Fasting from Criticism

I’ve never really been very good about “fasting” for Lent.  In the past I’ve vowed to give something up – but I learned about midway through the season that I’m a Romans 7 type of faster.  (“For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I don’t want to do.  I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.”) Besides, not being much of a chocoholic or coffee-holic has taught me that giving up chocolate or caffeine for Lent means very much to me spiritually.

But at the Ash Wednesday service earlier this week, one of our worship leaders was talking about fasting.  In the midst of that service a voice – or a Voice—said to me:  “Fast from criticism.”

Hmmm.  Fast from criticism.  That’s tougher.  I don’t think of myself as a particularly critical person, but of course I may be simply deluding myself.  Plus there are always more critical comments going on in our heads than ever come out of our mouths, so this would be inner work more than just behavioral fasting.

How would I fast from criticism?  What do I do with my opinions if they differ from someone else’s?  Can I still coach and teach and supervise without breaking that fast?  If I read something a politician has said, can I think to myself, “Boy, that’s really stupid”? Or is that not allowed?

Lent gets harder.

In pondering this, and in sharing with Bev and with my covenant discipleship group, I’m sketching out a few guidelines for my Lenten fast:

a.       Assume positive intent.  Situations that aggravate me aren’t done … well, to aggravate me.  Listen for the good faith idea underneath.

b.      Ask questions before judging. I can be less quick to pronounce my mental verdict and more open to making sure I understand. 

c.       No name-calling.  I don’t know yet if I can say in my mind “That’s really stupid,” but I know God wants me to refrain from saying “You’re really stupid.”  Even to the television set.

d.      Open myself to feedback.  And brush up on my prayers of confession.

Jesus said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

I count on Jesus being far more merciful than I am – but I wish He’d whispered to me something about chocolate instead.

Pastor Larry

An Offensive Cross

I was chatting over the weekend with someone who’d been to another church on her vacation – and who was telling me there wasn’t a visible cross anywhere in the sanctuary.  Ferns, yes, video screens and a lectern, some chairs and a fake tree – but no cross.  Why?

I certainly don’t know the motivations of that church, but I’ve heard other pastors say, “The cross isn’t the only symbol of Christian faith.  We want to use all of them:  stars, angels, candle flames, doves.  We don’t want to be exclusive.”

Now for someone who deeply values inclusivity, I’m really rankled by that logic.  What they mean is that they don’t want to be offensive.  The cross carries all sorts of baggage, so let’s pick gentler, less bothersome symbols.  More people will come if we’re not so off-putting right up front.

And they have a point.  The cross is often offensive.  It can be offensive for the wrong reasons;  many Jews, for example, see it as a sign of long and painful anti-Jewishness  on the part of the church.  That’s an offense for which we ought to repent.  But at its best – even at its best – the cross is supposed to be offensive. 

There is supposed to be something shocking about a God put to death at the hands of human beings.  There is supposed to be something scandalous about a Savior who accepts – and even chooses – death by crucifixion. The New Testament calls the cross an “offense,” “foolishness,” and a source of “shame.” Peter found it inconceivable that God’s chosen Messiah would ever be touched by suffering, yet the cross visibly confronts us with the shocking message of a weak, vulnerable, crucified Savior.

Ferns are so much more attractive.

But at least we’re honest.  We put it front and center.  Oh, we make it from brass and polish it up to a nice shine so it’s pleasant looking.  Aesthetically there’s nothing offensive about it either.  But theologically, the message we at least put front and center is distasteful:  God in Jesus Christ was put to death by people just like us. We killed the Loving Creator of the Universe.  We killed the Son of God. And God let us do it.

Reminds me of the man who came in late to church.  He’d been looking for a congregation that had people like him in it.  As he settled in his seat the congregation around him was praying the Prayer of Confession:  “We have done those things we ought not to have done, and we have not done those things which we ought to have done.  There is no health within us. Have mercy on us, O God.” And he settled back and said to himself, “Finally.  My kind of people.”

MoneyMoneyMoney

Today some good news about your generous giving.

Even though Jesus talked more about money than any other single subject, we don’t.  Some of you appreciate that, others don’t. But just as President Obama delivered his State of the Union address earlier this week, I want to say a brief word about our State of the Church – financially.

