PW’s Reflection #1 during COVID-19

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts”  – Isaiah 55:8-9

I have often found great comfort in these words. There are so many things in life that do not make sense. Tragedies, trauma, pain. Mistakes, failures, plans that do not go as expected. Broken promises, squashed dreams, unanticipated losses. Social distancing, shelter-in-place orders, pandemics.

Social distancing. Shelter-in-place orders. Pandemics. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I am guessing most of us never even thought about those things! I am not sure I would have been able to define them for you. But by now, we know these terms and their definitions very, very well.

We also know and see the myriad of feelings and responses that go with them. Fear, anxiety, frustration, annoyance. Compliance, rebellion, isolation, you-can’t-tell-me-what-to-do-ness. Some folks are taking it in stride, trying their best to make the most of this season. Others seem to be “freaking out”, hoarding, reacting in ways we view as extreme.

Let us be careful and patient with each other, especially during this time. Let us offer grace and understanding for all of the feelings, responses, and reactions we see. Let us act with wisdom and concern for all people, while also remembering the most important thing – we are not God. God is God. And God, as we read in the Bible and proclaim in our doctrine, is Love. Love, as it is written, is patient and kind. It is not selfish or rude. It trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

Our God, our source of Love, is so much bigger than anything we can fathom. God’s ways and thoughts are at work in ways we cannot begin to perceive. Love takes all things – even the most painful and most difficult to understand things – and works them out for Love’s good purposes.

Our job is to do what we can do to keep practicing faith. Pray often. Read your Bible. Listen and watch for the Spirit’s movement. Focus on the moment; ask and trust that Jesus will give you your daily bread – exactly what you need for this day. Reach out to others. Remember that you are not alone while reminding others that they are not alone. Sing. Give thanks. Watch a worship service on Facebook or YouTube.

And always, always, remember: you are not God. Thank goodness for that! Trust that the One whose Love and ways and thoughts are higher than yours will always be with you. Even in this. Amen.

-Pastor Wendy

 

#LiveLikeLeah

#LiveLikeLeah

 

This past Saturday, friends and family of Leah Hemish gathered at our old church in Farmington, MN, to both celebrate and mourn a life cut far too short.

 

My family got to know Leah shortly after we moved to Farmington in 2003. James was a baby and Leah provided care in the church nursery on Sunday mornings. It didn’t take long for her to become a special person in our lives. She was one of the first to visit “Abe Babe” and “Little” (Alex) after they joined our crew. If we needed a babysitter, Leah was the person we would call. When I began a daycare in our home, Leah came almost every week to help manage the fun & chaos that ensued. After we moved to Montana in 2009, Leah faced her fear of flying alone and came to visit. I am so glad she did. We loved Leah. Everyone loved Leah!

 

Because that was the thing about Leah – she was loveable. And she was lovable because she was full of love! Leah always had a smile on her face, a loud laugh that filled every room, a kind word to share. Leah loved well and she was well loved.

 

Because the other thing about Leah is this – she was who she was and she made no apologies about it. Her life was not always easy. She didn’t always fit the mold of how one is “supposed” to look/act/be in the world. But she did not let any of that stop her from loving and laughing and living large.

 

Though the past few years had left Leah and I speaking just once every six months or so, I will be forever grateful that one of those conversations happened on December 1st, just weeks before Leah unexpectedly died. In typical Leah-fashion, she listened as I caught her up on how the family was doing. She shared the usual sentiments about how “crazy” it was that the boys are getting so old and so big. She told me about her jobs, her parents, her Thanksgiving. Then she shared the news: “I have cancer.” It was, of course, a shock; but she was, of course, optimistic. She was going to get treatments. They would allow her to live longer. She would keep a positive attitude. That’s how Leah did things.

 

We said our “miss you, love you, good-byes” and hung up. I figured I would call her in a month or two to check in. A part of me wishes I had known that was the last time I would hear her voice and another part of me is glad I didn’t.

 

And then she died. Sweet, lovable Leah left this world. Her light shines down from heaven. Her light shines on in us.

