07/23/2023

The skeptical wisdom of Ecclesiastes ends the last chapter with these admonitions, “Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say ‘I have no pleasure in them…’ Fear God and keep his commandments: for that is the whole duty of everyone.” (Ch, 12:1,13b)

     Those are very fortunate who early in life recognize their need of God and put their trust in him. Not everyone is so wise or fortunate. But for many, there comes a moment when all the cherished goals and ambitions seem empty and hollow, even when they have been achieved. The realization dawns that something is missing in life. The God-shaped space in each of us is unoccupied and we feel the lack.

     This moment might come at any stage of our life, whether young or aged. In that moment, some are able to finally hear the voice of God calling them. Even so it can be frightening to let go of our self-determined roles and open ourselves to the presence of God. It may be only the courage of the first step but in it we can encounter the powerful, loving Spirit of the eternal God. Jesus shows us the way by his words & deeds. He shows us the compassionate face of God. He calls us down off the limb where we are stranded. He lifts us from the pit where we’ve fallen. He frees us from the grave clothes that bind us. He breaks the chains of our bondage & sets us free. He gives us new life. We stand in him forgiven, renewed, raised up as daughters & sons of God. We remember our creator & we glory in his presence. We are in awe of his majesty, and we keep his commandments because we love him.

07/16/2023

An excellent gardener of my acquaintance used to say, “Roses are selfish. They don’t want to share space with any other plants.” I have observed that this seems especially true of hybrid roses. Wild roses seem to be of a tougher nature and can take over an area. I do love the look and smell of the many hybrid roses. A well-tended garden of hybrid roses is breathtaking! I do admire the toughness and persistence of the wild rose. The triumphant conquering of an unwelcoming environment by these sturdy plants prompts me to want to be like that in my human life.

     On reflection, I do wonder which plant I am like. I am under no illusion that I have the beauty of either. Am I a hothouse plant that always needs to be the center of attention? Am I selfish? Do I always need to have it my way? Can I take pleasure in the accomplishments of others?

     I have read that the final mark of a great teacher is to have students who go far beyond him or her. Jesus told his disciples in John’s gospel, “…greater things than I have done you will do, because I go to the Father.” Roses are not the only selfish plant. The Black Walnut tree will drop sap on all within its circle until it has poisoned all that is beneath it. I think I have known some people like that.

     So, if you were a plant, what kind would you be? Would you jealously protect your place or would you be the kind of companion plant that helps others to grow? Even if no one thinks you are a rose, be the best kind of plant you can be.

07/09/2023

 My father was a cook and at one time, a restaurateur, so men in our family are able to cook. Nowadays, I do much more cooking than I ever did in the past.  Much of the cooking has been enjoyable, but three meals a day can be challenging! The hardest part, as many family cooks know, is not the actual cooking but deciding what to cook.

     My small repertoire of recipes was not sufficient for the new situation. Fortunately, there are cookbooks galore available and magazines full of colorful, but often impractical concoctions. Do I really need a recipe for Egyptian-style squid? I am convinced that any recipe known to humankind is now available online. I have found scores of them including ingredients, directions, techniques, and even nutritional information for many of the recipes. I have even found some of the favorites that Grandma used to make. There are even recipes from different eras. I have some nostalgic feelings for the 50’s and 60’s recipes of my youth. Apparently many of those recipes spread across the country through newspapers, magazines, and word of mouth.

      So, I have a new hobby. When there is nothing good on TV and I’m tired of reading, I check out new and old recipes until I’m certain that I desperately need a snack. Among the finds were non-recipe recipes like: “Recipe for a Good Marriage” or “Recipe for a Happy Life.” Too bad none of those were as easy as stirring up a pot of chili!!

07/02/2023

I am not a flag waver, but I believe I am quite patriotic in my own way. I believe that America can still live up to its highest ideals. I lived outside the U.S. for three years and gained perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the American life. It is the United States of America where I wish to live. We are not a perfect society and we really never were, but at our best we do strive to be a good place. Certainly race has presented significant problems in the past and in the present, but having lived abroad I can testify that we are far from the only place in the world with racial prejudice. Our history has forced us to face some of our racial issues, where many places in the world mask their racial discrimination while condemning others. Living outside the U.S., I tired of the smugness and even self-righteous condemnation of U.S. racism while racism in some cultures went largely unaddressed. It is important to acknowledge our failures, but shouldn’t they be balanced by our strengths and successes? There is much that is great and at times even noble, in many of the values of American life. I love my country. It is my home and has shaped much that is good in my life and character, so I can celebrate July 4th as more than just a barbeque and picnic day. It is a day to celebrate all that is good about this country.

