OpenSource Pastor

Seeing Clearly

Seeing Clearly
John 9

The last couple weeks I have been dealing with an eye problem.  My left eye has an acute astigmatism brought on by a local infection or trauma to my eye.  Not exactly sure how it happened.  When I went to see my optometrist I was thinking I was simply going blurry in one eye. Maybe I would need to have my prescription adjusted. Lo and behold the infection had caused this astigmatism causing a blistery like roughness along with some headaches. 
Those of us who wear glasses and contacts can attest that impaired vision can give us headaches. With my acute problem over the last couple weeks I feel like I have dual vision. My right is still strong and with my glasses or contacts can see quite clearly. My infected eye -- well it pretty bad. During the exam I was not able to clearly see the top line of large characters on the eye chart. Doc said I was suddenly 20/60 with my glasses on! I told him it was more like 20/6000. 20/20 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye. Seeing clearly from the right side, and seeing poorly on the other. 

This week’s Gospel text got me thinking about how we all suffer with our spiritual eyes. How clearly do we see Jesus in our midst? How clearly do we see God at work in our lives?  Jesus, the great optometrist of faithful sight, met a man born blind. His disciples inquired about the man’s blindness thinking it was a consequence of his parent’s sin, as was the acceptable reason for such congenial infirmities in the day. Jesus would have none of that. “This is not the fault of his parents. This was done that God could be revealed in this man’s life. This was done that this man’s first sight would be God, the light of the world.” 

While blindness effects a segment of our population today, impairments of the eyes are more widespread.  The technological revolution while creating great new gadgets for work and learning has yet to produce a visual device that eliminates strain on the eyes. TVs and computer screens are a leading cause of eye strain, and we use them in some capacity daily. They also place a strain on our faith eyes.... TVs draw us into a false reality where the stories of life are played out in fictional dramas and sit-coms. Computers give access to the Internet where a world of information - good, not-so-good, and flat out wrong - is their to shape our thoughts and hearts.  This media saturation strains our faithful eyes from focusing in the One who provides the greatest vision. 

The latter verses of the Jesus story in John 9 speak of spiritual blindness. Jesus in conversation with the worldly Pharisees, the Big Deals of the 1st century, said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." Moreover, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” The Pharisees were focused on God through the lens of the law. They looked at faithful living with lenses that focused narrowly on the law before them. They were so focused that they forgot the bigger picture of living for God.  

Where are our eyes focused? The reality before us presents a vast picture with numerous focal points.  Spend an evening watching TV specifically the commercials. What is Madison Avenue trying to tell you. Try this smooth new Cadillac. Live comfortably. Live in style. Read multiple news sources around the politics of the election. Vote for me as the next president and our our nation will be secure, little Johnny can be safe on the soccer field. Vote for me and we will reduce your tax burden that you can spend more on yourselves. 

Then spend a few hours focused on the Cross. We begin to see a different picture. We begin to see a sacrificial love so pure that promises hope, joy, love, and peace - just to name a few. We see a purity that can only know in the heart of the Creator. We humbly bow at the power of God knowing instead of snapping us he embraced us. When we allow Jesus the great optometrist, to gracefully adjust our focus we begin seeing clearly.

The great heartache in the world is trying to focus on two separate worlds. One eye focused on my life with Jesus. One eye focused on the world. Only one promises joy today and forevermore. Only one can truly give you clear sight. 

Lord, heal our blindness. Let us see you more clearly that  we can rest in your embrace. Amen.

Are We Sure?

As the appointment season is on our midst as United Methodists we are faced with many questions. One of those always is the integrity of the appointment system. Appointments are made by gifts and graces hoping to match church and pastor. So what does the following report from Amy Forbus in the United Methodist Reporter tell us:
 NOT a valid reason to reject a pastor!So, in the normal course of checking out the Methoblogosphere this morning, I came upon what a clergywoman blogger called, "Another Heartbreak."  I call it something far worse than that.You see, one of her fellow clergywomen received a phone call from a District Superintendent who was preparing to welcome her into a church in his district. But instead of telling her the move is official, he called "to tell her that the church has asked the Cabinet & Bishop for a reconsideration. Their reason: She's 'too fat.'"Come on!  I mean, come ON!If you're going to use "too fat" as your excuse, you've just eliminated at least half of United Methodist clergy from serving your congregation.  Get. a. grip.
 

Metho Pride

Give it up for our British friends... check this out 

Preaching to the Culture

I never have been able to describe this so clearly:  Driscoll argued:

“Preach to the people you want to have in the room, not the ones who aren’t. What this will do is put your people on alert that they need to bring those people.”

 Read the complete post: Preaching Today Blog 

Haiti 08 Day Seven

A Day of Rest
A Day of Reflection
A Day to Vision

John 1:35-51
 
 
Late in the morning we gathered round and shared our praises for the week. All were invited to share how they had seen Jesus this week. Several folks shared inspired and moving testimony through song and speech. Maybe some of fellow travelers will post their reflections in the comment section.  

I had prepared a homily for the morning. The more people shared the more I saw my homily become a written summary of all that had been said - remember I pre-wrote this. 

Sunday Morning Homily
“What good can come from Nazareth?”

