Not My Home

 Good morning, and welcome!

 Over the past three days, it was my privilege to host Dr. James Ikwulono, a faculty member of the Jos, Nigeria School of Biblical Studies.  Our congregation provides a small amount of support for the school, and Dr. Ikwilono is on a tour of the United States, stopping at places which support the school.

While he was here, he was able to visit with several of our members, and gave a presentation to our Wednesday evening gathering.  We also visited some of the places in the Wichita area as well as two of our local church ministry points…our food pantry and Carpenter Place.  We learned much from each other in our conversations, and have grown to appreciate the work done in Jos by the school.

But, beyond that, these past three days were a sort of meeting of two cultures.  Dr. Ikwulono is not unfamiliar with the US, having studied here for several years.  He is very familiar with things such as pizza, barbeque, some aspects of US history, and some of the geographic places in this nation.  But it is obvious that he loves his country and wants to see it grow and prosper.

When we think of Nigeria, we often think of the negative…those Nigerian scams that have become the point of many stories that we tell.  Most of us are well aware of those emails where some Nigerian so-called prince has millions of dollars he wants to give us if we only will pay a couple of thousand dollars to have the money transferred to our account.  Scams have become more sophisticated in recent years, forcing us to be ever vigilant when we’re connected to the Internet.  Scams also come from many nations, including our own…not just from Nigeria.

The nation of Nigeria is much larger and much more complicated than the scam artists who have made the nation odious to many of us.  A nation of over 218 million people, with a growth rate of over 3 percent, the population density of the nation is over 660 per square mile.  The nation is wealthy in resources, but the government and the society seem to be in constant turmoil.  Inflation is rampant at over 30 percent annually, and has been that way for several years.  The Nigerian naira, the currency of the nation, is worth less than a tenth of a cent in dollars.  There is no Social Security retirement system in the country.  And the average life expectancy is about 57 years.

I say those things to help you understand that even though we may complain about things in this nation…things such as the rate of inflation, health care, government bureaucracy, or some other ailment, when compared with other places in the world, we continue to see blessing upon blessing.  We know that at least some of what we have now is not sustainable in the long run, and we scramble to find ways to mitigate those things which are causing issues in the environment, the economy, and in our relations with other nations of the world.

Through all of this, however, at least for Christians should be a vision that goes beyond the Middle East situation, global warming, or inflation.  We are NOT citizens of this world…this kingdom.  Our true citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven as we look forward to the new heavens and the new earth and the renewal of all things.

Yes, we live in the here and now.  Yes, we confront issues and problems in this life.  Yes, we search for answers and long for relief.  And yes, sometimes this world and this life display a beauty and sense of wellness and contentment that make us want to stay in that state from now on…but of course, troubles and issues always seem to find their way into the mix and that beauty and sense of well-being are soon replaced with something more sinister in nature that needs our attention.

That old gospel song, This World Is Not My Home, may well be appropriate here.  The first line is, “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through…and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

As you navigate through life today, appreciate the blessings and the beauty.  Take on the challenges.  And remember that this place is not really your home…you’re just visiting.

 Blessings.

Safe Travels

 Good afternoon.

 The last couple of weeks, the wife and I have been away.  We’ve been vacationing up in the far Northeastern part of the nation.  Up in the place where the leaves of autumn turn all sorts of magical colors and the whole region becomes alive with visitors who enjoy this time of the year.

We didn’t fly and rent a car like some suggested we do.  We took our time and drove.  We went a total of over 4,400 miles, but were able to stop here and there, look at this or that, and generally took a rather leisurely pace to get there and back.  I think the longest we were in the car driving somewhere was about 7 hours.  Of course, that also included several stops for gas, the restroom, and just to stretch.

I won’t bore you with what all we saw and did.  I will say that we saw the Flight 93 Memorial, the Gettysburg Battlegrounds, the Louisville Slugger Bat factory, the Hershey Chocolate place, and other places of interest.  We took the Mount Washington cog railway.  We picked apples at an apple orchard.  We saw a maple syrup “farm,” talked with the owners and came home with one pint less than a gallon of maple syrup.  We found that there is a town called Jay, New York that boasts one of the longest covered bridges in the region.  We brought along some knick-knack type things that we picked up in gift shops.  We also bought some books for the wife to read.

And we saw some rather amazing sights in terms of foliage and scenery.  But , if you want to read more about all of that, you can do so when I’ve finished my memoirs of the trip.  Ask me for the link.

But I will tell you that each of the two Sundays we were gone, we attended church services at a Church of Christ in the community where we had spent Saturday night.  The first Sunday was in Endwell, New York, a smaller community just west of Binghamton.  The second Sunday was in Poland, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown.  Each of those churches were unique; yet each filled our spirits and refreshed us as we traveled.

