Amos and injustice

Today I am making the “bold move” and not preaching on the Gospel text.  Rather I am preaching on Amos.  I don’t think I have ever done that before, but I am looking forward to it.  I think the reason Amos caught my attention this week was the fact that we served at The Banquet (I’ll write more about this experience later) a couple days ago and then I read Amos talking about injustice.  2 + 2 were put together and the answer came back…preach on Amos.  So that is what I am doing.

One of the questions I hear being asked is:  What does God want? The answer comes in verse 24 of Amos 5 where God says through Amos, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!“  I think we miss way too many injustices that go on around us.  We get so focused on doing what we think is so supremely important that we can’t see those who truly need to experience God’s love through us.  We try to let ourselves off the hook by falling for Satan’s excuse that injustices only happen in poor countries thousands of miles away and that there is nothing we can do about it.  Well…that’s not true.  We can do something about it AND injustices don’t just happen across the sea…they happen in our own backyard.  It’s funny…we can see injustices in Africa and Central America, but we can’t see them in our own communities.

I think we need to read Amos more often and listen to this prophet speak to us right now…here in this place so we can “…let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!“

Have a very blessed day with our eyes wide open.  Amen

-edh-

Monday morning check in — God’s power and strength

It is weeks like this when I am reminded of my weakness; reminded of the fact that I can not do this alone.  Last Friday my cell phone rang and when I looked at it, the call ID told me it was the funeral director.  That is never a good sign.  Upon answering the phone I was told that G had died on Thursday.  Now get this…her and her husband had been married for 72 years.  That’s right…72 years…that no typo.  I think that is absolutely amazing.  What an inspiration those two have been to many people.  One of the cute stories I have heard about them is that at the young of age 90+ they would sit out on the porch and G’s husband would sing “You are my sunshine” to her.  G is going to be missed by many.

On Saturday I got another call on my cell phone from the funeral director.  This didn’t make me as nervous since we were already planning one funeral.  But this call was about another one…this time out at Belmont.  The deceased lived in Sun City, AZ and is being flown up here for the funeral and burial.  I don’t know this woman but I know the family.

So my week is shaping up like this:  Funerals on Tuesday and Friday mornings; visitations on Monday and Thursday evenings; I have confirmation and Release Time lessons to plan; and Sunday worship and sermon prep…among with other things that come up during the week.  Like I said earlier…there is no way I can do this on my own.  I pray, God Almighty, to give me strength and focus do serve His children and provide the care that they need.  During busy times like this it is easy to let some things slide and not do your best, but when you rely on God’s power and strength, then God’s Will will indeed be done.

Praise be to God!

-edh-

Changes are coming

June 1 marked my three year anniversary of my ministry here at Salem Lutheran Church.  This is still my first call and one I see myself in for quite some time yet (unless, of course, they run me out sooner).  Coming out of seminary they warned us about getting too feisty and making too many changes too soon.  One month after I arrived here I moved the baptismal font from the back of the sanctuary to the front (bold move, I know).  This got the attention of a couple people and one in particular — so much so that she stuck her foot so far into her month that she needed a team of <something> to pull it out.

At my installation service in August of 2004 this person, N, was talking to my dad (she did not know he was my dad).  They got to talking about the "new pastor".  At this N started complaining about how I moved the baptismal font and complained about a couple other "trivial" things.  During this little rant S came over and said to N, "Hey, have you met pastor’s dad?".  N froze up and quickly ended the conversation — probably to find some help to remove her foot from her mouth.  Today N and I have a great working relationship.  She is a valuable member of this ministry.  I don’t know what I would do without her.

Tomorrow (June 24) is our congregational meeting and more things are changing.  We are electing new council members.  One such council member has been the financial secretary (keeping track of offerings and deposits) for a couple decades and as of July 1 she is done.  We are also talking about the new ELWs (new hymnals for the ELCA).  We aren’t making any decisions yet but hopefully moving in that direction (I wonder how people are going to respond).  We will also be discussing how we are going to spend a large monetary gift we received from a parishioner (they want the money spent on the property while they are still alive).  Lots of things changing and hopefully for the better.

I know God is going to do something amazing here at Salem and these changes are signs of those (new) amazing things.  My prayer is that people are open to God’s calling and see that we need to move in a new direction if we are to be more relevant in our community.  Tradition is great but context is also important.

I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I am looking forward to how the Holy Spirit is going to lead Salem Lutheran Church through these new changes.  I am looking forward to how God is going to use us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I am looking forward to how God is going to use me here at Salem as I continue to lead these people into the future.  God is awesome and God is faithful.  And I hold onto that with all my strength.

As always…praise God always and forever, Amen!
-edh-

My will vs. God’s will

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not my will, but as you will. (Matthew 26:39)

That prayer seems easier said than done. 

I pray that prayer quite often but I wish God’s will was more clear.  I wish God would send an airplane with a large banner trailing behind with a message.  I wish God would send a postcard that clearly states what he wants me to do.  I would even be O.K. with God sending an ass to talk to me (then Balaam and I could be kindred spirits). But God usually does not work that way (and I had better say "usually" because with my luck an ass will show up at my front door tomorrow).

I know God has a special plan for my life.  I know it was God’s will for Connie and I to get married.  I know God has called me to write this blog.  I know God called me to Jackson three years ago and I know that someday God will call me away from Jackson. 

There have also been times in my life when I did not want to answer God’s call.  My will seemed much better.  My will seemed easier and less painful.  My will seemed to be more fun.  And in those times if God did send an ass to talk to me it might have been easier to follow God (or at least it would have "sent me away" for a while).  But then where would I be today?

I think that maybe it is the process that we really need.  How would we learn and grow if God did send that postcard?  How would we learn from our mistakes if that godly airplane flew overhead? Maybe, just maybe we need the process to help us see God’s action in our lives and for us to experience first hand God’s faithfulness.

So I guess I will continue to pray this prayer, "…yet not my will, but as You will…" and enjoy the ride; trusting that God will provide what is best for my life. 

God is faithful.  God is true.  God is wonderful and God is love.  Be patient — God WILL come through for us.

Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and Amen!
-edh-