I saw the band Semisonic in concert when I was 19. We wanted desperately for them to play their major hit, “Closing Time.” They waited to do so until the last song of their second and final encore. In retrospect, we should’ve expected that to happen. When a song’s lyrics include, “time for you to go out,” it’d be weird to finish that song and begin another, right?!
Anyway, another lyric reveals something I think our church should celebrate about the past few months. The singer croons, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” It’s a clever turn of phrase, but borders on trite sentimentality. I’m referencing it now, however, to speak of death and decay. And that’s always deep, amen?
Please don’t answer that question.
Instead, picture with me a pile of weeds and vines and tomato plants. We have several currently steeping on parts of our property. That is not, of course, the result of disregard for how we present ourselves to our community. Rather, earlier this year- thanks to Kimberly’s diligent efforts to enhance our Creation Care ministry- we received a composting grant from the county. Thousands of dollars were awarded us to create a system for composting organic waste from our building and grounds. Well done, church. Way cool! Thus, as we anticipate closing time for the garden this year (after church on the 25th; please help out!), we know that last spring’s new beginning won’t end for good. It’ll contribute to next year’s beginning.
Which is the point of composting. Organic material doesn’t keep its shape and composition forever. Just look at the withering leaves our foster kid taped to our walls as decorations (don’t ask…). Fortunately, this ending isn’t the story’s end. Nutrition emerges from decomposition. Seeds become trees that produce leaves that fall and become dirt within which new seeds become trees... Cue someone singing “Closing Time.” Or “Circle of Life.”
None of this is news. Nor is it news that, whatever the natural process, humans don’t especially like endings. Unless it’s a dentist appointment. The problem being, I suspect, that we’re aware of the endings of former new beginnings in a way that trees aren’t. We’re feel our bodies declining, see problems emerging (so we think) within communities, churches, nations, families, all portending an ending we weren’t wanting. So we don’t celebrate new new beginnings with gusto as readily as we might sometimes. Particularly when the ending in question is, say, a project we invested in or relationship that sustained us. It’s hard to see a new beginning that could replace what’s ended.
Thankfully, Christians can remember that the soil in which we reside- ultimately- is the soil of Christ’s resurrection. Call it divine composting (bad pun…sorry). In other words, we believe that not only was Jesus raised from the dead. Perhaps more important is that Jesus is God’s revelation to us, God’s unmasking the deeper truth of reality. So resurrection wasn’t a one-off event for Christ alone. It’s the structure of this world in which we live and move and have our being. Compost piles reflect that story, just as the abundant fertilizer of God’s mercy does too, along with the never-ending in-breaking of forgiveness to us and through us, we who follow Christ’s lead, who believe that life will always be more powerful than- indeed, will always overcome!- death itself.
The key is remembering that we don’t stop death and endings. Instead, we encounter resurrections, risings to new life, transformations from what was into what will be. A loss is painful and sad. That doesn’t mean you’ll never gain something again. A failure is heartbreaking and hard. That doesn’t mean you’ll never succeed at anything else. New beginnings emerge from the soil of God’s resurrection-infused reality all the time. They maybe came from a beloved former beginning’s ending. Organic composting process isn’t without breakdown, heat and churning. But through it all, resurrection and transformation are in process too.
So as you see those waste piles at church, remember they’re a sign of what God might be doing in your life too, if you’re willing for new life to rise again.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
After pain comes…
I’m not a baseball fan, per se. But I know that, for many, this is the best time of year. Major League Baseball Playoffs. That’s doubly so if your favorite team remains in the championship hunt!
Famously, the Major League team with the longest championship drought is the Chicago Cubs. Their last ultimate victory was 1908. A famous joke goes, “’What did Jesus say to the Cubs before he ascended?’ ‘Don’t do anything until I return!’” Thus, you’d forgive any Cubs’ fan from forgoing the old bromide, “There’s always next year…” If it were me, I may’ve have stopped saying that around, oh, the Korean War!
And yet…the Cubs are in the playoffs this year, leading people I know in/from/concerned with Chicago to brush off dreams of championship parades. I was in seminary in Chicago the last time this possibility arose. The town got crazy (including a world-renowned Bible scholar/professor of mine…funny story I’ll tell some another time). Then, as now, hope sprung eternal. You almost feel bad for them, right? How many times can folk get back up to hope again?
Among my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Now these three abide- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love.” Good stuff about love. The further claim, though, that faith and hope are different, is also good stuff, worth exploring further.
For instance, suppose you say, “I have faith that the Cubs will win.” You’re making a prediction, right? You’re contending some knowledge about what will, or is most likely, to occur. By contrast, suppose you said, “I hope the Cubs will win.” This time, you’re sharing an aspiration. It may get crushed in a week, but you haven’t projected some claim about what is, or will be true. You’ve simply hoped.
Which might sound weak. But consider what Martin Luther- the great 16th century reformer- said about the difference between faith and hope: “Faith is the beginning of life, before all tribulation; hope proceeds from tribulation.” Translating from his outdated vocabulary, he’s saying that hope, properly speaking, can only arise after you’ve run into trouble. Hope means nothing if you’ve always avoided problems, always won. Yankee fans better not pretend to “hope.” They have too many trophies! Faith is important too, of course, but hope is the resilient partner in that pairing.
