The Vine - News Blog

A Word from the Pastor: We are the work

 
By Ben Disney
 
“Fundamentally, work is not what we do; we are the work that God does.” --Eugene Peterson
 
It should come as no surprise that the workplace is becoming a more difficult environment for many. The 2012 Workplace Survey released by the American Psychological Association suggests that many Americans report chronic work-related stress. Forty-one percent said they “feel tense or stressed out during the workday,” an uptick from last year’s 36 percent figure. In its annual wellness report, Employee Assistance Program provider ComPsych found that 38 percent of employees can’t stop thinking about problems like emotional, health, financial, and job concerns.
 

So much of who we are is defined by what we do, which means many of us spend an inordinate amount of time at the office working our way to a better identity, separating ourselves from others, and creating distinctions we believe will provide us with a better income, a bigger title, and what we hope will be a better life.
 
The church is no different. It’s easy to think of work and ministry in terms of what we do - our efforts, our programs, our agendas - as if we’re responsible for every success or failure.
 
But what if, as Peterson points out, we are the work that God does? What if the real work is what God is able to first do inside of us, in the transforming of our hearts, minds and souls? That perhaps our best work in this world - our greatest achievement, our biggest accomplishments, the one thing in this life we’re most proud of - is really God’s best work in us.
 
So we have two choices. We either believe work is what we do, or we believe that we are the work God does. One is life draining; the other, life giving. One is self-serving; the other, God-honoring. It comes down to a choice, but frankly it always has.
 
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A Word from the Pastor: Connect the dots

 
By Ben Disney
 
"Nothing that was worthy in the past departs; no truth or goodness realized by man ever dies, or can die; but is all still here, and, recognized or not, lives and works through endless changes." Thomas Carlyle
 
"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward." Steve Jobs
 
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Matthew 20:16
 
The ability to connect the dots is an essential part of understanding our lives. The dots, meaning our collective experiences, memories and significant moments, are everywhere. It doesn’t mean everything that happens to us makes perfect sense when we string it all together. It may mean that when we reflect back on the events of our lives we’re able to gain a better perspective of how all the seemingly random and unconnected moments of our lives begin to reflect a larger purpose and a bigger story.
 

Two people fall in love. They start out with virtually nothing, build a life and a family together, experience the greatest joys and deepest tragedies together. Sixty two years later she is gone. But the memories they share and the love they have endures forever.
 
Another couple ventures out into the world hand in hand. The journey brings them a lifetime of unforgettable moments and memories. In the midst of all the unexpected twists and turns, they finally begin to understand and appreciate how rich and wonderful life has been. After forty-seven years together, now he is gone. The pain is deep but the love is so much deeper.
 
So, in the future when people ask where the Elizabeth Cramer Chapel came from or how we as a church came to be the proud owners of a golf cart also known affectionately as the “Dub Mobile,” I hope you’ll help them connect the dots. Tell them about Elizabeth and Jud Cramer. Tell them about Dub and Diane Graves. Tell them about the thousands of things you see when you look around this place that can be traced back to something in our past, something that came long before we arrived where we are today.
 
Because every good thing in this place starts with the deepest kind of love we will ever know in this world. Connect the dots. Eventually it will lead you all the way back to God; which is where all of this starts and where all of it one day will find its completion.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Finding our pathways

 
By DeAndrea Dare
 
It is a question that has reverberated through the ages. “Do you love me?” Sometimes it is spoken aloud, other times it is a question asked within the heart. The way we answer sometimes comes through the spoken word and other times in the ways that we act and interact with one another. Jesus asked this exact question to Peter three times in the Gospel of John, and he asks it of each of us every day. 
     
I have been so touched by the gracious hospitality and words of welcome that have been shown to Aaron and me over the past few weeks as we have started to find our place here at Arborlawn. The words “Welcome Home,” truly are spoken with sincerity and meaning within this community of faith. We are all searching for something, and as humans we all have a desire to find a place that we can call our own. I have encountered many who have recently united with Arborlawn, and they share the same story of reception and welcome. One of the ways that we as the church answer Jesus’ question, “Do you love me,” is in the way we welcome one another as we journey together - always expectantly looking ahead to what it is God has in store for us. 
 

It is a blessing to welcome one another on the journey and to be able to share the next chapters of our lives together. Soon we will be developing pathways that will enable those who come to Arborlawn - those who are seeking a safe place of discovery and growth - to find an intentional path that will help all of us connect to each other while drawing closer to Christ.
    
