Women's Retreat

Another women's retreat has come to a close. The Rubbermaid containers are full of pink fabric and stacked in storage. The feather boa fluff has been cleared from the tile. My office is looking normal again. The retreat is over.

Yet, there is still some fondue pots to be picked up in the kitchen. As a matter of fact, there is still some fondue in the fridge. I still am working on the details of the budget of the event. So, pieces of the event continue.

During the retreat, we talked about a woman named Esther who was beautiful, accepted and called to her destiny. We talked about how we are daughters of the King. We are beautiful, accepted and called by God. Do those pieces of information continue?

The world tells us that we are in constant competition to be beautiful. The hoops we must jump through to be accepted are crazy. And there is always something "more pressing" on our calendar than what God has called us.

So, we can easily let go of some awareness we gained on some snowy January weekend at church. We can pack away the reminders of the weekend and in turn pack away the words God spoke to our hearts.

Ladies, don't let it go. God is still active in this world and wants to show up in you! Put that feather boa on and get to work. Make that next step to which God is calling you. It may be hard, but you do not make it alone. You are a princess and not one that hangs out in the castle waiting for someone to rescue you. You have already been saved. Start living like it.

Get that passport!

Blessings,

Princess Melissa

remodeling

As I walked up to the church building this morning, I had a realization.
Remodeling is harder than a new build.
Okay, maybe I have not had that much experience with either one. However, hear my reasoning.
With a new build, you get to watch this new creation develop. It is exciting and all "new".
With a remodel, yea, you get to watch "new" happening. However, there is the old being moved to the side. Something has to be removed for the "new" to be built.
As the light post came down and the landscaping disappeared, I felt kind of emotionally attached.
Okay, okay - a little dramatic. I didn't even notice the light post before I saw it on it's side this morning. However, overall there is the whole taking away.
I know it will be wonderful when it is done. (That is not just a "company line", I really can't wait - it is going to be great.)
Yet, there is something about the taking away that makes this remodel hard.

Then it hit me. That is what transformation is about.
In our lives, God is in the business of remodeling. And sometimes that means some old has to go. If God is going to do anything with my life, some old habits have to disappear.
Definitely some walls have to come down.
Maybe even a little digging deep to pull out some old stuff.
God doesn't think "I'll get it right with the next one".
No, God desires to take a surrendered life and make some changes.

As I walked across the dusty, concrete and crowded with "construction stuff" floor of what will soon be the remodeled hospitality room, I smiled.
Can you image what God has to work with?
Thank you, Lord for taking on my remodel. And, its not just a company line - I know you are doing great things in me. It will be great when it is all done.

Sometimes silence is necessary

This past Thursday I attended a graveside at the Veterans' Cemetery. This was the first time I had been out to this particular cemetery. There was not a cloud in the sky and weather was beautiful. I don't remember ever attending a service with military honors.

There was power as the guns shot in rhythm. There is something incredibly breathe taking as "Taps" was played. Silence filled the area as the flag was folded. There was something rather powerful about watching this take place. A deep respect filled my heart.

All of this to honor a man who had served his country many years ago.

There was no room in this moment for political views or for one's opinion on war. This was a moment for silence.

Later on in the day, my eye caught the television news. Gunfire through an army base. I recognized the name of the base, my brother had done his basic training there. Words of the injuries and death filled the screen. Nothing was in rhythm, "Taps" will be played and the flag will be folded too many times over the next week.

Once again, there was no room at this moment for political views or for one's opinion on war. This is a time for silence and prayer for families.

Scripture as a sword

Words are powerful.

You know. I know, trust me, I know. I have used them in a positive way and I have used them in a negative way. And yes, I have had them used to encourage me and to beat me down.

However, Scripture was never meant to beat someone down.

The other day, I heard about someone attempting to use Scripture to get "their" point across in a negative way. Ouch!

Have you ever had someone use Scripture to beat you up? I have and it is not pretty.

Taking a verse and adding it to one's opinion as if to give one's negative words power is not the purpose of Scripture.

The Bible is beautiful and alive. The words found in Scripture are meant to guide and help us discern this journey of faith we are on. I have recommended someone read Scripture as they are struggling with direction. However, the recommendation usually is something like this, "Have you read the book of Hebrews lately? The book has some incredible things to say."

