Making a House a Home

We all know the difference between a house and a home...
or at least we think we do.

As I try to put that often-used phrase to words, I find it tough to describe the difference.

A house is a place; a building; 2x4s and drywall; an empty shell.

A home is rest, peace, beauty, joy, comfort, shelter, safety.
It is so much more about WHO is there than WHAT is there, at least for me.

This makes me think that just about anywhere could be "home" if the right people were there.

Jesus answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23

The familiar language of "inviting Christ into your heart" has been, at least for me, so over-used in some Christian circles that I don't find it particularly useful, unless I apply to it these correctives:

1. Christianity's focus is loving Christ, not following rules
Loving relationships don't become loving by following rules. I didn't look at the list of vows I made to my wife as a set of rules I needed to follow to do this thing called "love." I am deeply in love with her, so those vows are rules I want to follow. But love came first. Love always comes first. Today's passage makes this clear. Our first focus is loving Christ, and that means focusing on loving what is lovable in him; the way he lived graciously; the way he challenged rules that blocked love; the way he associated with those ostracized by others.

2. When love is the focus, any place can be "home."
I appreciate the quote in the graphic above. It says, "Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful."

In my book, Christ's presence in my heart brings love, makes me more loving, and makes any place feel like home. Christ makes my heart, my life, my home...beautiful.

Thanks for moving in, Jesus. Make yourself at home.

Visiting

Luke 1:39-41

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit...

In the daily lectionary of the Catholic monastery in which I am staying, today is the day we remember Mary's visit to Elizabeth.

I am first struck by Mary's willingness to go; even her excitement to go, as it says she went "with haste." She certainly could have stayed home to care for her own body as she carried the Christ child, and not taken the chances that a long journey would have represented. But she goes.

When she arrives, the infant John the Baptist, as he grows within Elizabeth's womb, leaps for joy.

I am struck as well by the thought that Mary might be an example for us here; to recognize that Christ grows in us, and by our presence, we bring his presence. It matters where we put our bodies, as being physically present with someone is a sign of support that no phone call can make. In fact, this is the heart of the incarnation. God shows up.

Were will you be showing up today? Or this week? Might the presence of Christ growing in you bring joy to others? Even if it is not somewhere you particularly want to go? 

I am going to rest in that thought today; that the Christ in me calls me to places I need to go, so that by his presence (not mine), joy might be found.

The Light Shines in the Darkness

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Light is a strange thing, scientifically speaking.

Sometimes it acts like a wave; the same as a radio wave, or a sound wave, or an ocean wave.

Sometimes it acts like a particle; a little packet of energy called a "photon."

Light is also the visual expression of energy. Simply put, light IS energy transmitted through space.

The interesting thing about light is that these three explanations of it are all true, but not able to be held at the same time. If you are talking about light as a wave, the rules of particle physics don't work well. If you are talking about light as a particle, the rules of waves don't work well. It seems to have a perfectly dual nature...it transmits energy in wave-ways and in particle-ways.

Yesterday's sermon was about the Trinity; an often-confusing teaching of the church that God is manifest in the world in three ways...

1. God is the source and ground of all being and life; the Creator; the one Jesus calls "Father."

2. God is this radical, forgiving, rule-breaking Jewish rabbi...the one we call "Jesus."

3. God is the Spirit of life; the breath; the wind of creation.

It is striking to me that John 1 describes God's presence through Jesus as the Light of all people. How true. God is the wave that undergirds all of creation; God is the discrete "packet" of holiness that showed up in Christ; God is the Spirit, the energy of love that flows between the Father and the Son.

So, today this theological nerd is just delighted by the thought that our best scientific understanding points us to Light as a three-fold reality.

May you rest in the Light tonight!

Peace,
Pr. Matt

A piece...

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Do you ever have those moments when you are overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude?

That was yesterday for me.

I find myself grateful for YOU...for those reading this entry; for those who take their God-given gifts and allow themselves to be "used" by God through the ministries of our congregation; for those give a lot of time, and for those who give a little; for those who give gifts of music, or passion, or behind-the-scenes work, or visitation, or prayer, or love, or worship, or finances, or any of the other thousands of ways God involves people in the work of the kingdom.

The healthiest communities of faith are filled with people who know what their piece of the puzzle is; they don't attempt to do the things that fit others' gifts better than theirs; they have a quiet sense of confidence in knowing "this is me...this is my passion...this is what I have to offer."

I have often said my part of our puzzle is that I am called to be the air-traffic controller; making sure all your gifts are pointed in a common direction (the direction God calls us) and that no one is crashing into each other. That's my piece. That's what I love.

What do you love? And how can God add your talent, your passion, your ideas to the puzzle of kingdom work at St. Luke?

