A Christian redneck

Appalachian culture is amazingly succinct. It is clear, concise and could care less if folks in the big city agree or not.  In the midst of this wonderful place reminiscent of bygone days when a person spoke, the words were as good as any contract, a stray comment might come out while sitting together over a meal at the local Bob Evans that captures the essence of the meaning of life.  

That happened to me last week, when one of my elders and I were enjoying a meal reflecting on a particularly difficult incident in the life of our church.  We thought of all the ways we would like to have handled it and how we were actually going to handle it.  You see, Christ calls us to a different way of life...a radically different way of life.  As I was taking a sip of my coffee, my elder summed up the whole problem with being a disciple of Jesus Christ...

"Being a Christian requires much more tolerance then being a redneck."

 -Stu Taylor, elder at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Ashland, Kentucky.

God I love my elders!

Holy Land Israel Tour for 2012

Greetings:

Below is our final itinerary and pricing for the trip to Israel - Holy Land trip.  We will have two informational meetings at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1930 Winchester Avenue Ashland, Kentucky on Wednesday, September 28 following Vespers (6:45 pm) and Sunday, October 2 following morning worship.  We will meet in the Church Library.  Even if you are not sure you will be traveling we invite you to come and learn more about the land and our heritage of faith.  If you are not able to be at the informational meetings but would like more information and a travel brochure, please email or call me.

To learn more you can also "friend" Educational Opportunities on Facebook or go to http://revike.blogspot.com/ to view an educational video on Israel - Holy Land.

Israel Holy Land Tour 2012

Rev. Ike Nicholson # 49203
April 20 – 29, 2012
Cincinnati

20 April (F) – Depart from USA
Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight
flight.

21 April (S) – Arrive in USA
You will be welcomed to the Holy Land by our airport representative and  transferred to your hotel (Royal Plaza in Tiberius http://royalplaza.co.il/index.php/english). Enjoy dinner before you rest.

22 April (U) - The Galilee
Cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a Kinnereth Sailing Company boat. Along the way, participate in a special on board worship service. Travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee. Visit the synagogue which stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall his teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matt.4:13, 23). At Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar, you’ll learn about the “Ancient Boat”, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached to the people (Matt. 5-7). At Tabgha, the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the 5000, you’ll visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves (Luke 9:10-17). You’ll also visit the Chapel of the Primacy where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21). At the  River Jordan you can remember your baptism in the Yardenit Baptismal Site (for those of you who went to Jordan, this is the alternative baptismal site offered by some scholars...we'll talk about why).

23 April (M) - Beit Shean, Nazareth, Megiddo and Caesarea. Visit the ruins of Beit Shean which was continuously inhabited for 5000 years and was one of the Roman cities Jesus passed on his way from Galilee to Jerusalem. We’ll visit Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2: 23). Travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. Visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here, Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10) and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for Trial.

24 April (T) - Jericho, Qumran, and Bethlehem
Travel to Jericho and visit the ruins of the ancient city, which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6: 1, 2, 20). From Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4: 1-11). Even today, the road from Jericho to Jerusalem twists for miles as it climbs from below sea level into the Judean Mountains. Jesus traveled the nearby Roman road, the setting of His parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-36). Travel to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. (Depending on our Jericho timeline, we may be able to swim in the Dead Sea this day too.) 

In Bethlehem, you’ll visit the cave revered as the place where Jesus was born (Matt. 1: 18 - 25; Luke 2: 1- 7). The church, which was constructed on the site, is the world’s oldest functioning church. Nearby you’ll view Shepherds’ Field where the Good News was first heard.
(We will end the day back in Jerusalem at the Olive Tree Hotel http://www.olivetreehotel.com/)

25 April (W) - Jerusalem
Visit the Haas Promenade and enjoy a panoramic view from the south of Jerusalem, the Old City walls and the hill called Mount Moriah where Abraham was commanded by God to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen. 22:2, 4). View the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Gehenna. Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 9 - 12). Visit the Chapel of the Ascension. Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed (Matt. 26: 36 - 44). Continue to Mount Zion to visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas where Jesus was imprisoned for a night (Matt. 26: 57 - 65). Stand in the Upper Room, revered as the place of the Last Supper (Mark 14: 12 - 26). View the site of King David’s Tomb.

26 April (H) - Jerusalem and the Old City
Visit the Southern Wall Excavations of the ancient Temple, including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. Walk the Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City. Once lined with shops it is now partially restored. View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-31) where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23: 1-11). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and stand in reverence at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

27 April (F) - Leisure Day with Optional Masada and Dead Sea Tour Explore on-your-own or visit Masada (additional charge of about $70), Herod’s mountaintop fortress which became the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore. Peer down upon the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp below. Time permitting; you’ll stop briefly at the Shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt and mineral laden waters. (This will be the second opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea.)

28 April (S) - Jerusalem
Travel to Ein Karem, known as the birthplace of John the Baptist and the place where the Virgin Mary visited Elisabeth (Luke 1: 26-40). Time permitting, you will visit Yad Vashem. Visit and worship at the Garden Tomb, possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea and experience the reality of the Resurrection. Your afternoon is free for exploring.

29 April (U) – Return to USA
Return home with memories of the people and places of the Holy Land.


Gateway:  Cincinnati, New York City
Dates:  April 20 - 29, 2012

Israel Hotels:  3 Nights - Galilee:  Royal Plaza or similar
           4 Nights – Jerusalem: Olive Tree or similar
Please be advised that all hotels are subject to availability and itinerary
days & overnights are subject to change.

