Listening to Jazz from the Twenties, Thirties, Fourties and watching musicals with Bing, Bob Hope, Fred Astaire activate a “good old day” mentality  for me.  But, if I start to unpack those days they are no different or maybe worse than what we are experiencing now!  In the Twenties the World was recovering from a World War, entering the “Roaring Twenties” (characterized by rebellion against Prohibition) and ending with the “Great Depression.”  The Thirties culminated in another World War dragging into the mid-Forties.  Many young men and innocents were killed.  Including mass Genocide of those of the Jewish faith.  I am sure you may identify other glaring problems and tragedies in those decades.  The same can be said of the decades following and the centuries that preceded…back to day one.

So here we are…what are we to do?  We really cannot fall back into mindless nostalgia.  We cannot pick and choose what we love from each era.  Although there have been positive developments. Yet, we cannot underestimate the difficulties of our present Age.  Regardless of our class, race, gender and other self-appointed and other labels, we are in this together.  We are after all together on the same planet.  Our actions have consequences in our environment.  Our actions have results in our families very often with outcomes that will effect generations to come.

My question is what do we have in common?  We know what divides us…it is glaringly apparent.  Our nation and our world  have become polarized to the nth degree.  Compromise is seen as a cop out.   Offering “common  courtesy” is viewed as a weakness.  Every hill is a worthy place to die.  Better to fight the fight than open your ears and listen.  Reading between the lines is a lost art form.  Is a broken heart concealed behind an angry outburst? Or, unbearable loneliness causing a loner to lash out?

Looking back to what was good about the past may bring a comfortable if brief memory.  Envisioning a high tech problem-free future may also bring satisfying  feelings momentarily.  Neither of those options has us acting in and changing the present.  In any case, it seems there will be no idealistic utopia for us to arrive at in this life.  It is beyond hope to believe that our world cannot and will not be influenced by self-seeking power seeking people, and by the greed that has always been part of our collective  history.

If we were to take an exhaustive poll of what we have all experienced as the worst of what humanity sometimes represents it would be overwhelming.  To be fair if we listed the best of who we are it may cause us to cry tears of joy about what could be.  What we all have in common are many of those things…both sides of the same coin.

How do we leave the worst behind and become our best…together?  If you realize that you are linked inextricably together in this world how can we display our worst time and time again?  Do you have that type of frame of reference?

I cannot offer an answer without enlisting the help of everyone.  It has been said that you really can only change yourself.  But, the paradoxical piece of that argument is that it is only by changing yourself first that others will subsequently change.  It is a very deliberate and active form of mentoring and essentially leading the way.  It is humility in its most basic form.  Taking the first move to forgive, taking a step back in an argument and adopting a listening stance and attitude.   Being generous with time and resources with those who have very little.

Is it worth it to you to adopt a humble stance, to forgive, to lead toward love?  Even if the world will not be perfect this side of heaven.  We can start here.  Love in action right now takes us out of wistful reminiscing and wishful thinking.  It seems like the easiest thing in the world…if someone else takes the first step.

As a Christian and a pastor I believe Christ allows us to take that step in faith as we value others as much as we do ourselves.  And further, it is often necessary for us to humble ourselves and put the needs of others ahead of our own.

Instead of imagining how things could be different forgive someone, ask for forgiveness, provide for someone’s need.  Bless someone with the best of who you are!

 

 

 

Recently I have heard or been addressed with the question of whether the Bible (or portions of it) or whether the Gospel is “relevant”?

I guess the real bottom line question is whether most people feel that a relationship with Jesus is important?  As a hospital chaplain, I visit many individuals 65+ who were raised in the church and in a culture that reinforced their Christian faith.  Innumerable times I have heard from these believers almost word-for-word the following phrase.  “I don’t know how people make it without the Lord”, and, “I have grown closer as I have gotten older.”

I often wonder the same thing.  Relying on ourselves works for a while if we are strong and our problems are few.  The connections we can have on our ever-present phones or other gadgets can sustain us to a point.  Entertaining ourselves constantly keeps us from thinking too long about our personal issues or developing deep relationships.  We can easily distract ourselves from asking deep questions.  And, keep ourselves constantly busy and superficially connected to innumerable “friends” via social media.

Thinking about the relevance of the Gospel message and aiming to encourage others to hear it came to me again as I am preparing lessons on the topic for Sunday School.  Teaching Bible stories, learning the books of the Bible, and getting a feel for the overview of God’s Story and His people act as my framework for teaching.  But, what of the ultimate question?  And, what of the personal relationship with Jesus?

Political correctness has crept into the church in ways that may undermine our asking children important and life changing questions.  Is it relevant to ask, “who do people say that Jesus is?”  “Is He here for us today?”  “What does Jesus ask us to do?”  “Have you accepted Him into your life and heart?”  “Will deny self and follow Him?”

