I’m not crazy about texts such as the section from Hebrews 12 assigned by the Revised Common Lectionary for yesterday’s worship.  Images like the ones included there can be distracting, I think.  The writer mentions blazing fire, darkness, gloom, tempest, trumpet, and a “voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.” 

Some people get hung-up on end-of-the-world images, perhaps because they are frightened by them, and want to somehow try and out-guess God about what is to come.  We can forget that right now.   We simply have to acknowledge that God is God, we are not, and God is in control. I’m willing to live on those terms.

One of the reasons I don’t relish the question, “What do you do for a living?” is that when I respond I am a pastor of a church the other person feels the need to “check-out” the validity of my church.  One time, I was asked in this situation, “Does your church preach prophesy?”

Even though I knew what she meant, I answered, “Yes.”

We don’t take the apocalyptic imagery of the scriptures and find that, “Voila,” it all applies to and predicts world events in our times.  Imagine that, the prophets were looking ahead to US, to OUR lives, to the days in which WE live. It’s great being the center of everything, isn’t it?

Frankly, I don’t know how some of the “prophecy” preachers stay in business.  Jack Van Impe, for instance, has been on television for a long, long time showing how a verse here and a verse there actually explain today’s world events and headlines.  If the selected verses explained the events of thirty years ago, as he incisively pointed out on his TV show back then, how can they also be doing the same today? 

Maybe it simply has taken that long to cover all the verses, and he was doing them in order.

Hebrews 12 tells us yes, God shakes the foundations of the earth.  Things change, God is present and active in human life.  But some things are not shaken, and to me that’s what is important for people of faith to remember.

God is in control.  God loves all of us.  God makes all things new.  How, why, and when I leave up to God. Whatever God chooses to do can only be good. 

I learned all of that from the prophets, and try to convey it to my congregation.

Arthur Bremer soon will be released from a prison in Maryland.  He served 35 years for shooting George Wallace in an assassination attempt in 1972, when Wallace was campaigning for president.  Wallace survived the attack, but was left paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life.  He died in 1998.

George Wallace was an unabashed racist and segregationist during much of his career as governor of Alabama, but I understand that toward the end of his life he underwent something of a transformation in that regard.  When Bremer shot Wallace in 1972, there probably were more than a few people who had at least vague thoughts that justice somehow was served.   Bremer’s sentence was to spend 53 years in prison.  According to news reports, he earned good behavior credits, reducing his time behind bars.

Football star Michael Vick is facing big-time trouble for his role in the dog fighting scandal.  His co-defendants all have “’fessed up,” and made plea bargains, leaving Vick apparently with no choice other than to admit his own involvement, although it seems he is saying he didn’t do everything he is accused of doing.

An online article I read yesterday called for Vick to serve his sentence, and then be allowed “a second chance,” including being permitted to continue his career in the National Football League.  The responses to the article were overwhelmingly negative.  People indicated, vehemently in most cases, that Vick should be banned forever from the NFL, that he blew his chance, and they don’t want their kids finding a role model in someone like him, so on and so forth.  Many made suggestions that Vick should be treated like the dogs that were abused, or locked in a pen with angry dogs, etc.

Has Arthur Bremer paid his debt?  When Michael Vick gets out of prison, will his case be closed?  Should they be restored to society?

I found it interesting to read this in the article about Bremer:  “Wallace’s son, George Wallace, Jr., said, ‘I’ve forgiven Arthur Bremer and my family has, so I think God’s law has been adhered to, and we’re comfortable with that.’”

As part of our congregation’s visioning process and work in the area of transformation, the elders of our church are reading and discussing a book by Anthony Robinson titled Transforming Congregational Culture.  For those participating, it is extremely thought provoking and stimulating. 

We recently talked about membership growth, and becoming active rather than passive.  For far too long, mainline churches everywhere have labored under some mistaken assumptions.  For instance, congregations often have assumed that they must be big (however one defines that) in order to have a valid ministry.  “If only we had more (people, money, space…).” Robinson reminds us that Jesus himself allowed a gathering of even “two or three” to be important enough for him to be present.