The New York church had an attendance of about 15 people.  It clearly was struggling to stay afloat.  The minister there was concerned that he may have to find other work.  Yet, the people there were friendly, welcoming, and seemed to enjoy each other’s company as well as ours.  We shared communion with them, prayed with them, and took in the lessons that were taught.  It was somewhat difficult for me to leave there as I knew that in a short time, that church may no longer be active.  I felt for those who would have to make that decision.

The second Sunday in Poland was a little different in that the congregation there numbered about 70 on that day.  Again, the people were outgoing, friendly, and welcoming.  They were much more active, having had a get-together just the evening before, feasting on wings and sides, playing outdoor games, and enjoying one-another’s company.  We didn’t have to make much of an effort to introduce ourselves as they were outgoing in nature and made us feel comfortable from the beginning.

I tell you about these two churches to also tell you that if you believe corporate worship is important, then it should continue to be important even if you are away from your home congregation.  You should be able to find some place while on the road where you can meet with others and share in the worship of our Lord.  Even if you’re somewhat introverted as we both are, most people in most places will make an effort to make you feel welcome.

All in all, it was a somewhat tiring, but enjoyable time seeing places that we had never seen before, and probably would never visit again.  We’re at that stage in life when some of the things we see and do are the last times we’ll see and do.  And that’s OK.  We’ve lived a long and blessed life together, the missus and me.  We’ve seen a lot, done a lot, and enjoyed the life that God has given each of us.

We’re not ready to kick the bucket just yet, though.  We have, if God wills, some time yet to continue to see and do some things we’ve always wanted to see and do, but until now haven’t had the time or the resources.  One of these days, we’ll pass this life on to someone else, but for now, we are thankful and grateful.

 Blessings,

Uncomfortable Grace

 Good morning:

 Last Sunday, I spoke to our congregation in worship services on the topic of Uncomfortable Grace.  Now, that may seem somewhat confusing, especially to someone who thinks of grace consisting of only the good things of life that come our way at the hand of God.  You know, those things like a comfortable home, transportation, adequate good food, a vocation and a job, family, and so on.  And you are correct that those things are a gift of grace from a loving God.  But there is another kind of grace that God sometimes bestows on his people…uncomfortable grace…the kind of grace that, when we see it we often don’t recognize it as grace at all, but rather we see it as something bad…something we don’t like and don’t want to be part of.

This kind of grace might be something like the loss of a job, or perhaps an extended illness.  It might be some kind of medical issue or perhaps a family problem.  These things are events which disrupt our normal routine in life.  They force us to re-focus on our priorities.  They make us re-think how we do things and how we think about things.  And when we have to do those things, it’s always uncomfortable for us because those things get us out of our life ruts and force us to look beyond the here and now.

But in the end, these things which disrupt us often also refine us…remold us…remake us into better people, more dependent on the God of the universe and much less dependent upon our own strength and ability.  I am, over time, posting many of the writings of my childhood and lifetime friend Karl Detweiler on my Facebook page.  Karl had a great job with Duncan Aviation in the Omaha area, was a family man and was enjoying life…up until his doctor told him he had terminal cancer.  He died a little over a year later, but wrote extensively on his Facebook page about his journey with cancer.

For Karl, life took a most unexpected and unwanted turn.  He has always embraced the Christian life.  But in the process of coming to terms with his newfound lot in life, it is easy to see through Karl’s writing the process of him being refined, remolded, and remade.  His example in those last months has made a lasting impression on many…his family, his friends, his co-workers, and all of those who are reading those posts I’m putting on my Facebook page.  Even in death, Karl still speaks…still teaches…still encourages…and continues to embrace his God and Lord.

For many of us, the unexpected turn in life may not be as critical as was what hit Karl.  For many of us, those unexpected turns may be as benign as being caught in traffic or stopped by a train while going to an appointment…and then being late for the appointment.  It might be a phone call saying that the repairman can’t be at your house today as scheduled, and could he reschedule.

Or it could be that your car died at the stop light and won’t start.  Or maybe you’ve gotten the 24 hour stomach virus and the plans you had for that day will have to be postponed or canceled.

You get the idea.  Whether it’s cancer or your car battery conking out at a light, these kinds of unexpected turns work, if we’ll let them, to mold and shape us into better people…better human beings.  How we respond to these things is the key.

Do we do the “woe is me,” trip and become angry that we can’t do what we wanted to do?  Or do we look over the situation and deal with what comes our way in a mature and measured way?

One way to gauge our response is to think about what happens inside our heads when someone in traffic appears to cut us off, or maybe doesn’t use their turn signal, or pulls into our lane right in front of us.  Do we become upset or even angry with them?  Or do we slow down, wonder if they’re maybe having a bad day, and give them and ourselves room and just continue on our way?  How we handle these kinds of minor annoyances is a good way to determine how we will handle the more serious side of things.

I believe that God many times gives us these unexpected twists and turns in life for a reason…not to punish us or for some kind of sadistic pleasure…but rather to refine us and mature us…to help us understand that life isn’t always unicorns and rainbows…and to encourage us to look beyond the here and now to the not yet…the promise of a life to come that is free from the trials and pains of this life…free from the consequence of sin that has resulted in a fallen creation.