Thank you for being faithful to the invitation to follow Christ. May we be mindful of the many ways we answer the question, “Do you love me,” as we continue to seek out and welcome home those who will soon join us on the journey.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Swords into plowshares

 
By Ben Disney
 
Here’s an excerpt from a recent news report out of California:
 
“Workers at Northern California's Placer High School in Auburn found quite a surprise during a remodeling project: a fully stocked Cold War bomb shelter. According to the Auburn Journal the shelter was discovered by volunteers working to repaint the school's weight-lifting room. A small locked screen door had concealed the room, presumably for 60 years. Inside, volunteers found canisters of food, water, medical supplies, and toiletries, all stamped with the "CD" civil defense emblem. The room was so well preserved that the emergency water ration was still clear and allegedly drinkable. The room was designed to be a shelter in case of a nuclear attack during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. So what happens now? One idea is to leave it as is, surround it with glass and use it as a time-capsule classroom.”
 

An old bomb shelter is rediscovered and along with it an ancient truth is unearthed.
 
1. The things we’ve buried in our past will come back again. We can either run away from them or choose to learn from them.
 
2. Fear is a strong motivator but love is a much better teacher.
 
3. The vast majority of those who prepare for war are the very ones praying for peace.
 
I can’t help but notice the irony of a 60-year-old bomb shelter discovered in a school whose primary mission is to teach and educate students. There’s a lesson in there somewhere for all of us.
 
"…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Isaiah 2:4
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: A prayer of deep gratitude

 
By Ben Disney
 
This past Sunday was another remarkable day in the life of the church. Plans for the Elizabeth Cramer Memorial Chapel, a wonderful gift to our church and community made possible by the generosity of Jud Cramer and family, were unanimously approved by the congregation at a special called Church Conference on June 24. It was a celebration. It was also a statement about Jud’s love for Elizabeth and his confidence in our future ministry with the community.
 

The Elizabeth Cramer Memorial Chapel will be a vital resource for our congregation and a sacred venue for weddings, funerals, baptisms, renewal of vows, prayer ministries, communion, special services and events, and simply as a quiet place of beauty to reflect, pray, meditate, and seek God’s presence.
 
The Elizabeth Cramer Memorial Chapel, a 150-seat facility, is designed to include visual symbols representing our Christian faith and collective history. The Elizabeth Cramer Memorial Chapel will include seven Old Testament Windows and feature the large Nativity stained glass window from the Westcliff campus. It will be a beautiful addition to Arborlawn and a vital resource to help us minister to others in the name of Jesus Christ. The project is expected to be completed in 8-10 months.
 
Beyond the bricks and mortar, the building is much more than a physical space. It’s a love story. It will stand as a statement of Jud’s enduring love for Elizabeth and a testament to Jud’s eternal gratitude to God for allowing them to share the deepest and richest journey of life together. Jud and Elizabeth were married for 62 years and it’s his way of saying thank you to God and Elizabeth for something that no amount of money or words could adequately express.
 
In the end, that’s why it’s a love story. If God is love, then every love story will eventually lead us back to God. It’s a reminder that the task of living is to recognize the remarkable blessings of life and then spend the rest of our days expressing our appreciation for what God has given us. Annie Dillard says it this way, “I think the dying pray at the last moment not 'please,' but 'thank you.'" Lest you ever forget, the Elizabeth Cramer Memorial Chapel is not just a building; in its purest form it’s a prayer of deep gratitude to God for Elizabeth, for life, and for love.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Communicating visually

 
Update: July 3, 2012:
  
Recently we presented the need to install a projection system for the Sanctuary. [See original post below.] The system was delayed because of other costs related to the opening of the new facilities and the need to stay in budget. The purpose of the projection system is to enable us to be more effective in reaching out to people in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that are relevant and meaningful to a visual- and technology-driven culture.
 
The initial response has been remarkable. Thank you for your generosity and faithfulness in all you do. If you would like to join the effort please contact Ben Disney.
 
June 29 update figures:
Sanctuary Projection Bid: 97,790.00
Total funds received to date: 54,993.00
Remaining balance to be funded: 42,797.00
 
July 3 update figures:
Sanctuary Projection Bid: 97,790.00
Total funds received to date: 56,293.00
Remaining balance to be funded: 41,497.00
 
/ / /
 
By Ben Disney
 
So, what happened to the projectors in the Sanctuary? Good question since many of you have asked about them since we moved into the new facilities in August. The two large projection screens in the Sanctuary are clearly visible and in place but to date we have yet to install the projection systems. Why?
 
The short answer is the projection systems were a casualty of last minute costs and unexpected expenditures associated with the move into our new facilities. The church approved a set figure for the total cost of the construction project, and we were careful not to exceed the approved amount. When we encountered a number of last minute expenses, we were forced to make some hard decisions about what to eliminate and what to keep in order to stay within budget. The decision then was to delay installation of the projection system. We also felt the funding of the Family Life Center was a greater priority than the Sanctuary projectors, and it was necessary to complete that project first before we addressed the need for Sanctuary projectors. The Family Life Center has now been fully funded through generous donations.
 