06/25/2023

Earlier in the history of Western movies, there were stereotypes which helped identify the hero from the villain. The good guys wore white hats, and the bad guys wore black hats is some of those early flicks. In real life, it is less easy to identify the good ones from the bad ones. It is still pretty easy in cartoons, but not even in the live movies are the clues so obvious. We even have years of anti-hero characters who fuzzy the sense of who the good guys are. I am a bit troubled by these changes. I know that some of the old movies were massively unrealistic. Roy Rogers disabling the crooks with one punch wasn’t a true picture of how easily evil can be defeated. Admittedly, the world around us has always been complicated and the motives of many may be suspicious at best, but there are still good guys and bad guys. With enough personal charisma, evil intent can be hidden for a time, but in the end, true character will reveal itself. Among us ordinary folk, it can be pretty obvious who are the good people. We are fortunate if we are surrounded by good people, because that seems to call out the goodness in ourselves. Just as evil can spawn evil, so goodness can give birth to goodness. It was said of Jesus that “he went about doing good.” You can’t tell by the color of the hat who the good ones are, but life behavior will always reveal it in the end.

06/18/2023

       I am grateful for all the people in the church for their support for the church and its work.  All of them make an important contribution out of the gifts that God has given them.

     There is a saying among actors, “There are no small parts.” It is obvious how this happens in TV situation comedies. What starts out as an infrequent or even one-time character in a “small part” is so well-played, the writers begin to write the character more prominently in the script and the “small part” becomes a “big role.”

       There are no small roles in the life of the church. St. Paul described the Church as a body, with all the parts of the body being necessary for proper functioning. No part of the body is unimportant. “If everything was the eye, where would the hearing be?” he wrote. In fact, each person in the church has a place in God’s plan for the local church because “God has placed the members in the church as it pleases him.”

       Some roles are more obvious than others, but none are without value. In Christ’s church and in our congregation, in particular, there are no “small roles.”

06/11/2023

     Once a lovely, but economically poor young couple asked me to do their wedding ceremony. I met them for premarital counseling, as was my practice. I don’t remember if I specifically said there would be no fee for any of my services since the church was already providing for my work.

     I did not expect any honorarium, so I was surprised when an envelope arrived from the couple who had moved away closer to family. Inside was a beautiful handkerchief, with a hand-stitched hem and tasteful embroidery. To be remembered and honored in such a gentle way seemed a better reward than any monetary gift.

     I was reminded of the widow with her two small coins in the Jesus story. Perhaps they remembered some teary-eyed moment in one of my sermons and thought a hanky would be handy for a pastor. For years, I carried handkerchiefs for such a purpose. Nowadays, tissues are so available and perhaps more sanitary. But a handkerchief conveys a sense of security.

     I understand that the always practical Queen Elizabeth II kept very little in the purses she carried beyond a handkerchief.  Perhaps “always carry a handkerchief” is old-fashioned advice, but they are still useful in so many emergencies.  Just because something is old-fashioned does not mean it can’t provide good service when needed.

06/04/2023

Once I read an autobiography from a very successful teacher who had grown up in a family of rather severe abuse. She chronicled how it was books that provided an escape and a vision of what she might become. In books she caught sight of a world she could aspire to, out of the misery of her own life. While I did not experience anything like the difficulties the teacher described, I do know that books were and are sources for freedom, growth, and even healing for me. In them I found companions more like my lonely self. They took me on adventures to situations and places I had never known. They helped me understand myself and other people. They taught me empathy and engaged my compassion. Through books I came to see other people’s perspective even when I strongly disagreed. The Bible was one of those books, but not the only one. The Bible’s realistic portrayal of human beings, with all their greatness and nobility and all their pettiness and sinful arrogance, taught me so much. Books have opened up the world around me and the world inside me. No wonder I love books! I have a coffee cup which proclaims, “Leave me alone, I’m reading.”  So leave some space in your life to read good books and especially “the Good Book”, the Bible. Perhaps it will open you up to the world around you and the world inside you.