I find that claim inspiring. Consider again my previous suggestion that, after so long coming up short, Cubs’ fans should give up. After being beaten down consistently, should you ever hope again?! From the perspective of faith, yes! Indeed, it’s only because of our troubles, tribulations, encounters with sin, accepting of the need for forgiveness and justice, that we’re able to hope in the first place. If we never open our eyes to challenge, we’re creating fantasies.
Using sports as the analogy for this, I realize, is cheap. So consider, instead, a single mother desperate to keep her kids fed, an aging grandfather worrying how long he’ll remain independent, a student being bullied again and again. The terrible temptation in all those scenarios is accepting defeat, giving up and giving in, pretending that that your troubles truly define you, that you have no reason to hope. And yet…we serve this God who endured the worst, in Jesus, so that we’d see he came out best. And we will too. In other words, our faith in his victory should give us hope in our own.
Not that we can end every trouble forever, but that we can endure those that arise. Not that we’ll never be defeated, but that defeat need never define us. Not that we’ll get all we ever want, but that we can hope for better days, for the abundance of enough, for grace and peace to surround and inspire us. Only those who struggle can hope. Problems don’t prohibit you, they qualify you.
So if you’re hurting, believer that hope is waiting. You can claim it, can be made confident because of it. That’s not naïve. That’s faithful. That’s loving yourself, as God love you.
Also, since I’m writing this, well…Go Cubs.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Famously, the Major League team with the longest championship drought is the Chicago Cubs. Their last ultimate victory was 1908. A famous joke goes, “’What did Jesus say to the Cubs before he ascended?’ ‘Don’t do anything until I return!’” Thus, you’d forgive any Cubs’ fan from forgoing the old bromide, “There’s always next year…” If it were me, I may’ve have stopped saying that around, oh, the Korean War!
And yet…the Cubs are in the playoffs this year, leading people I know in/from/concerned with Chicago to brush off dreams of championship parades. I was in seminary in Chicago the last time this possibility arose. The town got crazy (including a world-renowned Bible scholar/professor of mine…funny story I’ll tell some another time). Then, as now, hope sprung eternal. You almost feel bad for them, right? How many times can folk get back up to hope again?
Among my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Now these three abide- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love.” Good stuff about love. The further claim, though, that faith and hope are different, is also good stuff, worth exploring further.
For instance, suppose you say, “I have faith that the Cubs will win.” You’re making a prediction, right? You’re contending some knowledge about what will, or is most likely, to occur. By contrast, suppose you said, “I hope the Cubs will win.” This time, you’re sharing an aspiration. It may get crushed in a week, but you haven’t projected some claim about what is, or will be true. You’ve simply hoped.
Which might sound weak. But consider what Martin Luther- the great 16th century reformer- said about the difference between faith and hope: “Faith is the beginning of life, before all tribulation; hope proceeds from tribulation.” Translating from his outdated vocabulary, he’s saying that hope, properly speaking, can only arise after you’ve run into trouble. Hope means nothing if you’ve always avoided problems, always won. Yankee fans better not pretend to “hope.” They have too many trophies! Faith is important too, of course, but hope is the resilient partner in that pairing.
I find that claim inspiring. Consider again my previous suggestion that, after so long coming up short, Cubs’ fans should give up. After being beaten down consistently, should you ever hope again?! From the perspective of faith, yes! Indeed, it’s only because of our troubles, tribulations, encounters with sin, accepting of the need for forgiveness and justice, that we’re able to hope in the first place. If we never open our eyes to challenge, we’re creating fantasies.
Using sports as the analogy for this, I realize, is cheap. So consider, instead, a single mother desperate to keep her kids fed, an aging grandfather worrying how long he’ll remain independent, a student being bullied again and again. The terrible temptation in all those scenarios is accepting defeat, giving up and giving in, pretending that that your troubles truly define you, that you have no reason to hope. And yet…we serve this God who endured the worst, in Jesus, so that we’d see he came out best. And we will too. In other words, our faith in his victory should give us hope in our own.
Not that we can end every trouble forever, but that we can endure those that arise. Not that we’ll never be defeated, but that defeat need never define us. Not that we’ll get all we ever want, but that we can hope for better days, for the abundance of enough, for grace and peace to surround and inspire us. Only those who struggle can hope. Problems don’t prohibit you, they qualify you.
So if you’re hurting, believer that hope is waiting. You can claim it, can be made confident because of it. That’s not naïve. That’s faithful. That’s loving yourself, as God love you.
Also, since I’m writing this, well…Go Cubs.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Sleep out…
On the final Wednesday of every month, I wake up early to attend a board meeting of the local social services provider, IOCP. Partly, this is about raising our church’s community profile. It’s also about amplifying our church values. IOCP does incredible work assisting our most-in-need neighbors. Among similar agencies in the Twin Cities, few are their equal, like maybe 2 or 3 in terms of budget and impact. And since housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for struggling kids are the reasons we do church, then it makes sense we spend time and money to assist this good partner. At least, that’s what I tell myself as I groggily drive to morning meetings!
