Notes from the Pastor…
A Rabbi said, “Time is man’s greatest challenge.”
When I think about time I contemplate how we can take time, count time, have time fly, move through time zones, but we can never control time. Indeed, it is our dependence on time that guides our incessant need for control. We live impatiently because we do not wish to waste time. We are apprehensive of new things because we want to learn only at our digression and timing. We act with annoyance at those that do things at their own pace because it interrupts our scheduled time.
Consequently, if “Time is man’s greatest challenge”, then it is because time is outside human control.
Given this reality; I urge you to form a discipline of Sabbath, because Sabbath derives from a theology of time. By Sabbath I do not mean Sunday morning church; rather, an intentional time of rest and prayer. Someone, somewhere once defined Sabbath as: “A period of inactivity that persuades our spirits that God is always active.” To put it another way, in Sabbath we rest; realizing that God is still at work. In Sabbath we form patience, not only in the practice of stillness, but in the awareness that time cannot be wasted; only used. God uses time to bring about his purpose, and we must be patient that God’s purpose is threaded through all circumstances.
In Sabbath we develop flexibility. Life is a journey in the unexpected; to think of it as anything less is self-deception. Through the practice of rest and prayer we find that the Spirit of God
moves even in the unexpected and new things become exciting adventures with Jesus. In Sabbath we are infused with empathy. When we pause, we come to acknowledge that we
can do nothing to change the people around us. All we can do is pray and trust that God is active in developing people to his purposes and not our own.
No matter our vocation or season of life, each of us should cultivate the discipline of the fourth Commandment:
Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy.
Grace,
Pastor Ryan
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Marital / Family Math
I was a little under the weather the other day which left me low on energy but a fully functioning mind. As I tried to entertain myself with the most creative combinations of thoughts, I came up with this fun little realization of marital / family math.
If you take the number of months we have been married and divide it by 2, that's about how old this guys is.
We have reached a family point of having him in our lives longer than we lived without him and may I just say, we have been blessed with a truly amazing kid!
If you take the number of months we have been married and divide it by 2, that's about how old this guys is.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Re-learn, Un-learn, Pray, Go?
Notes from the Pastor…
The hand of the Lord was with the [Greek missionaries in Antioch], and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced…” (Acts 11:21-23)
The face of “Christianity” in the last century has changed from fair-skinned AngloEuropean to dark-skinned African, South/Central American, and Asian. Penn State historian, Philip Jenkins says, “In 1900 Europe was home to two-thirds of the worlds Christian population; today, the figure is less than a quarter, and by 2025 it will fall below 20 percent.” If current trends in birth rates and religious conversions stay the same, then by 2025 there will be about 2.6 billion Christians, with 595 million in Africa, 623 million in Latin America, and 498 million in Asia. Given these statistics, I believe you and I can rejoice that the hand of the Lord is with our fellow believers in Mbandaka, Lima, and Chennai.
Even so, we in the West need not stand on the side lines cheering, and recalling the good ol’ days when we were in the game. Instead, First Christian Church and the Tres Rios Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have the opportunity to practice our faith with believers of the growing Church of the global south. In such practice we will re-learn things we have forgotten, and even un-learn things we have taken for granted. There will be a time when we send our Barnabas to Mbandaka, and there may come a time where a Barnabas is sent from Mbandaka to Ruidoso.
But the first step for such partnership comes with education. Therefore, please come, this Saturday, June 25th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch provided) and learn from our guest the Rev. David Owen. Hear how a partnering relationship with the Church in the Congo involves you! Enter the conversation, and become aflame with the possibilities of friendship!
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. (African Proverb)
Grace,
Pastor Ryan
The hand of the Lord was with the [Greek missionaries in Antioch], and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced…” (Acts 11:21-23)
The face of “Christianity” in the last century has changed from fair-skinned AngloEuropean to dark-skinned African, South/Central American, and Asian. Penn State historian, Philip Jenkins says, “In 1900 Europe was home to two-thirds of the worlds Christian population; today, the figure is less than a quarter, and by 2025 it will fall below 20 percent.” If current trends in birth rates and religious conversions stay the same, then by 2025 there will be about 2.6 billion Christians, with 595 million in Africa, 623 million in Latin America, and 498 million in Asia. Given these statistics, I believe you and I can rejoice that the hand of the Lord is with our fellow believers in Mbandaka, Lima, and Chennai.