Trip and PRICE Includes:  Taxes and Fees / Tips for hotel staff / Hotels / Buffet
Breakfast and Dinner Daily / Guides / Buses / Drivers / Entrance Fees

Not Included:  Love Offering for Driver and Guide (total $75 for the week) / Lunches (Avg. $15 per person) / Optional Tour of Masada ($70)

COST: $3,394.00 from Cincinnati per person

A $300.00 deposit is required at the time of registration.  No registration will be processed without a deposit. Passports must be valid for 6 months after the return date (October 29, 2012).

A  further  deposit  of  $1,500.00  is due at 105 days prior to departure (January 6, 2012).

Full  and  Final  Payment  must  be  made  no  later  than 60 days prior to departure (February 20, 2012).

Journey to the Holy Land with First Christian Church

Life got you down?

We live in a world of results.  It is a pragmatic world.  Our conclusions of what works and what does not work is based on both our assumptions of the problem and our desired resolution.  Most of you are aware of my ongoing battle with the lawnmower this summer.  It breaks down weekly.  On one occasion, it just wouldn’t start.  I remembered a small engine mechanic telling me that a lawnmower engine needs three things: gasoline, air and a spark. I literally tore the whole engine apart.  I cleaned the carburetor, replaced the plug and even checked the case for compression.  The gas tank was full and still the mower would not work.  Whenever I used starting fluid directly into the carburetor, it would fire right up and then quit.  What was the problem?  I had spark, the air filters were clean and the gas tank was full. 

Now, I know this is a “guy example” but I am sure all of us can understand the connection.  Sometimes in life we assume we have everything in place.  All the parts we need to be successful are available.  Why won’t the desired results happen? We live in a pragmatic world.  We assume we know the desired results. Obviously the job promotion or the potential romantic interest will make life more enjoyable.  Ok God, here is what will make me happy so let me get the promotion or have a date with this particular guy or gal. We pray and we pray and nothing happens.  The promotion goes to someone else, the love interest picks the other girl and we begin to doubt the effectiveness of our prayers, of prayers in general or even begin to doubt that God really loves us.  If God did love us, wouldn’t we have gotten what we desired? In my own experiences, sometimes realizations came quickly and other times, it takes years.  Our path in life changes and goes in another direction.  We assume we have been abandoned by God.  As the days go by and as the years pass I discover that God is indeed with me and this is especially true during troubled times.  A new opportunity, maturation or some other effect of my troubled circumstances turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

I realize that even though I had all that I needed in place, my desire for things to transpire the way I wanted them to transpire had seemingly made me ineffective and broken.  I cut myself off from the source of strength and forgot the teaching of the Church that God is always at work within my life for the good of his Kingdom.  My oversight or my confusion prevented the flow of God’s grace into my life.  I discovered that over time, I had slowly bought into the world’s idea that immediate results are the sign of success.  That enculturation constricted the flow of God’s wisdom.  Thankfully, God is sovereign.  Regardless of my confusion or sense of helplessness, God was still at work even when I had given up.

As for the lawn mower, I talked to several of the men at FCC. Because of their experience and knowledge they told me that the gasoline we use these days has a tendency to literally melt gas lines to the point that they close up and although the tank is full, none of it gets to the engine.  I changed the gas line, turned the key and the lawnmower fired right up.  Ironically, all the work I had done because I tried to go it alone prevented me from doing the real work of mowing grass.

Everything seems to be in place but yet things still don’t seem to work? Consult your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Their experience might help.  Trust them, believe in them and don’t give up.  Most important, make sure your lines through which grace comes isn’t closed or gummed up.  Open yourself to God in prayer and get to the work that makes a difference, the work that really needs to be done.

