Last night we had a great meeting here at the Portico. Our leadership gathered to consider our mission and how we can best serve Christ in this time and space. One of the important questions that was raised had to do with how we look at what we do. How we spend our time and energy as the church says something about our priorities and our role as stewards. In a sense, it was a question about success and efficiency. But these words lose a degree or two of clarity when it comes to church work. Ministry is often an imprecise business.
One specific question had to do with mission priorities. Some churches have a few programs that are identified, embraced and funded by large portions of their congregations. Others tend to have many, smaller ministries that are driven by the handful of people who are passionate about them. Our church tends toward the latter.
Personally, I like this model. I like the idea of saying yes to mission ideas brought forth by our membership. I especially like connecting people with service opportunities that they are excited about. The downside, of course, is that not everyone gets involved. Doing missions this way tends to create programs that are more meaningful to those involved but often less glamorous to the larger fellowship. Sometimes the church doesn't even know that these ministries are going on. Therefore, leaders consistently face resource challenges. The programs can look and feel as though they are barely hanging on. This, in turn, invites derision from those not directly involved. And yet, for the people that they serve, these ministries provide extraordinary blessings. The same is often true for those who are doing the serving.
I suspect that the question introduced last night at Saint Francis will be increasingly important for many churches and non-profits. As the needs around us escalate, the funding and man-power will likely feel stressed. This gives rise to decisions that no body likes to make.
My hope here is that God will continue to show us where we need to focus our attention and energy. I look for passionate lay people to continue to bring their ideas and their energy to the service of Christ. Through this, we will be able to do something. And as a friend said last night, "The little something that we do is still more than nothing."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
White As Snow
It is snowing on The Portico this morning. It actually started last night about midnight. The schools are out and it is a beautiful day out there in South Charlotte.
A good snow day can feel like Christmas morning. The best ones come late in the evening. We go to bed sort of half-believing that the weatherman has a clue and then wake to the surprise and joy of a winter wonderland. Of course, the gift is especially welcomed by the students and teachers who get the day off. But it is also shared by anyone with eyes and heart open enough to behold something truly beautiful. We see the kids playing in the snow and we are reminded of our own childhood. We are also reminded that best things in life sometimes just sort of fall on us .
The whiteness of snow is compelling. Of course, it doesn't take long for the salt and dirt and left over leaves to cloud it up. But when the snow first falls to the ground, especially with very little wind as it did this morning, there is an undeniable freshness about it. This is the stuff of so many poems and Christmas stories, the symbol of purity and innocence.
There are six specific references to "white as snow" in the Bible. Curiously, three of these deal with the holiness of God and three of them refer to the condition of the skin after one has been cleansed of leprosy. In this way, the purity of snow is symbolic of goodness and health. This is also consistent with our Christian understanding of forgiveness.
Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool. (Is. 1:18)
Isaiah's reference rings true to our longing for health and newness. We pray for a fresh start, for a purity of spirit and life.
Perhaps there is a similar hope-- a similar prayer--pervading our land today. It is foolhardy to imagine that a mere change in leadership will bring health and healing to the land. But the event does seem to serve as an opportunity for a new start. The leader is not the healer but perhaps a catalyst moving us to accept the responsibility for days gone by and inspiring hope for days to come.
God is the true healer. The Lord looks with mercy on those who repent and seek mercy. The storehouses of grace are like great barns of snow. They wait for the hour when hearts are humbled and spirits are longing. Then grace falls down upon us with the joy and beauty of a morning surprise.
A good snow day can feel like Christmas morning. The best ones come late in the evening. We go to bed sort of half-believing that the weatherman has a clue and then wake to the surprise and joy of a winter wonderland. Of course, the gift is especially welcomed by the students and teachers who get the day off. But it is also shared by anyone with eyes and heart open enough to behold something truly beautiful. We see the kids playing in the snow and we are reminded of our own childhood. We are also reminded that best things in life sometimes just sort of fall on us .
The whiteness of snow is compelling. Of course, it doesn't take long for the salt and dirt and left over leaves to cloud it up. But when the snow first falls to the ground, especially with very little wind as it did this morning, there is an undeniable freshness about it. This is the stuff of so many poems and Christmas stories, the symbol of purity and innocence.
There are six specific references to "white as snow" in the Bible. Curiously, three of these deal with the holiness of God and three of them refer to the condition of the skin after one has been cleansed of leprosy. In this way, the purity of snow is symbolic of goodness and health. This is also consistent with our Christian understanding of forgiveness.
Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool. (Is. 1:18)
Isaiah's reference rings true to our longing for health and newness. We pray for a fresh start, for a purity of spirit and life.