Even so, we in the West need not stand on the side lines cheering, and recalling the good ol’ days when we were in the game. Instead, First Christian Church and the Tres Rios Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have the opportunity to practice our faith with believers of the growing Church of the global south. In such practice we will re-learn things we have forgotten, and even un-learn things we have taken for granted. There will be a time when we send our Barnabas to Mbandaka, and there may come a time where a Barnabas is sent from Mbandaka to Ruidoso.
But the first step for such partnership comes with education. Therefore, please come, this Saturday, June 25th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch provided) and learn from our guest the Rev. David Owen. Hear how a partnering relationship with the Church in the Congo involves you! Enter the conversation, and become aflame with the possibilities of friendship!
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. (African Proverb)
Grace,
Pastor Ryan
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Pentecost Benediction
Ryan wrote this benediction for our congregation. I wanted to share this on the blog of course because I hope that all readers would receive this good word, and also because the Thanksgiving benediction from a couple years ago has been used by many; therefore, I am creating a new label for benedictions. If you are reading this and happen to also be in a position of church leadership, feel free borrow and if you would like to share something you have written, you can leave yours as a comment.
Receive now this benediction:
Receive now this benediction:
May the love of God create in you new life.
May the power of God transform your old habits into new hope.
and
May the Spirit of God grant you wisdom and vision, emboldening you to proclaim the good news of God’s love to all.
May the Spirit of God grant you wisdom and vision, emboldening you to proclaim the good news of God’s love to all.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Infectious friendship
Notes from the Pastor…
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.
This passage comes at the end of the Pentecost narrative in Acts 2, and scholar Ben Witherington says, “These verses provide us with our first summary glimpse at the interior life of the early church.”
Throughout Church history, leaders, groups, and sects have attempted to alter the practice and theology of their congregations in an effort to match the practice and theology of the earliest church. In some traditions, such efforts result in a cappella worship, and in other traditions – the repeal of church facilities in favor of meeting in homes. These efforts, along with countless others, are noble attempts at regaining the ecstatic growth documented in both numbers and devotion among the early Church.
Nevertheless, in the passage above, I find one predominate practice, forged by a theology of inclusive love: FELLOWSHIP. The early Church worshiped together in the Temple, as was their custom, but more striking the Christians fellowshipped in each others homes with “gladness” and “sincerity of heart”. As the Greek proverb goes, “Friends share all things in common.” The congregation of the early Church were friends, and apparently their friendship was infectious…
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being
saved.
I pray that First Christian Church would alter our practice and theology to match the early church as a fellowship of friends. One way to accomplish this is for each of you to invite to dinner someone you see often on Sunday but you do not know very well. At least, part of the task of discipleship is to learn from fellow believers, but how can you learn if you are not friends?
Happy Pentecost! And may the Spirit of God be with you!
Grace,
Pastor Ryan
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.
This passage comes at the end of the Pentecost narrative in Acts 2, and scholar Ben Witherington says, “These verses provide us with our first summary glimpse at the interior life of the early church.”
Throughout Church history, leaders, groups, and sects have attempted to alter the practice and theology of their congregations in an effort to match the practice and theology of the earliest church. In some traditions, such efforts result in a cappella worship, and in other traditions – the repeal of church facilities in favor of meeting in homes. These efforts, along with countless others, are noble attempts at regaining the ecstatic growth documented in both numbers and devotion among the early Church.
Nevertheless, in the passage above, I find one predominate practice, forged by a theology of inclusive love: FELLOWSHIP. The early Church worshiped together in the Temple, as was their custom, but more striking the Christians fellowshipped in each others homes with “gladness” and “sincerity of heart”. As the Greek proverb goes, “Friends share all things in common.” The congregation of the early Church were friends, and apparently their friendship was infectious…
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being
saved.
