down time

I have this notification on my phone that details my screen time, how much I look at my phone and for how long.  Since beginning Sabbatical, my screen time has decreased 13% each week.  I got to think about the what and the why of this downtime.  I believe it is a matter of distraction and attention.  This downtime of sabbatical has loosened my leash on what's important.  For example, instead of scrolling social media or my newsfeeds, I began reading real books again.  I am currently reading one of my favorite books, Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse.  This might be my 5th reading of this story.  When Sabbatical started becoming a reality, reading Steppenwolf on the porch with a cup of coffee was the picture in my head of what downtime might look like.  Although, I had imagined it much warmer.


There is this sense of productivity that I believe we all feel is demanded of us.  What are you going to do with today? With your life?  Downtime actually comes from the world of production, it is when machines or assembly lines are turned off, or when shifts end.  This is how antithetical it is for probably what God intends for us.  In the abiding/fruitful relationship, we can either rest from work or work from rest.  The mantra of many is made famous by a song in the 1980's, 'Everybody's working for the weekend.  TGIF was made with resting from work mentality.

As people of faith, we get caught in this trap of feeling of production demand too.  It might be a misreading of the Sabbath that brings us to resting from work.  We see that God ceased on the 7th day after God created everything.  So Sabbath becomes resting from work.  But God didn't stop creating, God continued to breathe life into the universe after everything was made.  Thus God continues to create out of this rest, this Sabbath.  Religious people get drawn into the legality of Sabbath....what day it is celebrated, what is allowed to be done, what isn't.  The pharisees drew a legalistic view of Sabbath to the degree that the challenged Jesus on healing or even feeding people on Sabbath.

27 Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” - Mark 2:27-28

Sabbath as a gift from God to meet the needs of the people might change how we understand the rhythm of our lives.  Look at the way calendars are made and it might tell us about how we are leashed.  If your calendar week begins on monday you might feel inclined to begin producing and then resting from this production or taking some much needed downtime.  OR if your calendar week begins on Sabbath you might be inclined to work out of Sabbath rest.

rooted

Today I got to play in the soil.  There is a difference between soil and dirt.  Dirt is what you sweep off the floor, soil is part of creation and its creating habits.  My friend Venice taught me that.  The rhythms of planting and weeding are much like the rhyhms of life, there is a time for creating and a time for dying.  Fitting as Becky and I, and to a lesser extent our children, pulled weeds and planted plants.  There is some great responsibility for nurturing plants to life, pruning them so that they might be healthy, and pulling other plants that might endanger the ones that you intend to grow.

Scripture teaches us; "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong." - Ephesians 3:17

We did not, however, begin this journey today.  There was a need to clean up what was left from last years harvest.  There was the tilling of the garden soil.  The adding of the compost.  There is a lot that goes into planting season than just putting hands in soil.  Everything that was accomplished today was because of what was previously sought after, from composting vegetables from last years garden, to a proper weed barrier being laid down, from collecting rainwater to purchasing the tools necessary for garden work to be done.  All of it a process, all of it a journey.  The hoped-for outcome, roots to dig and spread so that life might bring forth life.  Roots don't just happen because we want them, this garden is much like a faith journey, it takes tending to with care and intentionality for seeing to the dangers of the weeds that will try and strangle them out.  Today it was good to have our hands in soil and someday soon we will be reaping the harvest of work done today.

winning

This morning I had coffee with my sister-in-law, Jess.  She pastors in a different context and in a different denomination.  She is in town visiting Becky and our family.  This was the first I got to visit with her since I returned from 1383 mile round trip visit to Two Harbors, MN for retreat.  A little bit of Coffee and a Whole Lot of Jesus (see previous post).  Jess and I sat and chatted about life, family, ministry, and more importantly.....Jesus.  Jess took the Amtrak to Milwaukee.  We even reminisced about her taking me to the Erie, PA train station, only to stop at a local Perkins Restuarant meeting a guy who gave himself a nickname Tbone. (Quick wisdom: you are NEVER allowed to give yourself a nickname.  Nicknames are earned from other people.)

