Easter Miracles.

I have now had a week to step away from the busyness of Holy Week and school prep. Several friends asked how some of the special worship events went. I was very pleased with how well things turned out. Despite many obstacles and setbacks, both the Good Friday passion mime and the Easter morning Arise My Love came together wonderfully. The cast and crew all did well. The congregation found them to be very meaningful. All of this was a surprise to several people. We never had the entire cast at a rehearsal until just a few days before the event. Scheduling conflicts and illnesses caused us to change tech crew several times, even up to the night of the worship. But everything came together.

Another Easter miracle was that I actually got up and made it to the sunrise service (to freeze my butt off). Anyone who knows me will realize that this was a major feat. I am not a morning person.

A nice Easter miracle was that all of my siblings were at my parents' house for lunch and everything was pleasant. Now this is not entirely unusual. That used to always be the case. But in the past few years some tension had developed and family drama emerged. There have been some changes and things may be back to normal. We all were together at Christmas and it was peaceful. But last week when we had Easter lunch, it was actually like old times. Perhaps some of my family relations have been through their time and crucifixion and are entering into resurrection.

I have a close friend who is currently going through a stressful and difficult time. He feels beaten down by family drama. I hope by knowing that my daughter and brother have been friendly to each other to the point that Alicia said John is like a different person, my friend can hold on to some hope for another Easter miracle. Remember that you must go through the crucifixion to get to resurrection. Things may seem dark now, but think how much brighter the light seems when you go through the darkness. Do not give up hope.

Parrhesia

This is my word of the week. To speak the truth in power. To speak candidly, boldly or to ask forgiveness for so speaking. A word of Greek origin meaning literally "to speak everything." Most commonly understood to speak freely or boldly without selfish concern. It implies not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at personal risk.

We all know that it is better to speak the truth than to speak an untruth. But we often fail our obligation to be truthful remaining silent. How often do we fail to speak out about a situation -perhaps due to fear or laziness or both? We pretend we do not see an injustice. We do not want to get involved. We do not want to offend anyone.

I realize that some people will read this and be thinking of the other extreme. We all know people who think they have to state their opinion on every issue. They are constantly stirring up trouble by getting involved in things that are none of their business. I know there are names rolling through your mind right now. And I agree that sometimes keeping your mouth shut is the best option.

But I am just challenging you now to think about times you should step up and speak the truth for the common good. Speak up to stop hurtful rumors. Speak up to protect someone. Speak up when an intervention is needed. Speak up to encourage someone. Don't remain silent when you have the chance to give power by speaking the truth.

busy week

what a crazy week. here we are in holy week. but as we travel from palm sunday to easter, we go through st. patrick's day and march madness.

it seems somehow appropriate that this week barrack obama challenges us to face race relations. we are challenged to treat our neighbors as we want to be treated

wouldn't it be nice if all god's children really could embrace unity through diversity?

so as we move from the triumphant entry of palm sunday, past green parades and green beer of st. patrick's day, through crazy instructors who assign papers due during holy week, around selecting brackets, let's accept the challenge to keep the golden rule as we celebrate the resurrection.

Is commitment a dirty word?

Do you find that people are just not committed? Is loyalty old-fashioned?

I have worked for the same firm for almost 20 years. I understand that this is rare in a law firm. Most people - attorneys and support staff - move around every few years looking for a better deal. In recent years loyalty to any employer is rare. The days of staying with a company for 30 years, then retiring with your gold watch are gone.

I have been Methodist all of my life. (I admit that I have not been at the same Methodist congregation all of my life. Most recently this is because, as a pastor, I am appointed one year at a time and subject to being moved.) But apparently denominational loyalty is as rare as a person staying with the same employer. A recent survey found that nearly half of American adults had left the faith tradition of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether. More than one-quarter of American adults have left the faith of their childhood for another religion or no religion at all, the survey found. Factoring in moves from one Protestant denomination to another, the number rises to 44 percent. One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.

And I find more and more that even people who claim to be faithful to a specific congregation in a specific denomination, they cannot commit to ministries. Someone recently complained that only a handful of people actually do things in the church. I pointed out that this is the case in any organization the old 20/80 formula - 20% of the people do 80% of the work in any group. (and I think that is being generous.) I notice that even that small percent that do the work cannot commit to things on a regular basis. I have yet to get an entire cast to attend rehearsal for an upcoming drama. Attendance in study groups or discussion groups is sporadic. This is partially because people may be over committed. That is "committed" to too many things so that they cannot be truly committed to any of their commitments.

I am guilty myself. I am in two bunko groups. While I make it to most of the gatherings in my first group, I find that I miss almost every other month in the other. This is because I have too many things going on.

And I am just getting to the area where there are real commitment issues: relationships. Again, I am not just pointing fingers here. I am guilty myself. Long-term committed relationships are not my specialty. But even someone like me cannot help but feel bad when I see all of the divorces and failed relationships around me. A most recent example would be that Alicia was to be in a wedding this month, but the groom called off the wedding. I guess it is better to realize before the wedding than to wait and get a divorce. But I cannot help but think of all the money wasted or lost by calling off a wedding within two weeks of the scheduled ceremony.

All of this - changing jobs, changing church affiliation, changing partners seems to be in keeping with what a recent article described as the high tolerance among Americans for change. The article noted that we have a very fluid society - people move a lot, people change jobs a lot.

I don't know that I have a real point. It is just an observation.