making a difference.
It was Mother Theresa who one day felt it on her heart to build an orphanage. She shared the dream with her superiors and they asked the expected question, "Where will you get the money to build an orphanage?" "Well," Mother Theresa responded, "I have three dollars." "Sister Theresa," her superiors disapproved, "you cannot build an orphanage with three dollars." "I know," she said, smiling, "I can’t build an orphanage with three dollars, but with God and three dollars. I can do anything. Don’t let us imagine that we are too poor or too stupid or too ignorant or too obscure to do any real good in the world God has placed us. If you bring no gift how can God use it?"
To make a difference in the life of a farm worker check out:
http://www.ciw-online.org/
We heard the cry of how it is a thankless job. They pray daily to find work – it is not guaranteed. There is no medical, dental, or retirement. They receive .42 cents per bucket that holds 32 pounds of tomatoes. This means to make $50.00 a day they need to pick over 2 tons of tomatoes a day. I write these statistics as I sit in a comfy desk chair making over $50 a day with benefits. I worry every year if I’ll get my cost of living – or if I’m lucky a raise – and the farm workers pay rate hasn’t changed since the 1970’s.
Sometimes we don’t know about an injustice, but when we hear about one it is easy for us to recognize. We can identify injustice. Injustice angers us. Yet, we feel like there is nothing we can do. We say, “Sadly, that’s how the world works and I don’t have the power to change it. I can’t change the mind of the growers. I can’t change the way people are treated. I am a Christian who worships – I care – I pray – but other than that these things are out of my control.” And when things seem too large or impossible or out of our control – power changes into doubt. This is when we need to look to the witness of others who didn’t let the “impossible” stop them from making a difference.
It was Mother Theresa who one day felt it on her heart to build an orphanage. She shared the dream with her superiors and they asked the expected question, "Where will you get the money to build an orphanage?" "Well," Mother Theresa responded, "I have three dollars." "Sister Theresa," her superiors disapproved, "you cannot build an orphanage with three dollars." "I know," she said, smiling, "I can’t build an orphanage with three dollars, but with God and three dollars. I can do anything. Don’t let us imagine that we are too poor or too stupid or too ignorant or too obscure to do any real good in the world God has placed us. If you bring no gift how can God use it?"
To make a difference in the life of a farm worker check out:
http://www.ciw-online.org/
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