Mid-Week Messages

Vol 6 No 21 - A Good Easter

2011-04-27T08:55:00.000-05:00

"Are you having a good Easter?" Yeah, I know. "Easter's come and gone, hasn't it preacher? That was Sunday. And, by the way, I did have a good Easter, thank you for asking."

Well...um...yeah. About that...

We are having a good Easter. By definition, there is no such thing as a bad Easter, for Easter is all about hope. Easter is about hope because it is about resurrection. Easter is about resurrection because Christ showed that death does not necessarily have the final say. We are having a good Easter because we are people of the resurrection who know that our HOPE is found in the promise of tomorrow.

We are having a good Easter because the resurrection is not about a day, or a singular event. The resurrection is about giving life, eternal life, starting now. We are having a good Easter because through Christ's resurrection we are called to participate in the Kingdom of God NOW; it's not something we make a decision for then bide our time until we quit respirating and THEN enter into God's Kingdom.

We are having such a good Easter we remember that we gather for worship every Sunday morning partly in remembrance that it was on the first day of the week that Christ arose from the grave.

It was great to see so many of you in worship here, and in the church universal for Easter; my hope and prayer is that you continue to make worship at Easter a vital point in your life. To that end, see you Sunday, here or with the church wherever you may be located. When we worship together no matter the week or the specific emphasis of that Sunday, we are gathering as Easter people, reminded once again of the miraculous joy of the resurrection.

Grace and Peace,

Lamar

Vol 6 No 20 - No Shortcuts

2011-04-20T10:43:00.000-05:00

A dear friend of mine told today of the most memorable Easter sermon he ever heard. It consisted of five words: "He is Risen. Alleluia. Amen." Then the preacher sat down.

Notice I did not say it was the best, merely the most memorable.

Why was it memorable? It got to the core of the day's message - He is Risen.

As much as I am anxious to get to our celebration of Easter Sunday, as much as I am ready to proclaim the message, "He is Risen," we have a journey to continue before we get there. A journey that we began on the first Sunday of Advent, when we first started to anticipate the coming of the Messiah. A journey that we continued as we welcomed the Christ child into the world. A journey that led us through the Christmas season and into they joy of Epiphany, when the world acknowledged through the wise men the reality of Christ's authority. A journey that went through celebrating the transfiguration of Christ, where God identified Christ as his Son, the beloved, with whom he was well pleased. A journey that brought us through the penitence of Ash Wednesday and the prayerful introspection and reflection of the Lenten season of sacrifice and self-denial. A journey that we continued as we sang Hosanna! in observance of the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.

This is journey that will lead us into the Upper Room, where Christ tells us to break the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of him, exhibiting the essential Christian nature of humility and service through his loving hospitality of the disciples that evening.

This is a journey that will bring us to Christ's final hours, where through the excruciating and tortuous actions of his arrest, conviction, and execution the power of evil was defeated once and for all.

This is a journey that will take us to the empty tomb, where we proclaim the simple message: "He is Risen. Alleluia. Amen."

And prepare for the next part of the journey.

Grace and Peace,

Lamar

P.S. While part of the journey has already been completed, it's not too late to bring others along, or yourself if you haven't been riding with us up to this point. Remember, Easter Sunday makes no sense without Holy Thursday and Good Friday to provide context.

Vol 6 No 19 - Not Too Late!

2011-04-13T09:26:00.001-05:00

Going into the last Lenten Luncheon of this season today, I have been reminded of those commercials that say something along the lines of, "It's NEVER too late to start planning now for your retirement. Call us today!"

I bring you good news! It is not too late to start planning for Easter. It is not too late to start being prepared by God's grace for the joy of the resurrection. Yes, it's true. Even if you have put it all off until now. That is one of the great things about the community of faith - we are about helping one another prepare for the greatest high holy days of the Christian year. The first thing to remember, in fact, when trying to prepare for ANY day, is that you are not alone; we have been given the gift of the church precisely because we cannot do it alone.

From Wednesday activities to the joy of Palm Sunday worship and fellowship to the great feast that is Holy Thursday to the poignant and necessary remembrance on Good Friday, we have ample opportunity to be prepared for the joy of Easter.

Wherever you are, remember that Easter's coming. Allow yourself to truly appreciate the joy of that great day by joining in the journey.

This is what Lent is all about. This is what the church is all about. This is why we have been called together as the community of faith. To prepare and to be prepared to recall once again Christ's saving work and participate fully in thought, word, and deed.

Grace and Peace,

Lamar

NOTE: For a full list of the activities referenced above, visit http://bit.ly/gNt5Rg

Vol 6 No 18 - Don't Forget

2011-04-06T09:27:00.000-05:00

I looked up, and it was Wednesday again; time to write the Mid-Week Message. How did I miss it?

There is not a one of us who has not gotten so caught up in life that certain things that mean so much to us seem to pop up out of nowhere because we have allowed ourselves to be completely distracted.

Fact of the matter is this is one of the great joys of the Lenten season. We, the church, take the Great Three Days that conclude on Easter so seriously that we intentionally work for 40 days to prepare for them. In many ways, this is at the core of Lent - the faithful ordering their lives in such a way that we cannot be surprised by the arrival of Easter Sunday.

How many times have you looked up at the calendar and said, "How did this get here so fast? I haven't had time to get ready for it?"

May we be people who so order our lives that we are not surprised by the arrival of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, but eagerly and hopefully await their arrival.

See you Sunday (and Wednesday)!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 17 - Roll Tape

2011-03-30T08:22:00.000-05:00

It would be much easier, I'm sure. It might also be much more painful. In either case, I think it would lead to a far more honest observation of the Lenten season (or for that matter, living the Christian life, period.) Which is why I think most all of us would run for the hills if this ever happened to us.

I am, of course, talking about having yourself videoed in your natural environment.

This past week, as part of an exercise I'm doing to work with one of my colleagues on preaching, I videoed the reading of the scripture and the sermon. An old standby of any preaching 101 class, I have to admit it was very challenging to play back that video several times over the past couple of days preparing for my meeting with my colleague today. Watching this video, I saw some things I need to change, cringed at some things I wish I had worded differently, got some ideas for different things to do. But it wasn't all bad - looking back at stuff from 5-10 years ago, I see a lot of which I am quite pleased. The hardest part of all this was simply pressing play the first time. It will be interesting to see what kind of feedback my colleague offers.

What if we had our lives videoed and could go back to review that which we have done? What if we had to take these videos and show them to others in an environment where they could offer commentary and critique? How would it affect your behavior to know that your every move and every word was being recorded for your own review and that of others? Or, would it?

What if we had the opportunity to compare the tapes of today to the product from 5-10 years ago? Would someone, including you, looking at these tapes see progress?

See, this is what Lent is all about. During this season, we are to engage in self-examination and introspection. We are to take time to 'look at the tape' and see things upon which to improve.

As Christians, we are to be about looking at one another's video, encouraging each other to good works, engaging in accountability for those areas in which we come up short, and to realize that God is consistently seeking to move us forward, whether we can see it or not.

Here's the thing - this can only happen as it should when we allow ourselves to be engaged fully in the life of the congregation. It is, in essence, what being a member of the church is all about.

Roll tape.

See you Sunday (and Wednesday)!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 16 - Being a Blessing

2011-03-23T09:28:00.000-05:00

So, to follow up with the text from worship last week (Genesis 12:1-4a), have you been a blessing this week? Through your daily interactions with the world in which you live - home, work, community - have you taken that which God has so graciously given you and been a blessing to others?

Over 120 of you were a blessing to me and to each other this past Sunday as you joined together as the community of faith in worship. My hope and prayer is that you also experienced God's grace and love through this sacred time we were given by God.

As a word of encouragement, let me say that in addition to leaving this place and striving to be a blessing to others beyond the walls of this church, be sure to also remember your opportunity to be a blessing to your fellow saints in the church.

• Today at noon, we will gather to break bread and feed on the Gospel lesson over lunch, sharing together this truly sacred time of Lenten observance.

• Later today, we will gather to lift up all those God has placed on our hearts to place on our prayer list, and share in the sacred meal of the Lord's Supper.

• The youth of our church will gather after our prayer & communion service to engage in their Lenten Bible Study while our choir will prepare for our upcoming worship services as well as continue their work on the Good Friday service.

• Tomorrow, you will have the opportunity to join with our friends from Trinity Episcopal as we continue the exploration of our shared faith expressed in our common affirmation of faith, the Nicene Creed.

Be honest - how many of you feel that you either do not have the time or the interest to participate in any of our activities other than Sunday morning worship, and that only if we cannot find something else to use our time?

Be honest - how many times do we focus on what we can get out of or put into something to measure whether or not we are going to participate?

On this sacred Wednesday morning, let me encourage you to remember the calling first given to Abram to be a blessing. I know you have a lot going on and may not think you need much more than Sunday mornings; allow me to remind you that by your very presence and your participation you have the opportunity to be a blessing to others.

Journeying through Lent, be intentional about seeking out how to be a blessing to others. Take what God has given you and share it through your ministry of presence.

For, wherever you are, in our area or far away, the fact is God's people have been called together to be the church, and you, through the very fact you have been given life, have a blessing to provide simply by showing up.

And I pray that as we are together I may be a blessing to you.

See you Sunday (and Wednesday)!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 15 - The Lenten Tongue

2011-03-16T07:30:00.001-05:00

By now, I hope and pray you have gotten into the Lenten Spirit. Through prayer, fasting, and self-examination, this is truly a season to allow God to work deeper within us, showing us how much more the Divine glory can shine through us.

This morning, our youth had a great breakfast highlighted by a lesson on the power of the tongue. As we studied this morning, scripture is quite clear about how the actions of our tongue control us far more than we realize.

I encourage you to use this holy season of Lent as an opportunity to examine the state of your tongue. What is it that you are doing through the words that you say and how you say them? Are you using them to uplift one another, encouraging one another to good deeds, and strengthening one another's faith? Are you using your words to be God's light and love in the world? Can someone, by hearing you speak to them, hear the Good News of Christ?

When you speak, do you speak on your own, or do you seek to speak by the power of the Holy Spirit, spreading God's saving grace?

See you Sunday (and Wednesday)!

Lamar

United Methodists and the Pacific Disaster

2011-03-12T14:59:00.001-06:00

Dear Friends,

By now, you all know of the disaster that has hit our friends in the Pacific, Japan in particular.

From our friends at UMCOR:

“In response to the Earthquake on March 10, 2011 that struck Japan, The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will be working with local communities to rebuild. UMCOR is now better able to help when earthquakes and tsunamis or other disasters hit the area. UMCOR works in shelter and infrastructure reconstruction, water and sanitation, income generation, health and nutrition, education and community development."

For the next few weeks, we will be taking a special offering to support the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Note in the memo line of your check or on the outside "UMCOR - Pacific Disaster." You may also go to UMCOR.org to find more information about this all and of UMCOR's work throughout the world.

Remember that through our support of the church in paying our apportionments, all of UMCOR's overhead is supplied, thus allowing 100% of all donations to this effort to go to directly to assist victims.

Grace and Peace,

Lamar

Vol 6 No 14 - Not Alone

2011-03-08T12:47:00.002-06:00

Lent, by it's very nature, is not exciting, nor glamorous, nor entertaining. Lent is hard work. Good thing we are not called to do it in isolation.

As you enter into the sanctuary for our 6:00PM service on Ash Wednesday, you will be greeted by a sign that encourages you to enter in silence. As part of observing this silent time of preparation, reading through the notes found in your worship guide, take a good look around the sanctuary. Note that as you start this season of self-examination and sacrifice, you are not in this journey alone.

It can be very easy to find Lent a difficult time. And it is. Let's not make it any harder than it needs to be by going at it alone.

Come and worship as a community
on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Come and serve as a community
through our mission opportunities.

Come and fellowship as a community
through our Lenten Luncheons.

Come and study as a community
through our various study groups.

Come and be as a community
through being present
in the life of the church this season.

Through our shared life in the community, I promise you these 40 days won't be as long as you might think. Easter is coming.

See you Sunday (and Wednesday)!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 13 - A Holy Mardi Gras

2011-03-03T10:51:00.000-06:00

I want to encourage you all to completely and fully celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday.

Yes, that's right, I want to encourage you all to completely get into the Mardi Gras spirit.

No, I'm not kidding. Go ahead and get into the Mardi Gras spirit.

You may be thinking: "Cool. Preacher's telling us to go out and get completely hammered, engaging in activities that I really hope no one is going to put on YouTube later, spending money that could be better used elsewhere on dresses and beads."

C'mon. You know me better than that.

What I want to encourage you to do as Mardi Gras comes is to take a look back at the historical context of Mardi Gras. Take a look back to some of the practices of the day over the past few centuries. Note that it was referred to as Fat Tuesday due to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritualistic fasting of Lent.

Yes, I want to encourage you to observe Mardi Gras fully. Take the day to reflect upon the fact that Lent is coming, and use Mardi Gras as a time to think about all the 'fat' in your life that needs to be cut.

In other words, use Mardi Gras not as a season or day of iniquity, but as a day of preparation for observing a Holy Lent. After all, if you are not preparing to fully participate in the 40-day season of prayer and fasting, what's the point of celebrating Mardi Gras? If not used for joyfully anticipating a season self-denial and introspection, then Mardi Gras is simply a waste of time and money.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 12 - Tale a Look Around

2011-02-24T08:40:00.000-06:00

Over the past three days, I have been on retreat with all the appointed clergy within the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. There were over 340 of us registered for this event, gathered at our conference center in Woodworth.

Being a good Methodist, my associates and I would arrive at the sessions early enough to find seating near the back. [Insert punchline here.] It was a great place to sit, for we got to greet many of our colleagues who came in after us, and had a nice perspective on all those gathered for these three special days.

Tuesday morning, looking around the room at the many faces that are the United Methodist Clergy of our state, a few thoughts came to mind:

1) How many of these people would I voluntarily hang out with if we did not have the connection of being United Methodist Clergy?

2) How many of these people would I choose to be a pastor of a local congregation or a denominational executive?

3) How much would I be missing if these people were not a part of my life - those that I know extremely well, as well as those with whom I am merely acquainted through small talk in a hallway or an occasional meeting?

See, this is one of the most joyful things about the church - through Divine wisdom, God assembles the most unlikely to do Kingdom work. People who seemingly do not have much in common, people who seeming have personality conflicts that would in other circumstances lead to deep division, people from all sorts of places, people of all demographic categories - through God's grace the Kingdom's work is done.

Walking into the office this morning, I reflected upon the fact that the same hold true for our local congregation. When we gather as a church for worship, or fellowship, or mission, or for any other purpose, we are associating with some of the most unlikely people to do the most unlikely of work.

As you come to worship this Sunday, take a look around. Take a look around and realize that this is God's grace in the flesh. Take a look around, and give thanks to God for the richness that has been added to our lives by the common calling of uncommon people - the calling to participate in the Kingdom of God.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 11 - How Do You Know?

2011-02-11T07:42:00.000-06:00

Dr. Robert Mulholland drew a half-circle on a sheet of paper and asked the graduate theological students gathered in his office for their weekly bible study what it was that was on the sheet of paper. The automatic responses were two: a crooked line or a half-circle. In typical professorial style, he leaned back in his chair and said, "How do you know?"

It's one of those moments that will be seared into my consciousness until I draw my last breath.

