One Disciple's Journey

The New Shekel

2012-01-03T20:20:00.001-05:00

Shekels. I brought back a few that were given to me on my last trip to Israel. They were nothing more than an interesting souvenir at the time. My wife and I did not do any monetary exchange before entering Israel, and it proved not to be a hindrance at all. Now as I prepare for a return to Israel, I find myself desiring to take a substantial amount of native currency. Since it is not a requirement, one might wonder why this is so.

There may be a couple of things motivating me to do this.
One might be a sense of adventure. It might be a little more exciting to have to think in unfamiliar terms regarding the purchases that I make rather than to simply have the vendor do the translation for me. Another reason might be a slight sense of guilt. I might be exaggerating things, but I feel a bit presumptuous going into a foreign country without temporarily surrendering some of my "Americanness." I don't speak the native language (and let's face it, how irritated would we be with people who would come to the United States and expect to interact with us without speaking any English?). On top of that, many of the vendors simply rounded off the purchase amount when converting my purchases to dollars, and I'm confident that they did not always round up! It just seems like a small but reasonable gesture to offer them their native currency in doing business with them.

Whatever the reason, I will probably be making a visit to the most convenient Travelex booth at JFK before taking flight. Maybe...

Family Time

2011-12-28T21:37:00.001-05:00

Christmas has come and gone for another year. It again reminds me that time often changes things irreversibly. Of the gifts that are given and received, the gift of family is the most precious in this life. My heart rejoices in family shared in Texas and sorrows for family passed on in West Virginia. A week away is a week too short, as many things are awaiting attention at home. For now, I rejoice in a time of rest. It is God's gift for the here and now.

Table Ministry

2011-10-01T21:05:00.001-04:00

From Evernote:

Table Ministry

Sunday, October 2 is World Communion Sunday. It is also the first Sunday of the month, when the people of Cross Roads UMC traditionally celebrate Holy Communion in all worship services. I encourage you to come and worship with us. We will be invited to the table of the Lord Jesus Christ, the place where we celebrate the reconciliation that we have through Christ, reconciliation with God and with one another. It is a place where the broken are made whole and where peace reigns in the hearts of people. Come and celebrate the amazing grace of God.

See you along the journey,

Pastor Dave

Will Anything Really Change?

2010-06-14T00:10:00.000-04:00

        This was the question that resonated in my mind on this Sunday morning as another session of Annual Conference drew to a close. I had been challenged to ignite my passion for sharing Jesus by Bishops Lyght and Palmer. I had wrestled with my need to embrace the work of evangelism. I had experienced impassioned, heart-felt worship led by people from Crossfire United Methodist Church (see www.bikerchurch.com). I was convinced once again that the Holy Spirit of God was moving among the people of the West Virginia Annual Conference, and that I was being drawn into that movement. Yet as I prepared to begin this new day, the day that would bring me home to my regular weekly routine, I had to wonder, will anything really change?

        I love the church deeply. It is my family, my sisters and brothers in Christ. Even with all of our shortcomings and faults, I absolutely love the church. We are people of grace, redeemed by the blood of Christ, seeking to live holy lives that bring glory to God. Left to my own tendencies, I could spend all of my time with the church. As a local church pastor, this becomes very easy to do. However, there is an obvious disparity when a confessing follower of Jesus spends all of his time with other followers of Jesus. Why can I say that? Because it is not the pattern that Jesus set with his own lifestyle. One of the most common criticisms of Jesus was that he spent time with tax collectors and sinners (see Matthew 11:19). In other words, Jesus made a habit of spending time with people who were hungry for but disconnected from God. If that’s what Jesus did, it seems not only reasonable but necessary that I would reflect the same pattern with my own life. So for a person who desirably and easily spends his time with “church folk,” the question became a point of crisis; will anything in my life really change?
        Sitting in the comfort of my own home late in the evening, I cannot offer a confident answer to that question. Time will tell, starting with tomorrow morning as the “normal” work week begins. Will this annual conference session be a turning point that brings me to new levels of evangelical work, or will it be like so many other events, mountaintops that make little difference once they are finished? I know that the change will be awkward. It will come gradually, and will require the support and accountability of friends in the church (who, by the way, are ALSO challenged in this regard). For the sake of the Kingdom and Reign of Almighty God and the Son Jesus Christ, I pray that God will grant to me sufficient grace to change my habits, put me with those who are hungry for God’s touch, and use me to offer the life-transforming grace of Christ to the people of the world. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Waiting

2010-03-04T00:04:00.001-05:00

Date: March 3, 2010 11:38 PM
Topic: Waiting

What is one to do when God is silent? I suppose the simple answer is to wait. Simple, not easy. Henri Nouwen offers a prayer in which he affirms that God's presence will become known, in God's time. And if that time is to be delayed, then we rightly ask for God to make us patient. It has been said that one should not ask God for patience, for along with the patience God will give circumstances in which to use the patience. I suspect there is truth in that.