Knowing the way to follow is something we need to learn and teach.  Knowing Who to follow is relevant and pivotal.  Jesus made it quite clear that a choice needed to be made.  He came to reveal the truth and Himself.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Choosing Jesus leads to freedom (from sin in its various forms) and a relationship that will sustain you throughout your life.

God is there when we reach the end of our selves.  When we hit bottom, when our limitations become all too obvious, when we are afraid, guilt-ridden or grieving Jesus can be our strength, hope and second chance.  That message must be heard.  Does that seem relevant?

 

 

 

One of my favorite texts to read and preach on is Isaiah 40:21-31.  It puts things in perspective adopting a view of a larger reality.  The phrase “have you not known?”, and “have you not heard?” are stated directly twice and implied several times as well.

The questions are not merely rhetorical. Isaiah is addressing individuals who should know the answers.  The questions relate to God.  Have you not known Him? Have you not seen what He does and will continue to do?

Today it is so easy to believe that our fate and or salvation is in the hands of political parties.  If this text is to be believed that is clearly not the case.  It never has been!  God is in control. According to Isaiah, He “brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.”  I shared this in the context of a sermon at a local nursing home.  There was a lot of affirmative head nodding when I noted that God could but “blow on them and they wither away.”

For those who have “seen it all” this concept was no surprise. Individuals who are in their late eighties and nineties have the depth of experience and may have a deep understanding of life that only comes with age.  Asking seasoned Christians if they “have not known?” or “seen?” God at work usually results in a significant story.  Such stories can bless us beyond measure and add to our own wisdom.  Often we miss out on these opportunities.  As a chaplain I constantly benefit from these interactions.

The stories of God’s people (their testimonies or witness to His presence and power) must be shared.  Why?  So that others may hear, and see and understand.  The text below mentions that even young people grow weary and essentially may lose hope.  Sharing our stories, faith, hope and understanding will allow them access to our ultimate hope and security.  You cannot know what has never been taught. Neither can you process what you have not seen.

Isaiah reminds us that, “the Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…”(vs. 28-31)

Have we not known that He is Lord, Creator, the One who empowers us and calls us by name? Have we not seen Him at work in the world and within us?  Who could value from your vision and understanding?  Today?

In the book of Proverbs (Chapter 22:9) it says that “a generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”

It is important to be deliberate about addressing the needs of the poor. Identifying a specific charity to claim as our own is also pivotal.  It is especially so for those of us who call ourselves Christians.  Jesus indicated that “you will always have the poor among you.” (John 12:8)  To me that means it should always be an on-going concern for us.

Tomorrow- Sunday October 16th my wife (Kristen) and I will be walking in the Attleboro Area Crop (Hunger) Walk.  I am the youth pastor at Central Congregational Church.  Members of our three youth groups and their families are participating as “Team Transformation.”

In preparation for the walk our Tween Sunday School class formulated a theme.  This was used to then create a banner for the walk.  The central idea was- “what can we give up so others might have good things?”  Some of those things were: candy, toys, food, $, etc.  What the kids shared really emphasized their understanding of what it meant to sacrifice for others.  Not just giving out of the leftovers but sacrificing some of the things they would keep for themselves!

Please consider making the Crop Walk your regular charity to help feed the poor.

Church World Service has been sponsoring Crop Walks for 25 years and is a trusted fund-raising organization.

Consider making a donation today at: https://www.crophungerwalk.org/attleboroma/GlennRounseville

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overcomers in Christ

Twenty-five years ago I had an unsettling dream.  It was disturbing for several reasons the first was that I envisioned one of my favorite places in the world and something was changing.  It…

Source: A New Day

“He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, by His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

One of my favorite things about preaching is that the Word works on me as I work on the Word.  Sometimes that is very uplifting and at other times humbling and difficult.  Since I do not preach every week I miss that process.  So, blogging here will serve yet another purpose.

I do not believe that I have ever preached on this text…that is the beauty of wandering beyond a lectionary approach.

The text from Peter is brief but loaded with meaning.  Notice that it says, “you have been healed”.  This is past tense.  It has been accomplished.  In Christ you have been healed.

Many of us have stumbled along waiting for healing to arrive.  Some of us in the darkness of depression.  Some of us in the prison of bitterness and unforgiveness.  Or, others of us in the other imposed world of abuse.  Those of us chained by silence, helplessness, fear and shame.  Jesus does not want us to remain in any of these places.

So, that is good to know…now what do we do?  Am I not stuck with these situations?  Isn’t this “my cross to bear”?  Maybe…to some degree.  We are in some way marked by these experiences.  We have scars- physically and emotionally.  But, have you claimed Jesus’ gift of healing?  Healing and growing and becoming healthier and holier is not an easy process!

