Thoughts for the Transition

Of the many images that are stuck in my mind following our Mission trip to Honduras, this is one of my favorites. It shows one of the youth, Michael, skipping with a young Honduran girl in a rural village that had been largely established by PC(USA) mission funds and the wonderful ministry of Tim and Gloria Wheeler.

The joy of the moment, both on the part of our own youth and those who welcomed us in their land, was tangible. Honduras is a developing nation that has great problems. Much of what we take for granted is not part of their infrastructure. It was a humbling experience to witness their daily struggles.

Yet in the midst of much need there was always laughter. There were those sparkling moments of blessing when joy seeped in and the world seemed like a place of welcome. On the trip, I had a few uncomfortable days due to catching a stomach bug. The day we visited this particular village I really wasn't at my best. But still the joy broke through!

Before leaving for Honduras I had announced to the congregation here in Baldwin my intention to resign, having accepted a position at another church near to where my daughter lives. The church here now have a struggle ahead of them as they seek to discern the way forward as a church community needing pastoral oversight. It probably won't be an easy journey. Transitions are never easy.

The people we met in Honduras face tremendous obstacles, just to survive. Their strength came through community. It is as they have worked together towards common goals that things have happened. It is as they have accepted help from others that they have been able to accomplish things that urgently needed to be done.

The church here in Baldwin has challenges ahead. If they can pull together they will be fine. If they can accept the help of their Presbytery and work with them, progress will be made. Probably not quickly. Probably not without a fair share of frustration and disappointments. Community is the key. It is as people seek the best for each other that the good stuff comes along.


So I guess my prayer, in the midst of transition, is that the laughter will keep appearing and joy will be a force that keeps things focused. That there will be an emphasis on community and a sense that God is very much present in the hard work and the tough choices.

I witnessed first hand the amazing things that are taking place in Honduras through the PC(USA).  God is at work. Those who say the church has had her day or that Christianity is a thing of the past are simply wrong. Where there is a desire to work hard, a willingness to do so with others and the unquenchable hope that God's Holy Spirit is with us, not against us, amazing things continue to happen.

May they continue to happen, not only in Honduras, but in the  life and witness of Baldwin Presbyterian Church, NY... and all to the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Off to Honduras!

On July 5th youth from Glen Cove, Sweet Hollow, Garden City and Baldwin, along with their pastors are headed to Honduras on a mission trip. About 20 folk in all are going. From Baldwin, along with myself, we have Hannah Batsford and Lauren Tessitore.

We leave very early Sunday morning July 5th (after sleeping over at Garden City) and return July 14th (at an equally early time in the morning). We'll by flying into Tecugicalpa, Honduras, then have a 6 hour bus trip to La Cumbre, where we'll be staying in a home-like hostel, enjoying locally made meals.

Our mission will be building homes out of cinderblock in the rural community of La Cumbre, near to the town of Tirinidad-de-Copan in rural Honduras, (like the folks in the picture). Our hosts will be Tim and Gloria Wheeler, PC(USA) missionaries. http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/wheeler-tim-and-gloria/

The trip has been arranged through the 'West End Presbyterian Coalition' (formerly 'Nassau Joint Minstries') a group of Presbyterian Churches in the West End of Long Island seeking to work together in mission and service. Being in rural Honduras means having no internet/cell phone etc. There will be no blog!  But I'm sure we'll have much to share on our return.


Meanwhile at Baldwin Presbyterian, life will continue to flow. On Sunday July 6th, Rev Robert Glaser will be leading a communion service. Then on Sunday 13th July our own Elder Margret Cook will be leading worship. Please remember our summer services begin at 9:30 a.m.

Pictured below are Hannah and Lauren demonstrating how excellent they have been at Fund Raising for the Honduras trip. We are very grateful to the congregations we are part of for their support and enthusiasm. All we need now are their continued prayers to carry us through :-) It promises to be a wonderful experience for leaders and youth alike.

Lots of stuff Sunday.

All sorts of things happening this coming Sunday. It's Trinity Sunday. It's Father's Day. It's the day we honor our graduates. It's the day we honor our Sunday School teachers. And we are going to be doing a little promotional moment for an upcoming youth mission trip to Honduras.