End of Day Three

Today's morning reports were from the Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries (www.obrahispana.org), North American Pacific / Asian Disciples (napad.net) and the National Convocation (www.disciples.org/convo).  These three fellowships represent some of the fastest growing and most dynamic segments of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  I think one of the most poignant points of interest for me is the diversity these fellowships bring to the denomination.  Although many might disagree with me, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was born in a 19th century frontier culture.  We were overwhelming a white unity movement that in many ways reflected the predominant values of most 19th century frontier white folks.  Although we are a movement that looks to the first century church as a model for ministry and evangelism, that vision was filtered through a white culture and values.  Generalizations of ethnic groups are not all that helpful, but these fellowships offer a perspective that will drive us to a vision of dynamic change. The prophetic word from our Latino, Pacific Asian and African American fellowships force us to understand our identity in a new context of this post modern, post Christian world.
When our founders offered a word to reconsider what was essential to our Christian expression, things like creeds, hierarchy and simplicity in faith/practice were bothersome to many of their contemporaries within the European denominations of the 19th century.  Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians and Baptists all looked at us with wariness and suspicion as we preached an open table for the Lord's Supper, a radical call to transformation through adult baptism and a truly catholic/ecumenical understanding of the Church of Jesus Christ.  Many of our radical positions of 100 years ago have themselves become entrenched identity markers for who we think we should be in this contemporary culture.  Our ethnic fellowships remind us of our original values.  What would our Church look like with the dynamic worship, insightful theology and a new understanding of prophetic leadership that many of our ethnic fellowships bring to our new fabric?  Internationally, we are seeing profound growth among Christians in the Southern hemisphere, in Africa, South America and Asia.  Has the North American Church become the new European colonial church which we worked so hard to challenge?  If our very identity changed to include new concepts of leadership brought to us by our African American brothers and sisters, how might congregations be transformed to empower ministry in the whole church? If our worship changed to include new concepts of celebration brought to us by our Latino/a brothers and sisters, how might our own worship bring people to encounter God in a new and dynamic way? If our call to personal accountability and spiritual discipline were transformed by the presence of our Pacific / Asian brothers and sisters, how might our own lives be re-focused toward a fuller understanding of mutual accountability?  I am somewhat uncomfortable with the call from some of my contemporaries to be more hospitable to our ethnic brothers and sisters because the very idea conveys that we are in and they are trying to get in.  Hospitality is indeed a Christian discipline, no argument here.  However, the Church doesn't belong to us in the first place.  God has called all of us into the Church through our baptism. Still, I remember the critique of one particular Latino visitor to FCC-Ashland that we must be careful not to entrench our own culture of respectability and characterize it as inherently "Christian." Our speaker this morning reminded us that Christianity is sufficiently fluid to welcome all people and all cultures to the central message that God's love has been revealed through Jesus Christ.  Yet again, I am not sure any of us have the answers, but the challenge to begin the conversation has been set before us.  In Ashland, the fastest growing ethnic group is Latino/a.  How will our congregation be prepared to continue to do ministry in the years to come?
The closing worship service today featured the powerful preaching of Dr. Fred Craddock.  His focus on this year's theme of "Tell It!" reminds us that to tell others of how God has met us through Christ requires courage.  It reminded me that one does not need to articulate a philosophical proof of God or a neatly packaged theology that reasonably presents proofs for belief.  All we have to do is tell people about God. The Holy Spirit does the real work.  One speaker reminded us today that a river never rises above its source.  I hope we will all continue the conversation of how we might celebrate the freshness of a worldwide Christianity.  A willingness to allow Christ to be the source of our river in which we are baptized that will flood the world with God's love. Our "end times" Christian brothers and sisters continue to frighten us with a perspective that a worldwide church is a sign of an anti-Christ mentality.  Nonsense. Christ did not found an ethnic Church.  Christ did not institute a European Church or an American Church or a white Church.  Christ instituted THE Church. It is frightening for some, uncomfortable for others but an exciting prospect for all of us for God has chosen this moment and all of those around us to do this work of unity in the midst of diversity.  Still, difficult questions remain.  What if our openness brings us into fellowship with those who might propose a perspective that tries to silence those of a certain gender? What if our openness bring us into fellowship with those who might propose a position that narrows our theological perspective away from mutual respect to an new creedalism of social views or political opinions?  Ultimately, from a historical perspective, the Church has been here before.  We have lived through times of great growth and faithfulness.  We have also lived through times of Crusades and Inquisitions.  Still, the Church has lived and carried on the work of God's realm.  In the long run, Truth always wins.  The writer of Hebrews reminds us that often those to whom the promise of God has been made never see the fruition of that gift. Yet, those ancient prophets and patriarchs/matriarchs lived by faith that God was at work in the midst of the confusion, debate and arguments.  That faith is still present, still powerful and for those who are confident of the sovereignty of God, it offers us a confidence that no matter what, our call is to faithfulness to the passion and power of the Holy Spirit.  Do not be afraid. Do not try to protect God.  God is perfectly capable of handling whatever might seek to prevent the Gospel of peace, grace and mercy.  God won.  The resurrection proves that. Death, evil, sin, ignorance, hate and greed are already defeated. Thanks be to God.

End of Day Two - Sexual Abuse

The other resolution brought to today's Assembly was an outline of how congregation's might both protect and minister to victims/survivors of Sexual Abuse in the Church.  Now this is honest talk.
The resolution original used wording to only refer to victims of Sexual Abuse.  Some of the delegates asked if the resolution could be amended to reflect that indeed there are victims of sexual abuse as well as survivors.  One who has suffered from sexual abuse is at first a victim. With God's grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, these individuals move to being sexual abuse survivors.
In many congregations and denominations, these persons have been neglected and ignored.  The gift of ordained ministry carries with it a holy responsibility to be healers not predators.  We all have heard stories of how some parts of the Church have sought to protect and even move abusers to new contexts of ministry thinking that a new placement will stop the behavior.  What we have found is that such actions have only allowed the abuser to continue to act in predatory ways.  It is an uncomfortable subject, but the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has sought to be honest and take strong measures to make sure we act faithfully and with do care in being a church of high ethics.
The resolution will be revised to reflect better wording and brought back to the Assembly.  I have no doubt that it will pass.  The true test, however, will be the implementation of it in local congregations.  High ethics of all who do ministry in the church, both ordained and lay, should be the norm.  Pray for those who came to the Church for healing and were further wounded.  Pray for the abusers as well, that they might know God's grace and seek to be accountable for the sake of their own souls and healing.

Summary of the day:
The day ended with a service in the model of Emergent Worship, which is both a contemporary music setting with meaningful liturgy and ritual that draws the worshiper closer to the Creator.  Worship is a transforming event that leads the human being to the throne of a divine and loving God. Although you might not be surprised that I tend to draw more meaning from the ancient liturgy of the Church's history, it is good that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) seeks to reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people.  Christ did not come to establish a pattern of worship, but to radically change lives of both individuals and all of creation.  At the heart of Disciples worship is the meeting of Christ and one another at the Lord's Table.  Thanks be to God!

