Vol 5 No 27 - Routine

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

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?

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

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