For me the healing process began (and I am certain will continue) when I reached the end of my ability to cope.  All my defense mechanisms; sense of humor, intelligence, planning failed me.  Depression hit so hard I could not stand.

In order to heal I needed to hit bottom.  There was nothing in me to fix it.  What I found when I hit that low point was that God in Christ was there to lift me up.  I also learned techniques for self-care and became less independent.  My dependence came to rest on Jesus.  Only He can truly heal us.

And, more than that He can transform our scars into signs of hope for others.  Our stories of healing can serve as encouragement to those in darkness.  Hitting bottom may become less likely if they have others to help them.  As a hospital chaplain I have seen this over and over.  I want to replace the saying that “misery loves company.”  “Healing loves company” is more realistic from God’s perspective.  Offering clear evidence of what Jesus has done grants people an invitation to accept healing.

Please note that Jesus healed people physically.  Yet, at other times He addressed their need for forgiveness or other internal needs.  We will not always receive physical healing.  This may well be a cross to bear our the reality of our frailty. Our bodies wear out.  I myself realized that the warranty began to wear out at @42 years old. We are mortal but we are called to immortality as we live our lives in Christ.

And, our brief text indicates that we are to “live for righteousness.”  That indicates repentance and a change of direction.  We are to move away from sin.  Yet, this passage is quite clear about something.  We are dependent on God to get there.  The power to become more holy rests in Him.  There is no amount of will power that will get us there.  We must surrender our will and our sins (and the the sins of others we endured) to God.  Then, healing and transformation will take place.  It is true.

The hardest thing for any of us to believe is that it can happen for me.  “But, isn’t God busy with a lot of things”…We say to ourselves, “this is really too much to ask when other people are worse off.”  Or, “there are too many things standing in the way.”  And, on it goes!  I found the largest “thing” standing in the way was me!!  God can handle all of us at once.  That is a difficult concept to grasp.  As a parent it is impossible to cover all the bases.  God is not limited in this way.  He is there for all of His children…all at once.  He does indeed have time for you and I.

My advice is- get out of your own way for a moment.  Give God a chance to do what you believe is impossible. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

PS- if anyone is willing to share stories that offer “before and after” illustrations of God’s healing power–> Please share in the “comments” section of this blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18+19)

Immediately after quoting this text in the Synagogue Jesus fulfilled what he had spoken.  He drove out demons (releasing those captives) and began His healing miracles.  Over time we seem to have overlooked or diminished Jesus’ second step of his strategic plan.  He followed the same plan throughout each of the Gospels.  It was simple, focused and effective.  Preach, deliver (people), and heal.

I am prone to skip over that middle strategy myself.  Demons…really?  When I was a student at Gordon-Conwell Seminary the Ockenga Institute held seminars with various speakers.  I knew if this because my wife worked at the Institute.  So, I would attend the seminars.  One seminar dealt with “Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance.”  I made it through only a portion of the event…and left scratching my head.  And I thought, “what could this possibly mean today?”  I shrugged it off and left.

Something I have noticed more and more is that Jesus took this step seriously.  If anyone could see through a charlatan wouldn’t it be Jesus?  He could and can see our hearts.  He dealt with “demons” quickly and authoritatively.

Now here we are in the 21st century.  Are we too sophisticated to realize the evidence, power, and persistence of “demons”?  Before I continue clarification is necessary.  In my estimate “demons” equal those things that take the place of God’s Spirit within us.  Idols tend to be things that are external which we desire.  Once an idol totally posseses our very selves then we are talking about our “demons”. Another spirit takes root inside us.  Either it drives God away or does not allow us to accept the gift of grace in the first place.

This type of possession which blocks God’s Spirit takes hold prior to our awareness of its presence.  How can we battle something that has always been there?  It has always been part of “me” right?

This understanding was triggered as I listened to the speakers at the Summit.  John Maxwell’s focus was to “add value” to people’s lives.  Upon reflection I wondered if we can add more value to a person than what God placed there when they were created?  Danielle Strickland emphasized that often the message we preach to people entering the church “relates to our depravity”.  She indicated that we need to remember that “God created us good.”

The questions which prompted this blog entry were, “what caused us to believe that we are not good?”, and “what stands in the way of our ability to see ourselves through God’s eyes?”

I came to the conclusion that Jesus’ second step belongs here!  When there is a boulder or a mountain in the way how do we remove it?  By the power of God alone.  Praying very definite if not specific requests for release.  Praying to set the captives free so then they could hear and respond to the Word as well.

I do not believe “demons” have names as if characters in a far-fetched story.  They are names we are quite familiar with- “abuse”; “abandonment”; “shame”; “fear” and I am sure you know others quite personally.

There is only one place to take these “demons” that may possess us.  Bring them to Christ and the Cross.  Extinguish their power by the blood and the Word. And, pray that the Holy Spirit would fill the space made empty by the retreat of the “other” spirit.  The transformation that God performs in and through us is amazing.  We have proof of that in each of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.  Jesus can and will speak to us, drive out our demons and heal us even in the 21st century.