Thank you for being part of a puzzle that is truly making a difference in individual lives every day.

Garden Hoses and Grace

I forgot to put away the garden hose last year. Big surprise...the guy who grew up in Arizona didn't think about the fact that garden hoses don't weather the winter well.

Hoses have one job...just to take what they receive from one end and put it out the other end. This hose won't be able to do that now, because it is cracked and weathered.

"I will save you that you may become a blessing." Zechariah 8:13 (NASB)

Paul wrote: "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God." 2 Corinthians 3:5

The scriptures today have me thinking about how God uses us...just like I use the garden hose. God's grace, mercy, love, peace, forgiveness, and joy are given to me. My job? To let those things flow through me to others. Not possible if I'm cracked and weathered.

So today, a challenge for me and for you from the Scriptures...in what way do you need to do a better job at self-care? Do you need more time in the scriptures, so God's healing, saving grace can keep you pliable and strong? Do you need reminders of the ways God saves you, so you may be a blessing to others? Do you need to connect with the community of faith in worship more often so you are refreshed by healing waters and support from friends? Do you need more rest, less junk food, or more time to be still?

May we all recognize today that ignoring these needs isn't just hurting us...but God's ability to water the world with his gifts. May God grant you the peace, strength and hope you need today to BE the blessing you were created to be.

No slipcovers

Have you ever been to someone's house and come across an "untouchable" room? You know the room...it has white carpet, slipcovers on the furniture; you have to remove your shoes to even step in...

I don't know about you, but I'm just not very comfortable in rooms like that...

I'm just not comfortable in places that are too clean, even though I self-identify as a neat freak.

Why?

Because I know I'm not perfect...so if the space I'm in looks too perfect, I end up feeling like I probably don't belong there.

I'm OK with a couch that has a stain or two on it; because I know real life has stains.

I'm OK with some toys on the ground, or papers out of place, because I know my life is rarely perfectly organized.

My very first Sunday at my current call (almost 8 years ago now!), this was my first sermon. For the life of me, I can't remember the texts that led me to this theme, but I remember clearly that the theme was "No Slipcovers." 

We talked about how "perfect" we try to look on the outside, but that in the end, putting on our slipcovers keeps us from hearing God's grace where we really need it. If all you bring to church is the facade, it is only the facade that hears of God's refining judgment, mercy, grace, and love.

Today's text invites the same thought:

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." - Hebrews 4:13

The thought that nothing is hidden is at once terrifying and freeing, because energy spent creating and maintaining a slipcover is energy wasted.

How freeing to be fully known, stains and all. Thank God for a King who doesn't mind imperfect furniture in his kingdom!

Translation

During Seminary, I often attended church at “First English Lutheran” just down the road from where I lived. This small, vibrant parish still bears a name that tells a story of a moment in history; a moment when it was truly a selling point to be the first Lutheran church in the area to hold services entirely in English. There was no way to reach a broader audience with the power of Jesus’ message if they continued to speak only in German on Sunday mornings, and the leadership of this congregation understood that. By translating their service into English, they reached many, many people who they would not have reached with German alone.

Translation is still essential; except the modern church’s challenge is to engage in what we could call “cultural translation.” We are challenged to take the old, old story of Jesus and his love…and tell it in new, new ways…using new communication tools, using modern examples, and bringing the message OUT TO PEOPLE instead of expecting them to come IN TO US.

This is nothing new, of course…churches like First English have understood this. Paul, himself, on a trip to Athens in the book of Acts, gives us an example of cultural translation. Instead of ranting against Athens’ rampant pagan movements and idol worship, he translates the message into language that is familiar to them:

²²Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. ²³For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you…” (Acts 17:22-23)

Paul then proceeds to explain the story of Jesus in terms that the residents of Athens can understand.

Let me be clear: This is the most essential, and most exciting, part of being a Christian Church in 2016! This is the task that gets me up every morning; that drives me to want to reach those outside our church. A rapidly growing number of people in our culture define themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” These are, without a doubt, some of my favorite people. I love finding new ways to engage them, to remind them that organized religion is only as “good” or “bad” as we make it, and to communicate the power of Jesus’ love to them in authentic, fresh, and inviting ways. This is what moves me…what motivates me…and what I hope to re-connect with on this sabbatical.

So, let me warn you…I am going to come back in September FIRED UP. I am going to come back ready to dream with you, plan with you…to challenge you, and to be challenged by you, as together we find new creative ways to translate the old, old story in new, new ways. This will allow us to make an impact in the greater Slinger area with the treasures entrusted to us.

Please start dreaming now. If you have a creative idea, share it with me. I look forward to where God is calling the people of St. Luke in 2016 & beyond!