The blogging possibilities are endless! However I'm sticking with the first of those themes, as it's probably the one that will become buried under all the other stuff. The theme of 'The Trinity'.  To some it's an incomprehensible mystery. To some of other faiths it comes across as heretical as they feel Christians believe in three gods, not One. To the ancient Celts it seemed to have made perfect sense and was a cornerstone of their theology.

Consider St Patrick's famous prayer...

'I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation. '

Personally I like the idea of God as a community of oneness. It ties together all those monotheist and polytheist ideas with a unique synchronicity. I like the idea of interaction and activity that 'threeness' evokes. It appeals to me that God is neither one thing or the other, but seeking to know us in a myriad of different ways... through the earthly reality of flesh and blood, through unseen, un-tameable, unpredictable Spirit, through being both source and destination, Alpha and Omega.

It almost seems appropriate that on Trinity Sunday we will be doing a number of things that reflect aspects of the Trinity. When we pray the Lord's prayer we say 'Our Father'. The Holy Spirit is pictured as our ultimate teacher and guide. Through mission trips we put flesh and blood on our confession of faith and try and do the things we feel Jesus would do... helping others in practical ways. And life is certainly full of milestones... like graduations... that we need to celebrate!

Wherever this coming Sunday may find you, may you be surrounded by the activity of the threeness and oneness! And for a musical interlude... one of the great Trinity hymns .. 'Holy, Holy, Holy'

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

A Hymn and a 'Confession of Faith' for Music Sunday

Each year in Baldwin we hold a Music Sunday to celebrate the musical gifts of our congregation. Worship and music go together - and it promises to be an inspiring occasion. 

As one who came to the USA from Wales I am well aware of the role music has played in the history of the church. In the Welsh revival of 1904 an inspirational  hymn was 'Here is love, vast as the ocean'. It does not appear in the PC(USA) hymnal and I've not often heard it since being over this side of the pond, but it remains a personal favorite. So I share it here, in all it's glory.

One of the 'none-musical' items in the service is our confession of faith. It speaks of how music is a part of God's creative process and how God's Spirit continues to inspire our creativity today. Music weaves in and out of the biblical narrative. Truly a gift to be received and welcomed.

Hope wherever you are this coming Sunday music gets to be a part of your day!

I believe in God , Maker of heaven and earth, whose Word sang creation into being. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and welcomed by angels songs. Jesus was opposed and betrayed by discordant voices and prejudices of people not so different from ourselves. He was crucified, dead and buried. The third day He rose again from the dead; turning songs of lament into songs of joy. He ascended into heaven, where He is worshiped by angels singing 'Hosanna, to the Lamb who was slain'. I believe in the Holy Ghost, who inspires our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and empowers us to perform loving actions that bring harmony to God's creation. I believe in the one universal church, birthed in song and destined to sing songs of praise before the throne of God. Amen.

Sermon Survival Strategies

There's a story in Acts 20:7-12 about a young guy called Eutychus who falls asleep in the sermon whilst the Apostle Paul is preaching in a town called Troas. To find out what happened, you'll either have to read the passage or come and join us for worship this Sunday. 

It sets my mind wondering about worship... or more particularly about what we do on Sunday mornings and the role the sermon plays in the proceedings. We live in a world that is increasingly conditioned to hearing only through 'sound-bytes' and headlines. It is only rarely that we will sit and listen to somebody 'talking, talking, talking' unless it is bolstered by images, graphics and other such visual devices. 

It has been pointed out to me that God pioneered the use of visual images, as a burning bush was used to grab the attention of Moses. However, as I am not in the position to be able to set a tree on fire every time I preach, I am unable to follow that particular path.

So how should one approach a Sunday sermon? (I'm talking here not as a presenter, but as a listener). As one who enjoys listening to sermons as much as preaching them, I have my own sleep shattering strategies.

1. Be aware of God. A sermon isn't a lecture. It is an exposition of a passage of scripture that God once breathed into somebodies life. It's an attempt to put wings on something that was first spoken many moons ago and apply it to our life today. The simple acknowledgment that through the preacher (whoever they may be) God is trying to communicate something of immense value helps me sit up and take notice. 

2. Pray for the Preacher. Preparing sermons isn't easy. People are complicated. The Word that God wants to speak comes to us filtered through a persons personality, peculiarities and prejudices. It is hard for the preacher to get out of the way and let God do the talking. Yet I know from experience that if I am in a pulpit surrounded by people lifting me up in their prayers, there is far more likelihood of God speaking to them. 