May you be encouraged as you also look beyond what this life has to offer, and see what is being prepared for those who have decided to follow Jesus…our Lord and Savior.

 Blessings.

Finding God

 Good morning !!

 I recently ran across a post on social media from someone who is not my friend, but rather is a friend of one of my friends on that platform.  I’ll call the friend of a friend “Laura” and my social media friend “Jennifer.”  Laura posted what I am about to read first.  Jennifer then responded to Laura with something that I think you need to hear.  These short posts give a very different perspective on “finding God” than what most of us who are Christ-followers have.  The background of both Laura and Jennifer is, I believe, one of battling with the demon of addiction.  I’ll read these two posts, then will respond.

 Laura writes:  I didn’t find God at church, I found him on my bathroom floor hysterically crying begging for him to stop the pain & heal my heart.

Jennifer responds:  It IS God there with us on the bathroom floor! But boy have we used His community to apply the bandages afterward and warm the bath water to start again. I’ve found both too! Much needed!

 There are a couple of messages in this short conversation that we who are Christians need to understand.

First, many people don’t necessarily “find God” in a church setting, or in any place even close to a church setting.  Laura just came out and said she didn’t find God at church.  That doesn’t surprise me.  Some people are intimidated by church.  Some don’t handle crowds very well.  Others may feel like an outsider, not a part of the cliques that inevitably form in such gatherings.  Still others may feel uncomfortable in the clothes they are wearing, their hygiene, or their lack of self-respect.

No matter how hard we try to be friendly, welcoming, and accepting of others, there are some who have such barriers and walls about them that even our warmest greetings cannot penetrate.  That’s just the way it is sometimes.

Laura did say that she found God on the bathroom floor with her as she was in the midst of the pain that inevitably comes as a result of addiction.  God isn’t averse to being with us when we are in the middle of our greatest depression and need.  He is there when we hurt.  He is there when we are ill.  He is there in our time of greatest need.  He hears our cries, our sobs, our screams.  He lays on the bathroom floor with us as we work through our pain and suffering.  He heals.

 Second, the faith community, when working as it should, can be an incredible resource for helping those who are hurting.  Notice what Jennifer said.  She evidently has been on that bathroom floor herself.  She knows God is there on the floor with her.  And she also knows that her church community will be there to help her heal…pick up the pieces and glue them back together…to “apply the bandages and warm the bathwater,” as she puts it, so she can start again.

Church done right is much more than meeting once a week on Sunday.  Church is God at work in the lives of those who are, as Laura said, “hysterically crying” for His help and healing.  Church is loving one’s neighbor.  Church is generosity.  Church is being there.  Church is reaching out…helping, holding, healing.

Jennifer has found God on the bathroom floor, and has experienced the healing of God in the church family that surrounds her and loves her.  This…this is the church at work in the world.  This is the church, gritty and real.  This is the church, in the mess and chaos.  This is what the church should look like the other one hundred and sixty six hours of the week when we’re not gathering together in worship and fellowship.

So, what about your church family?  Does it “apply the bandages and warm the bath water” from time to time as needed to help in the healing process of someone who is truly loved as a neighbor?  Is your church family one that God works in and through for someone on the bathroom floor, whether literally or figuratively, hysterically crying for healing and help?

More to the point; what about you?  How do you figure in this mix?  What part do you play as a member of your church family?  How can you truly use God’s power to redeem the creation, even if that redemption is just one person?

I’ll leave you with these questions…you’ll have to supply your own answers.  And I’ll invoke God’s richest blessings upon you as you both find your place in His plan for you and with His blessing carry out the work He has prepared for you to do.

 Blessings,

The Dichotomy of Days

 Good afternoon.

 It’s been sort of a roller-coaster couple of days for me this week.  Yesterday, the wife and I went to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson and took in the sights…both traditional and some new.  It was also band day there and several high school and middle school bands were there.  They marched into the fairgrounds; then went to the free entertainment arena and played a couple of numbers before they dismissed the kids to enjoy the fair.  Two of our grand kids were in their high school band, so we got to see them there as well.

The fairgrounds weren’t very crowded, and the weather was perhaps just a bit warm in the afternoon, but very tolerable.  Everyone, it seemed, was at least civil…many held doors open, stepped out of the way for others, and so on.  I think the lack of a huge crowd makes everybody’s day a little better.

We stopped at several booths and visited a bit.  The Goodland vocational school just recently became affiliated with Fort Hays State University, and we visited with the woman there about that, as we had lived in Goodland for some years…and also, my wife went through that same thing with WSU Tech when it became affiliated with WSU a few years back.  We stopped at a booth where there was a company whose owner we knew from the time our older son was in elementary school.  He wasn’t there, but we had a good visit with those who were there.