 

Which is what #LiveLikeLeah means. As I begin another year, another decade – I am reflecting on all the things I want. I want to be a more attentive wife, a more engaged mom, a more caring pastor, a more effective leader. I want to eat better, exercise more, get that graduate degree. I want to finally get all the neighbors over for a BBQ, keep in more frequent touch with my friends, visit our family more often, figure out what exactly it is I want to do and who I want to be in this life.

 

But Leah reminds me that most of all – most IMPORTANTLY of all – I want this: to love, laugh, and live large. To share smiles and kind words often. To be positive and optimistic. To not worry about what others think of me and just simply be me. To shine God’s light wherever I am. I want to #LiveLikeLeah. It is exactly what we all need to do to make the world a better place.

 

Leah, thank you for sharing your light with me and so many. Miss you, love you, good-bye.

Reflecting & Dreaming, Pastor’s Corner Jan-Feb 2020

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:8

 

Dear Church Family,

It is the season for reflecting and dreaming. The end of a year is an opportunity to look back and see how far we have come. If we are living as Christ followers who desire to grow in faith, then we seek to recognize the ways we are not the same in December as we were last January. 2019’s joy and challenges shaped us, taught us, blessed us, tested us, strengthened us. We see how through it all, God has been with us.

As a church, we reflect on the downs and ups we have faced. Longtime, beloved church members have left us. Our income has decreased. The building continues to show its age. We sense the angst and uncertainty about our future as United Methodists. There have been hard times and we worry about what lies ahead.

But of course, there have been good times, too! We continue to see new faces joining us on a regular basis. Both old and new small groups meet consistently, growing together in friendship and faith. Our youth group is thriving. Every other Saturday, 60+ community families enter our building where they know they will find a friendly smile, needed clothing, and good food. Waffle Worship is taking shape as a unique community of faith. And you, the people of this church, ACT YOUR FAITH in big ways, doing the exact kind of work Christ calls us to do. Because of you, over 4,000 people have been fed, clothed, visited, and encouraged this year – amazing! And so, we also look with anticipation at what lies ahead.

As your pastor, here is what I see: we are closer now than we were at the start of the year. We have a clearer sense of what we can do together – how we hold each other up when life gets us down, that we have each others’ backs, how we resolve conflict and move forward, that we are stronger together than we are apart. We have seen God provide our daily bread – as well as above and beyond what we could have hoped or imagined. I believe that we are about to turn a corner, leaving behind some of the mess & chaos of 2019 as we move into the future God calls us to as a church in 2020. I dream that in this future, we will have a clearer sense of who we are and what it means to be the church God has created us to be. I also dream that because of that, people will be drawn to our community and want to be a part of the amazing thing God is doing in, through, and among us!

So let me introduce you to a way for us to strive to live together in the year ahead. It is a “Rule of Life” that was created by members of each of our various UMCs in Billings. It is tied to our Wesleyan expression of the Christian faith, which involves intentional, daily acts that help us grow as Christ-followers who share Jesus’s love, grace, and good news with others.

Our Rule of Life: As people who call ourselves Methodist, we believe our daily practices are the best mark of our love for God and neighbor. We are unified in our commitment to:

1.   Finding time to connect with Jesus each day through prayer, Scripture reading, meditation, music, and/or other spiritual practices.
2.   Meeting regularly with a small group whose purpose is to help members intentionally grow in faith and accountability.
3.   Growing and sharing our own and others’ spiritual gifts.
4.   Having meaningful relationships with people outside the church and developing a friendship with someone who is different than us (race, religion, class, etc.).
5.   Following Jesus’s call to servant leadership by serving in a mission/ministry capacity at least one time a month and by sharing the resources with which God has blessed us.
6.   Having honest, open, and difficult conversations; making room for questions, disagreements, and tension, with as much love and grace as possible, so that we might grow with and learn from each other.
7.   Cultivating sacred rhythms in our lives by including the practice of Sabbath. We strive to maintain a healthy balance of work, service, and rest.

Happy New Year, my beloved church family & friends! May we sense God’s instruction and love as seek to follow the way he calls us to go in the year ahead.