3. Be fully engaged in the whole worship experience. Get there in a timely manner. If there are suggested scripture readings, read them. If there is liturgy, read it before sharing in it. Sing the hymns with all the energy you can muster. Follow along from the pew bible with the scripture readings. When the offering comes around, give in a way that shows how important God is to you. When the choir performs, or the children sing, receive it as an offering they are making for you... as a gift to be enjoyed, not a performance to be evaluated. When you pray... pray! If your mind wanders, pray about the things and places it wanders to. Receive the sacraments respectfully. And whenever the sermon comes around....

4. Take notes. I know... it looks kind of nerdy. And you may be the only one who is paying that much attention. So what? If you are the only one who walks away with something they can refer back to during the week, then you are better prepared to face the rest of the week than anybody! You win. Writing stuff down REALLY helps battle the snooze gremlins that will be present, no matter how wonderful the preacher or the message may be.

Some of my personal snooze shattering strategies! Like it or not, our minds are lazy creatures that don't easily endure sermons. We have to train ourselves to listen if we don't want to miss out. Jesus said; "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:15). When we place ourselves in a position to hear, it can be amazing how our lives can be changed... even by a sermon everybody else slept through!

Finding the Way

This upcoming Sunday we'll be taking a glimpse at Psalm 37:1-6. One of the things that the Psalm speaks of is finding God's direction for our lives.

The fifth verse tells us " Give yourself to the Lord; Trust in Him, and He will help you".

Whenever a person truly acknowledges God's call on their lives they are presented with a dilemma. "What on earth does God want me to do with my life now that I've decided to be a follower of Jesus Christ?"

The most simplistic yet profound answer is simply to say that we have to trust that God will guide us. But putting the meat on the bones of that statement can take a lifetime of searching. And maybe that's how it is meant to be. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is very unsettling. 

We are called to continually evaluate our purpose, our priorities and our principles. What might be right for us at one point in our life may change as we enter another season. What is the right direction for one person can be totally wrong for another. God has made us each unique because God has a unique purpose for each one of us.

There are ways we can discern. Through prayer and meditation on God's Word. Through the counsel of friends or family we trust have our best interests at heart. We observe how God has guided others in the past. We seek to discern what our gifts and talents might be, and where they can best be used in God's service. 

The most important thing of all though is to have surrendered our lives to God's love. Unless we can come to Jesus and say, "Lord, I will do whatever you want me to do" then we shouldn't expect to receive His guidance. What we would like, what we think is best for us, doesn't come into it. The basic essential is a living faith that allows us to do the things God calls us to do!

Chris Bowater's Song "Here I am, wholly available"provides a great backdrop to any thoughts on seeking God's direction,  particularly with it's refrain "As for me, I will serve the Lord". Recommend you give it a listen :-)

Take a Break!

It's good to take a break. Which is exactly what this pastor is doing for the next couple of weeks as he travels to his homelands for a family wedding. As another soul has boldly declared "I'll be back!" And so will the blog. I know. You can hardly wait. Patience is a virtue to be nurtured.

In the meantime activities at the church will continue. We have a wonderful Mothers day service planned with guest preacher Joan Finck. Folk are asked to bring along a picture of mom to place on the comunnion table as a way of celebrating their lives.

Then the Sunday after we have a visit from our Executive Presbyter Rev. Mark Tammen. Some great opportunities for worship await! But wherever you are, break or no break, may you keep calm and know God's blessing.

The Peculiar Practice of Singing

This coming Sunday as we gather for worship we'll be taking a look at a verse from 1 Peter 2:9 :- "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you, out of darkness into His marvelous light". The phrase in that verse that always brings a smile to my face is the one that describes church folk as 'peculiar people'. 

We can indeed be an odd bunch. Now, as I'll be explaining on Sunday, that's not really the sense the original Greek text intended to convey, but it has to be said that over the centuries the Christian faith has attracted it's fair share of eccentrics and unique personalities. It still does. Indeed a lot of what those 'in the faith' do Sunday by Sunday does seem peculiar to the way we live our daily lives. Take for example singing. 