So now we’re looking again at the possibility of installing the projection systems in the Sanctuary.
 
Regardless of how you may personally feel about projectors in a sanctuary, consider this:
 
1) We are fundamentally visual people. The way our current culture communicates and educates is primarily through visual images. Our society is hardwired to think and understand in terms of images from digital technology, television, movies, Internet, iPads, iPhones, Kindles, Facebook, etc. In our desire to proclaim the Gospel, it’s essential to know and understand the culture in which we reside. The message of God’s love in Christ Jesus never changes. The way in which we convey that message continues to change as the culture changes. It always has. It always will.
 
2) Jesus created visual images to enhance his teaching. “A farmer went out into the fields to sow seeds…” “He took the bread, blessed it; broke it saying…” “They made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.” “A son took his inheritance, left his family, and went off to a far country…”
    
3) Visual images are now commonly found in almost every area of our society. Schools, museums, businesses, churches, institutions, sports venues, families, and individuals now regularly incorporate visual tools to communicate more effectively. Visual images are now commonplace in church events such as worship, funerals, weddings, reunions, anniversaries, and special occasions. A modern facility without the capability of incorporating visual images is a missed opportunity to speak to the people of our culture in ways that are meaningful and relevant.
    
4) At Arborlawn, the use of visual images will always be done with discretion, sensitivity, and reverence. In short, we will never allow technology to take the place of theology. At Arborlawn, technology is designed to support and enhance a service. It should never overwhelm or dominate a sacred space or distract from the act of worship.
 
Our task is to communicate and convey the Gospel as effectively as we can to a culture that thinks and understands visually. It’s needed. It’s time. I will be talking to several individuals but also invite you to consider helping us fund the installation of the projection systems. If you sense and understand the real need to more effectively communicate the Gospel in ways that are relevant and meaningful to the people we’re called to reach, contact me and together we’ll make it happen. In advance, thank you for your extraordinary generosity and commitment to the work and ministry of the church.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: An act of worship

 
By Bryan Bellamy
 
Each week we gather together along with hundreds of thousands if not millions of other Christians throughout the world to worship God. We may worship in different ways in different places. We may speak in different languages. We may prefer a traditional style of worship or a contemporary style of worship. We may join together to sing hymns with a choir or sing with a band. We may use complicated liturgies or our order may be more extemporaneous. However, each week we gather together as a people of faith to worship the Creator, our Lord and Savior, and praise God’s holy name.
 

Yet the act of worship is not limited by our personal preference for a style of worship, or an order of worship, or a place of worship. “Worship,” as Richard Foster writes, “is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father.” Worship is our response to God’s presence and ongoing action in our lives. Worship is the experience of God’s greatness – an encounter with God who is with us always – a God who cannot and will not be ignored. We are called to worship wherever and whenever we experience the living Christ, for in each encounter we witness God’s grace and unconditional love. If this is our understanding of worship, then our very lives would be acts of worship – responses to a loving and awesome God who is always at work in our lives.
 
As Foster goes on to say, “When our conscience is brought to life by thoughts of God’s holiness, when we grasp a deeper understanding of God, when we grow in compassion for others from knowing God’s love for us, when we surrender our desires to the will of God, worship happens.”
 
My prayer for all of us here in this place called Arborlawn is that our lives might be so consumed by Christ that each and every moment for us might be an act of worship.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: "Three Points" for a church, not for a sermon

 
By Ben Disney
 
When I was in seminary we were taught to avoid the classic three point sermon; too predictable, too repetitive, too simplistic, they said. Be creative and clever, they said; no shallow three point sermons. Instead, we were taught to use all kinds of different approaches including inductive, didactic, dialogue, and narrative forms of preaching.
 

But sometimes three points is the most effective way to communicate lest we miss the point altogether. So, in lieu of a sermon, I offer three points; ideas that might seem contradictory at first but when held in tension with each other help us become a more effective church.
 
1. Think Big, Stay Intimate
 
The Gospel calls for bold choices, risky ventures, life changing choices, and courageous decisions. The Gospel also means intimately knowing one another’s hearts, sharing each other’s pain, and forging deep and lasting relationships with people we love.
    
Those two aspects of the Christian faith – thinking big and staying intimate – are equally important. The feeling of intimacy and closeness should never be sacrificed for the pursuit of a bigger vision or a larger church. Neither should a bold vision to reach further and farther for Jesus Christ be sacrificed by a misguided desire to remain small and close.
 