I pray that First Christian Church would alter our practice and theology to match the early church as a fellowship of friends. One way to accomplish this is for each of you to invite to dinner someone you see often on Sunday but you do not know very well. At least, part of the task of discipleship is to learn from fellow believers, but how can you learn if you are not friends?
Happy Pentecost! And may the Spirit of God be with you!
Grace,
Pastor Ryan
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Sunday Prayer
May your Sabbath be filled with lights of worship,
moments of reflection,
moments of inspiration,
moments of deep connection to those you see most often, those you miss, those who need your help, and most of all the One who created you and continues to call to you.
May your Sabbath be still.
Still enough for peace to settle where turmoil resides.
Still enough for you to selflessly offer prayers on behalf of others.
Still enough for you to feel the breath of God.
May you accept this opportunity to rest, for God is at work when you are not.
Lord, tune our hearts to sing your grace.
Lord, may we hear from you today?
moments of reflection,
moments of inspiration,
moments of deep connection to those you see most often, those you miss, those who need your help, and most of all the One who created you and continues to call to you.
May your Sabbath be still.
Still enough for peace to settle where turmoil resides.
Still enough for you to selflessly offer prayers on behalf of others.
Still enough for you to feel the breath of God.
May you accept this opportunity to rest, for God is at work when you are not.
Lord, tune our hearts to sing your grace.
Lord, may we hear from you today?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Rain appears; God appears!
Notes from the Pastor…
Jane Logan said it so well on Sunday: “You start to believe it is never going to rain again.”
Until Saturday, June 4th, Ruidoso did not see measurable precipitation since the February 3rd storm that will forever be etched into our collective memory, not so much for its snow but for the arctic low of -27 Fahrenheit. We have gone somewhere around 120 days without moisture! Such a lengthy dry season begins to distort reality and we forget the tackiness of humidity upon our skin or the sweet aroma of rain-soaked pines.
This may only be “weather talk”, but sometimes “weather talk” exposes a felt need or spiritual reality. There are intervals of life that feel like the crisp sound of walking on dry grass, and our parched lips utter words from the Psalms: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?”
When spiritual drought is to the point of such a prayer, we forget the feel of grace at the Lord’s Table and the sweet sight of divine pleasure in the orange and red glow of twilight. We begin to believe that we will never sense the presence of God again.
Despite the drought, rain appears; despite the solitude, God appears.
May you and I rejoice in the rain! May we acknowledge the One who does not abandon the dry, but provides presence just as moisture! May we trust in God’s timing and God’s will even when it seems odd or maladjusted. Amen.
Grace, Pastor Ryan
Jane Logan said it so well on Sunday: “You start to believe it is never going to rain again.”
Until Saturday, June 4th, Ruidoso did not see measurable precipitation since the February 3rd storm that will forever be etched into our collective memory, not so much for its snow but for the arctic low of -27 Fahrenheit. We have gone somewhere around 120 days without moisture! Such a lengthy dry season begins to distort reality and we forget the tackiness of humidity upon our skin or the sweet aroma of rain-soaked pines.
This may only be “weather talk”, but sometimes “weather talk” exposes a felt need or spiritual reality. There are intervals of life that feel like the crisp sound of walking on dry grass, and our parched lips utter words from the Psalms: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?”
When spiritual drought is to the point of such a prayer, we forget the feel of grace at the Lord’s Table and the sweet sight of divine pleasure in the orange and red glow of twilight. We begin to believe that we will never sense the presence of God again.
Despite the drought, rain appears; despite the solitude, God appears.
May you and I rejoice in the rain! May we acknowledge the One who does not abandon the dry, but provides presence just as moisture! May we trust in God’s timing and God’s will even when it seems odd or maladjusted. Amen.
Grace, Pastor Ryan
Monday, June 6, 2011
What's your story?
Do you go to church?
This question is not meant to provoke any judgement whatsoever. I was just wondering...