We stopped at the Hesston College booth and found out that the traditionally two-year college is now offering bachelors degrees as a four-year institution.  We visited about that as well.  And we stopped at the Harper Industries booth and visited with the guys there about Dew Eze products.  Look that up on line if you’re unfamiliar with that.  It’s a great success story of an entrepreneur who made good.  And we knew the entrepreneur and his family.

Yes, we saw the butter sculpture.  Yes, we saw the largest pumpkin and the largest watermelon.  Yes, we rode the train.  Yes, we rode the sky ride.  Yes, we stopped at the channel 12 booth.  And yes, we got ice cream under the grandstand…and while we were there got cold water from the Temperance Union water fountain…which has been at that same location under the grandstand for many decades and has that same little animated man turning the pages of a booklet extolling the virtues of temperance.

We didn’t get to the midway, the giant slide, or the Old Mill.  But we did get to the food court where the wife got her chicken & noodles and I got my catfish.  We heard a ventriloquist give  his schtick and wandered through various buildings.  We got a funnel cake, fried cheese curds, and lots of water.

Then today, work has been a bit different.  The day began with meeting a young Spanish couple who had two small children whose electric had been shut off the day before.  They didn’t speak English.  A good friend of mine who works for the health department to find services people could access to meet their needs came with them and interpreted.  He works as a day laborer, finding daily work wherever he can.  She is a stay-at-home mom.  Mainly because of the small kids, we gave enough to the electric company that they got their power turned back on today.

I don’t know how the future will go for them, but at least for now the kids have electric service and the parents have one less thing to worry about.

A short time after that, I got a call from a woman staying at a motel with her two teen children, one girl and one boy.  She was divorced from her abusive husband some months ago, is 6 months pregnant, and had been staying in the motel with her kids off and on for the past several months.  She applied for a housing voucher months ago and just now was informed that she could pick it up tomorrow, and she also has a house she can move into once she actually receives the voucher.

She has no transportation.  Her kids attend West High School.  She works at McDonalds just up the street from the motel.  She generally makes enough each week from her job to pay for a week of motel with a little left over.

She called because she hadn’t been able to work recently, and her motel room ran out.  She only needed one more day until she could get the housing voucher.  If she had to move out, because she had no transportation, she couldn’t have stayed in her car…they would have been on the street somewhere.

We normally don’t do motels, but something told me that she was genuine and really needed the help.  I went to the motel, paid for the room for a day, and gave her a little cash to get by with groceries until her food stamps came in on Monday.  I also gave her information on our food pantry and a couple more places where she might be able to access services.

So, this day has been very different from the day before.  Instead of seeing the largess and excess in society…the ice cream, the fried Oreos, the Pronto Pups, and all the rest, I’ve seen the other side…the need.  And it really makes one stop and think…and pray both a prayer of thanksgiving as well as a prayer for blessing for those in need.

May you be well, physically, emotionally, and spiritually this day.  May you be generous.  May you demonstrate a genuine love for your neighbor.  And may you be washed in the grace of God this day.

 

Blessings.

Righteous Protection

 Good morning, and welcome.

 I’m reading a book by Marilynne Robinson titled, “Reading Genesis.”  In the book, Robinson takes a deep dive into the Genesis story.  The front cover states that the book “is a powerful consideration of the profound meanings and promise of God’s enduring covenant with humanity.”  It’s not a simple or easy read.  I read a few pages, then have to put it aside for a time in order to digest the contents.  It’s not a commentary…it’s much, much more.

 I’m at the point in the book where Robinson takes on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family, and Abraham and his attempt to bargain with God for the safety of the cities.  If you are familiar with the story, you know that Abraham has been told by God that God will destroy Sodom and Gomorrah due to sin and depravity.  Abraham knows his nephew Lot and his family live in the city.  Abraham asks God if he will destroy the cities if there are fifty righteous people to be found in them.  God says, “No,” he will not destroy the cities if fifty righteous people can be found.

 Abraham then lowers the number to 40, 30, and so on until he asks God if God would destroy the cities if ten righteous people could be found.  God again says, “No,” he would not destroy the cities for the sake of ten righteous people.

 Think about this for just a second or two.  The mere presence of ten God-fearing people in the cities is sufficient for God to spare the cities and all who live there from destruction.  Ms. Robinson says this about that part of the account:  When the Lord replies to Abraham that for the sake of ten God-fearing, righteous people, the cities will be spared,  (quote) The Lord replies in effect, that the innocent sustain, even shelter, the guilty.  “For ten I will not destroy the city.”  Unbeknownst to themselves or anyone else, presumably, the innocent stay the hand of the Lord.”

 Now think about this.  God does not change.  There are several scripture passages that say that very thing, but perhaps the one who wrote Psalm 102 says it best. 

 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

Like clothing you will change them

and they will be discarded.

But you remain the same,

and your years will never end.