As Jess and I chatted, I began to tell her some of the wisdom of my retreat, not all of which I have processed, prayed about, or even written about here.  One of those bits of wisdom that I am still wrestling is Anna sharing the Ore boats coming into harbor, the horn that blows when they get out of line with where they are intended to be.....she called it 'knowing that to which you are tether."  In other words, the christian life is as much knowing to whom we belong as anything else, and yet we tether ourselves and our churches to things that are not necessarily things that belong under the category of Jesus is Lord.  And with all of that, Jess unloaded this terrific and wonderful gem of a phrase; 'What you win them with is what you win them to.'

This phrase says so much about no particular context or tradition but it flew right in the face of tradionalism.  Tradionalism is the what and the how we do things as a church, not to that which we are tethered.

Her point was if we win people with pizza parties and bowling, we have won people to pizza parties and bowling.  Jesus is somehow missing.

Her other point that she didn't have to make is that if we win people to Jesus following, then we have made disciples.  Jesus is definitely what we are tethered to.

Winning in a post christian culture cannot be determined by pizza parties and attendance in whatever awkward social structure past results have determined successful.  Winning, if there is such a thing, must be seen through the lens of how we invite people to follow the one with we are tethered.

6As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

the nature of humility

I spent a good part of today walking nature paths and riding 75 miles for a promised 'best burger ever 'through some of the best twisty roads there are in northern Minnesota.  The burger was good but not best ever.  The nature scenes, however, were stunning.  In the book of Job, Job finally gets his audience with God following several theological discussion with his 'friends.'  God's response is not something we expect God to say to a man who wants an account for the suffering he has experienced.

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom
    with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man,
    because I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them.

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions
    and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
    and who laid its cornerstone
as the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels shouted for joy?

“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
    as it burst from the womb,
and as I clothed it with clouds
    and wrapped it in thick darkness?
For I locked it behind barred gates,
    limiting its shores.
I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
    Here your proud waves must stop!’ -Job 38:1-11

So that is the nature of humility, to see the enormity of God's creation brings us to an awareness of how very small we are in the grand scheme of the universe.  This is not to say we are insignificant, it is to say we are humbled by God's creation.  In the book of Job, wisdom begins with humility.

Marva Dawn reflected on the accomplishments of Christ in pastoral ministry. "God's perfect purposes and impeccable intentions are not thwarted.  Why do we ever think we are necessary for that?  How is it that we think we are essential for whatever needs to happen in our congregations?  Why are we afraid to take a Sabbath day because our churches need us so badly?  The world got along fine without us before we arrived.  Ephesians 1:11(Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.) sets us free again to revel in all that God is and does." (The Unnecessary Pastor pg. 56)

In other words, Marva Dawn is inviting us to explore the idea that paying attention to what God is doing among our congregations and us is a pure gift of God.  Sometimes this translates when people tell us 'great sermon, pastor.'  Our best response is to thank God, for it is at best God's words being used by us.  Or when I compliment Deacon Marcia for any part of her amazing ministry, she normally points up (thanking God).

Wandering around Lake Superior or seeing the small coast of such a vast body of water from the hill descending home truly humbled me today, and that is the beginning of wisdom.  

Let us pray: Triune God, creator, redeemer, and advocate, send us forth from your Word overawed with the immensity of your grace and eager to respond - to the praise of your glory. Amen!

This little light of mine

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. - Colossians 3:15-17

I missed church today.  It wasn't for a lack of motivation or desire.  No, instead it was the snow that dropped on Two Harbors, MN in the middle of May.  I decided to stay safe instead of risking the ride.  Nicodemus has done snow before but he tells me he is not really fond of it.  What's a pastor to do?