Blessings–>

 

 

 

 

I was graciously invited to the Global Leadership Summit at Christ Church in E. Greenwich, RI.  The Summit features speakers who are world class business and church leaders.  I expected to learn a lot about the skills I may be lacking as a leader.  And, I did take that away from the two day event.  But, what impressed me most was the (at times) tearful delivery of the presentations.  Many of the speakers touted “humility” as the underlying character trait or God-given gift that sets wonderful leaders apart.  The beauty of the messages was reinforced by the personal stories of those who delivered them.  The leaders clearly illustrated what they were teaching us.  I think it was clear that humility did not come easily for them.  And, leaders tend to struggle with this.  From what I gathered humility is a trait that must be developed.  All things even wise leaders are made new if they allow themselves time to reflect and grow.  God can and will change their hearts.  I believe a conscious effort was made by this group of leaders to be truly humble but very transparent.  Many of the keys to good leadership begin inside the leader.  The need for Christian devotion, character development and healthy relationships and self-care were stressed throughout the broadcast. I believe Danielle Strickland’s definition of humility put things in perspective for me.  It takes away any tendency toward “boasting” as the Apostle Paul would note.  Yet, also does not allow some people to “hold onto their gifts” or, “bury their talent.”  Danielle said, “true humility is agreeing with God about who you are.”  The overriding message of the Summit (at least for me) was: are you all that God wants you to be and if not…why not?  For God can and will make all things new!  Blessings!

 

 

 

 

“The Cross of Christ”

“the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “let light shine out of darkness”, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:4-6

In the days since Easter morning, I have been reflecting on the suffering and death of our Savior Jesus, the Christ. I think sometimes we race through Holy Week to get to Easter. Rev. Carole Baker at Central Congregtational church reiterates the fact that we must face Good Friday before we reach the victory of Easter. It is an important point. I would rather not dwell on Jesus’ suffering, especially since some of the pain that He endured was due to my sin. It is difficult to gloss over this fact. The cover of an issue of Time Magazine in 1966 stated quite authoritatively that “God is Dead”. I read some of the article and it did not stop there. Essentially it related that God is not only dead, but we (collectively as the human race) killed him! And, the angst that this created was overwhelming as it asked the question…”how do we get His blood off our hands?” So this is the rest of the story…we believed we had killed God but left out the part that He was raised from the dead. The answer to the previous question is “no we cannot get those blood stains off our hands”. But, the GOOD NEWS that no one reported on was that the very God we “killed” was the One who could wash those blood stains away quite completely. God was dead, but is alive, and He wants to forgive us and have an intimate relationship with us!! Paradoxical but true. Those of us who are Christians reading this have ample “evidence” in our lives however “subjective” it may be. Satan does not want unbelievers to hear this message!

In the midst of looking for resources on the Cross of Christ I found that a relative I had not heard of wrote a definitive work entitled, “The History of the Cross of Christ”. The author was William Rounseville Alger. He was a minister and chaplain (of the Massachusetts House of Representives) in the 1800’s. I often wonder how we could have killed the One who loved us first and so well. Alger wrote, “that He who had the gentlest heart that ever throbbed in sympathy with mortal weal or woe, should have been so neglected, despised, spurned, and cast out- that those feet which never wearied on errands of mercy, as He still went about doing good, and those hands which were laid in benediction on the heads of little children, which touched the eyes of the blind with sight, and raised the broken-hearted sinner with a brother’s love and a Savior’s forgiveness, should have been nailed in agony to the accursed tree…” (P. 23- H of C of C).

Returning to the Passion of Christ for a moment I wanted to emphasize that not only did Jesus hang on the cross for us. He was abandoned by His closest friends, was flogged very cruelly ( fueled by His jailers hatred), spat on and mocked …all for us. He endured it all in silence because He knew what His mission was. Not only to die but to be raised by the power of God…so we might believe and be saved.

The Christian singer Natalie Grant (album- the Hurricane) in one song says- “here at the Cross of Christ…the victory is won…Your agony means life for ALL of us.” Somehow in all or worldly wisdom we have missed the point of God dying. He died that we might live. He did all the work for us…Jesus bled and died…was tortured along the way…and disgraced so He might offer us Grace.

Upon reflection it is no wonder that we want to hurry past Good Friday. But, when we do we miss the most important point…Jesus came to save us…for a purpose. He restored the disciples to their mission and it is ours as well…to make disciples of all nations…to spread the Good News. Unbelievers need to hear the message of grace. It is truly their only hope as Jesus was our only hope when we were called out off darkness into the light. Christians are not born…they are re-born. The unbeliever to your right or left may yet become a brother or sister in Christ…and a beloved child of God.