"How do you know?" Of course, the standard response was, "I know a curved line when I see one."

He asked again, "How do you know?" A little more give-and-take ensued, but this was going nowhere fast.

He finally said, "How do you know it's not a straight line? I'm here to tell you it's a straight line." More give-and-take ensured among the know-it-all graduate theological students.

Dr. Mulholland then said, "You know it's a crooked like because you have seen a straight line. If you did not know what a straight line looked like, then you would have no clue this is a curved line."

We were studying some of Paul's writings that morning, and the point the good doctor was making was that when we are confronted with what is the proper way of Christian life (thoughts, words, and deeds) then we can allow ourselves to measure where it is we are on our Christian journey.

I get asked often, "How do I know whether or not I am living the Christian life?" Let me ask a follow-up question, "Do you know how to differentiate between a straight line and a curved line?"

The beauty of participating in the life of the Kingdom of God through regular weekly worship is that we are consistently given a standard by which to measure our lives. Through the regular study of the holy scriptures and participating in bible study and/or small groups, we are shown that standard. Through the fellowship of believers, we come to share in the wisdom of God as revealed through our fellow believers.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 10 - The Game

2011-02-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

I cannot express how much I am looking forward to this Sunday. The ritual that comes on the first Sunday of February every year is truly an expression of how sacrifice can lead to success on the biggest stage possible. Thinking back to how the events of this day didn't just suddenly appear out of nowhere, but are the results of years of preparation. Looking at how people who usually have nothing in common will gather around to eat and fellowship together as their attention is focused on the actors in this huge drama.

The event celebrated on the first Sunday in February has been known to galvanize communities in ways that no one can seem to explain, but have led to some truly world-changing events. Unfortunately, long-time friends and families have also been ripped apart (temporarily or permanently) based on their allegiances to various parties who will clash in this event.

Another thing to note about this ritual that affects everyone's life (whether they pay attention to it or not) is that you never know who will participate. Until you show up at the party, you never know exactly with whom you will be celebrating this spectacular event. The food and drink may be the same every time, but even then you might have a different take on it depending on the attitude you bring.

Many people who really have no idea what is happening or why will wax eloquent (or not-so-eloquent) about the keys to the contest. While there may be some obvious clues as to why the outcome occurred the way it did, realistically most people have no clue about the things that are unseen that have led to this thing turning out as it does.

Finally, when it is all said and done, the winner will have the glory that comes with being victorious on the biggest stage.

Please accept this message as your personal invitation to join in the celebration of this big event on Sunday. For those of you in Morgan City, as is the case every year, we will be hosting this event at Pharr Chapel (complete with food and drink - you don't need to bring a thing). If you are in another area, I am sure there is a church in your area that will also be holding festivities to mark this special occasion.

I am speaking, of course, of the celebration of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

(What, you thought I was talking about the Super Bowl?)

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 9 - Limited Perspective

2011-01-26T21:21:00.000-06:00

Watching the fallout from the playoff games in the National Football League this past weekend has been quite disturbing to observe. (No, this isn't another column about the Steelers - there's not much more to be said as their play spoke for itself.)

It was during the Green Bay-Chicago game where the Bears' starting quarterback, Jay Cutler, was injured late in the first half when a Packer defender got him in the knee. Anyone watching the game could tell immediately that he was hurt in a pretty significant way. As the Bears, who were not playing well at all, went into the locker room for halftime, Mr. Cutler's demeanor made it obvious to all that something was clearly not right. Long story short, Mr. Cutler came out to 'give it a go' in the third quarter, but the decision was made to bring in his backup to finish the game.

What has been so disturbing is the firestorm of criticism that was launched Mr. Cutler's way during and after the game by his colleague within the National Football League. Evidently, Mr. Cutler did not show the right amount of heart in many people's opinion by not continuing to play even on what was later identified as a torn MCL. Further, Mr. Cutler evidently didn't sufficiently be as involved as he should have been in 'rallying the troops' behind his replacements; rather, it appeared to many that Mr. Cutler was simply disinterested at that point and retreated into a shell on the bench.

Now, the only people who really knew what was going on there was Mr. Cutler, his coaches, and other Bears personnel. While things may have appeared to have been as interpreted by the Twitter and blog crowd, no one offering commentary on the situation really knew what was happening. When told of the criticism from his fellow athletes, it was reported that Mr. Cutler had tears in his eyes.

I was drawn to write about this story because many parallels could be drawn to the life of the Christian community. Like Mr. Cutler, there are many among us who are injured. Like Mr. Cutler, many times when we are injured, we get hammered for our reactions, even though the simple fact is that, like Mr. Cutler, we are simply doing the best we can to deal with a horrific situation.

Traveling to and from Woodworth on Monday and Tuesday, I heard a lot of chatter on ESPN Radio and NFL Radio about this situation, and at one point a host asked one of the talking head guests, "What needs to happen to make this situation better in Chicago for all involved?"

You and I both know the answer because we have been given it through Christ. The answer is grace. We are called to be a gracious people because we have been given grace. Rather than shooting our wounded, let us be people who bend over backward to extend grace. Is there a need for accountability? Of course. Certain situations need to be addressed with corrective behavior, and that is a biblical concept.

The fact still remains that in all of our interactions with one another what we see is not necessarily all there is going on in each other's lives. When you see something or someone that is obviously out of sorts, rather than take shots at them, resolve to find out more, to extend grace - for more often than not, I believe you will find in these situations someone have a difficult time who needs some understanding.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 8 - More than a Meeting

2011-01-20T19:52:00.000-06:00

One of the hallmarks of our Methodist tradition is our emphasis on connectionalism - the idea that no congregation is an island; indeed, we are all connected to each other and the larger church. We share our ministry; what happens in one congregation happens to all. We lift up one another's celebrations, and hold each other's hands through times of trial. We find the roots of our shared ministry through God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures and order ourselves through the authority of the Book of Discipline, the provisions of which are administered by those ordained as elders in the church under the direction of the bishop.

Spending the past two and a half days in the office of our District Superintendent, I have been consistently reminded of the joy of this connection - seeing how the Kingdom of God is at work through so many of our local congregations. As part of the district audit team that helps review and compile the data from the past year in each of these places, visiting with each of the pastors, I thought often of how much it means to be able to share our ministry with so many others. From the highs we celebrated with a few, to the tears that were shed with a few, to the encouragement shared with all, it reminded me once again of the communal nature of our faith. Where's the comfort of knowing we have a great cloud of witnesses who share our faith and tradition if we live as though each church is an island unto itself and not swept up into the larger work of the Holy Spirit that has breathed life into our movement for well over two centuries?

We cannot escape the fact that in and through Christ - his life, death, and resurrection - we are all connected to one another. Our emphasis on connection finds its modern founding through the ministry of John and Charles Wesley, but make no mistake about it - the roots of our connection are found in the earliest days of Christianity. Spend some time in the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul's writings where he is encouraging a particular congregation to help support a sister congregation in need, and it becomes quite apparent early on that we have a shared responsibility for our well-being.

Praise be to God we are not in this alone!

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 7 - Commitment

2011-01-13T20:17:00.000-06:00

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner note in their recent bestseller SuperFreakonomics:

"The people who become excellent at a given thing aren’t necessarily the same ones who seemed to be “gifted” at a young age. This suggests that when it comes to choosing a life path, people should do what they love—yes, your nana told you this too—because if you don’t love what you’re doing, you are unlikely to work hard enough to get very good at it.

It is my observation that probably the biggest issue that has faced the church from the very beginning is not external but internal. The issue is that of commitment: Are the self-proclaimed followers of Jesus committed to living out the Christian life as faithfully and with as much excellence as possible? Are the people of the church really ready to be consumed by God's love and the responsibilities that come in living out the life of faith?

Honestly, I don't know a one of us who does not fall short of this ideal at some point (or two, or three...). The question we must ask ourselves is: How much do I want to be a true follower of Christ and how much am I willing to sacrifice to live as God instructs? The fact of the matter is that faithfulness to God through Christ demands that we go "all in" in every aspect of life.

I think so often we struggle with the high calling we have been given and modeled by Christ because we aren't sure if we really love this lifestyle. This is where Levitt and Dubner's quote resonated with me so deeply: Their words serve as a reminder that if we are really going to be working through this life committed to Christ's will being done, we should do so because of our tremendous love for the Savior. For, no matter how much we may say we want to live as Christ calls us, until we fall madly in love with the Christian lifestyle, we are setting ourselves up to not reach the true potential Christ is put in each of us.

In other words: What is the path we have chosen for our lives? A life of self-centered chasing our tail and every whim narcissism or a life of true devotion to God in Christ found only when we allow ourselves to fall madly in love with him?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 6 - Sunday's Coming

2011-01-05T10:49:00.000-06:00

"Sunday's coming. Never forget, no matter what else goes on in the week, Sunday's coming."

One of my dear friends and mentors would constantly remind me and my friends of this as we prepared to go out into ministry. His point was to always make sure that worship preparation and sermon work never strayed far from our thoughts. Over the past 10 years, I have thought often of his words and how much the words "Sunday's coming" put into focus and perspective all the ministry of the congregation.

Listening to those words again this past weekend as my friends and I gathered to celebrate the New Year, I came to appreciate them in a new way. Rather than look at them from the viewpoint of "Sunday's coming" and you had better have your work done, I saw it from the perspective of, "Sunday's coming! I can't wait! Sunday's coming, and no matter what else has happened (or not happened) during the week, Sunday's coming, and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for God's people this week!"

That's the beauty of being connected in worship, my friends. Through gathering, praying, singing, proclamation, offering, affirmation, and all the other parts of worship, we connect with our God who reminds us during these times that, "It's ok. I am God - have been and always will be - and there's nothing during your week that has more power than me. So, cast yourselves upon me, and allow me to carry you through all of life. You are loved not for what you do, but for whose you are - mine. I created everything out of nothing, and love you so much I sent my Son to heal our broken relationship and will send him again to make all things new on the final day. Let not your hearts be troubled, and let not them be afraid."

Sunday's coming! Thanks be to God!

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 5 - More than a Day

2010-12-29T07:31:00.000-06:00

I hope and pray you were able to be blessed by worship on Christmas Eve and on this past Sunday, whether you were in town or if you were off visiting friends and family somewhere. Going through Advent can be physically and emotionally draining work due to the logistics of getting everything done; somehow, the music and liturgy of Christmas Eve and the oft-overlooked First Sunday of Christmas serve as a joyful reminder of the saving work that God initiated on Christmas morning so long ago.

Speaking of being reminded of the saving work that is embodied in the new-born King, I am issuing you a pastoral challenge this day. One of the campaigns launched every year during Advent in some circles is a move to "Keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas!" I couldn't agree more. As the people of God, however, I want to push you to go one further, and be sure to order your lives in such a way as to keep Christ not only in CHRISTmas, but also the other 364/5 days a year.

In this, the last Mid-Week Message of 2010, let this be a challenge for you, and for all of us, to spend 2011 keeping Christ in EVERY day of the year, not just the one that has his name in the title. Then, we might catch another glimpse of what it means to truly be the church.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 4 - It Never Gets Old

2010-12-23T08:37:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month, a dear friend of mine made the observation, "I can't imagine having to be a preacher this time of year. C'mon, man, you and I both know you're going to read the same stories on the same Sundays and wind up at the same place each year. Tell me, how do you not rip your hair out trying to make this interesting and relevant each year? How do you not see December coming and go, 'O, geez, NOT AGAIN!'?"

I laughed hard at this question because the guy is a very active layperson, committed to his God and his local congregation, and was, in some respect, just calling to mess with me. He has got me thinking, though, a lot harder about this over the past couple of weeks, and I think I've gotten the response.

Let me put the question to you - how do you get excited again and again each year about hearing the same stories over and over?

My answer is simply this: This season is about the continual reminder that, through Christ, God fulfilled his promise. God fulfilled his promise to send the people a savior. God fulfilled his promise to deliver one who would be Emmanuel, God with us. The continual reminder part is important, because unless we keep things at the front of our thinking, we can easily forget.

May we never forget God's grace, peace, and love given to us through the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. May we never tire of hearing the same ol' story, for it is the one story we cannot ever afford to forget.

So, come and worship, come and worship, come and worship Christ the new-born king.

Erin and I look forward to being with you on Friday night @ 6:00 or 11:00 for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services, and I look forward to celebrating the Christmas season with you during worship on Sunday morning at 10:00.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 3 - Do We HAVE to Pray?

2010-12-15T20:15:00.000-06:00

Most of you know that I'm a "get to the point" kind of guy, so I'm not going to beat around the bush here - I need your help with one of the most important tasks we have as a church.

Quite frankly, I need you to pray.

Looking over the past year in the life of our congregation, indeed over the past four and a half years we have shared the journey of life together, we have seen some truly great and glorious things. God has done some truly awe-inspiring stuff around here, and it has been an honor to participate in these things.

As we go forward in our shared journey together, it is time for us to rededicate ourselves to prayer.

Prayer specifically for me as your pastor, that I might be the kind of teacher, preacher, counselor, administrator, and all the other things that are expected and required in the sacred office to which I have been entrusted.

Prayer specifically for the leadership of this congregation, that the men and women whom you have entrusted as your leaders will make none but wise and faithful decisions.

Prayer specifically for the worshiping life of our congregation, that our attitudes towards our central time together are attitudes of hopeful expectation for what God has in store for us on any given Sunday, trusting that no matter what is said or sung, prayed or read, God is speaking and we listen with ears tuned by the Holy Spirit.

It is my firm belief that God has great things in store for our life together, and I am looking forward to the shared journey with you as we discover what all God is going to do.

To do our part in this journey, let us pray. Let us always remember that Christ was very specific that our prayer should be for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let us trust that God's will is much bigger than our imaginations, and let us be faithful to following him wherever we may be led, realizing that where we may be led may be a totally different place than where we want or where we think we should.

Then we have captured the essence of what it means to be the community of faith.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 2 - It Matters

2010-12-10T08:38:00.000-06:00

"We are Christian because somehow in Christ - through the sacraments, through prayer, through our suffering, through the words of our neighbors, or through the encounter with strangers - we have, in Christ's name, been touched and even transformed by God." - Luke Timothy Johnson in The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters

The words from the above quotation have been percolating in my mind over the past couple of weeks as I prepare to work with members of our staff-parish relations committee to evaluate how we as a church have lived out our calling over the past year and as we seek to discern where it is God is leading us in the next year of our lives.

What I keep coming back to over and over as I prepare to enter into these conversations is the word transformation. That is to say, can it be said that we, the people of this congregation, truly give testimony that God, through Christ, has transformed our lives? Does being a part of Christ's church really mean anything to us, or it just, to use a phrase I heard recently, a "social presence?" Do we live lives that exhibit being touched by God, or do we practice what is referred to as "functional atheism?"

Rather than go into a lengthy article about how this quote is influencing my thinking, allow me to simply say that our expectation should be that Dr. Johnson's words ring true in us, as individuals and as a community. We must be about being touched and transformed by God.

The scary thing is, when we open ourselves up to this, we give up control of the process and outcome. And that, simply, is a a question of faith. Is our faith strong enough to trust God to take us where we need to be, even if that is not what we think we want or maybe doesn't look like we think it should?

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 6 No 1 - Getting Ready for Christmas?