Blessings, Pastor Wendy

 

The Magic (!) of Generosity – Pastor’s Corner, Nov-Dec 2019

Once upon a time, before I had more than one child, I was the sort of person who could not go to bed until the house was clean. All the toys were placed in their baskets, the laundry was folded and put away, the floors and countertops were scrubbed to a shine. Somewhere along the way, however, my exhausted-by-the-time-the-kids-go-to-sleep self gave up feeling like an organized house was a prerequisite for rest. What feels like a monumental task at 9:30 pm takes five minutes to accomplish at 6:00 am.

So now, most nights, when the family and I go to bed, the house is messy: toys strewn about, dirty dishes in the sink, muddy paw prints on the floor. And most mornings, when Chris and the boys get up for the day, all that mess has magically disappeared. 

Do they notice? Not usually – unless one of the chores is theirs to do. Do they say “thank you”? Not as often as I would like. Do I do it anyway? Yes, because I like living in an organized space and I like caring for my family. (I even remind myself that one day I will miss the constant clean-up or, at least, the people who create the need for it!)

We often talk here at EUM about how the church is a family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We care about each other. We care for each other. Sometimes we disagree with each other, but always, we love each other. And constantly, we are doing things for each other that seem to go unnoticed and unthanked, yet those things still get done – because that is what we do to take care of our family!

Somehow, magically(!), the bulletin boards get updated and the decorations on the tables match the season. Somehow, magically(!), the annoyingly broken door stopper on the main entrance gets fixed and the pencils in the pews get sharpened. Somehow, magically(!), there is coffee when we arrive for Sunday worship and food to eat after celebrating the life of a saint who has died. Somehow, magically(!), donations get delivered to the Teen Pantry and broken tables and chairs get replaced. 

Scripture is clear in stating that every Christ-follower has been given gifts and every church member has a role to play. Romans 12:4-8 says, “We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ and individually we belong to each other. We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy…if your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, teach. If it is encouraging, encourage…”

In November, we will explore our call to live lives that reflect the generosity shown to us by God in Christ. We will think about our individual gifts, pay attention to how God is calling each of us to give of ourselves, and celebrate the ways every person’s offerings of time, money, and talent allow this church to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community. In December, we will enter into the holy season of Advent, prepared to receive the greatest gift of all, a sweet baby King, born to give us more than we can imagine.

As each of us grows in our faith – as individuals and as a family of Christ – it is my hope and prayer that each of us may grow in our awareness of the gifts God has given us and the joy we find when we generously share those. THANK YOU, dear people of EUM, for all of the unnoticed ways you give in order to care for your family!

Love & Grace, Pastor Wendy

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Pastor’s Corner, Sept-Oct 2019

Once in awhile, the message comes easy –  the Spirit sends a clear nudge about what I ought to say and what y’all hopefully need to hear. But more often than not, finding something helpful to fill this space is a challenge. Does the church, I ask myself, need encouragement? Conviction? Guidance? Does it matter – does anyone bother to read this??!

 

And right now especially, the message is not coming easy. There is so much going on – in my head, at our church, within the denomination, across this divided country. It all feels challenging. What’s the best way to sort through all the information from various voices? What the most effective way to make sure you are getting and hearing all you need and want to know?

 

I have not figured out perfect answers for those questions, but as we look to kick off a new school year and another busy season in our church life, it seems appropriate to share all of the above – so here goes:

 

ENCOURAGEMENT: faithful people of EUMC, you are doing GOOD WORK. You are doing GOD’S WORK. When you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison, and welcome the stranger (and you literally do all of those things), you do it because it is what CHRIST TAUGHT AND SHOWED US TO DO. You do it in a way that shows it is not just about handing out a meal and a new outfit and saying, “Good luck, God bless, we’ve done our duty.” Nope. You do the hard work that might actually and genuinely change lives: you invite strangers into our community. You talk to them, listen to their stories, build relationships, and give them a place to belong to something bigger and better than they have ever known. You love and care for each other, setting an example of what Christian community is meant to be; of what church is meant to be. Someone recently told me, “I have been to a lot of churches and this church lives out the Gospel better than any other I have known.” I cannot think of a better word of encouragement – so keep doing the good work. It is God’s work!