 Now, my question for you is this:  If indeed God does not change, and if Ms. Robinson is correct in her assertion that the innocent sustain and shelter the guilty, and, as she says, “stay the hand of the Lord,” could that be true today as well?

 Could it be that those who are God-fearing actually protect in some way by their very presence in society all the rest of us from calamity worse than we could imagine?  We will never know with certainty, though, because we would never know what things would be like without those righteous, God-fearing people in the mix.  However, if the story of Abraham, Lot, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are any indication, and if it is indeed true that God does not change, I think it could be fairly inferred that the righteous indeed have an effect on all the rest of us.

 “You are the salt of the earth,” Jesus said.  “You are the light of the world,” he said.  Jesus here was speaking to those who would be his followers.  In a parable later in the book of Matthew, Jesus tells of the effects of leaven in dough, a small amount of leaven affecting the whole batch.  Could it be that it is along the same lines of thought that the righteous somehow, some way protect and even improve the lives and well-being of all in a society.

 Well, I leave the final answer to you.  For me, I believe it to be true.  It may not seem like there is much protection nowadays in many societies of the world.  But we must understand that we are looking at things from a very narrow, very limited, human point of view.  God’s viewpoint is much more broad and perfectly apprehending.  The creation operates on his viewpoint…not ours.  And thank God for that.  Operating by our viewpoint would have already doomed us long ago.

 This Thought is a little more cerebral and a little more faith-based than some, but I make no apologies.  Consider what has been said.  And may you be blessed this day and the rest of this week.

Revel In the Blessings

 I had an appointment today to see my primary care provider.  Nothing serious…just something she needed to take a look at.  A couple of days ago, I needed to go to the dentist to have an adjustment made to a temporary appliance.  A few weeks ago, I needed to see my oral surgeon for the fitting of that temporary appliance I mentioned.  A week before that, I had to see my PCP for a different issue, again, not serious, but needing attention.  And the list of appointments I’ve had with various medical providers in the past months just goes on and on.

 Today, I caught myself saying that I was tired of having to see medical people.  I rather quickly, though, re-evaluated that statement.  I know that it is sometimes taxing and tiring to have to make and keep various medical appointments.  It is also sometimes difficult to remember and keep straight all of the specialists one sees.

 Let’s see.  I have a cardiologist, an ENT physician, a urologist, a dentist, an oral surgeon, a dental hygienist, a physical therapist, an eye doctor, an audiiologist, a podiatrist, a chiropractor, and a pharmacist in addition to my primary care person.  I’ve also been to a neurology clinic for testing as well as having received tests and scans for various possible maladies.  Who knows what specialty will come next…maybe the undertaker?

 But the fact that this stable of medical professionals is available to me…the fact that I have insurance that will cover the lion’s share of the costs…the fact that these people are close by and I am able to drive or be driven to see them…those things are blessings that by far the majority of the world’s population does not have.  Even in this nation, physicians and providers are sometimes few and far between.

 Check out how many dentists are practicing in Western Kansas.  Check out how far some veterans have to go to get to a veterans hospital.  And while you’re at it, check on hometown pharmacies in smaller communities (as well as larger cities)…how many have closed their doors in the last 20 or so years.

 And while we’re talking about blessings, we can always speak of the blessings of retirement checks that come monthly, our transportation needs and wants being met, the food that is in the house, the coolness of air conditioning or the comfort of heating, depending on the season, instant communication and information gathering via the Internet, stable electrical service, clean water, sanitation services, public education, public libraries, and a host of other things which we take for granted, but for many are only pipe dreams or perhaps an occasional blessing.

 Then we have the gall to complain about having to see yet another medical provider, or we gripe when the Internet is a little slow.  We complain when the electric bill goes up or the public library stocks a book we think shouldn’t be there.  We rag on public schools for seeming to always need more of our tax dollars.  We’re disrupted and even angry when the air conditioning doesn’t work.  We are indeed a thoughtless and ungrateful people.

 Ungratefulness is just one arm of those characteristics of humanity that we call greed and self-centeredness.  We think only about ourselves…work only for our own self-betterment…push other things and other people out of the way so we can have what we want.

 We’re very willing to schmooze others, deceive others, lie to others, and fake-friend others in order to get what we want for ourselves.  And when something happens that is outside of our control, such as a natural disaster, an illness, or even a loss of transportation or utility services, we immediately think of what that event is doing to us…how it is affecting our ability to get ahead or complete a task.  Others are not in our thoughts, or are expendable.  It’s just us.

 So, the next time you find yourself complaining because of some kind of disruption in life, whether that be a medical appointment, a power outage, an illness, or some other thing, thank God for the blessings.  Revel in His care and providence.  Let go.  Think of others.  And with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

 Blessings,

Best News of All

 Good afternoon, and welcome to another Thursday Thought.

 This past week has been a hodge-podge of events, thoughts, and just things in general that have found themselves sort of swirling around in my head.  Sometimes we all, I think, get these times when things just seem to be a combination of randomness, unexpected, surprising, and even sort of out of control.  It’s almost as if one is some kind of a sidelines observer watching all of this stuff happen, except that all too often, that same observer is also a participant in some way of most, if not all of what one is observing.