As the church grows numerically, the task is to remain close relationally. That happens in small groups, classes, team ministries, choirs, Bible studies, mission projects, and other opportunities where people can connect on the deepest levels; which means the bigger we are, the more important it is to provide small groups and experiences where, as the tag line says, “everybody knows your name.”
 
2. Feed Your Soul, Give Yourself Away
 
Neglect one or the other and you’re still missing half the equation. Feed your soul, of course. Nourish your spirit, form a spiritual foundation, grow personally and spiritually through study, worship, prayer, music, a support network of friends, and a web of vital relationships. But if that’s all there is, it isn’t enough. Unfortunately, a number of people use religion as a one way street; meaning the constant prayer is “God fill me up, comfort me, heal me, bless me and protect me,” as if me is the only thing that matters.
 
The second part is to give yourself away in love and service to others. Jesus said it best: “In order to find your life, you lose your life.” It’s to bless others as you have been blessed; to give back and pay it forward. If you’re taking it all in but never giving anything out, then chances are you’re only halfway there. Both sides of the equation are important, because in the end you cannot give what you do not have and you cannot have what you do not give.
 
3. Connect Your Passion with Your Possessions
 
How we connect our passion with our possessions says volumes about who we are. The reason Jesus talked about material possessions so often was because he knew that it is the one part of our lives we want to keep isolated, separate, and private. Thanks to the unscrupulous practices of some televangelists, it’s hard to even bring up the subject in church for fear of being typecast or labeled as someone who’s only interested in money.
 
But the truth remains there is a direct correlation between our possessions and our passions. What we have, what we share, what we keep, what we do or don’t do with the gifts we receive reveals more about our faith and beliefs than any words we can say or use. The old adage is still true: If you want an insight into a person’s character and faith, just look at their bank statements and it will tell you a great deal.
 
The church is at its best when its passion and purpose is underscored by the generosity of those who willingly and freely share their possessions for the sake of the Gospel. Frankly, we’re all at our best when we’ve reconciled the tension between what we hold in our hands and who in our heart of hearts we are called to be.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: The words they need to hear

 
By Beth Evers
 
I’ll never forget the first email I received from Ben Disney regarding my appointment here. He started with a note of welcome and then there was an overview of some of my responsibilities and what I could expect on my first Sunday. But there was one line that completely caught me off guard. In signing the email, Ben wrote, “Welcome home, Evers.” Even as I type this today, I find myself getting a little misty-eyed. Whether he knew it or not, these were exactly the words I needed to hear… welcome home.
 

Over the past three years, Arborlawn has become both a home and a family to our family. Our little boys were welcomed with open arms. And, as I stood mortified watching them play around with a wheelchair one Sunday morning, one of their church “aunts” smiled, assured me they were fine, and took them for a spin! They knew they were home the first time they were welcomed to Sunday School and every day since. I will never forget the love and care you offered my husband as we grieved the loss of his father. You showed us compassion and love through every card, hug, email, and phone call. And then you prayed us all the way to China and back as we brought our little girl home. In an instant, our little girl had more family than she ever could have dreamed of and you made her feel like the princess she is.
 
I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am to have been part of this family called Arborlawn. It is my great joy to tell people about this place and the people here. You love and care for one another in impressive and grace-filled ways. You reach out to the world with God’s love and mercy. You challenge yourselves to learn and grow in your faith. You live and breathe the Gospel in powerful ways, and I have learned countless things from you. I know I will be a better pastor and a stronger Christian because of the time I have spent with you.
 
As I prepare to leave for University United Methodist Church in just a few weeks, I will take a piece of you with me. My prayer is that you will continue to welcome individuals with the same love and care you showed our family. I believe that as you move through this world, you have the unique opportunity to share a gift with people who desperately need it – the love of Jesus Christ. You also have the words they need to hear: “Welcome home.” Thank you for sharing those gifts!
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Nine Rules and Six Truths

 
By Ben Disney
 
Congratulations to our graduating seniors! We’re immensely proud of our seniors and look forward to what God has in store for each graduate in the coming years. Along with our deepest prayers and support, we leave you with nine rules and six truths to help guide you as you begin a wonderful new journey of faith and discovery. (Read biographies of Arborlawn's 2012 Graduating Seniors starting here.)
 

In 2007, Charles J. Sykes wrote a book called “50 Rules Kids Won’t Learn In School: Real World Antidotes to Feel Good Education.” Here are nine of the rules:
 
Nine Rules You Won’t Learn in School
 
1) Life is not fair; get used to it!
 
2) The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.
 
3) You will not make $60,000 a year right out of high school (or college for that matter).
 
4) If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
 
5) Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.
 
6) If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault. So don’t whine about your mistakes; learn from them.
 
7) Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to anything  in real life.
 
