Love of God

This Saturday we will celebrate the gift of love as we enjoy Valentine’s Day. While this holiday tends to focus on romantic love, I would like to talk about our love for God. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a Benedictine Monk. Bernard came up with the following four stages to describe how people tend to love God.

The first stage is “Love of Self for Self’s Sake.” The psychological term for loving oneself is narcissism. We recognize this behavior in infants and small children that think the world revolves around them. This behavior can return during adolescence. And we all know some folks who never seem to grow out of this stage.

The second stage is “Love of God for Self’s Sake.” This is when we recognize that there are benefits to believing in God. We look forward to heaven and ask that God bless us while we wait down here on earth. While this is certainly better than narcissism, it can be problematic. God is not a magic genie. God’s timing is not our timing.

The third stage is “Love of God for God’s Sake.” This is when we recognize that God has value, not because of what God can do for us, but because of who God is. We love God because God is God.

According to Bernard of Clairvaux, the fourth stage is “Love of Self for God’s Sake.” This is when we begin to see ourselves as God sees us. When we begin to experience life as a gift and strive to live our lives giving glory to God by enjoying God and the life we have been given.

If we are honest with ourselves, we probably move in and out of these stages on a daily basis. Let us strive to love God and ourselves for the sake of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is love. This is revealed in the very nature of God. St. Augustine recognized that God is love by referring to the members of the trinity as: the lover, the beloved, and the love that binds them together.

Prayer:
Glorious God,
You are love. Help us love ourselves. Help us love others. And help us love you. Help us to know you more deeply. Help us to enjoy life and give glory to you for all that you’ve done, all that you are, and all that you have called us to be.

New Year's Resolutions - Mine is posting more frequently!

While it is a month and a half after the start of the new year, I thought I would begin my new year's resolution of blogging on a more regular basis. And what better way to start than by posting the newsletter article I wrote for the church in January. Enjoy!

The New Year is a time for reflection on the past year and dreams for the new one. As you reflect on the past year, take some time to consider where you have seen God at work in your life and the lives of your loved ones, as well as your church, community, and world. As you look to the future, open yourself up to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The New Year is an excellent time to recommit ourselves to God and open ourselves up to what God would have us do.

This year I have heard some folks knocking New Year’s resolutions. One preacher said that they tend to be based on what society tells us to do, that they come from looking outside of ourselves and perhaps down on ourselves. While I don’t want to throw the resolutions out, this preacher may have a point. Choosing our resolutions based on what others tell us are important may be one of the reasons so many of us fail to follow through with them. However, I think an outside perspective combined with some introspection and a real desire for change can have positive outcomes. Thinking about what others are telling you to do and then reflecting on your desires is worth some time even if you don’t make a resolution for change. Knowing yourself is an immeasurable gift. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When we take the time to reflect on our lives, I’m sure all of us will find something that we would like to change. The New Year really is a great time to kick a harmful habit or pick up a good one. It is a time for commitment and re-commitment.

The important thing to remember is that God loves us just as we are. But that doesn’t mean that God wants us to stay where we are. God wants us to continue to grow and mature as people and as children of God. As we reflect on our lives this New Year, let’s be sure to reflect on the love of God as well. Where would we be without it?

Some Recommendations:
Did you know that you can find daily bible readings on our church website www.pampapcusa.org by using the Links page? You can also have the daily readings sent directly to your email by going to http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index.htm.

This year we are celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin. John Calvin was one of the Reformers who helped shape the faith of the Presbyterian Church. To celebrate, Princeton Theological Seminary is providing daily readings from Calvin’s crowning theological work, “The Institutes.” If you would like to make these readings a part of your New Year’s Resolutions or you just want to check it out, you can find them at http://www2.ptsem.edu/ConEd/Calvin/.

Christmas Music

Yesterday our church choir and some actors reflected on the Christmas story in our annual Christmas Cantata. It was wonderful. Someone said that it was their favorite "sermon" of the year and I had to agree. As much as I love to preach, it was nice to spend some time working on other things and it was a real treat to hear the choir and watch the actors proclaim the word.

I love singing Christmas Carols and Hymns. I have been singing carols and hymns to my children at night (they haven't complained about my singing voice, yet). Kennan loves "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer." Brayden seems to enjoy "Silent Night." For some reason, Jennifer would rather listen to Sarah McLachlan, Jim Brickman, or Point of Grace.

Here is a list of my favorite hymns.