I lit the candle that was given to me by the people of St. Mark's to remember them in prayer.  So I prayed for them as they worshipped, their extended candle lit in the sanctuary.  And I communed with these people in a far off place to pray together.  And I sang, "this little light of mine."  It was quite joyful.  As a preacher, I miss the pulpit.  Instead, I got to listen to God's funny voice through the snow falling to the ground, I rested in the pure grace to feel the spirit's movement by the flickering of this small lighted candle. Finally I remembered the words from Paul to the Colossians above, letting the message about Christ fill our lives, in all of its richness.

The following was a powerful moment in our sabbatical blessing.

PA:  I leave you with this candle.  Light it when you gather for worship each Sunday and when you meet.  Pray for me while I am gone.

C:  We will pray that you return renewed and energized for ministry.

L:  We leave you with this candle.  Carry it with you.  Light it and pray for us while we are apart.  Pray that we will be renewed to serve in God’s name.

AMEN!

Hope not optimism

I have spent that past few days here at The Spent Dandelion.  It is more than a retreat center.  It is sacred space.  I found out that the noise I heard last night was indeed a black bear roaming the woods.

 

The space is very restful, inspiring, and spirit filled.  All of that is good and maybe great but the reason I choose to retreat in this place is because of the wise woman who accompanies her guests while they are here.  Anna Madsen, is an ELCA pastor and systematic theologian.  Her professional website is found here.  She offers time to reflect with her and gives wisdom in response to my thoughts and reading while I am here.  As part of my baptismal reflection yesterday, I am reminded of the words we pray over the baptized.  "Sustain ______ with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever."

Sometimes we experience the spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might in the flesh.  During our conversation, Anna led me to this bit of wisdom that I will ponder for days, weeks, and possibly years.  It comes from a book entitled Eschatology and Hope by Anthony Kelly. 

He writes "First, hope differs from optimism.  To the detriment of genuine hope, these two notions are often confused. Optimism is no bad thing in itself. It is a kind of implicit confidence that things are going well in the present situation. Optimism may be simply a feature of temperament expressing itself in a spontaneous logic: we can manage and cope in a world that is reasonably predictable. Optimism is happy enough with the system. In contrast, genuine hope is always "against hope.” It begins where optimism reaches the end of this tether. Hope stirs when the secure system shows signs of breaking down. Hope is at home in the world of the unpredictable where no human logic or expectation is in control. It rejects any easy assurances of pretending to manage what in fact intrinsically resist management. It relies on something that comes from outside the system. In this respect, it is never far from humility for it acknowledges that in birth and death, in the wonder of life in the imitations of art, human existence is never a realm of total control. We are not the center of the universe that has brought us fourth, and the ultimate reaches of destiny are beyond human planning and control. This humility gives rise to the subversive irony on the hollowness of any cultural pretensions to deliver what in the end can come only as a gift genuine. Hope has no use for idols."

Today, I am wrestling with hope.  Pondering what it meant for Paul to utter these words in Romans: Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” Romans 4:18

Marva Dawn, another author I am reading, presented this hope as a living doxology.  "Apply this insight to your own life in ministry.  No matter what is going on in your congregation, it is inside the greater realm of spiritual blessings.  You can say, 'even in this conflict, God can produce spiritual gifts.' 'Even in this shortage of money, God can generate other assets.' 'Even in this time of much suffering, God can create joy.'"

God of all hope, today we praise you for giving us real hope, and that our lives might be a living doxology for all that you are bringing about in your creation. - Amen

Thanksgiving for baptism

THANKSGIVING  FOR  BAPTISM

Joined  to  Christ  in  the  waters  of  baptism,

we  are  clothed  with  God's  mercy  and  forgiveness.

Let  us  give  thanks  for  the  gift  of  baptism.

Water is poured.

We  give  you  thanks,  O  God,

for  in  the  beginning  your  Spirit  moved  over  the  waters

and  by  your  Word  you  created  the  world,

calling  forth  life  in  which  you  took  delight.