If we can free ourselves of the “we don’t have enough” mindset, we then can focus on being what Robinson refers to as a “real church,” a term he borrows from another church observer, Kirk Hadaway.  A real church is one in which people are transformed by their spiritual practices because their focus is on God and the formation and expression of their faith.  Christ truly lives in the midst of a “real” church, and people respond through faithful ministries of all sorts, relevant to their community and its needs.

Robinson makes the point over and over again that growth occurs in numerous ways, not just in the numbers of people in the pews, but that people will be attracted to a church that provides a genuine spiritual experience, and expresses that spirituality by the ways it reaches out to those around it.

An important aspect of how we look at all of this is how we define evangelism.  In many congregations evangelism merely is seen as adding new members to the rolls.  Robinson shares a definition of evangelism that is not unique to his thinking, but that I feel is especially valid: “the sharing of the good news of the gospel, the good news about God and what God has done and is doing in Christ.” (p. 120)

We do that by living our faith through worship, study, practice of spiritual disciplines, reaching out to others in life-giving ministry, telling our story to our friends, acquaintances, co-workers, neighbors, and others, inviting them to “Come and See.”

Sometimes people have questioned my involvement in marital arts.  After all, I’m a minister (whatever that’s supposed to mean – whenever someone prefaces his or her comments to me with, “You’re a minister…” I take a deep breath), and when I earned my black belt I was working with the peace-loving Quakers.    People also say, upon learning of my background and rank, “Well, we know not to mess with you.”  Hardy – har – har.

What they don’t know is what martial arts are about.   A good martial artist will never fight.  He or she even will run to avoid fighting.  When we teach techniques in a martial arts school, we make it clear that people are not to use the techniques anywhere else.  Our Grand Master reiterated this point during the ceremony at which I received my black belt.  It was part of our “10 Commandments of Tae Kwon Do,” which were recited at every class by students of all belt levels.  Only if your life is threatened, or the life of another person is threatened are you justified in using the techniques.  And then, you’re supposed to alert the other person of your black belt status -- just in case they want to change their mind about fighting.

At our school, we relentlessly reminded everyone of the three main benefits of martial arts training:  To develop a strong mind; to develop a strong body; and to develop self-defense.  Students were required to verbalize these in order to pass tests to the next belt rank.  Notice that the development of a strong mind is the highest priority.

If someone comes to martial arts training with a poor attitude, they are not going to advance.  They soon will wash out of the system, because there is no room for them.  A proper approach does not allow for being disrespectful of anyone or for trying to injure another person.  The techniques require concentration, effort, discipline, patience, and much practice.  Gaining control of one’s body comes as a result of a strong mind and proper attitude.  Mental and physical fitness are derived from regular practice.  One class per week doesn’t get it done.  Three classes is about right.  And it takes years of training to be a good martial artist, because no matter how much you think you know, there is always more to learn, more to perfect.  My knowledge of Tae Kwon Do expanded greatly after I earned my black belt.

Part of that has to do with the reality that black belts become teachers and role models.  Like it or not, other students look up to you as a black belt, and everything you say or do is filtered through that lens.  I can think of only one black belt I knew, about whose attitude I had any questions.  In our system, a person simply didn’t get to that rank with a poor attitude.

The development of a strong mind, a strong body, self-control, discipline, patience, respect for all others, effort, dedication, and a proper attitude are beneficial to every aspect of life.

Personally, I don’t see any of that as conflicting with my faith commitments or vocation.

Disciples Home Missions has a multitude of resources for congregational transformation available on its website.  An item I mentioned last Sunday in my sermon is a brochure called Best Practices for Congregational Transformation.  It’s there for the downloading. 

The brochure lists twenty points describing when “a congregation has the best chance of transforming.”  Among them are:

n      The congregation has discerned its identity in core values, purpose, and mission.

n      We are clear about the centrality of Christ in Christian life and ministry.

n      Congregational leadership is keenly aware that it is part of a movement of transformation within the larger church.

n      The explicit goal of the church is not just “more people in the seats” but measurable change in the social, economic, and spiritual conditions in the community around the church.

The one that got my attention the most, though, states that in a church with 100 adult worshipers on an average Sunday, if “there are 7 people who are passionate about the future of the church,” and that passion inspires 14 people holding official leadership roles to “advocate for the future of the church,” and that leads to 42 others going along for the ride, transformation is possible.