Advent (the time of year when we eagerly wait for the coming of Jesus Christ) (Top 3)

#3 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

#2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

#1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Christmas (the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus) (Top 10)

#10 The First Nowell - I really like the sixth verse that reminds us that God is the creator and redeemer of the world

#9 Go Tell It On The Mountain - An excellent reminder that we are to proclaim the good news of Jesus' coming with all the world

#8 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - The third verse reminds us that Jesus came to help those "beneath life's crushing load"

#7 O Little Town of Bethlehem - This song reminds us that Jesus is "the everlasting light" and that "the hopes and fears of all the years" were met in Bethlehem that night

#6 O Come, All Ye Faithful - As "Go Tell It On The Mountain" motivates us to share the good news with all the world, this song invites everyone to come and adore him

#5 Angels We Have Heard on High - Gloria in excelsis Deo (Latin for Glory to God in the highest) - enough said!

#4 Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Everytime I watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special I love to hear this song and can't wait to sing it in church

#3 Joy to the World - There is no better way to respond to the gift of Jesus Christ by singing of the joy he brings us

#2 What Child Is This - I love listening to Sarah McLachlan's version almost as much as sing it in church

#1 Silent Night, Holy Night - After so many candlelight services, you just can't beat it!

Not on the Top Ten (this year) (Top 4)

#4 We Three Kings of Orient Are - This is an Epiphany Hymn that often gets played at Christmas. Most scholars think the Magi/Wisemen/Kings arrived later.

#3 Still, Still, Still - Great Song but still.... I can only put ten in the top ten

#2 Born in the Night, Mary's Child - Recommended by another pastor and the words are great, but I am waiting to hear it in church before it can be considered for the Top 10.

#1 Away in a Manger - doesn't make the list because who knows a baby that "no crying he makes"?

This is my list. What do think? Any surprises? What would your list look like?

December Newsletter Article: "The Light"

Advent means coming. It is a time when we wait and we watch for the coming of our Lord. It is a time when we look forward to both the birth of our Lord and the time when he will come again and make all things new. Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. It is a time when we recall the story of the ten bridesmaids and their lamps. We are called to keep our light burning as we look for the coming of the Lord.

During Advent the sanctuary is decorated with evergreens reminding us that God is everywhere and everlasting. Homes are decorated with strings of light, reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world and encouraging us to shine our lights as we have been strung together. As we prepare for the holidays let us also prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord so that we might shine with the light and love of Jesus Christ.

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. On the first Sunday we will light one candle of the Advent wreath. Each subsequent week we will light an additional candle as we build up to the moment when the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve. The candlelight increases as we approach Christmas. We recognize that this world can be dark and cold. So we look forward to the coming of the light that brings both light and warmth. We look forward to the coming of Christ, the light of the world. At the end of the service on Christmas Eve we will use the Christ candle to light our own individual candles as the light and love of God fills the room. We recognize that it is the light of Christ that expels the darkness from our lives and fills us with the warmth of the love of God. Therefore let us share the light and love of the world in our homes, communities, and all of creation. Let us shine our lights as we prepare for the coming Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

Redeeming Value of A Video Game: Redemption in "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed"

Two weeks ago I was visiting with some youth about the video games they were playing and I asked what they recommended. Jennifer and I recently purchased a Nintendo Wii using the store credit we had received from selling back a ton of old books, CDs, and DVDs. After listening to their recommendations, I told the youth that I had just rented "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed." I told them that I was enjoying it, but I didn't know if it had any redeeming value or if I was just fulfilling my lifelong dream to use a lightsaber (this is probably as close as I will ever get).

I grew up watching the Star Wars movies - in fact, whenever I was sick enough to stay home from school I would watch all three of the originals back to back to back. The story takes place during the time between the original three movies and the newer movies (which take place before the originals). You play as Darth Vader's apprentice. I must be honest and say that I didn't like the idea of beginning on the dark side. In some of the older computer games (Knights of the Old Republic) you could choose whether you would like to become a Jedi (good guy) or a Sith (bad guy). You begin by attacking Jedi as you try to prove to Darth Vader that you are ready to take on the emperor and rule the galaxy alongside your master. You are apparently betrayed by Darth Vader before he tells you to begin a rebellion so that you can distract the emperor. Then you are betrayed by Darth Vader as he captures those you have gathered for the rebellion - it appears that you have been used to bring the emperor's enemies out into the open. But as the game progresses the character makes progress as well. Ultimately you reject the dark side and save the leaders of the rebellion. In order to stay within the "canon" of the movies, your character must die (because the character is never mentioned in the movies). So you die while the rebel leaders escape. The rebellion adopts your family crest as the symbol for the rebellion against the evil empire.

The game does have some redeeming value as the character gives his life for the sake of his friends (John 15:13). While the character may have to die to remain within the Star Wars Canon, our Christian Canon (The Bible) tells us that Jesus had to die for our salvation. While the character in the Star Wars game gives his life for the sake of others, there is nothing he can do to make up for the lives he takes at the beginning of the game. You begin the game as someone who has been twisted by the dark side of the force. Each of us has been twisted by sin. While the game has some redeeming value, the Bible tells us that Jesus' death on the cross has the value of redemption. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation, because we can never make up for what we have done and we will never be good enough. But we can freely receive salvation through the gracious gift that comes through Jesus' death and resurrection.