05/28/2023

 My father, early in his life owned a restaurant in Flagstaff, Arizona.  He had cooked in other restaurants before for owning and cooking in his own. Dad had very strong feelings about how restaurants and cafés should operate. He gave high priority to training staff and the highest priority to the quality of the food.  For the modern restaurant trade, he had very little patience. He was a stickler for cleanliness and safety but had little sense of the ambiance of an eating establishment. If the café was neat and clean and well-kept, he was satisfied, but only if the food was terrific.

     Creating an atmosphere or a trendy setting left him unimpressed.  A tiny Mexican café with a great homestyle cook was to be preferred over the fanciest slick Tex-Mex restaurant with mediocre fare.

     I always want good food but appreciate a fancy setting on a date with my wife. Sometimes the church seems a bit similar. All flashy service with no content leaves me frustrated, but good content in a setting of beautiful music and decoration can enhance my experience. I really want both excitement and good content, but if I had to choose, sound, thoughtful content would rank first for me.  Perhaps my Dad was right after all.

05/21/2023

My friend gave me a small icon from the Eastern Orthodox tradition of the Christian church. It shows Jesus as Pantocrator, the ruler over everything.  His right hand is gently raised in blessing and in his left, a book.  The icon is certified to be made in the tradition of ancient Byzantine art. The icon is handmade by a master artist and craftsman. It is precious to me both because of its connection to the past and the friendship of the one who bestowed it upon me.

     Icons are often misunderstood in our culture. They are not idols or objects of worship although they may stimulate the true worship of God. It is my understanding that one of the functions of an icon is to focus attention on the God to whom the icon points.

     As I look at Jesus as Pantocrator, I am remembering that he is appointed by the Heavenly Father as ruler over all rulers and kings and over all created things. Beyond the gentle teacher and healer of Galilee, he is the sovereign son of the Father who has the whole creation in His care -- even the smallest parts of the creation, creatures like me.  His hand of blessing is always over us, his priceless teachings guide us, his loving presence sustains us.  He is truly Lord of all.  He is our Lord.

05/14/2023

     Every Mother’s Day, I think about the things my “mothers” taught me.  Wilma Ivene McIntire Spaulding reminded me regularly to wash my hands before I ate and, while I was at it, to wash anything else that needed it.  She also taught me to “Mind your own business, and let your younger brother mind his own business.” My stepmother, Marie Early Spaulding, taught me to iron shirts and to stay open to give and receive love. My spiritual mother, my aunt Esther Spaulding Marquart, taught me to love God and listen to Jesus. My academic mother, Gertrude Little, taught me to love teaching as a part of pastoral life. Another academic mother, Marie Strong, taught me to take Jesus’ teachings seriously and to live them out in daily life. My mother-in-law, Gertie Andrew Miller, taught me the strength of the gentle touch in relationships and the importance of acceptance for children and adults alike. Sue, the mother of my children, taught how to be more gracious and polite with real sincerity. Esther Boyer Kirkpatrick taught me that you could simply talk to Jesus as a friend in prayer without any exalted or flowery language.

     Some of these women were literally mothers and some were not, but they all had mothering roles in my life.  Who were the mothers in your life and what did they teach you?

05/07/2023

The saying is “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Maybe that is true for many situations, but there are times when words are needed, as well. Ancient Israel had some hesitancy to trust the visual. No doubt some of this grew out of the use of idols which limited God’s nature and power. The problem was not just that the gods which the idols represented were false gods, but they were inadequate to express the reality of what God is. The images were too limited for the true majesty of God. J.B. Phillips, in his book “Your God is Too Small”, brilliantly shows the inadequacy of my conceptions of God. This goes far beyond the question of visual presentations to the mental images of God which we hold in our minds. As the prophet expresses it, “My ways are not your ways, says the Lord.” Our best thinking about God may be true of who God is but it will never be adequate to express all that God is. At best we have a hazy image of God, bounded by the limits of our knowledge, experiences, and abilities. We know in part and understand in part – never quite the whole. It is true that we never fully know another person even when we know them for a lifetime, but we know enough to love and cherish them. How much more so with God. We do truly  know God, but we never know all there is to know about God. Knowing more of God is one of the great adventures of the Christian life.