Through  the  waters  of  the  flood  you  delivered  Noah  and  his  family.

Through  the  sea  you  led  your  people  Israel  from  slavery  into freedom.

At  the  river  your  Son  was  baptized  by  John  and  anointed  with  the  Holy  Spirit.

By  water  and  your  Word  you  claim  us  as  daughters  and  sons,

making  us  heirs  of  your  promise  and  servants  of  all.

We  praise  you  for  the  gift  of  water  that  sustains  life,

and  above  all  we  praise  you  for  the  gift  of  new  life  in  Jesus  Christ.

Shower  us  with  your  Spirit,

and  renew  our  lives  with  your  forgiveness,  grace,  and  love.

To  you  be  given  honor  and  praise  

through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord

in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  now  and  forever.

Amen

Today I stood at the Baptism River and remembered the promise of baptism.  It was a beautiful scene.  It is in this Identity that we are made whole.  Water plus God's word brings meaning to who we are as God's people.  This is an aspect of Sabbath that seems hard to wrap our head around.  A pure gift.

A person is baptized once. Because of the unfailing nature of God's promise, and because of God's once-for-all action in Christ, Baptism is not repeated. - from The Use of Means of Grace.

And from Ephesians 4:4-6

For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

I have been reading a book with my spiritual director and coach, Gerry, where we discovered this quote from Eugene Peterson; "If you don't take a Sabbath, something is wrong. You're doing too much, you're being too much in charge. You've got to quit, one day a week, and just watch what God is doing when you're not doing anything."

And so, at the foot of this river, I watched what God was doing as I did nothing.  It is humbling for sure to know that God is working among us, even if we just watch what God is doing.

Watching and waiting to see what God will do next.

The joy of the journey is in the ride

The joy of the journey is in the ride.....

This sign hangs in my office above my desk.  It was given to me by members of my congregation, St. Mark's.  They knew how to articulate my sense of adventure.  Today I experienced this in real time.

I took my time riding from the Twin Cities to Two Harbors MN where I will be retreating and reflecting for the next 6 days.  Nicodemus (1998 Kawasaki Concours motorcycle) settled into the leisurely pace.  Normally he feels like a wild dog on a leesh when we take it easy always wanting to climb rpms and throttle.  As we took to the backroads we also passed a milestone.

44,000 miles somewhere in the middle of Minnesota.

Milestones help us remember the past, our history, the road behind us.  I had no idea in December of 2008 when I purchased him that we would have so many adventures.  These numbers are a bit skewed because of our adventure riding to Colorado in 2017 when the speedometer cable broke and didn't register about 2,500 miles.  Milestones are celebrated anyways and for whatever reason.

And there is a great trust in the journey that God is with us wherever we might go.  Scripture is littered with journey; journey of people, journey of promise, journey out of, and journey going to.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life! - Proverbs 3:5-8

Today, I stopped and reflected about the journey of the past, even for a moment.  For the next few days I will reflect on this journey of ours, as pastor and people.  Looking back on the road that brought us together to the time set apart on Our Sabbatical.

As the Old Irish Blessing says:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back. 
May the sun shine warm upon your face; 
the rains fall soft upon your fields 
and until we meet again, 
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Reconnecting

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Yesterday I had the chance to reconnect with friends and colleagues I haven't seen in some time.  It is this aspect of Sabbath rest that connects us to God and to one another.  Since the beginning God has saw fit that we are not alone.  There is a deep need for relationship both with God and with one another.  So reconnecting with friends over lunch, or playing trivia at a local pub, or staying up later than normal to discuss everything under the sun, indeed reconnects these relationships.  It also verifies for me a simple truth my friend Anthony told me while I was in New York; "If I didn't hear the voice of God through other people, I'm not sure how I would hear the voice of God."