Where else (aside from large sporting events) do people these days indulge in communal singing? The sing-song down the local pub, the family gathered around the piano, the music hall... these are relics of the past that have been replaced by karaoke machines and contemporary music concerts where we may be invited to sing along to "We will, we will rock you" or some other uplifting slogan.

On the TV the focus is on the solo performer (American Idol - The Voice) or occasionally the group (The Sing-Off) but the idea of the rest of us non-professional singers lifting our voices seems increasingly absent. Which is sad. Because it gives the impression that singing is only about performance and gives folk the idea that they shouldn't even be trying to do it.

I unashamedly have a peculiar love for hymns and the communal singing of them. It breaks my heart to look at a congregation and see folk not even giving their voices a try. Most hymns (old or modern) are easy to pick up ... and by the final verse you can blast them out with much enthusiasm. Never mind the tonality or the fact that you may not totally resonate with all the words or that nobody else seems on board, I say 'be peculiar' and go for it.

Communal singing of hymns and spiritual songs can be such a joy. I truly feel a sense of sadness for folk who don't get to experience it. They are missing out on a peculiar pleasure. Old or young, it doesn't matter. Everyone can carry a tune.. if their hearts in it. Communal singing isn't a talent contest. It's not putting on a show. It's being together with others in song. 

So many of our hymns carry such deep insights, not just into theology, but about life in general. And it's always good to let an 'Alleluia' fill the air. (As this clip from the 2006 Trinity Youth Conference demonstrates). Just do it. Indulge yourself in the peculiar practice of singing. Forget who may be watching, listening or noticing. It's not about them. It's your time, your voice and your privilege to be a person of song. If you read the Psalms, you'll notice that God seems to really enjoy it as well. 

"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you, out of darkness into His marvelous light"

Easter Ponderings

There is a tale going the rounds about a little boy in church on Easter Sunday who comes to the front during Children's time. 'What day is it today children?' asked the Rev. One bright young lad pipes up; "Easter!" 'What is Easter?' asked the pastor. "It's the day Jesus came out of his tomb!" 'Very good' commented the pastor. But the boy continued... "Then he saw his shadow and went back in again!"

Yep, it's Easter.  And for people of faith, trying to steer a way though Easter Bunnies, Egg hunts and all the other trappings marking the advent of Spring, to discover the deeper meaning of the season can be quite a quest. Our cultural traditions tend to cast a shadow over the biblical message that forms the essential core of Christianity.

Taking another look at the scriptural accounts is highly recommended. The account of Jesus entry into Jerusalem, His confrontations with both religious and political authority, His betrayal both by those closest to Him and by people in high and low places, His desperate prayers in the Garden, His abuse by law enforcement, the account of His death and events that surround  it..... this is not easy reading.

Steve Turner in his poem "* Christmas is really for Children"...

"Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by a
cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to 
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop of spring.
Or they'd do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when He grew up
or whether there's any connection."

On Easter Day the church makes an an astounding claim. That God raised Christ from death. We proclaim that this makes a HUGE difference. That light can beat darkness and death is not game over.  We realize that resurrection is interpreted in many different ways.

How such a notion rocks your world is something we cannot predict! However we will continue to gather for worship each year and declare "Christ is Risen". And whilst this cry may be misunderstood and misinterpreted, we also know there will be those, who from personal experience, respond "He is risen, indeed!"

However you view Easter, our prayer is that something of an 'Hallelujah' might infest your personal experience of the holiday. And if you are in the area of First Presbyterian Church, Baldwin,  feel free to join us. We'll even invite you to join in a communal singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. Because we can!

(* From 'Nice and Nasty' by Steve Turner. Copyright Marshall, Morgan and Scott Ltd. 1980. ISBN 0 551 00865 2)

Fickle Folk... like us.

This weekend is Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday. During our service we will be following the account in Matthews gospel of how the shouts of 'Hosanna' that welcomed Jesus turned to shouts of 'Crucify' which led to His death.

For me it is one of the mysteries of human nature how we can be, in a short space of time, incredibly conflicted and prone to oppose something and the next be completely supportive. Be it music, politics, sports, religion... or a thousand other things, it seems one moment we are piping hot and next we are stone cold! We are fickle folk, peculiar people and as changeable as the wind. 