Well, it’s nearing November, and that means one thing to IOCP supporters: Sleep Out time! The Sleep Out is their largest annual campaign, raising nearly half their budget. It began twenty years ago, when Bob from “Bob’s Shoe Repair” in Wayzata decided to sleep outside during winter to raise funds for homeless neighbors. It’s grown from that solitary act of kindness into a community-wide event involving churches, schools, scout troops, businesses and more creatively dreaming up ways to raise money for and awareness of the poorest amongst us..
The most well-known of these events, of course, is people taking Bob’s lead and sleeping outside for a night, while asking friends, family, co-workers, etc. to sponsor their freezing evening. For years, Plymouth Creek folk did the same, though that’s faded in recent years. Perhaps because our youth and congregation aged. Or maybe people who once gave the event leadership wanted to do something else, and no one else stepped in. Which is how church should work. Don’t do what doesn’t inspire you simply because you think “that’s what’s supposed to happen.” Ugh. Jesus wants to lift our souls to singing. Make us uncomfortable sometimes to prod us toward more holiness? Sure. Make us dreary constantly by commanding we do stuff we don’t think matters? No way!
My other theory for why our (and other groups’) Sleep Out went away is that, without a youth group doing most of the sleeping, most adults say, “I’ve done it once; check,” and feel we’ve paid our dues. Our bodies, after all, respond less strongly than before; plus, we can write better checks than we could as youth. In other words, without an urgent reason to sleep out every year, why keep subjecting ourselves to the cold and stress?
If that guess is right, then I have a new reason for sleeping out this year that I wanted your feedback about. Several years ago, you’ll recall, a Muslim community (Northwest Islamic Center, aka NWICC) bought a building and planted roots just up the street. We’ve been on friendly terms since because Plymouth Creek believes in unity among God’s people, and doesn’t think that “having the same beliefs” is necessary for being good neighbors. Indeed, if more people of differing faiths would work together for a better world then…well…we’ll have a better world. And that’ll make Jesus ecstatic!
Anyway, NWICC continues exploring ways to be involved in their community. And I heard through the grapevine that they may be interested in hosting a sleep out for the first time, if they had a partner. That makes sense. It might seem rather daunting to jump into a community-wide campaign of this kind without a friend to jump with you.
So I’m wondering if some of y’all might be willing to sleep out with our Muslim neighbors?
I imagine we’d have fun together, learn about each others’ faith tradition, eat good food, whatever. But I only want to follow up on the possibility if enough PCCers commit to sleeping out that it would be worth everyone’s while. We can find a date later (maybe November 7?). The point is, this could be a fun way to connect again with this important event. And even if you’re uninterested or unable to sleep outside, I hope you’ll contribute to the campaign in another way. That way- together- we can build a better community for everyone.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Well, it’s nearing November, and that means one thing to IOCP supporters: Sleep Out time! The Sleep Out is their largest annual campaign, raising nearly half their budget. It began twenty years ago, when Bob from “Bob’s Shoe Repair” in Wayzata decided to sleep outside during winter to raise funds for homeless neighbors. It’s grown from that solitary act of kindness into a community-wide event involving churches, schools, scout troops, businesses and more creatively dreaming up ways to raise money for and awareness of the poorest amongst us..
The most well-known of these events, of course, is people taking Bob’s lead and sleeping outside for a night, while asking friends, family, co-workers, etc. to sponsor their freezing evening. For years, Plymouth Creek folk did the same, though that’s faded in recent years. Perhaps because our youth and congregation aged. Or maybe people who once gave the event leadership wanted to do something else, and no one else stepped in. Which is how church should work. Don’t do what doesn’t inspire you simply because you think “that’s what’s supposed to happen.” Ugh. Jesus wants to lift our souls to singing. Make us uncomfortable sometimes to prod us toward more holiness? Sure. Make us dreary constantly by commanding we do stuff we don’t think matters? No way!
My other theory for why our (and other groups’) Sleep Out went away is that, without a youth group doing most of the sleeping, most adults say, “I’ve done it once; check,” and feel we’ve paid our dues. Our bodies, after all, respond less strongly than before; plus, we can write better checks than we could as youth. In other words, without an urgent reason to sleep out every year, why keep subjecting ourselves to the cold and stress?
If that guess is right, then I have a new reason for sleeping out this year that I wanted your feedback about. Several years ago, you’ll recall, a Muslim community (Northwest Islamic Center, aka NWICC) bought a building and planted roots just up the street. We’ve been on friendly terms since because Plymouth Creek believes in unity among God’s people, and doesn’t think that “having the same beliefs” is necessary for being good neighbors. Indeed, if more people of differing faiths would work together for a better world then…well…we’ll have a better world. And that’ll make Jesus ecstatic!
Anyway, NWICC continues exploring ways to be involved in their community. And I heard through the grapevine that they may be interested in hosting a sleep out for the first time, if they had a partner. That makes sense. It might seem rather daunting to jump into a community-wide campaign of this kind without a friend to jump with you.
So I’m wondering if some of y’all might be willing to sleep out with our Muslim neighbors?