2010-12-01T07:27:00.000-06:00

"So, getting ready for Christmas?" For just a few weeks each year, it replaces "How 'bout this weather?" as one of our society's favorite "How do I make interesting small talk?" lines.

I submit to you that far too often, we don't think enough about the deeply theological implications of this question. Instead, when we ask/are asked this question, it is usually in the context of gift-buying, travel plans, dinner menus, or navigating the quite delicate matters of family/relationship politics. Realistically speaking, for us to look at this question, either from an asking or answering mode, in these ways is to, intentionally or not, minimize completely what we as the people of the Kingdom of God, should be doing to get ready for Christmas.

When we are asked this question, we who are the church, we have a very solid answer with deep roots that go back centuries; our answer to the question is, "Of course. I'm joining with the church past, present, and future in observing Advent."

While it may seem to be the simple and obvious answer, take a minute to look at your schedule for today and the rest of the month. How much of this day/month will be spent engaged in shopping, cooking, family politicking, etc.? How much of these activities are going to prepare you for deep spiritual and theological reflection on the implications of Christ's arrival in the world and help you anticipate his second coming?

"So, getting ready for Christmas?" May we lead lives in such a way that the answer is, "Yes." Make time to attend the Advent Luncheons/Bible Studies on Wednesdays from 12:10-12:50 (starting today). Make time to be in worship every Sunday morning, gathering as one with the people of God to worship the Divine. Make time to attend the Night in Bethlehem hands-on family experience this Sunday evening starting at 5:30PM. Make time to attend the other events on our Advent calendar.

After all, Advent is about far more than different decorations in the sanctuary and different colors on the altar. Christmas is far too important for us to not prepare for it properly by immersing ourselves in the Advent activities of the church.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 41 - Even Bigger

2010-11-18T08:48:00.000-06:00

While last week's observance of the end of worship portion of our Offer Them Christ season was truly a great time of celebration and recommitment in the life of our congregation, this week's service is an even bigger celebration of what God has initiated through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. For, you see, this Sunday will see us observe not one but two great days of the Christian year.

First, this Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. As we have talked about in years past, the Christian year is constructed in such a way that as we journey through the year, we journey through the life of Christ. On this Sunday, we anticipate the final act of Christ in creation, the total restoration of the world in complete communion with God; we anticipate a world where a new heaven and a new earth will come; we anticipate a world where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Our worship this week, through the singing, praying, proclamation, response, and every other component of the liturgy, will lift up our hope in the better day to come - the day promised to us by our Lord when he promised to return.

One of the ways in which we point to the hope of the better day is found in the second emphasis of this week's liturgy - the joy of participating in the Service of Confirmation as three of our younger members accept and profess the faith that was expressed on their behalf at their baptism. It is most fitting that we celebrate this holy time in the lives of our youth on Christ the King Sunday, for we are called to live out, by faith and trust in God through Christ, life in such a way that points not to the contemporariness of today's world but the unbridled joy that comes from seeing God's perfect will being perfected when He comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead. These three delightful youth will fully participate in our service, and I pray you will come and be a part of the celebration of the absolute, without a doubt most important, decision of their life - to put their whole trust in the Divine grace.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 40 - Not Not Having Time

2010-11-10T10:07:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I had the high honor and privilege of attending a colleague's funeral in Lafayette. As is the usual custom at times like these in the life of the clergy, many of my brothers and sisters from around the connection gathered to say farewell to a good man (Ira Robinson) and to be with one another in a time of grieving and celebration.

When I got word of Ira's passing on to glory Sunday, I took a moment to think about whether or not my schedule would allow me to attend the service for this servant of the church. This being a big week in the life of our congregation, preparing for the conclusion of our Offer them Christ season, and finalizing preparations for the Advent season, I could very easily have made the case that I did not have time to attend. It could be rationalized by saying that I did not know Ira very well, having served with him just briefly on our District CF&A and sharing casual conversation at a couple of clergy gatherings each year.

Thinking through it further, however, I realized the question is not, "Do I have time to go?" No, the statement is, "I have nothing better to do than to go." There are always going to be a pile of things to be done on my desk and in my calendar. There are always going to be pressing matters that demand immediate attention.

However, what could be more important than taking the time to gather with my connectional family to celebrate the life of, and give thanks to God for, the life of a man who served the church for over 50 years? Why would I not take the opportunity to (hopefully) hear once again the Good News? Why would I not take the time to be reminded that through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ our Lord that death is not the final chapter of life for the Christian?

So, in the time that you are spending with this e-mail, let me encourage you to take a moment to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the life of someone who has influenced your faith journey. Take a moment to say a prayer of thanksgiving that, solely because of God's grace in Jesus Christ, death has no victory, no sting. And, take a moment to resolve that next time the opportunity presents itself, make time to attend someone's funeral. Not because of what that person did, but as a testimony to God's grace as shown through the life of the deceased.

For, after all, funerals, like everything else in life, are not about us or those around us, but about GOD.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 39 - Time to Get to Work

2010-11-03T08:07:00.000-05:00

Time after time as last night wore on, we were given images of people gathering at events around the country to watch and wait for the results of what was sure to be, as is ANY national election, an historic occasion. Some were jubilant as the results they worked so passionately for over a long time finally came to fruition. Some were inconsolable as it became obvious that their beloved candidate was not going to realize (or would lose an already-attained) lifetime goal of a certain office. Still others were, and still are, waiting for final counts or re-counts to be completed, which will have potentially far-reaching effects personally and for the nation as a whole.

Around 10:00 last night, as Erin and I watched the coverage of the national elections, my mind wondered to the next two months of our congregation's life, and to the Christian scene as a whole. To wit:

1) We will be pledging in writing our commitments to uphold our membership vows, asking how committed are we to praying for, being present within, providing a specific percentage of our income (as we work towards or even surpass the 10% biblical tithe) to enable, and serve to fulfill, the ministries of our congregation;

2) We will be serving the needy of our community with a Thanksgiving Dinner;

3) We will be honored to celebrate as some of our young people make a public confession of their faith on Confirmation Sunday;

4) We will engage in the activities of the Advent season.

Considering these, and all the other things that God does in and through our lives, I wondered last night:

Do we as eagerly and with as much emotional investment seek to participate in and await the results of what God is attempting to do in and through us, the people of God called to ministry through the waters of baptism?

Americans have no higher responsibility than to actively participate in the machinations of the political process by being informed of the candidates and the issues before them, and voting as they best see fit.

However, as Christians, you and I have a much higher calling and responsibility - to actively participate in the work of the Kingdom of God, eagerly anticipating the privilege to see the results of how God works in and through Christ and His Church.

As more than one politician said last night, "It's time to get to work!" And so it is for us, the Church. Can't wait to see you as we continue the great work God has initiated through Jesus Christ and continues through us to this day.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 38 - A Worthy Argument

2010-10-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite attributes of the Lord our God is the ability to get into a good, long, drawn-out wrestling match with the Divine. I love the fact that we worship a God who is so intensely personal and relational that they want us to push, prod, question, argue, and otherwise unload all of the baggage that we carry from our life experiences. I love the fact that the Lord God we worship does not treat us as a bunch of automatons, where everything that happens is a direct result of his order and we have no say or control over whether or not we follow the Divine will. I love the fact that instead of this, God invites us to accept the Divine offer of love and grace, reconciliation and redemption, the reality that there is nothing that we go through that God will not hold our hand all the way to the finish.

I was reminded of this yesterday as our district committee on ministry (DCOM) met in Lafayette to visit with those who are in the process of seeking certification, licensing, or other credentials for ministry within The United Methodist Church. As a committee, we are given the privilege to walk with men and women who have experienced the call to pastoral or specialized ministry as they journey through the process of discerning God's will for their lives. Many of these servants of God hold down full-time employment while serving a church on what is classified as a part-time basis and pursuing continuing education 3-4 times a year.

While most of us who are a part of our churches will never wrestle with a call to some sort of specialized ministry (pastoral or lay), there's not a one of us who can avoid the call to ministry, for it was through the waters of baptism that God placed the call to minister to the world.

So, take this as a word of encouragement to wrestle with a deeply personal and loving God over what kind of ministry God is calling you to fulfill. Let us, as a congregation, wrestle with how to carry out the call to minister to Morgan City and beyond. Let us, as people called by God to go and make disciples of all nations, care enough to engage in these questions. For, as more than one person has said who starts this process, "I know I am called to ministry, but don't know what that looks like." May we all be so bold as to step out in faith, seeking to respond to God's call to be in ministry, working with each other through prayer and service to discern our future through the work of the Holy Spirit, sent by the grace of Christ, to the glory of God.

(Oh, and if you drive by or drop in our facilities tomorrow afternoon, take a moment to pray for those who are present, for we are hosting the committee as they work with pastors on this end of the district.)

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 37 - Yes, You are a Theologian

2010-10-13T10:07:00.000-05:00

"I'm no theologian...," I heard the man say yesterday. For the sake of good taste, I cannot give you any more detail about him, but as I heard this I wanted to scream, "Oh, but you are! We all are!"

"..., but, here's what I think this scripture is saying to us today." For the sake of proper decorum within the setting I found myself, I resisted the urge to scream, "You just proved you are!"

The fact of the matter is, every one of us has thoughts about God. Believer, non-believer, apathetic - whatever label you may choose to give yourself, we all are theologians.

Yes, some in this world may be what you might call 'professional theologians,' but that's no reason to minimize our God-given ability to ponder the Divine and the implications of God's presence in this world.

If you would like to know what your theology is, examine the thoughts, words, and deeds of your everyday life. For our true thoughts about God are reflected in how we interact with this world which was the result of God's hand. Do we "Love the Lord [our] God with everything we have, and love our neighbor as ourselves?" Do we desire for the Lord to "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us?"

The question is not, "Are you a theologian?" The question is, "What is your theology?"

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 36 - Do You Know what You Believe?

2010-09-30T08:18:00.000-05:00

Most Americans Believe in God but Don't Know Religious Tenets

The headline of a story on USAToday.com that summarizes the latest U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey of over 3400 random adults in the population. The one fact brought out in the article that stood out for me was:

Doctrines don't grab us. Only 55% of Catholic respondents knew the core teaching that the bread and wine in the Mass become the body and blood of Christ, and are not merely symbols. Just 19% of Protestants knew the basic tenet that salvation is through faith alone, not actions as well.

Want to know why it is so important for us to have our children engage in the Sunday School, youth group, and confirmation processes? Want to know why it is important for all of us to take advantage of opportunities to learn more about what we believe through events like our This We Believe study starting this Sunday night?

Quite simply this: We don't know as much as we think we do about what we believe.

"People say, 'I have a personal connection with God and that's really all I need to know.' Who am I to argue?" says Pew's Alan Cooperman, a co-author of the report. But religion, as a force in history and a motivator in present times, "has consequences in the world," he adds, so an intellectual baseline, whatever your faith or lack of faith, can "shape your role as a citizen in the public square."

Mr. Cooperman has hit the nail on the head. Our engagement with religious and spiritual matters has implications for us far beyond a 'personal relationship' with Christ.

By the way, books are still available for our This We Believe study, and it's not too late to have your middle-school-or- higher aged child enrolled in our confirmation class (we start Sunday morning @ 9:00AM in my office).

See You Soon!

Lamar

USAToday article:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ew5aek

Vol 5 No 35 - Something to Say

2010-09-23T09:23:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine shared with me a few years ago that one day, later in the week, a colleague of our called him with the lament of, "I've looked at the texts for this week and there's just nothing to preach. I don't know what to do."

I've thought of this a great deal since my friend shared it with me, but I think I have erred because I left it in the context of a pastor's struggle with what to preach for a given Sunday. Thinking through this more lately, looking at our congregation (and the larger church), I have been reminded my friend's advice to our colleague is not just a word to the preacher, but to all Christians.

For, you see, my friend's reply was, paraphrased, "The text speaks for itself. Just because YOU may not have something to say doesn't mean the text is silent."

Where I think we all could learn from this is from the simple reminder that the life we live is first and foremost about proclaiming GOD in all our thoughts, words, and deeds.

As you go into the rest of this week, or, for that matter, the rest of your life, be vigilant in pursuing a life that tells not YOUR story, but GOD's. (Oh, wait, I almost forgot: By confession Christ as our Lord and Savior, accepting the Divine gift of salvation and redemption, we have, to use Paul's words, died to ourselves. Something, I think, along the lines of, "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me.")

Yes. That's it. Let us covenant together to live in such a way that it is no longer we who live, but Christ within us. Then, we will never have nothing to say, for what we declare is Christ's victory over sin and death.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 34 - The Lingering Stink

2010-09-16T07:06:00.000-05:00

I tried, but it didn't work. Yesterday morning as I was preparing breakfast for our youth, I thought I had learned from last month's breakfast, and opened all the doors of the educational building to try and dissipate the lingering odors of pancakes and bacon throughout the building. I hadn't done it last time since I was a little gun-shy about opening all the doors a little after 5AM while it was still dark outside.

However, the smell still lingered throughout the building all day yesterday. Even with my best efforts to try and hit the overpowering odors.

Reflecting upon it later, I had to laugh, for it was a simple reminder that there are certain things that we cannot shake, no matter our best efforts. And the great news is that the one thing we cannot shake, no matter our best efforts at times, is God's extravagant grace offered to us through Christ our Lord.

See You Soon!
Lamar

Vol 5 No 34 - Called to Fight

2010-09-09T10:13:00.000-05:00

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." - St. Paul.

It's very simple, my friends: Are you fighting the good fight? Are you finishing the race? Are you keeping the faith? If so, how? If not, why not?

A couple (plus one) of hints as you answer these questions:

1) It's the work of the Holy Spirit;

2) It requires effort on our part - this race is not a spectator event;

3) It can only be done as God intended it through the community of faith, the church - it's not to be done by ourselves.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 33 - Where Are You?

2010-09-01T16:06:00.000-05:00

The body does not lie. Ethically and theologically, we are not where we put our good intentions; we are where we put our bodies. - Thomas G. Long, Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral

In what I believe was a bit of divine intervention, I came across the above quote while reading Dr. Long's work this afternoon. I say it was divine intervention because I dived into this book after spending most of the morning and early afternoon finalizing the preaching and worship schedule for the rest of the year.

What do the two have to do with each other? Absolutely everything. To be a Christian means to take seriously the need to worship together regularly, rejecting the individualistic self-centeredness of America's national religion - Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. To be a Christian means that we make a priority in our lives our shared journey as people of the resurrection. To be a Christian means that we do not merely say with our mouths that being a part of the church is important to us; we put our money where our mouth is by being present.

This fall, we will celebrate the sacrament of Baptism, where through water and the Spirit Christ leaves his indelible mark on those whom he knew before they were formed in the womb. We will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion, where we will join the church - past, present, and future - in the sacred privilege of dining together at our Lord's invitation. We will celebrate the joy of people joining the Kingdom of God by professing their faith. We will celebrate the reaffirmation of our membership vows and commit to another year of upholding the ministry of this congregation. We will be witnesses to the work of God through the grace of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit in ways we cannot possibly imagine.

And we will be all the richer for these things.

As we go into this fall, let us covenant together once again to not miss out on any of it. We can say with our mouths that our intentions are good, and even delude ourselves into believing that, but the fact of the matter remains that where we are present says more than anything else.