Which is exactly the kind of person Jesus wasn't. From the moment He decided to enter Jerusalem He seems completely in control. He is not impressed by the welcome of the crowds. He sees through the pretensions of the religious folk. He chooses in the midst of political interrogation when to speak and when to be silent. Though it appears to be chaos all around Him, you have the sense that somehow He's not phased!

Could it be that if we were more focused on our relationship with God... and the purposes God has for our lives we would find a way to be less fickle? Easter week offers an opportunity to focus on the great drama of crucifixion and resurrection.  Every time we make the journey we discover new aspects to the story and new insights about ourselves. Whoever you are, wherever you are, may it be a holy week for you. And if you are in the area come and join us!

And for a musical interlude, one of the great passion hymns "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"...  a totally over the top production by a Nordic choir during an 'Hour of Power" broadcast.

Dem bones, dem bones...

The readings for this upcoming Sunday reflect the theme of resurrection. We'll be looking at two of them in our worship service; Ezekial 37:1-10 (the prophets vision of a valley of dry bones) and Jesus raising Lazarus from the tomb  - John 11:1-45. Both readings anticipate the coming of Easter Sunday, and provide a welcome reflection on 'life' before we reach Holy Week and reflect on 'Hosannas turning to shouts of Crucify', betrayals around a supper table, denials, torture, crucifixion and death. Ouch!

At the start of the Ezekial reading the prophet tells us  'He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, You alone know.' This question about the possibility of life returning to what seemed to be over and done with has a striking relevance for those of us who are involved in the life of traditional denominations.  We know our glory days are in the past.We witness churches closing, congregations struggling to maintain their life and society becoming increasingly secular.

It is tempting in the light of decline to play the blame game.  Bad communication. Shallow values. Clergy infidelity. Irrelevant Institutionalism. We can seek for scapegoats if we so desire. Yet the larger question is one about spirituality. There are many, many folk who are actively pursuing their own spiritual journeys without reference to the particular path taken by traditional denominations. 

Surely finding points of intersection with folk on their own spiritual paths is one of the most important reasons for the churches existence? Not to maintain its own traditions and impose it's will on vast segments of humanity, but to offer a helping hand to all seeking a way through the crazy challenges life throws at us. 

Ezekial's perspective offers hope to people within and without the church. It talks about questions faced by all. 'Will my life thrive? Will everything be OK? Where does our future lie? Can something good come out of the dry bones of our existence?' Ezekial's initial observation?  “Sovereign Lord, You alone know". 

There is a hymn by William Floyd containing the lines, "My times are in Thy hand;  whatever they may be;  pleasing or painful, dark or bright, as best may seem to Thee."  This attitude of quiet resignation, far from being defeatist, actually seems to be at the core of authentic faith. We don't know what the future holds, but we can trust that there will be one... and God will be a part of it, no matter what.

Of course we hope that the dry bones will take flesh and live. But in the church calendar we have not yet reached Easter. And, as stated earlier, there are terrible things to face before the Easter dawn arrives. The theme seems to be that although there are days when life stinks, carry on in the with the hope that things will get better!

At least that's how it turned out for Ezekial.... as this wonderful blast from the past, courtesy off the Delta Rhythm Boys, reminds us. 'Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones... now hear the word of the Lord!'

500 + 500 miles

This coming weekend we celebrate our churches Scottish heritage with a Tartan Sunday service. There will
be bagpipes, liturgy from the Church of Scotland and a smattering of tartan wearers scattered throughout the congregation.


The origins of Tartan Sunday go back deep into British history. In the final confrontation of the 1745 'Jacobite Rising' the English defeated the Scottish at the Battle of Culloden. In a misguided attempt to break the Scottish spirit an 'Act of Proscription' was passed that outlawed the wearing of kilts or any other tartan garment representing Scottish heritage. It also forbade any speaking in Gaelic, outlawed Scottish music, Scottish dancing, and the playing of the bagpipes.

The Scottish people protested. On a given Sunday every year they would secretly carry or wear a piece of their tartan as they went to Church, or 'Kirk' as they called it. The minister would slip in a blessing as a defiant way of honoring the clans and their tartans. Tartan Sundays had an extremely subversive theme.

The 'Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans' service was  revived during World War II by Rev. Peter Marshall, who was originally from southwest Scotland and at one time pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. In 1947 he served as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. Partly as an effort to encourage Scottish-Americans to sign up to fight on behalf of Great Britain, he recreated a 'Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans' ceremony. Again, the aim was one of protest, rather than a celebration of heritage.