We ended 2011 with a surplus of approximately $11,000.  In a time when so many congregations are running deficits and digging into emergency funds, having a 5-figure surplus is a real blessing.  Furthermore, this is the third year in a row that your giving has provided us with a small surplus.  This same time period has been incredibly challenging economically for our whole nation, so your level of generosity stands out all the more.

This surplus stands separate your gifts over and above our basic ministry expenses.  When we cluster all of the missions-related giving – special offerings, scholarships, disaster relief, donations, and so on – our end-of-year total balance for missions giving was just shy of $123,000!  I think this is simply phenomenal.

As for 2012, we are “cautiously optimistic.”  Our caution is rooted in the fact that we received significantly fewer pledges or estimates of giving for 2012 than the previous year.  Our base of reliable and committed givers is shrinking. 

I’m convinced that many of you who stepped up with a pledge for 2011 have simply forgotten to do the same for 2012 – or you may have forgotten how important that is for our planning.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him.” (Luke 14)  You can help your church estimate wisely … and avoid ridicule!  Pledge cards are available in the church office, or by email request.

At the same time, our optimism is grounded again in your generosity.  The average pledged amount increased from last year.  Last year’s average pledge was $4,593 per year, or $383 per month.  This year’s average pledge is $4,892, or $408 per month – almost a 10% average increase in giving.  The average means, of course, that some can and do give more, and others less.  That’s okay.  “If the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has – not according to what one does not have.” (2 Corinthians 9)

I don’t want to hem and haw about money.  It's a great thing.  As we say in our LifeSign offertory prayer, our financial gifts are “tangible love.” This is how love spreads beyond our small circles of influence. The heart that dares to be generous with money finds it easier to be generous in every other way, too.

And, a plug:  I recommend to you the website MattAboutMoney.com. Matt Bell was here a few years ago and was wonderfully wise and helpful.  His focus is helping families – especially those with children – grow to be responsible users of money.  Matt’s weekly blog is always full of humor, wisdom and good advice.  I recommend it whole-heartedly. 

Through the blessing of our generous God, may you grow in Extravagant Generosity in every way this week!

Pastor Larry

SOPA & PIPA

I wanted today to pass along some disturbing information I’ve been reading about two pieces of legislation that stand to threaten our church and thousands of other churches around the country – as well as millions of people around the world.  The two pieces of legislation are known as the U.S. House’s SOPA and the U.S. Senate’s PIPA. They stand for Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect Intellectual Property Act.

Much of what I’m passing along here is from the website www.Readthespirit.com. (I don’t want to be accused of piracy myself!) I hope you’ll go there for more information.

The two acts before the Congress intend to protect copyrights and properly credit the work of other artists and professionals. Claims that websites are violating the act would lead to the websites being shut down until the issue is resolved. SOPA and PIPA target entire regions of the world where copyright infringement and piracy occur regularly.  We could agree that this is a good goal.

The danger, however, is that simply a claim of piracy or infringement is enough to black out the sites under accusation. This could affect us directly – and the world overall.

Imagine if an online search program reviewing our website spotted a photograph or a bit of text or music that wasn’t properly copyrighted.  Say a member of our youth group posts a YouTube video with some unknown music on a generic background. This search program identifies the music and the photograph and determines we don’t have permission to use that clip.  BANG!  Down goes our website.

This could happen to thousands of churches daily, in addition to millions of other sites. It’s overkill.

Even if we think that copyright infringement deserves a tough response, this legislation poses global problems of major concern. More critically, it gives dictators tremendous power to shut down internet communication by accusing freedom movements of “piracy” and “infringement.”

For example, in the waning days of Egypt’s dictatorship, unsuccessful attempts were made to black out the Internet. What if our Congress gave every dictator threatened by the “Arab Spring” movement a legal way to shut down internet communications among freedom fighters?  What if this legislation gave China or Iran the right to block religious freedom sites for their people? Or Afghanistan the power to keep certain sites dark that they believed brought comfort to our soldiers?  I don’t want to make it one bit easier for brutal dictators to repress grassroots movements for freedom by claiming simply to be “getting tough” on copyright laws.

We have the Bill of Rights in our DNA – especially freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press. I believe that freedoms such as these derive from our being created in the image of God, human beings made worthy of dignity and freedom. We live in an increasingly democratic world, where information is shared instantaneously. I support the right of creators to own their intellectual property. But the SOPA and PIPA bills are dangerous in the license they provide.