God has not called us to be a community of worship by accident or just to give us something to do. Let's be sure to not miss what is in store for us because we have been deluded into believing otherwise.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 32 - Quell

2010-08-25T16:55:00.000-05:00

Who could ever imagine the word QUELL could bring such joy to someone? I certainly never did.

Then again, isn't it the unexpected that often brings unbridled joy? I believe this is one of the truly celebratory things about Christianity - the joys found in most unexpected places. Out of a formless void came the beauty of all creation. Out of a corrupt adulterer came the joyful words of the Psalms, penned by the one who was declared a man "after God's own heart." Out of a crib came a savior. Out of a tomb this same savior rose from the dead. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Where today could we look for joy in the most unexpected places? Where in life is joy waiting to be discovered?

Sometimes, laughter and joy are just the product of the ridiculous, like my encounter with the word QUELL. My joy came from playing it in a Scrabble-like game on the iPhone for 105 points. Gotta love the Triple Letter and Triple Word tiles! Stupid? Sure. However, it got me thinking. If something like this simple little game can make me laugh for a whole day, imagine how much more joy comes from knowing Christ's saving love and accepting it as our destiny?

Let us be people who look for joy in everything. You never know where it may be waiting for you. No matter the joys we find in the things of life, however, I promise they pale in comparison to the majesty of the resurrection!

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 31 - Thumbs Up? Thumbs Down?

2010-08-18T16:01:00.000-05:00

Thumbs up? Thumbs down? One of the great gifts of Pandora (www.pandora.com) is the gift of personalization - tell it an artist or a song I like and it will use it's algorithms to personalize a 'radio' station for me based solely on my preferences. I'm still not sure quite what to make of this whole thing, but it has gotten me thinking about how we oftentimes approach the matters of the faith.

In some study and reflection today, as I was looking through the scriptures, I wonder what it would be like to have a Bible where I could give certain passages a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. Wouldn't it be interesting to have a Bible custom-tailored to my preferences, allowing me to hear what I wanted to hear, and, while not knowing what I would read next, know that chances were very good that it would be something that resonated with me? Wouldn't it be cool to reject a passage of scripture and be relatively certain that I would never have to read it or anything similar to it again?

Go to any bookstore (heck, even Wal-Mart) and you will encounter all sorts of theme-oriented Bibles. You can get a Bible that will be driven to whatever kind of viewpoint you want to hear. Could you imagine the Pandora Bible?

Honestly, I wonder if we don't already have the Pandora Bible. Do we - in thought, word, and deed - live our lives according to that which we encounter in the text, or do we like to delude ourselves into thinking we live according to the text, but in all reality live according to those parts of the text that resonate with us and reject for which we really don't care?

Let me encourage you, dear friends - God's not going to call us to a life that is not ultimately in the best interest of all, including us. So, rather than look for a Pandora Bible, let us accept with faith the truths contained in the Word, and commit to living them out fully as the community of faith in such a way that we give glory to God.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 30 - Discipleship

2010-08-12T08:26:00.000-05:00

Discipleship. An important concept in Christianity, one whose root, disciple, occurs over 200 times in the gospels and the New Testament (all within the gospels and Acts.) I think most of us are very familiar with the term disciple in the context of being a follower of Christ, as in the 12 disciples. I wonder, though, how many of us think of the term discipleship in relation to our own faith journey.

As this week marks the beginning of the new school year, there is no more appropriate time in the secular calendar for the church to talk about discipleship, for in it's original Greek context the word translated into "to learn." More specifically, one "who learns."

I bring this to your attention for we cannot accept mediocrity in our faith journey. Like so many, I pray that we will be a community where people come to know the saving grace of Christ our Lord. Reading through the scriptures, we see that converts were never encouraged to 'just believe' and not undertake more serious growth and development in their walk with God.

Let me be clear: I subscribe completely and wholeheartedly to the concept that we are saved by faith alone. However, I want to be quick to add this: Looking at the calendar and seeing students heading back to school for another year of learning, let us be inspired to not be satisfied with just knowing the basics, but moving each other to a deeper relationship with Christ by intentionally seeking a life of discipleship. Let it be our focus to seek a deeper relationship with God through involvement in our shared lives of worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.

Developing a relationship with God is very similar to developing a relationship with one another - it boils down to how committed are we to making this relationship work? How committed are we to move beyond the superficial and into discovering the depths of God's love for all He created?

As this new academic year approaches, let me encourage you to seek out ways of intentional discipleship. From our Sunday School classes, to our Pastor's Bible Studies (offered Sunday evenings and Tuesday mornings), our Wednesday evening Communion & Prayer service, to our bi-weekly UMCOR missions, to the UMW meeting once a month, and other things that come along from time to time, there are plenty of ways to take on the role of 'disciple', learning more about the God who loves you so much you were not only created in the divine image, saved through the grace of Christ, but were also given the gift of the community of faith to help explore and deepen your faith.

Children (of all ages) who are in school know that the best example of learning comes not from a classroom, but from the adults in their lives. I urge you to have the youth in your households deeply involved in the youth ministry of our congregation; they learn a lifetime of discipleship early and it will stick with them throughout their lives (even if it isn't always obvious).

If you do not see in these areas a place where you feel led, do not just sit out. Come talk to me so we can discern how to help your discipleship journey. It's too important to let this slide. Immaturity is not a Christian virtue.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 29 - Sharing

2010-07-21T11:54:00.000-05:00

One of the unavoidable calls we have as Christians is to spread the Good News of Christ's saving grace. The fact of the matter is that you and I have to be in the business of sharing Christ and inviting others to the Kingdom of God or else we are making the statement that our baptism, our acceptance of the grace of God - indeed, the very existence of our faith - really means very little for it did not call us to tell others about the joy we have discovered.

Harsh? Maybe. However, as we continue putting the final touches on the preparation for our Vacation Bible School this week, I cannot get out of my mind the images of parents and children who will be in our midst next week, and wondering what it all means in the long run.

There is no question in my mind that VBS is of the utmost importance; it's one of the reasons I am proud that we have expanded our support for it over the past few years. Some of the most memorable moments of my Christian formation came during the times I participated in VBS as a child and later on as a volunteer. We must be about the business of spreading the Gospel to the next generation.

On the other hand, however, there is something about the evangelistic side of VBS that we must guard against, and in all actuality this is not just a VBS issue. It can be very tempting for the church (on a local as well as institutional level) to look for programs and events to handle reaching others for Christ. There is a place for these things, but far too often I believe we can delude ourselves into thinking that if we just engage in certain church activities, we've done our part to 'evangelize.'

People ask me a lot, "Preacher, what can we do to grow our church?" In a world of 30-second attention spans and fad-oriented pre-packaged ministry programs where we just want to be handed something in a 'turn-key' fashion without investing ourselves too much, I hate to be the bearer of an answer we all may not want to hear from time to time, but it is the most accurate. The answer to the question is simply this: "Invest yourself in making sure that those whom you come in contact with know the importance of your faith by your example of thought, word, and deed. Take time to develop relationships with those who are not of the faith, growing to a point where you do share with them the joy of Christ's salvation. Realize there is no 'get-rich-quick' scheme involved - it takes time and intentionality."

If each one of us were to take seriously this mandate to share the faith and invite others to experience this life of Christ, I think we then start to capture the essence of how to grow a church.

Personally, I thank God for each and every one who participates in our Vacation Bible School ministry. Those who are putting sweat equity on the line, those who are attending, those who support this congregation with their tithes and offerings - these all play a vital role in this evangelism event. Let's not dishonor this week by using it as a cop-out to say we've done enough, but as an inspiration to do more.

If you haven't already, make sure you tell someone about our Vacation Bible School program, and offer to get them here if needed. You never know what conversations may result and what God is ready to do through you. Attached is a registration form if you need a conversation starter.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 28 - Today's Date

2010-07-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

Dates are important. Birthdays, holidays - whatever the occasion, dates are important markers in our lives. In our society, there are dates that are part of our national conscience; among others, July 4, December 7, November 22, September 11 are ones that most all who read this e-mail know immediately.

It's also interesting to observe that sometimes the dates that are really important sometimes slip by without our even noticing, or it doesn't register with us at certain times. I was reminded of this on my way into the office this morning as I dropped my car off for service this morning. Signing the authorization form, I froze when it came to dating my signature. This wouldn't be that big of a deal, except that I should have had today's date roll right off the end of the pen, for today Erin and I are celebrating nine years of marriage. (And no, for those of you in the cheap seats, I didn't forget - for not 15 minutes earlier I had wished her a happy anniversary as I left the house).

This all got me thinking, though, about other things that make this date important. Students of history will know that for our friends in France, today is Bastille Day, marking an important event in the French Revolution. While maybe not as well-known, on this day in 1933, all political parties but the Nazi party were outlawed in Germany. Former President Gerald Ford would celebrate his 97th birthday today. Our Roman Catholic friends are observing the feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.

Thing is, none of these events make today any more 'important' than any other in the big scheme of things, for today, like every day, is a gift from God, and is noteworthy because of divine grace and mercy that has been shown to us through Christ. Even if we don't think today is noteworthy, God does, and because of that, it is noteworthy to us, if we are to be as God intends and in the midst of the divine will for our lives.

May it be so in how you live in thought, word, and deed.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 27 - Routine

2010-06-24T08:07:00.000-05:00

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? SERIOUSLY. WHO IN THE WORLD COULD HAVE SEEN THIS ONE COMING? THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A ROUTINE DAY. ROUTINE. DAYS LIKE TODAY COME AND GO ALL THE TIME. Who really needs to pay attention to this? Seen it before and will see it again.

By now, I am sure many, if not all of you, are aware of the epic tennis match that started Tuesday, went on all afternoon yesterday, and will continue Thursday. Truly historical. Thing is, I think even had we been there we might have missed most of the record-breaking day.

And why would we have missed this great moment? It was on court 18, not exactly the center stage. It was a match between a lower-ranked and a non-ranked seed. Quite frankly, it didn't deserve much attention at all. Who really cares if I miss a lowly first round match?

We would have missed this moment for the same reason many of us are ambivalent about the importance of Sunday morning worship. Quite frankly, we don't expect much to happen. The danger in this kind of thinking, not expecting much to happen, is that you never know what you are going to miss.

Quite frankly, this kind of attitude says more about us than the event (be it something trivial as a tennis match or as important as Sunday morning.) We say that we worship a God who is capable of doing the unexpected in a mighty and powerful way at any time, without warning. Yet, we get lulled into thinking there is not much special about a routine Sunday. So what if I stay in bed, or catch some TV, or go fishing? So what if I decide that it's one of those weekends where I just don't feel like going?

God is the primary actor in worship, not us. We never know what God may do through a particular Sunday morning service - be in a prayer, a message, a reading, a song, or even just who we might run into that particular day. We may miss the truly celebratory day of someone joining the church, participating in the baptism of a child or a new convert, someone professing their faith in Christ, or an unexpected celebration of the Eucharist.

Not every worship service occurs on a high holy day. Not every tennis match is held at center court between the 1 & 2 seeds. Yet, to ignore the seemingly routine or mundane is to run the risk of something monumental. Something where you go, 'Dang. I had the chance to be there and I blew it because I didn't expect much to happen.'

God is up to something. Don't miss it because you don't expect it. And, on that note,

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 26 - Game Seven

2010-06-17T08:17:00.000-05:00

There are some things in life for which you should need no outside motivation. For my beloved Boston Celtics, and those guys from Los Angeles, tonight provides one of those occasions. Two words: Game Seven. Professional athletes can make or break their reputations in situations like these. Even if these weren't the two most successful franchises in the history of their league, even if they were the champions of the past two seasons (Celtics in 2008, Lakers in 2009), even if their rivalry didn't go back 51 years, the words Game Seven should be enough motivation for them to do their dead level best, leaving nothing on the table.

Thing is, as much as a Game Seven should motivate world-class athletes without another word being said or trick being pulled, you and I have something more to motivate us to bring our 'A' game every day. You and I have been given the gift of reconciliation with our creator through the grace of Jesus Christ, and not by our own strength, but with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Because of this grace, you and I should need no more motivation to spread the Gospel to all the world in thought, word, and deed. Because of this grace, you and I have all the reason in the world to make sure that we live our lives in such a way as to bring glory to God.

Tuesday evening, the Celtics lost their starting center, Kendrick Perkins, to torn ligaments in his knee. He will be unavailable for Game Seven. The Lakers' center, Andrew Bynum, is also fighting knee issues, but he will play tonight. Doesn't matter. These are not good enough reasons to say we can't win Game Seven. No matter who is available or not available, or at what level of strength, you must bring your best and believe that you will win, or else you have no business setting foot on the floor.

Just as injuries happen to athletes, things happen to you and me that we could use as excuses to not do our best in living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can come up with all the excuses in the world to not tithe, not be in worship every Sunday, not provide aid to those in need, not seek out mission opportunities, not tell others of how Christ has radically transformed our lives, etc.; at the end of the day, those are just excuses. Because of the grace given to us by God through Christ, you and I have all the motivation in the world to take advantage of every opportunity to worship, tithe, help the poor and needy, seek out mission opportunities, evangelize, testify, etc. If it takes anything else to motivate you to live out the life you have been given by grace, we seriously need to talk.

If you watch the game tonight, you will probably hear the cliché, "There's no tomorrow for these two teams. Nothing to hold back for another day."

For the Christian that we proclaim to be, we already know that's true for EVERY DAY, for we do not know the day or the hour when Christ will come again. As James tells us, tomorrow's not guaranteed. If we aren't in the business of bringing to Christ all that we can each and every day, each and every moment, for what are we waiting? After all, there's no guarantee you're going to get tomorrow to correct what you didn't do today.

The Celtics and the Lakers have all the motivation in the world to bring everything they have: Game Seven.

You and I have been given all the motivation in the world to bring everything we have: Good Friday & Easter Sunday.

'Nuff said.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 25 - To What Are You Coming?

2010-06-10T09:40:00.000-05:00

This is a week of starts around our congregation - the start of a new conference year, the start of our newest staff member, and the start of our summer worship series (Favorite Music of Pharr Chapel).

As most of you are aware, the Louisiana Annual Conference held it's annual session this week at Centenary College in Shreveport. It was a joy to be with friends, colleagues, and laity from around our great state as we celebrate the mission and ministry of United Methodists. We were reminded once again of the wonder of our connection, and how we go forth working hand in hand to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like any organization, there are issues to deal with and areas of disagreement; at the end of the day I come back hopeful of our future. Pharr Chapel was well-represented by your lay delegate, Burt Adams, and as part of our district youth contingent Kristin and Angie Champine. Within the next few weeks, Burt will be speaking during morning worship to bring us the highlights of the week.

In last week's Mid-Week Message, I talked about the interviewing process for our secretary position. I am pleased to announce that we had a great response to our position, and that Kristen Schaefer will be starting tomorrow (Friday) as the latest member of our staff. Kristen comes to us with over 19 years experience in administrative and accounting areas, and I am confident that she will be a great addition to our church family. She is moving here from the New Orleans area and will be getting married sometime later this year to Sam Autrey. As you come through our offices over the next few weeks, take a moment to stop in and welcome Kristen.

Finally, don't forget that we start our Favorite Music of Pharr Chapel summer worship series this week. We are going to start with something you might not expect as we look at Charles Wesley's great hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful." You might be surprised to find out this classic which is considered strictly an Advent/Christmas Hymn has just as much relevance to us now (if not more) than if we limit it just to one season of the year. Keep in mind this question as you come to worship this Sunday - To who or what are you coming when you gather with the body of Christ?