 

CONVICTION: to those who continue to believe in and fight for all that EUMC is and does, thank you – do not lose heart! Yes, we face times of change and uncertainty. We know there are financial challenges. We have many unanswered questions about what might happen to our annual conference and what that might mean for our church. Perhaps we have felt or heard negative attitudes and comments. We might even wonder, Is it worth it? Why stay? Remember this: God’s way is often the harder way. Sometimes the greatest seduction in church life is maintaining the status quo, doing what is easy and familiar, trying to keep everyone happy, jumping ship when the waves get rough. But we are not called to an easy life. As a resurrection people we know that new life does not come without death. New beginnings do not happen without ends. We do not get to experience the truly good stuff until we have authentically and directly engaged the bad stuff. So stay vigil, keep praying, pay attention. God is in the midst of a transformation and though we may not yet be able to envision what it will look like, we can trust that it will be beautiful.

 

GUIDANCE: Keep doing the things you do to Act Your Faith: pray for our church and its people. Ask God to send us people to love, to grow us, to provide for our every need. Volunteer at the Free Store, attend your Bible Study, show up for worship, laugh and play with your church family. If you have questions about what is happening in the church, ask someone who will do their best to give you an honest answer (your pastor, one of our lay or team leaders). Trust that our leaders will do their best to share what information you need to know when you need to know it. Know that no one but you, as a church family, gets to decide what you will do as a church. Believe that our doors will stay open for a long time: how we do church may look a little different, but being the church is something we will continue to do for as long as God calls us to do it. Above all, keep your eyes on the One who holds us all in the palm of an almighty hand. God does not judge by the world’s standards. God sees our hearts. God knows our will. God honors the beautiful, difficult, life-changing work we do in the name of our Savior, Jesus the Christ.

 

So be encouraged, take heart, trust Jesus. It is a wild and sometimes exhausting ride, but we are a people who love Jesus and loving Jesus means we live our lives with hope, peace, trust, and joy even when – especially when – it ain’t easy.

 

In Christ’s Love & Grace, Pastor Wendy

The Ministry of Staying

Not long ago, there was a loud rattle at the front door of the church. It was a weekday afternoon and I was in my office, on the phone, working diligently to cross off a few items on my “to do” list. By the time I got to the door, the young man had turned to leave. It was a cold day and he was dressed in a t-shirt, wrapped in a thin blanket, and walked with an uneven gate. My first thought, I must confess, was that he was drunk – and that I felt relieved he was leaving; I had plenty of other things to do.  But when I realized he had simply moved to sit beside the door, I thought about the preacher who had once dressed like a vagrant and sat outside the front doors of his church on a Sunday morning. Not one person stopped to ask him if he was okay or invite him into worship. I sighed…”Better practice what I preach,” I mumbled. Besides, the Happle Circle was meeting, there were plenty of people in the church, I felt safe.

Opening the door I introduced myself, “Is there something I can do for you?” “Yes,” replied the young man. “I’m looking for a place to warm up for a few minutes before I go to the Crisis Center. I’m a vet and was hurt in the line of duty. It’s hard for me to walk.”  For the next half hour, the young man enjoyed a hot cup of coffee, a piece of pumpkin pie (thanks, Circle Ladies!), and a new-to-him coat (thanks, Free Store!). I enjoyed hearing a bit of his story, feeling humbled by his appreciation and outlook on life, and being reminded, once again, that God blesses and uses us in the most unexpected ways – if we have the wisdom to pay attention and the courage to say yes. I was also reminded that these opportunities God provides are usually not convenient; but they are, without doubt, more beautiful and meaningful than any of the easy, planned or nicely-packaged ministry moments I would choose for myself.

The lesson I recognized is this: if you want to find God, chances are, you will need to look in unexpected places. Often, our God is a God who shows up in the inconvenient and the messy, in the interruption and the chaos. Yes, God can be in the planned, but often, God’s presence shines brighter in the unplanned. Our job? Our job is to STAY; to stay vigilant, connected, open, ready. Stay present in the places we find ourselves, even when – especially when – they are not convenient or easy or planned. Stay put as long as you are safe (and remember, feeling unsafe and uncomfortable are two different things) and until God clearly tells you to move. This is what the Ministry of Staying is all about.