End of Day Two - Education

Perhaps most notable in today's business is the re-election of the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins as our General Minister and President.  The other resolutions that seemed to raise the most interesting debate was the Issue of Justice in Education and how the church can deal with issues of victims/survivors of sexual abuse.  First, lets talk about Education.
Much of the conversation around Justice in Education was well received among the delegates.  However, many objected to the categorization of Charter Schools as a part of the perception of inequity in public education.  Others disagreed with the church's emphasis on an issue that seemed political not spiritual.  First, let me speak to the second objection.  Historically, if you have a Sunday School program in your Church, you can thank the social conscious Christians of Industrial London.  The advent of Sunday School was the church's effort to educate young people in the midst of a booming Industrial Revolution in 19th century England.  As families moved from the farms to the city, using children in the growing and often dangerous factories was common.  Even in the United States it was not uncommon to see children as young as 12 working around dangerous machines churning out goods for the increasing appetite of the growing middle class and the already over satiated wealthy.  The Church of England saw the danger of losing a whole generation of children as churches, village schools and small communities who had once educated the young were now empty.  Seeing the increase in crime and an uneducated populace, the Sunday School movement was launched.  The fact that it had been the Church who educated children over the preceding 1000 years it wasn't such a huge jump in logic that it would also be the Church that sought to minister to the needs of a working class population of children.  As Sunday was deemed the one day that factories were required to scale back their work, the Church of England began to gather the children off of the streets in London and other cities in England to teach them the Bible and other basic skills in language, history and mathematics.  As laws against child labor and efforts to offer public education increased, the Sunday School transitioned into a basic method to teach the faith.  The point? The Church has always been involved in issues of education, especially the education of children.  It is a natural for the Church to be involved in issues of education, especially in issues of justice and the seeming failure of public education in our own country.  I and others may disagree with particular points of how we might best address these issues, but in my opinion, it is perfectly appropriate for the Church of Jesus Christ to continue its leadership in this realm of our human society.  As a Democratic Republic, education is the key to an informed voter who is able to articulate matters of state interests and be involved in the ongoing conversation about not only the responsibility of public education but also the necessity of being vigilant.  It is therefore, in my opinion, a perfectly normal issue to be discussed when Christians come together to vision the future of our ministry together.
As for the particular resolution, I am not an expert on education.  I can not speak to the general inequities that motivated the presenters to raise the issue at this General Assembly.  I can, however, covenant to continue to study the issue and be involved in how our public education can best fulfill the mandate to teach the citizens of our nation.  Are Charter Schools the answer, one answer or a part of the problem? I would not have the slightest clue.  I can say that I have seen that schools in poor communities generally produce poorly educated graduates or no graduates at all.  I have seen with my own eyes communities with parents who are actively involved in local public education consistently produce students who are better prepared for the ever changing world.  I have also seen communities where parents either do not or are not able to be involved in the education of their children turn out students who can not fill out a job application, let alone inform themselves on issues of national and political importance.  I can also accept that this is an issue of justice.  Where do we go from here? We will find our way.  I'm just glad we are courageous enough to reclaim the once influential leadership the Church of Jesus Christ had in education.  We should never, as individuals or as congregations, relinquish our role in working toward a just society where every citizen has access to education.