As I write this, I am trying to gather my thoughts into something rather coherent that will be of some benefit to both you and me.  So, let’s just begin and see where this goes.

I really don’t want to get into politics first thing out.  However, that seems to be first on my mind.  I know some pretty much stay away from anything political.  Others dabble in it from time to time, and still others are immersed in every campaign event, every election, and every decision made by politicians both local and national.  I’m not sure where I fall in that, but I know I am more interested in the local than the national, because it’s the decisions made by the locals…the city councils, the county commissions, and the school boards that most impact my daily life.

I’ve had my stint in local politics, having been elected twice to the Harper, Kansas city council in the 1990’s.  I have no interest in serving on any boards, commissions, or the like, but I do try to foster relationships with my representatives, and have had some success with that.  This is a busy season for many, as the elections are coming up in November, and many are up for election or re-election.

Of course, the national stage is all abuzz with the recent events of the party conventions and the changes in nominees.  It will be interesting, to say the least, to see what happens there.

In our church family, we’ve had a couple of funeral services recently.  Last week, we served a family who no longer is part of our church family, but has roots and history in our fellowship.  Today, we laid to rest a dear woman who was part of our church family until the day she passed.  Ruby had a golden heart and didn’t, it seemed, know a stranger.  She was a great hostess, cook, and friend.  She will be sorely missed here at RiverWalk, even though for the past months, she couldn’t attend services.

This kind of thing always prompts me to do some deeper thinking about the more serious side of life and living.  We are all mortal.  We will all die.  We will all one day find out with certainty just how real God, Jesus Christ, heaven, and hell are.  There is no way out of that.  And that, friends, can be a bit unnerving to someone who likes to be in control…to know what’s coming.  I’m one of those.

I’m still recovering from a Facebook account hack of some weeks ago.  I don’t have all of my friends back that I want back, and am slowly working on that as I can.  Having one’s account invaded seems like a personal invasion of one’s space.  And in a way, it is.  One feels violated somehow…more vulnerable…and becomes more suspicious and watchful about other parts of one’s on-line life.

I’ve gone in and changed some passwords, activated two-factor authentication, and some other things of that kind…just to be sure.  And there is no such thing as “being sure” anymore.  No matter how much one tries, someone else will, if they want to badly enough, find a way in.  It’s really kind of a crapshoot anymore…one is luckily ignored, or one could well be the victim of multiple hits.

And finally, it’s already beginning to change over from summer to fall.  Oh, it’s still hot outside.  But the environment is beginning to look a little more worn.  Nut trees are beginning to drop mature nuts onto the ground.  Prairie grasses are beginning to head out seed pods.  Days are getting noticeably shorter.  Birds are migrating.  It’s changing out there.

Wasn’t it only a few weeks ago that the spring rains brought out the beauty of tulips, iris, and roses?  Wasn’t it just a short time ago that the woods were filled with birds of all kinds…both those who were settling in for the summer and those who were just passing through?  The days were warm and the nights were cool.  The weather was perfect for sitting on the back patio just taking in the beauty…the sounds…the sights of the creation.

I’ll end this thought with something I said in a sermon I preached last Sunday.  I was speaking generally about how we tend to divide into sides…politically, socially, playing games, in war, just about anything having to do with humanity.  And we always, it seems, want God to be on a side.  We seem to always want to put God on one side or the other of any conflict, whether that be a conflict of ideas, ideology, or even physical conflict.  And we tend to think that we have to help God accomplish what we just know He wants to get done here on earth…that God somehow needs us to accomplish his purposes.

 

Here’s what I said about that.

 

God isn’t limited to be on one side or the other of some kind of human conflict, whether that conflict is a conflict of ideas or a conflict of physical aggression.  God is perfectly capable of seeing to it that His will is done without having to choose sides, and without relying on humans to get it done.  God chooses to work however he wants and is not accountable to anyone or anything for what he does or how he does it.

 

If you don’t get anything else out of this, get that last statement.  God is perfectly capable of seeing to it that His will is done without having to choose sides, and without relying on humans to get it done.  God chooses to work however he wants and is not accountable to anyone or anything for what he does or how he does it.  Get that.  Understand that.  Understand too that even though God doesn’t NEED us for anything, God WANTS us for relationship.  So much so that he paid the price in order clear the way to have that relationship…His son Jesus Christ on a cross.  And that, dear friend, is the best news of all.

 

Blessings,

Gut Feelings

 Good afternoon, and welcome.

 Sometimes, the days start out very routine and ordinary.  The plans one has for the day fit right in with how the day is going.  Things get done and are checked off of the “inbox” list.  One feels a real sense of accomplishment.  Then, especially for the church I work at, there comes a visitor to the office door, and things suddenly are much different.  Priorities are shifted.  Things that seemed important aren’t so important anymore.  The day has changed.