Tom, Kelly, Eric, and Stepanie helped accomplish that for me yesterday by simply reconnecting with me, and taking the time to do such things.  There is an intentionality about this part of Sabbath.  Often times with time away from the normal demands of work I tend to fill that time with tasks.  The lawn needs mowed, house projects await, errands need to be run, and there is only so much time to do these things.  Intentionally connecting with the people in my life that bring God's voice into my life is lacking.  That needs to change.  That probably is not only true for me but you as well.  Who are the people you connect with that help you hear the voice of God in your life?

Fasting and the art of motorcycle maintenance

Thank you for responding to me;
    you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
    is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
   We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
    let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
    Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
-Psalm 118:23-25


For most of the last few weeks I had several items I wanted 'to do.'  Some of those 'to-do's' were related to motorcycle maintence, oil change, spark plug exchange, etc and some of those were new fangled gagets to install, like a buffer for the windscreen, and an extender to the fender.  All of these helpful tools for a safe and healthy riding season.  My wife Becky planted a seed for me a few weeks ago that I might consider using a ta-da list instead of a to-do list.  She explained to-do lists begin with tasks that 'need' to be done.  Ta-da lists are things added once you finish them.  Apparently she learned this from author Gretchen Rubin.

So I embraced the day with the above verses in mind.  'This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.'  For the first few days of Sabbatical, I am fasting and praying.  Fasting is always linked with prayer.  This is the art of intentionally withholding something from your life to be prayerful about bodily needs, wants, desires.  In my experience fasting and praying bring greater attention to God's presence.  I invited the people of St. Mark's to fast and pray with me.  This is Our Sabbatical.  

Rather than feeling burdened by fasting and to-do lists, I embraced the day and rejoiced in whatever ta-da I could.  I have felt the great ability to rest in God's work and that this is the day that God has made, not me.  

Lord, thank you for this day, for it is the day that you have made for us, we will rejoice and be glad in it.- Amen

Sabbatical - Day 1

At the heart of sabbatical is sabbath.  Sabbath is resting, ceasing, embracing, and feasting.  Today was day one of Our Sabbtical.  Sabbath is rooted in creation.

Scripture tells us that God rested after all of creation was complete.

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. - Genesis 2:1-3

Today I worshipped with my family at my wife Becky's church where she is pastor.  There is something 'Sabbathy' (I know it's not a real word) about worshipping without having to think about worship planning, the details of sermon preparation, or song selections.  I got to simply worship.

Part of the instruction for those embracing sabbatical is to do what makes your heart sing.  It is why God instructs sabbath to be set aside as holy.  So, if you missed it, God instructs that a sabbath be followed.

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. - Exodus 20:8-11

To start sabbtical rooted in worship and with those within my household is exactly the point of Our Sabbtical; strengthening relationships with God and with everyone within my household makes my heart sing.

Blessed Sabbath everyone.

All I need is....

I am sitting in Roots Cafe.  This is the place I decided to host open office hours on wednesday mornings a little over 2 years ago.  Today is the last open office hours before Our Sabbtical starts.  On the shelf reads a sign "All I need today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus."  Every week I sit in this place I say "amen" to that sign.  It makes me laugh but I also know that it falls short.  It falls short cause I need so much more.  I need people to journey with me, sharing coffee and sharing Jesus.  

It gets me to the part of reflecting on this sabbatical journey we are taking together; people and pastor.  Several times in the gospel accounts, Jesus is found escaping to pray.  "One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples..." Luke 6:12-13a

There is a rhythm to sabbath.  It is an ongoing movement of prayer, abiding, ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting. I love that Jesus' prayers always leads him to people.  Jesus goes off to pray, God gives him disciples.  Jesus goes up to pray, God leads him to people in need of healing.  And these people are always changed because of the prayers Jesus lives into.  So I am careful each day to fill in the statement; 'All I need is...."

Today all I need is people to share coffee with me and remind me who I am in Jesus.