I have quoted a verse to express God's incredible and passionate love for humanity. The words were used to strengthen, to uplift, to encourage another person.

I have heard it expressed that the Word is a sword to be used against evil, not against each other. Yet, people do it.

People use this incredible communication from God as a weapon to slice another person.

I am not trying to "beat someone up" with my words in this blog. I am just trying to say, "hey, think about what you are doing before you do it, please".

As someone has shot at me with a list of single verses, my love affair with God's Word was not effected. However, my opinion of the person went south.

Yet, those that have been the target of negative prooftexting Scripture can quickly have a negative opinion of the Scripture.

Do you really want that to happen?

Here's the problem with prooftexting (taking a single verse out of context to make a point), there is always another verse that can be pulled out of context to make the opposing opinion.

Take 1 Timothy 4:2 for example "Such teaching come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron".

Some think they are just assisting the Holy Spirit with the job of conviction. I would attempt to assist this argument with prooftexting a verse. However, no where does it say, "the Holy Spirit needs your assistance".

Again, I am not trying to beat anyone up with this blog.

I am begging, please consider how you are using Scripture.

Words are powerful.

where the rubber meets the road

It has been one of those weekends.

I knew Saturday night that my frame of mind may only be improved with a trip through Andy's drive thru and ordering a key lime pie concrete.

You have probably had one of those kind of weekends.

I don't know if the details are as important as the questions that surfaced.

I didn't really ask the questions aloud.

Well, unless you count as I stood over my college best friend's grave.

Through a random series of events, I found myself looking down at the marker and realizing it had been almost 10 years since I talked to her in person. Theologically, I knew as I spoke aloud in that empty cemetery that my voice being projected was more for me than any other.

The conversation was a process of thoughts developing slowly at first and then snowballed into a rather enlightening awareness.

As a pastor, I knew I would be called into hospital hallways during the most vulnerable of times.

This was one of those weekends.

As a fixer, I wanted to have the answers. I never seem to have the answers when it counts.

I didn't have any answers for the family whose son would only call earth his home for only a few more hours.

Or a family whose little boy has had a rough first few weeks of his precious life and seen the inside of a hospital more than anyone should.

I have no answers for the family who just across the field would be burying a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother. (The reason for being in the cemetery in the first place).

I told this all to the clean cut grass beneath my feet.

My best friend from college who had always seem to have an opinion about my boyfriends and my college dorm decor was silent.

Yea, these questions were between God and I.

What is it that I believe? What is it that I stand before a congregation and profess?

If what I say when I wear a black robe doesn't mean anything in my sandals and capris in CCU or in the middle of a cemetery than it means nothing.

That is when the rubber meets the road. Faith.

If I profess God to be a comforter, than I must believe God to be of comfort when I pray that for a family.

If I profess that God has more for us than this moment, that Jesus' words of a place beyond this place are true, than I must believe it when standing before death.

If I profess that God is a healer than I must believe God can and will heal when it is God's will to do so.

I guess you could say this weekend consisted of some rubber meets the road moments.

And you could say that I figured out where I stood.

I believe that the God I worship on Sunday morning is in the details of life.

The voice that called me into ministry, tenderly whispers to these families "I love you".

The arms that have led me this far, holds each of these people (including you and me) with a gentleness that is beyond understanding.

Yes, when faith meets reality - God is there.

And for that, I am thankful.

Because the key lime concrete only made me feel stuffed.

Church: rain or shine?

I was on vacation recently and this included a Sunday morning. Yes, a Sunday morning in which I was not required by my employment to put on a robe and stand in front of a church congregation. (Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. I just did not have a place I had to be this particular morning.)

As the day approached, I considered what I would do with my morning. Would I attend the UM church just down the street? It is a small congregation, I would probably stand out. I want to blend in, not stand out this Sunday morning.

I could attend the mega-church across the highway. However, that would be listening to a sermon and some music. Do I want more of an experience than I could receive from a podcast and a CD?

What will I do with my Sunday morning?

As the sun broke through the night, I started to eye my half finished paint job on my garage door. The weather is beautiful. If I get an early start on my painting task, I could have a couple coats on before afternoon arrives. Dilemma, dilemma.