Waiting truly becomes a gift when one recognizes its value as a spiritual teacher. I realized today that my view of God must have been getting pretty small. It must be true, since I was, though very unconsciously, trying to force God to conform to my expectations and timing. Boy, talk about someone who was getting frustrated. I was demanding, but God wasn't responding. I was persisting, and God was resisting. I said "now;" God said "not yet." It's funny--I don't remember asking for patience, but I was sure getting a lesson in it.

Don't get me wrong by thinking that the wait is over. It isn't. I am still waiting, but doing so with much less frustration. At least that's the word for today. Today, waiting has been my teacher rather than my thorn in the side. And because of that, God got a little bigger. Who knows, tomorrow I might be right back where I was, banging my head against the wall of heaven's chambers demanding action. But for today, God is on the throne, and I gird my loins of faith in waiting.

Thank you, God, for helping me to befriend waiting. Along with your disciple, Peter, I confess that you alone have words of eternal life. There are no others to whom I can turn. There is only you. So I wait, knowing that in the perfect time I will hear your voice of comfort and observe the might of your hand at work.

Foiled Plans

2010-02-18T21:28:00.001-05:00

Many are the times and ways that I rediscover the reality that God is in control. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Proverbs 19:21 with these words: "We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails." In a way this reality can frustrate me. It frustrates me because I am human. Because I am human I like to make my plans. I like to put my creative forces (limited as they are) to work, and then to see the fruit of those efforts come to bear. Sometimes, though, the creative process gets derailed, and that can be both disappointing and frustrating…because I'm human.

I am once again taught, as well as humbled, by the proverb. God's purpose prevails. Though it goes without saying, I'll say it anyway: God's purpose is much more significant than mine. I may not understand what God may be up to, now if ever. Yet that is okay. I don't need to know what God is doing. It is just good for me to remember that God is doing. God is up to something good, and if that requires the disruption of my own plans and options, I suppose I'll be just fine. Thanks be to God that the Divine purpose always prevails.

Slow moving

2010-02-12T11:46:00.001-05:00

Date: February 12, 2010 11:42 AM
Topic: Slow moving

Do you wonder if Jesus ever had days when he just felt like relaxing? That isn't the first image of Jesus that usually comes to our minds. We picture Jesus as active, on the go, constantly moving from one place to another, from one need to another. Surely he must have tired from time to time. . .right?

There were those times when Jesus removed himself from the crowd. Of course, for him it was a time of restoration, a time spend in prayer and communion with God. Is God present in our "lazy days?" I like to think so.

I pray that you will experience God in your relaxation.

About the Title

2010-02-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

Date: February 12, 2010 11:07 AM
Topic: About the Title

Often I have said to people that we, as Christians, get our eyes so set upon the destination that we forget to embrace the journey. Not that the destination isn't wonderful--it is. Yet the joy of the journey is a joy not to be missed.

There were two people on a journey one day. They were talking about recent events, mostly in a depressed sort of way. Their expectations had not come to pass, and their sense of anticipating God's movement in their lives was seriously waning. While they were on the road another traveler joined them. He talked with them as they made their journey, helping them to consider the recent events in a new light. Later, after he had departed from them, those two travelers were able to look back and realize that the heart-stirring presence of God had been around them as they traveled. It was not just when they reached their destination that they experienced God. It was while they made their journey. It was while they were on the road.

Is it really any different for us? God travels with us "on the road" of our daily journey. My own challenge is one of recognition. I can only say from personal experience that my heart burns with joy and wonder when I am intentionally aware of Christ walking with me. As we travel the road each day, join me as we seek to know the often "unknown traveler" who walks with us.

U.M. Pastor Dave

The Middle Man

2010-02-12T08:46:00.001-05:00

Date: February 11, 2010 11:49 PM
Topic: The Middle Man

Serving in the role of a chaplain is an interesting experience. My time on Wednesday of this week was more of a blessing than I anticipated. Spending the day with ministry colleagues is always good. Being present with them as ministry calls are discerned and confirmed is truly a joy.

Having been on both sides of the process in one way or another, I was quite aware of the stress that hangs like a morning mountain mist. Much of my role was to alleviate some of the stress and help people to sense God's peace and presence. I hope that happened as both candidates and board members shared reflections and burdens with me. I don't know how the interviews concluded and the results of Wednesday's work. I do know that God was very much present in our midst that day. Further, I am reminded once again of how fragile and precious is the Bride of Christ. We are, by God's grace, a peculiar treasure. For that I am thankful.