Our Lenten reading (from John4:5-26) focuses on a man born of blindness, whom is healed by Jesus. This leads him (and his family) into a confrontation with the religious authorities, who want nothing to do with the radical message that Jesus proclaimed.  It's an amusing passage as the 'wee' man confounds the know-it-all religious experts with his simple explanation about what Jesus had done for him. At the end of the passage the man again meets up with Jesus and expresses his faith in the Kingdom Jesus represents.

All this talk of Scotland and making proclamations made me think of a band I was fortunate to see perform many moons ago at the Greenbelt Arts festival in England ... 'The Proclaimers'. Their most well known song is the classic 'I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)' with it's chorus 'I would walk five hundred miles,And I would walk five hundred more, Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles, To fall down at your door"

It's a song about love and commitment and raises the question for those seeking to live a life of faith... just how far are we prepared to go when conflicts arise or opposition comes our way? Jesus spoke about walking the extra mile... the Proclaimers talk about walking an extra 500 + 500 more miles!

And just in case you are wondering about the lines 'And if I haver, hey, I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you', 'To Haver' means to 'babble on, endlessly, about nothing'; something we preachers have often made into an art-form. But we are glad you stick with us, and if any of you are in the Baldwin area this Sunday March 30th, and want to blow your cobwebs into kingdom come, our piper, the very wonderful Jerry Dixon (pictured up above) will be happy to assist.

In the meantime... here's the Proclaimers live in Edinburgh on You-Tube and the lyrics for your own personal karaoke moment.

 I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by 'The Proclaimers'

When I wake up, well, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you
If I get drunk, well, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver, hey, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you

But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm working, yes, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I'll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home (When I come home), oh, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old, well, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's growing old with you

But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

Da lat da (Da lat da)...

When I'm lonely, well, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's lonely without you
And when I'm dreaming, well, I know I'm gonna dream
I'm gonna dream about the time when I'm with you
When I go out (When I go out), well, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you
And when I come home (When I come home), yes, I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I'm gonna be the man who's coming home with you

But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

Da lat da (Da lat da)....

And I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

Well lady...

I don't like to think of myself as prejudiced but realize that I fool nobody but myself.  I make value judgments based on outward appearance.  I make assumptions about people based on very limited data.  I often don't know enough about an individuals true circumstances to judge if  they are acting in a reasonable or unreasonable way.

People whose language I can't understand, whose gestures are not those I'm used to, who are coming from within a culture I have little or no experience of, can frighten me.  I prefer dealing with what I know, rather than with the unknown.

I've been in situations where others have projected distrust towards myself. I'm white. I'm male. I'm a Presbyterian (USA) minister. I'm middle aged. I'm middle class. There's a whole lot of presumptions you can make about white, middle aged, middle class PC(USA) clergymen. Likewise I'm of British origin, speak English, work in the USA, and live on Long Island near New York City.  Not sure what image that would create in anybody, but there it is!

Our Bible passage for this upcoming Sunday (John 4:5-26) is about an encounter that Jesus (a Jew) had with a Samaritan lady at a watering hole one sunny afternoon. Jews and Samaritans weren't meant to get along. Rabbi's were not suppose to take time out in the heat of the afternoon to chat with ladies of uncertain marital status (like this particular lady).  When the disciples of Jesus return from their shopping trip they are horrified to see their respected teacher speaking with somebody they had a lot of prejudices against.

The conversation Jesus has with the lady is a ground breaker. It witnesses to how the nature of true religion is not one of exclusion but inclusion and welcome. Though inconsistencies in the ladies lifestyle are acknowledged, there is no hint of judgment. Differing and incompatible religious traditions are acknowledged, whilst Jesus points out that it wasn't the tradition that should be held as paramount... rather that true spiritual values came from worshiping the 'Father in Spirit and Truth' (verse 23).

Seems like that is a good place to work on our prejudices. By opening our lives up to the influence of the Spirit who created us all equally, male and female, in God's image. Simple really. We are all God's children. We are united by our common humanity. All the labels, barriers, misunderstandings and walls we erect between us look foolish in the light of God's love and the grace that Jesus demonstrated during His ministry towards all people. Unconditional, unmerited, unprejudiced love.