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 24 - Calling

2010-06-02T15:47:00.000-05:00

Earlier today, while looking at resumes as the process for choosing our new church secretary moves forward, I couldn't help but ponder the following question: Why do you want this position? Of course, this is a question that each interviewee has been asked in one form or another, and the answers have ranged from well-thought-out, professional responses to "I need a job." And, of course, the non-verbal answers each of these gave said more to me about their answers than if I had just heard their words.

The pondering of this question to which I am referring, though, is not about a staff position. I wonder how we would answer the question, "Why do you want this position?" if someone were to inquire about our desire to accept a place in the kingdom of God as one saved through the grace of Christ, reconciled to God by his body and blood.

Why do you want to be a Christian? Why are you a Christian? Would you be able to answer the question? Would your answer be an engaging one that might be an encouragement to others to share in your passion for this position? Would your answer be one of disengaged, unemotional detachment?

Next week, it will be my holy honor to lay hands upon Rev. Jeremy Jones as Bishop Hutchinson, acting on behalf of the church, ordains him to the office of Elder. As part of the ordination service, the Bishop will remind Jeremy, the other candidates, and all gathered for worship Monday evening that:

All baptized Christians are called to share in Christ's ministry of love and service in the world, to the glory of God and for the redemption of the human family and the whole of creation.

Yes, I think that's it. This idea of our calling as baptized Christians as presented here, needs to be an integral part of our answering the question, "Why do you want to be a Christian?"

So, the question stands as presented, "Why do you want to be a Christian?"

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 23 - Ordinary?

2010-05-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

It can get lost in all the buzz, can't it? So many things going on - a three-day weekend, school letting out in many places, summer travel season starting, gas prices rising, vacation planning - you get the picture. Especially this year, we can forget a most important component of our weekend celebration, one that should be a focal point of this weekend's activities.

I am, of course, talking about Trinity Sunday. Having celebrated Pentecost Sunday last weekend, we are now in what has historically been known as Ordinary Time - that season from now until Christ the King Sunday where we live out a life in anticipation of Christ's second coming. The first of these Sundays is known as Trinity Sunday. We particularly celebrate the fullness of the Trinity today because, in a way, we have come "full circle" from expectation from the Father (Advent), to incarnation and ministry of the Son (Christmastide, Season after Epiphany, Lent/Easter) to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (late Eastertide through Pentecost).

This weekend is so important for all of us, not only for the informal transition to summer - and the celebration of Trinity Sunday - because of our nation's observance of Memorial Day. For many reasons, I am fond of Memorial Day, since it calls us to remember that, as a society we didn't get to where we are without the sacrifices of others. In the midst of all your other Memorial Day activities, take the appropriate amount of time this weekend to honor those who died in service to others. Remember in your prayer their families and those still grieving their loss.

Even with all the other activities going on, this weekend is first and foremost all about remembering the sacrificial work of others. Sunday, we will remember and celebrate the work of the Triune God (father, son, and spirit). Monday, we will observe an appropriate remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for others. Every day, we will give thanks to God for our many blessings (seen and unseen).

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 22 - Do I Have To?

2010-05-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while we was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

In his own hand, from his journal entry for May 24, 1738, Rev. John Wesley records the account of his assurance of salvation in Christ.

Worship this Sunday will focus on the joy of celebrating Pentecost Sunday, and I think it is wonderful that our secondary observation will be Heritage Sunday, that time every year on the Sunday before May 24 where we give thanks to God for the life and ministry of John & Charles Wesley. The events of one of these days, the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, directly influenced the other - for the assurance that was given to Wesley was indeed the work of the Holy Spirit.

To me the most striking thing about this is his attitude. Wesley wasn't seeking to go hang out with this group of people, joining together for study. He was, as he said, going 'very unwillingly' to a society (think modern-day small group), and wound up with the assurance of salvation through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There's a strong word in this that has nothing to do with the institution of Methodism or it's history or even John Wesley himself: The Holy Spirit acted to bring about the assurance of salvation to a man who wasn't even wanting to be there.

This is probably the most important thing to remember in a society (and even some of us who are reading this e-mail) wherein we'll 'go to church' or 'go to Bible study' when 'I feel like it' or 'the Spirit moves me.' THANK GOD John Wesley didn't use his emotions as a barometer to measure whether or not he should engage in the life of the Christian community.

The question is, do you? And if you do, then ask yourself if you have any idea what you may be missing? Wesley went 'very unwillingly' and wound up, through the grace of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, literally changing the world, including YOUR life.

Wonder what the Holy Spirit has in store for us this week? Bring a friend for worship this week, and be sure to stay afterward for the joy of fellowship over our covered dish lunch (main course provided).

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 21 - The Infantile Church

2010-05-13T14:04:00.000-05:00

"...[A]nd you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

These words from the first chapter of Acts are, as Luke records it, the last words of Christ before he ascended into heaven. We will hear these words set in the larger context of Acts 1:1-11 as we observe Ascension Sunday during worship this week. Thinking and praying about these passages, I was reminded once again how easily we can lose the majesty and splendor of the ascension with so much focus on the birth of the church at Pentecost.

Yet the ascension is a core tenet of our faith, a value shared across the church ever since it's founding. We affirm our belief in the resurrection both in the Nicene and Apostle's creed. Affirming our belief in the ascension of Christ into heaven is affirming our belief in the hope that Christ has fulfilled all that was promised, giving us hope for Christ's coming again in glory to bring about the new heaven and new earth.

I'm very excited about celebrating Pentecost Sunday on the 23rd. It will be a great day of joy in our congregation as we worship together and dine together immediately afterwards. Let's not rush it, though, and miss another very important observance - an observance filled with hope and joy about what was, what is, and what is to come.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 20 - National DAY of Prayer (?)

2010-05-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

I'm honored to do it, of course. It's always a privilege to join together with the local officials, clergy, and citizens at City Hall to observe the National Day of Prayer (tomorrow, noon).

Reading some of our media websites this morning, however, I have been reminded once again how divisive this day has become in our culture, and it makes me kind of sad to see it come.

Relax, I'm not opposed to it.

And, quite frankly, I'm not surprised that many who do not share the Christian faith (or any faith, for that matter, since prayer is part of many different religious traditions). Honestly, the question of what kinds of religious observances the state should endorse (or sponsor) is a healthy part of the discourse any society should have in the enacting and implementation of the laws and norms with which we govern ourselves.

But it does strike me how violent people's emotions get in this discussion. What struck me this morning was not the opposition to this day (for two reasons: 1 - these objections come every year, and 2 - they really should surprise no one). No, I was saddened to see how militant and angry some within the Christian tradition are about various government officials (at all levels) choosing to participate in, not participate in, or even observe, the National Day of Prayer.

This saddened me because I firmly believe that when we, the Christian church (of all denominational stripes) get supremely giddy or supremely angry due to an official of a secular, earthly kingdom choosing to observe or not observe a National Day of Prayer, we have given them too much power.

As people who live through the lens of Easter, those whose citizenship is ultimately found in the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of man, we must remember that EVERY DAY for us is a Day of Prayer. EVERY DAY is a day for us to pray for our nation - it's citizens and it's leaders - to follow God's will. EVERY DAY is a day for us to gather with one another to pray for our communities to be places where the glory of God shines.

Oh, and if we have to rely on a governmental decree to mark or a governmental place to hold the National Day of Prayer, does that say more about the government or more about us?

As I said at the beginning of this message, I'm glad that we hold this observance at City Hall, and I really look forward to being there. If the day comes where elected officials choose not to participate, or governmental property is not available, it should really make no difference. It should make no difference because when God's people are truly called to a time of prayer, then we will gather. Period.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 19 - More than a Day Off

2010-04-28T15:26:00.000-05:00

How interested are you - intentionally, willfully, joyously, and with as much pride and sense of accomplishment you can manufacture - in breaking one of the ten commandments?

How many times do you - intentionally, willfully, joyously, and with as much pride and sense of accomplishment you can manufacture - break one of the ten commandments and brag about it to your friends & neighbors, co-workers & family?

Chances are, you probably do it more than you realize. Chances are, you probably have done it today. Trust me. You have. I have. We all have. And the sooner we admit it, the healthier (and more honest) we all will become.

Now, I know there are some of the ten commandments that we break and don't want anyone to know, and we don't think anyone will ever know. This one, however, is different.

Which one am I talking about? Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Why do I say that we are so boastful about our ignorance of this particular commandment? What is the second most popular topic of conversation (#1 - The Weather)? How busy we are. We can't wait to talk about what we have going on and how much we have to accomplish. Ask someone how they are, and chances are good the answer will be, "busy". Even when we are trying to plan leisurely activities, we are busy.

I'm currently doing some study about the sabbath, and it has reminded me once again about the necessity of a 'holy rest', a time that is 'consecrated' by the Lord. How 'bout we all take some time to be intentional about spending the sabbath as a day of holy rest, consecrated by the Lord for his glory, rather than a day away from our routines wherein we are still filled with 'to-do' lists and mundane busy-ness around our house, our camp, or at some other place?

Or are we content to just blow off one of the Ten Commandments, rationalizing away our willful ignorance of something God cared so much about that he laid it in stone?

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 18 - Unfamiliar Familiarity

2010-04-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

Looking ahead to worship this weekend, our service will be centered around probably the most familiar of all scriptures, Psalm 23. Sitting here this afternoon, however, I must admit that this week's worship does cause some challenges unique to this passage. The familiarity of this passage makes it, in fact, harder not easier to prepare, for almost everyone has their preconceived notion of this texts meaning.

But then again, isn't that part of our problem with understanding any scripture we encounter, either through worship, prayer, study, or by any other means? Once we get in our head what a particular passage is all about, it's quite difficult for us to change our minds.

How much does this thinking get in the way of us allowing God to show us more of the divine grace and Mercy?

We KNOW after all, that this particular passage is what is supposed to be read at funerals, correct? (Or is it?)

We KNOW that the valley of the shadow of death has to do with when we die and go on to heaven, right?

We KNOW that God is going to stick it to our enemies when we read that he prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies, right?

This is, after all, what this passage is talking about...us...isn't it...? (HINT: It very well may, but probably not in the way you may think.)

Tell ya what - take a long, hard look at it again.

And, while we are at it, let's take a good, long, hard look at our relationship with Christ. Let's see what areas we are taking for granted, what presuppositions we are bringing in that might not necessarily be accurate upon further reflection.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 17 - Easter People

2010-04-14T08:32:00.001-05:00

Every day to us is Easter,
with its resurrection song.

When in trouble move the faster
to our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
See the power of heavenly throngs.

Back in the saddle again, after a week away for some time off and a two-day meeting, I am quick to note how easy it is to jump back into the routine, and how comforting routine can be when we are out of it for a while. Even though Sabbath time is important, and even though as an elder in our conference I have responsibilities to the conference as well as the local church, I must admit that I really missed the daily routines of life and seeing many of you here and there. What a privilege it is to serve a congregation where I could not wait to get back.

As I write you this morning, I can't seem to get our opening hymn for this upcoming week, Easter People Raise Your Voices, out of my head (and not just because it is good, theologically sound, well-written, and composed in my lifetime). Verse 3, quoted above, is a great statement of faith about those of us who are living post-resurrection lives of faith in anticipation of Christ's second coming.

Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song - The resurrection song is triumph over death. The resurrection song is transformation - the people of God, if not transformed, have not truly journeyed through the resurrection.

Just because we celebrated Easter Sunday a couple of weeks ago does not mean Easter has come and gone for another year. On the contrary - for us, every day is Easter. Every day is a day of transformation. Every day is a day where we live secure in the reality that death has been defeated, and has no power over us. Every day is a day where we live not in fear, but in hope.

Go forth, dear friends, and live as Easter People. Live as ones for whom Easter is not a once-a-year observance, but a way of life!

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 16 - Shortcut to Easter?

2010-03-31T09:02:00.000-05:00

It's Holy Week, ladies & gentlemen. There's really not much more to add at this point, so just some brief reminders about this week's schedule.

By now, you know that we will be joining the church universal in worshiping at our Lord's table on Holy Thursday, solemnly gathering in the shadow of the cross on Good Friday, and basking in the glory of the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.

As is the case whenever God's people gather for worship, there is always the joyful anticipation of Christ revealing himself in ways heretofore unimagined to us. I know most all of you will be in worship with us (or somewhere, for those of you who are not in our area) on Easter Sunday. Don't forget, however, that we don't get to Easter Sunday without going through Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Make it a point to be here @ 6:00 both evenings.

This year, we will also be blessed by joining with our friends from Trinity Episcopal on Friday @ 3:00 to process through the stations of the cross. We will start and finish our journey at their facilities on the corner of Second and Greenwood.

Sharing the journey of our Lord into the Upper Room, over to Golgotha at the cross, and to the soon-to-be empty tomb - personally, I can't wait!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 15 - When Things Slow Down...

2010-03-23T10:22:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. Things are very busy this time of year for so many of us - it's amazing how many things we allow to slip through the cracks. I've talked to several who have said that the mission run kinda slipped up on them this year and they hadn't heard as much, then are a little sheepish when reminded it's been highlighted prominently in our past two newsletters, in the bulletin the past 4-5 weeks, and mentioned in this e-mail for a few weeks.

However, I sympathize on so many levels. After all, who among us doesn't have a great deal of stuff occupying our time or preoccupying us mentally, physically, and emotionally? Almost on a daily basis, I realize there is stuff that I need to pay attention to that slips through the cracks because I have been focused elsewhere, and I know I'm not alone on this. Whether a meeting, a social event, someone's birthday, a mission run, a financial pledge made to this or that, a phone call that needed to be returned - we all miss things from time to time that we mean to do, and will catch up on as soon as we are reminded.

The ironic thing about this reality for many of us is that in the midst of our busy-ness during the past few weeks we have, far more than we realize, missed the true meaning of the season we are observing. This season of Lent, this season of reflection and introspection, has been lost at times because we delude ourselves into thinking we are too busy, and "when things slow down" we'll get back in 'routine'. What we fail to realize at these times is that if we are not intentional about ordering our lives in such a way that tending our souls, individually and through the life of the faith community known as the church, we will never get it done. If we are not intentional about making sure that we order our lives to where we focus on worship and sharing our lives together in Christ, we will have nothing to offer all the other activities that consume us.

One of the most seminal moments in recent years for me was the realization that not everything is going to get done. No matter how hard I try, there's always going to be one more call to return, one more letter to write, one more e-mail to compose, one more event to attend, one more person that I need to check with, etc., etc., etc. I realized that my challenge was not to make sure that I was all things to all people, but to make sure that in whatever I did, and in whoever I spent time with (family, friends, colleagues, church members, or anyone else), I was in the proper perspective.

So, cherished ones, as we head into the final 13 days of the holiest time of our year, take a breath. Get some perspective. Let us all covenant to be people who may be extremely busy or preoccupied, but people who can handle things not because of our own strength, but because we draw from the well of grace, mercy, and love found in Christ through the community he gave us for that purpose, his church. Let us find that strength by making it an absolute priority to worship, fellowship, study, and pray together SO THAT we may take Christ into all of our life and the lives of those we encounter daily.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 14 - Lenten Journey

2010-03-17T07:47:00.000-05:00

Looking out the window this morning while waiting, I was reminded once again of the glory of this Lenten journey.