I imagine we’d have fun together, learn about each others’ faith tradition, eat good food, whatever. But I only want to follow up on the possibility if enough PCCers commit to sleeping out that it would be worth everyone’s while. We can find a date later (maybe November 7?). The point is, this could be a fun way to connect again with this important event. And even if you’re uninterested or unable to sleep outside, I hope you’ll contribute to the campaign in another way. That way- together- we can build a better community for everyone.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
What’s next…
It’s been awhile since I’ve written a newsletter letter introducing an upcoming sermon series. I apologize profusely. I’m certain you’ve been waiting in agony.
The thing is, we’ve been choosing scriptures on a week-to-week basis since last May’s Stewardship Campaign. I had a summer series idea, talked about it with the Servant Leaders, even began pairing some Sundays with certain scriptures. But you can guess why I waited to start, right? All together now…”The building project.” That’s been the answer to most questions about my time and focus these past months. You know the joke about how every answer to a Children’s Moment question is “Jesus”? It’s like that, even for worship. I was awaiting confirmation about the direction of that project before starting any new sermon focus..
Then summer gave way to fall, the building project was delayed, and then- in the past couple weeks- it’s been suspended, perhaps indefinitely (which I shared in my weekly email newsletter; hit me up at pastor@plymouthcreek.org if you want to subscribe!). FYI, the Board continues to gather information about that decision’s consequences. We’re waiting for feedback from partners regarding the full amount of outstanding costs (like architect fees, etc.). We’ll share what we know when we know it. In the meantime, if you want to donate further to help offset those costs…well, we wouldn’t say no! Still, one result is the sermon series plan I’d been working on will remain on the shelf. After all, without that project we have nothing important any longer to focus our efforts, our dreams, our growth, right?
Wrong! Obviously. I’d be lying if I said that 18+ months of work we put into that venture didn’t leave behind an unpleasant taste with it not proceeding. I’d also be lying if I said I believed that was a waste of time, resources and dreams. I’m no aged spiritual sage. But some wisdom I picked up on early in my minister journey is that God’s pathways and plans rarely involve straight lines forward. They almost never follow clear blueprints that God provides ahead of time to inspect. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet”; i.e. not a spotlight to my horizon!
Which is scary when we’re feeling uncertain, or wanting more control. More light God, please! But that also means that what seems sometimes like an “end”, may be something else entirely. What sounds like God’s “no”, might be another answer to a question we haven’t yet thought to ask.
In other words, God’s calling never ends. It changes. It adapts. It responds to our pitfalls and prizes. Constantly! But in the project that is “God’s Kingdom coming on Earth as in Heaven” – which is the project Jesus asked us to pray for and help make happen – there is no finale. There’s always new acts. Thus, the sermon series that will take us through Advent this year: There’s Always a Next; So What’s Next?! I mean for that to apply as much to your personal lives as our church’s direction.
Fortunately, our scriptures have many valuable ideas and stories that explore this theme. In some cases, the “next” was rest and healing. In other cases, people experienced new life. In still more cases, the issue was starting over, or ending well, or forgiveness, or following through on tough choices, or… The ultimate point being that our God has a vast, active imagination! Our God doesn’t leave us to flail when we’re needing new pathways and plans. God wants to help us create next chapters of hope and faith and grace.
Of course, high on our church’s agenda, now, is plotting such stories of “What’s next.” I know that’s also true for some of you, personally. So let’s discern and dream together, pray for faithfulness together, amen?! The alternative would be to stop hoping, lethargically sit around and wait for God’s voice to break through storm clouds of gloom and frustration gathering. But that sounds boring. Instead, we’ll be actively exploring this fall the wisdom of ancients who claimed that, with God, there’s always a next.
And they were right. After all, we’re here, praising God still.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
The thing is, we’ve been choosing scriptures on a week-to-week basis since last May’s Stewardship Campaign. I had a summer series idea, talked about it with the Servant Leaders, even began pairing some Sundays with certain scriptures. But you can guess why I waited to start, right? All together now…”The building project.” That’s been the answer to most questions about my time and focus these past months. You know the joke about how every answer to a Children’s Moment question is “Jesus”? It’s like that, even for worship. I was awaiting confirmation about the direction of that project before starting any new sermon focus..
Then summer gave way to fall, the building project was delayed, and then- in the past couple weeks- it’s been suspended, perhaps indefinitely (which I shared in my weekly email newsletter; hit me up at pastor@plymouthcreek.org if you want to subscribe!). FYI, the Board continues to gather information about that decision’s consequences. We’re waiting for feedback from partners regarding the full amount of outstanding costs (like architect fees, etc.). We’ll share what we know when we know it. In the meantime, if you want to donate further to help offset those costs…well, we wouldn’t say no! Still, one result is the sermon series plan I’d been working on will remain on the shelf. After all, without that project we have nothing important any longer to focus our efforts, our dreams, our growth, right?
Wrong! Obviously. I’d be lying if I said that 18+ months of work we put into that venture didn’t leave behind an unpleasant taste with it not proceeding. I’d also be lying if I said I believed that was a waste of time, resources and dreams. I’m no aged spiritual sage. But some wisdom I picked up on early in my minister journey is that God’s pathways and plans rarely involve straight lines forward. They almost never follow clear blueprints that God provides ahead of time to inspect. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet”; i.e. not a spotlight to my horizon!
