Last week Leon and I lost a dear friend.  Rev. Dr. Marie Palmer was a retired Disciples of Christ minister. Leon was chair of the search committee for her first full time parish minster position.  She was my boss when I was a student associate minister.  I learned so very much from her, and it's hard to believe that was over 20 years ago.
     After I entered the ministry, Marie moved for a while into interim pastor ministry; in fact, she served as an interim here at FCC in Morehead.  I think knowing her, and having her as a reference, helped me get the job here as pastor almost 9 years ago.
     When we experience a loss in our lives - especially a loss of someone who has served us well as a mentor or an older and wiser counsel - it's important to pause and reflect on our journeys and to be grateful for their part in our life.  It is just as important to take an unflinching look at how WE are helping in the lives of others by paying it forward. Scripture teaches us that our gifts are to be used to help others.
     Chances are, the most important mentors in your life were not sought out, but were found - I like to think some of that is Sneaky ol' Jesus, but there are certainly other ways for that to happen.  Don't wait until someone asks you to help them; just look around.  You will see someone who would be a good person to pull into a committee or a job; you will see someone in their first full time position who could benefit from hearing what helped you along the way.  You are sitting next to someone in church who is  dealing with a fidgety 3 year old; remember when YOURS was 3?  Or how nice it was when you were 3 yourself, and someone brought crayons and a book to colour with you in Big Church?
     Surely witnesses are those who speak the love they have found in the heart of God, but they are also those who show the love they have found by passing it on.  Be a part of the cloud of witnesses.  Marie was certainly one to many of us........

M*A*S*H went off the air in 1983, over 30 years ago.  After the actor Larry Linville, who played Dr. Frank Burns, left the show, the producers created another character for a replacement:  Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester III (played to apoplectic perfection by David Ogden Stiers).  As he is introduced to the hectic medical unit, Winchester explains to his new comrades: I do one thing at a time; I do it well; and I move on.
     Well, in the world of a MASH unit, being able to multi task and be quick doing it was a real necessity.  But it seems to me that we are a culture that honours being able to do several things at once - even if the several things being done are not always being done with full attention.  So let me ask you a couple of questions:
+what else are you doing right now, besides reading this blog?  Are you on the phone? Looking at a second computer screen for work, or to see how the Reds are doing?  Are you supposed to be doing something else, and using this as a time killer? Is the tv on?  Is your significant other talking to you?
+When you are in your car, what else is going on?  Is there a cup of coffee in one hand?  Phone in the other?  
+Do you have a quiet time during the day (either for meditation or religious purposes?)  Or are you one of those who say, "Oh, I pray while I drive". (and listen to the radio.  and drink coffee.  and dodge orange barrels.  and eat lunch.)
      I'd like to think that - with exceptions - Dr. Winchester's code is a good one to follow.  It's hard to do.  I know.  I am guilty of pulling up my bank statement and reconciling my checkbook when someone is telling me a long story on the phone.  (Not YOU, of course; I would never do that to YOU)  I've been known to watch a movie with a crossword puzzle book in my lap.  But you know what?  That only feeds my brain's desire for 'more'.
     We have a group that meets here twice a month for meditation; not a long period of time - about   55 minutes a meeting.  But folks who come always talk about how it takes a while to slow the brain down.  Often we don't feed the brain, or the heart, or the soul, what it NEEDS; we feed it what we've trained it to want.  Which is 'more'.
      Feeling anxious?  Is there a part of you that hums with anxiety?  You can either add yet another distraction to the circus, or you can start feeding yourself 'slow'.   Feeding yourself 'one at a time'.  Feeding yourself 'time to listen to God'. OF COURSE it's going to be hard at first.  All good things are.
     I will give you a citation from Scripture now.  I am not going to give you the entire quote, though that would be easy.  I am going to suggest you close this window, and either look it up on the computer, or actually pull out a Bible and look it up.  And for one minute, do nothing else but listen to what it says to you about God. 
     Blessings on us all, as we seek to do more things 'one at a time'.

The last few months have been hard ones - for people in the church, in the community, and in the world in general.  Sometimes we need to be reminded to stop, to slow down, to take ourselves out of the situation, and reflect.
     The book, Life Lessons, by Kubler Ross and Kessler, is one that is very much loved by many people here at church.  It was originally given to me by a friend in 2000, and I've done close to 10 book studies with it over the years.  It is comprised of several short chapters on aspects of life that we don't always bother to remember or revere until we are at the end of our lives.  The point of the book is a simple one: "Is this the way I want to be living my life?".  And if not, then we are not to wait until we reflect back as older folks; we can make the choice to honour and acknowledge the essentials right now.
      Seems particularly important - right now, to me, sitting here finishing up a funeral homily for a friend who should still be alive and amongst us -to remember the gift of time, and of life.  The last two sentences of the book are good things to remember:
      Don't wait for one last look at the ocean, the sky, the stars, or a loved one.  Go Look Now.