Thought I'd share a song I wrote a few summers ago for Trinity Youth Conference when I was leading some discussions on 'Cliques and Stereotypes'. It's an attempt to express my personal desire that I can overcome my own prejudicial attitudes through surrendering my biased opinions to the higher perspective offered to us through the teaching of Jesus. (Words are below)

Waving a White Flag

Seems like everyone these days
Wants you to wear a label
They want you to fit their expectations
Before you can sit at their table
Well I never cared much for slogans and buttons
I've never been one for causes
There's just to many colours in the rainbow
To minimize your choices

I don't want to wave a red flag
I don't want to wave one that's blue
The only flag i want to wave
Is one of surrender Lord to You
I won't be waving my Union jack
Or any other flag of red, white and blue
I'm waving a white flag Lord
I surrender to You.

Where do you stand on this issue?
Tell me or I won't be your friend
Are you for or against, are you sitting on the fence
Is this the beginning or the end?
We need to know your views, don't leave us confused
Come and lay your cards on the table
I say, ' I am what I am, I will be, what I will be,
I will not wear your label."

I don't want to wave a red flag
I don't want to wave one that's blue
The only flag i want to wave
Is one of surrender Lord to You
I won't be waving my Union jack
Or any other flag of red, white and blue
I'm waving a white flag Lord
I surrender to You.

I was going to write a verse here
To present my oh so balanced view
But to be completely honest
I'm just as messed up as you
So there's not a verse here,
I'm just playing a tune...
(Draw your own conclusions)

Rebirth

I'm planning for our Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent to be based on John 3:1-17. These verses include Jesus saying to a seeker named Nicodemus: "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." (John 3:3 N.I.V.)

The phrase 'born again' has taken on a lot of baggage over the years and been used in a divisive way. I remember chatting with a lady in a Christian Bookshop in a Welsh seaside town and explaining how I was a Presbyterian minister and was looking for a particular theological book. She looked me up and down and said, "Never mind that you think you are some sort of minister, are you born again?"

I had no idea how the question related to the volume I was trying to find, and realized that the what the lady really wanted to know was if I identified with her particular brand of evangelical Christianity... which stressed the importance of being able to testify to having had a conversion experience. If I didn't then it was pretty clear the conversation was over. I would need to be properly saved!

When you look at the phrase 'born again' in Greek it is ambiguous. This partly accounts for the confusion on the part of Nicodemus. It can literally be applied to childbirth, but has a secondary meaning of being 'born from above'. Jesus appears to be using it in the latter sense, but Nicodemus in the former.

"How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" (John 3:4 NIV) Later in verse 8 Jesus explains to Nicodemus that He's speaking of 'being born in the Spirit'

Rebirth is a necessary component of genuine spiritual experience. How we reach such a place in our own pilgrimage is not so easy to define. For some folk there are definite milestones. For others it's just a daily process they have felt involved in throughout their whole lives.

To myself one of the genuine marks of a person being spiritually transformed is their sense of joy. If they are brandishing religious phrases around like weapons that discriminate and separate, then I'm left wondering what kind of spirit is driving them. One from above? One that is about re-creation and renewal and rebirth? Or are they operating from a different agenda. This also seems to be a tension within the account of Jesus talking with Nicodemus.

The late and great singer Billy Preston has a wonderful little gospel song called 'Born Again' on his little known 1978 vinyl gospel album 'Behold!'  It just oozes joy. Give it a listen :-) Whilst full of theological musing and scriptural verses it defies stuffiness and invites you to get on board. It's stayed in my head over the years to such an extent that whenever anybody uses the phrase 'Born Again' it automatically starts playing in my brain. 

And of course... that causes a smile. Because births... and rebirths... have a habit of doing that! May your spiritual journey be one that causes springs of joy to flow. And... of course... if you are able to join us on Sunday... that would be great. But if not, then maybe become a much blessed blog-follower. Whoever and wherever you are... have a great rebirth!

And.. yes... for you musicaholics ... this is the same Billy Preston who played the awesome keyboard break in the Beatles rooftop performance of 'Get Back'... and had a hit with 'That's the way God planned it' on their Apple label (in the clip playing with Jools Holland). R.I.P Billy.