Which is scary when we’re feeling uncertain, or wanting more control. More light God, please! But that also means that what seems sometimes like an “end”, may be something else entirely. What sounds like God’s “no”, might be another answer to a question we haven’t yet thought to ask.
In other words, God’s calling never ends. It changes. It adapts. It responds to our pitfalls and prizes. Constantly! But in the project that is “God’s Kingdom coming on Earth as in Heaven” – which is the project Jesus asked us to pray for and help make happen – there is no finale. There’s always new acts. Thus, the sermon series that will take us through Advent this year: There’s Always a Next; So What’s Next?! I mean for that to apply as much to your personal lives as our church’s direction.
Fortunately, our scriptures have many valuable ideas and stories that explore this theme. In some cases, the “next” was rest and healing. In other cases, people experienced new life. In still more cases, the issue was starting over, or ending well, or forgiveness, or following through on tough choices, or… The ultimate point being that our God has a vast, active imagination! Our God doesn’t leave us to flail when we’re needing new pathways and plans. God wants to help us create next chapters of hope and faith and grace.
Of course, high on our church’s agenda, now, is plotting such stories of “What’s next.” I know that’s also true for some of you, personally. So let’s discern and dream together, pray for faithfulness together, amen?! The alternative would be to stop hoping, lethargically sit around and wait for God’s voice to break through storm clouds of gloom and frustration gathering. But that sounds boring. Instead, we’ll be actively exploring this fall the wisdom of ancients who claimed that, with God, there’s always a next.
And they were right. After all, we’re here, praising God still.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Divine attention…
An interesting theological debate occurred this weekend between two NFL quarterbacks. We knew they were divine at passing. But their spiritual depth is a revelation.
Puns aside, here’s the scoop. Apparently, several months ago, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks defeated Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers. Mr. Wilson praised God for the achievement. Mr. Rodgers later responded, “I don't think God cares a whole lot about the outcome. He cares about the people involved, but I don't think he's a big football fan." Wilson disagreed, claiming, “I think God cares about football. I think God cares about everything he created."
(Pastor’s note: God isn’t male. Anyway…)
Then, last weekend, Green Bay defeated Seattle (cheering Tom Jarvi’s heart). At the post-game press conference, Rodgers responded to a question about the game, how victory was achieved. He said, “…And then getting help from God. I think God was a Packers fan tonight, so he was taking care of us."
The biting dig at Wilson was subtle, but present. I haven’t yet heard a snappy retort from Wilson. But I don’t care. The debate is back on! Which world-class athlete is right about God?!
Now, it’s familiar for a professional athlete (or actress, or doctor…) to thank God for her/his natural abilities. That’s fair. I don’t mind. Unless said athlete patrons a strip club that night, amen?! Some go further and, like Mr. Wilson, suggest that God’s actively involved in a particular moment or game. As if the Spirit helps guide footballs (or scalpels?). I’m more dubious of that claim.
Thus, my pleasant surprise at Rodgers offering an alternative take. Namely, he thinks that God’s is solely for the people involved in a sporting contest, not the result. That’s good theology. Although, I do agree with part of Wilson’s reply, that Rodger’s went too far by saying, “I don’t think (God)’s a big football fan.” Maybe God is. Why not? Besides brain disfigurement the sport has caused…
Moving on…the mistake the Seahawks’ slinger makes is assuming that because something exists, God created it. He says God cares about football because “God cares about everything (God) created.” That’s a common theological claim. But I don’t think it’s true. After all, if it was, it would mean we do nothing independently. That whomever first conceived of football was just fooling himself. God was doing it, in the background, or something.
The problem with that notion is it seriously devalues humanity. If we’re so incapable of independent action, why would God love us as much as God does?! What would sin mean? Answer: nothing! Therefore, God’s intention in creating us wasn’t for us to be puppets, but rather Co-Creators with God. That’s right, God’s given you the tools, imagination, insight and ability to make something new that God didn’t do “in the beginning”! Why? Maybe it’s more fun that way. Maybe God sought to create that which God couldn’t control- humans- so even more good could emerge. Who knows?! Whatever the case, it’s beautiful.
At least, it can be, when we don’t mess up. Not only have we created football, but (much, much) more importantly, cures for diseases, sonorous symphonies, Sunday dinners that feed generations. God care about that stuff because God cares about us. Which is a subtle difference from Wilson’s claim, but that difference means something. After all, if you believe that it’ really God doing everything, you won’t feel the same responsibility and empowerment to invent something new, rectify some social injustice, mentor a kid and change her future. But all that’s stuff Christians should do, and God created us to do it well. Thank God, then, that Scripture teaches that the Creator created us in the Creator’s image.
So in this epic theological battle, I’ll take Rodgers over Wilson. Although, I wish Rodgers had decided not to use God as prop in belittling someone else publicly. Rather, I wish both of those gifted, famous and well-paid men had decided to honor God together by caring as much for their fellow humans- co-creators!- as God does, especially the poor. I mean, they and their even better-paid bosses/owners could co-create a lot goodness if they walked their talk, amen?!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Puns aside, here’s the scoop. Apparently, several months ago, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks defeated Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers. Mr. Wilson praised God for the achievement. Mr. Rodgers later responded, “I don't think God cares a whole lot about the outcome. He cares about the people involved, but I don't think he's a big football fan." Wilson disagreed, claiming, “I think God cares about football. I think God cares about everything he created."