This game gave me an opportunity to unleash the powers of the force and recognize the power of the gospel. It gave me an opportunity to use a lightsaber and reflect on The Light!

Company of New Pastors Conference (Nov 11-14)

The Company of New Pastors was formed to help seminary graduates stay in church ministry by instilling the importance of spiritual disciplines and theological reflection. It also serves as a support group by bringing together new pastors into groups led by a veteran pastor. In seminary our group met once a month to discuss our ordination vows. It was a wonderful group of twelve students and two mentors.

This past week the Company of New Pastors gathered together for a conference in the mountains of Colorado. Ten out of the twelve members of my group from Princeton were in attendance. We had morning, midday, and evening prayer throughout the conference (this includes multiple prayers, some singing, and scripture reading). We reflected on the doctrine of providence in small group discussions and through four sessions of guided journaling. We had two panel discussions with six seasoned pastors who willingly answered questions about serving as pastors.

At the conference we were divided into small groups (roughly) based on the region in which we live. I was in the Texas (and Oklahoma) Region with two friends from Princeton, four new friends from Austin Theological Seminary, and an experienced Pastor currently serving in Boulder, CO. I think this group will continue to be a source of encouragement and support as we have planned to stay in touch and have promised to pray for one another.

The guided journaling gave me an opportunity to reflect on my life. I was able to discover previously unrecognized sources of pain and comfort. I recognized my need to ask a loved one for forgiveness. Most of all, I was able to see that God was present with me even in the difficult times (especially in the difficult times). At the end of the experience I was able to count my blessings and thank God for all of the saints in my life.

I was able to enjoy two hikes and a walk around a frozen lake in the Rocky Mountain National Park. My breath was taken away by the beauty of God’s creation (not to mention the altitude).

The best part about the trip was being reunited with my friends from Princeton Theological Seminary. Ten out of the twelve folks in our group attended the conference. My best friend, Kevin, was my roommate. Our group shared our hopes and dreams as well as our concerns and doubts. We ate together, hiked together, laughed together, and prayed together.

There is a cliché that says, “Sometimes it is hard to see the trees because of the forest.” Sometimes you need to take a step back from what you are doing in order to see where you have been and where you would like to go. This week has given me an opportunity to reflect on my first five months of ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Pampa. There are some things that I think I have done well, but there are also things I know I would like to improve on. This week has helped me see how I can better use my gifts and equip those in the church to use theirs.

Here I am with the Princeton Crew that went to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Here I am with Jeremiah on top of a large rock on the side of a mountain that we hiked. Jessica was also with us (she is the one taking the picture). We had a great hike and they only had to stop for me to catch my breath three times - whew!

Something Old and Something New - How to Read the Bible Using Your Computer

Last year I became a member of the Company of New Pastors. One of the commitments this group makes is to pray and read the bible daily. This is such a simple and yet difficult task to accomplish, even for those of us who serve as pastors. I know the Bible is very important to Presbyterians, but I also know that many of us have trouble reading it on a regular basis. While I do not have a perfect track record, I have found that I truly enjoy praying and reading from the bible (almost) every day. And I thought I would suggest everyone who reads this blog do it as well. For those of you who aren't sure where to start or how to keep track, here are a few amazing resources (one ecumenical and the others technological).

"Lectioary Readings" (the ecumenical resource) provide a disciplined approach to reading the bible. There are two cycles: the "Daily Readings" and the "Sunday and Festival Readings." The Daily Readings provide a means for reading through the New Testament every year and the Old Testament every two years. The "Sunday and Festival Readings" provide a method that allows for the fullness of scripture to be presented in worship every three years.

One of the technological resources is your email account! Through the Presbyterian Church (USA) you can receive daily emails with the "Daily Readings" absolutely free!!! Just go to this link and sign up, http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index.htm. This will allow you to keep track of the days that you have read and perhaps the days that you have missed. The trick is, reading the email before you delete it. If you decide to give it a try, let me know how it goes. Theoretically we will be reading the same scripture passages every day, so if you have questions, feel free to call (or better yet), email me!

The other technological resource is our website. We have updated our links page to include a link to the readings of the day on our "Links" page, http://www.pampapcusa.org/links.php. Also on this page you will find a search engine for the bible. Type in the word you are looking for and it will give you a list of every time that word is used in the bible.

We are a people of the Book and our culture is increasingly becoming a people of the world wide web. These resources will allow us to use modern technology to practice an old spiritual discipline. Let's read the Bible - whether it's out of your old family bible with the worn-out binding or on your computer screen!