I told my congregation it reminded me of a story found in Genesis 18:16-33.  God was set to destroy a city because of the unrighteousness of the people in general, but Abraham appealed to God:  “What if there are 50 righteous people there?  Can the city be spared?”  God replied, “OK, if there are 50.”  Abraham didn’t let up.  “What about 45?”  God agreed to back off if there were 45 righteous people found in the city.  Abraham pushed the envelope, bargaining all the way down to 10 people.  God relented.

It seems that faithfulness and righteousness, even in small measure can result in a huge difference.  God spared the unrighteous city for the sake of 10 folks who could do some good there.  Congregations can be transformed if the passion for change is found among 7 out of 100 people.

Twelve people, who didn’t always know what they were doing, trailed along after Jesus, trying to figure out what he wanted from them.   They, and others who caught their passion, eventually became known as the people “who turned the world upside down.”

As far as I know, the ability of God hasn’t diminished since then.  Faithfulness carries with it disproportional power.

At least, that’s the witness of scripture.

My work as a minister has taken me to a variety of Disciples churches, all different.  They were in cities, towns, and suburbs.  Each had its own dynamics coloring the relationships of the people and the ministries they did or did not undertake.  In one case, I was the interim minister for a few months.

An aspect of my time I enjoyed at that church was a Sunday school class called “Serious Thinkers.”  The class was held every other Sunday when a van arrived carrying residents of a facility for emotionally challenged adults.  The group sang, ate doughnuts, recited prayers, and heard a Bible story read aloud which they then proceeded to act out.  A box of typical church drama costumes stood by, and everyone took a role.  The leaders of the class were dedicated and patient.  I attended that class every chance I got.

There was a day-care center at the church, serving low-income families, so the hums and echoes of children playing, bumping into things, and lining up at the water fountain provided the daily soundtrack.  Andre the chef rattled pots and pans in the church kitchen providing meals for the kids.  Signs of life at the church, even during the week!

Non-perishables were collected and stored at the church for the local community food-sharing program.  AA groups met there on certain evenings, a ham radio club had space and wiring at the church, and a legacy of caring for the needs of neighbors was evident throughout the building, with flyers and posters, offering boxes and news releases integral to its décor.

Some churches are locked up tight all week long.  Some display a wide sense of vision and purpose.  In some, the people mistrust each other.  Others are like a large extended family.

Somehow, God works through the people, wherever they are located, and in spite of all their/our particular quirks. 

A report from the Chicago Sun-Times showed up in Christian Century:  “In June, an image of Jesus could be seen on a car window in Texas; the word Allah was visible in a sliced tomato in Britain; the face of God could be seen on the ceiling of a Tennessee church; and Elvis’s profile was sighted on a rock in Colorado.”

Two questions:  How did the folks in Tennessee determine they were seeing God’s face?  Moses only got God’s backside.  And, what’s Elvis doing in there?

I seem to recall that a partially eaten sandwich was offered on eBay because someone thought it looked like Jesus.  We all have heard reports of people flocking to sites where there was some kind of apparition on the side of a building believed to be the Virgin Mary, or to statues that seemed to be weeping.

Apparently, there is quite a fascination with this kind of thing.  Perhaps it speaks to a human appetite for the transcendent, something above and beyond the existence we have as human beings.  Maybe it is a yearning for evidence that a spiritual realm exists.  I’m not sure.  I never have seen anything such as the “phenomena” described here.

Christians are called to witness to the transcendent power of Almighty God.  We follow the One who was not confined by this life, or by the death we all must suffer.  The Holy Spirit moves among us, affecting our lives in ways largely unexplainable in earthly terms.

Maybe there really are people out there, after all, who would be receptive to a witness to what we say we believe.

I came across a quote from Albert Camus:  “Too many people have dispensed with generosity in order to practice charity.”  In thinking about the differences between generosity and charity, a couple of thoughts occur to me.  You will have additional thoughts.

It seems that generosity is a way of living.  People are generous with their spirits.  They are open to people, interested in their insights, experiences, and unique perspectives on life.  People are generous with their time, allowing room for others and their needs, responding with help, wisdom, and encouragement.  People are generous with their money and possessions, sharing what they have with others, contributing to their comfort, pleasure, and well-being.  Generosity is relational, life-giving, and satisfying.  If Camus’ observation is correct, then something valuable is lost when people drop generosity from their patterns of behavior.