I heard this phrase used by a woman whose family felt called to leave their very comfortable, expected, planned life and move to a neighborhood where chaos and messy is the norm. They discovered, very quickly, that God’s presence was all over the place – and that they were  about to experience faith in a whole new way. They found a small church filled with quirky, imperfect, struggling people. Sometimes the music got messed up, the basic technology did not work, the people got frustrated with each other (sound familiar?). It was not always easy, but the longer they stayed, the deeper their relationships with those quirky people grew, the more comfortable they got with the imperfections of worship, the more they understood the ministry they had in, through, and because of that church. It was the place God had called them to serve and the place through which God would help them to grow. And the only way to see those things come to fruition was to STAY. The Ministry of Staying allowed God to bless and use them in unexpected, beautiful, and meaningful ways.

Christmas often feels like a messy time: long “to do” lists, complicated family dynamics, the consumer messages of the season. Our church faces messy times: uncertainty about our denomination, uncertainty about our local church, uncertainty about our how our church family will be affected. Perhaps you are in a messy time of life: an expected crisis, overwhelming stresses of daily life, worry for a loved one. Though the temptation is to skip the hard parts and move on to what is easy, STAY still. Be present in the messy. Know that is exactly where God is, too. Chances are, God is going to show up in unexpected ways. Chances are, God is going to grow you and use you in the mess. Chances are, when you choose the Ministry of Staying, God will bless and use you in the most beautiful and meaningful ways. But you will only find out if you STAY.

This Advent season, make a commitment to the Ministry of Staying. Stay faithful in the messy places where you find yourself right now and watch for the unexpected and wonderful ways God will show up there. Chances are, other than the gift of Jesus, that will be the best gift you get all season!

 

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Wendy

 

A Right Spirit?

On the day I write this, I find myself frequently repeating the words of the fifty-first Psalmist: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me!”

I wish I could say that this was the practice of a pastor perfecting her Bible-verse-memorizing-skills, but unfortunately, this is the attempt of a crabby woman trying to shape her attitude into one that would make Jesus proud.

You see, the day started out rough. Apparently no one in the house got the memo saying they were not to get up until after Mom had gotten her allotted quiet time. No one said thank you for the breakfast they ate, the clean clothes they wore, or the sack lunches they would later enjoy. No one noticed that the dog got walked or the dishes got washed. No one cared that they were off to school and work with time to spare, while Mom, as usual, was rushing ‘til the very last minute. In other words, this lady was feeling underappreciated and unnoticed asking herself, “Does anyone care what I want or need?!”

According to Philippians 2, Christ’s attitude was all about humility and serving others. GOD HIMSELF came to earth, not to brag about who he was or what he could do (remember all those times Jesus performed a miracle then said, “Don’t tell anyone about this”?), but to take on “the nature of a servant,” humbling himself “even to death on a cross.”

Here’s the thing about being a Christ- follower: IT IS NOT EASY. It is not easy because it requires us to approach life with a “right spirit,” a spirit that does not look at things like the world looks at things. From a worldly point of view, I am justified in my frustration about carrying what sometimes feels like an uneven workload. I am allowed to grump and groan about my unmet needs. I am encouraged to base my well-being off how “happy” I feel in any given moment.

But this is not Christ’s way. Christ’s way says, “treat others as you want to be treated” (Matt. 7:12) NOT “treat others nicely if they treat you nicely first.” Christ’s way says, “consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds, because these are opportunities for you to grow” (James 1:2-3) NOT “be crabby every time life does not go your way because you deserve the easy path.” Christ’s way says, “the fruit of the Spirit – evidence of Me in you – is character traits I will grow in your life” (Gal. 5:22-23) NOT “the value of your life is based on your fleeting feelings.” Christ’s way is not easy to live out, but it is easy to live in.