If you do go, what makes you leave your home on your day off with the intention of "going to church"? If you don't go to church, why not? Do you think attending church makes a difference in your life? If Sunday is not a day off for you, do you wish you were able to attend church? What would "the best worship service ever" be like?
If you have been following this blog recently, you may know that I have been thinking a whole lot about kids and church (see blogs: "Please help" and "More help please"). As I think about the way church influences children, I can't help but think about how kids grow up. (Profound, I know!) Maybe as you read this now, you have memories of how you viewed church as a child. Perhaps is was "that place those kids go", "your sanctuary", "that place you were dragged", "that place you dragged others to", "that place where you sit still so you can have the snacks"... Somewhere along the line, I suspect you developed your own opinion about why you went or why you didn't go. Would you mind telling me how that opinion happened? It can be positive or negative.
If it is negative, I'm sorry. I wish I could know that all Christians at all times were doing justice to represent the name of Christ. I wish I never saw on the news that a church somewhere was violently destroying what Christ came to build. I wish more conversations about church were filled with fond memories of community, spiritual journey, serving others, meeting each other's needs, supporting each other "in the valley as well as on the mountain tops". I wish I had never been I part of anything negative in the church, but I know that's not true. Church is full, and I mean FULL, of the good, the bad, and the ugly. As a wonderful mentor once said to me, "Church is full of flawed people which means, inevitably, there will be screw-ups. But if we were weren't flawed, we wouldn't need Jesus."
I am asking for your stories and opinions, and so I thought perhaps, I should share mine.
As a baby, I was sprinkled in the Methodist church that my grandparents attended and around age 3, my mom and step-dad found a Baptist church. I loved that church as a child and have many fond memories of children's choirs, Sunday Schools, being baptized, church picnics, Vacation Bible Schools, etc. If the church doors were opened, my family was probably there. One year, the economy took a downward turn and my step-dad was laid off from his job. My family had always been a part of "adopting" other families at Christmas. But that year our church "adopted" us. I remember learning as a family that blessing are two-fold: those who give and those who receive. My mom's first instinct was to refuse the offer from the church, but she new that we would be taking away from the joy of those who wanted to help our family. It was simultaneously a lesson in humility and beautiful providence.
At times in my high school years, I thought I disliked church. In retrospect I see that we were hormonally-challenged teenagers addicted to drama and faux independence. God bless youth pastors! As time usually does bring healing, we made it through those times together. However, if my church journey had stopped there I would have been left with a very bitter taste. Thankfully, college brought real independence as I searched for a new church for the first time in my life. My family had been (and still is) at that same church I grew up in; therefore, moving away from my family and church family was a very "new" experience. I learned that every church was different in every way possible from music and preaching to friendliness and kids' programs. I wanted to find "the perfect church" and realized that is an oxymoron, but I finally understood more than ever church is about being able to worship God than about who else was going to be there.
Now my view of church has changed even more as Ryan and I dreamed of church ministry throughout the process of Ryan completing his masters of divinity and now as he serves as the minister of a wonderful Disciples of Christ church in the mountains of New Mexico.
I have mentioned three different denominations that have impacted my spiritual journey but to be honest, it was never about the denominations, but the people in each of the different churches. I think the greatest gift a church can offer a community of participating members and visitors is a worshipful, loving environment. My desire for a person on Sunday morning is to walk into a place that is saturated with love, filled with people desiring growth for themselves as well as a servant's heart that will enable others' growth as well. (This may mean responding to an internal tug- the kind of tug you feel when you hear about a need whether it is within the church walls or within the greater community.) My desire for each heart present is to leave full, each mind to leave inspired and challenged, and each soul to leave touched.
I have come to see that church is a melting pot of personalities influenced by previous personal experiences. I hope you feel like you are a part of that melting pot and that "church" would not be the same without what you have to offer, even if that means offering a second chance to "church".
*Please leave your thoughts as comments and please notice the label on this post is "church". If comments are left that you disagree with, I ask you to respect freedom of speech and the right to leave an opinion. I am asking for honesty and am genuinely interested in your story.
This question is not meant to provoke any judgement whatsoever. I was just wondering...