(Pastor’s note: God isn’t male. Anyway…)
Then, last weekend, Green Bay defeated Seattle (cheering Tom Jarvi’s heart). At the post-game press conference, Rodgers responded to a question about the game, how victory was achieved. He said, “…And then getting help from God. I think God was a Packers fan tonight, so he was taking care of us."
The biting dig at Wilson was subtle, but present. I haven’t yet heard a snappy retort from Wilson. But I don’t care. The debate is back on! Which world-class athlete is right about God?!
Now, it’s familiar for a professional athlete (or actress, or doctor…) to thank God for her/his natural abilities. That’s fair. I don’t mind. Unless said athlete patrons a strip club that night, amen?! Some go further and, like Mr. Wilson, suggest that God’s actively involved in a particular moment or game. As if the Spirit helps guide footballs (or scalpels?). I’m more dubious of that claim.
Thus, my pleasant surprise at Rodgers offering an alternative take. Namely, he thinks that God’s is solely for the people involved in a sporting contest, not the result. That’s good theology. Although, I do agree with part of Wilson’s reply, that Rodger’s went too far by saying, “I don’t think (God)’s a big football fan.” Maybe God is. Why not? Besides brain disfigurement the sport has caused…
Moving on…the mistake the Seahawks’ slinger makes is assuming that because something exists, God created it. He says God cares about football because “God cares about everything (God) created.” That’s a common theological claim. But I don’t think it’s true. After all, if it was, it would mean we do nothing independently. That whomever first conceived of football was just fooling himself. God was doing it, in the background, or something.
The problem with that notion is it seriously devalues humanity. If we’re so incapable of independent action, why would God love us as much as God does?! What would sin mean? Answer: nothing! Therefore, God’s intention in creating us wasn’t for us to be puppets, but rather Co-Creators with God. That’s right, God’s given you the tools, imagination, insight and ability to make something new that God didn’t do “in the beginning”! Why? Maybe it’s more fun that way. Maybe God sought to create that which God couldn’t control- humans- so even more good could emerge. Who knows?! Whatever the case, it’s beautiful.
At least, it can be, when we don’t mess up. Not only have we created football, but (much, much) more importantly, cures for diseases, sonorous symphonies, Sunday dinners that feed generations. God care about that stuff because God cares about us. Which is a subtle difference from Wilson’s claim, but that difference means something. After all, if you believe that it’ really God doing everything, you won’t feel the same responsibility and empowerment to invent something new, rectify some social injustice, mentor a kid and change her future. But all that’s stuff Christians should do, and God created us to do it well. Thank God, then, that Scripture teaches that the Creator created us in the Creator’s image.
So in this epic theological battle, I’ll take Rodgers over Wilson. Although, I wish Rodgers had decided not to use God as prop in belittling someone else publicly. Rather, I wish both of those gifted, famous and well-paid men had decided to honor God together by caring as much for their fellow humans- co-creators!- as God does, especially the poor. I mean, they and their even better-paid bosses/owners could co-create a lot goodness if they walked their talk, amen?!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
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Friday, September 18, 2015
New ventures,
Can I confess something? I don’t like the fact that, over twenty years ago, we changed our name away from New Ventures Christian Church. For those still around who were involved in that decision, please know I’m not second-guessing or casting stones! I realize there were great reasons for the change. You’d worked for over a decade to grow the community, buy the land, build the building, and were, therefore, committing to being in this place, doing ministry at this location, integrating your church family, your hopes for making God’s Kingdom come within the Plymouth Creek neighborhood. That’s a beautiful a reason. Commitment is holy. Hence, Plymouth Creek is a good name.
But I love New Ventures, the former name. Some of the backstory, of course, was a struggle between leadership at FCC Minneapolis, nudging people to feel led by God to embark on the new venture of forming a new church. The name “Plymouth Creek” was a small way of moving on, therefore, by claiming an independent identity. Choosing New Ventures in the first place, though, was a wise act of faithfulness. After all, what else is living faithfully than frequent experiences of newness, of changing directions, of everyday resurrections? Part of me wishes the old name remained because it would’ve kept that mission- to forge forward in new ventures with God constantly- front and center, always.
Well, I’m discussing that name because we have a new venture ahead, Church. Alas, it’s not the one we anticipated. Last Monday, due to lack of funds, the Board decided that, unless some miracle arises, we’re ceasing efforts to renovate and expand our building with Yellow Brick Road Childcare.
I must share how proud I was of your leadership as they made that heartbreaking decision. They understood it comes with real costs- money paid we won’t get back, large bills still outstanding, the likelihood that our child care tenant will leave in the near future, with all the budget ramifications that holds. To say nothing of not accomplishing the good work for kids from poor families that we dreamed about. Nevertheless, they talked about God’s will together, prayed together, loved one another without blaming each other or others, and basically were the good, faithful Christians we know makes God’s heart sing.