8) Television is not real life.
 
9) Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.
 
Six Truths You Learned in Church
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
 
Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
 
Proverbs 23:18-19 - “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.”
 
Mark 12:29-31 - “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
 
Micah 6:8 - “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
 
Philippians 1:6 - “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Broken in

 
By Ben Disney
 
The pews had been in the former Sanctuary for more than 40 years. When the decision was made to construct a new Sanctuary at Arborlawn the question was: “What do we do with the old pews?”
   
The former Sanctuary is now being converted to a Family Life Center that will soon serve as a wonderful venue for sports and recreation as well as special events for people of all ages and stages. The conversion of the former Sanctuary and creation of a new Family Life Center is made possible because of the generosity of an anonymous donor and the hard work of volunteers from the Saints and Sinners Sunday School class.
    
We’re pleased to say all the pews in the former Sanctuary now have new homes. Some of them were picked up and delivered to a small Catholic church in Arkansas thanks to arrangements made by our own Blake Woodard. The remaining pews were picked up last week by volunteers and members of Morgan Mill UMC. Morgan Mill is a small town near Stephenville. The group from Morgan Mill UMC brought five trailers and a number of volunteers to complete the task of dismantling each pew and loading them on the trailers for the ride back to their new location.
 

I had a couple of thoughts when I watched the pews being loaded on the trailers in preparation for the ride home. First, I was so glad another congregation had a need we could help with. We never want anything to go to waste. If another church can use them, then our task is to give them away and share the blessing. It’s good stewardship. Secondly, I felt good that another congregation will be able to use the same pews that have been used on this site for more than forty years. They’re more than pieces of furniture. They’re the pews that generations of Christians have used to sing the hymns of our faith, bowing their heads in prayer for one another, hearing the Word proclaimed, and receiving the holy sacraments. The people who sat on those pews did so carrying the deepest fears, the biggest questions, the greatest joys life has to offer, and searching for a faith that’s big enough to hold it all together.
   
So when the good people of Morgan Mill UMC sit on those pews for the first time in their worship service, I hope they know that they carry a history and a story with them. Those pews, whether they know it or not, have been broken in. I hope that in some way the pews will remind them that as Christians we’re all connected at the deepest level.
   
One final note. As the group from Morgan Mill UMC were preparing to leave, they came to me with a gift. They called it a love offering. In dismantling the pews they found $4.86 cents in change buried in the cushions of the pews. It made me laugh. Just so you know, I put it in Arborlawn’s Building Fund; which is another reminder that when church happens nobody ever leaves empty handed.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Three critical questions

 
By Ben Disney
 
1. Why do people need Christ?
 
2. Why do people need the church?
            
3. Why do they need this particular church?
 
“Without an answer a church will flounder. Without deep conviction about the responses to these questions, a pastor will never lead a congregation to change the world. But when a pastor, a church leader, or a congregation is clear about the answers, and able to inspire others about the answers to these questions, the power of the church begins to be unleashed.” From “Leading Beyond the Walls” by Adam Hamilton
 
Our staff is about to spend part of tomorrow (Friday) wrestling with the answers to those three critical questions. The wording of each question is vitally important and the actual order in which they appear is just as crucial.
 
First things first: “Why do people need Christ?” It’s not an easy question. There are millions of people in the world who have given little thought to the idea they might actually need whatever it is that Christ could give them. They’re people who by most standards are relatively successful, relatively independent, and relatively happy. Why do they need Christ? Sometimes the perception is you don’t really need Christ unless you’re in the midst of a life threatening crisis or a terrifying ordeal that leaves you devastated, scared and alone. Even the non religious among us will cry out for a higher power when the bullets begin flying or the doctor comes back with a report that makes you feels like the world you knew has just ended.
 

But what about the majority of people who live out everyday doing the best they can, working hard, doing the right thing, all the while enduring the occasional heartaches of life and enjoying the moments that bring them happiness? Why do they need Christ?
 
I’ll share some of the answers we discovered but first I want to invite you to ask the hard questions as well. Personally, individually, in the context of a class, or just in a group of friends start to think about how you would answer the three questions. If you can’t answer the questions, or if your response sounds like some well rehearsed and rehashed line from someone else, then perhaps it’s time to start digging deeper.
 