The End of Day One

A new process for resolutions has been used for the first time at this year's Assembly.  In the past, Resolutions that were often very divisive were treated like all Resolutions.  There would be a presentation of the Resolution and a usually short period of discussion would be the prelude for a vote.  In recent Assemblies, these votes were often far from a solid majority.  People would often leave upset that neither enough time was given to the discussion nor was the vote a satisfactory way to deal with issues that often left some feeling like winners and others as losers.  This year a new plan has thus far proved to be very popular.  The issue on the docket for discussion was a dealing with the Christian response to war.
According to a press release from the General Church, a recognition that "the planning for this conversation was a belief that taking a “yes/no” vote on a complex topic before the church after 12 minutes of debate at the Assembly has often contributed to the tendency for church members and congregations to be polarized on volatile topics.  The design proposed by the Council on Christian Unity, working in partnership with the Disciples Peace Fellowship...hopes to provide a “safe space” for honest and tough dialogue, but without moving to a vote – and without creating division and a sense of “winners and losers” within the family of the church. Beginning with “from the heart” sharing in a business plenary, a diverse group of Assembly Disciples will lift up the difficult issues of war and peace, while still laying claim to unity in Christ.  “Somehow, somewhere, we need to model honest, genuine disagreement as Christians and still claim each other as one in Christ,” said Robert Welsh, Council on Christian Unity president in describing the intention of the conversation he and the CCU Board have developed. With an approach that involves story telling from a variety of perspectives, the design invites Assembly participants to engage in further reflection in one of three Monday afternoon sessions on July 11.   These “Faithful Conversations” will explore the issues of: 
• Christian Perspectives on War and Peace 
• Pastoral and Theological Perspectives on War, Peace, and Unity 
• New Developments Regarding War and Peace in the Ecumenical Movement 
In preparing for these conversations, major attention has been given to offering diverse perspectives from Disciples throughout the presentations on issues of war and peace -- from congregational pastors who minister to families that have members in the military; from young adults who are uncertain as to what their faith and their church teaches about war; and from military chaplains, and pacifists, and just-war advocates."
The early church struggled with how to receive many new Christians who were in service to Rome as military officers and soldiers.  Many of the early bishops required these new converts to leave military service, especially since much of the empire's military might was used against Christians specifically.  Early Christians were not permitted to make a living in the army, on the stage as performers and in many cases, government service itself was prohibited.
In the years that followed, the Church grew to become the official religion of the Roman/Byzantine Empire and in subsequent years, European nations.  By the end of the first 1000 years, ministers of the church transformed from outspoken critics of war to those who blessed soldiers before going into battle.  It was common for priests and ministers to bless the troops of their respective nations as two "Christian" armies lined up to do battle.
As the complexity of war and politics dealt with not just empire building, but the defense of nations that found themselves the target of attack or the effort to protect innocent citizens who might be the victims of totalitarian regimes, many great theologians like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas argued for a just war theory.  That is, there were certain cases that Christians not only should engage in armed conflict, but must engage in war for the greater good.  During the rise of Protestantism in the last half of the past thousand years, many Protestant groups were founded and grew as pacifist Christian movements.  Scholars of Disciples of Christ history debate the predominant trend among our movement.  Some of our founders like Alexander Campbell argued that war was an affront to God, while others argued that, although war is a sin, it is an inescapable part of the human experience.  They argued that peace should never be at the expense of justice and if a people were suffering under persecution, and all other attempts failed, armed conflict was a necessary evil.
I would guess that most all of us at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ashland deplore war but at the same time the patriots and servicemen and women of our congregation have and still answer the call of our nation to defend the rights and freedom that we believe are given to all people by our Creator.  How should we respond to war? What word does Christ have on the subject and how can we maintain the integrity of our Lord's title as Prince of Peace and still value the responsibility to defend the weak and support nations in their efforts for justice for all?  Could our military have prevented the genocide in Rwanda? Was not an armed response the only thing that could have stopped Hitler's genocide of six million Jews? What is our role in the civil wars in the Congo and Libya? Why have we not heard of the Christians' plea in Afghanistan who are fearful that a US withdrawal will open the doors to further persecution?  Although the death of martyrs throughout history have made an indelible mark of faithfulness on the world, at what point do governments of the world have a responsibility to protect the lives of Christians, Jews and Muslims alike?
Most soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen alike will be the first to testify to the horrible plight of war.  My father, a veteran himself, often told me of the horrors of war.  What would be my response if my own family were threatened by a foreign government?  During the Revolutionary War, many clergymen enlisted in the Continental Army and local militia.  When asked why they would put down their Bibles to bear arms, they would respond that 'sometimes the shepherd must protect the sheep from the wolves.'  Do our present day wars always defend the weak or do they protect "a way of life" and the supply of natural resources upon which we are so dependent, like oil and free trade?  The opinions are diverse at this Assembly.  However, the unifying themes among all involved in the conversations is a desire to be faithful to Christ, kind to our brothers and sisters with different opinions and the desire to live into the prophetic vision when "swords will be beat into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks." Pray for us as we try to faithfully deal with a mark of the human condition and the futility of violence.  Peace is always our goal.  However, is refusing to take up arms pragmatic? Are we willing to suffer the consequences at the hands of another whose view and understanding of God and the integrity of every human being may not be similar to our own?  Like most here, I see the point of both sides.  I am also grateful for our brothers and sisters who insist on the call to be peacemakers at all costs. Although I may be willing to suffer the cost, I am not sure I am so willing to risk the cost that might be paid by my own son's life.  Perhaps the reality of a sinful world means that no one wins when it comes to war, but when forced to choose, I must confess that I will not allow my family to be taken to the coliseum without a fight. May God have mercy on me.  May God have mercy on us all.