Philip had been invited by Jesus to come follow him. Knowing this was the promised one of Israel he enthusiastically went to his friend Nathanel with the Good News. Nathanel responded his with far less enthusiasm, “Nazareth, can anything good come from there?”

Nazareth was one of those towns in untouchable lands. Israelites cared little to nothing for the people of Samaria. Nazareth was a small town the heart of the Samaritan region. What good can come to Israel from Nazareth, a dirty little place in the untouchable land of Samaria?

Nazareth was one those towns your parents told you not to drive to when you got your license. Nazareth was one of those places where you were told not to make your friends. Nazareth was one of those places you didn’t take a date. Nazareth was one of those places you didn’t take a vacation. Nazareth was not a place went a week or more in January. 

Four years ago Haiti was not my radar. I knew it geographically. I knew my reading of the Miami newspaper it was place people were leaving. I knew it was not a place on my list of Caribbean hot spots. When Pat and Larry put a bug in my ear about coming to Haiti three years ago it just was not the right time. The calling was not there yet. I also began to think - HAITI? Can anything good come from Haiti?

Like many of you my first trip opened my eyes to the god of Haiti. Elade has not said it as much this year but “Everyone needs Haiti” - amongst its poverty is a wealth of faith, a gem of God’s goodness, and the innocent love of Jesus Christ. Everyone needs Haiti. We need Haiti to show us Jesus. We need Haiti to remind us of the abundance of God’s blessing. We need Haiti to humble us and bring us closer in our relationship with Jesus. We need Haiti for transformation.

Haiti! Can anything good come here? Yes, in the name of Jesus! For eight years the Hope for Haiti Foundation has turned Haiti from a blip on people’s radar to a place and people burning on people’s hearts. Like Philip who met the Promised One of Israel an shared with Nathanel, we are sharing the good that comes from Haiti with our families, friends, and colleagues. We are sharing what it is like to meet Jesus in the face of a Haitian. We are sharing the wonders of living in God’s simplicity. We are sharing the glory of connecting the Body of Christ across borders, cultures, and mindsets. We share that something GOOD has come and is coming from Haiti.

So what’s next? Jesus’ invitation to Philip was meant as a beginning not an end. The foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ. In collecting the 12 disciples and a band of faithful followers a fiery movement started that continues through the power of the Holy Spirit. The cornerstone lives and we are the ones equipped to share the story. Next for the Church was connecting the whole body of Christ. Next for Haiti is...? US! 

Where is Jesus calling us to go? Z’Orange now has a school and a clinic run by Haitians. Soon enough a teaching church will be equipping the region as well. What’s next? What is the next great thing to come from Haiti? 

Haiti 08 Day Six

The Weary Workers Lifted Up for God’s Glory

Psalm 121; Isaiah 40: 1-2, 26-31; Matthew 11:25-30

“New every morning is your love Great God of love...”

The day began with the words of our Lord as comfort for the weary. Two days of clinic and now beginning our sixth day of travel exhaustion was setting in. Hey it’s Saturday and back in the states most of us would be chillin’. Divine strength was needed for Clinic Day 3.

A renewed sense of energy kept us moving as we promptly moved through breakfast and a brief meeting making staff changes in the clinic. It was an equipping move that showed the greatness of this project. Haitian nurses began to take control of their own clinic. With the changes nearly 500 patients were seen by lunch. We concluded the day with over 770 patients seen. The mass number of patients wore our medical staff down and we concluded clinic early. 

Today I saw an equipping ministry at its best. Eight years ago HFHF had a dream of turning over a clinic to a Haitian staff. Today that step was taken. The close of clinic meant the opening of the Z’Orange clinic five days a week with a Haitian nursing team. Haitians having ownership in the operations is a big thing. It’s what is going on in the school and beginning with church. 

Three clinic days 1885 patients - a new record. Clinic closed and handed over to Team Gerta!! Day six ended with a head of steam. And on the seventh day - we rested.

Haiti 08 Day Five

They Travel Mountains Beyond Mountains

Mark 2:1-12

 

 

Day two began with the words of Mark 2:1-12.  

“The red-letter miracle in the story is Jesus’ healing of the paralytic, “get up take your mat and go home.” I see another miracle in the story. In a room filled with people who come to see Jesus one more needed to get in for a healing.  His friends had carried him many miles. When they found no ground level entry point they took to  the roof. The next part I equate to group of young people taking a chain saw to a beautiful chapel - say Duke Chapel or the Crystal Cathedral. They tore into the roof and lowered their friend to the Healer. 

“Day 2 of the clinic present new challenges, new opportunities, and new people. Many of the folks that come today and tomorrow will travel over many mountains all to come see us. They come for caring, respect, attention, and healing. They come to have their dignity acknowledged. They come to us as the vessels of Christ’s compassion to review his amazing love.”

Clinic Day 2 presented all the challenges considered and then some. People came from many mountains over. The population of young children without parents or guardians greatly increased. We began to ask the hard questions of a growing ministry:

- How do you balance compassion and fairness?

- How do you standardize communication with a language barrier and interchangeable parts?

- How do we remember the call of Christ without jeopardizing clinical standards?

Day five - “hump-day” - complete. Exhaustion pressed us as a late start pushed us to use flashlights to close out the day. The sun comes up tomorrow, a new day, a fresh start - DAY SIX.