Why do people need Christ? Or, better yet, start with this: Why do you need Christ?
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: The chance to fully live

 
By Ben Disney
 
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
An 18th century children’s bedtime prayer
 
In 1902, as he lay dying at the age of 48, Cecil Rhodes could look back on a not undistinguished career. He had made a vast fortune in gold and diamonds. He had built railroads through the wilderness and become one of the century’s great rulers. He had created an empire, which is more than your average 48-year-old has on his resume. But Rhodes was not going gently into any good night. On his deathbed he was heard muttering, “So little done, so much to do.” [ John Tierney, Forbes Magazine, 2007 ]
  
A bucket list of must see places waiting to be discovered in locations around the world. Among the “1000 places” in the book are historic sites such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s home in Western Samoa and the trail of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the United States, cultural ones such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the United States, and La Scala in Italy, natural ones such as the Grand Canyon in the United States and the Dead Sea in Israel.  [ From 1000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz ]
 
It’s an interesting exercise. Put together your own bucket list. If you could map out the remainder of your life and have the resources to do anything you wish, what would you do? What sites would you see? What goals would you set? What dreams would you follow? What kind of spiritual pilgrimage would you take?
 

My guess is that some of us would include an exotic location or a never-been-there-before destination; others would list something less obvious and much more private and personal. Whatever is on your bucket list says volumes about what’s inside of you.
 
In the end, it’s not as much about the specific destination as it is about the passion. It’s not about arriving in a particular place but about awakening the Spirit inside of you. The journey is always more important than the destination. It’s not about the list. It’s about life; life with all its joys and sorrows, pain, happiness, disappointments, restlessness, hopes and prayers, peace and brokenness.
 
The prayer we used to pray as children was almost right. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake... What that last line should say is: If I should die before I live...
 
That’s a genuine plea; begging God not to let us miss whatever it was we were meant to know and experience in this life; that we wouldn’t die before we had the chance to fully live. It’s a reminder wrapped in genuine hope and life-giving fear that life is sacred, time is short, and every single one of us has a calling to fulfill, a mark to leave, and a God-honoring mission to complete. That’s a real prayer.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

A Word from the Pastor: Guardrails and emergency clinics

 
By Ben Disney
 
From "The Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living" by Reuben P. Job: "Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God."
 
Simple doesn’t mean simplistic; The Three Simple Rules embody a focused life of faith and conviction in the midst of a confusing and conflicted world.
 
A modern parable: A small town nestled in the mountains realizes it has a public relations problem. The town derives most of its revenue from the local ski resort that attracts tourists from all over the region. Unfortunately, the only way to get to the town and ski resort is by driving the long and treacherous road that winds around the mountain. In deep winter, which is also the peak season for tourists, the road becomes icy and dangerous; and, as a result, numerous tourists lose control of their cars and careen over the side of the mountain.
 
All in the town agree that this is particularly bad for their reputation and bad for the economy. So they meet at the town hall to find a solution. Some argue they should construct guard rails along the edge of the road at every turn to ensure the safety of the motorists. Others argue that, along with the installation of guard rails, a series of flashing signs could be posted warning the motorists of the danger. Still more chime in regarding other possible solutions.
 

In the end the city council votes not to install the guard rails or post the warning signs. Instead they decide to build a hospital emergency care clinic at the base of the mountain so they can quickly and easily attend to the injured as they slide off the road. So they do.
 
I suppose we need both guardrails and emergency clinics. After all, it’s a dangerous world out there and there are a lot of places and a lot of ways we can get hurt. But wouldn’t life be so much simpler if we decided to build more guardrails in the first place so we wouldn’t need so many emergency clinics?
 
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A Word from the Pastor: Full circle

 
By Ben Disney
 
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”  T. S. Eliot
 
We’ve come to the final week of The Bible in 90 Days journey. More than 400 of our members made the commitment in January to read the Bible in its entirety from beginning to end. The journey included weekly teaching sessions and small group discussions led and facilitated by volunteers.
 

Countless individuals have expressed their surprise and appreciation for how this experience has changed their lives. People have shared with me the profound effect this journey continues to have on their marriage, relationships, outlook, and understanding.
   
Everyone has his or her own reaction. I can’t speak for each individual, but I can speak about the difference I believe it’s made in the church. Throughout this journey, worship has taken on a new and different feel. Instead of a congregation passively listening to words spoken from an individual, it feels more like a congregation actively engaged in a holy conversation. There’s a deeper Spirit that abounds when people are immersed in God’s Word and actively seeking the truth.
   
What excites me most is not just what has happened but what will come as a result of people taking seriously the effort to read and understand the Bible. I’m convinced God will do what God has always done: plant seeds, offer grace, love unconditionally, inspire hearts, and move people to fully become all that they were created to be. God will do something with and through our people in this journey.
   
Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” So, if you’re finishing The Bible in 90 Days and it feels like you’ve come full circle, you’re in the right place.
 
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A Word from the Pastor: A promise to stand under

 
By Ben Disney

In a groundbreaking book entitled “Overhearing the Gospel,” Fred Craddock poses the question: "How do we proclaim the gospel to people who have heard it all before - and have done so for years, and decades, and eons?" It offers an important reminder that the gospel is first and foremost a story that stirs the soul, captures the heart, and inflames the imagination.
 