THE ISSUE OF APPLAUSE

{Every great once in a while, a question comes up about applause in church.  Please understand that the opinions here – though carefully thought out and based on much more than personal feelings – are my own and in no way are to be considered a disparagement of other churches or communities.}

     As a pastor leading in worship on a weekly basis, I have definite ideas about applause during church:  I’m not a fan, at least not for our church.  I have a couple of reasons for this position.

     First of all, I agree with Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, theologian, writer and psychologist from the 19th century.  He maintained that most people in the pews on Sunday morning view worship as something that is happening FOR THEM.  They come wanting to be blessed or entertained or taught.  If one were to view worship as a drama based on that model, the roles would play out like this:
• God is the director of worship; God tells the worship leaders what to do.
• The worship leaders are the performers of worship.
• The congregation is the audience.

But, Kierkegaard argues, in reality worship should be structured another way:
• The people should be the performers of worship
• The worship leaders are the directors of worship
• God is the audience.

    Consequently, I understand Sunday mornings as something other than performance.  Songs that are sung, Scripture that is read, sermons that are preached, prayers that are prayed – all have a different aspect to them when set within the context of worship.  And because they are not performances, there should be other forms of appreciative response.  (This is also why I really like it when our children can participate in worship without expecting applause, as if they were somehow performing for the rest of us. Children are far more flexible than the rest of us, and can easily understand the difference in participating in worship, and performing in a dance or voice recital.)
     Most often, the applause seems to occur after music – specifically sung or performed special music.  But is music a part of the worship service that should somehow be set apart as better or different?  Surely for a community of faith, the reading of Scripture or the act of communion is at least as important, if not more so.  And what about prayers?  Sermons?  Baptisms or those joining the church?  Preludes?  Meditations at the communion table?
     So lately we have adapted our worship in such a way that those who wish to respond in an external manner can say an “amen” or a “thank you” after a piece of music.  And, they can also use that method to respond to almost any other part of the service as well: an elder’s meditation, a beautiful offertory, or a phrase within a sermon. Now, I understand that it doesn’t always suit those few who come from other traditions where applause is used within the service.  But on the other hand, it doesn’t always suit that larger number who prefer to have no external response; those that prefer a quiet, reflective internal response. 

IN OTHER WORDS:  no one gets their own way all the time (because, as we know, “it’s not about you” all the time) - it's a compromise.  And as I said above, I am one of those who prefer no external response.  But, it’s not about ME either.  It’s just a part of being in a community.  And how wonderful to be in a community with the gifts we have available for worship; we are blessed beyond measure with members who can pray and sing and teach and play and preach with a true spirit.  Whether the response is an external one or an internal one, the effects of their gifts are apparent in the outreach and outpouring that comes from our church. We are bountiful in our gifts, and in our gratitude.

And I mean this with all love........ before you send out, retweet, forward, or paste something that should be checked, please do so.

 "Today it was announced the Army will no longer wear boots!" "Retweet if you are an American that doesn't want American Idol cancelled!!" "Proof our President (Governor, Senator, Congressperson, Minister, Mayor, County Judge) is not patriotic!!"


     You know the sort of thing.  There is a lovely little website called snopes.com  and it is a treasure.  Before you pass on false information about Mr Rogers having been a sniper in WW2, or that some detergent is made from radioactive materials - PLEASE run it through snopes. The good people who run the site  - and I don't own any part of it :-) - take time to track down these sorts of rumors etc.  I would love to be able to tie this in with something of much more weight and substance, or with the Bible, or a more spiritual way of life but...........um, no.  It's just something I think will make life a little easier for all concerned.  So, peace out.

     This is addressed to one person - but the rest of you may listen in.
      You know who you are.  You are the one who can take the oxygen out of the room with your sighs.  There were never troubles like your troubles.  You start most of your Facebook messages with "**sigh**". Sometimes your twitter account only says "Why Me?"   You tend to have lots of nonspecific medical problems.   Whatever 'it' is, it's harder for you than for everyone else.  Whatever aches or pains someone else has, you've had them too.  Along with a sunburn. You are fond of letting the rest of us know that you can't sleep at night, you have food allergies, and your iPad won't play Blueray.  
     Most things that go wrong in the world go wrong simply to mess with your day.  If the internet is down, it's to thwart your need to communicate. If the bank ATM is broken, it is a direct result of you needing money.  It is absolutely amazing that you are able to put one foot in front of the other - though often you 'just can't'. 
      You generate enough negativity to run a small third world country.  And then complain that your friends don't stay around.
      Guess what?  You are still loved.  Though in reality you are not always liked.  Somewhere along the way you were given the message that being a Debbie Downer gets attention.  Most of your problems are what we call around here First World Problems.  Scripture tells us that we are to constantly seek God.  So go looking for God's face.  Go looking for Jesus.  Chances are you will find him somewhere you can be of help.  Chances are good that when you will find him, your problems will take a different priority.  The best way to get rid of all of that poor me stuff is to help someone else out.  You will receive so much more than you bring to the table. 
     Oh, and at the Table:  you will still get the same love the rest of us do.  Go figure.  There's not a thing you can complain about there........

       Sincerely,

        Someone who had to give herself a good talking to before she could remember to look for Jesus in your face.  (and shame on me...)