First Day: No Room at the Inn

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sunday morning during General Assembly is a Who's Who among Preachers.  Unfortunately, Dr. Fred Craddock is so well respected, that whichever congregation is fortunate enough to have him will have an unusually difficult day.  This year, Dr. Craddock was the guest preacher at the 11 am service at Woodmont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nashville.  Woodmont is a grand church among Disciples of Christ.  It too, like FCC-Ashland, is a Top 100 Church that is most likely near the top of that count.  The Rev. Clay Stauffer is the Senior Minister as he has the distinction of being the youngest Senior Minister ever called to such a congregation at the age of 27.  Clay, now in his 30's, is one of our finest in the Disciples of Christ as he is both a preacher of great talent and Christian humility.
During breakfast, I ran into Dr. Michael Mooty, Senior Minister at Central Christian Church in Lexington.  After the usual pleasantries he asked why we were dressed up.  I told him that we planned to attend Woodmont to hear Dr. Craddock.  He chuckled and lifted Dr. Craddock's most recent book saying, "I have learned after year's of Assemblies that the best way to get some Craddock on Sunday morning is to read one of his books over morning breakfast."  I didn't realize how prophetic Dr. Mooty was.
Dr. Richard Hamm, former General Minister of the Christian Church, was the guest preacher at the 9:30 am service with the Kentucky Men's Chorus singing.  As I suspected, many people came to the 9:30 service just to make sure they had a seat at the 11 am service.  We arrived at 10 am, hoping that we would be able to get a seat.  The parking lot was full with cars parking on the grass and frankly, wherever they could find a space.  We parked in the parking lot next door at the Methodist Church.  I was concerned that they might tow us as the chalice on the back window would surely give us away as non-Methodists.
When we went to the front door of Woodmont we were directed to the Fellowship Hall.  The congregation is a grand building with a southern style mansion as the offices and a country club style fellowship area.  The Hall was packed with expectant worshipers.  What we did not know was that there was also a Fellowship area downstairs in an extended area where the "Contemporary" Service is held.  Standing outside, we could see through the windows the large screens with the Kentucky Men's Chorus finishing the service with one of their renowned pieces.  They sounded quite good.
Still standing in a line with more then 100 people in front of us we could clearly see one, then two and finally three large tour buses pull up out in front of the church with people streaming out to make their way through the main doors.  The ushers at Woodmont strained to maintain order until the 9:30 service was over.  Finally, a hand full of people began to make their way out of the sanctuary with looks of shock and surprise as they forced their way through the crowds to get to their cars.  Finally a voice could be heard that we could make our way into the main sanctuary.  With about 40 people in front of us, the ushers yelled that the sanctuary was full and the rest would need to make their way down to the lower level in the room where the "contemporary" service was to be held while the sermon would be televised via closed circuit television.  By the time the herd of worshipers made their way to the lower level, ushers told us that that room was full to capacity as well and we would need to find somewhere else to go.  The problem? There was no where else to go.  Hundreds of worshipers were still trying to figure out where they would need to go and ushers looked at each other with panic as all options had been exhausted.  Standing in the fellowship area, one of the ushers announced that we would not be allowed to stay and that we would need to go.  So....we left.
Since we had parked at the Methodist Church, we decided to attend worship there, only to find out that the service had started at 10:30 am and enjoyed the final 15 minutes of the sermon, which incidentally, was very good.  The Methodists were very kind and thanked us for attending and invited us back again the following week.
I can't say I was upset.  Honestly, I expected that our chances of getting to see Dr. Craddock were slim at best.  Even with Woodmont as one of our larger congregations with a reputation of fine organization, the crowds were probably even a shock to them.
My after lunch thoughts drifted to why this situation seemed to be so common place.  I knew that the other congregations in Nashville were featuring some of our finest preachers, but frankly, their names were not readily known to me.  If they weren't known to someone who is regularly familiar with the names of our denomination's best, they probably weren't well known to other Assembly attendees.  Is the reason due to a loss of a national publication that would inform our congregations of the new names of some of our finest preachers?  I can't believe that Dr. Craddock is our only great preacher.  Regardless, we Disciples of Christ are blessed with the evangelistic voice of Dr. Craddock.  Noted as one of the nation's finest preachers, Dr. Craddock is even well known and respected in other countries too.  I remember receiving a publication from St. Andrew's University in Scotland several years ago featuring Dr. Craddock as a "well known American preacher."  Personally, I have watched several of our preachers rise to prominence.  Unfortunately, many of them either backed away from the public attention to focus on their local churches or other areas of their life or they began to believe what others said about them losing the sense and power of the humility necessary to continue to be effectively used by God.  Dr. Craddock is a legend, but he has never forgotten that he is at his core, a simple preacher of the simple Gospel.  He has remembered that it is God who gives him the wisdom to effectively articulate the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Today's learning for the Church is multi layered.  Let us celebrate the gift of great preachers. Let us remember that ultimately, it is a sign of God's gift, and that humility is the only fuel that allows the preacher to continue to be effective.  People recognize what is of God and what is driven by human pride.  Thank God for the power of Dr. Craddock's humility and God bless Dr. Craddock as he continues to be an effective voice for the proclamation of the Gospel.

A Christian American

This weekend, we will celebrate the birth of a nation. On July 4, 1776, a coalition of colonies came together to declare their independence from a monarchy that understood the existence of the colonies as a supplier of the needs and desires of the empire with little concern about the welfare of the colonists. The foundation of this belief of rights and dignity for all was firmly rooted in the divine mandate that the Creator has endowed all of humanity with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In many ways, it reminds me of present situations where we too often view the purpose of other nations as a supplier of oil, cheap goods and labor for a western empire of first world nations and corporate profit. In our celebrations of a day of great courage, it might be a wise course to consider the possibility of a declaration of independence from those who serve this new western empire delineated not by national boundaries but profit and loss reports. Such a perspective might serve to draw criticism as a preacher or a church involves itself in affairs of politics, finance or some other arena in which it is presently unwelcomed. One criticism I often hear is, “Get your own house in order before you begin criticizing someone else.” It is a valid issue. How can the Church urge nations and ethnic groups to work toward peace and unity when we ourselves remain divided and at intellectual war with each other?
I have always appreciated the insight of Michael Kinnamon, a Disciple of Christ ecumenist and scholar, when he proposed that the church is not divided, rather, the church has failed to recognize the unity God has already given the Body of Christ. Philosophically, I couldn’t agree more. However, practically, we know we have much work still left to do, whether it is in an effort to recognize our unity or repent from our practical division. One of the founders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Alexander Campbell, proposed that the failure to redress inequity among nations or ethnic groups with a commitment to peace fragments the Church and disgraces its Lord. The underlying assumption is staggering. A fragmented Church disgraces the Lord? Yes.
The Church is called to be a sign of the state of peace and wholeness to which God has called all of creation. Alexander Campbell wrote, “the beatitudes of Christ are not pronounced on patriots, heroes, and conquerors, bit on ‘peacemakers’ on whom is conferred the highest rank and title in the universe: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the [children] of God.’”
I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God. I am a citizen of the United States of America. I am a Christian American. I will always declare that because of the Creator’s sovereign will, the vision of this nation and the benefits of a democratic republic are worth celebrating. Can we, with authority, proclaim to a hyper individualistic culture that believes the Church is merely a gathering of individuals and not a manifestation of the Body of Christ, that to continue divided disgraces Christ? As a Christian, we must.
Celebrate the birth of a nation this weekend. Celebrate the near universal recognition of human rights that served to move a nation through conflict and into a vision for peace and justice for all of creation. Covenant to not only philosophically recognize the unity of Church but to pragmatically work toward it, not just so that we may speak to the world with authority but that Christ will be glorified.