IT IS EASY to live in the assurance that “God will never leave us or forsake us” (Heb. 13:5). It is easy to live in the wonder of “being loved with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3). It is easy to live in the belief that “we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength” (Phil. 4:13). It is easy to live in the knowledge that our sins are forgiven and in Christ we are “a new creation” (2 Corinth. 5:17). Though it may be difficult to put into practice, it is, when we discover the freedom and beauty Christ’s way offers, the easiest way to live a life that is fuller and more meaningful than we could possibly imagine.

This does not mean we should not take time to care for ourselves. Sabbath, after all, is one of God’s commandments. However, choosing to live in Christ’s way means intentionally choosing the way of patience, tenacity, humility and fortitude. It is choosing to react to life’s constant frustrations with a spirit of peace and expectation rather than annoyance or immaturity. It is humbling ourselves, looking to Jesus, and serving others. May God bless each of us with a right spirit in the season ahead.

 

God Looks at the Heart

 

1 Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.”

 

Smart does not equal WISE.

Pretty does not equal BEAUTIFUL.

Wealthy does not equal RICH.

Popular does not equal LIKABLE.

Strong does not equal STRENGTH.

Perfect family photos do not equal LOVING FAMILIES.

Having it all does not equal HAVING WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.

Proclaiming God’s love does not equal KNOWING & SHOWING GOD’S LOVE.

 

We are bombarded with constant images and ideas about what our lives “ought” to be. Guard yourselves. God does not want these false perceptions to influence you. Chances are, they’ll leave you feeling as though you are not enough. God made you more than enough – God made you in God’s own image! You are loved. You are valuable. You have purpose. Focus on being what matters most in God’s eyes. God knows your heart. That is a beautiful thing!

 

Pray – that God will show you what is most important today.

 

Act – Share a genuine compliment with someone who needs it. Make it a compliment about the person’s character, not his or her achievements or appearance.

 

Adventures in Denver with our Youth!

For the first time ever, our little church decided to brave the big city of Denver over a long weekend in order to give our youth an experience with different faith traditions and cultures while having a bit of fun, too!  We loaded up our van in the wee hours of Friday morning and began our journey.

Other than a break for lunch and gas in the ever-windy city of Casper and a couple of pit stops for small bladders, the journey went smoothly until…

Denver Traffic.

May it be noted that several people mentioned “Denver Traffic”; HOWEVER, no one directly said “Denver Traffic is ridiculous. Awful. Fifty miles of slow. Give yourself an hour longer than you think you should!” Nor did anyone say, “Pastor, just an FYI – Denver Traffic will force you to practice the Christian trait of self-control  in a car filled with impressionable young people in a way that nothing else every has!” Both would have been helpful tips.

Anyway…we arrived an hour and half later than expected. We were warmly welcomed by youth director Darcy at Phillips UMC in Lakewood, the place where we would camp out for two nights. As soon as we unloaded our stuff, we loaded ourselves back into the vans and made the trek through a beautiful neighborhood filled with blossoming trees and gorgeous old homes to visit Temple Micah, a small Jewish house of worship, located in a building with Park Hill United Methodist Church. Though we were late, we were warmly welcomed into the middle of their Friday night prayer service. Rabbi Morris shared a poignant message about Sabbath and Sabbatical, taking time away to remember what matters most. We did our best to follow along with the Hebrew prayers and happily sang “Peace Train.” After a brief chat with the rabbi, we were on our way to dinner.

Dinner at Casa Bonita’s. Need I say more? The kids had fun. 😉

Saturday morning included breakfast and an incredibly efficient assembly line that put together 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit cups and granola bars in record time! With 100 sack lunches in tow, it was off to downtown Denver to meet up with volunteers from After-hours Denver Church to share the sack lunches with friends without homes. At least, that was the intention.

If you’re paying close attention, you may have realized that this was May 5th. Cinco de Mayo. In downtown Denver. The place to deliver lunches was moved at the last minute, every person in Denver and the surrounding areas seemed to be headed to the same place we were, and several roads were blocked because of parade and celebrations. Patience tested. God won.