It says something about people’s (or a church’s) character, the old adage goes, how they react when the cards aren’t falling their way. Your Board reacted faithfully. And hopefully. And that’s awesome! You see, our conversation wasn’t just about whether we’re able to do this or not, or what the fallout will be. We’ve discussed all that, of course, and will be quick to share what we learn when we learn it. But soon enough they turned to, “So what’s next? God brought us this far. We learned important things, and the dream of using our resources to grow our community in numbers and mission impact remains. This chapter closed. The book hasn’t ended.”
Put differently, new ventures remain. So after a meeting you’d imagine I or others would leave feeling dejected, defeated, instead I walked to my car with a smile on my face and lightness in my heart. And I was grateful to have witnessed the Christian hearts of these people, of you. Thank you!
And again I ask, “What’s next?!” Indeed, that’ll be the topic of our Fall Sermon Series, for your information. We’ll look at Scripture’s many texts and stories about reversals, new life, fresh beginnings because we know that new ventures are God’s specialty. And they’re in our church DNA too, if no longer in our name. Please lift your hearts in prayer, then, for discernment among your leadership. Contact them or me with any concerns, questions, or ideas that pop up. Finally, thank YBR for walking with us on this road, and risking with us, and taking serious losses too in hopes that we’d be able to serve our neighbors better together. Their next steps are also uncertain. May God guide them with grace as God does us. And may we all respond with faith, hope and love.
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
But I love New Ventures, the former name. Some of the backstory, of course, was a struggle between leadership at FCC Minneapolis, nudging people to feel led by God to embark on the new venture of forming a new church. The name “Plymouth Creek” was a small way of moving on, therefore, by claiming an independent identity. Choosing New Ventures in the first place, though, was a wise act of faithfulness. After all, what else is living faithfully than frequent experiences of newness, of changing directions, of everyday resurrections? Part of me wishes the old name remained because it would’ve kept that mission- to forge forward in new ventures with God constantly- front and center, always.
Well, I’m discussing that name because we have a new venture ahead, Church. Alas, it’s not the one we anticipated. Last Monday, due to lack of funds, the Board decided that, unless some miracle arises, we’re ceasing efforts to renovate and expand our building with Yellow Brick Road Childcare.
I must share how proud I was of your leadership as they made that heartbreaking decision. They understood it comes with real costs- money paid we won’t get back, large bills still outstanding, the likelihood that our child care tenant will leave in the near future, with all the budget ramifications that holds. To say nothing of not accomplishing the good work for kids from poor families that we dreamed about. Nevertheless, they talked about God’s will together, prayed together, loved one another without blaming each other or others, and basically were the good, faithful Christians we know makes God’s heart sing.
It says something about people’s (or a church’s) character, the old adage goes, how they react when the cards aren’t falling their way. Your Board reacted faithfully. And hopefully. And that’s awesome! You see, our conversation wasn’t just about whether we’re able to do this or not, or what the fallout will be. We’ve discussed all that, of course, and will be quick to share what we learn when we learn it. But soon enough they turned to, “So what’s next? God brought us this far. We learned important things, and the dream of using our resources to grow our community in numbers and mission impact remains. This chapter closed. The book hasn’t ended.”
Put differently, new ventures remain. So after a meeting you’d imagine I or others would leave feeling dejected, defeated, instead I walked to my car with a smile on my face and lightness in my heart. And I was grateful to have witnessed the Christian hearts of these people, of you. Thank you!
And again I ask, “What’s next?!” Indeed, that’ll be the topic of our Fall Sermon Series, for your information. We’ll look at Scripture’s many texts and stories about reversals, new life, fresh beginnings because we know that new ventures are God’s specialty. And they’re in our church DNA too, if no longer in our name. Please lift your hearts in prayer, then, for discernment among your leadership. Contact them or me with any concerns, questions, or ideas that pop up. Finally, thank YBR for walking with us on this road, and risking with us, and taking serious losses too in hopes that we’d be able to serve our neighbors better together. Their next steps are also uncertain. May God guide them with grace as God does us. And may we all respond with faith, hope and love.
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
We are walking…
Years ago, I read an idea that’s shaped my thinking since. It claims that Christianity can be understood as a long-running debate. In one corner is the church behind John’s Gospel, typified by Christ’s final commandment in that book: Love one another as I’ve loved you. In the other corner is the church behind Luke’s Gospel, typified by another commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Perhaps you’re thinking, “Shane, what debate? Those ideas are the same!” In some cases, maybe. But look closer, and at least I see two poles on one constantly swinging pendulum.
After all, in John’s Gospel, the focus is internal. Love one another, Jesus says, as in your fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. The goal here is guarding the faithful, defending the purity of their truth claims, not letting “the world” invade. There’s some historical justification for that sentiment. John’s community was harassed. They experienced derision from neighbors, expulsion from synagogues and cities, occasional outright persecution. And such looming threats can weigh on a community. Infighting and bickering become common: “If only she’d shut her trap…” “If only he had done more…” John, therefore, quotes Jesus begging, “Love one another,” or else the whole ship might sink!