04/30/2023

     Recently, we needed to see our family doctor.  It was not a big emergency but was an immediate concern that needed to be addressed.  Our doctor graciously worked us into his already packed schedule. 

     Our doctor is very thorough and listens carefully, often finding issues when we are not sure how to express what the problem is.  As a result of his careful work, there are often delays. We know we will experience his competent care and are glad others receive the same attention.  One lady, when she found out there would be a wait, decided that she couldn’t wait and expressed her irritation at having to reschedule.

     Waiting can be hard for any of us even when we understand the reason. At times in our prayer, we hear God say, “yes” and sometimes we hear God say, “no.” We always want the “yes” but accept the “no.” Hardest of all is when we sense that God is saying, “wait.” None of us likes to wait, but it may be necessary. Our daughters came to us as a junior committee of two to declare, “We want yes or no, no more we’ll see! We’ll see always means no.” I also can feel like that when we need to wait. God’s timing may not match our desire, especially when our fears and critical concerns are really near.  If we can be patient, God always has a better end in mind than we could even imagine.

04/23/2023

This week I saw my cardiologist for my annual business.  The good news is that I have a heart, as I joked at choir practice.  The actual good news is that my electrocardiogram showed no change from last year.  So, I am good for another year, according to the doctor.  It is amazing what good news “no change” can be. 

     “Jesus is our resurrected Lord,” – no change! “He is present with us when two or three of His people are gathered together” - no change!  God is still ruler of the Universe – no change!  Love is still stronger than hate – no change!  The Holy Spirit still comforts, guides, and empowers – no change!  God still heals bodies, minds, and spirits – no change!  Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and forever – no change!

     A dear friend of mine told me recently that she did not like change.  I know that some change is inevitable whether I like it or not, but it is reassuring to know that there are things that do not change.  We may at times come to understand the things of God better and more deeply; but what is basic does not change even when our perspective on those things may change.

     We can always count on the eternal love and grace of God.  “O Thou, that changeth not, abide with me.”

04/16/2023

When did you first learn to apologize and mean it sincerely? I’m sure, for me, it wasn’t that first time it was mandated that I tell my brother that I was sorry for some mistreatment of him. It takes a while for “sorry” to move from outside compulsion to internal imperative. It takes even longer to realize there are times when an apology is in order even when we do not feel totally in the wrong. We have made at least a small gain in maturity when we realize that continued good relationship matters more than being right. We have a somewhat natural tendency to defend ourselves when we feel we are in the right or even when we feel not fully understood. Stepping outside ourselves to try to see from another’s perspective can do wonders for our ability to relate. This is not the same as failing to stand up for oneself against a bully, but trying to live at peace as much as we are able. It is a hard thing to not return evil for evil or insult for insult. It is even harder to own up to when we have been the thoughtless aggressor. The philosophy of “If you punch me, I will punch you harder,“ may certainly result in bloody noses. Remember, Jesus said, “If someone strikes you on one cheek, then turn and offer the other.” Violence in response to violence, whether physical or verbal, often leads to more violence.  “Blessed are the peace makers; they will be called the children of God.”

04/09/2023

     In the wide range of my reading, I have at times included mysteries. Whether it is Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, or some other more contemporary detective, I enjoy seeing how they put the clues together to solve the murder mystery and reveal the killer.

     Puzzles have an appeal to many of us from an early age. Even something as simple as a riddle can engage our minds and challenge our imagination. We never quite lose the delight of figuring out the riddle before having to ask for the answer. Even when we have guessed incorrectly, we enjoy trying the riddle on the next victim.

     The word mystery occurs a number of times in the New Testament. There it often refers to the knowledge which is known only to God and to those to whom God chooses to reveal it. We all, as followers of Jesus, share in  the mystery of the faith. Christ and his bride, the Church, are said to be a great mystery. How Christ will bring the faithful with him at his second coming is described as a mystery. What is not known by ordinary human minds is revealed by the Spirit of God to the followers of Christ. This is a great privilege of the faithful. It does not make us superior to those outside the faith but is another example of God’s unmerited favor. It is by the grace of God that we experience the mystery of knowing God as our Loving Father and Redeemer, because he has revealed himself to us.