For too long we’ve acted as if the resurrection can be proven through a carefully crafted, logical argument or using deductive reasoning. The truth is we gather every year to hear the same story. Aside from a few details, the various Biblical accounts describe the same event. To have heard this story for the first time in the first moments following the resurrection must have been shocking. But centuries later, we’ve heard it all many times before.
 
We know what happens, and we know the ending; but still we come. We come on a day like this, not expecting to be to be surprised or entertained. No, on a day like this we come to hear the story once again, to feel God’s presence, to be moved to the depths of our souls in the great mystery of what God has done in Christ Jesus.
 
In the end, “He is Risen” is not an explanation but an affirmation; not a concept to understand, but a promise to stand under.
 
/ / /
 
"I am the resurrection, and the life: whoever believes in me, even though he dies, yet shall he live: And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die."  John 11:25-26
 
"It’s not easy to convey a sense of wonder, let alone resurrection wonder, to another. It’s the very nature of wonder to catch us off guard, to circumvent expectations and assumptions. Wonder can’t be packaged, and it can’t be worked up. It requires some sense of being there and some sense of engagement.”  Eugene H. Peterson
 
"If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.”  Timothy Keller, "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism"
 
“If you live in the dark a long time and the sun comes out, you do not cross into it whistling. There's an initial uprush of relief at first, then - for me, anyway - a profound dislocation. My old assumptions about how the world works are buried, yet my new ones aren't yet operational. There's been a death of sorts, but without a few days in hell, no resurrection is possible.”  Mary Karr, "Lit"
 
“Remember Jesus of Nazareth, staggering on broken feet out of the tomb toward the Resurrection, bearing on his body the proud insignia of the defeat which is victory, the magnificent defeat of the human soul at the hands of God.”  Frederick Buechner, "The Magnificent Defeat"
 
"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there."  Clarence W. Hall
 
"We live and die; Christ died and lived!"  John Stott
 
"Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart."  Susan Coolidge
 
"The proof that God raised Jesus from the dead is not the empty tomb, but the full hearts of his transformed disciples. The crowning evidence that he lives is not a vacant grave but a spirit-filled fellowship. Not a rolled-away stone, but a carried-away church."  Clarence Jordan
 
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A Word from the Pastor: The resurrection explains you

 
By Ben Disney
 
“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:21
 
A man was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper’s attention. The boat comes near the island and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man. After a while the sailor asks, “What are those three huts you have here?”
   
“Well, that’s my house there.”
   
“What’s that next hut?” asks the sailor. “I built that hut to be my church.”
   
“What about the other hut?”
   
“Oh, that’s where I used to go to church.”
   
It was his hope and prayer. How well has it worked out? Well, according to the Dictionary of Christianity in America there are approximately 20,800 Christian denominations worldwide. One of the great historical conundrums is the desire for unity in the Body of Christ over and against the reality of a splintered and fragmented Christian community.
 

The issues that keep us separated from one another are innumerable, ranging from essential differences in doctrine and theology to petty arguments and trivial disagreements. If there is a contradictory hope, maybe it’s Easter. Perhaps the most unifying force for the vast majority of Christians across the world is Easter. The resurrection and mystery of what God has done in Christ Jesus on the cross is what most followers point to as the foundational truth of our faith. The resurrection forever separates Jesus from being defined simply as a learned teacher, wise rabbi, miracle worker, or social revolutionist.
   
Why Easter? Because it’s bigger than any of us. It transcends the little truths we try to patch together on our own to make sense of our lives. Nothing about the resurrection makes any logical sense; which is why I like William Willimon’s take on it: “You don’t explain the resurrection. The resurrection explains you.”
 
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A Word from the Pastor: When does a church become a church?

 
By Ben Disney
 
When does a church actually become a church? It depends, of course. Do you mean theologically, administratively, or procedurally? In the United Methodist Church, a congregation becomes a church when it’s officially chartered and recognized by the Conference.
   
Years ago I helped organize a new church start that met in a local elementary school cafeteria. We met together as a congregation for three years before becoming an official chartered and recognized church. Come to think of it, I’m not sure what we were in those three years if we weren’t an officially recognized church. Technically, I suppose we were just seen as a loose collection of believers devoid of any official status; sort of in a theological no man’s land for church wannabes. Trust me, I know what we were. And frankly, I’ve always thought official titles are somewhat overrated.
   