Today was one of those days.  A couple of hours ago, a man came to the office door.  I didn’t know him, so we visited for a bit with him outside and I at the door opening.  It seems the man had been working construction for a company that had a job in South Dakota.  The man was from Garden City, Kansas.  A day or so ago, he found out that his family in the Garden City area was involved in a bad traffic accident, and he was trying to get home.

He obtained a bus ticket from South Dakota to Wichita…because Wichita is the closest place that bus service goes to Garden City.  He needed to get on to Garden City to take care of family business, but none in his family could come after him due to the accident, and a friend in Garden City was unable to come for him either.  So, he found himself let off at the bus terminal here and was left to wander the downtown Wichita streets trying to figure out what he would do next.  He had approached a few churches downtown that didn’t answer their door, and eventually found himself at RiverWalk, where we did answer the door.

I eventually asked the man inside and visited with him more.  I knew of no easy way we could get him to Garden City, and besides, although our church does provide benevolence in several different ways, we normally do not buy tickets for transportation, or pay for motels or meals.

To shorten the story considerably, we were able to find him bus service to the Newton, Kansas Amtrak station and got him a train ticket to Garden City.  We also put him up in a motel near the bus station as he needed to be there shortly after midnight to catch the bus to Newton.  We also gave him some snack food and water and transported him to the hotel.  All of these things, except for the food and water, were things we normally do NOT do.

You might ask why we went ahead with these things, and whether his story was true or not.  Here’s what I can tell you.  I don’t know with certainty if his story was true or not.  I do know from over a decade of listening to stories of those needing help that they sometimes are incomplete…sometimes unintentionally…and sometimes with purpose.  Many times, I also know when things don’t always add up…when one part of the story doesn’t parallel or compliment another part.  And then I just look at a person’s demeanor…his attitude…his way of carrying himself…his comments perhaps not having to do directly with the story.

And it ends up being a gut feeling based often on nothing more than the plausibility of the story itself, appearance, non-verbal cues, and just an “Is this the right thing to do?” thought.  Those are often the reasons why we decide whether to help, how much to help, and what kinds of help to give.  That’s it…a gut feeling.  That and our philosophy of erring on the side of helping if there are any questions.

I know I just said that it’s just a “gut feeling,” but I truly believe many of those gut feelings are generated by God Himself in real time during the encounter.  He hears, He knows, and He intercedes “on the fly,” so to speak as we are working with someone.  If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be doing the benevolence here at RiverWalk.

I don’t know with certainty if his family was involved in an accident in Western Kansas or not.  Nor do I know with certainty that he came from South Dakota.  But I do know that, had we not stepped in, and if his story is truthful, he would have spent the rest of the day wandering the streets of downtown Wichita, in a place where he knew no one, did not know the lay of the land, so to speak, and would be looking for someone who could help his situation.

I don’t know what you would have done in that circumstance.  Nor do I know what we will do if presented with a similar story at some future time.  Each encounter is different.  Each individual is different.  Each story is different.

If all works out, this man will be leaving Wichita early Friday morning with a different feeling toward the city…toward churches…and toward those who work with churches.  I don’t know what his faith tradition is, and didn’t ask.  I believe he was in no frame of mind to discuss his eternal fate today.  Perhaps some day, because of what we did, he will be…either with us or with someone else.  And that would just be icing on the cake.

 

Blessings,

This "Dignity" Thing

 A couple of days ago, my friend Jennifer White posted something on Facebook that got my attention.  Her comment?  “No matter what people are going through, they deserve dignity.  Always.”

I agree, and might expand on that just a bit to say that human beings ALWAYS need to be treated with dignity and respect, just by virtue of their being human.

I don’t know what prompted Jennifer’s comment.  What I do know is that indignity can take many forms…some of which are not even apparent at first glance.  That was brought home to me just the day after I saw that post in an encounter I had here at the church.

That day, I received a call from a social worker at the public school we partner with.  The lady at Franklin Elementary had called the church asking if there was any way we could help one of the paras who was having a difficult time financially.  She didn’t need much in the immediate time…her fuel tank was almost empty in the vehicle she drove to and from work.  She couldn’t afford to put gas in it, and consequently would not be able to come to work after that day.  She was not able to find a ride, and the public transportation was pretty much a non-starter for her due to where she lived.

I asked the woman in need to come to the church and visit with me, and we would see what we might be able to do.  She did so, and we ended up filling her tank with fuel at a local Quik Trip.  We also gave her a little cash to get by until she got her first check from the school district.

Let me now tell you a little of the backstory.  Paraprofessionals are the backbone of the schools in the 259 district.  They wipe noses, provide individual instruction, work with the physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged kids, help keep order in the classroom, supplement the teacher’s instructions as needed, and generally provide the services of an aide to the teacher.  They are well-trained, intelligent, and intensely love the kids they have in their care…even the difficult ones.