Building a Church in 40 days.

Since first coming to Ashland in 1887, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has built three church buildings and now they are almost finished with their fourth.  The first church that was built was on 17th Street and is still used to this day as a house of worship.  The second building was on the corner of 20^th Street and Winchester.  The third, which is used today, is the familiar edifice sitting on most of the 1900 block of Winchester Avenue.  It is expected that the fourth church will be ready for dedication on May 22, 2011.  A modest brick building with no pews and costing about $20,000, the most unusual aspect of this new church is the neighborhood.  Located in Hussain Khan Wala in Pakistan, the new Christian Church becomes the eighth church founded by Pakistani Christian pastor, Dr. Saleem Massey. 

Since returning to Pakistan in 1989 after completing his studies at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Dr. Massey founded the Pakistan Christian Evangelical Services with the goal of planting churches throughout the country.  To date, the eight churches now have a membership of over 3,000 Christians.  Many of these congregations provide Christian schools for children.  Additionally, medical camps are conducted with the aid of visiting medical teams from the United States where anyone in need, Muslim or Christian, is able to receive free medical care.  This spirit of service has allowed Dr. Massey to minister effectively to the Pakistani people.  The World Convention of the Christian Churches, the world organization with representatives from the churches of Christ (accapella), the Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has recognized Dr. Massey as a partner for evangelism in Pakistan.  His funding efforts are endorsed by the World Convention, the International Disaster Emergency Services organization and the Christian Restoration Association. “That means he is a man of integrity.  He uses the funds wisely and his covenant accountability with Christian Churches in the United States is above reproach,” said the Rev. Ike Nicholson, Senior Minister of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) became involved with the ministry of Dr. Massey after one of the own members, Dr. Greg Widener, professor of preaching at Kentucky Christian University, returned from a preaching tour of the Christian Churches in Pakistan.  “I remember when Greg started growing a rather rough beard over a year ago,” Nicholson said, “I asked him about it and he told me he was headed to Pakistan to preach the Gospel.  I believed that he had either lost his ever loving mind or he truly was called by God to embark on this endeavor.”  This was during the time that attacks on American convoys had increased in Pakistan. “When he returned from his trip, I could tell he had been profoundly moved by the experience,” Nicholson said.  According to Widener, over 150 new Christians were baptized.  The church at Hussain Khan Wala was meeting outside of the village under a tree when Dr. Massey decided that a church building needed to be constructed.  Widener approached the Outreach Department of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and plans were laid to begin a campaign during Lent.  “The 40 day period of prayer and repentance seemed like a perfect time to raise the $20,000 to build the church building,” Nicholson said, “to date we are only $3,000 away from our goal.”

 The land of Pakistan has been ruled by many different nations, including the Persians, the Greeks and the Moguls of Asia.  It was during this time that Buddhism became the prominent religion.  Ironically, there is also evidence that Christianity had come to the area during the second and third centuries.  Tradition taught that Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, took the Gospel to the subcontinent of what is today India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  In the 8^th century, Muslim traders came to the region and many were converted while the area east of Pakistan became solidly Hindu.  When the British arrived in the 1600’s, the area was unified and generally referred to as India. Anglican Christianity became prominent and the effort of Protestant missionaries soon took hold in India.  The region that is now Pakistan remained decidedly Muslim.  In 1940, the region won its independence from the British and divided into three sovereign nations based on religion.  India remained Hindu, while Pakistan and Bangladesh were Muslim. 

“As is the case in many predominantly Islamic countries, other religions, including Christianity, are often the target of discrimination and attack,” said Nicholson, “Most recently, a Christian woman was arrested for allegedly blaspheming the name of Mohammed, and Shehbaz Bhatti, a Christian government official, was gunned down by Al-Queda militants for supporting her cause. Our congregation’s Lenten theme this year was “Lift High the Cross.” I remembered Dr. Widener telling me that each church would mount a cross at the top of the Church building, a rare sight in Pakistan.  It hit me: these people are lifting high the cross in a place that could cost them their very lives.  The least we can do, with our safe homes, padded pews and SUVs was to raise the money for them to build their church.”

If you would like to learn more about the ministry or how you can help, go to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) website at www.fcc-ashland.org.

Resurrection Sunday

Do you remember where you were on 9/11?  That is all I really have to say, isn’t it?  You know what that means.  It is a central part of our modern identity as Americans, just like the memories our parents and grandparents have when they remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

I was flying back from Jordan on my first trip as a member of the newly formed Friends of Jordan, an organization of Christian clergy in North America created to encourage support of Middle Eastern Christians and conversation with Middle Eastern Muslims.  We were coming back to the United States encouraged by a new sense of brotherhood/sisterhood with Orthodox and Roman Christians and a commitment to learn more about the Islamic culture.  In the coming sunrise of that new relationship, the ruins of the Twin Towers tried to block out the light. As you can imagine, my emotions were a wreck.