So, when does a church actually become a church? Consider a couple of things I’ve observed over the last week. A family experiences the unimaginable pain and grief of losing their beautiful 21 year old daughter in a tragic car accident. There are no called meetings or official administrative board decisions or resolutions. People just begin to respond. Knowing there are no simple explanations or actions that can possibly explain or take away the intense pain the family is enduring, they begin to show up. They deliver meals to the home. They offer whatever words of comfort they can to the family. Another couple comes to mow their yard. Others come to hold their hands, pray with them, cry with them.
 

When the service is held at the church, Prayer Ministry partners arrive early to walk the sanctuary praying for the all those who will come; that God might heal the broken hearts of people who one week ago could never have imagined being in this place and having to say goodbye to one who was so young and full of life. Choir members come back on a Sunday afternoon to offer their unique gift of ministry; music so beautiful and powerful that it can heal a broken heart. Other members of the church, many who did not even know the family or the young lady who died, show up for the service simply to stand with the family and to be fully present with them in their deepest pain and grief.
   
When does a church become a church? I think you know; which is why I’ve never been more proud to call this place my church.
 
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A Word from the Pastor: Who was Jesus addressing?

 
By Ben Disney
 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
 
Ironic, isn’t it? The #1 grossing movie in the U.S. is “The Lorax,” based on a children’s book by Dr. Seuss. It’s a book written primarily for children, but adults will discover a deeper meaning buried in the animation.
 
Someone recently gave me a book entitled “Lessons Kids Need to Learn” by David Staal. The book is a practical guide to raising healthy children and nurturing their emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
 

Briefly, here are the chapter titles: 1. Believe That You Matter / Live Like Others Matter More. 2. Appreciate Those Who Serve You / Make Serving Others a Priority. 3. Forget Unimportant Stuff / Remember Life Has Consequences. 4. Be a People Person / Be Your Own Person. 5. Find Your Unique Fit / Find Out You Can Fail. 6. Always Speak Up / Only Speak the Truth. 7. Faith, Hope, and Love.
   
It’s a list of simple lessons that can make a world of difference for any child. Sadly, some children will never hear these words spoken or see them modeled by any influential adult in their lives.
   
But as you read the list, you’ll discover that, although it’s written with children in mind, it’s the adults who need to hear it the most. Makes me wonder who Jesus was talking to when the children started gathering around Him. Ironic, isn’t it?
 
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A Word from the Pastor: Being fools

 
By Ben Disney
 
“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.”  Albert Einstein
 
“To believe in God is impossible - to not believe in Him is absurd.”  Voltaire
 
“It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”  Anne Frank
 
“You have to stop worrying about looking foolish, ‘cause fear of being humiliated really limits you.”  Dean Koontz
 
“If you fear nothing, then you are not brave. You are merely too foolish to be afraid.”  Laurell K. Hamilton
 
Alice laughed: “There’s no use trying,” she said, “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”   from Alice in Wonderland
 
“Remove from Christianity its ability to shock and it is altogether destroyed. It then becomes a tiny superficial thing, capable neither of inflicting deep wounds nor of healing them.”  Soren Kierkegaard
 
“We are fools for Christ.”  1 Corinthians 4:10
 

As William Willimon notes: “One of the dangers of being in church as often as I am is that it all starts to make sense.” He’s right of course. Here we are in the midst of Lent, diligently reading our Bibles and following Jesus all the way to Jerusalem, and somehow it all seems so perfectly natural and orderly.
   
We’ve become so familiar with the stories – so comfortable in our rituals – that few of us ever stop to think just how absurd all of this must seem to the average person. He heals the sick, restores sight to the blind, raises the dead... but can’t save Himself from being executed by the Romans? He’s buried in a sealed tomb and yet three days later He starts appearing in the oddest of places and only to a small group of people who already believed in Him.
   
I mean, it could have really helped His case if He would have just come back to downtown Jerusalem and made a couple of appearances to Pilate and the massive crowds who watched Him die. It would also make it much easier if Jesus would make an appearance now and then to the skeptics, cynics, and non-believers in our culture.
   
We put ashes on our forehead and hand each other a piece of bread and a cup of juice representing the body and blood of a Palestinian Jew who lived thousands of years ago, and we no longer think that’s an odd thing to do? In a world that demands empirical evidence for anything to be true, our Christian view of faith and belief in things we cannot see probably seems shaky at best. If we’re honest, sometimes Jesus makes it hard for us to make the argument for Him.
 
Don’t forget how absurd this whole journey really is in contrast to the world around us. But, lest you think you’re the only foolish one, look around and see the absurdity of the way the world lives. It’s 2012 and we still can’t figure out how to live on this planet without hating, oppressing, hurting, or killing each other. At least Paul got it right: “We are fools for Christ.” Which means if we’re going to be fools anyway, we might as well be fools for something that really matters.
 
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