This decision got me thinking about why people attend the church I currently serve. Seriously, why would I expect anyone to attend worship on a beautiful Sunday morning when there are garage doors to be painted?

Okay before you start judging me. Yes, I know Scripture speaks of the reason to be in worship. I know we are called to lift our praises to God in thankfulness...just read the Psalms, its pretty clear why we are to be in corporate worship. That is not my question. I didn't ask if God calls us to gather for worship.

I understand enough about Wesley theology and prevenient grace to know that the Holy Spirit is pursuing our hearts to reconnect with our creator and worship is often used by the Holy Spirit to draw us closer. Again, not the question on the table.

I asked what would bring a stranger into our building to worship instead of tackling the "to do list" in their often too busy life.

What brings that visitor through our doors instead of sleeping in or spending leisure time with family or working in the yard on a Sunday morning?

To hear a powerful and dynamic teaching.

I could listen to a sermon podcasts downloaded off iTunes from any of the well known dynamic preachers that exist today.

To eat a donut and have a cup of coffee from our incredible hospitality ministry.

Krispy Kreme has a drive through, do I need to say more?

To watch our high tech, vibrant and relevant media we use in worship.

I have a hundred channels on my HD flat screen and can rent a movie at McDonalds.

Each of the above points of attraction are important and I appreciate everything our congregation does to enhance our worship, hospitality and technology. And many people attend churches based on these attributes. However, I don't think those things pull people off the paint ladders and into the pew. (Sorry for the continued paint analogy. I am blaming it on the paint fumes.)

So, what is it that brings people through the doors on a Sunday morning?

I think (and this is just a spitball answer from a vacation focused mind) it is community.

Not just community you can receive from being a part of the Rotary Club or a Sorority.

We all desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. To be part of a community that is focused on something larger than our little world of garage doors. A community that because of the Holy Spirit will get up at the crack of dawn and serve donuts and coffee. A group of people so focused on what Christ has done they want worship to be dynamic, vibrant, powerful and relevant so more people will become part of the community known as the body of Christ. Because, yes worship is about giving God our best.

However keep in mind next Sunday morning, that person siting next to you in the pew may have put down the paint brush long enough to walk through the church's front door.

Will they find a community of hope within the congregation?

Love your neighbor

It is my job this Sunday to preach a sermon about "The Good Samaritan" story found in the Gospel of Luke.

UGGGGH!

My heart is so heavy and broken thinking about what it means to care for the "man in need on the side of the road". I feel so limited, cynical and fearful to really say anything profound about reaching out to "someone out there".

Jesus is clear, love your neighbor as yourself.

We are called to reach out to those in need.

Just this afternoon I received two phone calls back to back.

One was a continuation from an event yesterday.

Our doors are locked for the security of 125 preschoolers. I know it is not ideal, but it is also a ministry to keep those children safe. So, someone needing gas money comes to the door and is offended because he is not "greeted at the door like a human being".

Okay, so maybe we don't have the "Open Doors, Open Minds, Open Hearts" completely down.

But can I just be really honest. We wouldn't need doors locked if people didn't come to the door in a belligerent manner and send fear through the building. (I talked to the guy on the phone, he was scary. I am a little worried about those leaving the building over the next few days). That is where the fearful part of the feeling in my heart comes.

How do we reach out in a society that is full of such anger, which creates fear?

So we fail to "love your neighbor as yourself". Ugggghhh!

However, in between the door visit and the phone call accusing me of personally "not having gas money, but you have a really nice sign out there" (If he only really knew about that sign...),

I got another phone call.

During that phone call I found God speaking to me in incredibly moving ways.

I was reminded that "the church" is suppose to be a place where people can be safe to be "the work in process" that we all are.

No, we don't always do it right and to be honest (again) we probably never will always get it right.

John Wesley believes we are all just moving onto perfection - I agree.

Yet, we can still have open hearts and receive another broken heart's words and desire to take this journey together.

In the Gospel, the Samaritan who helped the man on the side of the road, put the man on his own animal and traveled with him to the inn. He didn't send him ahead, he took the journey with him.

We may pass by sometimes without even noticing.

We may even have locked doors.

And yes, we may even get it right, with the Holy Spirit guiding each word.