I was particularly interested in the heroism of the passengers on Flight 93 and the leadership of Todd Beamer.  As a husband and father, he greeted his two sons each morning with the phrase, “Let’s roll guys!”  Todd tried to reach his wife while in flight over Pennsylvania, but could not get his credit card to work.  He asked the operator to pray with him the Lord’s Prayer and spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ.  Then he dropped the telephone and the operator heard him issue the order as St. Michael, the captain of the Lord’s angels, “Are you ready guys? Let’s roll!”  The plane went down outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and most likely spared another target in Washington D.C.  I believe it was Todd’s conviction in the power of the Resurrection that gave him the strength.  Death has no power, fear is helpless.  It was a story that encouraged a nation. 

There were other stories, too.  These stories were not as popular or as covered but they too witnessed to the weakness of the hosts of darkness.  They were stories of anonymous donors providing food and water to rescue personnel in New York City and Washington D.C.  Trinity Church on Wall Street was right around the corner from the Trade Center when the earth shuttered as the towers fell.  The Church miraculously avoided destruction and their pews served as beds for weary rescue workers.  The pews were scratched and gouged by their boots and equipment.  You can still see these marks today; the church decided not to refinish the pews so that they would serve as an ongoing reminder of the sacrifices of so many.  There were stories of Christians who escorted Muslims to the supermarket so they would not be harassed or attacked.  It was the power of the Resurrection that enlightened our fellow believers to know when to resist evil through force as well as the courage to stand beside those whom the world identified as Christ’s enemies in the parking lots of grocery stores.  These were peculiar acts to a world that has not believed in the power of the Resurrection.  It was not other members of the human race that were enemies of the cross.  It was the shadowy demons of hate, greed and revenge that were being opposed by the hosts of God’s people.  In that moment, the Church of Jesus Christ was unconquerable.  Why?  The Resurrection!  In Christ’s Resurrection, there is victory.  Sin and death have been defeated.  The world may not understand.  The secular forces of our society make shake their heads in confusion and disbelief, but you understand, don’t you?  You too have known the power of the Resurrection.  Celebrate with the hosts of God’s people again this week.  We will remember the one dramatic moment in human history that unleashed God’s final victory.  Death cannot hold the God of life and creation.  Neither can it hold the children of God. 

Palm Sunday

I am a Patriot.  The Flag of the United States is flown on the appointed days at our house.  My respect for the men and women who serve in the United States military is certain.  I believe our nation is a blessed nation.  I also believe that the pride that straightens my back at the sound of our National Anthem is not particular to me or citizens of the United States of America.  The primary reason I am a patriot is because I firmly believe in the ideals of a Democratic Republic.  It is, in my estimation, the best form of government thus far.  I am, I would propose, a citizen of two kingdoms, the United States and the Kingdom of God.  Thankfully, as an adherent to the principles of a Democratic Republic, I can maintain my loyalty to my understanding of God’s law while working for change in the halls of human government. The only form of government I would submit to beyond the country of my birth is the benevolent monarchy of Christ when he comes to establish a Kingdom of true peace and justice.  I am, however, very uncomfortable, when we wrap the Bible with an American flag. I get nervous when people equate God’s will with the proposed will of the United States.  The symbols of my patriotism are subservient to the symbols of Christ.  My Scriptural proofs will be the focus of this Sunday’s celebration.  For a moment in time, we will reenact a patriotic celebration specific to the City of David, Jerusalem.  We will wave the symbols of Davidic pride and sovereignty as we welcome Christ into the ancient city of Jerusalem. 

Palm Sunday is, at its core, a blatant example of a gross misunderstanding of Christ’s sovereignty apart from any human constructs.  The centuries that have gone by have allowed the symbols of patriotic pride of an ancient nation to be forgotten.  As in modern times, ancient cities and nations had symbols that were used to express devotion and commitment to that indescribable sentiment of patriotic pride.  The Palm branch was the political symbol of Jerusalem. It was and remains a prominent symbol on that city’s crest.  It was their American flag, their bald eagle, that told the world that although the Empire of Rome may rule by force, their loyalty was to the ancient city of Davidic authority.  It was a patriotic parade that was being thrown for this itinerant preacher riding on a donkey into the city.  Their memories of a similar parade were being recreated that day in Jerusalem.  The stories of King David and King Solomon were being reenacted, for they too rode through Jerusalem on a donkey as a sign of their monarchal authority.  The Palm branches are not just a sign of our welcoming Christ, but a symbol that reminds us that Christ did not come to establish a temporal realm.  The Palms function as a warning.  They are a sign of our human propensity to force the reign of God into but one facet of our lives. Christ is not only a giver of good gifts when we so desire.  Christ is not allied with but one nation. Christ does not baptize the will of one people or lift one nation over another. Christ promises a New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).  And who is this New Jerusalem?  It is none other than the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9).  And who is this bride? The Church of Jesus Christ (John 3:28-29, 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:25-27, 31-21).  It is this reason that the Palms are burned the following year for Ash Wednesday and become the mark of our sin of rebellion on our foreheads.  As we become spectators of this ancient patriotic rally this Sunday, consider in your own hearts and minds: to whom is your loyalty given?  Are you looking for your vision of Christ? Or, are you willing to become Christ’s vision of a loyal disciple?