Though late, the lunches were delivered and the kids gained a hands on experience of feeding the hungry and sharing kindness with strangers. We left feeling blessed and headed over to the Aquarium for a fun afternoon of fish, sharks, turtles, and a 4D movie experience we will not soon forget!

The evening gave us a warm welcome at the Denver Islamic Society where Murad, Mohammed and friends shared an insightful presentation about their religion, graciously answered any and all questions we had, then fed us a most delicious meal of middle eastern cuisine. I believe everyone of us – kids included – cleaned our plates! We were invited to stay and witness their time of evening prayer. It was a meaningful experience.

With full bellies and sleepy eyes, we returned to Phillips UMC for a few games of pool (FYI – do not let Bev trick you into a playing a game against her. She’s a pool shark!) and hide-n-go seek. After prayer and Lisa’s nightly meditation, we feel asleep quickly and quietly.

Sunday morning worship with the folks from Phillips was enjoyable! It is fun to experience worship with our Christian brothers and sisters from other places. Bev was able to sing with the choir, Lisa caught up with some members who remembered her parents, and I was blessed with a surprise encounter with Shelly, a friend who attended Local License Pastor training with me a few years ago.

The trip home is always the longest, but the kids were good and we made it back before bedtime. All-in-all, a great trip!

Our group will find time to process our experiences with each other and share a few insights at church, but for now, let me say this: before asking our youth to confirm their faith, this trip showed me how imperative it is that they experience other faith traditions as well. Both Rabbi Morris and Mohammed were open and honest about why they believe what they do and why they do not think Jesus was the Savior we proclaim him to be. Both faith communities showed us hospitality and made us feel welcome. In both places, God’s presence was felt and shown. If we are going to confirm, proclaim and live out our Christian faith in a diverse society, we must understand and have respect for others’ beliefs while also learning how to say, “and this is why I believe what I do.”

Phillips UMC reminded us of how and why it is important for us to practice intentional hospitality with our visitors. They entrusted their space to us and made us feel at home for the two days we were there. Because of them, our youth were gifted with another safe and warm experience of being a part of the Christian family.

Thanks to all who kept us in prayer! Perhaps you will think about joining us for the next adventure…

Need a little confidence?

Need a little confidence? I know I do. I must confess that as a pastor, Mondays often bring a sense let down to me. Sunday is over and the questions begin: Why weren’t the pews fuller? Was it something I said or did? Something I didn’t say or do? How come no one told me they liked my sermon? Was it that bad? Am I any good at this? At all?!!

The mature, rational, solid-in-my-faith part of me is able to recognize these questions and the insecurity that accompanies them and then come up with rational, helpful answers: there were as many people as usual, you did not offend anyone and it might be okay if you did once in awhile, get over yourself – it’s not about you!!

But today was one of those days when the emotional, vulnerable, doubting voice was loudest: You’re no good at this! You’d better figure out another way to make a living…

*Sigh*

So I did what any good pastor should do…I googled “Bible verses for when you need confidence.” Then I began to read.

Blessed is the one whose trust is in the Lord, whose CONFIDENCE is in him. -Jeremiah 17:7

Let us approach God’s throne with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. -Hebrews 4:16

Be confident of this: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:16

Doubting ourselves and struggling with self-confidence is a normal pat of the human experience, especially in a society where we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. Because what others present is usually only what they want the world to see, it is easy to think that our inside messes don’t measure up to others’ outside presentations.

But as people of faith we don’t put our confidence in how we measure up to others! Our confidence is not in our accomplishments, or our physical appearance, or our bank account, or how many likes our Facebook post received. Our confidence is in Christ, the one who began a good work in us! Our confidence is in a Savior who is not done with us yet. Our confidence is in the one who can bring good from any mess, meaning from any struggle. The process often takes longer than we want or hope, but Scripture is clear: she who puts her hope in God will be blessed.

So take heart when life zaps your confidence – you are not alone! We all feel that way sometimes. But we do not have to beat ourselves up for not having the confidence to be self-confident. Open God’s Word, find verses of reassurance, and refocus yourself on the One in whom our confidence exists. Thanks be to God!