Gritty Faith

Lent begins. And on Sunday I'm breaking away a little from the usual Lectionary passage and looking at a passage from Romans chapter 10 (verses 8-13) about faith. For Paul, faith is a gritty concept. There is nothing easy or sentimental about it. When you consider his life, and how he changed from being a persecutor to proclaimer of the Christian way, you realize he did nothing by halves. He was an 'all or nothing' kind of guy.

Faith was something that was deeply embedded in his being. It was his heartbeat. He breathed faith. Yet that faith also had concrete expression. It was a faith in certain concepts and understandings of who Jesus was and what Jesus had done for him on the Cross. It was a faith rooted in the current activity of God, expressed through resurrection power and the activity of the Holy Spirit.

It was faith that fermented into actions that expressed the Kingdom of God at work in the world. It drove him to do things and go places and take risks and rise to unimagined challenges. It graced his life with confidence, hope and joy, even in the midst of the darkest outward circumstances.

I came across this video of the hymn “It is well with my soul”... that tells of the life that lies behind words. As with Paul, what is revealed is not wishy-washy faith, but faith as true grit.

Wherever and whoever you are... I would encourage you to make the most of this season for reflection and contemplation. Our lives are driven by our inner principles. The Christian gospel suggests that one of the most powerful of those can be faith.

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, 

It is well, it is well, with my soul. "

(Horatio G. Spafford )

Transfiguration and Mr Weasley

This coming Sunday is 'Transfiguration Sunday" One of the few places you may discover the word 'Transfiguration' outside of the religious sphere is in the Harry Potter series of books. 

 

At Hogwarts Academy 'Transfiguration' is a branch of magic that focuses on the alteration of the form or appearance of an object, via the alteration of the object's molecular structure. Humans can be transfigured into werewolves, objects in the seen world can be come invisible. And, as this video clip demonstrates, animals can be turned into objects... though not always with 100% success when it comes to Ron Weasley.

The Gospel account of Transfiguration can be found in Matthew 17:1-9 and it's veracity is testified to in one of the later New Testament writings in 2 Peter 1:16-21. The author of 2 Peter insists that the mountain-top appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus on the mountain-top, was no magic trick, but a milestone moment in the disciples pilgrimage to come to terms with the significance of the person of Jesus Christ.

For many of us, such strange events on mountaintops seem to have about as much reality to them as a scene in a Harry Potter movie. We may even fear that rather than making the gospel account more believable, they make it seem even further removed from the reality of our daily lives. And should we even attempt to replicate such an event we probably fear our efforts would be about as successful as those of Mr. Weasley!

 

So maybe it is helpful to ask why the gospel authors (and the author of 2 Peter) felt that this was such an important story to tell. Traditionally three aspects have been pointed out.

Firstly, that the story reveals to us a Jesus who is a bridge between the world of the temporal and the eternal. Heaven connects with earth and earth with heaven. For a brief moment in time the mist of separation is cleared and the story moves outside of time. No wonder that one of the disciples, Peter, wanted to capture the moment and stay on the mountain.

Many of us are fortunate enough to have had those experiences when we felt a strong connection to something much larger than ourselves. It can be on a mountain top. It can be through a conversation. It can  come when we're watching a movie, listening to a piece of music or reading a book. For a moment the mist clears and we feel we are seeing something in a totally different way. Call it an epiphany... or a transfiguration... or even just describe it as magical... such are moments to accept the goose bumps and be thankful.

Secondly, there is a voice that is heard inviting us to "Listen"... in particular to listen to Jesus. Amongst all the words in the world (and even all the words in the biblical books) we can neglect to give the words of Jesus the particular significance they appear to demand. His teaching is the heart of the gospel. Instead of becoming bogged down in the intricacies of theological interpretation, maybe we could just focus on a few of His BIGGIES... like "Love God", "Love Neighbor" and "Love your enemy". It would be magical if we could simply embrace those three!

Thirdly, the appearance of Moses and Elijah stresses that God is God of the living, not of the dead. I love the notion that every time we worship, despite the often empty pews, we are in the presence of a great cloud of unseen witnesses. Saints and angels of every generation! 

If you are able to join us Sunday... and be part of the seen cloud of witnesses - then that would be... magic! If not then whatever you are up to may there be those moments when eternity breaks in and you get a glimpse that there's more to this life than the mundane.

And of course...this post would not be complete without  A TRANSFIGURATION SONG