It's no small secret that the elevator at a local hospital is notoriously slow in arriving to the upper floors, and usually I find this wait more than slightly annoying. Today, however, I took pause and reflected on how when I left the house it was pitch dark. By the time I got done visiting with one having surgery, it wasn't quite as dark - the first glimmer of light started peeking over the horizon as I looked down Victor II. Then as I waited for the elevator (those of you who have been there know what I mean), there was more and more light, and by the time I got to my office, there was no need of the car's headlights.

This is, upon reflection, the story of our Lenten journey. A journey from darkness to light. A journey wherein we see things in a different way by moving from existing in darkness to living in the light.

Until we allow ourselves to traverse through the dark, we cannot have an appreciation for just how much light changes our world. That is what is so transformative about the Lenten journey - by spending time in a season of darkness, we can more appropriately respond to the glory of Easter Sunday.

Don't allow yourselves to be one who misses the joy of Easter by skipping the long journey through Lent. Through worship, study, weekly luncheons, mission opportunities, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week, there are plenty of ways for you to join in our Lenten observance. By being with fellow Christians on the journey to Easter, we can bask together in the glory of the Resurrection.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 13 - Insurance?

2010-03-09T09:20:00.000-06:00

As we continue the journey through Lent, the long journey of reflection and introspection, I am struck this morning by how transformational Lent can be if we are truly of the mind that God can change us and if we are truly intentional about letting God change us.

Our Sunday/Tuesday study groups are spending the Lenten season reflection on The Challenge of Easter (N.T. Wright), and this week's lesson deals with what is our true understanding of resurrection. Journeying through Lent, and spending time in dialog with Bishop Wright and the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15, I have come to the conclusion that so many of us miss the joy of Lent because we look at resurrection in an incomplete way.

Think about it - every Sunday, through the affirmation of faith, we profess to believe in the resurrection of the dead. And that is a good thing, for if we do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, we cannot, by definition, be Christian. Where we get in trouble is when we think of resurrection in terms of just getting back up and resuming life as it was before we died. The gospel narratives dealing with the resurrection point to a Christ that had been transformed, and transformed in such a way as to not be recognizable to those who had known him well.

By crawling through the waters of baptism, we profess to a life where we have died to ourselves and risen in Christ. The question we must face, and the one the annual observance of the Lenten discipline demands we answer, is: Have we truly been transformed by rising from death in sin to life in Christ? Do we truly believe that when Christ brings to us new life by water and the Spirit that we are transformed? Do we truly believe that when Christ comes again in glory and we are raised from the dead that we will be transformed?

Or is this Christianity business simply an exercise in 'fire insurance'?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

P.S. Our first Lenten Luncheon will be tomorrow at 12:10. I hope and pray you will make the effort to be here and be fed not only by the food provided but by the words of our speaker.

Vol 5 No 12 - Little Stuff

2010-02-24T15:35:00.000-06:00

Did you notice it this past Sunday? I know some of you did. Others may not. Trust me, it was intentional, and it will happen again this week, and for the rest of the season. And, yes, it happened to make a statement, so the more we talk about it, the more the message may get out. It's a little thing, to be sure, but it's amazing sometimes how much value we put on the little things. Oftentimes, when the littlest things are changed in our lives, it can have a huge impact on our outlook as it relates to other things.

This was done not only to draw our attention to the simplicity of Lent, but to remind us that sometimes we can focus on those things that, in all reality, are not that big a deal when looked at from a broader perspective. For, even though this change may have been made for this season, in no way was our worship compromised. In fact, even with this change the symbolism was not, nor will be lost, in our worship setting.

All this to point to the fact that far too often in the Lenten observance as we look to eliminate those things in our lives that keep us from fully exploring the divine will, we try to make and embrace BIG changes. Often, as we see in this little example of the candelabras in the sanctuary, we allow little things to truly make a BIG difference.

What is something 'little' in your life that is making a BIG difference in your relationship with Christ?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 11 - The Stench of Mardi Gras (Not What You Think!)

2010-02-16T16:52:00.000-06:00

Mardi Gras just stinks around our house. Every year, just by stepping on the back porch, I can tell that tomorrow marks the beginning of Lent. The smell permeates my hair, my clothes, and even seeps in the house occasionally. To make things even more invasive, it doesn't matter whether or not I handle my usual observance of this day on the porch of the house, the church, or elsewhere; the fact is that the mess of Mardi Gras reminds me more and more of the need for Lent. Every one of us who has participated in the events of Mardi Gras in south Louisiana know that today is messy, has a unique smell, and, usually, requires a shower before bed to get the mess out of your system.

However, the mess I am talking about involves the annual ritual of the burning of the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration in preparing the ashes for Ash Wednesday. Lent is unique in the season of the Christian year in that through this time - starting with the reminder on Ash Wednesday that it is from ashes we come and to ashes we return, through the season of reflection and introspection, into the crowds of Christ's final entry into Jerusalem, up to the Upper Room for the Last Supper, to Golgotha for the victorious moment of Christ's triumph over evil - the journey through all these events leads us to examine just how estranged we allow ourselves to be from God and how much we are in desperate need of divine grace.

Like many of you, I love the joy of Easter Sunday. However, if you really want to have even a hint of what Easter Sunday is all about, don't miss Lent. Don't miss Ash Wednesday. Don't miss the worship and study opportunities of Lent.

So, to that end, join us in worship tomorrow morning at 6:30AM or 6:00PM for a traditional observance of Ash Wednesday, including the sacrament of Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. Our Easter Sunday worship starts tomorrow.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 10 - Special Days

2010-02-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

At a meeting I attended yesterday, the speaker who was to give the devotional stood at the podium and said something along the lines of with two such notable days on the calendar, he didn't know which subject to address: Super Bowl Sunday or Valentine's Day. I had to laugh, for I was thinking he was going to say: Transfiguration Sunday or Ash Wednesday. After all, these are the two more notable days upcoming on the calendar.

But then I started thinking more about it and came to the conclusion that, yes, it would be appropriate for these two days to be recognized on the proper level, for our Christianity must influence not only how we celebrate the high holy days of the congregation's life, but also how we celebrate all the secular holidays of which we take part. The question we all face in this matter is: do we factor in our Christianity even a little bit when it comes to the idea of celebrating the secular holidays?

When celebrating Super Bowl Sunday, do we consider the ways in which God would have us respond (and, no, I don't think God is 'on one team's side' over another)?

When celebrating Valentine's Day, do we consider all the ways we should love those dearest to us, and not just in a romantic way - for the Bible addresses love in many different contexts?

When celebrating Mardi Gras, do we consider the theological implications of how and why we celebrate this day?

I could go on and on - but I think you get the point. No matter what special day we are observing, it is our duty as Christians to observe it in a way that is fitting to honor the grace first shown us through Christ our Lord.

The next day we should all celebrate in this fashion? TODAY.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 9 - Loyalty

2010-02-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

Can you imagine what it must be like for Archie Manning this week? (For the 2 or 3 people left in the world who don't know why this name is important this week, go to any sports website and search for Archie Manning).

The conflicting emotions of seeing the team you gave basically your entire career to, not to mention a great deal of your retirement, finally in the big game, and not being able to pull for them because they happen to be competing against your boy.

In the long run, it's pretty trivial, all the stuff about any football game. But let's take a moment to sympathize with Archie and look at a bigger picture question: When push comes to shove, where do our loyalties lie?

In a much more important realm than picking sides of a football game, we have a similar conflict - where is our heart?

Christ our Lord demands complete obedience. Do we give it to him?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 8 - Determined Ladies

2010-01-28T11:08:00.000-06:00

It will be a first for me this weekend, the first time in my career that I will have the opportunity to preach for United Methodist Women's Sunday. In a world where we are told that everything needs to change, that keeping up with the times (or, more accurately, being ahead of the times) is crucial to how we can stay 'relevant' in the world, that it will take boldness on the part of everyone in every aspect of society to 'think outside the box' (although you could make the case that using that cliche is NOT 'thinking outside the box'), there is no more relevant lesson to draw upon than the lessons of the founding of the ministry of the United Methodist Women.

Few people realize, or even care, that if you want to talk about the courage of being cutting-edge and doing things beyond societal norms, exceeding expectations and causing a little controversy in the process, the United Methodist Women have been pioneers for well over a century. Some of the earliest roots of this movement can be traced back to 1869 when The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society is formed in Boston, MA at the Tremont Methodist Episcopal Church. These ladies gathered for missional purposes, and in November of that same year sent Isabella Thoburn and Clara Swain to India as the Society’s first missionaries.

As part of the message from Jeremiah 1:4-10 this Sunday, we will be looking at why we allow ourselves to think that God cannot use us for mighty things. Come and worship with us as we draw upon the historical example of the ministry of the United Methodist Women to hear what God has to say to us from the prophet Jeremiah. I promise you this: It will be a UMW Sunday to remember. If you think you know what UMW Sunday is like, think again.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 7 - Mission Recap

2010-01-22T08:10:00.000-06:00

Wow.

Once again, you have answered the call to be God's faithful people in assisting others in a time of desperation. Last week's Mid-Week Message put out the word about how United Methodists can help answer the call to assist in the relief efforts in Haiti, specifically through a special offering we would be taking Sunday for UMCOR's work in Haiti. Later last week, you heard about the opportunity to participate in the assembling of health kits during Sunday School last week. You also were reminded of how through our regular bi-weekly mission to Sager-Brown we can help process and ship kits that have come in from across the connectional church.

Well, here are the numbers, so far:

1) We assembled 245 kits through the supplies provided for the Sunday morning effort, not including those kits brought in already completed by others in our congregation.

2) We have seen over $2,000 raised in last week's Haiti Advance offering and other donations that have come in to help provide even more health kit supplies.

3) Through our regular UMCOR mission yesterday, we assembled or verified for shipping over 500 additional kits to go to Haiti.

For those of you keeping score at home, that's over 750 people in Haiti who will eventually be holding and using supplies handled and prepared by you, not including the use of the funds by our missionaries on the ground there to impact even more lives.

On a similar note, part of my responsibility as your pastor is to prepare annual reports on a number of areas of ministry to submit to our district and conference. I am pleased to announce that through communion offerings and other generous donations, we went through almost $5000 in our helping hands fund, all of which is used to help the needy here in Morgan City.

I could go on and on about the faithfulness of you all to answer the missional call (for this is just scratching the surface), but let me say that reflecting on this past week's efforts for Haiti (and those of you who were unable to attend last week's service will have the opportunity to contribute to the Haiti Advance this week) and looking at our helping hands support this past year (which was a record, increasing from last year by over 20%), I could not be more proud or pleased to be your pastor.

Let's keep up the good work. There is a world who needs to hear about and receive God's grace - and you have impacted so many lives already. Let's see how many more we can impact in 2010.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 6 - 100% Relief

2010-01-14T09:19:00.000-06:00

The people of the United Methodist Church have a long and storied history of providing relief in a number of ways to people across the globe who have suffered great tragedy and loss as a result of natural disasters. Since the horrific events of January 12 in Haiti, our United Methodist Committee on Relief has been making plans to get to Haiti as soon as possible to assist in the relief efforts.

To this end, there are two ways you can participate almost immediately in helping to ease the burden felt by our friends in Haiti:

1) Attend worship this Sunday (January 17) and participate in the special offering that will be taken up to support UMCOR's work in Haiti. Due to the faithfulness of the United Methodists throughout the year, you can rest assured that 100% of any contribution you make to this special offering will go directly to assisting the people in need. Through other offerings and regular giving, UMCOR's overhead is already provided, thus allowing any special offerings such as this to go completely towards relief.

2) Attached to this e-mail is the list of supplies that go into a health kit that is provided to people in need through our Sager-Brown Supply Depot just up the road in Baldwin. More than a few from our congregation are involved in this ministry through our bi-weekly mission on Thursday mornings. Part of what we do there is assemble health kits to be used in places like Haiti. Due to the strict regulations concerning shipping and customs restrictions in other countries, it is important to follow this list EXACTLY as printed. If you are one of our friends who is not a resident of the Morgan City area, you also send a check for $12 per kit to us and we will make sure that those funds are provided to our friends at Sager-Brown for supply purchases.

As the situation develops, we will have more information about teams and other ways in which to get involved in helping out this country that has been absolutely devastated.

**************

One other note - please don't forget about the Ecumenical Prayer Service observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that we will be hosting NEXT TUESDAY at 6:30PM. Sponsored by the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese of the Catholic Church, this will be a great time of fellowship and worship with people from other Christian traditions. A light reception will follow in our fellowship hall.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 5 - Atmospheric Changes

2010-01-06T10:50:00.000-06:00

It's just pretty darn uncomfortable now for so many. Especially considering what has happened over the past couple of weeks, and into today, none of us can help but feel drastically affected by how our atmospheric changes have had such an impact on our lives. You could definitely make the case that the change in the atmosphere we are experiencing has global, and indeed cosmic, ramifications. We must take time to make extra preparations to account for these changes, and adjust our thinking and attitudes accordingly.

The arctic cold blast that our nation is in the midst of these days? Yeah, that's a big deal. But it's not what I'm talking about.

Today, dear friends, is Epiphany. The day on which the church traditionally celebrates the appearance of the wise men to the baby Jesus, acknowledged as the first acknowledgement by the outside world of the existence of the Christ child.

As I mentioned earlier, the events of the past couple of weeks, the celebration of the Christmas season which ends today, has dramatically altered our lives, and the life of the world. Just by writing today's date, you can see the impact of the Christ child on the world. Through the appearance of Christ in the darkness, our world changed forever, as sin met its match.

You think some bitterly cold weather radically makes life uncomfortable? Imagine the message we as Christians spread to others - that life is found in Christ, not in us.

Remember that after seeing the Christ child the wise men changed their planned course home - how has experiencing the Christ child changed your course?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

P.S. Neighbor, long-time member, and former custodian John Nope passed away yesterday afternoon. Visitation will be from 6:00-9:00 tonight in our sanctuary, and from 10:00-1:00 tomorrow. Services will start at 1:00. Please keep Lois and the rest of the family in prayer.

Vol 5 No 4 - A Baby Changes Everything

2009-12-22T08:15:00.000-06:00

It almost feels kinda pointless to write a meditation/column for this week's e-mail, for this is the week we finally enter into Christmas. I mean, it is one of those things wherein we know what is going on, don't we? Christmas eve worship @ 6:00 & 11:00. The familiar readings. The familiar songs. Candlelight and communion. Familiar holiday traditions. The joy and the politics of gift-giving and receiving. Some bittersweet moments for a few, as you remember those who are not around the table this year and or how this Christmas is different from other years. Deep life-altering radical changes that we get anxious about not knowing how they are going to play out or how to deal with them...

"Wait. What?," I can hear some of you saying. "I was with you up until that last point. What do you mean, deep life-altering radical changes...." Why, that's one of the joys of Christmas is its predictability. With a few minor tweaks from year to year depending on circumstance, it pretty much rolls the same for us.