Charity has many positive elements to it, as well.  I suspect Camus discerned a bit of self-interest in charity, though.  Perhaps he saw charity as a transaction between superior and inferior parties – a difference between the “haves” and the “have-nots.”   Maybe he viewed charity as it is reflected in this vignette found on Steve Goodier’s website:

An American tourist in Tel Aviv was about to enter the impressive Mann Auditorium to take in a concert by the Israel Philharmonic. He was admiring the unique architecture, the sweeping lines of the entrance, and the modern decor throughout the building. Finally he turned to his escort and asked if the building was named for Thomas Mann, the world famous author.

"No," his friend said, "it's named for Fredric Mann, from Philadelphia."

"Really? I never heard of him. What did he write?"

"A check."

Sometimes our charity is offered with strings attached.  We want a building named after us.  We are angling for a tax break.  We support an institution or cause that serves our interests or priorities. 

Again, charity is not assumed to be negative.  It is, however, different from generosity in that it could be perceived as something over which we have more control.  If control is our aim, there is less of an equality of relationship and of esteem in the relationship.

I think Jesus called more for generosity than charity from his followers.  He saw everyone as a child of God, and when he spoke of justice, he wasn’t referring to punishment for misdeeds or reward for good behavior.  He was talking about the right of every person to fully experience life and access to the resources of God’s creation that provide sustenance for life. 

Perhaps if there were more generosity in the world, there would be less of a need for charity.

Somewhere I heard that today is the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.  I never was a fan, but I do remember the day he died, because I was driving to Indianapolis to begin classes at Christian Theological Seminary.

I was taking two days to drive from Washington to Indianapolis, and veered slightly off course to spend the night with a friend in Akron, Ohio along the way.  He was a Disciples pastor, maybe 15 years older than me, and was a graduate of CTS himself.

Back on the road the second day, the radio carried constant reports of the death of “The King.”  It was amazing that so much airtime was devoted to the news, but I subsequently have met a few of his devotees, and their passion is real.  I even knew one guy who was something of an Elvis impersonator, and watched him in the role in a church production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”  In that scene, my friend Ron WAS Elvis.

So, my ministry has been entirely post-Elvis.  Much has changed in the world over the past thirty years.   Disco was on the way out, other music styles have come and gone.  Wars have been fought on several continents; some are being fought today.  Attitudes about gender roles and race continue to evolve; family configurations are often more complex; the ways we entertain ourselves and communicate have changed beyond anyone’s imagination, and the air is filled with an exploding multiplicity of signals, waves and impulses.

But, the basic human yearnings for meaning and love remain the same.  Despite emptier pews, the witness of the church still is necessary – and still called for by God.

Another thing that has not changed is that Elvis still earns hundreds of millions of dollars every year. 

Time marches on.  There are only two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.  Each has seen his 65^th birthday come and go.  More than forty years ago the Beatles took America by storm, and seeing the black and white film clips of their arrival in New York, and their famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, one has the sense of ancient history.  But, surely, everyone understands the impact and cultural significance of “the Fab Four.”

Perhaps not.

Ringo actually once played the role of the miniature railroad conductor on the PBS children’s program, Thomas the Tank Engine.   During his stint on the program, a young reporter interviewed Ringo and asked, “Have you done other things in the entertainment industry before getting this role?”   Ringo replied, “I was in a band.”  How did she not know?

In the analysis of the decline of the church in North America over the past forty years or more, the observation is made by various writers that church participation and even the Christian faith itself often were viewed as inherent to the prevailing culture, and that “everyone” understood what the faith and the church were all about.  Being an American meant being a Christian in this mindset.

The consequence of this assumption was that faith formation became a very low priority in the church.  The attitude of many churches became, “If everyone already was up to speed, why spend time teaching people something they already knew?”  It turned into a famine AND a drought, when it came to teaching and learning the faith.  What was assumed never was known in the first place, and now generations have come along with minimal attention to spiritual growth and strength in their lives.  Individuals, the church, communities, and the world suffer as a result.

Many people have no reasonable idea what the faith is about.  They don’t know one church from another.  Folks may or may not ever guess that spiritual health is important, let alone possible. 

A great challenge for the church is, “Are we equipped to help them?”  Do we even take it seriously enough ourselves?