But paraprofessionals, unlike teachers and some others, are paid only nine months out of the year.  They are mostly women, many of whom are single, and receive no pay in the summer months.  They have to go it alone in some way.  Additionally, paras don’t make much money per hour, and their pay is on an hourly basis.  When that May 31 check comes in (and that check isn’t full pay as the school year ends before the end of the month), that’s it until August 31.  And they also receive no pay during school breaks such as Christmas vacation.  Yet, they are expected to come back to work in August to again wipe noses and provide individual attention to those most needy.

I have some familiarity with this difficulty that paras face as one of my nieces is a para and faces the same issues each summer.  She doesn’t make enough during the school year to put aside two months of income to pay the rent, utilities, and food for the summer.  She has to rely on others to help out from time to time.

My comment on all of this?  Where is the dignity in this scenario?  How much does the school district really value paraprofessionals when they treat them in this way?  Why has it come to this?

I don’t have the answer.  However, I believe this goes beyond just the notion that because they aren’t putting in the hours, they aren’t to be paid.  There is a dignity and respect part to this.  There is a "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” aspect to this.  There is a “Just do the right thing,” component in this.

I don’t know what kind of money it would take to do the right thing for the paras and any others who work for the district who are in the same boat.  But I do think it’s time to have a serious conversation about how we treat some of those who are some of the most needed and appreciated, at least by teachers and parents, and among the least paid in the school district.

And while we’re on this dignity and respect thing, those go even for those we see on the street schlepping their worldly belongings on their back or in a grocery cart.  It goes for those of other nationalities, other religions, other ethnicities, other backgrounds.  It goes for all regardless of gender, race, color, or identity.

We may not be able to fix or eliminate the things that have caused people to sleep under a bridge.  But we can treat them as the human beings they are, acknowledge their situation, do away with the notion that if they’d just get a job, they wouldn’t be there, and do our part to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and shelter the needy.

 

Blessings,

Heed That Lesson

 Good morning!

 The recent attempt on the life of Mr. Trump has brought out old memories for those of us who have lived through other assassination attempts on political figures.  My memories begin with John F. Kennedy’s assassination.  Later in that decade, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were killed.  Ronald Reagan was shot, but survived.  Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was injured later yet.

These events, while tragic, also remind us of some things.  First, the fragility of life even when that life is protected by one of the premier protection agencies in the world.  No protection agency or police force can be one hundred percent perfect.  Humans do make mistakes.  And one mistake is all it takes for something tragic to happen.

Second, these events remind us of our common bond.  We are all humans.  We are all part of humanity and the larger society.  We may have different opinions and ideologies.  We may forcefully disagree about certain issues.  But we must develop ways to live in relative harmony with one-another and practice those ways and methods.

And for we who are Christians, we have a special obligation.  Even in the throes of chaos, violence, and disharmony, we are charged with demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ to those in our sphere of influence.  Regardless of who is the President, which political party controls the levers of political power, who is appointed to the Supreme Court, how we are dealing with refugees, or what the current law is regarding abortion, we Christians are called to be salt and light…lovers of God and our neighbor…heralds of the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ.

To that end, we are commanded to be sure our speech is filled with grace, offer a cup of cold water to one who is thirsty, provide clothing for those in need, feed the hungry, care for the fatherless and the widows, and above all be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.

You will notice that there is no mention in that list of divine commands to disparage, disrespect, or demonize someone who disagrees with us politically.  There is no mention in that list of divine commands to invoke a “God is on our side,” attitude in a political disagreement.  There is no mention in that list of divine commands to make Christianity a national religion.  And there is no mention in that list of divine commands that allows Christians a “get out of jail free” card if they disobey the governing authority.

I will close this thought with words from an editorial in the Christian Chronicle.  For my Christian friends...heed these words. Can you imagine what would happen if Christians funneled all of the energy and treasure we now spend on nationalism, politics, vitriol, hot-button issues, and even relatively innocent political memes into truly loving our neighbor?

 Cheryl Mann Bacon was the author of the editorial, and says this (and I quote):

 We have not mastered the lessons of history, and much less the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount. We forget that Christians with no political power whatsoever, believing in a risen Christ who never sought nor espoused any earthly power, changed the world in a generation.  They did it without a bully pulpit, without a 24/7 news cycle, without social media.

Amid war, disease and disaster, they fed the hungry, rescued abandoned babies and created hospitals to care for the sick and dying.  The Romans didn’t change. Christians loved their neighbors anyway.

 Heed that lesson.

 Your community has hungry people in it. Go feed them.

Your state has neglected, abused and unwanted children. Take care of them.

Your community has immigrants and refugees— legal and otherwise — who are frightened and lonely. Welcome them. "  (end quote)

 May God bless you as you continue down the path of life, always remembering and heeding the lessons of the early Christians in the Roman Empire, who loved their neighbors in concrete and practical ways, and in so doing changed the world.