Well, not so fast, my friends. Yes, Christmas is a joy because of the predictability of hearing the same words again from the scriptures...but, I wonder if we truly think through the implications of the complete UNpredictability of the Christmas celebration. As the Christ child is symbolically placed in the midst of the nativity scene this year, I hope and pray that tangible representation of Christ's appearance in the world reminds us that things are no longer predictable. With the arrival of the Christ child, things are different. The Christ child leads his people in ways they never could have thought, to destinations they never could consider, and all he asks for is their complete trust and devotion.

That, my friends, is something you and I need to think more about as Christmas approaches. If we are serious about following the Christ child, it will not be predictable. If we are serious about following the Christ child, it will demand of us the need for complete faith and trust, especially when the answer or destination to a particular situation or circumstance is not inherently obvious.

So, come and worship with us on Christmas Eve (or at a church in your area if you do not live near us). Come and hear the words from the prophet, the psalmist, the gospel, and the epistle. Come and hear the message on "Why Christmas is Important (and it may not be what you think)." Come and taste the tangible reminder of the grace that appeared during that night as we partake of the sacrament of holy communion. Come and be inspired by the candlelight of the people of God raising the light of Christ.

And be ready for something you never expected. After all, that is what happened on the first Christmas morning - something completely unexpected.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 3 - Shipping & Delivery Costs

2009-12-16T07:44:00.000-06:00

It happened again yesterday - a last minute call from a friend looking to see if I could help them get a certain Christmas gift ordered and delivered by this Friday. No problem, I said. Of course, its just a matter of how much of a price you want to pay to have it delivered at the time you desire.

I thought of this earlier as I have been asked by my family in Pittsburgh to facilitate sending them a turducken for their Christmas celebration. The most expensive part of this, and the most difficult to coordinate, has been the timing (for its got to get there in time for them to thaw it) and packaging of delivery. Overnighting a turducken cross-country, in case you haven't noticed, "ain't cheap." But, the command given was, this is what we want - do what it takes to make it happen. Personally, I can't wait to see the reaction when the final shipping charges are calculated, for I am sure that it will be a bit higher price than they expect.

In both of these cases, I am reminded of the events that led up to the arrival of the Christ child. As we read in the prophets, the people of God were desiring a savior, anticipating the arrival of the messiah, and they wanted him now. As happens so often in life, however, getting what we truly want often involves things we don't anticipate and at costs we cannot anticipate.

Who was expecting, for instance, that the mighty savior and deliverer of the people would come not in full military armor, but in a manger?

Who was expecting that he would be born of an unmarried teenage virgin?

Who was expecting him to come when he did?

Who was expecting that the cost of his arrival would be a complete and utter devotion to following him - a devotion that demands that we set aside the things of this world to solely focus on bringing about his kingdom?

Who was expecting that the cost of discipleship would involved being people who love and forgive - even if those who have done us wrong have no idea or show no signs of remorse?

Are you ready for the cost and timing of Christmas any more than they were?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

P.S. Don't forget our Advent Luncheon @ 12:10 today - our District Superintendent, Roger Lathan, will be our guest speaker.

Vol 5 No 2 - The Early Present

2009-12-08T16:47:00.001-06:00

The package arrived late yesterday afternoon, and, I must admit, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It's a package I've been looking forward to, as I do every year, but I was not expecting it now. I had been told to expect it anytime, but, seriously, now?

After all, through the contents of this package, God will do some amazing things. Personally, I can't wait to see how this package will impact so many lives before it's time with us is done, and how many more will be impacted later. I just wasn't expecting it now. As I look at it and think about it, I'm still not sure I was ready for it to arrive now - for there are so many other things on my mind that I need to take care of before I can add anything else...and I know that the arrival of this package is going to mean a lot of work on the parts of lots of people to make sure that its intended purpose is fulfilled.

Of course, I speak of the High Seas Adventure VBS 2010 planning kit. Full of ideas, directions, suggestions...but I had to laugh as Melanie brought it in at the point I was just wrapping up Christmas Eve planning.

Thinking further about it, though, I came to the conclusion that the timing was perfect, as the Christmas Eve message this year is going to examine our preparation for Christmas.

Christ has a habit of showing up when we are least prepared for Him - are you doing anything to improve your preparation?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 1 - Just Another Event?

2009-12-02T18:15:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!

You know, looking over the Advent flyer that many of you recently received in the mail, I see so much on our plate for this season and I wonder sometimes if it is too much. Bible studies, luncheons, a cantata, a Night in Bethlehem, UMCOR missions, Christmas Eve worship - so many event not including the other things going on in life, such as work, family, friends...I would completely understand the temptation to think of all these church activities as just more events to have to attend during the Advent (NOT Christmas, but Advent) season.

And any of us who take such an attitude are SORELY MISTAKEN.

It hit me recently as I was visiting with the parent of a child I know - I think part of our problem is that we look at the formational events that God provides through the Christian community of our local congregation as one more thing on the calendar.

What if we considered these activities, no matter what they be, as part of a lifelong development of a relationship with God and the people of God, rather than one more thing to have to check off our to-do list?

I'm really excited about our Night in Bethlehem event this Sunday evening. Last night, it was truly a joy to work with a crew to prepare the framing, seeing our fellowship hall start to transform into the Bethlehem of Christ's day. Saturday, it will be a joy to be with those who are coming to decorate and set up for Sunday. Sunday evening, as we all gather for this time of fellowship and wonder, it will be a joy to realize that through this time, and through all of Advent, what is truly going on is the work of a God who is using the Body of Christ to prepare us for the arrival of a Savior.

When you look at it from that perspective, kinda moves it from a "Oh, another event..." to "Oh! Another Event! I wonder what God is going to show us this time!"

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 42 - Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T07:48:00.000-06:00

It's the day before Thanksgiving. What else is there to say? If you aren't aware now of how much you are blessed and the One who provides those blessings, then let's talk.

Otherwise, enjoy the rest of the week and prepare to wait. (I mean, let's get into Advent!)

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 41 - Veterans Day

2009-11-12T14:54:00.000-06:00

Reflecting upon the nation's observance of Veteran's Day, I can't help but be reminded that those who served were a part of something bigger than themselves, something that required dedication, sacrifice, and service above and beyond the trivial and banal, and how much those qualities have impacted our country, and indeed the world.

Looking at an ESPN feature on baseball players who served in World War II and Korea, I was confronted with the fact that many of these men gave the prime of their professional careers for something bigger. People like Bob Feller, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and countless others who either gave up parts of what was already a great career or didn't even have the chance to start their career because of service to their country.

And I can't help but wonder what that says about how we exercise our Christian faith when so often we make the excuse that we are too busy to be involved with the things of the Kingdom of God.

Imagine if the men and women of the Armed Services had said to their country, "Sorry, but I'm too busy to take on this task. Find someone else who doesn't have as much going on and at some point when things slow down I'll consider doing something." I seriously doubt any of us would have really wanted the life that would have resulted had this been their answer.

Yet, we have a cause even greater than the defense of one's country. We have the gospel of Christ to spread to a world that desperately needs good news. Far more often than any of us care to admit, however, we make excuses about how we are too busy. Imagine the consequences that occur every time we do this.

Thank a veteran. And also thank whoever took the time to introduce you to the saving grace of Christ our Lord. They did you a far greater service than anyone else.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 40 - Service Opportunities

2009-11-05T10:21:00.000-06:00

Heading into this week's worship, wherein we will continue our Truly Giving Thanks: A Season of Gratitude series by looking at upholding our vow to support this congregation with our service, I continue to be struck by just how many different ways there are to serve our congregation through service. Here's just a few:

Sunday Mornings: Usher, Liturgist, Acolyte, Choir, Nursery, Musician, Sound, Video

Missions: Bi-Weekly UMCOR mission, VIM teams, Mission Run, Truly Giving Thanks Mission Meal, UMW

Children & Family Ministries: Leading Sunday School, It's a Kid Thing Children's Ministry, Vacation Bible School, Night in Bethlehem, Congregation Meals (Including Advent & Lenten Lunches), Visiting Shut-Ins

Like I said, these are just a few of the areas in which to serve. I could have gone on to mention working with the various committees and offices of the church as well as helping our our office staff with mailings and bulletins, to name a couple more options.

The major thing to remember in all of this is that upholding our vow to support this congregation with our service is not as daunting a task as it may seem at times. There are a number of areas in which to be involved. The main question that we must ask ourselves is not, "Is there anywhere I really can be used?"; rather, the question is:

Was I serious when I said I would support this congregation with my service?

If you were, and you have not yet found a place in which to be involved, let me know ASAP and we will rectify this immediately.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 39 - Not Exactly

2009-10-29T15:29:00.000-05:00

More than one person has commented upon hearing about this week's sermon title (When Tithing Is Not Important) something along the lines of the following, "Oh, this is the once-a-year money sermon."

As the old tag line goes, "Not exactly."

Whether we want to admit it or not, tithing is like EVERYTHING (and I mean EVERYTHING) else that makes up our lives. It is at the end of the day a spiritual matter.

And this is what I have been thinking about a lot over the past few days - how many times do we put things in the wrong categories in our lives? Or, to put it another way, how many times have we said about something in particular, "We need to pray about that?"

Let me submit to you a little exercise to try at least for the next 24 hours (heck, 24 minutes if need be) - whatever is next on your agenda, or whatever is next on your mind, pray about it. Pray for the wisdom to know what to do to fulfill God's will in that particular situation and pray for God's will to be done in that particular situation. Doesn't matter what it is - try this.

Then let's talk about whether or not anything in your life is NOT a spiritual matter.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 38 - Well...

2009-10-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

Genesis 26:18 - "Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham and he gave them the names that his father had given them."

During a two-day 'retreat' setting in which I participated this week at our conference center with elders from across Louisiana, I thought a great deal about these words from last week's lesson in our Genesis study. Quite unexpectedly, I was able to spend a great deal of time with one of my mentors, picking his brain about things past, present, and future. Through more than a couple of hours of conversation, bits of wisdom and advice came from my friend. As we talked, I was reminded once again of how much he had to offer me through the experiences of his life and ministry.

Long story short, Isaac was able to draw live-giving water out of wells that had been dug long before.

Long story short, my friend offered me some great insight and wisdom from wells that he had dug long before.

Long story short, there's a lot of wells that have been dug long before you, wells full of life-giving and life-sustaining water. When was the last time you went and drank from wells dug long before you?

In an age where so many will tell you that the key to a vibrant and fruitful faith (or a vibrant and fruitful church) is found only through the newest and hippest, don't forget there are a lot of wells from which to dig that are full of life. We need the wells of Genesis 26:18 just as we need the wells of Genesis 26:22.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 37 - Thanksgiving Prayer

2009-10-15T23:15:00.000-05:00

Well, we have now moved into another season in the life of our congregation. As many of you are aware, this Sunday marks the beginning of our Truly Giving Thanks: A Season of Gratitude. During this time, I want to encourage all of us, whether a part of Pharr Chapel UMC or on the larger distribution list of this message, to join in a period of self-examination about our attitude towards life. Far too often, we allow ourselves to get caught up in the immediacy of our situations, both good and bad, and fail to take a good, long, hard look at the overall picture of our lives; this season will allow us to commit to hearing again (or anew) about how ours is not about who we are or what we do, but whose we are and why we have been given the gifts, grace, and abilities.

This week's worship will focus on the discipline of prayer, and how being intentional about approaching prayer from a attitude of gratitude leads us into a proper perspective on living our lives (in all aspects) as God has intended. It can be so easy to pray about those things and situations that immediate capture our attention (illnesses, injuries, tragedies, economic issues, healings, etc.), and those are very valid areas in which to focus prayer, but how many times do we stop to think about the attitude in which we pray affects our relationship with God, with one another, and even with ourselves?

So, as you head into your next period of intentional prayer, take a moment to check and see how you are approaching prayer. Take it further, and see how you are approaching other aspects of your life. And, no matter what...

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 36 - Need Some Help?

2009-10-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

NOTE: This week's guest columnist is Rev. Erin Oliver, pastor of McGowen UMC in Jeanerette, LA.

The guy that takes care of our lawn came today. He was mowing and weed-eating, doing what needed to be done. Meanwhile, inside the house, Arph and Yip are barking away because someone is invading their yard. It doesn't matter if he is trying to help, doing what he is supposed to do...it just matters that someone is in their territory.

I wonder how often we do the same. When someone tries to help, when they are simply doing what they are supposed to do...do we yell, or grump at them because they are in our territory. There are plenty of stories from churches, businesses, families that we have all heard. When someone offers help, do we feel they are intruding on our territory, or can we be thankful for God easing our load a bit. If someone wants to help with something that has always been your job, how do you react?

I hope that I can do a bit better than my dogs! I hope that I can be humble enough to remember that my way is not always the best, that I don't have to do everything on my own and that my territory isn't so important that I can't appreciate when someone is helping to take care of it.

Blessings,

Erin

Vol 4 No 35 - What Does the Bible Say?

2009-09-30T11:41:00.000-05:00

An old friend of mine pops up last night in my IM window with the following question: "What ever happened to the other brother in the 'Prodigal Son' story?" After all, we know the story of the father who welcomed home the son who had taken his inheritance early, blown it, and yet returned home to be celebrated by his father. (Luke 15:11-32)

As we talked further, I had to admit to my friend that the scriptures just don't answer that question. Frustrating on one hand because we treasure knowledge and understanding in an age where 'everything has an explanation', this reminds us that in many situations where we find ourselves frustrated by the scriptures it's simply a matter of us looking for something that is not there.

A similar situation came up last week when I was asked by someone how we as Christians account for the existence of dinosaurs since they are not mentioned at all in the creation stories of the Bible. Again, it's something that many people have tried to use from time to time to disprove the Bible's reliability, when in reality the Bible never addresses the subject one way or another.

All this begs the question: For what do we look to scripture? Is it a guide for living the Christian life? Yes. Is it a recounting of God's creative and redemptive work in all of creation, from beginning to end? Yes. Is it essential to living as God intends? Yes. Does it tell you where to go for lunch? Not necessarily.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 34 - I Know this Already...

2009-09-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

I've heard it before. I know it by heart. Do we really need to cover this again? We all know what happened, whose fault it is, and the consequences thereof, so why not move on to something a little more obscure, a little more interesting, a little more challenging?

Admittedly, this was part of my attitude as I approached the first session of our latest Bible study, Introduction to Genesis. After all, one of the more universally known things about the Bible is the story of Genesis 1-3. The creation of the world and the distortion of that world by humanity being disobedient to God's command. Pretty basic stuff, found on the 'baby food' aisle of Christianity.

But then, reading and processing these passages with our Sunday night crew and our Tuesday morning crew reminded me that there is always something more to be gleaned from the scripture, and it is essential for our growth in the faith and in our knowledge of scripture to never take for granted what we think is in there. Not to give away the story, but I would urge you to take a moment and do the following:

1. From memory, without opening your Bible, write down how the fall of humanity went, with as much detail as possible.

2. Go read Genesis 3.

3. Note any differences? (and remember, details are important)

Moral of the story: Christianity is an active, not passive, lifestyle. Don't rest on what you already know to keep you from discovering more, and growing in the faith as a result of that discovery.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 33 - I Didn't Know...

2009-09-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

"I didn't know because no one told me."

Ever heard that one before? Ever missed out on something because you weren't told? I thought about this yesterday as I heard from a childhood friend on Facebook and found out that her father, a man I knew and respected, had passed away suddenly in 2005. Of course, I had no way of knowing because we'd lost touch over the years, but it got me to thinking further about this idea.