What should we do?   First, familiarize yourself with these bills.  Check out the www.ReadTheSpirit.com website; read legal expert Laurence Tribe’s opposition to SOPA and PIPA. (Here is a story covering Tribe’s decision to oppose these bills.)

Note that Senator Mark Warner says, "… both SOPA & PIPA go too far. Online piracy is a real and serious problem, but there has to be a better way to go after rogue sites without fundamentally changing the way the Internet works."         (from his website)

I encourage you to express your opinions directly to our members in Congress:

http://www.connolly.house.gov/

http://www.webb.senate.gov/

http://www.warner.senate.gov

 

God bless you.

Pastor Larry

Rear-Ended

I got rear-ended yesterday morning.  A new experience for me – not one I want to repeat – but one I now share with many of you.

I was approaching a stoplight on Braddock Road, getting ready to turn left.  In a quick glance at the rear-view mirror I noticed that a car that should look this big (Ѿ) looked this big (Ѿ).  I didn’t have time to process it, I just remembered it later after a big WHUMP shocked the car.  A weird blur of chaos, then nothing. I sat for a few seconds, then got out to talk to “the perp.”

The young man who hit me was maybe in his early 20’s, running late to his college class.  “I .. I ... just didn’t see you.” He seemed so stunned and scared, and I was basically all right, so I said, “Have you ever been in an accident before?”

“No,” he murmured.  “Never.”

“Well," I said, "here’s how this works.” And I asked him for information, shared mine and so on til we were ready to go.  His car had a dent and some impact places; my trunk and bumper need work, and my neck is sore (have been to the doctor), but all in all we were fortunate.

So that’s one of those insights that comes vividly true when it happens to you.  Anything can occur anytime. We are fortunate.  Life is risky business. You just never know. No one gets out of this world alive, but we can be grateful for the days and blessings and near-misses we do get.

That means it takes a certain degree of courage just to live.  Paul Tillich once wrote a book called The Courage to Be, and I think the title alone makes enough of a point to me.

The moment of impact, while not great, was a flash of disorientation.  It was a split-second reintroduction to those forces bigger than I am, way out of my control, that lurk around us every day. It seems melodramatic to say it reminded me of death, but death often comes in just that way. And in that flash of WHUMP and what the --?!? I at least knew that would be the moment when God would be there – and was there – and will be there – even in my disorientation.

And I felt blessed that I could be of some help to this stunned, guilty young man. Let me be clear – I don’t have a long history of auto accidents!  But the experience of a few extra years can give one some perspective and serenity in the midst of a crisis. That experience and that calmness can be a gift to others in frightening times. Surviving a crisis brings us a unique wisdom that we can use later on to help others.

For those of you who spend a lot of time in your car, we pray traveling mercies on you. May God keep you safe and alert, that we can gather with gratitude each week.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, we have already come.

'Tis grace hath brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home.

Doing the Right Thing When It's Hard

One of the most enjoyable movies I saw over the holidays was “The Descendants.”  George Clooney leads an excellent cast through a difficult story that showed some rare glimpses of a deep morality at the core of very-human people.

Clooney plays Matt King, a workaholic lawyer living in Hawaii. His lovely wife Liz has been left in a coma due to a tragic boating accident at the beginning of the film. As Matt struggles with his shock and grief over the approaching end of her life, he soon learns something more painful:  Liz was cheating on him when she was injured.  Matt is stunned, angry, and hurt.  He has a lot to sort out as he also tries to learn how to be a decent parent to his rebellious daughters.

Two scenes spoke to me very powerfully of people struggling to do the right thing when it’s hard.

In the first, Matt goes to visit Liz’s parents.  Liz’s angry father starts in berating Matt and praising his daughter.  The older man repeatedly sings the praises of Liz's faithfulness and attentiveness to Matt and their marriage; he repeatedly reproaches his son-in-law for being an absent workaholic. His diatribe intensifies. As an audience member you finally want Matt to say, “Oh yeah?  Well, let me tell you about your precious “faithful” daughter. You want Matt to set the old man straight.

But Matt doesn’t. He resists telling her father that Liz, in fact, wasn't nearly as faithful as he believes.  He bears the old man’s anger and reproach instead and does nothing to damage his love for his daughter.