If you do go, what makes you leave your home on your day off with the intention of "going to church"? If you don't go to church, why not? Do you think attending church makes a difference in your life? If Sunday is not a day off for you, do you wish you were able to attend church? What would "the best worship service ever" be like?
If you have been following this blog recently, you may know that I have been thinking a whole lot about kids and church (see blogs: "Please help" and "More help please"). As I think about the way church influences children, I can't help but think about how kids grow up. (Profound, I know!) Maybe as you read this now, you have memories of how you viewed church as a child. Perhaps is was "that place those kids go", "your sanctuary", "that place you were dragged", "that place you dragged others to", "that place where you sit still so you can have the snacks"... Somewhere along the line, I suspect you developed your own opinion about why you went or why you didn't go. Would you mind telling me how that opinion happened? It can be positive or negative.
If it is negative, I'm sorry. I wish I could know that all Christians at all times were doing justice to represent the name of Christ. I wish I never saw on the news that a church somewhere was violently destroying what Christ came to build. I wish more conversations about church were filled with fond memories of community, spiritual journey, serving others, meeting each other's needs, supporting each other "in the valley as well as on the mountain tops". I wish I had never been I part of anything negative in the church, but I know that's not true. Church is full, and I mean FULL, of the good, the bad, and the ugly. As a wonderful mentor once said to me, "Church is full of flawed people which means, inevitably, there will be screw-ups. But if we were weren't flawed, we wouldn't need Jesus."
I am asking for your stories and opinions, and so I thought perhaps, I should share mine.
As a baby, I was sprinkled in the Methodist church that my grandparents attended and around age 3, my mom and step-dad found a Baptist church. I loved that church as a child and have many fond memories of children's choirs, Sunday Schools, being baptized, church picnics, Vacation Bible Schools, etc. If the church doors were opened, my family was probably there. One year, the economy took a downward turn and my step-dad was laid off from his job. My family had always been a part of "adopting" other families at Christmas. But that year our church "adopted" us. I remember learning as a family that blessing are two-fold: those who give and those who receive. My mom's first instinct was to refuse the offer from the church, but she new that we would be taking away from the joy of those who wanted to help our family. It was simultaneously a lesson in humility and beautiful providence.
At times in my high school years, I thought I disliked church. In retrospect I see that we were hormonally-challenged teenagers addicted to drama and faux independence. God bless youth pastors! As time usually does bring healing, we made it through those times together. However, if my church journey had stopped there I would have been left with a very bitter taste. Thankfully, college brought real independence as I searched for a new church for the first time in my life. My family had been (and still is) at that same church I grew up in; therefore, moving away from my family and church family was a very "new" experience. I learned that every church was different in every way possible from music and preaching to friendliness and kids' programs. I wanted to find "the perfect church" and realized that is an oxymoron, but I finally understood more than ever church is about being able to worship God than about who else was going to be there.
Now my view of church has changed even more as Ryan and I dreamed of church ministry throughout the process of Ryan completing his masters of divinity and now as he serves as the minister of a wonderful Disciples of Christ church in the mountains of New Mexico.
I have mentioned three different denominations that have impacted my spiritual journey but to be honest, it was never about the denominations, but the people in each of the different churches. I think the greatest gift a church can offer a community of participating members and visitors is a worshipful, loving environment. My desire for a person on Sunday morning is to walk into a place that is saturated with love, filled with people desiring growth for themselves as well as a servant's heart that will enable others' growth as well. (This may mean responding to an internal tug- the kind of tug you feel when you hear about a need whether it is within the church walls or within the greater community.) My desire for each heart present is to leave full, each mind to leave inspired and challenged, and each soul to leave touched.
I have come to see that church is a melting pot of personalities influenced by previous personal experiences. I hope you feel like you are a part of that melting pot and that "church" would not be the same without what you have to offer, even if that means offering a second chance to "church".
*Please leave your thoughts as comments and please notice the label on this post is "church". If comments are left that you disagree with, I ask you to respect freedom of speech and the right to leave an opinion. I am asking for honesty and am genuinely interested in your story.
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