04/02/2023

For centuries, the Christian church has made use of the lectionary which contains readings for each Sunday of the year. The readings have changed a bit over the years, but remain largely the same.  Presently it is on a three-year cycle of readings, with each Sunday having a reading from the Old Testament, a reading from the Psalms, a reading from the Gospels, and a reading from the rest of the New Testament. Through this schedule, most of the Bible is covered in the three years. Not all Christian groups make use of the lectionary, but many do. Palm Sunday is unique in that there are two sets of readings. One set focuses on the Triumphal Entry. The second set focuses on the Passion or suffering of Jesus. The Sunday before Easter can be called Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. Both settings form the front part of the frame for Holy Week, which is framed at the end by Easter. Most often we focus on the Palm Sunday aspect, but the Passion focus prepares us for Good Friday. The contrast sharpens the triumph and thanksgiving of Easter. I never want to focus on Jesus’ death on the cross without remembering his resurrection. But I don’t want to focus on His resurrection without remembering the cross. They are together one event that pushes us toward the continuing presence of the living Jesus with us now.

03/26/2023

As I write my column today, we are a full month from Presidents’ Day, which is far from our most popular federal holiday. There is value in reflecting on the lives of our better leaders. In a world full of kings in his time, George Washington refused to consider becoming one. In the intervening years, there have been leaders who seemed to want that kind of personal power. Washington’s principled decision set the precedent for the President of the United States. So far, so good, General Washington. We hope to continue your legacy.

   Washington was not a perfect human being. Was he ever known to smile? It is a popular story that he had problems with his teeth. If so, that could dampen anyone’s smile. The state of dentistry in Washington’s day was primitive, at best. Allegedly, the first President had wooden false teeth. Now we have tooth implants and scientifically fitted teeth, not to mention the joy of real painkillers.

   Scripture has only a few references to teeth, so maybe they found the topic as painful as we find a dentist visit. I just know as I visit my dentist, I am grateful for all the modern conveniences at her disposal. Unlike President George, I can emerge from a visit to my dentist with a smile on my face, even if it is a bit lop-sided from the anesthesia. It truly is a great time to be alive. Thanks for some good work, George, in spite of your pain!

03/19/2023

    If you are an avid reader like I am, one of the real joys of life is discovering a new author whose writing is enjoyable. The author may not actually be new.  It is enough if she or he is new to me. It feels like finding a new friend. As we age, finding a new friend is a less common experience than it seems to be when we are young. I am puzzled by people who rarely read. I am not critical of them, but I find reading so fulfilling that I can’t imagine not reading frequently and regularly. Perhaps it is just that we have differing preferences in life.

    Growing up in an economically and culturally limited environment, it was reading that opened a larger world for me. Through books, I could journey to far off places. I could imagine beautiful vistas and magnificent environments. I could meet famous people and feel a part of history. Through that great book of faith, The Bible, I could walk in Galilee with Jesus and his other disciples. I could escape Egypt with Moses and the children of Israel. I could journey with Paul and even  look into the royal throne room of God with John the Revelator. All this through reading!

    For me, reading is part of what makes life rich, meaningful, and significant.

03/12/2023

One time, when I was in London, England, I attended a performance of the musical CATS, which was based on T.S. Eliot’s poems collected in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Eliot wrote other more serious poetry collections such as The Love Song of J. Albert Prufrock and The Wasteland. In 1948, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He is considered one of the great modern poets of the English language.  He was also an essayist, playwright, publisher, and literary critic. His whimsical poems about cats and their secret names endeared him to me. A major poet who can let his supposed dignity be impugned by a collection of cat poems must have been able to not take himself too seriously. With notable humor, Eliot captures the character and foibles of both cats and humans. Someone has said that “dogs live for us, but cats live with us.”  Perhaps it could be said that, from the cat’s perspective, we live with them. I value and enjoy the independent nature of both cats and humans. In children, young people and adults, I like the independent thinkers and I suspect that Jesus likes them, too.