Luke’s Gospel, by contrast, focuses outwardly. His Jesus spends less time concerned about his disciples’ relationship to each other, than their relationship to the world. In particular, he wants them offering love and service, guidance and acceptance, forgiveness, to the most vulnerable around them. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” he counsels, and it’s not like his community had it easy. They too experienced derision, rejection, persecution. But to keep people united, Luke counsels they focus on helping widows, orphans, outcasts, strangers, and not buildings a wall around the church, enforcing strict standards of identity and purity, a la John. Rather, Luke says, “Hey, if we wanna beat this trouble, let’s throw our doors open wider! Serve and love our neighbors more!”
Hence, the debate that’s evolved within Christianity across centuries and cultures: Is our primary mission internal or external? Especially when we’re vulnerable, should we guard our “truth”, protect our Christian identity above all, or should we open our doors and tables wider, aiming above all to love neighbors as best we can?
Both answers, of course, have value. When forced to choose, though, I go with Luke. I love John’s language, poetry and insights. But I think he’s wrong about the best Christian mission. It’s not defending truth; it’s showering love, particularly on and with those in need.
I bring this up by way of introducing an idea that began with a Servant Leaders conversation months ago, and will become a church activity this month. Every year, our city has a parade, aptly called Plymouth on Parade. Local institutions, schools and citizens march together, celebrating the tapestry of our community. This year’s parade is September 26. Our Servant Leaders wanted us to join in, signaling to neighbors, “We’re here! You can be too!” In other words, it’s an act of opening up, of challenging the church to think beyond our building and our relationships, and instead to imagine anew the new connections we can create with others.
So they signed us up! All PCCCers are invited to march. We’ll bring the bus, wear church t-shirts, have fun together. We’ll also hand out fliers to onlookers, which will include worship information as well as a call to action. We’re inviting neighbors to join a food/clothing drive the following week. The flyer will say, “Bring donations to our church by October 3. We’ll take them to people in need!” That, too, is about opening up, communicating not just, “We’re Here! You can be too!” But also, “We’re here! We love people! You can too, with us!”
Will that bring more visitors? Maybe. It’s certainly worth trying. Will those visitors return? Perhaps, especially if we’re open to forming new relationships. Will we collect enough donations to feel like it’s “worth it”? Who cares?! Jesus said Love, in both commandments. And however we do that, if we love, actively, we’re behaving as we should be. No debate about that!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Perhaps you’re thinking, “Shane, what debate? Those ideas are the same!” In some cases, maybe. But look closer, and at least I see two poles on one constantly swinging pendulum.
After all, in John’s Gospel, the focus is internal. Love one another, Jesus says, as in your fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. The goal here is guarding the faithful, defending the purity of their truth claims, not letting “the world” invade. There’s some historical justification for that sentiment. John’s community was harassed. They experienced derision from neighbors, expulsion from synagogues and cities, occasional outright persecution. And such looming threats can weigh on a community. Infighting and bickering become common: “If only she’d shut her trap…” “If only he had done more…” John, therefore, quotes Jesus begging, “Love one another,” or else the whole ship might sink!
Luke’s Gospel, by contrast, focuses outwardly. His Jesus spends less time concerned about his disciples’ relationship to each other, than their relationship to the world. In particular, he wants them offering love and service, guidance and acceptance, forgiveness, to the most vulnerable around them. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” he counsels, and it’s not like his community had it easy. They too experienced derision, rejection, persecution. But to keep people united, Luke counsels they focus on helping widows, orphans, outcasts, strangers, and not buildings a wall around the church, enforcing strict standards of identity and purity, a la John. Rather, Luke says, “Hey, if we wanna beat this trouble, let’s throw our doors open wider! Serve and love our neighbors more!”
Hence, the debate that’s evolved within Christianity across centuries and cultures: Is our primary mission internal or external? Especially when we’re vulnerable, should we guard our “truth”, protect our Christian identity above all, or should we open our doors and tables wider, aiming above all to love neighbors as best we can?
Both answers, of course, have value. When forced to choose, though, I go with Luke. I love John’s language, poetry and insights. But I think he’s wrong about the best Christian mission. It’s not defending truth; it’s showering love, particularly on and with those in need.
I bring this up by way of introducing an idea that began with a Servant Leaders conversation months ago, and will become a church activity this month. Every year, our city has a parade, aptly called Plymouth on Parade. Local institutions, schools and citizens march together, celebrating the tapestry of our community. This year’s parade is September 26. Our Servant Leaders wanted us to join in, signaling to neighbors, “We’re here! You can be too!” In other words, it’s an act of opening up, of challenging the church to think beyond our building and our relationships, and instead to imagine anew the new connections we can create with others.
So they signed us up! All PCCCers are invited to march. We’ll bring the bus, wear church t-shirts, have fun together. We’ll also hand out fliers to onlookers, which will include worship information as well as a call to action. We’re inviting neighbors to join a food/clothing drive the following week. The flyer will say, “Bring donations to our church by October 3. We’ll take them to people in need!” That, too, is about opening up, communicating not just, “We’re Here! You can be too!” But also, “We’re here! We love people! You can too, with us!”
Will that bring more visitors? Maybe. It’s certainly worth trying. Will those visitors return? Perhaps, especially if we’re open to forming new relationships. Will we collect enough donations to feel like it’s “worth it”? Who cares?! Jesus said Love, in both commandments. And however we do that, if we love, actively, we’re behaving as we should be. No debate about that!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
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