Perhaps there is a similar hope-- a similar prayer--pervading our land today. It is foolhardy to imagine that a mere change in leadership will bring health and healing to the land. But the event does seem to serve as an opportunity for a new start. The leader is not the healer but perhaps a catalyst moving us to accept the responsibility for days gone by and inspiring hope for days to come.
God is the true healer. The Lord looks with mercy on those who repent and seek mercy. The storehouses of grace are like great barns of snow. They wait for the hour when hearts are humbled and spirits are longing. Then grace falls down upon us with the joy and beauty of a morning surprise.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Shakin the Etch-A-Sketch
Actually, I was thinking of those other things--the cheaper ones with the fake pencil and the thin sheet of plastic? You could draw whatever and then as soon as you couldn't stand it, you could simply lift the plastic and it would immediately erase the whole thing. Gotta love the re-do!
New Year's Resolutions...At our house it is usually recommitting to eating better, eating out less and paring down debt. Logically, these things go well together and would seem pretty modest in the way of revolutions. But at the Evans', following through on making meals and fixing the leak dumping all that money into the local eateries is no small task. For Diane and I, an annual resolution is simply insufficient. We find ourselves recommitting to the program about every three months or so. It's a shame, an embarrassment, really. ButI cherish the chance to start again nonetheless.
It would be hard to guess the multiple needed to extrapolate our annual eating resolution to whatever it is going to take to right our corporate ship. Earlier this week, I overheard a radio show looking back on 2008. One of the sentences that stood out was "the year that a billion became the new million." Trillion is now an operative word in public discourse.
The point (and the horror) is the weight of all this. We can look at how far we have to go and feel completely overwhelmed. This can be even more dangerous because the climb just seems pointless. I think I have a memory of a time during the late 1970's... my dad had been out of work for 9 months and our family was down to our last $10. My parents were just rung out and really had no options so my dad said, "Jump in the car kids, we're going to McDonald's!" It was a great surprise and actually felt like a stress-reliever. But of course, I was eleven at the time and I didn't have to get up the next morning and wonder what we were going to do for lunch.
I don't remember how long it was tough or how exactly my parents managed...but they did. And I am pretty sure it wasn't all them. God must have been looking out for us and for many. We did the things that we could. People helped out. We learned to enjoy things that didn't cost much. I don't even remember the details and I generally have a good memory.
So here's the thing. I welcome 2009, whatever it may bring. I hope that it is not tough. And I really hope that whatever the toughness--it does not last very long. But at the same time, I hope that my family can learn something from 2008. I hope that this will be a better year not only in terms of the stock market but in terms of how we live, what we value and where we find our joy.
So let's grab a hold of that etch-a-sketch or that cheaper thing with the plastic sheet and give ourselves a good ol' fashion re-do. Let's take a little more time and draw something else.
New Year's Resolutions...At our house it is usually recommitting to eating better, eating out less and paring down debt. Logically, these things go well together and would seem pretty modest in the way of revolutions. But at the Evans', following through on making meals and fixing the leak dumping all that money into the local eateries is no small task. For Diane and I, an annual resolution is simply insufficient. We find ourselves recommitting to the program about every three months or so. It's a shame, an embarrassment, really. ButI cherish the chance to start again nonetheless.
It would be hard to guess the multiple needed to extrapolate our annual eating resolution to whatever it is going to take to right our corporate ship. Earlier this week, I overheard a radio show looking back on 2008. One of the sentences that stood out was "the year that a billion became the new million." Trillion is now an operative word in public discourse.
The point (and the horror) is the weight of all this. We can look at how far we have to go and feel completely overwhelmed. This can be even more dangerous because the climb just seems pointless. I think I have a memory of a time during the late 1970's... my dad had been out of work for 9 months and our family was down to our last $10. My parents were just rung out and really had no options so my dad said, "Jump in the car kids, we're going to McDonald's!" It was a great surprise and actually felt like a stress-reliever. But of course, I was eleven at the time and I didn't have to get up the next morning and wonder what we were going to do for lunch.
I don't remember how long it was tough or how exactly my parents managed...but they did. And I am pretty sure it wasn't all them. God must have been looking out for us and for many. We did the things that we could. People helped out. We learned to enjoy things that didn't cost much. I don't even remember the details and I generally have a good memory.
So here's the thing. I welcome 2009, whatever it may bring. I hope that it is not tough. And I really hope that whatever the toughness--it does not last very long. But at the same time, I hope that my family can learn something from 2008. I hope that this will be a better year not only in terms of the stock market but in terms of how we live, what we value and where we find our joy.
So let's grab a hold of that etch-a-sketch or that cheaper thing with the plastic sheet and give ourselves a good ol' fashion re-do. Let's take a little more time and draw something else.
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