This week's message is brief, for I want you to think about this:

How many people do you know that you have not shared how Christ has made a difference in your life?

How sad would it be for you to find out that someone you know and love has not responded to Christ's offer of grace because, "No one had ever told [me]."

I promise you it's a higher number than you think; and that you have a golden opportunity to share it with them. Not by preaching to them or 'guilt-tripping' them, but by sharing how Christ has made a difference in your life. But then again, that leads to one final piece of food-for-thought:

Has professing the Christian faith made a difference in your life?

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 32 - Writer's Block

2009-09-09T12:44:00.001-05:00

Writer's block. A phenomenon that anyone who has spent time in any sort of school environment has hit at one time or another. That time where you know you have to write something, but have no idea what to say or how to say it in a way that would cause any interest on the part of the reader/hearer (not to mention you.) It has been my experience that many times writer's block comes along when composing thoughts or words about subjects you know well.

I've been thinking a great deal about writer's block lately, for I wonder if part of what faces the Christian is the idea that we've said all there needs to be said; to quote from the Eucharist, "Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again." Or, for a lengthier version, the contents of the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed do nicely to sum up what we have to say.

And there's the rub. In a society where we are bombarded with thousands of messages (large and small) every day, it can be tempting at times to attempt to change our message in a continual quest to be relevant, when the fact of the matter is that the message we give, the message of grace and peace through the Lordship of Jesus Christ, is one that we must be diligent about repeating.

We are never at a loss for something to say, for ours is not to come up with something to say, but simply to share what Christ has already said. Don't let anyone try to fool you into thinking otherwise.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 31 - Worship Expectations

2009-08-26T11:10:00.004-05:00

That God will say or do something that I could not have imagined, and praying that I will be totally open to God's presence in whatever form it comes.

That's the answer that comes to my mind in response to a question asked by one of my colleagues last week: "What do you expect to happen when you go to worship?"

As I think further on this, however, I wind up moving this answer to things beyond the corporate worship of the body of Christ on any given day, and look at life in general. What would my life look like if I thought this way when dealing with: family, friends, co-workers, neighbors...or pretty much any and all situations in which I find myself? What would your life look like if you allowed yourself to anticipate God saying or doing something in the most unlikely or mundane things?

So often, it seems that we allow ourselves to be in the mindset that in any given situation, God is going to do this or that. I want to encourage you this morning to anticipate that God will be revealed to you in any and all situations, and to pray that you will allow yourself to be moved by the Holy Spirit into a place where you will see the God who is being revealed to you, in whatever way God may choose.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 30 - Toxicity

2009-08-19T16:18:00.003-05:00

Toxic. When I think of or hear this term used, my mind goes back to a black sticker with a bright green frowny-face on it that I used to see as a child. If memory serves me correct, these very bright, very vivid stickers were reminder labels for the local poison control hotline. The idea was to have them on anything toxic that you might get into around the house so that if you got into trouble someone could call immediately and find out what to do.

I've been thinking a great deal about these labels lately as I observe life on many levels. There seems to be so much anger and anxiety going around society due to a number of factors (economics, politics, a general fear of an unknown future), and I wonder sometimes how much we as the people of God realize how much we can make a difference in the lives of those with whom we live, work, play, and worship. I don't many of us who would willingly admit to wanting to be around negative people and negative situations; yet I wonder also how much we (willingly or unwillingly) contribute to negativity in the people and circumstances in our lives.

It would be really neat if every toxic person or situation had a neat poison control label, and if we could steer away from those environments. However, we who take on the identity of Christian have a responsibility to bring grace to any and all we encounter. We don't have the option of living a pollyannish existence - but we do have a choice of whether or not to bring grace and peace.

So, next time someone sends you a "the world's going to hell" e-mail, or next time someone comes up to you and tries to bait you into becoming a "nattering nabob of negativity", or you spend anytime watching someone in the political arena take shots at someone opposed to their idea, or someone is in your face, or there's a situation that you really don't like - take a five-count (or longer, if need be), smile, and remember that you are called to a higher standard. Not to deny that there are serious situations that require serious conversations, but let's remember whose we are and what we claim to live.

Make no mistake about it - we live in an imperfect world. Toxicity is a part of life. But we can choose to contribute further to toxic environments (at home, work, school, society, among one another, etc.) or we can choose to be of a higher calling.

Think of the little skull and crossbones that is the universal symbol of poison - and ask yourself if you want to be identified by that image or by the image of the cross.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 29 - Forgiveness Demands

2009-08-14T12:18:00.001-05:00

It was a little past 8PM last night when, in the first half of the Steelers-Cardinals pre-season game last night, an anxious nation received word that one of the great unknown mysteries of the summer of 2009 had been resolved. Yes, that's right, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Most of you know Mr. Vick's criminal background, and how he has spent two years in jail for his crime. What strikes me this morning is the amount of hatred and venom being sent his way by fans in Philadelphia. What Mr. Vick did was reprehensible, and as a dog owner it, quite frankly, nauseates me to even think of these actions. However, the fact of the matter is that Mr. Vick has repaid his debt to society and is now a free man.

The question that comes to my mind has very little to do with Michael Vick and everything to do with you and me. That question revolved around grace. See, what I have been thinking of all morning as I have seen various reports of people responding to Mr. Vick is not a question of forgetting what he has done, but when, if ever, does someone deserve a second chance. The question is:

What if Christ held a grudge against us for the sins we commit against him the way that we hold grudges against others who have done us wrong?

It's easy to sit here and condemn those people we have seen screw up, especially those who have caused us or those we love and care about great pain. Yet, among Christ's final words were: "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Forgiveness isn't easy. To have faith in Christ, however, DEMANDS forgiveness. Otherwise, we have missed the whole point.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 28 - Backups are Essential

2009-08-05T14:11:00.002-05:00

The automated backup system. A must-have in today's world. So must-have, that it is foolish to risk not having your computer, your phone, and anything else not on some sort of automated backup system, especially where your most important data is concerned. There is security that comes from knowing that no matter what may happen to your primary devices, there is something there to protect you from the consequences of losing your primary device.

As I have become more and more reliant on my phone and my computer over the past few years, I have redoubled my backup efforts. So, last week when my phone crashed, I didn't give it a second thought, for I knew I had backed it up weekly for almost 2 years. Long story short - the backup file was corrupted, and I lost some valuable data with little hope of getting it back.

Moral of the story: Yeah, it's just some data that in the big scheme of things isn't that big a deal. However, it did get me to thinking about in what do I really put my trust. It may have become cliché in many people's mind, but its at the core of who we are - NOTHING will provide the reliability or security of life in Christ.

Money, fame, power, family, friends, backups for electronics - all of that will eventually wash away. Christ's love, however, is eternal.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 27 - Hope

2009-07-29T09:05:00.002-05:00

Mirriam-Webster defines hope as follows: "to cherish a desire with anticipation" and "to desire with expectation of obtainment."

I have been thinking a great deal about the word 'hope' over the past month, for I have experienced the sheer joy of a hopeful people (100+ kids making these facilities literally shake during Vacation Bible School) and the crushingly toxic environment of being around people who have not one positive thing they celebrate, not one moment of sheer joy or pleasure, for they appear to be focused purely on what is wrong, absolutely and without a doubt anticipating what will go wrong next.

Contrasting the two, I cannot help but remind myself, and, by way of this message, you, that of all the emotions of life that we have been given by God, hope has got to be central to our mindset. I say this not in a pollyannish way, encouraging you to stick your head in the sand and ignore the realities of life. No, I give it to you as a reminder that you will find highs and lows of life (pretty much every day), and without the hope of a better tomorrow (which we have been given through the promise of Christ's return in glory), we can literally have the life sucked out of us.

"...[N]or anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord." Hold on to this - for I promise you that one day, a new heaven and a new earth are coming, and if you have your life grounded in the things of this world (both good and bad), at some point you will be left with nothing, for this world will be gone.

Our kids at VBS are learning about and experiencing the hope of life in Christ. However, VBS will finish tomorrow night. Let us all resolve to give them continual reminders of the hope of a better day by the way we conduct ourselves in thought, word, and deed.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 26 - Conviction

2009-07-15T10:51:00.004-05:00

"For I am convinced," Paul writes in the eight chapter of Romans, beginning a thunderous defense of what he believes. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor live, nor angles, nor rulers, nor things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord."

Over the past few days, I have thought a great deal about this passage of scripture, for I used it as the text for my homily at Mr. Ed Dilsaver's funeral yesterday. Those of you who had the honor of knowing Ed know that he was a man of great convictions. Reading, studying, and praying about these words, I saw once again the sheer beauty of Paul's defense of his beliefs a passion that I fear we might allow to slip more than we realize.

Paul's conviction of nothing being able to separate us from the love of God through Christ our Lord is not only a great statement of faith, but a proper frame by which to look at our lives.

If someone were to ask you to complete the sentence, "For I am convinced...", what would you say? How does what you are convinced of affect your day-to-day life? Does what you are convinced of have its root in the saving power of the grace of God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit?

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 25 - What's Your Story?

2009-07-08T10:40:00.006-05:00

Whenever I travel for leisure, as I did this past week to visit with our families, I take along 2 or 3 books for pleasure reading on airplanes or during downtime wherever we are staying. My favorite genre is biographies, and as I was reading the stories of Satchel Paige and Bob Cousy this week, my mind kept going back to you. These two athletic stars of the last century were giants of their times, but to my generation and beyond, they are mere names in history books. I can grab any historical register for their respective sport and get their career accomplishments; to delve into who they are as men is quite a different story.

My mind kept going back to you because I wonder oftentimes what is the story that we are developing with the life we lead. If an historian were to come along 50 years from now and catalog your life, what would emerge?

As men and women of the Christian faith, ours is a story that is part of a much bigger story. Ours is a story that continues the story of God's creative and redemptive work in creation. Through his grace and love, creation came into being, and all things will be reconciled to God when Christ comes again in glory.

Whether or not some historian or author comes along 50 years from now to catalog your life story or not, make no mistake about it - you are writing your story. The imperative for us is to remember that our story needs to point not to what we do, but to what Christ does within and through us.

See You Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 24 - Observing Freedom

2009-06-30T08:27:00.000-05:00

During this holiday week as we observe the 233th anniversay of the USA's declaration of independence, take a moment to be thankful for the freedom you have to worship God in whatever way you see fit.

We have such an honor and privilege to live in such a free place - what better way to celebrate that freedom and honor the men & women who provide that freedom than to join in worship this Sunday?

See you Soon!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 23 - Intentional Example

2009-06-24T15:38:00.001-05:00

As this summer now officially gets started this week, I cannot get the image of children and youth out of my mind. Specifically, the images of children and youth spending summers getting to know Christ and experiencing Christ's love through the ministries of the church.

This past Monday, and again next Monday, we are moving deeper into our Vacation Bible School planning, and I have seldom been as overjoyed as I was Monday evening meeting with our first group of volunteers. To see people voluntarily giving of their time on a Monday evening when EVERYONE had other things to do was a joy. Thinking of them giving a week of evenings, much less the preparation time that goes into them, so that children can experience Christ's love is just mind-blowing.

The one thing that I failed to mention Monday, but I will mention this Monday, and as often as I can, is that teaching our children and youth about Christ is not something we can squeeze into pre-planned, pre-packaged blocks of time, places, and spaces. Far from it. Actually, we teach our children and youth more about the importance of our faith in Christ, and our true commitment, far beyond the walls of the church or its institutions. The words we say, the decisions we make...they watch us far more than we realize.

VBS is important, and I firmly believe there is not a one of you reading this that is not called to participate in the ministry of VBS at some level in your congregation.

However, the decisions you and I make right now, TODAY, are telling the children and youth of our lives far more about whether or not our faith, and the commitments we make based on our faith, really mean much at all.

As for me, I know that I am far from perfect on this. This I do know, however - if I don't keep reminding myself of this, then I'll never get it.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 22 - What Do You Hear?

2009-06-16T16:40:00.000-05:00

During hot summer afternoons such as this one, I am often reminded of childhood days where my mother would tell me something along the lines of 'Boredom is a character defect.' She tells me to this day that this was one of my grandmother's favorite sayings, and it's been running around my head today as I worked on the preaching calendar for July and August. In thinking and praying about the various lectionary passages, I came across a number of quite familiar parables and Biblical events that each of us should know very well, and I thought about how 'boring' it might be for you and for me to revisit some of these same, oft-told, oft-studied scriptures. Then my grandmother comes calling - 'Boredom is a character defect.'

I wonder if maybe, just maybe, my grandmother's words address a far-too-familiar situation for us Christians. Are we still inspired by the reality of a God who offers us unconditional grace? Are we still inspired by the reality that 'In the beginning God...'? Are we still inspired by the reality of John 3:16-17 (go look it up if you don't remember it)? Are we still inspired by the reality of the Last Supper, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday? Are we still inspired by 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'? Are we still inspired by the awesome reality of Pentecost Sunday? Are we still inspired by the hope of Christ coming again?

Or, does it really matter to us?

My hope and prayer for each of us is that we never get in a position to consider any of the Scriptures 'boring' or not in need of discussion and proclamation. God forbid! For, if we ever allow ourselves to be in such a place that we do not believe that God's word has something to say to us, the problem is not with the Scripture or with the God who gave us the Scripture. If we ever allow ourselves to be in such a place that we find the Scriptures to be boring, then the defect rests in us.

Moral of the story: I'm more excited now than I was even this morning to hear what God is going to say to us through the text over the next couple of months. Consider yourself invited to join with me in this time of listening (again or for the first time) what the Almighty has in store for us. Heck, bring someone with you. You never know what will happen.

See you Sunday!

Lamar

Vol 4 No 21 - Family Reunion

2009-06-11T13:53:00.002-05:00

Is there any more unique thing in life than a family reunion? The opportunity to see people you haven't seen in years, connect with people close to you that you don't see very often, meeting new members of the family and greeting others you didn't know were a part of the family, remembering and celebrating the life of those who have passed since the last time we gathered, conferring about and making decisions concerning family matters, spending time over common meals, recalling favorite memories of the past and the long-ago relatives without whom none of this would be possible...and the list could go on...

Sunday - Wednesday of this past week, I, along with your lay delegate Dana Blanco, attended Louisiana United Methodism's annual family reunion (also known as annual conference). This year's session, held at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner, was all of the above and more. To see and hear what all God is doing in the life of the United Methodists of Louisiana is beyond description. Just let me say that it is truly a joy to be a part of such a strong connection.

One thing that hit me this morning as I reflected on this family reunion was the tendency at times to take it for granted. For the first time, I recognized that I may not have gotten as much out of, or more importantly, may not have put as much into, this holy time that I was given as a gift from God. Of course at times like these there are some decisions that I did not agree were correct. Of course there were some people who I allow to bring out less-than-the-best in me. Of course I saw some old friends that I didn't spend as much time with as I should have because I figured that if I didn't catch them this year, I'd catch them next.

Admit it, we all take those that we are closest to for granted far often than we would like to think.

Whether we like to claim it or not, the church IS our family (Christ even went as far as to tell us that we had better not allow our blood family to keep us away from His purposes). My hope and prayer is that NONE of us will EVER take the privilege we have been given to participate in the church for granted. When we take it for granted, we will inevitably miss out on things that God has for us.

See you Sunday!

Lamar