In a separate scene, Julie Speers (the wife of the man Liz has been cheating with) comes to visit Liz in the hospital.  She brings flowers and wants to talk to Liz. With tears coming down her face, Julie says to the comatose Liz, "I forgive you. I'm angry, but I forgive you. I forgive you for sleeping with my husband. I forgive you for trying to break up my family. I should hate you, but I forgive you.”

In the book Julie’s speech comes across calmly, as you may have just read it, as serene and at peace.  In the movie, though, Julie seems to be raging against Liz even as she speaks her forgiveness. It’s obvious that she wants to forgive and knows she needs to forgive – but she’s fighting back her rage all the while she’s saying what she knows she has to say. It’s a powerful moment.

Liz’s selfish betrayal has exacted a terrible cost in human pain. But Matt and Julie show us two people with a moral center, each working hard to be a decent and loving human being, each trying to take “the high road” in the face of anger and pain.

Bearing unjust accusations and staying silent.  Speaking forgiveness at the hardest moments. Resisting the temptation into vengeance and retribution. Staying true to one’s core beliefs. These elements ought to be familiar to anyone of us who knows the story of God’s dealings with us.  We find parallels in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wouldn’t you like to have the strength to do the right thing?  Even when it’s hard? 

See you in church.
              Pastor Larry

Hospitality

Dear Friend of Burke UMC,

Jesus was born homeless. Joseph and Mary were forced to look for temporary shelter as they arrived in Bethlehem; without it, they would have had to sleep outdoors. They were blessed to be offered find the most basic shelter - a cave, most likely - where Jesus was born. The Christmas story is a story of hospitality to the homeless.

Many people of our community would also be sleeping outside if it weren't for churches' hospitality to the homeless. Beginning this Sunday, we are embracing the Jesus story by offering shelter to those who're lacking it. The "Hypothermia Project" is our partnership with FACETS and Fairfax County to offer meals, friendship and warm cots to those who need temporary shelter.

This doesn't happen because "they" at the church have everything covered. It's not enough that somebody is taking care of it. Instead, we step out in faith, saying Yes well in advance and believing that you will say, "I'll help."

Now we need your help. Here are the vacancies that remain:
Help Needed:
6:30am-8:30am     Transportation Drivers and Bus Hosts
(Help needed each morning, Monday-Sunday)

4:30pm-6:30pm     Transportation Drivers and Bus Hosts
(Help needed each evening, Monday-Sunday)

4:30pm-7:30pm     Evening Set-Up Team
(Help needed Thursday and Saturday)

7:00pm-11:30pm   Late Night Team
(Help needed on Saturday evening)

11:00pm-4:30am   Overnight Team
(Help needed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

4:00am-7:30am      Overnight Team (2nd shift)
(Help needed every evening, Sunday-Saturday)

The "Transportation Drivers" and "OvernightTeams" have the most openings for volunteers.
Please stop by the large Hypothermia sign-up board in the entryarea to look for ways in which you might support this important ministry.  If you would like, you can reply to this e-mail and let us know where you might like to serve.

We most need you to greet our guests as they begin a new day; breakfast is provided, we just need you and your smile (see overnight Team #2). Thursday and Friday are critical days as well. Please check your calendar now and then contact the church office. You may very well meet the Holy Family here in our Fellowship Hall.

This Sunday afternoon at 4:00 is our "Blue Christmas" service for those whose holidays are touched with grief. Join us in the Reflection Room (enter through the sanctuary). You may also want to bring a small picture, ornament or memento of your loved one to decorate the Blue Christmas tree, or use one of our hand-cut angels. This service is co-sponsored by our Stephen Ministry.

Lastly, The Brethren will be here in concert Sunday evening at 7:30. This appearance by the renowned men's chorus will be one of the premier music events of our year. Not to be missed.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Larry



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 Coming Up ...

LifeSign  Worship                     Saturday, 5:30 pm, Rev. Morgan Guyton preaching
Sunday Worship                        9:00 & 10:30 am, Rev. Larry Buxton preaching

               .
Hypothermia Guests Arrive      Sunday, December 11-Saturday, December 17
Blue Christmas Service            Sunday, December 11, 4:00 pm.
The Brethren in Concert           Sunday, December 11, 7:30 pm.

Burke Family Christmas            Sunday, December 18, 6:00 pm.
Christmas Eve Services            4:00, 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00 pm.
Christmas Day Services            Sunday, December 25, 11:00 am only.

All for now. Burke UMC news can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and our website - http://www.burkeumc.org/ . May God bless you richly today.